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It’s the most magical time of the year! Well, not quite yet, but Disney just announced even more special holiday events and activities coming this year. Unfortunately, one is missing from the announcement and we have word on the future of this special event.
Holidays at Disney
The parties. Snacks and toasty beverages. All of the amazing decor! There is so much to love about the holidays at Disney.
Christmas is a very special time of the year to visit a Disney park. If you have never been, I (Monica) encourage to plan a visit ASAP! You can read all about what makes Disney more special during the holidays in this post.
Disney is giving us a sneak peek of all the fun to come this holiday season at the Disneyland Resort.
Disney Festival of Holidays
A distinctly Disney holiday celebration with diverse food, live entertainment and more, Disney Festival of Holidays draws inspiration from multicultural seasonal celebrations and cherished traditions of Christmas, Navidad, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day. Enjoy food, entertainment, and get ready to dance along as Disney and Pixar characters march to the beat of the Holiday Toy Drummers in “Mickey’s Happy Holidays.”
Disney ¡Viva Navidad! will return to Paradise Gardens Park for its tenth season, and this year, you can taste your way through an all-new menu at Paradise Garden Grill. Watch the Three Caballeros as they host a joyous street party. Additional festivities in this area will include live music and dancing, visits with beloved Disney characters and special appearances by Mirabel from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto.”
Festive Décor and Transformed Attractions
Throughout Disneyland Resort, you can gaze at spectacular holiday décor including:
- Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, adorned with icicles and snow-capped turrets
- A gingerbread house inspired by sweet treats and pastries at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
- Christmas trees with uniquely themed ornaments in both theme parks, the Downtown Disney District, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disneyland Hotel.
And with a bit of Disney magic, “snow” is scheduled to fall every night in select areas of Disneyland park!
Ornaments, lights and more will also embellish favorite attractions that get a special holiday overlay. Both “it’s a small world” Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday return complete with a new, hauntingly delightful gingerbread house for Haunted Mansion.
Gear up for some cheer in Disney California Adventure on Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, which will both undergo seasonal spins for the “haul-idays.”
Seasonal Spectaculars and Holiday Entertainment
A photo with Disney characters becomes even more merry, as Mickey Mouse and some of his friends will be wearing all-new outfits in Disneyland park, putting a spin on the classic red and green with midcentury modern-inspired looks! Plus, the whole family can visit with Santa Claus, who will pose for jolly photos around Disneyland Resort through December 24.
At Disneyland park, “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” will spread cheer, starring characters from Disney Animation’s “Frozen,” Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story” and many more. In the evenings, you can watch as the “Believe…In Holiday Magic” nighttime spectacular illuminates the night sky with breathtaking fireworks and sprinklings of snow.
The Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour will offer a hosted experience of select seasonal offerings and reserved viewing for “A Christmas Fantasy Parade.”
At Disney California Adventure park, “World of Color – Season of Light” will also return this year!
In addition to holiday shopping and dining in the Downtown Disney District, you can groove to a variety of “mistle-toe-tapping” live musical performances on select evenings at the Downtown Disney LIVE! stage. Live entertainment will also be available at select nights at both Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disneyland Hotel.
The Holidays at the Disneyland Resort are returning November 10, 2023 through January 7, 2024
What about Merriest Nites?
Back in 2021, Disney held a special ticketed After Hours event for the holidays called Merriest Nites.
During this separately ticketed holiday event, you can enjoy after-hours admission to Disneyland Park with limited capacity, including select attractions and entertainment, unique Disney Character sightings, A Christmas Fantasy Parade, snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A., themed photo ops, unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital downloads from the event, themed menu items, live bands, dance parties and the opportunity to purchase special event-themed merchandise!
Unfortunately, this did not return in 2022 and is not included in the announcement for this year. According to one of our trusted sources, Merriest Nites will not return again.
This was a fantastic event, and we are very bummed to hear it likely will not return ever again. Disneyland puts on quite the show for the holidays.
The Holidays at the Disneyland Resort are returning November 10, 2023 through January 7, 2024! This is almost two full months of festival holiday fun! We are counting down the days until Holidays at the Disneyland Resort begins! What are you most looking forward to this season?
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