By Pam Kragen, The San Diego Union-Tribune
Since Disneyland Park opened in Anaheim in 1955, The Walt Disney Co. has opened 11 more theme parks around the world, including locations in France, Japan, Hong Kong and China.
Over the past 66 years, the company has transformed from a nostalgic Americana-inspired film company and destination to the No. 1 entertainment brand in the world. So when it comes to hosting the theme parks’ annual holiday celebration — which kicked off in mid-November at the Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks in Anaheim — Disney now pays homage to a diversity of cultural traditions.
Through Jan. 8, visitors can now experience music, dance, live entertainment, parades, food, drinks and merchandise that are associated with Christmas; the Mexican-Spanish celebration of Navidad; the eight-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah; the African American tradition of Kwanzaa; the Indian festival of lights known as Diwali; and the Latin American tradition of Three Kings Day. And that’s not all. In late January, Disneyland Resort will host its annual Lunar New Year festival celebrating Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean traditions.
Here’s a look at the diverse happenings at the two Southern California theme parks this holiday season.
Parades and holiday shows
At Disneyland, the old-fashioned Christmas Fantasy Parade led by marching tin soldiers plays at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. daily. And Disneyland’s Believe … in Holiday Magic fireworks, music, projections and “snow” spectacular is presented nightly on Main Street at 9:30 p.m. through Jan. 8. Also now available are the popular Nightmare Before Christmas holiday overlay on the Haunted Mansion Ride and the 25th annual holiday version of the It’s a Small World ride. Santa Claus meets with young park visitors daily in Disneyland’s Critter Country.
At Disney California Adventure, the World of Color Season of Light water, light, music and projection show at the Pixar Pier pond takes place at 9:15 and 10:15 p.m. nightly. And all day at the Paradise Gardens area of the park, the Viva Navidad celebration continues, with live mariachi music and ballet folklorico dancing, arts and crafts stations and meet-and-greet sessions with the Colombian character Mirabel from the animated film Encanto. Santa Claus has also set up his workshop at DCA’s Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.
At Disneyland, the old-fashioned Christmas Fantasy Parade plays at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. daily.
DCA is also hosting live music and dance daily with a diverse lineup of acts. Performers include the Grammy-winning Mariachi Divas; the salsa-cumbia-Latin rock band Tina and the Sounds of Celebration; the a cappella R&B ensemble The Mistletoes, who will perform Christmas and Kwanzaa music; the klezmer-jazz ensemble Mostly Kosher; the Indian dance group Blue13 and the Phat Cat Swinger big band.
Festive Foods Marketplace
The popular Festive Foods Marketplace food booth experience at Disney California Adventure has returned through Jan. 8, with nine booths along the park’s main walkway serving holiday sweets and international foods and drinks. Park visitors can buy the items a la carte or purchase a Sip and Savor Pass that includes eight plastic tickets for their choice of any festival items at the booths or participating restaurants in the park.
With dozens of items to choose from, we polled park employees and food bloggers who got a preview of the food earlier this month for their favourite new and returning dishes.
Their picks included the non-alcoholic Guava-Melon Lassi drink, the curry mac ‘n’ cheese with cilantro oil and crispy garbanzo beans, and the lox-and-everything-bagel nachos at the Twist on Tradition booth; the Impossible chorizo queso fundido (tortilla chips and nacho-style cheese dip and vegan taco meat crumbles) at the Brews & Bites booth; the Indian-inspired Ceylon Splash nonalcoholic drink at the Holiday Duets booth; the chicken tikka masala at the Favorite Things booth; the gingerbread Mickey cookie at the Making Spirits Bright booth; and the ham slider sandwich and Tiramisu Yule Log cocktail at the Winter Sliderland booth.
While the Festive Foods Marketplace is only in Disney California Adventure, Disneyland has also introduced dozens of new holiday food items, pastries and chilled desserts that will be served through Jan. 8. The best place to find a wide selection of holiday items is the Jolly Holiday Bakery Café on Main Street.
‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’
Although Disney’s new Marvel film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has nothing to do with the Christmas holidays, it opened in movie theatres Nov. 11, so a Wakanda-themed celebration kicked off the same day as Disney’s holiday festivities in the Avengers Campus of Disney California Adventure.
The new Black Panther warrior character is appearing daily in the Avengers Campus. For a limited time, the warrior will lead a 5:30 p.m. nightly processional from the Avengers Headquarters building to the new Black Panther Celebration Garden next to the Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: BREAKOUT! ride. The garden has festive evening lighting, a Wakanda-themed mural and giant Black Panther mask photo spot.
Nearby, in the Hollywood Backlot next to the Avengers merchandise Super Store, there’s a new Flavors of Wakanda food booth. It serves African and African American-inspired dishes, including peri-peri chicken, maafe (peanut stew with black-eyed peas and sweet potatoes) and a butterfly pea tea lemonade drink called Dawa. An alcoholic version of the Dawa is also available. Meanwhile, the Shawarma Palace stand in the Avengers Campus has expanded its menu with a Wakandan roasted pork wrap sandwich with black garlic sauce and chermoula.
MagicBand+
Park visitors arriving for the holidays can now purchase a new device that rolled out at Disney parks on Oct. 26. The MagicBand+ is an Apple Watch-style accessory that syncs with your cellphone’s Disneyland app.
The MagicBand+ allows hands-free park entry (if your admission tickets have been scanned into the app), Lightning Lane entrance check-in and connection to Disney PhotoPass images. It also links up with additional immersive storytelling features sprinkled digitally throughout the park. The wristband also has haptic sensors that provide pulsing, vibration and lights during nighttime shows, including World of Color and Fantasmic. The MagicBand+ can be purchased at locations throughout the resort starting at $35 and is available in both adult and children’s wristband sizes.
If you go: Disneyland & Disney California Adventure
When: Holiday events run through Jan. 8. Hours vary, check website for details
Where: 1313 Disneyland Dr., Anaheim
One-day single-park tickets through Jan. 8: $144 to $179 (quantities limited). Park-hopper tickets (to visit both parks in one day) are $65 extra
Reservations required: To control overcrowding in 2021, the parks instituted a mandatory reservation system for all park visitors that is still in force. Advance online ticket purchase guarantees reservation
Parking: $30 per car or motorcycle; $35-$50 for oversize vehicles
Online: disneyland.com
***
Plan your adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!
Highs and lows: 4 ideas to frame your holiday travel around Washington (plus nearby Portland + Vancouver)