Last week, I had the opportunity to check a huge item off my Disney bucket list……holidays at Disneyland Resort! For so many reasons, I have had this on my bucket list for years. There are so many things to enjoy in Land for the holidays…..so many different things than I am accustomed to at Walt Disney World Resort.
There is a huge amount of Disney mystique that lies within celebrating the holiday season at Disneyland. Things seem just a bit more magical to me on this coast. Maybe it’s the nostalgia, maybe it’s the extra-ness that I feel this coast adds to the resort, or maybe it’s the history that hangs in the air here. Either way, it’s magic that is just different to me. And, I’d like to share a few of my favorite things about this experience!
It’s a Small World
Something I have seen since childhood and always wanted to see for myself……It’s a Small World. This attraction gets a seriously magical overlay for the holiday season both inside and outside. Each room throughout the attraction is dripping with holiday magic from top to bottom, but my favorite piece is by far the outer face of the ride. There’s not an inch of this iconic opening not covered in beautiful lights and sparkle. It was literally breathtaking in person. I have to say this is something you have to see at least once if you are a serious Disney fan!
World of Color
Next up was something I wasn’t expecting, a holiday overlay on World of Color. World of Color Season of Light took center stage in Disney California Adventure Park as the sun sets each night. This holiday themed show replacing the original lineup for the season was a real treat. Still running a little over 20 minutes, this show was packed full of all our favorite Disney characters as well as a wide variety of holiday songs highlighted with the light and water spectacular we are used to! It was a great combination and an adorable shake up for the season.
The Haunted Mansion
The last thing I would like to highlight was the top of my list and favorite by far. The Haunted Mansion Holiday was the most anticipated experience of this entire trip for me. This is the most intricate of all overlays, transforming the beloved Haunted Mansion into a Nightmare Before Christmas fantasy complete with Jack Skellington and the entire crew. From Jack welcoming you out front to the delightful scents of the gingerbread sculptures throughout, this overlay is full of Christmas joy…..and tons of mischief! I don’t really know that I could accurately describe this attraction’s final look and do it proper justice. There is so much to take in, so many details, so much whimsy that I dare say it was indescribable. I was absolutely blown away by the details and how easily this iconic attraction could morph into the scenes of Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas with such magical ease.
While these are just a few of my favorite things about my holiday trip to Disneyland Resort, there is so much more I will be sharing with you in the coming weeks. I couldn’t possibly capture everything in just one blog! My takeaway is this if you ever have occasion to spend the holiday at Disneyland, do it! It will be a magical experience you will never forget!
