Disneyland Just Announced Changes, New Offerings, For Holiday & Christmas Celebration 2024

Disneyland just gets that much better during the holiday celebrations throughout the year. While we love the Disneyland Halloween season, the Christmas and Holiday offerings at Disneyland simply cannot be beaten.

There's an extra layer of magic that comes to life with all of the decorations, special entertainment offerings, and general elevated joy in the parks.

We just got new information on Christmas at Disneyland including the end date of the celebration, a special new restaurant offering, new character outfits, and more holiday fun. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

Here's What's New at Disneyland Christmas For 2024

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In addition to all of the ongoing great offerings that are part of Christmas at Disneyland including the special parade and fireworks, Festival of Holidays food booths, and decorations, we just got new information on what else is going to be offered during the holidays. This year, the Christmas celebration at Disneyland will run from November 15, 2024 through January 6, 2025.

In addition to the beginning of the holidays at Disneyland, Tiana's Bayou Adventure opens at Disneyland on the first day of the holiday season. Check out the new Disneyland Christmas food guide just released.

Santa and other select characters will be appearing at the Fantasyland Theatre, which is where you'll find activities like cookie decorating, craft making, storytelling, and atmospheric music. This sounds like it will be a similar activity zone to what was just offered during Pixar Fest. Previously Santa Claus met guests in the area outside of Pooh Corner.

Update – We wondered whether the move of Santa Claus was because characters from Princess and the Frog were going to greet guests in this character greet area or if this was just being cleared because of the expected crowds. A Disneyland Resort spokesperson let us know that the area will be cleared due to the expected demand and increase in guests when Tiana’s Bayou Adventure debuts.

Mickey, Minnie, and friends will be donning new Christmas outfits “reminiscent of writing warm letters to loved ones during the holidays.” See these new looks below!

Chip and Dale's Ornament Trail pursuit will be a new offering in Downtown Disney inviting guests to search for special ornaments hidden throughout the district. This offering will be available from November 22, 2024 through January 1, 2025.

This offering sounds like it will be similar to the popular Disneyland Easter Egg-stravaganza and Pluto's Pumpkin Pursuit during Halloween that takes place in Downtown Disney, Disneyland, and Disney California Adventure. Perhaps this Ornament Trail offering will expand into the theme parks if it proves popular this year.

You can buy an activity map at select shopping locations in Downtown Disney and the Disneyland Resort Hotels and then redeem it for a collectible holiday keepsake at World of Disney or Disney’s Pin Traders.

Disney has clearly observed the popularity of the seasonal themed Character Dining experiences at Goofy's Kitchen and more recently Storytellers Cafe during Halloween. Now, they are introducing yet another new experience! Starting November 19, guests can enjoy “Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays!” (see our review of the Goofy's Kitchen Christmas Character Dining experience from last year here) and the new Mickey’s Holiday Pajama Party breakfast and brunch at Storytellers Cafe. This new Storytellers Cafe holiday Character Dining experience will offer holiday-themed meals, seasonal décor, and select characters in pajamas! This concept sounds so cute and we can't wait to learn more. Reservations will be available on the Disneyland website at a later date.

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New merchandise will debut for the holidays, including the Mickey Mouse Family Christmas, Holiday Red, and Snowman collections. You'll find a variety of merchandise at locations like World of Disney, Emporium, Elias & Co., and more. See a sneak peek at some of this merchandise!

Returning Favorites and Other Christmas Highlights

There will be a selection of limited-time food themed to the holidays, including some returning favorites like the Mickey Gingerbread and novelties like the Holiday stainless steel tumbler.

Guests will have several opportunities to see Santa through his appearances at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, the Grand Californian, Disneyland Hotel, and Pixar Place Hotel through December 24. Santa will also appear as usual in the finale of the A Christmas Fantasy Parade!

In addition to this favorite holiday parade, there are several other returning entertainment offerings for the holiday season. The nighttime spectacular “Believe…In Holiday Magic” will run nightly, and every night guests will also be able to enjoy snow falling along the Rivers of America, outside of “it’s a small world” Holiday, on Main Street, U.S.A., and on the west end of Downtown Disney. The nighttime spectacular “World of Color – Season of Light” also returns to Disney California Adventure.

Holiday overlays will be returning to attractions including “it's a small world Holiday,” Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl, Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, and the current overlay Haunted Mansion Holiday.

The three Disneyland Resort Hotels will feature holiday fun including the Grand's famous gingerbread house display and new decor at Pixar Place Hotel, as well as in-room celebrations available for purchase and special activities for the holidays. Tenaya Stone Spa will have some special holiday treatments as well.

The Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour will return this holiday season. In the experience, guests will hear holiday stories about Walt and the Disney family and enjoy holiday themed treats and reserved viewing for A Christmas Fantasy parade.

The Disney Festival of Holidays returns to Disney California Adventure with entertainment like new cultural performance groups and returning favorites, food marketplaces, and more. Disney ¡Viva Navidad! will feature a high-energy street party, crafts, live music, special menu items, and decor inspired by Latin American traditions. On days the street party is not scheduled, guests can see Mirabel and Miguel in festive street performances outside the entrance to Paradise Gardens Park.

There will also be a new Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays merchandise collection, which you'll find at Merchandise Marketplace and Elias & Co.

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