What’s New, Pausing & Changing for Christmas 2025 at Disneyland & DCA

Disney has announced returning entertainment, new character meet & greets, and more for Christmas 2025 at Disneyland and California Adventure. This guide covers everything you need to know, including the good & bad of what’s changing about the 70th Anniversary celebration and more.

In terms of basics, Holiday Time at Disneyland Resort runs from November 14, 2025 through January 7, 2026, and features a wide variety of festive, family-friendly entertainment, decorations, parades, ride overlays, and more. In addition to returning classics, this year’s lineup presents new options. Perhaps most importantly, there are some significant changes due to the ongoing Disneyland 70th Anniversary celebration.

This offers a rundown of the new offerings and returning entertainment across both theme parks, Downtown Disney District and the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort. If you’re looking for an all-encompassing overview and tips to make the most of the holiday season, see our Ultimate Guide to Christmas 2025 at Disneyland Resort.

As an additional planning resource, it’s highly recommended to download and consult the Disneyland app or the Hours & Events Calendar on Disneyland.com for the full list of entertainment offerings and latest performance schedules. Showtimes do vary by date–for example, there will be more (and different) showings of certain entertainment on weekends or during peak weeks than there will on some random weekday in early December.

Anyway, here’s a rundown of what’s happening at Disneyland Resort for Christmas 2025…

Disneyland 70th Anniversary Changes

Select entertainment from the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration will continue during the holiday season. You’ll still be able to enjoy the “World of Color Happiness!” nighttime spectacular at Disney California Adventure and “Tapestry of Happiness” projection show on the facade of “it’s a small world” at Disneyland. The 70th enhancements will also continue on Toy Story Mania.

Previously, Disneyland announced that “Mickey and Friends Celebrate Happy!” cavalcade, “Wondrous Journeys” nighttime spectacular and “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” parade would temporarily pause at the start of Halloween to make way for seasonal Halloween entertainment offerings, then resume at a later time. These pauses will continue through Christmas and into early 2026.

The new development is that Paint the Night parade will also go on holiday hiatus and resume sometime in 2026. This is a big blow, as Paint the Night is the marquee evening entertainment at Disneyland right now. Not only that, but it had previously been our understanding that Paint the Night would not pause, as Disney indicated it would run throughout the 70th celebration.

It’s unclear whether there was a change of plans or what, exactly, happened. Perhaps they realized there were not enough performers for both Paint the Night and A Christmas Fantasy? Maybe lower crowds than previously projected? No matter what the reason, it’s an excuse and the reality one way or another comes down to cost-cutting. Disney could do Paint the Night and A Christmas Fantasy if they so desired, but they do not so desire.

Consequently, Paint the Night will not run through at least early January 2026. We would not assume that Paint the Night will return immediately after the holiday season ends. With past parade holiday hiatuses, it’s sometimes taken until spring break.

We would hope that there’s more urgency with Paint the Night since it’s a marquee Disneyland 70th Anniversary offering, but we would be cautious about committing to travel dates in January or February 2026 until there’s concrete confirmation. The parade could be paused until Presidents Day or later.

Also note that “World of Color – Happiness” continuing at Christmas means that “World of Color – Season of Light” will not be presented for Christmas 2025. That was previously suggested by Disney, so it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. We’ll miss Season of Light, which is a sentimental favorite.

Finally, areas and attractions around Disneyland Resort will retain special touches, including decorative accents and the colorful castle photo opportunity in the esplanade. Interactive MagicBand+ locations and the Key to Disneyland lock stations will remain available through the season.

Disneyland Christmas Entertainment

New Christmas 2025 Character Costumes

As you stroll into Disneyland, you may spot Minnie and Mickey Mouse, and some of their friends in sparkling new outfits. These designs are a “holiday spin” on their clothing from the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Celebration. Shimmering greens, reds and golds steal the show, with anniversary nods throughout. Beyond the mice, these characters usually include Goofy, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and Clarabelle.

These costumes change every year and are a huge hit with fans, and make for fun merchandising tie-ins. Meeting the characters for Christmas can be a tad tricky. All of these meet & greets are in Town Square, but the locations aren’t clearly marked, the characters rotate, and most do not have PhotoPass. If you want to meet them, your best bet is being in Town Square between 9:45 am and 2 pm, which is when most of them appear.

Failing that, some of them are back out in the evenings. Those appearances are more sporadic, and characters are not out during the fireworks or parade. Another option is seeing them at the very beginning of the day, shortly after Disneyland opens and they appear at the Train Station; they also do the same thing at the end of the night. This is not a meet & greet, but you can get selfies and see them much more easily.

“Holiday Fun with Santa and Friends!” at Fantasyland Theatre

This family-friendly area returns for Christmas 2025 after debuting last year. Throughout the day, Santa Claus and select Disney characters will make appearances and pose for holiday photos at “Holiday Fun with Santa and Friends!” at the Fantasyland Theatre.

Families can also enjoy craft making, sing-alongs of holiday classics and atmospheric music. This is scheduled daily at Disneyland, and has various permutations throughout the year. If there’s a version of this happening during your visit, it’s worth checking out if you have small children. It isn’t well publicized so crowds are often low back here–it’s a good reprieve from the heat and crowds, although only the latter should be applicable at Christmas.

“A Christmas Fantasy Parade”

“A Christmas Fantasy Parade” returns for another merry musical celebration, filled with jolly elves, dancing gingerbread cookies and prancing reindeer. Disney characters such as Anna and Elsa from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen,” Disney Princesses, Buzz Lightyear from Pixar Animation Studios’ “Toy Story” and more also join in, with Santa Claus appearing in the grand finale.

Viewing areas can be found around “it’s a small world” Holiday, near Matterhorn Bobsleds and Main Street, U.S.A., while reserved viewing for the parade is included with the Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour. “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” is performed daily at Disneyland during the holiday season.

“Believe…In Holiday Magic” Fireworks

The “Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular lights up the night sky above Disneyland on a nightly basis as Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle shimmers with more than 80,000 twinkling lights, sparkling “icicles” and glistening snow-capped turrets.

You can also experience a magical “snowfall” along parts of Main Street, U.S.A., near “it’s a small world” Holiday and along the Rivers of America during Wintertime Enchantment at Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle several times each night.

Disney California Adventure Christmas Entertainment

“Mickey’s Happy Holidays” and Holiday Toy Drummers 

Families and kids will want to dance along to holiday rhythms as iconic Disney characters march along the Disney California Adventure park parade route to the beat of the Holiday Toy Drummers during “Mickey’s Happy Holidays.”

In addition, the playfully percussive precision of the Holiday Toy Drummers will delightfully drum up seasonal cheer for all to hear. The Holiday Toy Drummers perform multiple times daily at DCA during Festival of the Holidays, usually in front of the obelisk in Paradise Gardens Park.

“Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season”

On select days, Mirabel from “Encanto” and her friends rejoice in the spirit of the holidays, bringing everyone together during their very own Fiesta de Navidad celebration. Kids of all ages and families will enjoy singing along in this heartfelt musical presentation. Mirabel is also among the characters rotating at the Paradise Gardens Park gazebo, sharing holiday greetings and posing for photo opportunities.

“A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland & Miguel!” 

Also on select days, this nighttime show gathers friends and families to listen to heartfelt stories and timeless songs in an enchanting celebration of the holidays. Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland, accompanied by graceful dancers, delivers intimate, bilingual performances of beloved Christmas songs.

The celebration closes with a special appearance by Miguel from Pixar Animation Studios’ “Coco” for a beautiful rendition of “Silent Night.” (Last year, both of these shows occurred Monday through Friday evenings. No word yet on the 2025 schedule, but there’s a decent chance it’s the same.)

DCA Festival of Holidays

Disney California Adventure Festival of the Holidays celebrates Christmas, Navidad, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day. This year’s festival features an expanded rotation of live bands and cultural performance groups – bringing a variety of high-energy seasonal fun each day for all ages to enjoy.

The live entertainment across Disney California Adventure displays an extensive range of genres, including mariachi, jazz, klezmer, Latin pop, fusion, reggae, polka and more. Several new live bands and cultural performance groups will perform at the festival, with the exact schedule and lineup to be announced.

The entertainment rotation varies throughout the season, so it is highly recommended to check Disneyland.com for a full list of performers and daily showtimes. Scheduled multiple times daily at various stages across Disney California Adventure.

Festive Food Marketplaces will be sprinkled in different areas of DCA, where new and returning bites and beverages await, such as the fan-favorite braised pork belly adobo. You can purchase a Sip and Savor Pass to taste your way through the festivities at participating locations. These passes include six digital coupons that can be redeemed for select food and nonalcoholic beverages around DCA.

Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party

Head to Paradise Gardens Park at Disney California Adventure for the return of Disney ¡Viva Navidad!, a heartwarming celebration inspired by Latin American holiday traditions — with a spirited Disney twist! Delight in live music, crafts, festive décor, flavorful dishes and appearances by Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and The Three Caballeros.

On select days, the “Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party” lights up the area with folklórico dancers, mariachis, samba performers and more, led by The Three Caballeros in a vibrant display of rhythm and color. (For reference, the Viva Navidad Street Party was scheduled Saturdays and Sundays last year.)

Live Music and Nightly Snow at Downtown Disney District

The holiday festivities extend to the Downtown Disney District with holiday décor, shopping, entertainment, and a nightly “snowfall.” The Downtown Disney LIVE! stage and lawn will present seasonal live music each night, with featured acts covering genres such as rock, jazz and classic caroling.

Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail returns for Christmas 2025, inviting you to search for special ornaments hanging from trees throughout the Downtown Disney District. Purchase an activity map from a participating retail location, embark on your search, and exchange the map at a redemption location to receive a keepsake.

Christmas at Disneyland Resort’s Hotels

The Hotels of the Disneyland Resort will be brimming with holiday cheer and decked out with seasonal decor. You can look forward to specialty dining, carolers and an encounter with Santa!

Get into the spirit with a returning holiday-themed beverage menu at Broken Spell Lounge in the Disneyland Hotel, featuring creative twists on classics like hot chocolate and eggnog, paired with live jazz music on select days.

There are also several Christmas character dining experiences to choose from this holiday season, including Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party at Storytellers Cafe for breakfast and brunch, where Daisy Duck and Donald Duck join the character lineup. You can also make memories at Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays! at the Disneyland Hotel or partake in Holiday Tea with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Hearthstone Lounge. There’s also a brand-new character dinner experience called Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast at Storytellers Cafe, which we’ll be covering separately. Advance Dining Reservations will be available soon!

Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney. For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Finally, for guides beyond Disney, check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and many other SoCal cities!

Your Thoughts

What do you think of the entertainment lineup for Christmas 2025 at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure? Excited by all of the new additions and 70th stuff? Or disappointed that Paint the Night is pausing and Viva Navidad is once again only select nights? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!