Disneyland hosts holiday celebrations from 13 November
Published on 10/24/2026 at 09:57 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSHoliday programme and park traditions
- Disney Festival of Holidays begins at Disney California Adventure Park on 13 November 2026.
- Santa visits Mickey’s Toontown Trolley Barn and Redwood Creek Challenge Trail from 13 November to 24 December 2026.
- Disneyland opened on 17 July 1955 as the Walt Disney Company’s first theme park.
- Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle features more than 80,000 lights during the 2026 holiday season.
Disneyland in Anaheim begins Holidays at the Disneyland Resort on 13 November 2026, bringing seasonal entertainment, decorations and attractions to Southern California. The programme runs through 6 January 2027 and includes Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park.
Disneyland holiday programme starts on 13 November
The operator has announced a programme across Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, the resort hotels and Downtown Disney District. The holiday programme announcement gives 13 November 2026 as the start date and 6 January 2027 as the final date.
At Disney California Adventure Park, Disney Festival of Holidays returns with cultural music and dance performances, seasonal food and celebrations reflecting different holiday traditions. Disney ¡Viva Navidad! is also scheduled, while World of Color - Season of Light returns with festive music and scenes from Disney and Pixar films.
In Disneyland Park, A Christmas Fantasy Parade and Believe…In Holiday Magic return during the season. Haunted Mansion Holiday and it’s a small world Holiday provide seasonal versions of existing attractions, while the operator says Sleeping Beauty Castle becomes Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle.
Seasonal attractions connect two Anaheim parks
The programme links the two parks through distinct settings rather than one central venue. Buena Vista Street hosts performances including Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland and Miguel on selected days, while Paradise Gardens Park is the setting for Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season on selected days.
The announced changes build on a site that has developed since Disneyland opened on 17 July 1955. The operator describes the resort as having two theme parks, three hotels and the Downtown Disney District, making the November programme broader than an event confined to one ride or stage. The official holiday guide lists the principal attractions and seasonal activities.
One visual detail ties the current programme to the park’s best-known castle. Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle is described as carrying more than 80,000 twinkling lights, with simulated snow appearing along parts of Main Street, U.S.A. and other areas. This places the seasonal treatment around a major landmark rather than only inside the entertainment schedule.
Visitor access covers parks and resort districts
The holiday programme extends beyond the two theme parks. Santa is scheduled to appear from 13 November to 24 December 2026 at Mickey’s Toontown Trolley Barn in Disneyland Park and at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in Disney California Adventure Park.
Downtown Disney District is included in the resort-wide programme with decorations, live entertainment and the Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail. The hotels also have seasonal displays and character experiences, although individual activities may operate under separate arrangements.
Visiting Disneyland: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Holidays at the Disneyland Resort runs from 13 November 2026 through 6 January 2027 across Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.
- Disney Festival of Holidays is at Disney California Adventure Park, while A Christmas Fantasy Parade and Believe…In Holiday Magic are listed for Disneyland Park.
- The resort is in Anaheim, California, and includes Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, three hotels and Downtown Disney District.
- Disneyland opened on 17 July 1955, and Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle is the seasonal treatment of the park’s castle.
- Park entry requires a valid ticket or Magic Key pass and a park reservation for the same park and date; availability is limited.
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Frequently asked questions about Disneyland
When does Holidays at the Disneyland Resort take place?
The programme begins on 13 November 2026 and continues through 6 January 2027.
What is included at Disneyland during the holiday programme?
Included attractions and entertainment include Disney Festival of Holidays, A Christmas Fantasy Parade, seasonal attraction overlays and Believe…In Holiday Magic.
Where is Disneyland and how do you get there?
Disneyland is in Anaheim, California, within a resort that also contains Disney California Adventure Park, hotels and Downtown Disney District.
