Happy Holidays!
Holidays at Disneyland are in full effect, and I’m sharing our family itinerary to make sure you don’t miss the holiday magic on your next trip! The secret to holidays at Disneyland for maximizing your family trip…
ROPE DROP
My biggest tip for maximizing your next Disneyland trip during the holiday season is Rope Drop!
Let’s break down how this works:
Turnstiles open about 30 minutes before the park opens, so you can be inside the park even before 8:00 AM. This allows you to take holiday pictures at the castle or Christmas tree with little to no wait. I break down 5 tips to make the most out of your holiday visit in my reel here.
As a family of 5, I know how stressful planning can be, so I recommend getting to the park at 7:00 AM to have a breeze between bag check and getting in line before the crowd starts coming in.
This is the best time to Meet and Greet your favorite Disney characters on Main St. in their holiday best. We snagged a family picture with Mickey Mouse and Goofy right at 8 AM! Rope drop really is the best secret to holidays at Disneyland. Next stop, our first ride at rope drop!
Fully Transformed Attractions ate Disneyland!
Two attractions are fully transformed for the holiday season, and you have to make sure to catch them before they’re gone on January 7, 2024.
We headed to Haunted Mansion and felt the Christmas spirit when we saw the nearly 7,500 square feet of snow! Once you step inside, you’ll catch the gingerbread house, where you can catch a whiff of tasty gingerbread scent throughout the Grand Hall.
The second attraction on the must-see list is it’s a small world where you can catch the caroling classics “Jingle Bells” and “Deck the Halls. I recommend coming back a second time at 5:15 to catch the tree lighting, covered in 50,000 lights illuminating the facade of “it’s a small world”. You can also experience snow falling during the Wintertime Enchantment at 7:30 & 8:30!
We got all our favorite rides and holiday photos done by 10 AM! So, where do you head for the family photos? I’ve got you covered:
This JUST in, Santa's here!
Santa has arrived and he’s waiting to take this year’s family Christmas photos! Many people don’t know the secret to holidays at Disneyland includes catching up with Santa! There are two chances for kids to share their Christmas gift list with Santa.
Here's where to go:
If you spend the day in Disneyland, you’ll want to stop by Critter Country! This is the perfect time to get your family Christmas photos out of the way, and you can reward yourself with a treat next door at Pooh Corner. Some of the limited-time holiday treats include a Chocolate Peppermint Brownie and holiday cake pops, candy apples, and cupcakes to share with the whole family.
If you’re looking for family outfits for your pictures, I’ve already found some and I’ve linked them here on LTK.
At Disney California Adventures, Santa has put together some fun holiday activities for the kids to enjoy before Christmas is here. Santa is waiting for his photo-op at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. You’ll want to grab an activity map to locate all the elfish games! You can watch the full experience on my reel here.
Moving on to the newest shows you can catch this holiday season!
For your Disneyland visit, you’ll want to secure a spot for the 3:30 Christmas Fantasy Parade, where you can experience prancing reindeer and dancing gingerbread cookies. Another tip would be to secure a spot for the Believe in Holiday Magic fireworks 2-3 hours in advance! You’ll also enjoy snowfall as you stroll through Main Street.
If you are heading to Disney California Adventures,
Here are some new shows you don’t want to miss!
The World of Color show has been transformed for the holidays to Season of Light, which you can catch at 9 & 10:15 PM. My tip would be to enter the queue via the Disneyland app at 12 PM to get a chance at the reserved viewing areas!
During the day, you can head to Paradise Gardens Park to celebrate holiday traditions from Mexico and Brazil as part of ¡Viva Navidad Street Party! You can catch performances from authentic folklórico dancers, mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers, and an extraordinary appearance by Mickey and Minnie Mouse! You can catch Mickey’s Happy Holidays cavalcade at 12:45, 2:30, and 4:30.
After your Disneyland trip, you’ll be in full holiday spirit, and you can continue the holiday magic from home with some Disneyland Inspired decor and treats!
You can read my detailed Mickey Mouse Inspired Ornaments !
And if you’re more excited about some treats, you can watch my tutorial on these Minnie Mouse Inspired Treats.
I hope this secret to holidays at Disneyland helps!
Never new Santa was there!