As summer winds down, it’s time to start looking forward to the holiday season. And that can only mean one thing: Disneyland Christmas 2024! No one does the holidays like Disney, and visiting Disneyland or any other park during this period is about as magical as it can get.
These days, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure draw massive crowds all year long, but especially during the Christmas celebration. In 2024, the holiday magic begins on November 15 (later than most years) and runs until the end of the year. Before booking a ticket, though, it’s imperative to know what to expect and plan accordingly.
Fortunately, we have the scoop on everything happening at Disneyland this year, and you can even save money when planning your visit. As a travel agent with Boardwalk Travel, you can get special discounts on Disney vacations, allowing you to experience more magic on a budget. Learn how to become a Disney travel agent with no experience and let’s get started together!
A Brief Overview of Disneyland Christmas 2024
After August, Disneyland becomes a nonstop holiday theme park. Halloween preparations begin in September, and once November rolls around, it’s time for Christmas to begin. This year, Disney is doing all the classic hits, meaning that the crowds will be thick for the rest of the year. When planning your visit, you should prioritize the elements you want to see most, so here’s a rundown of all the unique things you can do during this period.
As you plan, be sure to also check out our take on the best rides at Disneyland.
Christmas Fantasy Parade
This year, the Fantasy Parade is longer than ever, clocking in at around 40 minutes. It goes through Main Street, USA, at least two or three times per day (weather permitting), and it features all your favorite Disney characters dressed up in their holiday attire. You can also spot other Christmas-themed characters like gingerbread people, nutcrackers, elves, and even Santa Claus.
Spots for the parade fill up quickly, so it’s important to stake your claim as early as possible. Plus, the parade is even more magical during the evening when all the holiday lights serve as a sparkling backdrop.
“it’s a small world” Holiday
Most of the rides at Disneyland don’t get a holiday overhaul, but “it’s a small world” does. So, if you’re looking for a festive way to enjoy the park, you may want to take advantage of this ride and see all the decorations and lights up close. Plus, depending on your location, you may also get a good view of the nighttime fireworks and the Christmas Fantasy Parade.
Wintertime Enchantment at Sleeping Beauty’s Castle
Sleeping Beauty’s castle is already a centerpiece of Disneyland, but during the holiday season, it becomes even more magical. At night, it undergoes a transformation from the standard fairy tale castle into a winter wonderland. The park uses projectors to make the castle come alive and get covered in snow and icicles right before your eyes. If you’re near the castle when it gets dark, this is a fantastic show that will really set the mood for the season.
“Believe in Holiday Magic” Fireworks
One of the main attractions at Disneyland is the park’s nightly fireworks display. In fact, Disney is one of the largest global purchasers of explosives for this reason. During the holiday season, the display becomes far more enchanting and mystical with the addition of Christmas-themed fireworks. This also happens during the wintertime enchantment ceremony at Sleeping Beauty’s castle, so there’s even more of an exciting show to watch at the end of the day.
Haunted Mansion Holiday
In 2024, the Haunted Mansion underwent some major upgrades and refurbishments, just in time for Halloween. As with previous years, the mansion is decked out with decor and characters from the film “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. Jack Skellington and crew are on hand to help guests get spooked with delight.
However, as anyone who has seen the film knows, The Nightmare Before Christmas is both a Halloween and a Christmas movie. So, it makes sense for the decorations to remain through the end of the year. While these changes remain on the mansion for several months, they’re so popular that the line remains extremely long, no matter when you visit. So plan accordingly.
Santa Meet and Greet
Since we’re talking about Disneyland Christmas 2024, we can’t forget the big man himself. Santa Claus can be spotted at Critter Country, near Pooh’s Thotful Spot. There, you can meet Santa and get your photo taken by professional Disneyland photographers. Again, the line for this will be long, so make sure to secure enough time when adding this stop to your itinerary.
Disney California Adventure Holiday
All Disney parks undergo massive changes for the Christmas season. Since California Adventure is right next to Disneyland, it makes sense to buy a park hopper (or two park tickets) and visit both parks back to back. California Adventure has its own set of holiday-themed activities and attractions, including:
- Viva Navidad – If you’re in Paradise Gardens Park, you can experience the holidays with a Latin flair. Viva Navidad features dancing, music, and other cultural highlights that blend American and Mexican (and Californian) traditions. You can also meet characters from films like Encanto.
- Disney Festival of Holidays – Christmas isn’t the only major holiday being celebrated at the end of the year. California Adventure revels in various cultural festivals and traditions, including Diwali, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Three Kings Day. Whether you celebrate these holidays or not, the fun never stops!
- World of Color: Season of Light – Because the fireworks show takes place next door, California Adventure does things a little differently at the end of the day. Instead of explosives, a wall of mist acts as a projection screen so you can witness scenes from your favorite Disney holiday films. As the name suggests, there’s a world of color to experience, with the Mickey Ferris Wheel as the star of the show.
- Mater’s Jingle Jamboree – The world of Cars is a big part of California Adventure, and Mater’s garage turns into a Christmas-themed wonderland, complete with decorations and holiday music from the tow truck himself.
- Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl – Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters is a fun ride throughout the year, but it becomes far more enchanting during the Christmas season. Lights, wreaths, and Christmas music help turn this incredible attraction into something that can’t be missed!
Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Disneyland Christmas
As you can see, there are many reasons to participate in Disneyland Christmas 2024. However, with so much going on (and so many people at the park), the entire season can be overwhelming. An ounce of preparation can make all the difference, so here are our top tips for getting the most from your Disneyland vacation.
Set Priorities
Because lines will be long and it will be nearly impossible to do everything, you have to prioritize your day accordingly. Ideally, you can visit Disneyland at least two days in a row to experience all the magic, but even if you have just one day, you can squeeze maximum enjoyment out of it.
First, get showtimes for live events and parades that you want to see. Since these times are set, you can work around them. Also, determine whether you want front-row seats or if you can settle for the “nosebleeds,” as long as you can get a glimpse of the action. If you’re trying to see it all up close, you’ll have to camp out for at least 30-45 minutes before the show.
Second, choose which ride to start your day with, as the lines will only get longer throughout the day. For example, you may want to start with the Haunted Mansion since that will fill up the quickest.
Finally, don’t forget about bathroom and food breaks. Figure out where you want to dine and make sure it fits with your itinerary. If necessary, bring food with you to eat while waiting in line.
Plan Around Live Events and Parades
Even if you’re not seeing any parades or events, they can get in the way (or reduce wait times for popular rides). So, make sure you’re where you want to be when the parade starts so you can take full advantage.
Stay at the Resort if Possible
One of the main perks of staying at Disneyland Resort is that you get early access to the park (on most days) and you don’t have to worry about parking or riding the shuttle to the park. Instead, you can rely on the monorail or resort shuttle system, which will save you time and money.
The holiday season is huge for the resort, so you must book months in advance to get a room. Also, we only recommend this if you want the full experience, as it will be much more expensive to stay at the resort and visit the park(s).
Want a Disneyland Christmas? Sign Up for Boardwalk Travel
As an independent travel agent with Boardwalk Travel Agency, you can access special discounts and perks that aren’t available to everyone. Plus, travel agents earn commissions on their bookings. Since the vendor (like Disney) pays the commission, you can get money back from your holiday vacation!
Join the team at Boardwalk Travel Agency today and start saving money on your Disney trips and earning money when you book for others. There’s only a one-time membership fee, and you can access our network of vendors and discounts for life! Happy holidays, indeed!
