Hi there, Pamela!
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel. I am so glad to hear you’re planning a visit to the
Disneyland Resort!
By mid-November, both theme parks have lots of holiday-themed decor, attractions, food and entertainment for Guests to enjoy, and the
holiday fun remains through the first week of January. At Disneyland Park, highlights include A Christmas Fantasy Parade, and the “Believe...In Holiday Magic” Fireworks Spectacular. After the fireworks, "snow" falls in the skies as a special seasonal treat! At Disney California Adventure Park, you’ll want to experience Disney Festival of Holidays. Crowd levels tend to increase around Thanksgiving and as Christmas and New Year’s Eve approach, so it’s best to plan your trip earlier in the season and during the weekdays if you wish to visit during a less popular time. Outside of the holidays, I find that the crowd levels tend to be lower in months like February (before students are on spring break) and September (after most schools are back in session).
The weather in Anaheim in late December and early January is generally mild, with temperatures in the high 60s to low 70s during the day and in the high 40s overnight. Afternoons can get warm while evenings are much cooler, so it is best to dress in layers and bring a jacket for the more brisk evenings after sundown. It’s more common for water rides to undergo refurbishment in the winter months, and attractions can become unavailable without notice, but I’m not aware of any scheduled water ride closures at this time.
I hope this helps and that you have a perfectly pixie-dusted vacation, Pamela. Please visit us again with any other planning questions you can dream of!
Wishing you magic,
Courtney