Hi Andrea,
Thanks for visiting planDisney! You're planning ahead—I love it!
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, and what better place to celebrate than the Happiest Place on Earth?!
Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort ends on October 31. After that, the Parks begin their Winter Holiday transformation. For 2025,
The Holidays Begin at Disneyland from November 14, 2025, to January 7, 2026. The
Festival of Holidays will take place during that same time at Disney California Adventure. By November 14, all the winter décor should be up. Disney typically posts the entertainment schedule 60 days in advance, which will give you an idea of when
A Christmas Fantasy Parade and the
“Believe… In Holiday Magic” Fireworks Spectacular will take place.
As you mentioned, Veterans Day 2026 falls on November 11. American schools have the day off, so there will likely be an increase in crowds. Many schools also have Thanksgiving Break sometime between November 21–29, which can also bring larger crowds. If your plans are flexible, you might consider starting your visit on or after November 14. That way, you can enjoy all the holiday magic while avoiding some of the holiday rush—and guarantee that all the Christmas decorations are up!
Andrea, I highly recommend checking out the documentary
Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic on Disney+. It gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how the Disney Parks get ready for the holidays—such a great way to get into the spirit! And when you're at Disneyland, be sure to grab a box of gingerbread cookies from
Harbor Galley. They are DELICIOUS!
I hope this info was helpful, Andrea! If you have any other questions, need more help, or want more tips, feel free to write back to me or any of my fellow panelists—we’d be thrilled to help.
Happy Planning!
–Melinda