Disneyland holidays 2026 run November 13 through January 6, with A Christmas Fantasy Parade, holiday fireworks, World of Color Season of Light, Disney Festival of Holidays and a nightly snowfall at Downtown Disney. Here's what's happening at Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney District and the resort hotels, plus the dates to know.
2026 Holiday Season Dates and What You Need to Know
The holiday season at the Disneyland Resort officially runs November 13, 2026, through January 6, 2027.
A few things start on their own schedule.
- Chip and Dale's Ornament Trail at Downtown Disney starts November 11.
- Holiday character dining at the resort hotels runs November 16 through January 3.
- Santa meet-and-greets run November 13 through December 24.
You'll need a valid theme park ticket and a park reservation for each day you visit. Reservations are limited, so book them as soon as your trip dates are set, especially for weekends and the weeks around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Artist concept of Mickey & Minnies new holiday outfits | Disney
“A Christmas Fantasy Parade” at Disneyland is a must-see parade | Disney
Holidays at Disneyland Park
Disneyland Park is where the classic holiday traditions live.
- A Christmas Fantasy Parade brings reindeer, toy soldiers, dancing gingerbread cookies and a Santa finale down Main Street, U.S.A. For guaranteed viewing, the A Christmas Fantasy Parade Dining Package at Plaza Inn includes a meal and reserved parade viewing.
- "Believe… In Holiday Magic" fireworks light up the sky with music, lasers and a "snowfall" effect. You can watch from Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle, "it's a small world" Holiday or the Rivers of America, and the snow falls at all three plus parts of Main Street.
- Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle glows with about 80,000 icicle lights every night, and a 60-foot Christmas tree anchors Main Street, U.S.A.
- "it's a small world" Holiday returns with holiday music, decor and 400,000 lights on the facade. Even the clock tower gets a Santa hat.
- Haunted Mansion Holiday celebrates its 25th year with its The Nightmare Before Christmas overlay, including the giant gingerbread house in the ballroom.
- Santa has a new home this year at Mickey's Toontown Trolley Barn, near Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin.
- Mickey, Minnie and friends greet guests in Town Square in new holiday outfits, and "Bluey's Best Day Ever!" brings Bluey and Bingo to the Fantasyland Theatre.
For a holiday treat, look for the tree-shaped Milk and Cookies Macaron at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe.
Cars Land at Disney California Adventure with festive Holiday lights | Disney
Holidays at Disney California Adventure
California Adventure leans into the season with nighttime shows, Cars Land overlays and a food festival.
- World of Color – Season of Light returns November 13 with holiday music, swirling snowflakes and scenes from Beauty and the Beast and Inside Out.
- Cars Land gets holiday lights that switch on at sunset during the "Sh-boom" moment, plus two ride overlays, Luigi's Joy to the Whirl and Mater's Jingle Jamboree.
- Buena Vista Street has its own holiday tree lighting, and Mickey and friends appear there in winter outfits.
- Santa's Holiday Visit at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail pairs a Santa meet-and-greet with outdoor holiday games, which is a good fit for younger kids.
- The Mickey Elf Shake returns at Schmoozies!
Miguel from Pixar’s Coco with Mariachi Alegria de Disneyland | Disney
Disney Festival of Holidays and Disney ¡Viva Navidad!
Disney Festival of Holidays runs the full season, November 13 through January 6, and celebrates holiday traditions from around the world.
The food is the main draw. Six festival marketplaces serve new and returning holiday dishes and drinks. The Sip and Savor Pass gives you six digital coupons for select food and nonalcoholic items at participating marketplaces. Disney hasn't posted 2026 pricing yet. Last year it was $49, or $46 for Magic Key holders, and it saved me a few dollars over buying the same six items separately. My 2025 Sip and Savor breakdown has the math and the ordering tips.
The festival's entertainment includes the following.
- "Mickey's Happy Holidays", a cavalcade with Mickey and friends that travels from Paradise Gardens Park to Hollywood Land at select times.
- Holiday Toy Drummers and daily live music at the Paradise Gardens Bandstand.
- "A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel!" on Buena Vista Street on select days.
- "Mirabel's Gifts of the Season" in Paradise Gardens Park on select days.
Minnie Mouse celebrates Viva Navidad! in her festive holiday outfit | Disney
Disney ¡Viva Navidad! is the festival's street party, on select days, with The Three Caballeros, folklórico dancers, mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers, drummers and Mickey and Minnie in holiday outfits. You may also be able to meet The Three Caballeros, Mickey, Minnie and Goofy in Paradise Gardens Park at select times.
Last year I was head over heels for the Braised Pork Belly Adobo. It was a returning favorite at last years festival so im hopeful it will make a return again in 2026 (also, its the featured picture for the festival in the Disney Parks Blog article).
More Merry Moments at Downtown Disney District | Disney
Holidays at Downtown Disney District
Downtown Disney is the easiest place to get a holiday fix without a park ticket.
- Starting November 13, the district becomes a winter wonderland with a nightly snowfall.
- The Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage has nightly entertainment, from holiday music to DJs and bands.
- Chip and Dale's Ornament Trail runs November 11 through January 6. Buy an activity map at a participating shop, find the ornaments around the district, then trade your completed map for an ornament keepsake.
- Participating restaurants and shops add seasonal menu items, treats and drinks.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa decorated for the holidays | Disney
Holiday Dining and Santa at the Disneyland Resort Hotels
The three resort hotels have their own holiday traditions.
Holiday character dining runs November 16 through January 3. Reservations open on Disneyland.com.
- Goofy's Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays! at the Disneyland Hotel.
- Daisy's Holiday Pajama Party at Storytellers Cafe in Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
- Mickey's Christmas Carol Feast at Storytellers Cafe.
Beyond the character meals, there's plenty more around the hotels.
- Santa visits the Disneyland Hotel, Pixar Place Hotel and the Grand Californian at select times.
- The Grand Californian lobby has a 7-foot gingerbread display modeled on the hotel itself.
- Holiday treats are available at the Great Hall cart at the Grand Californian, Broken Spell Lounge at the Disneyland Hotel and Great Maple Modern American Eatery at Pixar Place Hotel.
- Tenaya Stone Spa offers holiday treatments for an extra fee, including the Underneath the Tree signature massage.
Hotel offer. You can save up to 20% on select stays of three or more nights at the Disneyland Hotel, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Pixar Place Hotel and The Villas at Disneyland Hotel. It covers stays from October 11 through December 18, 2026, and you need to book by December 15.
Mickey Elf Shake from Schmoozes! at California Adventure | Disney
Tips for Planning a Holiday Visit to Disneyland
- Plan around the nights. Most of the season's best moments happen after dark, including the castle lights, the fireworks, World of Color and the Cars Land lighting. A Park Hopper ticket makes it much easier to see both parks' nighttime offerings.
- Check the Disneyland app for showtimes. Parade, fireworks and festival schedules vary by day and aren't posted far in advance.
- Book dining and extras early. Character dining, the Plaza Inn parade package and the Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour, which includes reserved parade viewing, all cost extra and tend to fill up.
- Go early in the season or on weekdays if you can. Mid-November and early December weekdays are usually calmer than Thanksgiving week and the stretch between Christmas and New Year's.
- Start the Ornament Trail early in your trip so you're not hunting for the last ornament on your way out.
There's nothing better than chilly evening at Disneyland during the holidays. Grabbing a hot chocolate (or a milk shake fro Schmoozies!) and strolling through the park is one of my favorite experinces at the park. There's so much to see and do that sometimes the best plan is to plan nothing at all and just... take it all in. The lights, the music, the decor. It all combines to make the moment perfect without needing to rush off to the next best thing.
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“it’s a small world” Holiday at Disneyland | Disney
Key Dates for the 2026 Disneyland Holiday Season
- November 11 Chip and Dale's Ornament Trail begins at Downtown Disney
- November 13 Holiday season, Festival of Holidays, World of Color – Season of Light and Santa meet-and-greets begin
- November 16 Holiday character dining begins at the resort hotels
- December 15 Last day to book the hotel offer
- December 18 Last night covered by the hotel offer
- December 24 Last day for Santa meet-and-greets
- January 3 Holiday character dining ends
- January 6 Holiday season and Festival of Holidays end
Details via the Disney Parks Blog and Disneyland.com.
Alright, that's all for now. See ya next time.
