2023 Disneyland Resort Holiday Season Dates and Details Revealed

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

The Holidays at the Disneyland Resort are returning Nov. 10, 2023, through Jan. 7, 2024! We can’t wait for Guests and their loved ones to create special memories and treasured traditions with new and returning holiday offerings around the resort. We’re excited to taste our way through the Disney Festival of Holidays marketplaces, watch dazzling projections and fireworks illuminate Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle and snap a photo with Mickey Mouse in his all-new holiday outfit in Disneyland Park!

Here are the details about the celebrations, décor, entertainment and more that will be featured this holiday season.

Experience Cultural Celebrations in Disney California Adventure Park with Disney Festival of Holidays

A distinctly Disney holiday celebration with diverse food, live entertainment and more, Disney Festival of Holidays draws inspiration from multicultural seasonal celebrations and cherished traditions of Christmas, Navidad, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day. Guests can enjoy some new and returning favorite food and beverage items at the Disney Festival of Holidays marketplaces and groove to music and dance performances at the Palisades Stage, Sonoma Terrace and for the first time, in the Hollywood Backlot, where Disney Festival of Holidays will also be celebrated. Additionally, get ready to dance along as Disney and Pixar characters march to the beat of the Holiday Toy Drummers in “Mickey’s Happy Holidays.”

Festivalgoers may choose to purchase a Sip and Savor Pass, which offers eight entitlement tabs that can be redeemed for select food and nonalcoholic beverages from several marketplaces and participating dining locations in Disney California Adventure.* Each Sip and Savor Pass is valid for the entirety of Disney Festival of Holidays and can be shared among friends and family, so the whole group can sample delicious dishes together this season.

Disney ¡Viva Navidad! will return to Paradise Gardens Park for its tenth season, and this year, Guests can taste their way through an all-new menu at Paradise Garden Grill. Watch the Three Caballeros as they host a joyous street party, featuring Mexican folklórico dancers and mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers and percussionists, giant mojiganga puppets and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their holiday best. Additional festivities in this area will include live music and dancing, visits with beloved Disney characters and special appearances by Mirabel from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Encanto.”

Enjoy Festive Décor and Transformed Attractions Throughout Disneyland Resort

There’s no better place to enjoy wintertime decorations and twinkling lights than The Merriest Place on Earth! Throughout Disneyland Resort, Guests can gaze at spectacular holiday décor including Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, adorned with icicles and snow-capped turrets; a gingerbread house inspired by sweet treats and pastries at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa; and Christmas trees with uniquely themed ornaments in both theme parks, the Downtown Disney District, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disneyland Hotel. And with a bit of Disney magic, “snow” is scheduled to fall every night in select areas of Disneyland park!

Ornaments, lights and more will also embellish favorite attractions that get a special holiday overlay. In Disneyland, Guests will be serenaded with choruses of jolly tunes on the wintry waterway of “it’s a small world” Holiday, and Jack Skellington from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” redecorates the Haunted Mansion, transforming it into the frightfully festive Haunted Mansion Holiday, complete with a new, hauntingly delightful gingerbread house. Gear up for some cheer in Disney California Adventure on Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, which will both undergo seasonal spins for the “haul-idays.”

Delight in Seasonal Spectaculars and Holiday Entertainment

A photo with Disney characters becomes even more merry, as Mickey Mouse and some of his friends will don all-new outfits in Disneyland park, putting a spin on the classic red and green with midcentury modern-inspired looks! Plus, the whole family can visit with Santa Claus, who will pose for jolly photos around Disneyland Resort through Dec. 24.

And of course, the holiday season isn’t complete without enjoying some merry entertainment. At Disneyland Park, “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” will spread cheer, starring characters from Disney Animation’s “Frozen,” Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story” and many more. In the evenings, Guests can watch as the “Believe…In Holiday Magic” nighttime spectacular illuminates the night sky with breathtaking fireworks and sprinklings of snow. And for Guests who want to add even more holiday magic to their trip, the Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour will offer a hosted experience of select seasonal offerings and reserved viewing for “A Christmas Fantasy Parade.”**

At Disney California Adventure Park, “World of Color – Season of Light” will fill Paradise Bay with the spirit of togetherness and love as hundreds of fountains illustrate warm moments from Disney animated films.

In addition to holiday shopping and dining in the Downtown Disney District, Guests can groove to a variety of “mistle-toe-tapping” live musical performances on select evenings at the Downtown Disney LIVE! stage. At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Disneyland Hotel, Guests can enjoy a wonderfully cozy atmosphere, enhanced with live entertainment some nights.

We are counting down the days until Holidays at the Disneyland Resort begins!

New Ways to Celebrate Haunted Mansion Film at Disney Parks

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Welcome, Foolish Mortals… to the release of the new Haunted Mansion film, now playing only in theaters!

Inspired by the classic theme park attraction, “Haunted Mansion” is about a woman and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters. Keep your eyes peeled for many easter eggs and nods to the Haunted Mansion attractions that made it into this film!

There’s no better place to celebrate the release of this film than at Disney Theme Parks, and we’re materializing frightfully fun ways to experience Haunted Mansion for a limited time.

Hatbox Ghost Coming to Walt Disney World Resort

Later this year at the Walt Disney World Resort, one of our most iconic specters will set up residence in the Haunted Mansion of Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom Park. The Hatbox Ghost will appear to guests as they pass the Endless Hallway, welcoming himself inside from the swinging wake in the cemetery and grinning at the Doom Buggies as they set off deeper into the mansion. Guests will soon see temporary barriers materialize as we await his apparition.

Haunted Mansion Costume Display at Disneyland Resort

For a limited time, Guests visiting Disneyland Park can visit the Opera House inside The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln to see a collection of concept art, props and costumes from the Haunted Mansion, including the ornate dress worn by Madame Leota (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) in the film.

And for guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort, stay tuned for a similar display of props and costumes coming to Walt Disney Presents Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park very soon!

Haunted Mansion Inspired Treats at Disney Parks

Disneyland Park

Look alive! We’re cooking up concoctions inspired by Haunted Mansion that are sure to thrill your taste buds!

Haunted Mansion Inspired Pre-Fixe Menu available at Café Orleans featuring the Vanilla Mousse and Seafood Boil

April-December Churro at the New Orleans Square Churro Cart: Strawberry-flavored sugar with fresh strawberries, purple cherry sugar, freeze-dried strawberries, and donut icing drizzle

Constance Concoction at Harbour Galley: Potato and leek soup topped with pea flower crème fraiche, herb oil, and fried leeks served in a sourdough bread bowl

Madame Leota Cereal Treat at Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen: Crisped rice cereal treat dipped in dark chocolate and decorated with M&M’S® milk chocolate candies and Madame Leota chocolate piece #MoviesWithMars (also available at Walt Disney World Resort)

Pickwick Ghost Punch at Royal Street Veranda and Harbour Galley‌: A Combination of fruit, citrus juices, and sherbet (Non-alcoholic)

Hatbox Ghost Sipper at select locations in New Orleans Square and Critter Country

Walt Disney World Resort

Playful Spirits Margarita featuring Patron Silver Tequila with a Fess Parker Big Easy Red Floater and Mickey-shaped Caretakers Beignets dusted with Cookies and Cream Powdered Sugar and a ghoulish Marshmallow Crème drizzle. Both can be found inside Scat Cat’s Club at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Push Pop at Sleepy Hollow inside Magic Kingdom Park.

Happy Haunts Shake at Columbia Harbor House inside Magic Kingdom Park: Blackberry shake topped with purple chocolate-glazed doughnut covered with black sprinkles.

Haunted Mansion Portrait Bars at The Ganachery inside Disney Springs: Chocolate Ganache Bars with edible image. Bar Flavors: pistachio, salted caramel, chipotle, passion fruit.

Watch Haunted Mansion, out in theaters now!

There’s no turning back now! Check out Haunted Mansion now playing only in theaters and watch out for any hitchhiking ghosts that may follow you home!

Disney Announces REPLACEMENT for ‘Fantasmic!’: New Entertainment Arrives After Fire Incident

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Disney is finally moving on…

Earlier this year, something happened at Disneyland Resort that will forever live on as a tragic moment in Disney Park history. “Fantasmic!” is an iconic show that has been playing at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort for years. The show featured dozens of iconic Disney characters, lights, pyrotechnics, and music that dazzled fans beyond belief.

One of the show’s featured elements is the giant Fantasmic! Maleficent dragon. On April 22. 2023, a mishap during the performance at Disneyland Resort resulted in the dragon catching flames in front of Guest’s very eyes.

Fantasmic Fire

The Maleficent dragon, which was a massive animatronic creature, came to life during the performance, but instead of dazzling the audience with its grandeur, it burst into flames. The fire quickly spread, causing panic among Guests and staff. Thankfully, the Anaheim Fire Department was able to put out the flames, but not before it had completely destroyed the dragon. It was a surreal scene, watching one of Disneyland’s beloved attractions engulfed in flames. Thankfully, no injuries were reported among the Guests or Disneyland Cast Members.

Soon after the incident, Disney announced that performances of Fantasmic would not be happening through at least Labor Day. The statement says;

For months, fans have been eager to know what would be officially replacing Fantasmic. Now, Disneyland has announced that the Jambalaya Jazz Band featuring Queenie will begin performing nightly shows on a barge down the Rivers of America. The performances will begin on July 21 and will take place at 7:35 p.m.

There has been no closing date for this show, but it can be presumed that it will take the place of Fantasmic! until it returns. As of now, Disney has not released any status update on Fantasmic. The show is still happening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida, so fans feel confident they will be able to bring it back safely soon.

New ‘Disney Junior & Friends Playdate’ Event Coming to Disneyland Resort August 18-20

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

“Disney Junior & Friends Playdate,” a three-day event celebrating the magical, entertaining and music-filled stories of Disney Junior’s hit series, will bring the magic straight to preschoolers and their families at Disney California Adventure park on Friday, August 18, and at Downtown Disney District on Saturday, August 19 and Sunday, August 20.

The celebration will kick off Friday, Aug. 18 at Disney California Adventure park, and will feature:

  • A Playdate Party Parade featuring beloved Disney Junior characters, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, Elena of Avalor, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Vampirina, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Goofy, Pluto, and Mira, Royal Detective.
  • A special “Disney Junior Live! Playdate” stage show will delight young audiences with the world-premiere of the new Disney Junior short-form series “Playdate with Winnie the Pooh.”
  • The seasonal “Alice’s Wonderland Bakery Unbirthday Party” will offer a lively, hands-on cupcake decorating course inspired by the Disney Junior series. 
  • A “Spidey and his Amazing Friends” photo wall at the Hollywood Backlot in Disney California Adventure.
  • Plus, you can enjoy regular Disney Junior programming at Disney California Adventure, including the popular “Disney Junior Dance Party!” 

The fun moves to the Downtown Disney District on Saturday, Aug. 19 and Sunday, Aug. 20, including:

  • Disney Junior-themed treats at Marceline’s Confectionary. 
  • A “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” photo wall at Downtown Disney.

Throughout the weekend, guests will be able to participate in a find-and-search experience featuring Disney Junior-themed clues around Disney California Adventure park on Friday and Downtown Disney on Saturday and Sunday.

Additional details including a full schedule of events will be posted here leading up to the event. 

Throughout the year, families visiting with small children will find unforgettable character moments, rides, shows and more across Disneyland Resort.

Queenie and the Jambalaya Jazz Band Will Add Magical Atmosphere to Evenings Along Rivers of America

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Jambalaya Jazz will soon be taking their show to a river barge! With guest-favorite Queenie returning to the band, the New Orleans-inspired jazz act will add magical atmosphere to evenings along Rivers of America beginning July 21, 2023.  

Queenie and the Jambalaya Jazz Band will perform a musical tribute to New Orleans each evening on a themed raft as they float down the Rivers of America. They will perform high-energy New Orleans tunes, plus other Disney favorites. There will be three sets of performances beginning at 7:35 p.m. nightly, and guests may check the Disneyland app for show times and details. 

After their energetic and interactive performances, stick around to enjoy “Wondrous Journeys” through Aug. 31, or “Halloween Screams” through Oct. 31, with state-of-the-art projection effects, plus sparkling fireworks on select nights from the unique vantage point on the Rivers of America.

We will also have more to share soon about some additional entertainment joining New Orleans Square!