The merriest season of the year is preparing to return to the Disneyland Resort with sparkling decorations, beloved attraction overlays, festive entertainment, seasonal food and plenty of new surprises. Holidays at the Disneyland Resort will officially begin November 13, 2026, and continue through January 6, 2027.
Guests visiting Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney and the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort will find holiday experiences throughout the entire destination. This year’s celebration includes new character costumes, Santa Claus meet-and-greets, returning nighttime spectaculars, Disney Festival of Holidays and several limited-time dining experiences.
Here is a look at what guests can expect during the 2026 holiday season at Disneyland Resort.
Holiday Magic Returns to Disneyland Park
Disneyland Park will once again transform into a holiday wonderland filled with glowing lights, festive decorations and classic seasonal entertainment.
The celebration begins on Main Street, U.S.A., where guests will be greeted by the park’s towering 60-foot Christmas tree. Sleeping Beauty Castle will become Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, covered in snow-inspired decorations and illuminated by approximately 80,000 shimmering lights each evening.
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and several of their friends will also debut new holiday outfits in Town Square. The costumes are inspired by winter travel and an alpine holiday gathering.
Santa Claus is moving to a new Disneyland location for 2026. Guests will be able to visit him inside the Mickey’s Toontown Trolley Barn near Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin.
Families can also stop by “Bluey’s Best Day Ever!” at the Fantasyland Theatre, where Bluey and Bingo will continue making appearances filled with music, movement and dancing.
The Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour will return as an additional-cost experience. The tour is expected to include stories about Disneyland’s holiday traditions, memories involving Walt Disney and his family, and reserved viewing for “A Christmas Fantasy Parade.” Additional information will be announced later.
Fireworks, Snowfall and a Christmas Parade
“Believe…In Holiday Magic” will once again light up the night with fireworks, holiday music and magical snowfall.
Guests can experience the spectacular from several viewing areas, including Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, “it’s a small world” Holiday, the Rivers of America and portions of Main Street, U.S.A.
“A Christmas Fantasy Parade” will also return to Disneyland Park. The seasonal procession features dancing gingerbread cookies, toy soldiers, reindeer and other holiday performers before concluding with an appearance by Santa Claus.
Haunted Mansion Holiday Celebrates 25 Years of Gingerbread Displays
Two of Disneyland’s most popular seasonal attraction transformations will return in 2026.
Haunted Mansion Holiday will once again bring the world of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas to the classic New Orleans Square attraction. This year marks 25 years of the attraction’s elaborate gingerbread creations inside the ballroom scene.
For the anniversary, the mansion’s annual gingerbread house will take the form of a monstrous music box.
Nearby, “it’s a small world” Holiday will feature seasonal decorations and holiday music from around the world. The attraction’s exterior will glow with approximately 400,000 lights, while the familiar clockface receives an adorable Santa hat for the season.
Seasonal Entertainment at Disney California Adventure
Across the esplanade, Disney California Adventure will offer its own collection of holiday entertainment beginning November 13.
“World of Color – Season of Light” will return with fountains, projections, music and scenes from Disney and Pixar films. The nighttime spectacular features movies such as Beauty and the Beast and Inside Out while celebrating the warmth and togetherness of the season.
Additional entertainment will include the Holiday Toy Drummers in Paradise Gardens Park and appearances by Mickey Mouse and his friends in seasonal costumes along Buena Vista Street.
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail will become the setting for Santa’s Holiday Visit. Children can enjoy outdoor activities and seasonal games before meeting Santa and sharing their Christmas wishes.
Cars Land Decks the Hauls
Cars Land will once again receive one of the Disneyland Resort’s most creative holiday makeovers.
Radiator Springs will be decorated with automotive-inspired wreaths, colorful lights and oversized seasonal decorations. Each evening at sunset, the land’s famous “Sh-boom” moment will signal the transition from daytime to a glowing holiday celebration.
Two seasonal attraction overlays will also return: Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree.
Disney Festival of Holidays Returns with Six Marketplaces
Disney Festival of Holidays will return to Disney California Adventure with six marketplaces offering new dishes and returning favorites inspired by seasonal celebrations.
Guests who want to sample several menu items can purchase a Sip and Savor Pass. The pass includes six digital coupons redeemable for eligible food and nonalcoholic beverages at participating festival marketplaces and dining locations.
Entertainment will be a major part of the festival as well. “Mickey’s Happy Holidays” will bring Mickey and his friends together with the Holiday Toy Drummers for a musical cavalcade traveling between Paradise Gardens Park and Hollywood Land at select times.
Paradise Garden Bandstand will present rotating live bands and cultural performance groups throughout the season.
“A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel!” will return on select days along Buena Vista Street. Miguel from Pixar’s Coco will join Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland for a performance featuring bilingual holiday music.
“Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season” will also return on select dates. The show features Mirabel and friends performing songs from Disney Animation’s Encanto at Paradise Gardens Park.
Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Celebrates Holiday Traditions
Disney ¡Viva Navidad! will celebrate holiday traditions from across Latin America through music, dancing and storytelling.
The Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party will be offered on select days with The Three Caballeros, folklorico dancers, mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers and drummers. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will also appear in festive costumes.
Guests may encounter Donald Duck, José Carioca and Panchito Pistoles, along with Mickey, Minnie and Goofy, during select appearances around Paradise Gardens Park.
Holiday Experiences at Disneyland Resort Hotels
The three Hotels of the Disneyland Resort will celebrate with elaborate decorations, seasonal displays, carolers, specialty food and appearances by Santa Claus.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will display a seven-foot-tall gingerbread creation inspired by the architecture of the hotel and decorated with whimsical Disney details.
Seasonal character dining will be available from November 16, 2026, through January 3, 2027. The announced experiences include:
- Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays! at Disneyland Hotel
- Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party at Storytellers Cafe
- Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast at Storytellers Cafe
Reservations will become available through Disneyland’s website at a later date.
Holiday food and beverages will also be served at select hotel locations, including the Great Hall cart, Broken Spell Lounge and Great Maple Modern American Eatery.
Tenaya Stone Spa will offer limited-time treatments such as Naughty or Nice foot treatments, the Underneath the Tree signature massage and the Joy of Holiday body treatment for an additional charge.
New Disneyland Resort Hotel Discount Announced
A limited-time Disneyland Resort hotel offer will become available to book beginning September 22, 2026.
The promotion will provide savings of up to 20% on select stays of three nights or longer between October 11 and December 18, 2026. Participating properties include Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Pixar Place Hotel and The Villas at Disneyland Hotel.
The offer will be subject to availability and additional restrictions.
Downtown Disney Becomes a Winter Wonderland
Beginning November 13, Downtown Disney will feature holiday decorations, seasonal food and beverages, live entertainment and nightly snowfall.
The Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage will host DJs, bands and holiday music performances throughout the season.
Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail will return slightly earlier, running from November 11, 2026, through January 6, 2027. Guests can purchase an activity map, search for special ornaments hidden throughout Downtown Disney and redeem the completed map for an ornament keepsake.
Holiday Merchandise, Treats and Dining Packages
Disneyland Resort will introduce several seasonal merchandise collections, including the Mickey Mouse and Family Christmas Collection, Holiday Pastel Collection and Disney Vintage Holiday Collection.
Among the announced holiday novelties are the Mickey Train Light Up Bucket and Holiday Stitch Christmas Tree Sipper.
Returning food favorites include the Mickey Elf Shake at Schmoozies! inside Disney California Adventure and the Milk and Cookies Tree-shaped Macaron at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe in Disneyland Park.
Complete Disney Eats Foodie Guides covering Disneyland Resort holiday food and Disney Festival of Holidays marketplaces will be released closer to the start of the celebration.
Guests looking for an upgraded seasonal experience can also watch for information about the “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” dining package at Plaza Inn and the “World of Color – Season of Light” Dessert Party.
Make Plans for a Disneyland Holiday Getaway
From hundreds of thousands of sparkling lights to cultural celebrations, seasonal attraction overlays and new character experiences, Disneyland Resort will once again offer holiday entertainment throughout the entire destination.
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort runs from November 13, 2026, through January 6, 2027, giving families nearly two months to experience the decorations, entertainment, food and traditions that make this one of Disneyland’s most anticipated celebrations of the year.
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