Disneyland Holidays

Holiday rides, a Christmas parade, fireworks and Santa. The big holiday trip for every age.

6 hrs (or a 1.5 hr flight) drive · 3–4 days · Best for toddlers to teens · Nov–Jan

Day 1: Arrive

For the Christmas Fantasy Parade, a parent who visits often uses the long bench along the castle wall across from the Matterhorn, near the Alice restrooms. It gets shade early and stays less crowded. Another good spot is the Small World mall: stay put after the parade to watch the Small World lights come on. PhotoJeepers
For the fireworks without a long wait, stand on Main Street to the right of the Partners statue. Or sit in New Orleans Square, where you'll find seats, smaller crowds, and you can still hear the music. PhotoJeepers
With early sunsets, the holiday fireworks sometimes start at 7:30 or 8 pm instead of after 9. Check the schedule, because an early show makes a night visit workable for little kids. Ride the holiday overlays in the morning when lines are shorter. MousePlanet
Haunted Mansion Holiday is very loud, which bothers some little ones. In holiday crowds, finish one land before moving on, because crossing the park is slow. Ask each child for their one must-do and treat everything else as a bonus. Power of Moms
Parade spots get tense. A 2024 r/Disneyland story about an adult climbing over kids went viral. Claim your curb about an hour early, and if you arrive late, stand behind the families with small children. Inside the Magic