The holidays are the merriest time to be at the Disneyland Resort. There are so many magical things to experience while visiting. There are opportunities to visit Santa Claus, go on the merriest cruise on Earth on it’s a small world Holiday, and of course eat gingerbread cookies of choice! One of the other highlights of the holidays is the entertainment that can be found throughout the Disneyland Resort. Pretty much anywhere one can go at the Disneyland Resort during the holiday season, incredible entertainment can be found. From parades, to carolers, to nighttime spectaculars, to specialized entertainers, there is something for everyone!
With the amount of entertainment that is offered throughout the season, it can be overwhelming and hard to prioritize what to go and watch! To make this process easier, here are 6 can’t miss entertainment offerings at the Disneyland Resort during the holidays. They are in no particular order but they are the 6 that are favorites among the Daps Magic team.
Mickey’s Happy Holidays
Perhaps the happiest entertainment offering during the holiday season at the Disneyland Resort, Mickey’s Happy Holidays will get your toe tapping and face smiling as you watch Mickey and friends dance through Disney California Adventure throughout the day. The song is ridiculously catchy, the costumes for the characters and dancers are festive, and it is also fun to see both Disney and Pixar characters dancing together. Oh, and did I mention it is fairly short? You don’t have to wait very long for it either! Just show up a couple minutes before it starts and enjoy the show! The best place to watch is on Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood Land. This is such a fun and happy cavalcade that you won’t want to miss!
Tip: Show up right before it starts and enjoy Mickey and the gang dancing right down the parade route!
World of Color – Season of Light
World of Color – Season of Light is an absolutely incredible show that takes place nightly at Paradise Bay that truly brings the magic of Christmas to life in a very big way. It couples favorite holiday tunes with some magical moments found in both Disney and Pixar stories. This all is coupled with the incredible lights, fountains, and effects that are offered by World of Color. This show just pulls the viewer into the magic as it goes through different songs and moments. It is a wonderful kiss goodnight to end the day at Disney California Adventure, or even the Disneyland Resort!
Tip: Get into the virtual queue at noon for this, experience the dessert party, or attempt standby.
Holiday Concert Featuring Phat Cat Swinger
Every night at Paradise Gardens Park there is a holiday concert offered at 6:00 PM and 7:15 PM. Wednesday nights through Saturday nights the those concerts feature Phat Cat Swinger, the west coast’s little big band. Their two performances are full of energy, fantastic music, and often humorous moments. This band also connects with the audience really well, which just adds to the experience. There is also a “selfie moment” with the band during the 6:00 set that is a whole lot of fun. Phat Cat Swinger doesn’t just perform the music of the season, they bring it to life through their performances and interactions with those who are watching.
Tip: For the best spots, show up fifteen minutes before the concerts begin. However, Phat Cat Swinger can basically be walked up to and seen decently at any point before or during their concerts! Dancing down front is also encouraged!
Disney ¡Viva Navidad!
Another spirited can’t miss entertainment offering is Disney ¡Viva Navidad! This energetic street party is hosted by Donald Duck, José Carioca, and Panchito Pistoles, who are joined by folklórico dancers, mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers, drummers, 12-foot-tall mojiganga puppets of Santa and Mrs. Claus, and also Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse! This show is incredibly popular so don’t show up at the last minute if you want to see it. This is a show that will make you want to dance and sing along with the spirited musicians and performers! Its also another show that will definitely make you smile!
Tip: Show up twenty to thirty minutes early and get as close to the center of the viewing area by Bayside Brews. This is the most immersive place to watch the street party!
A Christmas Fantasy Parade
A Christmas classic, A Christmas Fantasy Parade has been celebrating the “spirit of the season” for almost three decades now! With live trumpeting toy soldiers, Mickey and Minnie Mouse with a multitude of Disney and Pixar friends, and Santa and Mrs. Claus, this is the ultimate Christmas parade! Santa’s elves are also dancing throughout the parade as they prepare for their biggest day of the year. This parade is full of nostalgia, Christmas magic, and merriment. It also continues to be very popular! The best place to watch the parade is on Main Street, USA, which is also the most popular. Prepare to spend some time waiting to see A Christmas Fantasy Parade. Also, you can watch it in the afternoon under the light of the sun, or in the evening with the magical lighting that accompanies it through the dark. Both are fantastic experiences.
Tip: Wait with friends and family. Plan on getting a spot an hour (or sometimes earlier) before the parade begins. Also, make friend with your neighbors who are waiting as well! They are doing the same thing!
Believe… in Holiday Magic Fireworks and Snow
What is more magical than a white Christmas? Fireworks and then snow coming down at Disneyland offering a few magical moments of a white Christmas is definitely a pretty good contender! Believe… In Holiday Magic is the long-running holiday fireworks spectacular at the Disneyland Resort. It is a beautiful fireworks show with favorite Christmas tunes and festive fireworks. There are also some beautiful projections utilized throughout the performance. As the show draws to a close, snow falls down on delighted guests on Main Street, USA, the area near it’s a small world, and also around the Rivers of America in the Fantasmic! viewing areas. The whole experience is absolutely charming and magical. Half of the fun is the holiday magic that Disney creates, the other half is watching the look of delight as people experience the magical moments that have been created. This is another great way to end a holiday day at the Disneyland Resort.
Tip: Show up on Main Street 20-30 minutes before Believe… in Holiday Magic begins. Pick a place where you can see Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle and also the Christmas tree. Enjoy the castle during the fireworks and then look at both the castle and the Christmas tree during the snow. Both are beautiful.
There are so many other holiday entertainment offerings to be enjoyed and experienced around the Disneyland Resort during the holidays. For instance, the Dickens Yuletide Band at Disneyland brings a classic approach to Christmas Music and Mostly Kosher brings Sonoma Terrace to life at Disneyland multiple times a day. The list really goes on and on. However, the above are six that really shouldn’t be missed and should be prioritized during the holidays at the Disneyland Resort.
What do you think of this list of six can’t-miss entertainment offerings at the Disneyland Resort during the holidays? Have you experienced them? What would you add to the list? What would you take away? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
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