Greetings, Michael, and welcome to planDisney. Golly, you have a few very festive and fun-filled days to look forward to!
On Christmas Eve, you can expect to enjoy all of the fantastic
offerings of the holiday season at the parks. I just checked the
Hours & Events Calendar and didn't see anything additional listed at the moment. Check back in the days leading up to your visit for the most up-to-date information.
That said, there will be so much for you to enjoy, and you'll certainly be immersed in the spirit of the season at California Adventure. As far as atmosphere entertainment goes, my favorites are
Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland, the
Holiday Toy Drummers, and Story Time with Deadpool. Mickey's Happy Holidays parade is also really upbeat and fun.
Cars Land is extra jolly this time of year, with perfectly themed holiday decorations and lots of lights.
My pal McCayla was recently telling me about how fun it is to see Cars Land illuminate around sunset. A song plays throughout the area, and the lights start to glow in what feels like a scene right out of the film. Arrive about 10 minutes before to see it! Another area that was beautiful to walk through after dark was the path between Soarin' Around the World and Grizzly River Run. You'll see colorful lanterns sprinkled in the trees above.
Earlier in the day, though, check out the
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail – in past years, starting around Christmas Eve, Goofy has been seen in the area dressed as Santa. That could be a fun surprise! If time allows, pop into the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa to catch the last Storytime with Santa Claus of the year before he heads out to do some important Christmas Eve work. You can also visit the
Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage later in the evening to listen to holiday-themed musical performances and catch a special "snowfall" (available at select times).
Michael, I also see
World of Color Happiness! on the entertainment calendar. If you haven't seen it yet, it's an entertaining show. You can
join a virtual queue in the Disneyland mobile app to secure a spot in a reserved viewing area.
I'd like to wish you a very happy holiday season, Michael! If you think of any other questions ahead of your trip, please reach out. We're always glad to help here at planDisney.
Have a holly jolly time visiting the Disneyland Resort!
Kriss