A Guide to Holidays at Disneyland Resort 2024

Written By Kelsey Stiles

The magic of the holiday season returns to Disneyland Resort from November 15, 2024, to January 6, 2025, with a ton of festive entertainment, character sightings, and seasonal performances across both theme parks, Downtown Disney, and the resort hotels. Here’s a look at what’s in store this holiday season!

A Quick Overview
If you want a summary, this section is for you!

Where to Meet Santa:

Daily from November 15 - December 24, 2024

  • “Holiday Fun with Santa and Friends!” at Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland Park

  • Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in California Adventure Park
    (From December 25th - January 6th: meet Goofy Santa here instead)

Daily from November 28 - December 24, 2024

What to do at Disneyland Theme Park 

What to do at California Adventure Theme Park 


Keep reading to learn more about all the happenings this year to decide if you want to incorporate anything into your own Disneyland vacation. If you have a sweet tooth, explore the festive food offerings in this Disneyland Holiday Foodie Guide!  

Gingerbread Displays 

Haunted Mansion Holiday Gingerbread Display
Over in Disneyland Park, make sure to take a close look at the table in the ballroom scene where Dr. Finkelstein has been hard at work to bring his Gigantic Gingerbread Zombie, Lil’ Franky, to life. Brought to life with 60 pounds of gingerbread, 50 pounds of powdered sugar, 10 pounds of egg whites, 30 pounds of rolled fondant, 10 pounds of chocolate, it is a sign to behold. Don’t forget to look for the 2 hidden Mickeys as your doom buggy rolls by. 

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa (Starting November 22)
This year’s display is a gingerbread replica of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa with none other than Chip ‘n’ Dale in their pajama attire seen in Mickey’s Holiday Pajama Party Breakfast and Brunch at Storytellers Cafe. Created from over 600 pounds of gingerbread, 600 pounds of powdered sugar, and 250 pounds of fondant, this architectural masterpiece features 25 hidden Mickeys!

Make sure you stop by the Great Hall Cart to the right of the display to treat yourself to one of the following:

  • Gingerbread Cookie 

  • Christmas Cookie   

  • Mickey-shaped Poinsettia Cookie   

  • Holiday Crisped Rice Treat   

  • Sweet Potato Loaf Treat   

  • Holiday Cinnamon Bun   

  • Macaron Box   

  • Cookie Box   

  • Eggnog (Also available with Bailey’s Original Irish Cream Liqueur)  




Holidays in the Parks

Disneyland Park


Christmas at Disneyland Park is pure magic as it transforms with twinkling lights, festive decor, and holiday cheer in every corner. A massive Christmas tree on Main Street, U.S.A. greets you while Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle shimmers with snowy turrets and thousands of lights. You absolutely won’t want to miss the classic A Christmas Fantasy Parade featuring your favorite characters in holiday-themed floats, plus prancing reindeer and dancing gingerbread men before Santa arrives in his sleigh! 

You won’t want to miss the Holiday ride overlays at Haunted Mansion Holiday and “it’s a small world” Holiday. In my opinion, Haunted Mansion Holiday is the absolute best overlay in all the Disney parks! Here you will take a tour of the mansion like never before as Jack Skellington has been busy decorating the mansion with frightfully festive touches!

As evening falls, you will notice even more magic with the Believe... In Holiday Magic spectacular that ends with magical snowfall along Main Street U.S.A, at “it’s a small world” Holiday, and along the Rivers of America. Make sure you check the daily schedule when planning your vacation to see which nights the fireworks will be on display as they do not happen nightly. I personally love to catch the fireworks and projections in front of “it’s a small world” Holiday where there are much smaller crowds and you can catch the dazzling holiday light display before or after the show. 

California Adventure Park:


Across the esplanade, the Festival of Holidays brings festive music, diverse cultural performances, and seasonal treats to celebrate the season! You won’t want to miss taking a stroll through Radiator Springs as the residents have decorated for the season with two holiday ride overlays at Mater’s Jingle Jamboree & Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl. If you have young kids, plan to spend a good amount of time here, especially once the sun goes down and Cars Land comes alive with holiday lights!

Another can’t miss is the “Mickey’s Happy Holidays” parade, which brings Disney characters and Toy Drummers to life along the California Adventure park parade route three times a day. Listen for the music to change before the parade comes your way! Each weekend, you can join the Three Caballeros at ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party in front of Bayside Brews. This epic fiesta features folklórico dancers, samba performers, 12-foot tall mojiganga puppets, and festive appearances from Mickey and Minnie. 

When night falls, don’t miss World of Color - Season of Light at 9 pm or 10:15 pm. A good viewing spot for this show is hard to come by as the sections closest to the waterfront are likely to be sprayed by the mist from the fountains. I recommend bringing a durable poncho to keep dry, or try to book a Dessert Party for tasty treats and elevated reserved seating that has the best views. Already working with a Travel Grown Adventure Planner like me? Let us know if World of Color is on your Christmas List so we can help you book a Dessert Party or give you additional tips for best viewing areas! 


Disney Festival of Holidays at California Adventure Park

The Disney Festival of Holidays at California Adventure Park celebrates diverse holiday traditions with music, food, and entertainment, running from November 15, 2024, through January 6, 2025. Here’s what you can enjoy:

  • Live Performances & New Shows

    • Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season: Join Mirabel from Encanto and friends for an uplifting musical celebration outside Paradise Gardens Park.

    • A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel: Enjoy a beautiful nighttime show with mariachi music, graceful dancers, and a touching rendition of “Silent Night” by Miguel from Coco.

    • Festival Entertainment Stages: Expanded lineup of live bands and cultural performances, including jazz, Latin pop, klezmer, and more! New groups like Joy, Rangoli Rhythms, and Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts bring high-energy performances daily. ​​You can explore the lineup of artists here.


  • Delicious Festive Foods

    • Savor international holiday-inspired dishes and seasonal drinks at food kiosks throughout the park. Sample dishes like tamales, savory kugel mac & cheese, and churros with festive toppings.

    • Pro Tip: Order all food items at once at any of the booths, then redeem for each item by showing your receipt at each location’s pick-up window. Saves time waiting in two lines at each booth! 

    • Consider purchasing a Sip and Savor Pass if you plan to visit multiple booths! This pass comes with either 4 or 8 tasting tabs that you can redeem for food and non-alcoholic beverage items at select Festival Foods Marketplace locations and participating restaurants within Disney California Adventure.I like to purchase one pass to share with friends, and make sure to use them on the higher-priced items for savings! 

    • Explore the Festival of the Holidays Foodie Guide here!


  • Holiday Kid-Friendly Activities

    • Stop by Redwood Creek Challenge Trail to visit Santa through December 24, or meet Santa Goofy from December 25th to January 6th when Mr Claus returns to the North Pole. 

    • Families can also enjoy interactive craft stations, where kids can create holiday keepsakes and learn about different cultural traditions.

    • Keep an eye out for your favorite characters in their Holiday best throughout the park, but especially on Buena Vista Street and check the app daily for meet & greet times and locations. 

Holidays at Downtown Disney

The holiday festivities don’t stop when you leave the parks! The Downtown Disney LIVE! stage and lawn will host live music each night, with artists from a variety of genres including rock, jazz and classic caroling. From November 29, 2024 - January 6, 2025, you’ll be able to enjoy the nightly snowfall here as well between 6 - 10 pm each evening.

Just in time for your holiday shopping, two new stores - Avengers Reserve and D-Lander Shop - will open on December 6th! If you are up for a challenge, you can participate in the Chip and Dale's Ornament Trail throughout Downtown Disney from November 22, 2024 - January 1, 2025. Just purchase an activity map to help the dynamic duo find their ornaments then redeem it at World of Disney or Disney’s Pin Traders for a holiday keepsake!

From dazzling decorations and festive parades to unique holiday treats and heartwarming encounters with beloved Disney characters, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this Holiday Season at Disneyland Resort. So, grab a cup of cocoa, soak in the magic, and make memories that will last a lifetime!

Kelsey Stiles
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