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I’ve been getting a lot of questions about Disneyland during Christmastime, so I figured I’d do one big post to address them all. Here’s my little guide to Disneyland during the merriest season of all!
How to do Disneyland during the Holidays:
1. Don’t miss out on the seasonal specials! If you’re going to the parks during the months of November - December, be sure to take advantage of all the wonderful Disneyland opportunities that are only around during this time. These include:
- It’s a Small World Holiday
- Haunted Mansion Holiday
- The Christmas Parade on Main Street
- The holiday fireworks (followed by SNOW! Seriously, so ~magical~ that it always makes me a little teary-eyed afterwards.)
- AMAZING DECORATIONS (all throughout the parks)
- Seasonal candy apples & desserts
- Holiday balloons!
- The absolute best photo ops. Everywhere you turn!
2. Dress appropriately. When people ask what to wear to Disneyland during the winter holidays, I usually say that jeans + a warm jacket will do. My holiday uniform of choice is almost always jeans or tights with boots, a cozy coat, and maybe a scarf + mittens if I’m going at night (don’t laugh, I’m a SoCal weenie that can’t handle anything below 60 degrees!). I’d recommend bringing layers that you can take on and off as needed, cause temps tend to fluctuate a lot. During the day it can get comfortably warm when the sun is out, but at night temps drop a little and you’ll probably need something warmer. Keep in mind though, that while it’s definitely colder than the summer, SoCal doesn’t usually get too extreme (usually being the operative word).
3. Come expecting crowds. Disneyland during the holidays is usually much more crowded than Disneyland during the summer, especially during the last couple weeks in December when everyone is off of school. There’s only a short chunk of time to see Disneyland all dressed up in Christmas cheer, so people are packing in by the bajillions (ok, slight overestimation but you know what I mean). Don’t get your hopes up by expecting that some empty winter wonderland is awaiting you. It’s a winter wonderland, sure, but it’ll be far from empty. It’s simple math: Disneyland + Holidays = AMAZING = more people want to visit. If you’re really worried about the busyness, just read up on my tips for how to beat the crowds at Disneyland.
4. Bring the family! Sure, it’s jolly good fun to go to Disneyland with friends, but I really encourage you to plan family-oriented trips to the parks during the holidays. The atmosphere is just so lovely and it’s a really great time to build lifelong memories with your loved ones. Being able to experience Disneyland during the Christmastime is such a blessing, and who better to share the experience with than your family? :)
