We have dates and details about the holiday festivities coming to Disneyland Resort in 2025. In this post, we’ll share the news before adding our commentary at the end.
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort, including the upbeat Disney Festival of Holidays and Disney ¡Viva Navidad! return on Nov. 14, 2025, and continue through Jan. 7, 2026. Decor, shows and different experiences will all be offered during the season.
During the holiday season, some Disneyland Resort 70th Celebrationentertainment will continue to sparkle, so guests will be able to Celebrate Happy all year around. As usual, Santa often will make stops around the resort to listen to Christmas wishes, making appearances at both theme parks and the three Hotels of the Disneyland Resort.
Holidays at Disneyland Park
As you stroll into Disneyland park, you may spot Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and some of their friends in sparkling new outfits. These designs are a “holiday spin” on their clothing from the 70thCelebration. Shimmering greens, reds and golds steal the show, with 70th nods throughout.
While snow is very rare in Southern California, magical “snowfall” drifts down each night during Wintertime Enchantment at Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, where 80,000 shimmering lights transform the castle into a snowy, sparkling wonder. Don’t miss the breathtaking “Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular, with flurries gliding along Main Street, U.S.A., near “it’s a small world” Holiday and the Rivers of America.
Guests can also enjoy “A Christmas Fantasy Parade,” where beloved Disney characters, toy soldiers and dancing gingerbread cookies make their way down Main Street, U.S.A., in a warm celebration of the season.
For a terrific view, post up near “it’s a small world” Holiday, along the parade route next to the Matterhorn Bobsleds or Main Street, U.S.A. Reserved viewing for the parade is included when you book the Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour.
You may also choose to immerse yourself in the magic of the season through attraction overlays, like the whimsical winter makeover of “it’s a small world” Holiday and the Nightmare Before Christmas themed Haunted Mansion Holiday.
“Holiday Fun with Santa and Friends!” returns to the Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland park to spread holiday cheer. Engage in craft-making, sing-alongs to beloved holiday classics and magical photo opportunities with select Disney characters and Santa himself.
Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park
At Disney California Adventure park, Cars Land really gets into the festivities! Park yourself amid the colorful lights, wreaths, bows and Christmas-y cones right before sunset for a neon-lit “Sh-Boom” transition from day to night.
Winter in Radiator Springs is especially fun when you ride Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl in his decked-out backyard and hear tow-riffic original lyrics to holiday classics on Mater’s Jingle Jamboree. These are smaller overlays but well done!
Need to refuel your tank? Try the new Jerry’s Junk Truck Cone from Cozy Cone Motel.
Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park
Disney Festival of Holidays returns to Disney California Adventure park Nov. 14, 2025, through Jan. 7, 2026. This festival is bursting with color, culture and cheer — showcasing a diverse season of celebrations through delicious food, a daily rotation of live entertainment and unique merchandise.
Festive Food Marketplaces will be sprinkled in different areas of the park, where new and returning bites and beverages await, such as the fan-favorite braised pork belly adobo.
You can purchase a Sip and Savor Pass to taste your way through the festivities at participating locations. These passes include six digital coupons that can be redeemed for select food and nonalcoholic beverages around Disney California Adventure park.
The streets of Disney California Adventure park come alive with a blend of joyful music, dancing and cultural performances. You may spot a group of Holiday Toy Drummers marching to merry rhythms or the “Mickey’s Happy Holidays” cavalcade featuring both Disney and Pixar characters.
Also on select days, Mirabel from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto” and her friends recount stories and perform hit songs from the film in the street performance, “Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season.” Mirabel is also among the characters rotating at the Paradise Gardens Park gazebo, sharing holiday greetings and posing for photo opportunities.
On select days at Carthay Circle on Buena Vista Street, keep an eye out for “A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel!” as they perform bilingual renditions of favorite holiday songs. Toward the end, you may spot Miguel from Pixar Animation Studios’ “Coco.”
Celebrate Culture and Familia at Disney ¡Viva Navidad!
Head to Paradise Gardens Park at Disney California Adventure for the return of Disney ¡Viva Navidad!, a heartwarming celebration inspired by Latin American holiday traditions — with a spirited Disney twist! Delight in live music, crafts, festive décor, flavorful dishes and appearances by Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and The Three Caballeros.
On select days, the “Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party” lights up the area with folklórico dancers, mariachis, samba performers and more, led by The Three Caballeros in a vibrant display of rhythm and color.
Holiday Cheer at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort
The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort will be brimming with holiday cheer and decked out with seasonal decor. You can look forward to specialty dining, carolers and an encounter with Santa!
You’ll have several festive character dining options to choose from this holiday season, including a brand-new character dinner experience called Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast at Storytellers Cafe at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party at Storytellers Cafe for breakfast and brunch, where Daisy Duck and Donald Duck join the character lineup. You can also make memories at Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays! at the Disneyland Hotel or partake in Holiday Tea with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Hearthstone Lounge at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Reservations will be available soon!
Get into the spirit with a returning holiday-themed beverage menu at Broken Spell Lounge in the Disneyland Hotel, featuring creative twists on classics like hot chocolate and eggnog, paired with live jazz music on select days.
If relaxation is on your wish list, try the Underneath the Tree signature massage or the Joy of Holiday body treatment at Tenaya Stone Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
Guests can make reservations now with limited-time savings up to 20% on select stays of three or more nights at Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and The Villas at Disneyland Hotel from Aug. 17-Dec. 19, 2025, subject to availability and restrictions.
Downtown Disney District for the Holidays
The Downtown Disney District transforms into a festive wonderland during the holiday season, brimming with seasonal flavors, sounds and sights, including a beautiful nightly “snowfall” pictured above.
Stroll through twinkling lights and wintery décor, while enjoying the joyful sounds of live music at the Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage. Along the way, discover a sleigh-ful of merry food and beverage offerings, from sweet treats to cozy seasonal sips, available at participating locations.
Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail returns this year, inviting you to search for special ornaments hanging from trees throughout the Downtown Disney District. Purchase an activity map from a participating retail location, embark on your search, and exchange the map at a redemption location to receive a keepsake.
2025 Holiday Merchandise and Food and Beverage
Holiday merchandise will be available at Elias & Co., Emporium, World of Disney and other select shopping destinations.
The festive color palette and Santa Mickey artwork on this year’s Mickey Mouse Family Christmas Collection brings the magic of Christmas to life with nostalgic and whimsical storytelling. The range of apparel, accessories, home décor and more make great souvenirs or holiday gifts for loved ones.
There will also be dozens of limited-time, holiday-themed food and beverages throughout the Disneyland Resort, such as the returning peppermint cold brew and Mickey-shaped gingerbread cookie.
Disneyland Resort 70thCelebration
Select entertainment from the 70th Celebration will continue during the holiday season, so you’ll still be able to enjoy the “World of Color Happiness!”nighttime spectacular and “Tapestry of Happiness” projections. “Paint the Night” parade and other entertainment experiences will pause temporarily during the holiday season and resume at a later date.
Areas and attractions around the resort will retain special touches, including decorative accents and the colorful castle photo opportunity in the esplanade. Interactive MagicBand+ locations and the Key to Disneyland lock stations will remain available through the season.
Commentary
We don’t have a ton to add at this point as hardly anything new was announced. We love the holiday season at Disneyland Resort, specifically the entertainment at California Adventure and the ride overlays at Disneyland. I’m sure we’ll continue to love them this year.
That said, I was hoping for a few new additions in 2025. Those could obviously still be announced but I wouldn’t count on it. I may be in the minority here but would love to see the holiday fireworks and/or parade at Disneyland redone. I’d prefer that Wondrous Journeys continued on instead of the current Halloween or Christmas shows. Hopefully that doesn’t make me a grinch. As for the parade, it could certainly use some touching up.
I am happy to see that certain 70th anniversary items will continue – notably Tapestry of Happiness! That show is fantastic if you haven’t had the chance to see it yet. On the other hand, I’m very disappointed that there was no mention of Paint the Night continuing. It could be a lack of performers (hire more!) but I suspect it’s more of a monetary decision.
Overall, we’re very excited for Disneyland Resort’s holiday season but wish there had been more to this announcement. If you’re thinking of going to these parks around this time, we’d still highly encourage it. There’s no beating the holidays in the parks!
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