The Holiday season at the Disneyland Resort is a magical time and a favorite for so many guests. Each year, the return of decor and entertainment staples is accompanied by new offerings that delight longtime fans.
Whether you’ve been many times during the Christmas season, or it’s your first time, everyone has their wants and hopes for the perfect day. For those looking for the most Holiday-infused experience at Disneyland proper (not Disney California Adventure), we’ve got the ideal itinerary to create the most cheery, cozy, and enchanting day imaginable.
Arrive Early, Have Breakfast, and Enjoy the Ambiance
Image Credit: Marianne Paluso.
Any Disneyland strategy should always include arriving early. Whether it’s arriving before or right at “rope drop”, getting to the park before it officially opens remains key. On a regular day, this strategy helps maximize the number of attractions guests can complete before the big crowds arrive.
However, the ideal Disneyland holiday experience is not about the rides, but rather the overall atmosphere. In this case, visitors should arrive early to soak in the early morning vibes of Disneyland, especially Main Street U.S.A. During the Christmas season, guests enjoy nostalgic holiday music and festive decorations, including garlands, a massive tree, and winter window displays.
Instead of heading to a bunch of attractions, take the morning to relax and have a leisurely breakfast at Main Street’s Carnation Cafe or Jolly Holiday. Both have excellent food, ample seating, and the chance to soak up the holiday ambiance.
Prioritize Rides Early in the Day
Image Credit: Marianne Paluso.
Although a Holiday-infused Disneyland day is not about maximizing attractions, that doesn’t mean one should ignore them altogether. Rather, choose a handful of “must-dos” for you and your party and focus on them in the early part of the day after breakfast.
The important thing remains curbing expectations and picking rides in close proximity to each other. You don’t want to zig-zag around the park. That wastes time and drains energy. Instead, map out your goals and path ahead of time, leaving room for unexpected things such as higher or lower wait times or ride closures.
Some might want to head to Fantasyland for a handful of dark rides, Casey Jr., Mad Tea Party, and the Matterhorn. Next, you can either head past It’s a Small World and into Toontown for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway or choose the path next to Sleepy Beauty Castle that leads to Frontierland with Big Thunder Mountain and the Mark Twain Riverboat.
Another common path of attractions goes from Adventureland to New Orleans Square, which could include The Enchanted Tiki Room, Jungle Cruise, Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Haunted Mansion. The latter’s Nightmare Before Christmas Holiday overlay should not be missed.
Visit Santa and Friends at the Fantasyland Theatre
After partaking in a few attractions, this would be a good time to visit Santa at the Fantasyland Theatre. Guests can meet and get their photo with Jolly Old Saint Nicholas himself, adding to the desired warm and cozy vibes. Other characters will be in this area too, for fun and festive photo ops. The featured characters vary throughout the day, but each will be donning a Holiday outfit.
Wait times for photos are unpredictable, so guests will have to decide how important visiting Santa will be. Families will undoubtedly make this a priority; others may not. Still, speaking from experience, visiting Santa at Disneyland has an unmistakable magical quality that cannot be replicated.
Make sure to purchase a Photo Package if you did not purchase the Lightning Lane Multi-pass and want Photo Pass pictures. Also, check out the nearby Photo Booth that has holiday-themed photo strips.
Lunchtime Options
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By the time lunch rolls around, choose a restaurant on or near Main Street, which coincidentally serves are your primary location for a large portion of the day. Bengal Barbecue serves lighter bites such chicken or beef skewers and is located within short walking distance of Main Street, specifically in Adventureland across from the Jungle Cruise.
On the opposite side of the park, but equally close to Main Street, Galactic Grill offers burgers and chicken sandwiches, particularly good for picky eaters. Plus, if you want that Holiday feeling in every aspect of your day, they have a seasonal option, the Merry Cranberry Chicken Sandwich. Another scrumptious Holiday offering is served at Jolly Holiday Cafe on Main Street. The “Thank-Mas” Sandwich has oven-roasted turkey, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce, served on rustic bread. It’s like all of Thanksgiving’s best flavors rolled into one.
A final option serves as a place holder for another Holiday treat. If you choose the Plaza Inn Dining package, you’ll receive reserved viewing for the 5:15 showing of A Christmas Fantasy Parade. Various factors will help guests decide, particularly price, timing, and the meal offered. Guests must dine between 12:30 and 3pm, and arrive at the reserved area at least 10 minutes before showtime (although I recommend at least 30 minutes).
This package runs $58 for adults and $32 for kids ages 3 to 9. The adult meal includes Potato leek soup, herb-roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and a yule log dessert; the kids’ meal consists of chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a Yule log dessert.
Dickens Yuletide Band
After lunch, guests must soak up more of that turn-of-the-century Christmas ambiance on Main Street. The Dickens Yuletide Band don Victorian-style festive outfits, consist mostly of brass instruments, and play Christmas classics such as “Silent Night,” “Let It Snow,” “Carol of the Bells,” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” The after-lunch times are 1:15 and 2:15 pm.
If by chance, you miss them or want to watch them later in the day, fret not. They also have musical interludes at 5:50, 6:50, and 7:50pm.
A Christmas Fantasy Parade
Image Credit: Marianne Paluso.
Those who choose the Plaza Inn Dining package for their lunch already know when and where they will view the Disneyland Holiday staple, A Christmas Fantasy Parade. They’ll be seated in Main Street’s reserved viewing section at 5:15 pm.
For everyone else, I recommend finding a spot along Main Street or near It’s A Small World for the parade’s first viewing at 3pm. The much-loved show is quite popular, so after your lunch, I recommend searching for a spot between 1:30 and 2:30, depending on crowds.
Of all the Holiday offerings, nothing else feels as cozy and magical as A Christmas Fantasy Parade.
Choose a Few More Attractions
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After the 3pm parade, guests have a few choices, but I recommend aiming for a few more attractions, and only ones with shorter wait times. These will satisfy the ride enthusiasts and leave enough time to get to either Main Street or Fantasyland for the next piece of Holiday entertainment.
These best options will most likely be Fantasyland rides like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish, and Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Galaxy’s Edge, Star Tours or Buzz Lightyear in Tomorrowland, Winnie the Pooh in Bayou Country, or Pirates of the Caribbean in New Orleans Square.
Choose the Main Street Tree Lighting, or It’s a Small World Lighting
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At 5pm, guests have two beautiful choices of lighting events. On Main Street, you can watch the large tree in Town Square light up, or, in Fantasyland, the It’s A Small World facade. The former has the lovely holiday tradition vibe, while the latter is a truly spectacular display of colorful Christmas lights.
Both options offer a unique kind of Disney magic, so the choice may be difficult. However, neither will disappoint.
It’s a Small World Holiday
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After each respective lighting event, I recommend riding It’s A Small World Holiday. Seeing everything lit up in the evening adds to the Christmas-y feeling that you don’t quite get in the daylight hours.
If you watched the Main Street tree lighting, I recommend hopping on the Disneyland Railroad and disembarking at the Mickey’s Toontown station. It will be less hectic than trying to walk to Fantasyland, navigating the crowds.
The ride itself is pure enchantment, with endless twinkling lights and the Christmas Carols “Jingle Bells” and “Deck the Halls” added into the attraction. Many prefer this holiday overlay to the traditional attraction. Consequently, the wait time may be quite long. Still, it’s the one attraction that a perfect Holiday-themed day must include.
Dinner Reservations
After It’s a Small World, it will be into the dinner time hours. This time of the day becomes quite hectic and busy, so I always recommend planning in advance and making dinner reservations for between 6 and 7 pm.
The ideal option, once again, will take you to Main Street and the Carnation Cafe. This puts you in close proximity to the rest of the night’s events, but also has scrumptious food options.
Carnation Cafe is one of the few restaurants offering a Holiday Dinner Special. According to the Disney Parks Blog Foodie Guide, this consists of petite New York medallions, herbed Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, haricots verts, and Cabernet demi-glace. Of course, the Carnation has other tasty options such a potato soup, Walt’s chili, cheeseburgers, patty melts, a wedge salad, chicken fried chicken, beef stroganoff, and a turkey club sandwich.
“Wintertime Enchantment”
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After dinner, you’ll want to stay in the center of Main Street or head up closer to Sleeping Beauty Castle for a more close-up and prominent view of “Wintertime Enchantment.”
This precursor to the fireworks sees the castle light up in all its glory while a medley of lovely and serene holiday music plays. The added whimsy and special kind of Disney magic sees snow fall in the sky. In reality, it’s what Disney fans call “snoap” because it’s soap suds that look like snowfall. “Wintertime Enchantment” runs approximately five minutes and has two showtimes at 7:30 and 8:30pm. Which show you choose will mostly depend on the hour of your dinner reservation.
Photos With the Christmas Tree, Mickey Mouse, and Other Characters
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The nighttime hours of a Holiday-infused day see guests stay on Main Street for most, if not all, of the evening. Photos are a big part of the fun, especially for couples, families, and groups of friends. Even solo travelers enjoy taking photos, and Main Street at Christmas does not disappoint.
Guests will have to choose before or after the fireworks, and it will all depend on timing and crowds. Taking a photo with the iconic Christmas tree is a must-do and very popular. The line will be significant, but it branches out for two sides of the tree, and the Photo Pass photographers take stunning shots and move people through efficiently.
In the evening, you can also likely catch Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Chip & Dale around Main Street for some other creative photo ops.
Grab a Hot Beverage & Sweet Treat
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Despite the crowds at night, one cannot leave Disneyland without at least one hot drink or sweet treat, especially during the Holidays. I gravitate towards churros, Rice Krispies treats, cookies, toffee, hot chocolate, or café mochas. The classic Mickey Gingerbread cookie is another staple.
Before or after the fireworks show, I recommend grabbing a treat, a hot beverage, and finding a spot to relax. Whether it’s on a bench, a curb, or standing somewhere on Main Street, these treats will satisfy any sweet craving, warm you up, and envelop you in the cozy feeling before or after the big event.
“Believe…In Holiday Magic” Fireworks
At 9:30pm, one of Disneyland’s most beautiful fireworks shows ever begins. The show features delightful projections on Sleeping Beauty Castle and It’s A Small World, spectacular pyrotechnics, and a charming selection of holiday music.
Being one of the most popular shows of the day, the viewing areas will be crowded. Additionally, because they dim the lights, guests are asked to remain where they are. So, make sure you’re comfortable with your spot.
Many guests choose to leave after fireworks, but I recommend staying a little longer to avoid the mass exodus. Likewise, it’s best to find your way onto the sidewalks and into a store, especially for those who become anxious or overwhelmed by large crowds.
Shopping and People Watching
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The perfect Disneyland Holiday-filled day should end on a relaxed and happy note. To achieve this, one should browse through the various stores on Main Street, make a purchase or two, and find a bench or table to chill and people-watch.
Spending these final moments in a more relaxed state allows the body to decompress and gives guests a chance to enjoy the holiday ambiance for a little while longer, making for a truly magical ending to the night.