Food, fun, and festivities await you at the Disneyland Resort. Now within Disney’s California Adventure Park, guests can enjoy the all-new Festival of Holidays at the Disneyland Resort. The Festival of Holidays brings the joys of the world’s holidays to park guests.
I had an opportunity to tour the festival with some of my friends and then later on with my family.
Scott Brinegar/Disneyland Resort
Festival of Holidays at the Disneyland Resort
Dining
Each of the 14 kiosks are located in California Adventure theme park from Carthay Circle to Paradise Garden. Each offers a unique menu, themed after holidays such as Diwali, Kwanzaa, and Christmas. The large samples range in price, but I paid between 6 and 9 dollars for my food items. Drinks and desserts round out the meals.
Vegetarian items are available, and marked on the menu with an asterisk. I started with the carrot & chickpea fritters, and they were phenomenal. Such an unexpected treat to find such flavor in vegetarian options. But Disney does make dining magical for those with dietary restrictions.
Located at the entrance to the Festival of Holidays area and near many other marketplace locations, you’ll find dining maps to direct your dining (& your drooling). Here are just some of the offerings at three locations:
- Spice Salutations – chicken and potato curry, carrot and chickpea fritters, cardamom and saffron sweet cheese tart, mango lassi
- Southern Hope Holidays – grilled spicy chicken sausage, mac and cheese, sweet potato pie, hard lemonade, cranberry sweet tea
- Good Fortune’s Feast – adobo pork bao, smoked duck and vegetable spring roll, chilled papaya shrimp salad, winter mint milk tea
Entertainment
To help spread the good cheer, crafts are offered for the little ones to enjoy. My youngest learned about the Dewali, the Festival of Lights as she colored.
While enjoying the festival, guests will also be treated to world-class entertainment. There are more than 50 performances daily, again representing holidays around the world. Some samples of the fun include:
- The Holiday Toy Soldiers march throughout California Adventure and I’m fairly certain they were playing metal. My husband’s holiday dreams came true.
- Join along with Blue13 Dance Company’s Bollywood style dance party.
- Enjoy music from Grammy-award winning Mariachi Divas or Mostly Kosher Klezmer Band.
Your favorite Disney friends aren’t going to miss out. Mickey and Minnie join the fiesta with folklorico dancers and The Three Caballeros (from the classic film of the same name) in the ¡Viva Navidad! holiday celebration.
Also a highlight, especially for my seven-year-old, is the arrival of Princess Elena of Avalor into the resort. Guests can welcome her with a musical cavalcade.
Scott Brinegar/Disneyland
The Fesitval of Holidays at the Disneyland Resort is full of food and fun for the whole family. You can celebrate the holidays now until January 8, 2017. Will you be joining in on the fun at Festival of Holidays at the Disneyland Resort?
More Disney magic can be found here:
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
How fun! This is what I love about Disney. More than the rides or characters or any of that, I love what they do for holidays.
Jen says
You know, Disney really does do everything to the absolute maximum. That’s one of my favorite thing about the parks, the movies, and the entire vibe that Disney has.
Colleen Lanin says
We love to visit Disney for any holiday if possible. They do such an amazing job with the decorations and just plain fun atmosphere. They really do it right!
Pam says
Disney sounds like a great place to visit for the holidays. I like that you can learn about so many different holidays,
Marcie W. says
Now this is my kind of party. I really love how Disney goes all out for the holidays!
Liz Mays says
Wow, they really did a great job of keeping everyone fed and entertained. It’s so cool that Elena of Avalor made an appearance!
Reesa Lewandowski says
I hope one day my family gets to visit! What a special time of the year!
Kristi says
Looks like you had perfect weather but then again every day at Disney is perfect weather right? Such a fun place.
Theresa says
Disney sure does know how to do the holidays right! I love that they have such tasty vegetarian options too. They sure do think of everything for EVERY one of their guests!
Ann Bacciaglia says
This looks like it was such a fun day. I am happy to hear they have Vegetarian options. The carrot & chickpea fritters look amazing.
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
Thanks for this great guide! I wish we can go back to Disneyland for the holidays!
Jody A says
I am so jealous1 I would love to go to DisneyLand this time of the year. Your photos look so fun.
kristin says
We just went to this and it was so much fun!! We can’t wait to go back!
Dawn McAlexander says
I bet both Disneyland and Disney World are magnificent during the holidays. I would love to visit them both at this time of the year.
Christina Aliperti says
I love everything and anything Disney so this is amazing to me! The food looks delicious as well I couldn’t help but notice.
Jennifer says
That looks so amazing. I’ve never had the opportunity to go to Disney at any of their holiday spectaculars, but I’ve always wanted to. They really go all out.
valmg @ Mom Knows It All says
I have never been to Disneyland around a holiday. I have been to Disney World in November and seeing holiday lights there is magical so I can image Disneyland is too.
Melisasource says
I have always wanted to visit Disney but I never even thought about visiting during the holidays. Now it is definitely on my bucket list.
Scott says
We’ve often talked about spending the holidays at Disney but haven’t done it yet. Too late this year, but maybe next year!
Brianne says
What an excellent time to visit Disneyland. We’ve never gone for the holidays but want next year!
Audrey McClelland says
There’s nothing like Disney around the holidays. Nobody does the holidays as well as Disney. Nobody.
Sarah Bailey says
This looks like it would be so much fun. I have never been to Disney during the holidays.