Christmastime at the Happiest Place on Earth
Celebrating Christmas at Disneyland Resort
Nov 14, 2009
Christmas music is playing from the loudspeakers. The smell of gingerbread and vanilla floats from the candy shop. Wreaths are strung from lightpost to lightpost. It's Christmastime at Disneyland again!
Every year, Disneyland gets dressed up from the middle of November to the beginning of January to celebrate the holiday season. Preparations for the Holiday Season begin backstage in October. In one night in November, hundreds of cast members decorate the resort with trees, wreaths, menorahs and lights.
In 2009, the holiday season was kicked off on November 13, with the Castle Lighting Ceremony. "Snow" has been on the castle since Halloween, a strange sight for Southern California, indeed, but still quite festive. The Castle Lighting Ceremony is simply a small musical performance with lights dancing on the Castle in time with the music.
Disneyland Rides and Attractions
Select rides are decorated in the holiday spirit. Most notable is "it's a small world", which is adorned with thousands of sparkly lights on the outside. The famous melody is mixed with the holiday tunes "Jingle Bells" and "Deck The Halls" and the characters are dressed in their holiday finest.
The Haunted Mansion was transformed into Halloweentown from Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas". Jack Skellington, in his Sandy Claws costume, greets guests outside the mansion. The ride travels through Halloweentown and Christmastown, on Jack's mission to create the best Christmas ever.
Disney Holiday Entertainment
Mickey Mouse and his friends are also dressed in their holiday gear. They wear red and green sweaters with snowflake patterns. There is an enormous Christmas tree placed on Main Street, at least thirty feet tall. The restaurants sell winter-themed food, such as turkey dinners and snowflake shaped cookies. The coffee shops sell Pumpkin Spice lattes and Gingerbread mochas.
Behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is Big Thunder Ranch, which is turned into Santa's workshop for the holidays. There is a meet and great with Santa and Mrs. Clause, and a reindeer petting zoo.
There is a special parade, the Christmas Fantasy Parade, which features famous characters with a holiday twist, like Aladdin and Jasmine on a sleigh and Mickey and Minnie ice skating. It ends with Santa riding by on his sleigh.
Nightly, the castle lights up underneath the holiday fireworks show, "Believe in Holiday Magic". The show lasts approximately ten minutes, and features such classic holiday songs as "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "The Driedle Song". The finale even features a snow fall (really a soap mixture).
The first weekend of December is dedicated to the Candlelight Ceremony, which takes place right after dark. Main Street is shut down to anybody without special tickets. A celebrity performer (in 2009, it will be Jon Voight) reads Christmas stories, and a choir made up of cast members sings Christmas songs. The entire performance is lit only by candlelight.
Across the Entrance Plaza is Disney's California Adventure, a second theme park. This park remains mostly unchanged during the holiday season. Characters still dress up in their holiday sweaters, and Santa's Beach Bash is celebrated in Sunshine Plaza. The Golden Gate Bridge and Hollywood Pictures Backlot are strung with wreaths and lights and there is a tall Christmas tree set up in Paradise Pier. But no rides are decorated, and there are no other holiday-themed shows. The famous Electrical Parade runs for a limited, two-week engagement every night before closing.
For an extra-special Holiday Season, head down to Anaheim, CA for Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort. Remember that dreams come true, and keep believing in holiday magic!
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