Holidays at the Disneyland Resort 2016
The holidays officially kicked off at the Disneyland Resort on Thursday, November 10. Among returning favorites guests will find a few newcomers and a whole festival of sights, sounds and tastes at Disney California Adventure. The biggest debut of the day was World of Color—Season of Light. The entirely new show weaves together a variety of Christmas songs with Disney animation, all set to spectacular colored fountains and pyrotechnics.
Also new at Disney California Adventure is the Festival of Holidays. Found throughout DCA, the Festival has its own guide map to help guests find all of its offerings. Music ranges from Holiday Toy Drummers to the lively klezmer of Mostly Kosher, and two street parties are offered. Viva Navidad! Returns, and is joined this year by Princess Elena’s Musical Grand Arrival.
But it is the food that will bring many guests back to the Festival of Holidays again and again. There are no less than 14 venues offering a wide range of treats drawn from many traditions. They are: -- Heritage Cottage (braised short ribs,Weisswurst sausage, saurkraut and vanilla rice pudding); -- Making Spirits Bright (wine by the glass, spiced or sparkling); -- Nosh and Nibbles (brisket, kugel, and reuben potato smash) -- Good Fortune’s Feast (pork bao, smoked duck, spring rolls); -- Spice Salutations (curry, carrot and chickpea fritters, tarts); -- Brews and Bites (beer flights with cheese balls, crackers and pretzels); -- Mistletoe Morsels (Swedish meatballs, crab cake, shrimp cocktail, eggnog and punch); -- Southern Home Holidays (spicy chicken sausage, mac and cheese, sweet potato pie); -- Winter Sliderland (roasted turkey or kalua pork sliders, whoopee pie and hard cider); -- Fiesta en Familia (red or green chile pozole, ceviche, and guava agua fresca); -- Yuletide Yummies (turkey pot pie, pesto puff pastry, traditional desserts and sparkling wine or beers); -- Mosaic Delights (roast lamb, falafel donuts, baklava and mint tea); -- Abuelita’s Kitchen (tamales, chorizo bean sopes, spiced peanut brittle); -- Treats for Santa (puff pastry, panettones, peppermint bark, holiday potables and cookie decorating).
Santa has moved to the Ahwanee Camp Circle greeting his fans in a setting created by nature herself (with a little help from the elves at Disney). Kids can play Elf Games throughout the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, and pose for photos with favorite Disney characters.
Holiday offerings will continue through early January of 2017
Continue on for pictures throughout the Disneyland Resort.
Disneyland Park
Entrance to Disneyland is aglow with holiday decorations
The town square Christmas tree is lighted every evening at dusk
Decorations adorn City Hall
Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle
…and by night.
The Jingle Cruise has returned to Adventureland
Frontierland is decked out for the holidays
New Orleans Square beckons by day…
Check out the new offerings at Disney California Adventure on the Next Page
Festival of the Holidays
The Festival of Holidays is heralded at the entrance to Disney California Adventure
Buena Vista Street features an old-fashioned Christmas tree
Shop windows offer a look into holidays of the past
Arched entrance to the Festival of Holiday glows at night
Festival of Holidays arch by day
Entertainment venues are listed at the base of the arch
Kiosks spread through DCA offer a variety of treats
Yuletide Yummies
Souvenirs include decorated skulls for Day of the Dead
Mosaic Delights are listed
More food venues along Paradise Bay
Entertainment offerings are listed along with guide maps
Food is offered into the evening
Ornaments include personalization
Personalization is offered on the spot
Official T-shirt
More logo merchandise is available
Carsland is decked out again
Pacific Wharf features a performance stage
A tree decorates the waters near Pacific Wharf
Mostly Kosher performs at the Golden Vine and in Paradise Park
Mostly Kosher performs klezmer
Check out the new Santa Chalet and World of Color on the next page
Santa Chalet and World of Color
The Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is Santa Central
Offerings are shown on the outside bulletin board
Koda and Kenai are in their holiday best
Elves have taken over the Challenge Trail
Santa holds court in the Ahwahnee Camp Circle
Looks like the roof is ready for Santa’s reindeer
Chip and Dale pose with fans
World of Color—Season of Light opens with a fanfare of music, fountains, and light
Mickey ice skates through a Winter Wonderland
Baby, It’s Cold Outside for the Disney princesses
Goofy can’t stay away from the lights
There’s the Goof
This is what happens when the circuits are blown
Every World of Color show has a grand finale
Paradise Bay
See Viva Navidad! and Princess Elena's Grand Musical Arrival on the next page.
Princess Elena and Viva Navidad
Viva Navidad! Features the Three Caballeros
The traditional hat dance is performed to live music
Dancers strut their stuff
Donald, Jose and Panchito keep the show moving
The samba is driven by live drummers
Music is a big part of Viva Navidad!
Mickey and Minnie join in the fun
A bright holiday greeting from Mickey and Minnie
Princess Elena of Avalor is joined by her friend Skylar
The Royal Dancers perform as Elena sings
Elena joins in the dance
A tribute to Princess Elena of Avalor
Skylar leads the way as Princess Elena bids a fond farewell