On November 15th, Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, kicked off their holiday season with the highly anticipated opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. This coincided with updated decor throughout the park, performances, new dining and shopping opportunities and even updated outfits for the most classic of Disney characters. Here’s a look at what you can expect from Disneyland and California Adventure Park – Disney’s two parks in California – as they celebrate the holidays until 6th January 2025.
A new attraction at Disneyland: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Only a few times in its history has the OG Disneyland location updated an existing attraction with new IP. Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage comes to mind, which replaced Submarine Voyage in 2007. This time, it was the beloved 1989 log flume ride Splash Mountain that underwent a lengthy overhaul, both in California and in Orlando, to reintroduce as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Based around the film The Princess and the Frog, the new experience opened in Orlando just in time for the Summer, and now in Anaheim it has opened just in time for the holiday season.
You can learn more about the ride in our article HERE.
And of course there is plenty of new tie-in merchandise to buy in stores around the Disneyland Resort – including two new stores dedicated to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Ray’s Berets and the Critter Club. There’s new clothes, a restaurant fund coffee can filled with chocolate coins and a cookbook inspired by Tiana’s restaurant. Even Ray the Firefly has his own glow toy! And no Disneyland attraction would be complete without a new bucket hat or selection of pins.
Classic rides receive a holiday makeover
While they are only temporary makeovers, a number of rides are set to bring holiday cheer.
At Disneyland, it’s a small world Holiday transports guests through a world tour of good cheer on that classic attraction – with holiday displays on the ride itself, and its iconic exterior. Meanwhile, Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas will once again bring whimsical sights and seasonal surprises to Haunted Mansion Holiday. This is the now annual takeover of Haunted Mansion that returns after a period of refurbishment for the classic ride. There is a digital queue operating as the physical queue continues to undergo updates, so make sure to jump on that through the Disneyland app as soon as you arrive in the park.
In Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park, Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree will also be undergoing seasonal transformations to become Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree.
New street performances with characters from iconic Disney and Pixar films
Disney Festival of Holidays at Anaheim’s second gate, California Adventure, is delivering guests new holiday themed street performances from two of its more relatively recent films: Encanto and Coco. For the latter, you’ll be able to join “Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland and Miguel from Pixar’s Coco as they celebrate the spirit of the holidays through heartfelt stories and timeless songs.” They’ll be performing “a musical celebration featuring delightful bilingual renditions of favorite holiday songs.”.
“On Monday through Friday evenings, “A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel!” celebrates the spirit of the holidays through heartfelt stories and timeless songs in an enchanting street performance on Buena Vista Street. The celebration closes with a special appearance by Miguel from Pixar Animation Studios’ “Coco” for a beautiful rendition of “Silent Night.”
Meanwhile, for Encanto, parkgoers will join Mirabel and her friends as they “rejoice in the spirit of the holidays as they bring everyone together for their very own Fiesta de Navidad celebration… with whimsical stories and cherished songs.” This promises to include songs from the now iconic movie.
“Outside the entrance to Paradise Gardens Park, “Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season” presents a joyful celebration of the holidays, as Mirabel and her friends discover the importance of bringing everyone together during their very own Fiesta de Navidad celebration. The festive and heartfelt street performance invites kids and families to sing along with the beloved songs from the popular Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Encanto on Mondays through Fridays during the holiday season.”
Also look out for Holiday Toy Drummers and more street celebrations with Mickey and Minnie, all as part of “Mickey’s Happy Holidays”.
The Festive Food Marketplace
Also at California Adventure, you’ll find the Festive Food Marketplace, with new items this year including the sticky toffee pudding macaron, al pastor pork and pineapple slider, and chilaquiles
carnitas torta. To get a taste of a bit of everything, you can get a scannable Sip and Savor Pass, with four-coupon and eight-coupon versions. This can then be digitally redeemed for select food and nonalcoholic beverages from participating marketplaces and dining locations in Disney California Adventure Park. Restrictions apply, and you can read more about this pass HERE.
Beyond this, dozens of holiday-themed food and beverages will be available across both parks for a limited time, including hits like the Santa Baymax macaron at Lucky Fortune Cookery, holiday beef potato at Troubadour 3 Tavern and the elf Mickey shake at Schmoozies! Among the novelties that will be available, while supplies last, is the Mickey toy soldier drummer sipper and the holiday travel tumbler.
Disney ¡Viva Navidad! at California Adventure
Paradise Gardens at California Adventure will also be “home to the returning celebration Disney ¡Viva Navidad!, featuring daily crafts, specialty dishes at Paradise Garden Grill, live music and décor. Here, guests may encounter Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, The Three Caballeros and Mirabel. The Disney ¡Viva Navidad! street party performs on Saturdays and Sundays during the holiday season. Hosted by The Three Caballeros, the celebration features lively Mexican folklórico dancers and mariachis, uplifting Brazilian samba dancers and percussionists, along with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their fiesta best, and more.”
“Snow”, Holiday Nighttime Spectaculars and Parades
Back at the OG park, beloved Disney characters will come together for a merry musical celebration during “A Christmas Fantasy Parade”.
Every night, festive fireworks and stirring music bring the season to life during the “Believe…In Holiday Magic” nighttime spectacular at Disneyland Park. “Snow” (which are basically fancy bubbles) is scheduled to fall every night along the Rivers of America, near it’s a small world Holiday and portions of Main Street, U.S.A.
Hundreds of fountains dance to festive music and shimmering “snowflakes” fill Paradise Bay each evening during the nighttime spectacular “World of Color – Season of Light” in Disney California Adventure Park.
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus and select characters will have holiday meet with guests at the all-new “Holiday Fun with Santa and Friends!” at the Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland Park. This festive offering also presents craft making, sing-alongs of holiday songs and atmospheric music daily. Santa also makes stops at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in Disney California Adventure Park through Dec. 24, and at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel and Pixar Place Hotel from Nov. 28 through Dec. 24.
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and some of their friends will also make appearances in Disneyland Park in all-new outfits reminiscent of writing heartfelt letters during the holidays. You can get a taste of that in the article’s headline image. Select characters also dress for the occasion on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure Park.
On a side note, guests who want to learn more about the history of the park, can hear holiday stories about Walt and the Disney family during the Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour.
A festive Downtown Disney District (and hotels!)
You don’t even need to visit one of the parks for these one. Throughout the Downtown Disney District, guests can search for special ornaments along the all-new Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail pursuit from Nov. 22, 2024-Jan. 1,2025. Guests can purchase an activity map at select shopping locations in Downtown Disney District and the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort to help their search and redeem it at World of Disney or Disney’s Pin Traders for a holiday keepsake. From Nov. 29 through Jan. 6, “snow” will also fall on the reimagined west end of the district.
Several new holiday merchandise collections can be found throughout Disneyland Resort including the Mickey Mouse Family Christmas, Holiday Red and Snowman collections. Ideal for gifting to friends and family, an assortment of merry merchandise decks the halls at holiday shopping locations like World of Disney, Emporium, Elias & Co. and more.
The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort will also feature special holiday offerings and entertainment. New décor will adorn the colorful, contemporary setting of Pixar Place Hotel for its first holiday season, featuring 31 uniquely decorated trees celebrating 10 Pixar films and over 6,500 ornaments. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa displays an impressive gingerbread house inspired by pastries and candies in the lobby, while Mickey’s Holiday Pajama Party breakfast and brunch at Storytellers Cafe features seasonal décor and select characters sporting new pajamas. Guests can discover a range of bookable holiday experiences, such as Tenaya Stone Spa and Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays!
There’s also some special limited time ticket offers for Disney+ subscribers. Head to Disneyland.com/DisneylandHolidayOffer for more details.
Guests should check Disneyland.com and the Disneyland app for the full list of entertainment and performance schedules.
Headline Photo: Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort. Other photos provided by Disney, unless otherwise credited.
