It may seem a little too early for Halloween to be starting but it’s never too early to start thinking about the holidays! That’s especially true when it comes to Christmas at the Disney theme parks, our pick for the most wonderful time of the year. Disney has made the dreaming a little easier for us today by releasing news about the upcoming holiday season at Disneyland Resort which lasts from November 15th to January 6th. In this post, we’ll share the news including all of the festivities that will make their debut in 2024. Let’s get to it!

New Holiday Experiences Debut in 2024

This holiday season, Santa Claus and select characters will visit and create special memories with guests at the Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland, which will also feature cookie decorating, craft making, storytelling and atmospheric music throughout the day.

Santa will also make stops for photos at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in Disney California Adventure park, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel and Pixar Place Hotel through December 24. The big man also appears in Disneyland’s Christmas Fantasy Parade.

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will debut charming new looks in Disneyland. The Disney Parks Blog said they are reminiscent of writing letters to loved ones during the holidays? I guess there is a early 1900’s postal worker quality to them? It seems like a stretch though. Above is a preview of the outfits some of their pals will sport on Main Street, U.S.A., as seen at the top of this post! Also keep an eye out on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure and throughout Disneyland for characters making holiday appearances.

From November 22, 2024 through January 1, 2025, the Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail pursuit will debut at Downtown Disney District, where you can search for special ornaments hidden among the holiday trees and shining lights adorning the district. 

You’ll be able to purchase an activity map at select shopping locations in Downtown Disney and the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort and redeem it for a collectible holiday keepsake at World of Disney or Disney’s Pin Traders.

You will also be able to enjoy dozens of limited-time, holiday-themed food and beverages throughout Disneyland Resort. Full menus will be released later but for now we are thrilled to share some fan favorites will return like the Mickey Gingerbread! Among the novelties that will be available is the returning Holiday stainless steel tumbler. 

Beginning November 19, “Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays!” will delight guests at Disneyland Hotel and, for the first time, Mickey’s Holiday Pajama Party breakfast and brunch at Storytellers Cafe at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will serve holiday-themed meals, accompanied by seasonal décor and select characters donning new pajamas. Reservations will be available on Disneyland.com at a later date.   

Naturally, there will be merchandise. I’m secretly taking bets on what my wife will want to buy, so if you’d like to get in on that action leave a comment 😉 An assortment of merry merchandise will deck the halls at holiday shopping locations like World of Disney, Emporium, Elias & Co. and more.

Beloved Holiday Décor, Offerings and Entertainment Returns

A breathtaking and distinctly Disney holiday atmosphere will spread across Disneyland Resort, with sparkling décor creating ideal backdrops for family photos. Guests can hear holiday stories about Walt and the Disney family during the Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour, including highlights such as holiday themed treats and reserved viewing for A Christmas Fantasy Parade. 

All three Hotels of the Disneyland Resort will feature festive fun, including a massive gingerbread house inspired by pastries and candies on display at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and all-new décor at Pixar Place Hotel. The hotels will also have festive in-room celebrations available for purchase and special activities and entertainment during the holidays. 

Bookable experiences at Tenaya Stone Spa will bring relaxing holiday comfort, such as the Underneath the Tree Signature Massage and Warmth of Holiday Foot Treatment. Wow. I will not be partaking in these holiday theme massages (unless someone wants to sponsor that endeavor) but if anyone else does, please let us know how they’ve made these Christmas-y.

One very special Disney holiday tradition is watching “snow” fall from above and fireworks fill the air during the “Believe…In Holiday Magic” nighttime spectacular, which will perform nightly at Disneyland! And as an additional wintry treat every night, you’ll also experience “snowfall” along the Rivers of America, outside of “it’s a small world” Holiday, on Main Street, U.S.A., and the west end of Downtown Disney.

In Disney California Adventure, hundreds of fountains dance to festive music and shimmering snowflakes fill Paradise Bay during the nighttime spectacular World of Color – Season of Light presented by Pandora Jewelry. 

Select attractions will receive seasonal overlays, including a world tour of good cheer for all ages at “it’s a small world” Holiday and seasonal surprises inspired by “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” at Haunted Mansion Holiday in Disneyland park. The jolly residents of Radiator Springs get ready to “deck the hauls” with Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure park.

Get a Taste of Disney Festival of Holidays and Disney ¡Viva Navidad!

The welcoming and vibrant Disney Festival of Holidays returns to Disney California Adventure, highlighting a diverse season of celebrations in Southern California with a wide range of flavorful food and beverages, a variety of live entertainment and more.

You can look forward to new and returning menu items at the Festive Food Marketplaces and select dining locations in Disney California Adventure. You may choose to purchase a scannable Sip and Savor Pass in either a four-coupon or eight-coupon version, which can be redeemed for select food and nonalcoholic beverages from participating locations.

Upbeat live entertainment expands the festival’s tapestry of diversity and brings high energy to the holiday fun. A slate of new cultural performance groups – along with returning favorites – will perform joyous music and dance across a range of genres. Plus, you will be able to enjoy holiday rhythms as iconic Disney characters march to the beat of festive music during the “Mickey’s Happy Holidays” cavalcade.

You’ll also discover this year’s Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays merchandise collection, which can be found at Merchandise Marketplace and Elias & Co. in Disney California Adventure. If you’re joining that betting pool, here’s a tip: I don’t think Melissa will be as into the Festival of Holidays merch.

Paradise Gardens at Disney California Adventure will be home to the returning Disney ¡Viva Navidad! festivities, which include daily crafts, live music, menu items and décor inspired by Latin American traditions – with a dash of Disney flair. Here, you may also encounter Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, The Three Caballeros and Mirabel from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto.”

The Disney ¡Viva Navidad! street party will perform on select days, featuring The Three Caballeros accompanied by Mexican folklórico dancers and mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers and percussionists, and more. On days when the Disney ¡Viva Navidad! street party is not scheduled, guests may encounter Mirabel from Disney Animation’s “Encanto” or Miguel from Pixar Animation Studios’ “Coco” in festive street performances that celebrate the holidays and the gift of familia, outside the entrance to Paradise Gardens Park. Guests can check Disneyland.com and the Disneyland app for performance schedules.

Along with all of the festivities, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open on November 15th at Disneyland! This should add to the excitement of the holidays.

As the season gets closer, we’ll update our Disneyland Resort Christmas Guide. For now, we’ll just brave the 90 degree days and dream of a white Christmas!

Are you excited for Christmas at Disneyland Resort? Let us know, along with any questions you might have, in the comments below! Planning a trip to Disneyland? Check out our Planning Guide here. Looking for discount tickets? Check out this site! If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends, as well as like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. All of those links are on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!