The holidays are in full swing at the Disneyland Resort, and this week brings a mix of cheer and eyebrow raises. Festival of Holidays continues at California Adventure with trimmed-down entertainment and menus… that thankfully still deliver on flavor. Disneyland has also announced the full 2026 lineup of Disneyland After Dark parties, including a new 70 Years of Favorites event and an expanded Sweethearts’ Nite that are aimed squarely at fans of park history and nostalgia.
Behind the scenes, the resort is gearing up for major changes to ticket pricing. On the ground, Avengers Campus construction has hit a visible milestone, and we have a variety of news blurbs for you about holiday offerings, festive tours, a giveaway, and even a talking Christmas tree roaming Downtown Disney.
And, yes, we have more soggy… but beautiful… photos from Disneyland as the sky opened up again this past week. But there’s a rainbow at the end of this story…
California Rain
Unlike in Florida, where rain is commonplace, we Southern Californians never seem to get used to it.
We’ve had more rainy days these past two weeks than we sometimes get in an entire year. But we certainly made the best of it.
If you can handle the lower temps and wet weather, a rainy day can actually be quite lovely with generally lower crowd levels, beautiful reflective lights, and shorter waits at rides, restaurants, and food booths.
Unfortunately, days like this also come with cancelled shows, some closed attractions, and even an electrical glitch.
The good news is that after a couple of soggy weeks, the coming days should bring some welcome sunshine with daytime temperatures in the comfortable 70s. But don’t get too cozy… by next weekend the clouds roll back in, along with a solid chance of more wet weather.
Holiday Festival Pros and Cons
There aren’t many new dishes at this year’s Festival of Holidays, but the upside is the return of several reliable favorites. We sampled three more items last week, and all of them hit the mark.
Beef Brisket Slider with smoked onions and horseradish ketchup on a pretzel roll (available at the A Twist on Tradition Festival Marketplace and Studio Catering Co.)
Holiday Mash Bowl with fried chicken morsels, cheddar mashed potatoes, and turkey gravy with cranberry stuffing crunch (available at Merry Mashups).
NEW Holiday M&M’s Eclair filled with milk chocolate mousse and topped with whipped ganache and M&M’S Milk Chocolate Minis (available at Merry Mashups).
The food lineup may be smaller, but the items that remain continue to be flavorful and well executed… the silver lining in an otherwise trimmed-down offering.
Entertainment, however, is where the cutbacks really show. This year’s festival operates with only three performance locations instead of the five featured in 2024, and two of those are permanent stages that simply happen to be inside the park all the time. The Paradise Gardens amphitheater and Sonoma Terrace no longer host festival acts, and their absence is deeply felt.
The lone festival-specific stage sits at the far end of the Hollywood Backlot, in front of the long-closed Hollywood & Dine. While performers appear five times a day, the location is so tucked away that guests practically need a map and a mission to find it.
As a result, much of this year’s entertainment is concentrated either in Paradise Gardens or Hollywood Backlot, both of which are pocketed areas that casual guests are less likely to wander into. The heart of the festival (the spontaneous discovery, the energy in the walkways, the sense of “something happening” around every corner) is simply missing this season.
This year’s Festival of Holidays still has bright spots, especially on the food front, but the event is undeniably a shell of its former self. We hope Disney takes note of the guest experience this year and brings back some of the charm, variety, and visibility that once made the festival a standout part of the season.
Disneyland After Dark 2026
The separately ticketed after-hours Disneyland After Dark events are back in 2026, with one all-new theme and four returning favorites. Let’s take a quick look at what’s coming up…
Sweethearts’ Nite
Sweethearts’ Nite is back for 2026 with nine dates across January and February. This romantic after-hours party brings new entertainment next year, including the Celebrate Love Cavalcade on Main Street and Once Upon a Dream, a musical revue that ends with a “nighttime ball beneath the stars.” Guests can also look forward to Disney Duets karaoke, a Valentine’s dance party, and photo ops inspired by classics like The Aristocats, Tangled, Aladdin, and Lady and the Tramp.
New food offerings include a triple berry slushy with a Mickey glow cube, alongside returning favorites like surf n’ turf loaded fries and the Mickey-shaped strawberry cream puff. Additional specialty items will appear at select table-service restaurants (reservations recommended). Merchandise this year includes a new ear headband, pin, apparel, and tumbler.
Sweethearts’ Nite runs: Jan. 22, Jan. 25, Jan. 27, Feb. 3, Feb. 5, Feb. 8, Feb. 10, Feb. 12, and Feb. 17.
Sweetheart Night tickets go on sale early for Inspire Key holders and later for everyone else. Here’s the schedule of when you can snag a ticket:
- December 9, 2025 (no earlier than 9 a.m. PT) – Inspire Key holders may purchase from a select number of pre-sale tickets for Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite on Disneyland.com.
- December 10, (no earlier than 9 a.m. PT) – all Magic Key holders will have the opportunity to purchase from a select amount of pre-sale tickets.
- On December 11, 2025 (no earlier than 9 a.m. PT), tickets will go on sale to the general public.
Disneyland After Dark: 70 Years of Favorites
New for 2026, 70 Years of Favorites celebrates the Disneyland Resort’s 70th anniversary with entertainment inspired by decades of park history. Guests can enjoy swing dancing at the Royal Theatre, an ’80s-themed Videopolis dance party, and line dancing in The Golden Horseshoe as a nod to Woody’s Roundup. Photo ops throughout the park highlight past fan-favorite entertainment such as Mad T Party, Main Street Electrical Parade, Club Buzz, and classic attractions.
Characters “from days gone by” will also return, including Disney Afternoon favorites, Merlin, Flik and Atta, Mother and Father from Carousel of Progress, and the Fantasmic! Monkeys.
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Specialty food and beverage options include a plant-based mushroom Philly, a maple bacon cinnamon roll at Jolly Holiday, birria mac and cheese in a bread bowl at Refreshment Corner, and a blackened New York steak and prawns entrée at River Belle Terrace (reservations recommended).
70 Years of Favorites takes place on March 3 and March 5.
Tickets go on sale December 9–11, depending on Magic Key status:
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Dec. 9 (Inspire Key early access)
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Dec. 10 (All Magic Key holders)
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Dec. 11 (General public)
Disneyland After Dark: Disney Channel Nite
Disney Channel Nite returns in 2026 with three evenings celebrating the shows, music, and characters that defined generations of Disney Channel fans. Expect high-energy entertainment, character sightings, and themed photo ops tied to a mix of classic and more recent favorites.
Specialty snacks and event-exclusive merchandise will also be available throughout the park, adding to the nostalgia factor for anyone who grew up watching Disney Channel.
Disney Channel Nite takes place on April 12, April 14, and April 16.
Tickets go on sale in early 2026, with Magic Key presale information still to come.
Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite
Star Wars Nite also returns with a reduced number of dates for 2026. There will be four evenings of galactic entertainment, character encounters, and themed photo ops, including Star Wars Day (May the 4th). Fans can expect the usual mix of lightsaber meetups, specialty snacks, and plenty of opportunities to show off their finest spacefaring attire.
The event runs on April 28, April 30, May 4, and May 6.
Tickets go on sale in early 2026, with Magic Key presale dates to be announced.
Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite
The resort will also be bringing back Pride Nite in 2026 for just two evenings celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community through colorful décor, vibrant entertainment, and character interactions. Expect high-energy dance parties, rainbow projections across the park, and plenty of photo ops designed for the occasion.
Pride Nite takes place on June 16 and June 18.
Tickets go on sale in early 2026, with Magic Key presale information to come.
➡️ For more information on all of these events, please visit our dedicated Disneyland After Dark guide.
Choose Wisely
Speaking of Disneyland After Dark events… When making park reservations, it’s always important to keep in mind that when one park hosts an after-hours event, non-party guests often flood across the esplanade to the other park, resulting in very crowded conditions.
That means on all the Disneyland After Dark dates listed above, Disneyland park will close at 6 p.m., but don’t forget that California Adventure also hosts after-hours events, including Oogie Boogie Bash, which in 2025 took place on 31 dates from August through October (2026 dates have not been announced). California Adventure also closes early for Grad Nite, which in 2026, will take place on May 8, 12, 13, 15, 17, 20, 21, 28, 29 and 31 plus June 3, 5, 7, 10 and 12.
It’s a good idea to triple check the calendar and choose your park days carefully to be sure both parks will be open late when you’re planning to go.
Dynamic Pricing Perils
We learned some disturbing news this week about what could soon happen to Disneyland ticket prices. Disney’s parks in the USA currently use date-based ticket pricing, with lower-demand seasons and weekdays generally less expensive, while summer, holidays, and weekends are more expensive.
And while that system is confusing enough, it looks like Disney is preparing to move to true airline-style dynamic pricing… Where prices can change throughout the day based on how many people have already purchased tickets. It is the same idea behind those “only two seats left at this price” messages you see when booking a flight. The goal is to nudge people into buying immediately rather than waiting.
Disney has been testing this approach at Disneyland Paris for about a year. Based on comments from Disney CFO Hugh Johnston, the company plans to bring this system to the domestic parks in the next couple of years.
“It’s off to a very good start,” said Disney CFO Hugh Johnston. “We’re really going to make sure we optimize it before we bring it into the domestic parks, so that’s probably something that you won’t see this year, but you may see in the subsequent years.”
Right now, everyone visiting on the same date pays the same range of prices (with different rates for annual passes, single-day tickets, and multi-day tickets, as well as a few discounts here and there). But with dynamic pricing, you might check prices in the morning, see one amount, then check again in the afternoon and find that the cost has climbed.
Dynamic pricing also means Disneyland no longer needs to announce yearly ticket increases. Prices can grow quietly over time without any single moment of scrutiny. But, rest assured, we will be keeping a close watch on this and continue reporting the highest prices we see once dynamic pricing arrives.
What do you think? Will dynamic pricing add more stress to planning a Disneyland trip, or is it simply the direction all ticketed entertainment is heading? Could this be the point where Disney pricing finally goes too far? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Constructionland
The expansion of Avengers Campus reached another milestone last week as the lattice-like canopy connecting Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab was assembled.
Here’s the concept art as well as our recent photos and a video from Imagineering.
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Disneyland Refurbishment Calendar (updated 11/21/25)
We’ve got another quiet week in the refurbishment department, with a cleared slate for the rest of November and only Indiana Jones Adventure scheduled for a quick closure December 1- 3.
Celebrate the Season at Walt Disney’s Storybook Mansion
Walt’s 1930s and 40s mansion in the Hollywood Hills is welcoming guests for special Holiday Tours this December. It’s a wonderful time of year to see the mansion dressed for the holidays—and the perfect holiday gift for all the Disney fans in your life!
Don’t miss out on this festive opportunity to step into the home Walt Disney built to raise his family. But with an intimate number of guests, these exclusive tours will fill up fast.
These tours, guided by MiceChat’s Dusty Sage, will be offered on December 7, 13, 20, and 26. Click HERE for more details and to secure your spot.
In addition to guided tours, the mansion is also available for holiday parties, corporate events, screenings, and other special gatherings. Contact [email protected] for more information.
This & That
There’s a bit more for you today. Let’s see what else is going on in the world of Disney…
Live @ 5
Dusty and friends braved the rain last Thursday to bring you all the news from the parks. We warn you in advance that due to the wet weather, we couldn’t use a camera stablizer, but you’ll get a great view of the Mark Twain, it’s a small world, ToonTown, and lots of fun along the way.
Happy Birthday Mickey & Minnie!
November 18th marked Mickey and Minnie’s 97th birthday, and the park celebrated with a birthday cavalcade and a cute Mickey birthday cupcake.
Ain’t No Party Like A PJ Party!
The new Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party Breakfast and Brunch kicked off at Storytellers Cafe on November 17 and runs through January 6, 2026. And you can wear pajamas too!
The cost for Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party Breakfast and Brunch is $74 per adult and $39 per child (plus tax and gratuity). This character dining experience will not be available on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas.
Zootopia 2
Officer Clawhauser makes his debut at California Adventure today, along with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde (sporting new looks from “Zootopia 2”). The trio are meeting guests near Stage 17 in Hollywood Land.
Magic Key holders can pick up their “Zootopia 2” gift at the DVC Welcome Home center in California Adventure.
DVC members can also snag a cute “Zootopia 2” giveaway at the DVC centers in Disneyland and DCA.
“Zootopia 2” premieres in theaters on November 26, but the movie’s original soundtrack (featuring the hit single “Zoo” by Shakira) is already available.
Meet Douglas Fir
In one of our favorite items of the week, Downtown Disney has a new “character” chatting up guests… and it’s a talking Christmas tree. If you remember Push the trash-talking trash can from Tomorrowland, last seen in the early 2010s, Douglas Fir is clearly his spiritual cousin with the same high-pitched and sometimes sarcastic voice. The mobile tree wanders the district, cracking jokes, surprising shoppers, and adding an offbeat dash of holiday spirit. The experience is sponsored by Disney Vacation Club.
A Very Jonas Christmas
Jonas Brothers fans can snap a selfie at a new photo op in California Adventure to celebrate “A Very Jonas Christmas Movie,” which is currently streaming on Disney Plus.
The Jo Bros have also released a video for “Home Alone” featured in the holiday movie (and featuring Broadway star/Disney darling Andrew Barth Feldman).
Tangled: Take 2
Last week, we shared our first look at the new Tangled-themed Rapunzel’s tower in Storybook Land, and this week, we hopped on Casey Jr. Circus train for a nighttime view.
Imagineers Help Communities Rebuild from Wildfires
Imagineers are helping to rebuild and reimagine public spaces that were lost in this year’s devastating wildfires across Los Angeles.
As part of its ongoing $15 million commitment to help LA recover from the disaster, Disney is allocating $5 million to Altadena’s Charles White Park, which will feature a new community center and an enhanced playground. The park is expected to reopen in 2026.
The park enhancements will include play areas inspired by Altadena’s Deodar Cedar pinecones, a whimsical splash pad, bridges, boulders, slides, swings… and what looks like a grove of giant clovers which might be from the old Bug’s Land. A new amphitheater will serve as a gathering place for performances and community events.
“I’m incredibly proud of our Imagineers who are volunteering their time and talents to help reimagine cherished public spaces like Charles White Park,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger. “Their work is not only a testament to Disney’s creative spirit, but also to our deep commitment to our neighbors throughout the region.”
MiceShots
We were glad to see the Castle banners replaced with new holiday colored 70th anniversary versions.
There have been a few cutbacks in Disneyland’s holiday decor this year. The little critter houses outside of the Winnie the Pooh ride weren’t decorated with holiday garland and wreaths this year.
New Orleans Square didn’t install the Mardi Gras mask garland across the square’s entry this year. Perhaps we’ll see it go up in time for actual Mardi Gras. But we really miss the old alligator wreath that once whimsically graced the land.
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Let’s Hear From You!
There was a lot happening around the resort this week, and we would love to know what stood out to you.
Are you planning to visit the Festival of Holidays this season, or do the reduced entertainment offerings make it feel a little too watered down? Did anything in today’s Update make you hope Disney will restore some of the festival’s former glory next year?
What about the Disneyland After Dark lineup? Do any of the 2026 after-hours events feel like a must-do for you, or are the early closures for regular park guests more frustrating than festive?
And then there is the likelihood of true dynamic pricing. Do you see it as a reasonable evolution in ticketing, or the thing that finally makes planning a Disneyland trip feel a little too complicated and pocket-pinching?
On the lighter side, we want to know if you are excited to meet Douglas Fir, check out the new Tangled tower at night, or stop for a selfie at the Jonas Brothers holiday photo op. Does rainy day Disneyland look magical to you, or do you stay far away from wet poncho season?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
