Disneyland Resort is getting ready to unwrap another full holiday season, and this year’s celebration brings back some of the resort’s most beloved traditions while adding new seasonal touches for guests planning a festive visit.
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort returns from Nov. 13, 2026, through Jan. 6, 2027, filling Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort, and Downtown Disney District with holiday entertainment, seasonal food and beverages, festive merchandise, character moments, and returning fan favorites.
The biggest headline for many guests is the return of World of Color – Season of Light to Disney California Adventure Park, but the full holiday lineup makes it clear that Disneyland Resort is once again building a resort-wide celebration designed for families, Disney fans, food lovers, and anyone chasing that end-of-year park magic.
World of Color – Season of Light Returns
At Disney California Adventure Park, World of Color – Season of Light returns as one of the season’s biggest nighttime offerings.
The holiday spectacular brings together water, color, projection, music, and Disney storytelling with moments inspired by films including Beauty and the Beast and Inside Out, set to holiday classics and fan-favorite songs.
For many Disneyland Resort guests, this is one of the most emotional holiday entertainment offerings in the parks. It gives Disney California Adventure its own nighttime holiday centerpiece and adds another reason to make the season a full two-park experience.
Classic Disneyland Holiday Entertainment Is Back
Over at Disneyland Park, the holiday traditions remain strong.
A Christmas Fantasy Parade returns to Main Street, U.S.A., bringing toy soldiers, dancing reindeer, gingerbread cookies, Disney characters, and the kind of classic holiday energy that has become part of the Disneyland seasonal experience.
The nighttime spectacular Believe… in Holiday Magic also returns, lighting up the sky with festive fireworks and magical “snowfall.” That snowfall remains one of the signature Disneyland holiday moments, especially for guests who make Main Street, U.S.A. part of their nighttime plans.
Sleeping Beauty Castle will also transform into Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, decorated with icicles, wreaths, and yuletide décor. Each evening, guests can experience Wintertime Enchantment at Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, with more than 80,000 twinkling lights and gentle “snow” falling along parts of Main Street, U.S.A. and other areas of the park.
Mickey, Minnie, and Friends Debut New Holiday Looks
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and their friends will greet guests in new holiday attire at Disneyland Park beginning Nov. 13.
This year’s festive looks are inspired by holiday travel and a wintry alpine gathering, giving the characters a fresh seasonal style for photos, greetings, and family memories.
Character fashion has become a major part of Disney park celebrations, especially during seasonal events. New costumes give returning guests something new to look forward to and help make the holiday season feel distinct from year to year.
Santa Adds a New Toontown Stop
Santa Claus will also have a new stop on his Disneyland Resort route this year.
From Nov. 13 through Dec. 24, 2026, Santa will appear at Mickey’s Toontown Trolley Barn near Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin in Disneyland Park. He will also make appearances at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in Disney California Adventure Park, along with select appearances at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort.
The Toontown addition gives families another holiday photo opportunity and adds even more seasonal energy to one of Disneyland’s most playful lands.
Holiday Attraction Overlays Return
Several favorite holiday overlays are also returning across the resort.
At Disneyland Park, guests can experience Haunted Mansion Holiday, which brings together Halloween and Christmas through the world of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. “it’s a small world” Holiday also returns, transforming the classic attraction with holiday music, lights, and global seasonal celebration.
At Disney California Adventure Park, Cars Land gets into the spirit with Mater’s Jingle Jamboree and Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl, adding holiday charm to two family-friendly attractions.
These overlays are a major reason guests return during the holidays. They make familiar attractions feel new again and help turn a standard park day into something more seasonal and memorable.
Disney Festival of Holidays Brings Culture, Food, and Music to Disney California Adventure
Disney Festival of Holidays returns to Disney California Adventure Park on Nov. 13, celebrating the many ways families honor the season through food, music, dance, and tradition.
The festival will feature cultural performances, seasonal entertainment, and six Festive Food Marketplaces offering a mix of new and returning dishes and drinks. Returning favorites include the fan-favorite braised pork belly adobo, and guests can purchase a Sip and Savor Pass with six digital coupons redeemable for select food and nonalcoholic beverages at participating marketplace and dining locations.
Entertainment will include the Holiday Toy Drummers, Mickey’s Happy Holidays cavalcade, and select-day performances of Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season at Paradise Gardens Park.
Also returning is Disney ¡Viva Navidad!, celebrating Latin American holiday traditions with live music, specialty dishes, character appearances, and select-day performances of the Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party featuring The Three Caballeros, Mexican folklórico dancers, mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers, and more.
Holiday Magic Extends to the Hotels and Downtown Disney
The celebration will also continue beyond the theme parks.
At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, guests can see a 7-foot-tall gingerbread display inspired by the hotel’s Craftsman architecture. Holiday character dining also returns for a limited time, including Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays! at the Disneyland Hotel, along with Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party and Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast at Storytellers Cafe.
Downtown Disney District will feature holiday shopping, seasonal snacks and sips, live entertainment, nightly “snowfall” at the Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage, and the return of Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail, where guests can purchase a map, search for hidden ornaments, and redeem it for a holiday keepsake while supplies last.
Disneyland Resort Hotel Savings Begin Sept. 22
Guests looking to extend their holiday visit can book select Disneyland Resort hotel stays beginning Sept. 22, 2026.
Disneyland Resort is offering savings of up to 20% on select stays of three or more nights at Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Pixar Place Hotel, and The Villas at Disneyland Hotel for stays from Oct. 11 through Dec. 18, 2026, subject to availability and restrictions.
For families planning a holiday trip, the offer gives guests another reason to turn the seasonal celebration into a multi-day vacation.
Disneyland’s Holiday Season Starts Nov. 13
From the return of World of Color – Season of Light to classic parade and fireworks offerings, festive attraction overlays, new character outfits, Santa in Toontown, Disney Festival of Holidays, hotel celebrations, and Downtown Disney entertainment, Disneyland Resort’s 2026 holiday season is shaping up to be one of the resort’s biggest end-of-year celebrations.
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort runs Nov. 13, 2026, through Jan. 6, 2027.
Disney Parks Blogs: Guide to Holidays at the Disneyland Resort 2026
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