We’ve covered the parades, shows and changes in the parks this holiday season. Today we bring you a special photo report of Disneyland’s beautiful Christmas lights from Fishbulb. Dateline Disneyland’s Andy Castro takes a much-deserved break today and will be back next week.
December 16 – 23, 2013
About This Week’s Crowd Estimates
Our Addictometer™ crowd estimates are an average for the entire day. Expect higher crowds than this in the late afternoon and evenings. For real-time crowd levels — and where the crowds are in the parks — download the free Mouseaddict app.
- This is the last week leading up to the Christmas holiday. Expect extremely long lines in all attractions – as well as capacity crowds throughout the parks.
- Hotels are still available even this far into the holiday season. However, the after-Christmas availability is extremely low.
- Weather is tricky this time of year, and a little rain can drastically reduce crowds. These projections are based on a forecast for mostly sunny skies with mid-70s temps.
Download the redesigned, reimagined, and remarkable Mouseaddict app for iPhone and iPad with the Addictometer crowd map overlay: see exactly where crowds are gathering, right on the map! The free Mouseaddict app features more than five dozen categories of searchable resort information, weather forecasts, park and show schedules up to two weeks in advance, and your favorite MiceChat blogs right in the app. Learn more at mouseaddict.com.
Disney California Adventure
Let’s start our journey at Disney California Adventure, beginning its second year of Christmas as a newly renovated park. The place looks quite festive for the holidays with the highlights being Buena Vista Street and Cars Land. Let’s Stroll through DCA’s short stretch of 1920’s Los Angeles.
As we venture into nearby Hollywood Land, we unfortunately find very little in the way of lit holiday decorations, except for a bit of cheer at the Mad T Party.
We move on to Cars Land for a most dazzling display of night time lights. The existing neon lights of Radiator Springs are accentuated with the brilliantly creative holiday trimmings.
The park gets quiet over near Grizzly Peak. Here the landscape of a national park is illuminated with a warm glow as night sets. It’s always a beautiful spot at night, but with no holiday lights.
Disneyland
The grandaddy and undisputed king of holiday razzle-dazzle is Disneyland. The park shimmers and shines during Christmas. Main Street U.S.A. is a kaleidoscope of golden tones – red, green, and amber punctuated with pops of white light are everywhere.
The Castle, shimmering in the distance, beckons you closer.
Inside the castle courtyard, King Arthur’s Carousel spins like a solid gold top.
Storybook Land Canal Boats sends visitors on evening excursions into a tiny fairytale world.
Small World mall is ablaze with lights.
You’d be hard pressed to find a more dazzling display.
Of course, the digital projections have returned this year too, painting the already impressive facade with a kaleidoscope of holiday visions every 15 minutes!
Frontierland allows us our first look at Big Thunders lighting package.
New Orleans Square has scaled back a touch from previous years, but keeps things bright and whimsical, despite the Club 33 construction taking place in spots throughout the land.
Haunted Mansion Holiday is where we close out our nocturnal holiday tour.
It is true, the Disneyland Resort is a completely different place in the dark. Theatrical lighting is used to illuminate Walt’s showscape in ways that are at times breathtaking. A stroll under the myriad of lights is like walking out of the real world and into a magical wonderland. The ultimate escape. Yes, there are crowds EVERYWHERE, but if you let your eyes allow you to enjoy the sumptuous feast, you’ll hardly notice . . . you’ll be too busy enjoying one of the most beautiful Christmas displays in the country.
Thanks Uncle Walt, they’ve kept the lights on for you . . . millions of them.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this little report on the Disneyland Resort Christmas lights. Have you visited the Resort this season? Do you have a favorite outdoor display?
MICECHAT PODCAST: SAVING WALT, CHRISTMAS IN THE PARKS, DISNEYLAND RUMORS AND MORE
The LONG awaited next episode of the MiceChat Podcast is back and it’s a fun one. Robo-Dusty and Doug Barnes lead us on a quest to save Walt’s Birthplace, look at Christmas in the parks, explore the latest Disney Imagineering rumors, and jump into danger at Orlando’s IAAPA theme park expo. You won’t want to miss a minute of this action packed show:
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