New Entertainment Offerings Coming to the Disneyland Resort
Get ready for holiday cheer! Disneyland Resort is bringing back the magic from November 15, 2024, to January 6, 2025. Expect a dazzling array of festive fun for the whole family, including beloved characters, dazzling nighttime shows, and lively musical performances. This year, the lineup adds some brand new music and dance acts to the mix, alongside all your favorite holiday classics.
This guide is your one-stop shop for planning your merriest Disneyland adventure yet! It highlights must-see entertainment across Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, Downtown Disney District, and even the Disneyland Resort hotels.
Related – Food & Beverage Guide to Festival of Holidays at Disneyland
Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park
NEW! “Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season”
Scheduled Mondays through Fridays outside the entrance to Paradise Gardens Park
Mirabel from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto” and her friends rejoice in the spirit of the holidays, bringing everyone together during their very own Fiesta de Navidad celebration. Kids of all ages and families will enjoy singing along to the beloved songs from the film in this heartfelt musical presentation.
NEW! “A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel!”
Scheduled Monday through Friday evenings on Buena Vista Street
This nighttime show gathers friends and families to listen to heartfelt stories and timeless songs in an enchanting celebration of the holidays. Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland, accompanied by graceful dancers, delivers intimate, bilingual performances of beloved Christmas songs. The celebration closes with a special appearance by Miguel from Pixar Animation Studios’ “Coco” for a beautiful rendition of “Silent Night.” This is a treat you must experience this season!
Expanded Variety of New and Returning Live Musical Acts
Scheduled daily at various stages across Disney California Adventure park
This year’s festival features an expanded rotation of live bands and cultural performance groups – bringing a variety of high-energy seasonal fun each day for all ages to enjoy.
The live entertainment across Disney California Adventure displays an extensive range of genres, including mariachi, jazz, klezmer, Latin pop, fusion, reggae, polka and more. Several new live bands and cultural performance groups will perform at the festival, such as Joy, Rangoli Rhythms, Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts, Keali’I O Nālani & Daniel Ho, and more! You can also enjoy a season of celebrations with many returning favorites, including Blue13 Dance Company and The Mistletoes!
“Mickey’s Happy Holidays” and Holiday Toy Drummers
Scheduled daily at Disney California Adventure park
Families and kids will want to dance along to holiday rhythms as iconic Disney characters march along the Disney California Adventure park parade route to the beat of the Holiday Toy Drummers during “Mickey’s Happy Holidays.”
In addition, the playfully percussive precision of the Holiday Toy Drummers will delightfully drum up seasonal cheer for all to hear in front of the obelisk in Paradise Gardens Park!
Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party
Scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 16 through Jan. 5
Hosted by The Three Caballeros, the Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party features lively Mexican folklórico dancers and mariachis, uplifting Brazilian samba dancers and percussionists, and more! Plus, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse make an appearance in their colorful fiesta attire.
Encounter Santa Claus and Favorite Characters
NEW! “Holiday Fun with Santa and Friends!” at Fantasyland Theatre
Scheduled daily at Disneyland Park
Throughout the day, Santa Claus and select Disney characters will make appearances and pose for holiday photos at “Holiday Fun with Santa and Friends!” at the Fantasyland Theatre. Families can also enjoy craft making, sing-alongs of holiday classics and atmospheric music.
Meet Santa Claus at Disneyland Resort
Daily from Nov. 15 through Dec. 24 at Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park
Daily from Nov. 28 through Dec. 24 at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort
Enjoy merry moments, snap festive photos and share holiday wishes with Santa Claus, who will also stop by Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in Disney California Adventure through December 24. From December 25, 2024, through January 6, 2025, you may encounter Santa Goofy at this location!
Santa will also swing by Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel and Pixar Place Hotel from November 28 through December 24 to greet children of all ages, so make sure to say hello before he heads back to the North Pole!
Special Character Appearances
Daily at various locations across Disneyland Resort
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their friends will show off stunning new looks in Disneyland park, reminiscent of writing warm letters to loved ones during the holidays. Throughout both parks, you may spot characters making special appearances for the holidays, including Mirabel and friends from Disney Animation’s “Encanto” on select days at the Paradise Gardens gazebo in Disney California Adventure park.
At the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort, you can also encounter characters during specially themed dining offerings at Goofy’s Kitchen and Storytellers Cafe.
“Disney Holiday Dance Party” at Tomorrowland Terrace
Scheduled nightly at Disneyland park from Nov. 16 through Jan. 6
Kids and kids-at-heart can dance the night away at Tomorrowland Terrace in Disneyland! Nightly fun at this location will feature holiday tunes and appearances by favorite Disney characters on a stage dressed up for the season!
“A Christmas Fantasy Parade”
Scheduled daily at Disneyland park
“A Christmas Fantasy Parade” returns for another merry musical celebration, filled with jolly elves, dancing gingerbread cookies and prancing reindeer. Disney characters such as Anna and Elsa from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen,” Disney Princesses, Buzz Lightyear from Pixar Animation Studios’ “Toy Story” and more also join in, with Santa Claus appearing in the grand finale. Viewing areas can be found around “it’s a small world” Holiday, near Matterhorn Bobsleds and Main Street, U.S.A., while reserved viewing for the parade is included with the Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour.
Nighttime Entertainment and Snowfall
“Believe…In Holiday Magic”
Scheduled nightly at Disneyland park
The “Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular lights up the night sky above Disneyland as Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle shimmers with more than 80,000 twinkling lights, sparkling “icicles” and glistening snow-capped turrets. You can also experience a magical “snowfall” along parts of Main Street, U.S.A., near “it’s a small world” Holiday and along the Rivers of America during Wintertime Enchantment at Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle each night.
“World of Color – Season of Light”
Scheduled nightly at Disney California Adventure park
With splendid views around Paradise Bay, you can bask in holiday wonder during “World of Color – Season of Light“ at Disney California Adventure. This stunning nighttime spectacular features scenes from films such as Pixar Animation Studios’ “Inside Out” and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen,” set to lively holiday music.
For a limited time beginning November 15, an all-new water short highlighting Walt Disney Animation Studios’ new film “Moana 2” will be presented before the show. “Moana 2” is in theaters beginning November 27.
Joining the complimentary virtual queue to experience “World of Color – Season of Light” is highly recommended.
Holiday Lighting Moments
Scheduled nightly at Disney California Adventure park and Disneyland park
At Disney California Adventure, you’ll have the opportunity to witness a magnificent 50-foot tree illuminate in dazzling splendor during the Buena Vista Street Tree Lighting!
As dusk begins to fall each night at Disneyland, you can gather in front of “it’s a small world” Holiday to watch thousands of twinkling lights come to life! Then, during select times throughout the night, a joyous light projection show animates the façade of the attraction with a kaleidoscope of holiday colors and images!
Live Music and Nightly Snow at Downtown Disney District
Available nightly throughout Downtown Disney
The holiday festivities extend to the Downtown Disney District with holiday décor, shopping and entertainment. The Downtown Disney LIVE! stage and lawn will present seasonal live music each night, with featured acts covering genres such as rock, jazz and classic caroling.
“Snow” will also fall near the Downtown Disney District LIVE! stage and lawn during special moments nightly from November 29 through January 6.
Entertainment at the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort
Scheduled on select days from Nov. 21 through Dec. 31, 2024
In addition to ornate and themed holiday décor, all three Hotels of the Disneyland Resort will host holiday carolers on select days.
On Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings starting November 22, the elegant atmosphere of the Great Hall lobby at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will be enhanced with live holiday jazz.
Performances are during select times and at select locations through December 31.
Extend Your Holiday Celebration
From day into night, there’s so much holiday entertainment for families and friends to enjoy! To catch as much as you can, consider extending your Disneyland Resort visit over multiple days and staying at one of the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort.
During your visit, you may save as much as 15 percent off select stays at Disneyland Hotel, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
Who’s ready to experience the magic of the holidays at the Disneyland Resort? Contact me today to get your trip booked. I am a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, my services are free, and I’d love to help you plan a magical vacation.
