There are so many reasons the holiday season will be magical this year at Disneyland Resort! Today, we have a guide to the holiday magic now happening through January 9th, 2022 at Disneyland Resort!
1. Holiday Décor
From Disneyland parks to the Resorts and Downtown Disney, the halls have been decked. See the 60-foot Christmas tree on Main St USA makes for the perfect photo op at Disneyland park, along with the other décor lining Main St USA. Find special holiday décor in Cars Land and transformations of Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree. Also not to miss is the traditional holiday décor at Downtown Disney District.
Resort Décor:
- Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel– see a holiday tree with an under-the-sea theme with blue, green and silver decorations and a garland glistening with shells and starfish.
- Disneyland Hotel – see vintage-inspired art on the lobby wall and pool archway.
- Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa see a towering tree with ornaments inspired by the Arts & Crafts movement of early California.
2. Sleeping Beauty Castle
Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle transforms for the holidays with festive décor, wreaths and glistening icicles. In the evening at Disneyland park look to Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle to see it shimmer in the night. Plus, snowfall on Main St USA makes the moment even more magical!
3. Ride Overlays
Enjoy the seasonal transformation of “it’s a small world Holiday”. Plus, Haunted Mansion Holiday reaches its 20th installation this year!
4. Entertainment
At Disney California Adventure park enjoy Festival of Holidays celebrating Christmas/Navidad, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day. Disney Viva Navidad! will be a must join street party featuring Mexican folklórico dancers and Mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers and percussionists, giant mojiganga puppets and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. Visit Paradise Gardens for festively themed food and beverages, live music and dance. Still to come is Mirabel from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ upcoming film “Encanto” making her debut (date tbd). End your evening at Disneyland Park with the “Believe…. in Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular.
5. Gingerbread House
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is host to a giant gingerbread house this year. The gingerbread replica of the hotel is 7 feet tall and 12 feet wide! Find all 25 hidden Mickeys!
6. Santa Claus
See Santa at Disneyland Resort Nov. 25 – Dec. 24, 2021. Guests will be able to visit with Santa and share their wish list. Also, returning this year is “A Christmas Fantasy” parade featuring Disney Characters and Santa Claus down Main St USA.
7. Spa La La La La
This all-new Tenaya Stone Spa at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is offering holiday spa treatments (open to any guests of the 3 Disneyland Resort Hotels). Now through January 3, 2022 consider The Candy Cane Lane Foot Treatment or the Underneath The Tree Signature Massage.
8. All-New Holiday Attire
All-new holiday outfits are being sported by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. When you visit Disneyland Resort this holiday, see Mickey & Minnie in their new outfits around Town Square at Disneyland Park, through January 9, 2022.
9. FOOD
Find Sweet treats across Disneyland Resort. Below is where to find them, then read the sweet list as well!
- Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen at Disneyland park
- Hunny Spot in Pooh Corner at Disneyland park
- Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff at Disney California Adventure park
- Trolley Treats at Disney California Adventure park
- Marceline’s Confectionery at Downtown Disney District
Sweet Treats List:
- Snowflake Apple – Granny Smith apple dipped in caramel and white chocolate decorated with blue sanding sugar
- Peppermint Marshmallow Pop – Mickey-shaped marshmallow pop dipped in dark chocolate and coated with crushed peppermint candy
- Snowflake Cake Pop – Chocolate cake pop dipped in white chocolate and decorated with blue sanding sugar and white chocolate snowflakes
- Pumpkin Spice Churro Toffee Square – Buttery toffee dipped in white chocolate and coated with pumpkin spice (offered only during the month of November)
- Gingerbread Crispy – Crisped rice treat dipped and decorated with various chocolates
- Peppermint Fudge – Peppermint-flavored chocolate fudge
- Pumpkin Fudge – Pumpkin-spiced fudge
- Churro Marshmallow Pop – Mickey-shaped marshmallow pop dipped in white chocolate and coated with cinnamon and sugar
10. Candy Cane Tradition
Partake in the Candy Cane tradition, a hand-crafted tradition since 1968. Grab a very limited, 18-inches long Candy Cane from the following locations and dates:
- Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen at Disneyland park: Dec. 7, 9,15, 21, 23
- Trolley Treats at Disney California Adventure park: Dec. 8, 14, 16, 22
11. Downtown Disney District
Delight with holiday magic at Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort. Stroll around to find holiday treats, shopping, entertainment and holiday décor making for perfect photo ops.
Must Try Downtown Disney District 2021 Holiday Treats:
- Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes – The Peppermint Classic Shake is frosty with a chocolate mint pattie, whipped cream, crushed peppermint and chocolate drizzle.
- California Churro – The White Peppermint Churro, coated in powdered sugar and drizzled with peppermint icing, is another favorite!
- Kayla’s Cake – The Christmas Snowman and Gingerbread Macarons are delicious and so precious!
- La Brea Bakery & Café – Pick up a Pumpkin Mousse Tart, or a Pumpkin or Peppermint Latte.
- Marceline’s Confectionery – From your Disneyland app, you can now mobile order* such treats as a Mickey Peppermint Marshmallow, a Mickey Santa Cupcake, a Snowflake Caramel Apple and much more!
- Naples Ristorante e Bar – The Holiday Pizza is made with fontina, provolone, roasted pumpkin, finocchiona salami, sautéed onions and honey.
- Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen – This season, try a Pumpkin Glazed Beignet through Dec. 9, 2021, or a Candy Cane Glaze Beignet, Dec. 10-Jan. 9, 2022 at the express window, or a Bananas Foster Glazed Beignet inside the restaurant, along with a Snowfall Martini!
- Salt & Straw – Savor a scoop or pint of festive new flavors that embrace warmth and spice, such as Peppermint Cocoa, Gingerbread Cookie Dough, Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache or The Great Cookie Swap, beginning Nov. 26, 2021.
- Sprinkles – Get in the spirit with all three holiday cupcakes: Christmas Cookie, Gingerbread and Chocolate Peppermint.
- Tortilla Jo’s – The Trio de Tamales de Dulce starts with a red tamal served with a house-made strawberry jam; the White Tamal Dulce de Leche is served with raisins and cinnamon compote, and the Yellow Pineapple Tamal is topped with a piña colada sauce.
- Wetzel’s Pretzels – Cin-A-Bitz are hand rolled pretzel pieces glazed with butter and layered in a cinnamon sugar coating.
Entertainment includes: a capella carolers, featuring Holiday Harmony, The Moonrays and The Sugarplums performing near the Downtown Disney District main stage, Fridays through Sundays, Nov. 26-Dec. 26, 2021, along with our main stage bands.
Plus, now through January 5, 2022 preview a complimentary Quest 2 virtual reality experience of Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge coming to Downtown Disney District at ILMxLAB.
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