Get into the holiday spirit at “The Happiest Place on Earth!!!” I absolutely LOVE Disneyland! It is one of my most favorite places to go throughout the year, but the holidays are always such an amazing time for me at Disneyland! There are so many beautiful things to see and I get the best warm and fuzzy feeling inside while walking around the park! As an annual pass holder of almost 14 years, I have seen Disney grow in its’ holiday season every year. It seems like more and more new things get added to the park yearly! In this post I would like to share with you why you really should go to visit Disneyland at least once during the holiday season! The Disneyland Park and the California Adventure Park, as well as Downtown Disney are sure to make you smile and lift your holiday spirits!
I understand that especially during the holiday season money is tight, so I am also throwing in a couple of fun options below to visit that are in Downtown Disney, so you do not even have to pay an entry fee to go into either of the parks! Enjoy my 12 top items below that I find to be pretty awesome every holiday season!
Disneyland Snow
Disneyland makes it snow every year throughout the park. I have seen the snow on Main Street and over by Small World and the children get so excited when the snow comes. The snow is really only bubbles that stick in your hair, but it is flowing out of the sky everywhere and really makes you feel like you are enjoying the holiday season with such a simple touch. As the snow falls, Disney music plays and the park quickly turns into a winter wonderland that dissipates just as quickly!
Small World Display
Every year, I rush to the Small World to check out the awesome lights show that illuminates on the gorgeous Small World Ride. The lights go down in the park and the music comes on and the Small World instantly becomes alive with cascading lights with bright colors that illuminate all of the surrounding areas. The lights flash on and off and some years they have done slide shows on the castle of people that visit the park throughout the year. I did not see the slideshow yet this year, but I am hoping that it will come back later in the season!
Gorgeous Holiday Wreaths
Throughout the park and especially near the Small World area (that is where I saw a bunch of them) you can spot gorgeous holiday wreaths that are designed just for the holidays and lit up to sparkle and shine!
Holiday Haunted Mansion – Nightmare Before Christmas
The Haunted Mansion is a sight to see from Halloween through New Years as the entire ride and mansion is designed to replicate The Nightmare Before Christmas movie. Visit Jack Skellington, his girlfriend Sally and dog, Zero on the awesome ride and check out the awesome décor on the mansion! It is truly a sight to see!
Candy Apples and Cake Pops on Main Street and in Downtown Disney
Visit the candy store in Downtown Disney called Marceline’s Confectionary which has a huge window to watch the candy apples and cake pos being made! Disney employees are happy to smile and share with you the process that goes into making these special holiday treats! You can also watch these special treats being made on Main Street in both the Disneyland and California Adventure parks. It is truly a sight to see!
Holiday Fireworks show
Every season, Disneyland changes their fireworks show up a bit, but the holiday show is special in that there is a burst of gorgeous colors in the sky and the show is set to holiday themed tunes to get you into the holiday spirit.
Reindeers at Big Thunder Ranch
Reindeers are brought in from the North Pole just for your viewing enjoyment. J There is a stable where you can check out the reindeers and take as many pictures as you would like. The reindeer area is located over next to the dining area of Big Thunder Ranch! I have also heard they have an area there where kids can purchase and design cookies for the holidays. Make sure to head to the reindeers first at the park because they are only there in the daytime and are taken in during the evening to sleep. 🙂
Cars Land Holiday Décor
I was very impressed this year with how decked out Cars Land was! There is such great holiday décor throughout this section of the California Adventure Park and I recommend heading over there to check it out and take a few pictures!
Amazing Christmas Trees in Disneyland, California Adventure, & Downtown Disney (3 Different Trees)
All three of these trees are a gorgeous sight to see as they tower over the park and are very tall! They are all decked out with gorgeous lights and ornaments and there is always a long line to get a photo in front of one of these, but they are worth it…Every year I usually end up using one of these photos on my holiday cards to send to friends and family!
Olaf’s Frozen Ice Skating Rink – Downtown Disney
You do not have to pay park admission to take advantage of this awesome ice skating rink, but the prices are pretty hefty. Ages 10 & up cost $17 & ages 3-9 are $15. Even if you choose not to ice skate, it is a fun time to watch people skate next to the gorgeous Downtown Disney Christmas Tree!
Please also check out my DISNEYLAND ANNUAL PASSES ARTICLE HERE if you are thinking of purchasing one so you make sure you get the best option available for the best price! I also have my most recent DISNEYLAND PASS ARTICLE HERE.
Have a blast at Disneyland this holiday season! What is your favorite holiday season feature of the Disney parks? Have a great holiday!!
To subscribe to my blog to get weekly deals like these and other dynamic ways to save and to live champagne dreams on a beer budget, simply scroll down & enter your email address where it says to follow blog via email. You will then receive an email asking you to confirm subscription. Simply confirm subscription and you will be subscribed. 🙂 Thank you for your time and feel free to spread the word to others that want to learn all different kinds of ways to save money on food, travel, shopping, and products:) Please feel free to like my facebook page, Dani’s Decadent Deals as well to get daily deals everyday for everything from clothing, travel, restaurants, activities, adult events and kids’ events. 🙂 Have fun saving!!!
Dani's Decadent Deals 
Magical, I’ve never been to Disney, but now I really want to go, it made me think of the “Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern, and for some reason Final Fantasy 7. Thank you for your post, I look forward to some savings.
http://junkyardofcreation.wordpress.com/
Thanks for your comment! I hope you get to visit the happiest place on earth sometime soon!
Looks like you made the most of your visit. I think that’s too much cheer for me. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy Christmas (and Disney), but I might have to pass until after the holidays, ha!
That is too funny! I understand where you are coming from, but when you are there it is seriously so amazing! I am a Disney Passholder and I regularly go there but I look forward to this time of year every year!
I absolutely love Disney. We only live an hour away from Disney World 🙂
Very cool! Are you a passholder? If so, do they have a monthly payment plan for passes like we have here?
Thank you for all this great information. The pictures are fabulous!
Thanks so much! I hope you make it into the park for the holiday season! You will be pleasantly impressed.
Disney is always in my list. I can’t wait for my son and daughter
You definitely must go soon! 🙂
This is a really cool post about things to do at Disneyland during the holidays! Great pictures
Thanks Tom! We always have such a great time there at this time of year!
We were just there on Monday! I forgot about the reindeer, dangit! We did get to the Mansion with fast passes, though, and our baby slept through the whole ride. 🙂 The snow on Main street was a cool surprise, too.
Very cool!! I love Disney so much & I am sure it was a great break for baby to sleep through the haunted mansion ride because it can get a little scary for the Lil ones:)