Disney has introduced returning & new stay leisure, character meet & greets, nighttime spectaculars, dance events and extra for Christmas 2024 at Disneyland, California Journey, Downtown Disney, and the resort motels. This information covers all the things you must know, plus provides commentary about why that is unexpectedly nice information!
When it comes to fundamentals, Vacation Time at Disneyland Resort returns from November 15, 2024, by means of January 6, 2025, that includes all kinds of festive, family-friendly leisure, decorations, parades, experience overlays, and a lot extra. Along with returning classics, this 12 months’s lineup presents some all-new choices.
That is your information to the merry, must-see leisure throughout each theme parks, Downtown Disney District and the Inns of the Disneyland Resort. If you happen to’re searching for an all-encompassing overview and tricks to benefit from the vacation season, see our Final Information to Christmas 2024 at Disneyland Resort.
As a further planning useful resource, it’s extremely beneficial to obtain and seek the advice of the Disneyland app or the Hours & Occasions Calendar on Disneyland.com for the total listing of leisure choices and newest efficiency schedules. Showtimes do differ by date–for instance, there will likely be extra (and completely different) showings of sure leisure on weekends or throughout peak weeks than there’ll on some random weekday in early December.
Anyway, right here’s a rundown of the brand new & returning Christmas leisure at Disneyland Resort, adopted by our commentary…
Disney California Journey Christmas Leisure
NEW! “Mirabel’s Items of the Season”
Mirabel from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto” and her pals rejoice within the spirit of the vacations, bringing everybody collectively throughout their very personal Fiesta de Navidad celebration.
Children of all ages and households will take pleasure in singing alongside to the beloved songs from the movie on this heartfelt musical presentation. Scheduled Mondays by means of Fridays exterior the doorway to Paradise Gardens Park.
NEW! “A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel!”
This nighttime present gathers pals and households to hearken to heartfelt tales and timeless songs in a fascinating celebration of the vacations. Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland, accompanied by swish dancers, delivers intimate, bilingual performances of beloved Christmas songs.
The celebration closes with a particular look by Miguel from Pixar Animation Studios’ “Coco” for a phenomenal rendition of “Silent Night time.” Scheduled Monday by means of Friday evenings on Buena Vista Road.
DCA Pageant of Holidays: New & Returning Reside Music
Disney California Journey Pageant of the Holidays celebrates Christmas, Navidad, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day. This 12 months’s pageant options an expanded rotation of stay bands and cultural efficiency teams – bringing quite a lot of high-energy seasonal enjoyable every day for all ages to take pleasure in.
The stay leisure throughout Disney California Journey shows an in depth vary of genres, together with mariachi, jazz, klezmer, Latin pop, fusion, reggae, polka and extra. A number of new stay bands and cultural efficiency teams will carry out on the pageant, comparable to Pleasure, Rangoli Rhythms, Malaya Filipino American Dance Arts, Keali’I O Nālani & Daniel Ho, and extra. You can even take pleasure in a season of celebrations with many returning favorites, together with Blue13 Dance Firm and The Mistletoes.
The leisure rotation varies all through the season, so it’s extremely beneficial to verify Disneyland.com for a full listing of performers and every day showtimes. Scheduled a number of occasions every day at varied phases throughout Disney California Journey.
“Mickey’s Glad Holidays” and Vacation Toy Drummers
Households and children will need to dance alongside to vacation rhythms as iconic Disney characters march alongside the Disney California Journey park parade path to the beat of the Vacation Toy Drummers throughout “Mickey’s Glad Holidays.”
As well as, the playfully percussive precision of the Vacation Toy Drummers will delightfully drum up seasonal cheer for all to listen to in entrance of the obelisk in Paradise Gardens Park. The Vacation Toy Drummers carry out a number of occasions every day at DCA throughout Pageant of the Holidays.
Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Road Social gathering
Hosted by The Three Caballeros, the Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Road Social gathering options vigorous Mexican folklórico dancers and mariachis, uplifting Brazilian samba dancers and percussionists, and extra. Plus, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse make an look of their colourful fiesta apparel. Scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays from November 16 by means of January 5, 2025.
“World of Shade – Season of Gentle” (NEW Tag!)
With splendid views round Paradise Bay, you possibly can take pleasure in vacation surprise throughout “World of Shade – Season of Light“ at Disney California Journey. This beautiful nighttime spectacular options scenes from movies comparable to Pixar Animation Studios’ “Inside Out” and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen,” set to vigorous vacation music.
For a restricted time starting November 15, an all-new water quick highlighting Walt Disney Animation Studios’ new movie “Moana 2” will likely be offered earlier than the present. “Moana 2” is in theaters starting November 27, 2024.
Becoming a member of the complimentary digital queue to expertise “World of Shade – Season of Gentle” is extremely beneficial. This nighttime spectacular is carried out a few times nightly, relying upon crowds.
Disneyland Christmas Leisure
NEW! “Vacation Enjoyable with Santa and Mates!” at Fantasyland Theatre
All through the day, Santa Claus and choose Disney characters will make appearances and pose for vacation pictures at “Vacation Enjoyable with Santa and Mates!” on the Fantasyland Theatre. Households may take pleasure in craft making, sing-alongs of vacation classics and atmospheric music. Scheduled every day at Disneyland.
“Disney Vacation Dance Social gathering” at Tomorrowland Terrace
Children and kids-at-heart can dance the night time away at Tomorrowland Terrace in Disneyland. Nightly enjoyable at this location will function vacation tunes and appearances by favourite Disney characters on a stage dressed up for the season. Scheduled nightly at Disneyland park from November 16 by means of January 6, 2025.
“A Christmas Fantasy Parade”
“A Christmas Fantasy Parade” returns for one more merry musical celebration, crammed with jolly elves, dancing gingerbread cookies and prancing reindeer. Disney characters comparable to Anna and Elsa from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen,” Disney Princesses, Buzz Lightyear from Pixar Animation Studios’ “Toy Story” and extra additionally take part, with Santa Claus showing within the grand finale.
Viewing areas may be discovered round “it’s a small world” Vacation, close to Matterhorn Bobsleds and Major Road, U.S.A., whereas reserved viewing for the parade is included with the Vacation Time on the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour. “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” is carried out every day at Disneyland through the vacation season.
“Consider…In Vacation Magic”
The “Consider…In Vacation Magic” fireworks spectacular lights up the night time sky above Disneyland on a nightly foundation as Sleeping Magnificence’s Winter Citadel shimmers with greater than 80,000 twinkling lights, glowing “icicles” and glistening snow-capped turrets.
You can even expertise a magical “snowfall” alongside components of Major Road, U.S.A., close to “it’s a small world” Vacation and alongside the Rivers of America throughout Wintertime Enchantment at Sleeping Magnificence’s Winter Citadel a number of occasions every night time.
Meet Santa Claus All through Disneyland Resort
Get pleasure from merry moments, snap festive pictures and share vacation needs with Santa Claus, who can even cease by Redwood Creek Problem Path in Disney California Journey by means of December 24. From December 25, 2024, by means of January 6, 2025, you could encounter Santa Goofy at this location.
Santa can even swing by Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa, Disneyland Resort and Pixar Place Resort from November 28 by means of December 24 to greet youngsters of all ages, so ensure that to say hey earlier than he heads again to the North Pole.
Christmas Character Appearances
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their pals will exhibit beautiful new seems in City Sq. at Disneyland, paying homage to writing heat letters to family members through the holidays.
All through each parks, you could spot characters making particular appearances for the vacations, together with Mirabel and pals from Disney Animation’s “Encanto” on choose days on the Paradise Gardens gazebo in Disney California Journey park.
On the Inns of the Disneyland Resort, you can too encounter characters throughout specifically themed eating choices at Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates Christmas and Storytellers Cafe.
Vacation Lighting Moments
Nightly at Disney California Journey, you’ll have the chance to witness an impressive 50-foot tree illuminate in dazzling splendor through the Buena Vista Road Christmas Tree Lighting.
As nightfall begins to fall every night time at Disneyland, you possibly can collect in entrance of “it’s a small world” Vacation to look at 1000’s of twinkling lights come to life. Then, throughout choose occasions all through the night time, a joyous mild projection present animates the façade of the attraction with a kaleidoscope of vacation colours and pictures.
Reside Music and Nightly Snow at Downtown Disney District
The vacation festivities prolong to the Downtown Disney District with vacation décor, procuring and leisure. The Downtown Disney LIVE! stage and garden will current seasonal stay music every night time, with featured acts overlaying genres comparable to rock, jazz and traditional caroling.
“Snow” can even fall close to the Downtown Disney District LIVE! stage and garden throughout particular moments nightly from November 29 by means of January 6, 2025.
Leisure on the Inns of the Disneyland Resort
Along with ornate and themed vacation décor, all three Inns of the Disneyland Resort will host vacation carolers on choose days. Performances are throughout choose occasions and at choose places from November 21 by means of December 31, 2024.
On Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings beginning November 22, the elegant ambiance of the Nice Corridor foyer at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa will likely be enhanced with stay vacation jazz.
Our Commentary
That is incredible information. It’s nice to see Disneyland Resort including a number of items of leisure, and increasing others. The brand new Encanto and Coco-inspired leisure on Buena Vista Road sounds glorious, like a fantastic mixture of characters and tradition. If this sounds just like Viva Navidad, nicely, it in all probability is!
As we beforehand reported, one disappointing change for 2024 is that Disney ¡Viva Navidad! will solely happen on 16 dates from November 16, 2024 by means of January 5, 2025. It is going to be carried out each Saturday and Sunday, and no different dates–not even vacation lengthy weekends or peak season dates between Christmas and New Yr’s Eve. Simply Saturdays and Sundays–that’s it.
There was a number of anger and disappointment again when this was revealed, particularly provided that Disneyland had already dramatically scaled again leisure over the summer time. On the time, we feared this was a preview of what was to return with the beginning of the brand new fiscal 12 months on the horizon and a slowdown in attendance.
If I have been Disneyland, I in all probability would’ve introduced all of this directly. It’s now clear what the precise plan was, to reallocate assets from Viva Navidad to new leisure in a extra centralized location. From my perspective, this makes full sense. Viva Navidad is tucked away in Paradise Gardens Park, and also you’re not alone for those who puzzled “what/the place is that?”
Transferring leisure as much as Buena Vista Road on weekdays simply is smart from a visitor utilization perspective. Doing one thing new and contemporary can also be very welcome, particularly with Disneyland Resort’s local-centric visitor demographics. Having Viva Navidad for a pair days of the week not seems like a price range minimize–as a substitute, it seems like a pleasant gesture to its diehard fanbase (us included!).
On the subject of Disney selections, even ostensibly optimistic ones, I’m consistently questioning: what’s the catch? With this information, I can’t consider one. I’d think about some Viva Navidad followers who’re blocked out on weekends will nonetheless upset, however on steadiness for the visitor expertise as a complete, this looks as if a internet optimistic. The brand new acts on BVS will likely be extremely well-liked–I’d hazard a guess that they’ll be loved by double the quantity of people that considered Viva Navidad.
Finally, that’s the place I stand on all of this. I’m totally on board with Disneyland “consistently reevaluating its leisure choices” (or no matter line they provide) when this is the tip outcome. Extra new leisure, refreshes to fan-favorites, and so forth. I mentioned as a lot after they retired that bizarre Dr. Unusual present in Avengers Campus that was virtually not possible to see. Right here’s hoping that it is a signal of what’s to return, as a result of these leisure additions for Christmas 2024 needs to be the blueprint for 2025 at Disneyland. (I simply hope I’m not lacking one thing apparent, as this nonetheless feels somewhat too good to be true after the final 18 months!)
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Ideas for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Find out about on-site and off-site motels in our Anaheim Resort Evaluations & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Evaluations. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, try What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, try our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seashore, and plenty of different SoCal cities!
Your Ideas
What do you consider the leisure lineup for Christmas 2024 at Disneyland and Disney California Journey? Excited by the entire new additions, or upset they’re coming on the expense of weekday showings of Viva Navidad? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even whenever you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
