I Visited Disneyland for the Holidays Season and It Was Magical

Although Halloween at Disneyland is easily my favorite seasonal experience at the Southern California parks, for many, the Holidays reign supreme. Disneyland Resort and California Adventure go all out when it comes to Christmas-time at the parks, filling both with unique treats to try, merch to buy, and, most importantly, activities to experience.

Disneyland invited me for the first day of its Holiday season, which runs from now until January 7th. Guests have a lot to enjoy during the next few months, from returning favorites to a few new surprises. I have to admit, even though my love for Halloween is strong, there is something magical about being in Disneyland during the Holidays.

Disneyland and California Adventure Transform in a Big Way

Entering Disneyland is a magical experience all on its own, walking through the arches and seeing the Disneyland Railroad station for the first time sets the tone and things only get better from there. As you get a little further in and see Cinderella’s castle off in the distance, there is nothing like it. The sights combined with the sounds solidify that the day is going to be a good one no matter the circumstances.

Disneyland at Christmastime, however, is extra special with all the decor. You’re surrounded by garlands and holiday decorations in every nook and cranny. The music is appropriately Christmas-y. And if you catch the right whiff of some food, there is a bit of Holiday sensory overload. But the big thematic details that make Holidays at Disney unique are the snow-covered towers on Cinderella’s castle and the massive Christmas trees that take center stage at both Disneyland and California Adventure. Much like the massive pumpkin at Halloween-time, those trees are a major focal point and set the stage for a seasonal experience unlike any other. And the castle at night, all lit up, is something else.

There really are very few corners of Disneyland and California Adventure that haven’t been sprinkled with a little holiday cheer during the season. It makes it hard to escape the infectious atmosphere, and why would you want to?

Not to be outdone by the design of the parks, everyone’s favorite characters have some new Holiday outfits, from Mickey and Minnie to Chip and Dale. For a lot of Disney theme park fans, getting those seasonal pictures with the characters is a must, and I have to say that the outfits this year are all fantastic. Chip and Dale take top honors, though, with their Gingerbread Man get-ups. And if you pop over to California Adventure, you can see many of those same characters in Wintertime outfits as well.

All the little touches that transform Disneyland and California Adventure into a winter wonderland are what make the Holidays so sought after for so many guests. It is truly something that you can only understand when you experience it for yourself. There is a beauty to the design of each element, and hearing Holiday music further hammers home that shift from Fall to Winter (even if it’s still technically Fall).

The Holidays Bring Parades, Fireworks, Ride Overlays and More

It was a rainy day when I visited Disneyland for the holiday events, so a lot of the experiences that are on offer during the season were not available or canceled. Many of them are returning from previous years, though, and I can say that they are all fantastic. I’ve since seen the “A Christmas Fantasy” parade, which brings out the favorites from both Disney and Pixar and has a very catchy main song. For Encanto fans, California Adventure has the Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season show, which hits a lot of the fan favorite songs from the film and features appearances from a few members of the Madrigal family.

For the older crowd, DCA also has the holiday-themed Deadpool show back, where he recounts a Holiday tale (this year it was Twas the Night Before Christmas), takes every opportunity to improv, and is visited by his good buddy Wolverine. Every Deadpool show I’ve seen since he started appearing last year to promote Deadpool & Wolverine has been hilarious, and this Holiday Special iteration is no different.

And of course, it wouldn’t be a new season without a nighttime spectacular. Believe...in Holiday Magic is back (with fireworks on select nights and weather permitting) to serve as the perfect capper to a day filled with Holiday cheer. The original song is the star of the show, but the orchestral versions of Holiday classics like We Three Kings are simply sublime. And the finale for Believe, which I won’t spoil, is just perfect.

Ride Overlays During Holidays at Disneyland

Haunted Mansion Holiday is still active during the Holiday season, and while I prefer standard Haunted Mansion, I know that there are tons of fans that flock to Disney just to see this iteration. If like me you saw it during the Halloween time, then you can double dip, but be prepared for lines because it is popular.

It’s a Small World gets a holiday overlay as well, starting first with the exterior that is packed with Christmas lights. Witnessing the lighting of Small World is an experience all its own, and makes for a fantastic nighttime photo spot.

Inside the ride, the mixture of Jingle Bells and the iconic Small World song gives the Disneyland classic its own personality. So many characters are wearing Holiday-time outfits that you must go through a few times to spot everything.

Disneyland Holiday Merch Brings Cute and Cozy Vibes

A new season means new merchandise, and while Disneyland hasn’t gone overboard with items this year, there are still some great options available. The Minnie driving her freshly cut Christmas tree popcorn bucket is incredible, as is the Mickey as Santa sipper. There are new candy cane themed Mickey ears to wear, new pins to collect, and quite a few fun clothing designs inspired by the warm and cozy season.

Because it’s getting colder, a lot of clothing items are meant to keep you warm, but even then, there are some cute shirt designs and accessories as well. I spent my budget on Halloween merch (as I always do), so for me, it’s about admiring from afar. However, if you do love the season, Disneyland has you covered.

Trying All the Delicious Disneyland Food and Treats

Disneyland has a diverse offering of food options for this year’s Holiday season, including the return of its Festival of the Holidays in California Adventure. As you might expect, food offerings range from comfort food favorites, to sweet treats, and Mexican inspired dishes. Peppermint, gingerbread, and pumpkin are plentiful in both parks, but there are some dishes inspired by the mix of savory/sweet you typically see in Thanksgiving, as well as some completely unexpected items.

Festival of the Holidays is back for 2025 with 6 different booths featuring an array of savory dishes, sweet treats, and non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages. It’s not as big as the Food and Wine festival, but Festival of the Holidays still has a little something for everyone.

I’m always drawn to Harbour Galley’s fresh baked chocolate chip cookies every time I vist Disneyland, and for the Holiday season the Galley has fresh-baked Gingerbread cookies which are fantastic. If you like your Wintertime to be a little more Peppermint-y, the season beignet at the Mint Julep Bar is Peppermint flavor and they are among my favorite of the seasonal beignet options. At Alien Pizza Planet, Disneyland always likes to tweak its Alien Macaroon and for the Holidays it’s filled with Salted Caramel and brownie pieces, with some cute reindeer antlers on the Toy Story alien face.

But my personal favorite among all of the treats at Disneyland during the holidays is the Toffee Pretzel from the Pretzel cart in Tommorowland. It’s dusted with toffee sugar that I could eat all by itself, but smothered over a cream cheese pretzel is what pushes it over the edge. I know I’m not alone in saying that I wish the Tofee Pretzel was available year-round.

On the savory front, I tried the Claw-sagna Pasta because I’m a sucker for Ricotta. It was my only disappointment of the day because it didn’t feel particularly special. The flavors are good but it’s a little too plain to get again. I also tried the Merry Cranberry Crispy Chicken sandwich, which gives those sweet savory vibes that typify Thanksgiving time. It was delicious.

The Festival of Holidays Food Booths Have Something for Everyone

Like with other California Adventure booth-focused events, there is a Sip & Savor Pass available that you can purchase to get a discount on your food items. The Pass entitles you to 6 selections from the various booths, minus alcoholic beverages and a massive Turkey leg. You can use your Sip & Savor Pass all at once during a single visit, or save redemptions for repeat trips to California Adventure. It’s a great value if at least 6 items catch your fancy, and well worth the investment, but if you just want to sample an item or two you can.

During my trip to Disneyland for the Holidays, I tried some new and returning favorites. The Holiday Duet pairs Kugel Mac & Cheese with Al Pastor Mac & Cheese for an immensely creamy combination that packs a little spice. The Holiday M&M’s Eclair is decadent and filled with delicious chocolate mousse. The Barbacoa Tamal de Res gives that comforting, home-y feel. The Beef Brisket Slider is juicy, tender, and just melts in your mouth. The Braised Pork Belly Adobo has a little tang to it and is incredibly tender. And for a little something different, I tried the Guava Mango Lassi, which was thick and creamy with just enough sweetness to cut through rich savory dishes I tried.

The Holiday Foods Marketplace has a nice variety of booths this year. There were enough enticing food items to make it hard to decide where to spend my 6 Sip & Savor redemptions, and everything I tried was delicious. I’d imagine most will find at least one or two choices they’re interested in, and they won’t be disappointed.

There is a reason Holidays at Disneyland are treasured by so many fans. The parks pack everything that you come to expect from seasonal theming into each aspect of the park, but here they turn it up to 11. From the castle to the food to the characters to the ride overlays, this is the premiere Disneyland seasonal experience. I can’t wait to go back and experience the things I didn’t the first time around and, honestly, do everything else again and again.