We already know that Disneyland is holding over it’s new 60th Anniversary parades and shows for the Halloween season, and now we have confirmation that the Christmas celebration will also keep the shows. This will help families who planned their once a year vacation to the park get the best of both worlds with only a few sacrifices of tradition.
At Disneyland, the “A Christmas Fantasy” parade will occupy the daytime slot with the new “Paint the Night” parade lighting up the night. The “Disneyland Forever” fireworks show will cap the night with “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks taking a hiatus.
Also returning is the “Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Tour.” I hear that books up quickly. Not returning is Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, as the 60th Anniversary Decor doesn’t allow the overlay.
In Disney California Adventure you’ll be treated to both the 60th Anniversary edition of “World of Color – Celebrate” and “World of Color – Winter Dreams.”
Santa’s moving his meet and greet location to the wilderness of Critter Country when at Disneyland and at Elias & Co when he’s across the esplanade.
Also coming to Disneyland for the holidays is the “Jingle Cruise,” “It’s a small world holiday,” and Haunted Mansion Holiday.
- “it’s a small world” Holiday offers a worldwide celebration of the season, with more than 300.000 twinkling lights on the attraction’s façade. Inside, animated dolls representing children of many nations are dressed in holiday attire, singing holiday songs as well as the classic “It’s a Small World After All.”
- Haunted Mansion Holiday presents a spooky but lighthearted mashup of the Halloween and Christmas holidays as imagined by Jack Skellington from the Walt Disney Pictures animated classic Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Continuing an annual tradition, a new gingerbread house is created each year for the Mansion, adding a humorous touch to the ballroom scene. This year, the gingerbread house design features gingerbread men constructing a teetering “house of cards.”
- Jingle Cruise, an instantly popular addition in 2014, returns to take adventurous guests on a fun-filled expedition. They discover a cargo of holiday gifts and decorations that have been jettisoned over the jungles of the celebrated Jungle Cruise attraction in Adventureland.
Disney California Adventure will see the return of “Disney Viva Navidad!,” Cars Land and Buena Vista holiday decor, Olaf’s Snow Fest, and a community choir along Buena Vista Street.
- “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” is a daily celebration of Latino culture and holiday traditions with music, dancing, vibrant colors and delicious food. Disney characters join the fun in the lively “Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party.”
- “Olaf’s Snow Fest” celebrates its return to Hollywood Land with Olaf, the comical snowman from “Frozen.” Stage 17 is transformed into a charming castle courtyard inspired by the “Frozen” kingdom of Arendelle. Kids of all ages have fun in a giant wintry play area with real snow where they are encouraged to build snow creations and zip down a snow slide. Guests who wish to observe the icy fun will have a nearby viewing area. Music and storytelling entertainment will be presented throughout the day.
- The residents of Radiator Springs will welcome guests with a “snowcar” at the entrance of Cars Land. Each address along the roadway into the land – Flo’s V8 Café, Fillmore’s Taste-In, Cozy Cone Motel and more – will feature holiday decorations reflecting the personalities of the “Cars” character who lives there.
- Flik and his buddies decorate “a bug’s land” with giant Christmas lights and holiday ornaments, adding to the festive spirit.
My favorite holiday tradition at Disneyland is to get a hot chocolate and a churro then sit and watch the fireworks. What is your holiday tradition at the parks?