A couple years ago the whole family headed to Disneyland at Christmas. It was AMAZING! Disney any time of year is a good time, but during the holidays there is even more fun and amazing decor. Disneyland in California is full of fun and the holiday season decor and activities are fantastic. Definitely a travel must for every Disney fan! I found a new love for Disney on the west coast… all because of Christmas.
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Disneyland at Christmas
I did not tell the kids we were going to Disneyland. My grandparents live near Palm Springs, so flying into the Orange County airport is a natural travel itinerary. I told the kids we were going for a quick weekend visit. Mid-December is full of snow in Colorado, so on the day we were set out to leave for California, our flights were cancelled and rebooked TWICE. (Thank goodness Southwest airlines is so amazing). I had really planned to drive the family to have dinner with my grandparents… but because our flights got set back, we ended up with a super quick dinner trip and then headed back to Anaheim for the night.
Come along, I'll share our Disney Christmas adventure with you.
We went from cold and snow and typical December weather in Colorado…
To beautiful sunshine and happy faces at Disneyland at Christmas. Hello California sun!
Hotel Stay for Disneyland Vacation
We stayed in a “family room” at Spring Hills Suites just a few blocks from Disneyland. The room was amazing, there were 3 beds and a pull out sofa, perfect for our family of 5. We got up in the morning, I told the kids we were headed to Disneyland and handed them some fun Disney t-shirts for the day. Then we enjoyed a complimentary breakfast (always included) at the hotel. The weather was beautiful, so we walked over to the main gates at Disneyland and spent the next 2 days riding all the rides, seeing all the sites and trying all the food. I've never had so much festive Christmas fun… and with all 3 of my kids! You can book a hotel with your a Disneyland Package too!
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We bought the 2 Day Park Hopper so we could run back and forth between Disneyland and California Adventure.
Because it was such a short trip, we spent almost all day from open to close at the parks. If we were staying longer, we might have taken a little break. However, we did try to balance out running around with resting depending on which rides and activities we chose. 3 of use LOVED the roller coaster at California Adventure. I love seeing the sites and all the decorations. It's so pretty during the holiday season.
Favorite Disneyland at Christmas Moments
I love love seeing all the Christmas decorations everywhere you look. The Disney crew does an amazing job of not only decorating, but finding all kinds of magical details to add Christmas to as well. Everything looked so festive and fun and full of holiday cheer. Thinking about it now makes me want to pull out the Christmas tree!
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Some tips for Disneyland and California Adventure in December
- Weekdays, locals are in school, so the lines are much less crowded.
- It is winter, so nights get chilly, bring a coat
- Plan your schedule around the different holiday parades, the special December festivities are a ton of fun. My favorite was the Disney ¡Viva Navidad! – Street Party at California Adventure
- Get the hopper pass so you can easily move from one park to the next for different shows, meal options and activities.
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More favorite moments at Disneyland
These photos are all from California Adventure from our same December trip. Look how fun all the Christmas decor is!
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We had SUCH a great time on this trip. It was really fun to surprise the kids… I'm still kind of surprised they followed me on to an airplane without knowing exactly what we were doing. The holiday cheer around Disneyland at Christmas is AMAZING! There's still the favorite classics, all the rides are open and all our favorite treats were still available (hello Dolewhip)… but the extra Christmas decor and activities made this trip extra special. If you get a change to sneak a trip in, do it! Even for 2 days, it's well worth the time and money.
Happy Holidays!
I have been to Disney at Christmas time. It was 2001 and people were not flying much after 9/11 so the lines were minimal. My nephews were 7 and 9 and it was a perfect holiday vacation
Nothing beats being surrounded by magic this time of year, that’s for sure!