Disney has introduced returning & new reside leisure, character meet & greets, nighttime spectaculars, dance events and extra for Christmas 2025 at Disneyland and California Journey. This information covers every thing you have to know, together with what’s altering concerning the seventieth Anniversary celebration and extra.
By way of fundamentals, Vacation Time at Disneyland Resort runs from November 14, 2025 by way of January 7, 2026, and options all kinds of festive, family-friendly leisure, decorations, parades, trip overlays, and extra. Along with returning classics, this yr’s lineup presents new choices. Maybe most significantly, there are some vital adjustments as a result of ongoing Disneyland seventieth Anniversary celebration.
This provides a rundown of the brand new choices and returning leisure throughout each theme parks, Downtown Disney District and the Accommodations of the Disneyland Resort. When you’re in search of an all-encompassing overview and tricks to take advantage of the vacation season, see our Final Information to Christmas 2025 at Disneyland Resort.
As an extra planning useful resource, it’s extremely really useful to obtain and seek the advice of the Disneyland app or the Hours & Occasions Calendar on Disneyland.com for the total record of leisure choices and newest efficiency schedules. Showtimes do fluctuate 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 what’s taking place at Disneyland Resort for Christmas 2025…
Disneyland seventieth Anniversary Modifications
Choose leisure from the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary Celebration will proceed through the vacation season. You’ll nonetheless be capable of benefit from the “World of Colour Happiness!” nighttime spectacular at Disney California Journey and “Tapestry of Happiness” projection present on the facade of “it’s a small world” at Disneyland. The seventieth enhancements will even proceed on Toy Story Mania.
Beforehand, Disneyland introduced that “Mickey and Buddies Have fun Comfortable!” cavalcade, “Wondrous Journeys” nighttime spectacular and “Higher Collectively: A Pixar Buddies Celebration!” parade would quickly pause in the beginning of Halloween to make means for seasonal Halloween leisure choices, then resume at a later time. These pauses will proceed by way of Christmas and into early 2026.
The brand new growth is that Paint the Evening parade will even go on vacation hiatus and resume someday in 2026. It is a massive blow, as Paint the Evening is the marquee night leisure at Disneyland proper now. Not solely that, however it had beforehand been our understanding that Paint the Evening would not pause.
It’s unclear whether or not there was a change of plans or what. Maybe not sufficient performers for each Paint the Evening and A Christmas Fantasy? Perhaps decrease crowds than beforehand projected? Probably a miscommunication earlier than? Regardless, Paint the Evening is not going to run by way of not less than early January 2026.
We might not assume that Paint the Evening will return instantly after the vacation season ends. With previous parade vacation hiatuses, it’s typically taken till spring break. We might hope that there’s extra urgency with Paint the Evening because it’s a marquee Disneyland seventieth Anniversary providing, however we might be cautious about committing to journey dates in January or February 2026 till there’s concrete affirmation. The parade could possibly be paused till Presidents Day or later.
Additionally observe that “World of Colour – Happiness” persevering with at Christmas signifies that “World of Colour – Season of Mild” is not going to be offered for Christmas 2025. That was beforehand steered by Disney, so it shouldn’t be an excessive amount of of a shock. We’ll miss Season of Mild, which is a sentimental favourite.
Lastly, areas and sights round Disneyland Resort will retain particular touches, together with ornamental accents and the colourful citadel photograph alternative within the esplanade. Interactive MagicBand+ areas and the Key to Disneyland lock stations will stay obtainable by way of the season.
Disneyland Christmas Leisure
New Christmas 2025 Character Costumes
As you stroll into Disneyland, you could spot Minnie and Mickey Mouse, and a few of their pals in glowing new outfits. These designs are a “vacation spin” on their clothes from the Disneyland seventieth Anniversary Celebration. Shimmering greens, reds and golds steal the present, with anniversary nods all through. Past the mice, these characters often embody Goofy, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and Clarabelle.
These costumes change yearly and are an enormous hit with followers, and make for enjoyable merchandising tie-ins. Assembly the characters for Christmas could be a tad difficult. All of those meet & greets are in City Sq., however the areas aren’t clearly marked, the characters rotate, and most would not have PhotoPass. If you wish to meet them, your finest guess is being in City Sq. between 9:45 am and a pair of pm, which is when most of them seem.
Failing that, a few of them are again out within the evenings. These appearances are extra sporadic, and characters are usually not out through the fireworks or parade. An alternative choice is seeing them on the very starting of the day, shortly after Disneyland opens and so they seem on the Practice Station; additionally they do the identical factor on the finish of the evening. This isn’t a meet & greet, however you may get selfies and see them way more simply.
“Vacation Enjoyable with Santa and Buddies!” at Fantasyland Theatre
This family-friendly space returns for Christmas 2025 after debuting final yr. All through the day, Santa Claus and choose Disney characters will make appearances and pose for vacation pictures at “Vacation Enjoyable with Santa and Buddies!” on the Fantasyland Theatre.
Households also can take pleasure in craft making, sing-alongs of vacation classics and atmospheric music. That is scheduled every day at Disneyland, and has numerous permutations all year long. If there’s a model of this taking place throughout your go to, it’s value trying out when you’ve got babies. It isn’t effectively publicized so crowds are sometimes low again right here–it’s a superb reprieve from the warmth and crowds, though solely the latter must be relevant at Christmas.
“A Christmas Fantasy Parade”
“A Christmas Fantasy Parade” returns for one more merry musical celebration, stuffed with jolly elves, dancing gingerbread cookies and prancing reindeer. Disney characters similar 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 might 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.
“Imagine…In Vacation Magic” Fireworks
The “Imagine…In Vacation Magic” fireworks spectacular lights up the evening sky above Disneyland on a nightly foundation as Sleeping Magnificence’s Winter Fortress shimmers with greater than 80,000 twinkling lights, glowing “icicles” and glistening snow-capped turrets.
You too can expertise a magical “snowfall” alongside elements 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 Fortress a number of instances every evening.
Disney California Journey Christmas Leisure
“Mickey’s Comfortable 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 Comfortable Holidays.”
As well as, the playfully percussive precision of the Vacation Toy Drummers will delightfully drum up seasonal cheer for all to listen to. The Vacation Toy Drummers carry out a number of instances every day at DCA throughout Pageant of the Holidays, often in entrance of the obelisk in Paradise Gardens Park.
“Mirabel’s Presents of the Season”
On choose days, Mirabel from “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 on this heartfelt musical presentation. Mirabel can also be among the many characters rotating on the Paradise Gardens Park gazebo, sharing vacation greetings and posing for photograph alternatives.
“A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel!”
Additionally on choose days, this nighttime present gathers pals and households to take heed to heartfelt tales and timeless songs in a fascinating celebration of the vacations. Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland, accompanied by sleek 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 ravishing rendition of “Silent Evening.” (Final yr, each of those reveals occurred Monday by way of Friday evenings. No phrase but on the 2025 schedule, however there’s an honest likelihood it’s the identical.)
DCA Pageant of Holidays
Disney California Journey Pageant of the Holidays celebrates Christmas, Navidad, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day. This yr’s competition options an expanded rotation of reside bands and cultural efficiency teams – bringing a wide range of high-energy seasonal enjoyable every day for all ages to take pleasure in.
The reside 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 reside bands and cultural efficiency teams will carry out on the competition, with the precise schedule and lineup to be introduced.
The leisure rotation varies all through the season, so it’s extremely really useful to test Disneyland.com for a full record of performers and every day showtimes. Scheduled a number of instances every day at numerous phases throughout Disney California Journey.
Festive Meals Marketplaces will likely be sprinkled in several areas of DCA, the place new and returning bites and drinks await, such because the fan-favorite braised pork stomach adobo. You should buy a Sip and Savor Cross to style your means by way of the festivities at collaborating areas. These passes embody six digital coupons that may be redeemed for choose meals and nonalcoholic drinks round DCA.
Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Road Celebration
Head to Paradise Gardens Park at Disney California Journey for the return of Disney ¡Viva Navidad!, a heartwarming celebration impressed by Latin American vacation traditions — with a spirited Disney twist! Enjoyment of reside music, crafts, festive décor, flavorful dishes and appearances by Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and The Three Caballeros.
On choose days, the “Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Road Celebration” lights up the realm with folklórico dancers, mariachis, samba performers and extra, led by The Three Caballeros in a vibrant show of rhythm and coloration. (For reference, the Viva Navidad Road Celebration was scheduled Saturdays and Sundays final yr.)
Stay Music and Nightly Snow at Downtown Disney District
The vacation festivities lengthen to the Downtown Disney District with vacation décor, buying, leisure, and a nightly “snowfall.” The Downtown Disney LIVE! stage and garden will current seasonal reside music every evening, with featured acts overlaying genres similar to rock, jazz and traditional caroling.
Chip and Dale’s Decoration Path returns for Christmas 2025, inviting you to seek for particular ornaments hanging from bushes all through the Downtown Disney District. Buy an exercise map from a collaborating retail location, embark in your search, and trade the map at a redemption location to obtain a memento.
Christmas at Disneyland Resort’s Accommodations
The Accommodations of the Disneyland Resort will likely be brimming with vacation cheer and decked out with seasonal decor. You possibly can stay up for specialty eating, carolers and an encounter with Santa!
Get into the spirit with a returning holiday-themed beverage menu at Damaged Spell Lounge within the Disneyland Resort, that includes inventive twists on classics like sizzling chocolate and eggnog, paired with reside jazz music on choose days.
There are additionally a number of Christmas character eating experiences to select from this vacation season, together with Daisy’s Vacation Pajama Celebration at Storytellers Cafe for breakfast and brunch, the place Daisy Duck and Donald Duck be part of the character lineup. You too can make reminiscences at Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays! on the Disneyland Resort or partake in Vacation Tea with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Hearthstone Lounge. There’s additionally a brand-new character dinner expertise referred to as Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast at Storytellers Cafe, which we’ll be overlaying individually. Advance Eating Reservations will likely be obtainable quickly!
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 Critiques & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Critiques. 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 2025 at Disneyland and Disney California Journey? Excited by all the new additions and seventieth stuff? Or dissatisfied that Paint the Evening is pausing and Viva Navidad is as soon as once more solely choose nights? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even once you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
