Disneyland has just announced an unexpected change to the upcoming holiday season. It is unusual for Disney to make a last-minute change like this, especially after holiday plans have already been shared, so this recent news caught us by surprise.
Keep reading to see what changed, why it happened, and why we think this decision actually makes sense despite the unusual timing. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including the new Disney rule changes announced for 2026 and an upcoming water park pool closure for a Disneyland hotel across the street.
READ MORE – Disney World Pros Know Not to Ignore These 10 Overlooked Food Items at the Parks
Disneyland Makes Change to Holiday Season Date
Disneyland previously announced that the Holidays at the Disneyland Resort would begin on November 18, 2026, when they released the full calendar of announcements for the 2026 year. At the time of the announcement, we noticed that it was a bit of an atypical start date, as in past years, the celebration has kicked off on a Friday. The original date shared was on a Wednesday. Since then, we have wondered if this initial date announcement was a mistake.
Disney Ride Closure ALERTS, Major Changes, Secrets Revealed
Get alerts on closures, park changes, exclusive discounts, and free printables. Trusted by 100,000+ Disney fans & planners.
Now, Disneyland has announced that instead, the Christmas celebration at Disneyland will begin on November 13, 2026, which brings the start date nearly a week earlier and with the celebration kicking off on a Friday. This is more typical for the Disneyland holiday season, so it appears that the original announcement was likely a mistake. Disneyland has also revealed that the celebration will end on January 6, 2027.
Disneyland originally shared the start date of the holiday season with a full calendar announcement of 2026 events, which included celebrations like the Halloween event dates, Disney After Dark events, D23 Day at Disneyland, among other major events during the year.
The Disneyland holiday celebration features festive decor, special entertainment like A Christmas Fantasy Parade and “Believe…In Holiday Magic” Fireworks, themed foods, seasonal ride overlays, and more. During this time, the Disney Festival of Holidays will also return to Disney California Adventure with festive food marketplaces across the park.
READ MORE – 11 Unwritten Rules of the Disney Parks You Really Need to Follow
We got a first teaser at some of the holiday food coming to Disneyland this year during the usual Christmas in July announcements. Disneyland releases a massive menu full of limited-time holiday offerings at both theme parks, Downtown Disney, and the resort hotels. Each year brings returning favorites along with new items plus a fun assortment of Disneyland popcorn buckets. You can also see the 2026 Disneyland Halloween foods shared so far here.
Don’t Miss the Latest Disney News
Don’t miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the FREE Mickey Visit newsletter that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland and the Mickey Visit guide to Disney World for tips.
