Disneyland Holidays 2026: Christmas Rides, Shows & Dates

Disneyland Holidays 2026 Start November 13! Here's Everything Coming This Christmas 🎄

The holiday season is almost here, and Disneyland Resort is getting ready to transform into a winter wonderland!

Starting November 13, 2026, through January 6, 2027, both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure will be packed with Christmas decorations, holiday-themed rides, festive entertainment, seasonal treats, and plenty of Disney magic.

From the return of Haunted Mansion Holiday and "it's a small world" Holiday to Christmas fireworks and the Festival of Holidays, there's a lot to look forward to this year.

Here's everything you need to know about celebrating the 2026 holiday season at Disneyland Resort!

🎄 Disneyland Holiday Season 2026: Important Dates

• Holiday season begins: November 13, 2026
• Holiday season ends: January 6, 2027
• Disney Festival of Holidays: November 13 – January 6
• World of Color – Season of Light: Returns November 13
• Holiday character dining: November 16 – January 3
• Chip and Dale's Ornament Trail: November 11 – January 6

Most holiday entertainment and experiences are included with regular park admission, although some dining packages, tours, food offerings, and special experiences cost extra.

👻 Haunted Mansion Holiday Returns for Christmas

One of Disneyland's most popular seasonal transformations is back!

Haunted Mansion Holiday brings together Disney's classic Haunted Mansion attraction and Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Jack Skellington, Sally, Oogie Boogie, and their friends take over the mansion, replacing its usual spooky atmosphere with a wonderfully strange Christmas celebration.

This year also marks 25 years of Haunted Mansion Holiday's elaborate gingerbread creations.

For 2026, the ballroom features a gingerbread display designed as a monstrous music box.

If you've never experienced Haunted Mansion Holiday, it's one of those attractions that feels completely different from its regular version.

✨ "it's a small world" Holiday Lights Up Disneyland

Another holiday favorite returns as "it's a small world" receives its annual Christmas makeover.

Inside, guests travel through beautifully decorated scenes featuring holiday traditions from around the world, accompanied by familiar Christmas music.

But the transformation outside is just as impressive!

The attraction's iconic exterior will sparkle with approximately 400,000 holiday lights, creating one of Disneyland's most recognizable Christmas displays.

It's especially worth visiting after sunset when the entire façade comes alive with colorful holiday lighting.

🚗 Cars Land Gets Two Christmas Ride Makeovers

Disney California Adventure is joining the celebrations with two holiday attraction overlays in Cars Land.

Mater's Jingle Jamboree brings festive music and a Christmas twist to Mater's Junkyard Jamboree.

Luigi's Joy to the Whirl transforms Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters into a cheerful holiday dance party.

Cars Land itself also gets covered in automotive-themed Christmas decorations, including wreaths, garlands, and creative holiday displays.

And don't miss the nightly Sh-boom lighting moment at sunset, when Radiator Springs switches on its festive lights!

🎆 Christmas Fireworks and Holiday Entertainment at Disneyland

Disneyland's nighttime entertainment gets a seasonal makeover with the return of "Believe… In Holiday Magic" fireworks.

The show combines Christmas music, fireworks, spectacular lighting effects, and even simulated snowfall at select locations throughout the park.

Some popular viewing areas include Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Rivers of America, and the area near "it's a small world."

During the day, A Christmas Fantasy Parade returns with dancing gingerbread cookies, toy soldiers, reindeer, Disney characters, and Santa Claus himself.

Meanwhile, Sleeping Beauty Castle becomes Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle, covered in sparkling decorations and approximately 80,000 shimmering lights.

And, of course, Disneyland's famous 60-foot Christmas tree returns to Main Street!

🌟 World of Color – Season of Light Returns

Over at Disney California Adventure, World of Color – Season of Light returns on November 13.

This holiday version of the nighttime spectacular combines illuminated fountains, colorful projections, holiday music, and scenes from beloved Disney and Pixar movies.

Fans can expect appearances from films including Beauty and the Beast and Inside Out.

It's one of the biggest holiday entertainment offerings at California Adventure, particularly for anyone who enjoys Disney's nighttime shows.

🎶 Disney Festival of Holidays and ¡Viva Navidad!

The popular Disney Festival of Holidays returns to Disney California Adventure with food, music, dancing, and celebrations inspired by holiday traditions from around the world.

Guests can explore six festive food marketplaces featuring a mixture of new dishes and returning favorites.

For anyone planning to sample several items, the Sip and Savor Pass provides six digital coupons redeemable for eligible food and nonalcoholic beverages at participating locations.

Holiday entertainment includes:

• Mickey's Happy Holidays: A festive cavalcade featuring Mickey, friends, and the Holiday Toy Drummers.
• Disney ¡Viva Navidad!: A lively celebration featuring Latin American music, traditional dancing, and Disney characters.
• A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel: Holiday music featuring Miguel from Coco on select days.
• Mirabel's Gifts of the Season: Music and performances inspired by Encanto on select days.

The Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party also returns on select dates, featuring The Three Caballeros, mariachis, samba dancers, and more.

🎅 Where to Meet Santa at Disneyland Resort

Santa Claus will be making appearances across the resort this holiday season!

At Disneyland Park, Santa has a new location inside Mickey's Toontown Trolley Barn, near Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin.

Over at California Adventure, guests can visit Santa at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, which transforms into a holiday-themed playground featuring seasonal games and activities.

Santa will also make appearances at select times at all three Disneyland Resort hotels.

🍪 Christmas Food, Drinks, and Holiday Merchandise

Disneyland's holiday celebrations wouldn't be complete without festive food!

Several popular seasonal treats are returning this year, including:

• Mickey Elf Shake at Schmoozies! in Disney California Adventure.
• Milk and Cookies Tree-shaped Macaron at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe in Disneyland.

Specialty snacks, drinks, and other holiday-themed menu items will be available throughout the resort.

For collectors, Disney is also introducing seasonal merchandise, including the Mickey Train Light Up Bucket and Holiday Stitch Christmas Tree Sipper.

Holiday clothing, ornaments, collectible pins, and other Christmas-themed souvenirs will be available at select locations.

🏨 Disneyland Hotels Join the Holiday Celebrations

The festivities aren't limited to the theme parks!

Disneyland Hotel, Pixar Place Hotel, and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will feature holiday decorations and seasonal experiences.

The Grand Californian will also display a seven-foot-tall gingerbread creation inspired by the hotel's architecture.

Holiday character dining experiences begin November 16 and run through January 3, including:

• Goofy's Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays!
• Daisy's Holiday Pajama Party
• Mickey's Christmas Carol Feast

Disney also has a limited-time hotel offer with savings of up to 20% on select stays of three or more consecutive nights between October 11 and December 18, 2026. The offer is subject to availability and additional restrictions.

❄️ Downtown Disney Gets Festive Too!

Even guests without theme park tickets can enjoy some Christmas magic at Downtown Disney!

Beginning November 13, the district will feature holiday decorations, festive entertainment, seasonal food, and nightly simulated snowfall.

Chip and Dale's Ornament Trail also returns from November 11 through January 6.

Guests can purchase a special activity map, search for hidden ornaments throughout Downtown Disney, and redeem their completed map for a keepsake.

It's a fun seasonal activity for families looking to explore outside the parks.

🎢 Planning to Visit Disneyland During the Holidays?

The holiday season is one of the most exciting times to visit Disneyland, but popular attractions can also draw plenty of attention.

With seasonal favorites like Haunted Mansion Holiday and "it's a small world" Holiday returning, it's worth keeping an eye on attraction availability throughout the day.

Theme Park Alert helps guests monitor ride closures and reopenings, making it easier to keep track of what's happening around the parks without constantly checking attraction status.

And remember, Disneyland currently requires both a valid theme park ticket and a park reservation for admission to the same park on the same date.

Holiday entertainment schedules and attraction availability can change, so checking the latest information before your visit is always a good idea.

🎄 Which Disneyland Holiday Attraction Is Your Favorite?

There's something special about walking down Main Street surrounded by Christmas lights, hearing holiday music throughout the park, or riding Haunted Mansion with Jack Skellington running the show.

But everyone has their own favorite holiday tradition!

Which one are you most excited about this year?

👻 Haunted Mansion Holiday

🌎 "it's a small world" Holiday

🚗 Christmas in Cars Land

🎆 Holiday fireworks and World of Color

Let us know your favorite!

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Source: Disney Parks Blog – Guide to Holidays at the Disneyland Resort 2026. Attractions, entertainment, menus, and schedules are subject to change.