Christmas at Disneyland

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Disneyland is always a very special place but during the Holidays it just has that extra special magic! And of course where else in Southern California will you find snow at Christmas?

Disneyland celebrates Christmas like no where else. With special parades and fireworks, spectacular decorations and Disney characters to help you get into the Christmas spirit Disneyland is a very special place to visit at Holiday time.

If you are looking to beat the crowds then one of the best times to visit is the first two weeks of December. The Christmas decorations and special parade and fireworks are all in the park from mid November onwards so you can enjoy the Holiday celebrations at a quieter time. Typically attendance is high fro the weeks around Christmas and new year but the atmosphere more than makes up for the longer lines. Use the Fast Pass systems and plan ahead to get the most out of your stay.

Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland never looks better than at Christmas time. The Disneyland Castle is covered in 'snow' during the day but it is a night that it truly comes to life. As daylight ends you will hear the start of When You Wish. The wind starts to blow and a child wishes for snow to fall. Then a voice responds "in order for your wishes to come true you must believe". Of course in the true Disney tradition of wishes coming true the lights start to shine on the Sleeping Beauty Castle.,

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Believe in Magic is a special Holiday time Christmas fireworks show at Disneyland. Just the right thing to put you in the mood for the Holidays this spectacular fireworks show even ends in a fall of snow!

On busy days you will have to stake out your viewing spot at least an hour ahead. The best places to view the Christmas fireworks are from Main Street so you get a great view of Sleeping Beauty's Castle. Both It's a Small World and Sleeping Beauty Castle are lit with images during the fireworks so to have the best experience try and secure a good viewing spot where you can see either of those Disney landmarks.

Snow falls on Main Street, New Orleans Square and the Small World Mall. Of those options my least favorite place to view is New Orleans Square as you cannot see the projected images and some of the fireworks are not visible. But sometimes due to the timing of Fantasmic and the start of the fireworks you may get stuck there!

The Believe in Magic fireworks at Disney has lasts around 12 minutes and includes the music of some popular Christmas songs. Whilst I usually love all the Disney arrangements of music for me this is one of my least favorite as in my view it just does not sit quite right. But having said that it is popular with many guests and includes such favorites as White Christmas,Silent Night,We Three Kings and a medley from The Nutcracker.

The Disneyland Resort is a truly magical place to be at Christmas Holiday time. The only 2 attractions which close to be decorated for Christmas are The Haunted Mansion and It's A Small World. The other decorations are put up at night time while the park is closed. The Christmas decorations really do seem to appear overnight. They usually start mid November and are taken down early January. For this year the Christmas celebrations start on November 13th 2009 and end on January 3rd 2010.

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It just isn't Christmas until you have seen the Disney Christmas parade! On busy days there will be 2 parades. I always prefer the night time Christmas parade as it just seems to add to the Holiday atmosphere.

Highlights include a Ballerina doll, Mickey and Minnie Mouse skate on an icy pond, Goofy and Max decorate a huge Gingerbread House and there is of course a special appearance by Santa Claus.

The best places to view the Christmas parade. It goes from It's A Small World through to Main Street. My favorite viewing place is Main Street but you will be competing with many others for a spot! Sometimes the area around It's A Small World is slightly less competitive for a viewing space at the front but be aware that guests do start to stake out spots everywhere more than one hour ahead of time. At busy times the best spots get taken up to 2 hours ahead so be prepared either to wait or not get a prime viewing spot!

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Christmas of course isn't complete without a tree. As soon as you step inside Disneyland and walk down Main Street you will see the huge Disney Christmas tree.

Of course you will find Santa Claus at Disneyland! Just head to Frontierland for Santa's Reindeer Roundup. You will find Santa and Mrs Claus ready to meet you. And don't forget to say hello to Pluto the Reindog!

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A Disneyland Resort Hotel is a great place to stay at Christmas time. Disney's Paradise Pier, The Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel are all located within easy walking distance to the parks. The Grand Californian hotel even has it's own entrance to the California Adventure theme park.

There are special discount rates on Disneyland Resort Hotels right up to 21st December 2009.

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Some attractions get a very special makeover at Christmas time. Do not forget to visit It's A Small World and The Haunted Mansion as these attractions are particularly magical over the Holidays. It's A Small World is particularly spectacular at night time!

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It is now a well established Disney Christmas tradition that It's A Small World undertakes a Holiday makeover each year. This huge refurbishment involves the Small World dolls and scenes being given a Christmas Holiday theme and a different sound track. This is definitely a Disneyland Christmas attraction not to be missed.

All of the Disney Characters get into the Christmas spirit and are dressed in their special Holiday season clothes. This is a great time to treat yourself to a character breakfast!

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A must see at Disneyland at Christmas time is the Haunted Mansion. Jack Skellington and his friends from Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas add their own very special touch to the Haunted Mansion attraction. As you approach The Haunted Mansion you will see a countdown clock showing the number of days left until Christmas Day.

Just like The Nightmare Before Christmas movie it is Halloween meets Christmas Town at the Haunted Mansion. The Christmas decorations can be seen outside the Haunted Mansion and Jack has some ghostly surprises inside too. The changes really do add to the experience of The Haunted Mansion. It is a major task to convert it each fall - the attraction closes for up to 3 weeks in September to get ready for Jack Skellington and his friends to take residence in The Haunted Mansion.