There’s always something fun and exciting happening at the Disneyland Resort, no matter the time of year. From the return of beloved classic holiday traditions to food festivals and new dining options, guests have so much to choose from.

As 2025 heads to its conclusion and we look forward to the year’s end and beyond, fun and festivities await. So mark your calendars, save your pennies, and get excited. Here are the various things visitors can expect in the coming months at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, the Downtown Disney Shopping District, and the Disneyland Resort Hotels.

Holiday Time at the Parks

The Holiday season at the Disneyland Resort is always one of the most popular times to visit. With beautiful decorations throughout all the lands, holiday overlays on attractions, festive food, and an abundance of merchandise, November and December become a winter Wonderland at Disneyland.

This year promises the return of decor staples, including large trees on Main Street and Buena Vista Street, garlands and lights galore, and touches of Christmas in all the shops. Characters will adorn new holiday-themed outfits, and guests can meet Santa Claus in Frontierland at Disneyland and in Redwood Creek in DCA.

In Disneyland proper, the Haunted Mansion continues to welcome guests into the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay. The return of It’s Small World Holiday will continue to delight all with the colored light display, the addition of Christmas carols into the ride, and a Nutcracker-themed projection show played nightly. At DCA, Cars Land gets decked out for the holidays, including two fun overlays: Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree.

On the entertainment front, expect the return of the holiday classic A Christmas Fantasy Parade. “Wintertime Enchantment” at Sleeping Beauty Castle will also be back. At DCA, ¡Viva! Navidad will once again bring its mix of multicultural flair with holiday spirit. World of Color will not get its typical Holiday show. However, expect to see the much-loved Toy Drummer Soldiers and enjoy a brand new treat Holiday Story time with Deadpool.

One significant change from previous years includes slightly reduced park hours. On weekdays and Sundays, Disneyland closes at 11 pm and DCA at 9pm. On Fridays and Saturdays, Disneyland closes at midnight and DCA at 10pm. The Holiday season runs from November 14, 2025, through January 7, 2026.

Downtown Disney Festive Decor and Fun

Guests can enjoy a taste of holiday magic even without visiting the two parks with a trip to Downtown Disney. The food and shopping districts will be decorated with dozens of trees, garlands, twinkle lights, and window displays. Visitors can also enjoy holiday music, including live performances at the newly renovated Downtown Disney stage.

Downtown Disney guests will also be able to experience the nightly “snowfall,” a lovely tradition previously reserved for park guests only, now available to all since last year.

Another returning favorite is Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail, a hunt for special ornaments in the trees throughout the district. Pick up a guide map, track down the baubles, and receive a special keepsake at the end.

Hotel Holiday Cheer

Not to be outshone by the parks and Downtown Disney, all three hotels partake in holiday decorating, the grandest being, of course, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. At the center of the lobby sits a massive Christmas tree, while greenery and lights adorn the surrounding area.

Equally impressive are the large gingerbread house displays, complete with several hidden Mickeys.

2025 will also mark the debut of new holiday-themed dining options at the hotel’s restaurants. Fans of the classic Mickey’s Christmas Carol will be happy to hear about Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast, a dinner buffet at Storyteller’s Cafe. Guests can indulge in scrumptious, festive cuisine while meeting Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Scrooge McDuck in their attire from the Dickens-inspired cartoon. Storyteller’s Cafe will also welcome guests to Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party, a breakfast and lunch buffet, as well as special brunches on Christmas Eve and Day.

Guests looking for another brunch option can check out Goofy’s Kitchen, while anyone looking for a fancier outing will enjoy Holiday Tea with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Hearthstone Lounge.

Rapunzel’s Tower Coming to the Storybook Land Canal Boats

After a notable refurbishment, Fantasyland’s Storybook Land Canal Boats will reopen this winter. Beyond sprucing up the miniature figures and giving Monstro the Whale a fresh coat of paint, a brand new figure will find a home amongst the classic miniature houses, cottages, and castles from Snow White, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Frozen.

Guests will now see Rapunzel’s tower during the six-minute boat ride, including Flynn Rider wanted posters on the side of the tower. The song played will also vary depending on the time of day. During the daytime, guests will hear “When Will My Life Begin,” while at night, “I See the Light” will play alongside lights meant to represent the film’s floating lanterns.

Its exact location is still unknown, but Disney has shared concept art and promises it is merely an addition and not a replacement of any other display. Fans of Tangled will surely love this addition.

Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln Rotating With Walt Disney A Magical Life

Since its inception, it was always the plan for the new show, Walt Disney-A Magical Life, to rotate with Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln at the Main Street Opera House. Since the former’s debut, that has not been the case, understandably, since its existence coincides with Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary.

However, according to Mickey Visit, the Lincoln show returned for the first time since July in October. Though it was unplanned due to technical issues with the Walt Disney animatronic, this gave guests a preview of what’s to come and the practicalities of how both shows will play in rotation.

Disney has yet to announce an official rotation start date, but expect it in early 2026.

The Return of Two Food Festivals

Disney California Adventure now rivals Florida’s EPCOT with its much-loved food festivals. Both DCA staples await guests in the coming months. Coinciding with the Christmas season, the Festival of the Holidays returns in 2025 and promises to be as delicious as ever.

The foodie guide will be released shortly before the festival begins on November 14, but guests can expect tried-and-true classics like gingerbread cookies, sticky toffee pudding, barbecue pork belly, Holiday mash bowl, various Mac and cheeses, and festive cocktails. Festival of the Holiday ends January 7, 2026.

Guests will not have to wait long to enjoy another food festival filled with delectable cuisine. The Food and Wine Festival is expected to return to DCA in late February and typically runs through early April. Both food festivals utilize the Sip and Savor pass, which gives guests food and beverage tabs at a discounted rate.

Soarin’ Across America Coming to DCA

To celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary, Disney has several special events planned. Though the company had yet to release all the info, they have already shared one of the most exciting ones. In Summer 2026, DCA’s Soarin’ Over the World will become Soarin’ Across America.

The new show promises to celebrate the rich and diverse landscapes of the United States. According to the Disney Parks Blog, Soarin’ Across America will showcase the U.S. “from sea to shining sea- highlighting the country’s natural beauty and iconic cityscapes.”

We’ll have to wait until next summer to find out each and every place highlighted, but I’d venture to guess we can expect breathtaking views of places like the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore, cities like New York and Chicago, and coastal, mountain, forest, and desert vistas that encapsulate the beautiful and diverse regions of the country.

DCA Construction

The Disneyland Resort, particularly DCA, continues to grow, evolve, and expand, bringing guests new, fun-filled, and thrilling lands and attractions. Consequently, expect construction at DCA to kick into high gear as 2025 ends, particularly near Avengers Campus and Paradise Gardens Park.

The Marvel-themed land is set to add two exciting attractions Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab which will double the size of the land, and add much more to do in the area. The attractions will be toward the back of Avengers Campus, so construction will not interfere with its current state.

Like Avengers Campus, the construction for the upcoming Coco boat ride will take place backstage near Paradise Gardens Park and will not interfere with any current pathways. The ride, which promises to bring the film’s vibrant world to life, will reportedly begin construction soon, as Disney has just recently filed the proper building permits.

Higher Prices, but a Ticket Deal for California

In early October, Disneyland announced raises in prices for tickets, Magic Keys, Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, and parking. Thankfully, Tier O for single-day tickets remains the same at $104; the rest of the tiers did, however, go up, with the most expensive ticket increasing from $206 to $224.

Parking was raised from $35 to $40, while Lighting Lane Multi-Pass will now cost at least $34 (it varies). The top two Magic Keys also increased to $1899 and $1474, respectively, so potential guests and buyers should take note.

These increases are not surprising as Disney has consistently raised prices annually. However, in these rough financial times for many, it does feel frustrating. Thankfully, California residents will have the opportunity to buy 3-day park hopper tickets for only $249, which are valid from January through May 2026. We highlight the details here. With a savings of over 50%, it’s a most welcome deal that lessens the pang of the overall price increases.