Disneyland Park and California Adventure Park can take up most of your time while you’re visiting Disneyland Resort. What can you do while waiting to visit the parks? Spend some time in Downtown Disney District!
Downtown Disney District has a lot of Holiday décor, food, entertainment, and shopping that you won’t find in the parks. With over 25 different restaurants, lots of shopping that can only be found at Disney, plus holiday entertainment and décor, it’s worth it to spend some time there during the Holiday Season.
We usually find ourselves in Downtown Disney District the same day we arrive at Disneyland Resort and the day we leave. We like to grab breakfast on the way into the parks from La Brea Bakery Cafe and dinner at one of the park’s many restaurants.
We got your Downtown Disney District Holiday Guide to help you make the most of your time while you’re visiting Disneyland Resort.
Entertainment
Live Entertainment and Disney Festival of Holiday Craft can be found in Downtown Disney.
With live performance times being at 5:30 pm, 6:30 pm, 8:00, and 9:00 you will get a chance to enjoy the music of the holidays!
The Moonrays- November 25th, Dec 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 25th
The Sugarplums- November 27th, Dec 4th, 11th, and 18th
Holiday Harmony Carolers-November 26th, Dec 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th
Disney Festival of Holiday Craft can be found at Downtown Disney LIVE! Stage daily from 11am-6pm. They have holiday crafts that are free for those who want to participate. This is an extension of Disney’s Festival of Holiday’s and goes from Nov 11th- Jan 8th.
Shopping
A Disney Holiday Shoppers dream, you are sure to find a gift for everyone on your list! 21 shops to choose from. We have a list of them all, plus what special holiday extras they will have during this holiday season.
World of Disney – Disney Holiday Merchandise
Star Wars Trading Post – Disney Holiday Merchandise
The Disney Dress Shop – Disney Holiday Merchandise
Disney Home – Disney Holiday Merchandise
LOVEPOP-Special Holiday pop up cards and bouquets
PANDORA- DisneyxPANDORA Holiday Styles
PELE SOCCER- Give the gift of The Beautiful Holiday Game with a huge selection of official 2022 World Cup gear.
THE LEGO STORE-The new LEGO holiday Main Street makes a great addition to your holiday display
My favorite thing Disney does this time of year is Disney’s Ultimate Toy Drive that supports TOYS FOR TOTS. With drop off locations at World of Disney and Star Wars Trading Post please drop a new unwrapped toy for a child in need. December 10th and 11th at The Downtown Disney LIVE!-Stage will have US Marines from 11am-4pm accepting donations on behalf of the US Marines Toys for TOTs foundation.
Eat
Disney really knows how to bring out all the most creative and inventive combinations of food and drinks that will meet all your taste bud needs. We have quite an extensive list here, there will be something for everyone at any time of day. These are served only during the Holiday season so be sure to try all that you can!
For the full Eats’ Guide click here.
California Churro
Gingerbread Churro-Churro coated in gingerbread sugar, drizzled with white chocolate sauce, and covered in red and green candy pieces.
CATAL Restaurant and UVA Bar and Cafe (21+)
Mistletoe Mule- Vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, ginger beer, sugared cranberry garnish.
Chilly Chata– Cream liqueur rum, cinnamon whiskey, house made horchata, whip cream and cinnamon stick garnish.
Home for the Holidays- Whiskey, Italian bitter aperitif, lemon juice, orange peel garnish
Santa and the Beach-Tequila, triple sec, coconut milk, cream of coconut, lime juice, simple syrup, rosemary garnish.
Kayla’s Cake
Peppermint Ganache Macaron- Peppermint dark chocolate ganache
Gingerbread Macaron-Gingerbread Buttercream
Snowman Macaron-milk chocolate ganache with custard vanilla cream
Marceline’s Confectionery– Holiday treats and more including iconic caramel apples.
Naples Ristorante E Bar
Tikka Masala Pizza– inspired by Diwali. A hand-tossed Neapolitan-style pizza crust topped with a generous base of tikka masala sauce, red onion, green bell pepper, and mozzarella cheese.
Available with marinated chicken or paneer
Tuk Tuk (21+)– Inspired by Dawali. Blanco tequila, ginger syrup, tamarind syrup, and lime juice. Shaken on the rocks and garnished with a lime wheel and chili-lime seasoning rim. Also available as non-alcoholic
Arancini Dolce– A traditional Sicilian savory snack reimagined as a sweet treat for the season
Ralph Brennen’s Jazz Kitchen
Maple & Bacon Glazed Beignets– served with butter pecan ice cream and a marshmallow drizzle (dine in only)
Salt & Straw
Almond Brittle w/ Salted Ganache– chocolate coated almond brittle with hunks of creamy chocolate ganache in a vanilla ice cream
Spiked Eggnog Custard– Rich, silky custard spiked with reposado tequila, notes of oaky vanilla, and a splash of amontillado sherry.
Gingerbread Cookie Dough– House-made molasses cookie butter and bits of freshly baked gingerbread cookies layered in a rum royal icing ice cream
Peppermint Cocoa- House-made peppermint fondue swirl hand-drizzled in a rich cocoa ice-cream
The Great Cookie Swap (v)– Quintessential holiday cookies snickerdoodles, marionberry thumbprints, chocolate almond bark, and molasses cookies-sprinkled in a luscious coconut cream
Sprinkles
Christmas Cookies Cupcake– Vanilla cake studded with sprinkles and lined with a green sugar cookie crust, topped with a vanilla buttercream frosting, red and green sprinkles, and a homemade sugar cookie coated in even more sprinkles.
Gingerbread– Spiced ginger cake topped with cream cheese frosting, dusted with cinnamon sugar and topped with a gingerbread man
Chocolate Peppermint– Belgian dark chocolate cake topped with bittersweet chocolate peppermint frosting and sprinkled with crushed peppermint candies
Snow Cute Vanilla– vanilla cake topped with vanilla frosting and rolled in Snow Cute sprinkles
Santa Baby Red Velvet- Iconic Red Velvet rolled in Santa Baby sprinkles
Tortilla Jo’s
Dulce de Leche Tamales- cinnamon, evaporated milk, regular milk, Cajeta de Celaya, vanilla extract, sugar and cream cheese. Topped with pecans and powdered sugar
Candy Cane-Rita(21+) tequila, peppermint schnapps, organic margarita mix with a splash of Grenadine. Garnished with rosemary and cranberries
Purple Mistletoe(21+)– Tequila rose, tequila blue, agave nectar, organic margarita mix with a splash of lemonade. Garnished with rosemary and cranberries.
Holiday Decorations
Enchanting Shop windows, trimmed Christmas trees with more ornaments then can be counted, lights twinkling, toy soldiers, life size candy canes, snowflakes, and Nutcrackers. I dare say Downtown Disney District is more like Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole.
Be sure to check out all our other Christmas Guides for Disneyland!
