The Holidays at Disneyland Resort are pure magic. Twinkling lights, festive music, cozy treats and plenty of Disney cheer at every turn. From Nov. 14, 2025, through Jan. 7, 2026, both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure transform into a winter wonderland filled with limited-time entertainment, ride overlays, food and character experiences.
Every corner of the resort feels like a holiday postcard. Main Street, U.S.A. glows under thousands of twinkling lights with a towering Christmas tree in Town Square. Sleeping Beauty Castle shimmers with snow-tipped turrets, while the sound of sleigh bells and cheerful carols fills the air. Across the esplanade, Disney California Adventure celebrates with its own festivities. You’ll find multicultural musical performances, colorful decorations and the delicious smells of the Disney Festival of Holidays wafting through the park.
It's a season of joy, togetherness and a little Disney magic sprinkled everywhere. Whether you're visiting for the first time or continuing a family tradition, the holidays at Disneyland are all about making memories that will warm your heart long after you've left the park.
Here are the top 10 things you can't miss this season!
10 Merry Must-Dos for the Holidays at Disneyland in 2025
1. Ride Holiday Overlays
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Two classic Disneyland attractions get a holly-jolly twist each year! Jack Skellington and friends take over Haunted Mansion Holiday, decking the halls with creepy cheer straight from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. Over in Fantasyland, "it’s a small world" Holiday glows with thousands of lights and a festive soundtrack that celebrates peace on Earth.
At Disney California Adventure, two Cars Land rides each get a festive musical overlay as well. Take a spin on Luigi's Joy to the Whirl and Mater's Jingle Jamboree.
2. Watch "A Christmas Fantasy Parade"
Marching toy soldiers, prancing reindeer and Santa himself! This beloved parade, "A Christmas Fantasy," is a must-see at Disneyland Park, bringing Main Street, U.S.A. to life with music, floats and classic characters dressed for the season. Be sure to grab a viewing spot early since it’s one of the most popular events of the year! We recommend seeing the second parade because it looks so festively aglow at night.
3. Catch "Believe... In Holiday Magic" Fireworks
The magic truly arrives when the snow begins to fall on Main Street. The "Believe … In Holiday Magic" fireworks fill the sky with color and festive music while Wintertime Enchantment at Sleeping Beauty Castle sparkles and snows. It's the perfect finale to a Disneyland day. For even more magic, catch the tree lighting around sunset on Main Street, U.S.A.
4. Witness "it's a small world" Holiday Lighting
Don't miss the nightly lighting ceremony at "it's a small world" Holiday, where the attraction's iconic facade bursts into color and song. This year, the new Tapestry of Happiness adds an extra layer of 70th anniversary magic, celebrating joy, unity and global togetherness through a dazzling projection show.
5. Meet Characters in Their Holiday Best
From Mickey, Minnie and their friends in classic winter-wear to Goofy in full Santa mode and Chip 'n' Dale as gingerbread men, characters across both parks are dressed to impress. You'll find them around Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland Park, Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure and beyond. These festive meet and greets are worth the wait!
You can even meet Chewbacca dressed in red for Life Day in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at night or listen to silly stories by Deadpool in a Santa hat in Avengers Campus!
6. Meet Santa
Santa Claus makes appearances all across the resort. Catch him at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in Disney California Adventure or at the Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland Park. Kids can share their wish lists, snap a photo and maybe even get a sprinkle of North Pole magic. Here's our guide on where to meet Santa at the Disneyland Resort. From Christmas Eve to the end of Holiday Time at Disneyland, find Santa Goofy at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail! And don't froget to say hi to Jack Skellington dressed as Santa in New Orleans Square.
7. Sample Festival of Holidays Food and Drink
Come hungry! Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure serves up a global celebration of flavors such as tamales, mac 'n' cheese, holiday churros, yule logs and warm spiced drinks. Grab a Sip and Savor Pass if you want to taste your way around the festive marketplaces.
8. Check out Multicultural Entertainment
The holidays at Disney California Adventure celebrate cultures from around the world with live performances, music and storytelling. Don't miss Mirabel from "Encanto" and Miguel from "Coco" as they join the fun, adding vibrant Latin flair to the season's celebrations. The Three Caballeros, alongside Mickey and Minnie, host the Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party, featuring mariachis, folklórico and samba dancers and even 12-foot-tall mojiganga puppets of Santa and Mrs. Claus.
9. Watch Mickey's Happy Holidays Cavalcade
This upbeat mini-parade brings Mickey and friends to life with dancing drummers, high-energy music and colorful costumes. You can catch Mickey's Happy Holidays several times a day as it makes its way through Buena Vista Street and Paradise Gardens Park.
10. Try a Holiday-Themed Character Dining Experience
Looking for a cozy way to wrap up your day? Head to one of the Disneyland Resort hotels for special holiday character dining. Enjoy festive brunch, lunch and dinners, themed desserts and visits from some of your favorite Disney pals all decked out in their holiday best. There are two new holiday meals at Storytellers Cafe in 2025. Get cozy at Daisy's Holiday Pajama Party during breakfast and brunch. Then at dinner, Mickey's Christmas Carol Feast brings yuletide fun with Mickey, Scrooge McDuck and beloved Disney friends. While you are at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, hop by the lobby to take in the giant gingerbread display and pick up some popular Mickey gingerbread cookies from the cookie cart. Our hotel holiday dining guide has all the info about the specialty food and drinks at Disneyland.
Hop over to our post on everything you can expect during the holidays at Disneyland.
The holidays at Disneyland Resort truly have something for everyone, from heartwarming shows to sweet treats and glowing lights that make the parks sparkle brighter than ever. Save on Disneyland tickets by purchasing through Undercover Tourist! Every Undercover Tourist Disneyland ticket comes with FREE $20 Dining Dollars promo codes. You can apply those to save up to 15% on Disney gift cards to use for dining and purchases during your trip!
Related: Guide to the ~Hoppiest~ Holidays at Disneyland 2025
Related: Hoppin' Good Guide to Disney Festival of Holidays 2025
Keep hopping!
