Although Halloween at Disneyland is easily my favorite seasonal experience at the Southern California parks, for many, the holidays reign supreme. Disneyland Resort and California Adventure Parks go all out when it comes to Christmas-time, filled with unique treats to try, merchandise to buy, and most importantly, activities to experience.
Disneyland invited me for the first day of their holiday season, which runs from now until January 7th. From returning favorites with guests to some new surprises, there's plenty to enjoy over the next few months. I have to admit, even though my love for Halloween is strong, there is something magical about being at Disneyland during the holiday.
Disneyland and California adventure transformed in a big way
Entering Disneyland is a magical experience in itself, walking through the arches and seeing the Disneyland Railroad Station for the first time sets the tone and things only get better from there. When you get a little further and see Cinderella's castle in the distance, there is nothing like that. The visuals paired with the sound confirm that the day is going to be good regardless of the circumstances.
Disneyland at Christmas time, however, is extra special with all the decorations. You are surrounded by garlands and holiday decorations in every nook and cranny. The music is appropriately Christmas-y. And if you catch the right whiff of some food, there's a bit of holiday sensory overload. But the big thematic details that make the holidays at Disney unique are the snow-capped towers at Cinderella's castle and the giant Christmas trees at the center of both Disneyland and California Adventure. Like a giant pumpkin at Halloween-time, those trees are a major focal point and set the stage for a seasonal experience unlike any other. And the castle at night, all lit up, is something else.
There really are very few corners of Disneyland and California Adventure that aren't sprinkled with a little holiday cheer during the season. This makes it difficult to avoid an infectious environment, and why would you want to?
Don't be put off by the designs of the parks, everyone's favorite characters have some new holiday costumes, from Mickey and Minnie to Chip and Dale. For many Disney theme park fans, getting those seasonal photos with the characters is a must, and I have to say that this year's costumes are all the best. Chip and Dale take top honors, though, with their Gingerbread Man get-up. And if you pop over to California Adventure, you can see many of those characters in wintertime outfits, too.
There's also a meet-and-greet with Santa (and a few other characters like Jiminy Cricket) at Disneyland's Fantasyland Theater.
All the little touches that turn Disneyland and California Adventure into a winter wonderland make vacations a must-see for many guests. It's really something that you can only understand when you experience it for yourself. There's beauty in the design of each element, and listening to holiday music makes the house more homely as it transitions from fall to winter (even though it's still technically fall).
The holidays bring parades, fireworks, ride overlays and more
It was a rainy day when I visited Disneyland for holiday events, so many of the experiences offered during the season were unavailable or canceled. Many of them are returning from previous years, though, and I can say that they are all great. I saw the “A Christmas Fantasy” parade, which brings in favorites from both Disney and Pixar and has a very catchy theme song. for the Encanto For fans, California Adventure has Mirabell's Gifts of the Season show, which features many fan-favorite hits from the film and includes appearances by some members of the madrigal family.
For the older crowd, DCA also has a holiday-themed Deadpool show, where he tells a holiday story (this year it was Christmas Before Twas the Night), takes every opportunity to improvise, and is visited by his good friend Wolverine. Every Deadpool show I've seen since he appeared to promote it last year Deadpool and Wolverine Have fun, and this holiday special iteration is no different.
And of course, it wouldn't be a new season without a spectacular night. Trust…the holiday magic is back (with fireworks on select nights and weather permitting) to serve as the perfect capper to a day full of holiday cheer. The original song is the star of the show, but the orchestral versions of holiday classics like We Three Kings are simply superb. And the finale of Believe, which I won't spoil, is perfect.
Ride an overlay during a vacation at Disneyland
Haunted Mansion Holiday is still active during the holiday season, and while I prefer the standard Haunted Mansion, I know there are many fans who flock to Disney to see this iteration. If like me you see it during Halloween, then you can double dip, but be prepared for lines because it's popular.
This little world also gets a holiday overlay, first starting with an exterior filled with Christmas lights. Witnessing the light of the small world is an experience in itself, and makes for a great night photo spot.
Inside the ride, a mix of jingle bells and the iconic Small World song gives the Disneyland classic its own personality. So many characters are wearing holiday-time costumes that you'll have to go a few times to figure everything out.
Disneyland holiday merch brings cute and cozy vibes
A new season means new merchandise, and while Disneyland hasn't gone overboard with merchandise this year, there are still some great options available. Minnie carrying her freshly cut Christmas tree popcorn bucket is incredible, as is Mickey as the Santa shipper. There are new Candy Cane themed Mickey ears to wear, new pins to collect, and some fun clothing designs inspired by the warm and cozy weather.
Because it is getting colder, many clothing items are meant to keep you warm, but even so, there are some cute shirt designs and accessories as well. I spent my budget on Halloween merchandise (as I always do), so for me, it's about admiring from afar. However, if you love the season, Disneyland has you covered.
Trying all the delicious Disneyland food and treats
Disneyland has a diverse offering of dining options for this year's holiday season, including the return of its Holiday Feast at California Adventure. As you'd expect, food offerings range from comfort food favorites, sweet treats, and Mexican-inspired dishes. Peppermint, gingerbread, and pumpkin abound in both parks, but there are some recipes inspired by the savory/sweet mix you usually see at Thanksgiving, as well as some completely unexpected items.
The holiday feast is back for 2025 with 6 different booths featuring savory dishes, sweet treats and non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages. It's not as big as the Food & Wine Festival, but the festive holiday still has a little something for everyone.
I always gravitate toward Harbor Galley's fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies when I visit Disneyland, and for the holiday season Galley has fresh-baked gingerbread cookies that are great. If you want your wintertime to be a little more Peppermint-y, the Season Beignets at the Mint Julep Bar are peppermint flavored and they are my favorite of the seasonal beignets options. At Alien Pizza Planet, Disneyland always likes to tweak its Alien Macaroon and for the holidays it's filled with salted caramel and brownie pieces, topped with a Toy Story alien face with some cute reindeer antlers.
But of all the treats at Disneyland during the holidays, my personal favorite is the Toffee Pretzel from the Pretzel Cart at Tommorowland. It's dusted with toffee sugar that I could eat all by itself, but a cream cheese pretzel pushes it over the edge. I know I'm not alone in wishing that toffee pretzels were available all year round.
On the savory front, I tried the clau-sagna pasta because I'm a sucker for ricotta. This was my only disappointment of the day because it didn't feel special. The flavors are good but again it's a bit too plain to get through. I also tried Mary's Cranberry Crispy Chicken Sandwich, which gives off those sweet savory vibes that typify Thanksgiving time. It was delicious.
The holiday food booth has something for everyone
As with other California Adventure booth-centric events, there is a Sip & Saver pass available that you can purchase to get a discount on your food items. The pass entitles you to 6 choices from various booths, minus alcoholic beverages and a large turkey leg. You can use your Sip & Savor Pass all at once, or save the redemption for repeat trips on California Adventure. If at least 6 items catch your fancy it's great value, and worth the investment, but if you only want to sample one or two items you can.
During my trip to Disneyland for the holidays, I tried some new and returning favorites. The holiday duet combines kugel mac and cheese with al pastor mac and cheese for a super creamy combination that packs a little spice. Holiday M&M's Eclairs are decadent and filled with delicious chocolate mousse. Barbacoa Tamal de Res gives that comforting, homey feel. The beef brisket sliders are juicy, tender, and just melt in your mouth. Braised Pork Belly Adobo has a slight tang to it and is incredibly tender. And for something a little different, I tried the guava mango lassi, which was thick and creamy and sweet enough to taste the dishes I've tried.
The Holiday Foods Marketplace has a good variety of booths this year. There were enough tempting food items to make it difficult to decide where to spend my 6 Sip & Swear redemptions, and everything I tried was delicious. I imagine most will find at least one or two choices that interest them, and they won't be disappointed.
There's a reason why vacations to Disneyland are treasured by so many fans. The parks pack everything you'd come to expect from a seasonal theme into every aspect of the park, but here they turn it up to 11. From the castle to the food to the characters and ride overlays, this is the premier Disneyland seasonal experience. I can't wait to go back and experience things I didn't the first time around and, honestly, do everything again and again.
