Disneyland in December: Everything You Need to Know for 2026

Are you planning a Disneyland trip in December? You picked a pretty magical month! The holiday celebration is in full swing, the weather is cooler and the parks are completely transformed. There is something about walking down Main Street, U.S.A. with a churro while the Christmas music is playing that makes Disneyland feel extra special.

December is also one of those months when the experience changes dramatically depending on your dates. Early December and Christmas week are not the same trip. I’ll walk you through the 2026 crowds, weather, holiday events, ride closures, what to pack and exactly how I would approach Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve.

Before you keep reading, open my Holidays at Disneyland 2026 guide. It covers the entertainment, decorations, attraction overlays, Festival of Holidays and all the seasonal details in one place.

Discount Disneyland Tickets and Hotels

December prices can vary a lot. Early weekday trips may cost less than Christmas week, but I would compare the total package price rather than choosing dates based on the ticket price alone. A hotel that costs a little more but lets you walk back for an afternoon break may be worth it during a long holiday park day.

My partners at Get Away Today offer discounted Disneyland tickets and hotel packages, payment plans and excellent customer service. You can book online or call 1-855-GET-AWAY. Use code MIX10 to save an extra $10 on a qualifying hotel and ticket package. That is more churro money, friends!

I have personally stayed in lots of Anaheim hotels, so browse my Disneyland-area hotel reviews before you decide. You can also read my guide to Disneyland tickets and park reservations.

Disneyland December 2026 Crowd Calendar

December is popular because the parks look incredible and nearly everyone wants the same holiday experience. Crowds usually build as the month goes on, but I would not call any December date guaranteed to be quiet. A weekday may have lower attendance than Christmas week and still have 45- to 60-minute waits for popular attractions.

December 1–6: Early December

The first week gives you the complete holiday season without school winter breaks driving as much family travel. Midweek dates are often easier to manage than weekends, but the holiday entertainment and lower-priced ticket dates can attract plenty of visitors. Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional is traditionally held during an early-December weekend, although Disney had not announced the 2026 dates when I updated this guide. If it happens during your trip, expect extra congestion around Town Square and Main Street.

December 7–17: Crowds Begin Building

These dates can be a nice balance for guests who want the full Christmas atmosphere before the biggest holiday rush. I usually prefer a Tuesday through Thursday during this period, but crowd calendars are forecasts—not promises. Local passholder availability, school schedules, rain and attraction closures can all change the park experience.

December 18–24: Winter Break Arrives

Crowds increase as schools begin winter break and families arrive for Christmas vacations. The weekend before Christmas, December 19–20, and the days leading into Christmas Eve can be especially popular. Make dining reservations early, arrive before park opening and expect less flexibility with last-minute plans.

December 25–31: Peak Holiday Week

The week between Christmas and New Year’s is generally one of the busiest times of the year. That does not mean you cannot have a wonderful trip. It means you should visit for the atmosphere, choose realistic priorities and use every planning tool available. If your only goal is riding as many attractions as possible with short waits, this week will probably feel frustrating. If your goal is celebrating Christmas at Disneyland, it can be incredibly memorable.

My guide to Disneyland Christmas crowds goes into much more detail. You can also compare dates with my Disneyland crowd calendar and best-time-to-visit guide.

How I Would Plan a December Park Day

One thing I have learned is that a busy Disneyland day feels much better when I stop trying to do everything. I pick the experiences that make the trip feel like Christmas, then build the attraction plan around them.

• Arrive before park opening. Yes, it is early. It also makes the biggest difference in how much you accomplish before waits build.
• Book the first Lightning Lane strategically. Indiana Jones Adventure, Space Mountain and Haunted Mansion Holiday can move to later return times quickly when available.
• Prioritize seasonal attractions. Haunted Mansion Holiday and "it’s a small world" Holiday are popular all month.
• Mobile order before you are hungry. Holiday food releases can make popular locations very busy, and convenient return windows may disappear.
• Plan one major entertainment experience. Choose the parade, fireworks, World of Color or a festival performance rather than assuming you can see all of them in one evening.
• Take a break if you are staying nearby. A few quiet hours at the hotel can make it much easier to enjoy the lights and nighttime entertainment.

Read my Disneyland rope-drop guide, Lightning Lane Multi Pass guide and downloadable touring plans before your trip.

Disneyland Weather in December

Disneyland weather in December is usually cool and comfortable during the day, but mornings and evenings can feel cold—especially after you have been outside for hours. Anaheim’s average December high is around 64°F, with an average low near 51°F.

December is also one of Anaheim’s wetter months, averaging about 1.5 inches of rain across roughly seven days. That does not mean your trip will be rainy. It means I would watch the forecast and pack a rain layer instead of assuming Southern California will be warm and dry.

I have experienced December days where a T-shirt felt fine in the afternoon and nights when I wanted every layer I brought. Check the forecast again a few days before you leave. My Disneyland outfit guide has more ideas.

Disneyland Events in December 2026

The Holidays at the Disneyland Resort run from November 13, 2026 through January 6, 2027. Both theme parks, Downtown Disney and the resort hotels are decorated for the season. Disney does not schedule every entertainment offering every day, so use the Disneyland app for your actual dates instead of relying on an old list of showtimes.

Disneyland Park Holiday Highlights

• A Christmas Fantasy Parade with Disney characters, toy soldiers, reindeer, gingerbread dancers and Santa Claus
• "Believe…In Holiday Magic" fireworks with seasonal music and snowfall on select nights
• Wintertime Enchantment at Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle
• "it’s a small world" Holiday and the nighttime façade projections
• Haunted Mansion Holiday featuring Jack Skellington and The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Holiday characters and Santa in seasonal settings

Disney California Adventure Holiday Highlights

• Disney Festival of Holidays with multicultural food, music and entertainment
• Festive Foods Marketplace and the optional Sip and Savor Pass
• Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party
• Mickey’s Happy Holidays and the Holiday Toy Drummers
• Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season
• A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegría de Disneyland and Miguel
• Mater’s Jingle Jamboree and Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl in Cars Land
• Santa’s Holiday Visit at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
• World of Color on scheduled nights

The complete holiday food menus are usually released closer to the beginning of the celebration. I recommend looking through the foodie guide before your trip and choosing the items you genuinely want to try. Otherwise, it is very easy to spend the day chasing snacks from one side of the resort to the other.

Disneyland Candlelight Processional

Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional is a traditional retelling of the Christmas story with a choir, orchestra and celebrity narrator. It is usually presented during one weekend in early December, but Disney had not announced the 2026 dates when this guide was updated. Seating is primarily for invited guests, and public viewing around Town Square is limited. I would not plan an entire trip around it until Disney confirms the schedule.

Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve at Disneyland

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Christmas Eve is Thursday, December 24, and Christmas Day is Friday, December 25. Both dates can be extremely busy. If I were visiting, I would arrive before park opening, make one dining reservation or choose a mobile-order meal ahead of time and pick three or four experiences that would make the day feel special.

Disney normally offers holiday-inspired dishes at both table-service and quick-service restaurants, but the exact 2026 menus had not been released when I updated this post. Reservations can open up to 60 days in advance, so mark that date on your calendar if a sit-down Christmas meal matters to you.

New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve is Thursday, December 31. Disneyland usually celebrates with special nighttime energy and countdown festivities, but Disney had not announced the exact 2026 entertainment plan when this guide was updated. Check the official calendar and Disneyland app as your trip approaches.

New Year’s Eve is a very long, very crowded park day. Wear comfortable shoes, bring layers and do not wait until late afternoon to think about dinner. If staying until midnight is your priority, I would protect my energy with a slower afternoon or hotel break rather than trying to tour at full speed from opening until the countdown.

Disneyland Ride Closures in December 2026

Disney had not published the complete December refurbishment calendar when I updated this post in August 2026. Disneyland usually tries to keep as many attractions available as possible during peak holiday weeks, but I would never promise that every ride will be operating.

• Haunted Mansion Holiday and "it’s a small world" Holiday are scheduled as seasonal experiences during December.
• Indiana Jones Adventure was scheduled to close beginning September 8, with no reopening date announced at the time of this update.
• Mark Twain Riverboat was also scheduled to close beginning September 8, with the reopening date listed as to be determined.
• Silly Symphony Swings was closed for refurbishment with no confirmed reopening date.

Those statuses may change well before December. Check the official refurbishment calendar around 60 days before your visit, then confirm again in the app on the morning of your park day.

What to Expect at Disneyland in December

• Early sunsets: You will be able to enjoy Christmas lights and projections for a large part of the evening.
• Popular seasonal attractions: Haunted Mansion Holiday and "it’s a small world" Holiday can develop long waits.
• Changing entertainment schedules: Fireworks may only run on select nights and can be canceled because of wind.
• Longer hours during peak dates: Use the extra hours, but do not assume a late closing time means the evening will be uncrowded.
• Seasonal food everywhere: Review menus before the trip so you know which items are worth making time for.

Disneyland Planning Guide

A good plan makes a huge difference in December. My Disneyland planning guides include step-by-step touring plans so you spend less time deciding what to do next and more time enjoying the park.

What to Pack for Disneyland in December

Please bring layers. I know Southern California sounds warm, but a December night at Disneyland can feel cold after you have been outside all day. I would rather carry a sweatshirt than spend $70 on one because I am freezing.

• Comfortable walking shoes and extra socks
• Light jacket, sweatshirt or packable coat
• Long pants
• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• Refillable water bottle
• Portable phone charger
• Compact poncho or umbrella when rain is forecast
• Hat and lightweight gloves if you get cold easily
• Holiday ears or a festive sweatshirt for photos

Check my favorite Disneyland shoes, park bag essentials and printable Disneyland packing list before you leave.

Disneyland in December FAQs

Is early December a good time to visit Disneyland?

Early December can be a great choice because the full holiday season is running before the largest winter-break crowds arrive. It is not guaranteed to be uncrowded, especially on weekends.

Is Disneyland open on Christmas Day?

Yes, Disneyland is open on Christmas Day. Expect a very popular park day and secure your ticket, reservation and dining plans early.

Does it rain at Disneyland in December?

It can. December is one of Anaheim’s wetter months, although many trips will have dry weather. Check the forecast and bring a compact rain layer when needed.

Does Disneyland have a separately ticketed Christmas party?

Disneyland has not announced a separately ticketed Christmas party for 2026. The main holiday offerings are included with regular park admission.

My Final December Advice

Disneyland in December is magical because of the atmosphere, not because you can fit every attraction, parade, snack and character into one day. Pick the moments that matter most to your family. I would choose one major entertainment offering, ride both holiday attraction overlays, see each park after dark and leave room for a few treats.

When you are ready to book, compare discounted tickets and hotel packages through Get Away Today, call 1-855-GET-AWAY or use code MIX10 on a qualifying package. Then use my Holidays at Disneyland guide and Disneyland planning guides to finish your park plan.

This post was updated in August 2026. Disneyland dates, entertainment, menus and refurbishment schedules may change. Confirm current information in the Disneyland app and official calendar before your visit.