Your Disney Vacation Planning is About to Get Easier as Disney Implements a Big Change
Plus a major pool closure from Disney Aulani and Christmas 2023 news from Disneyland
After years of frustration with Walt Disney World and Disneyland vacation planning, Disney is finally making a small change that will make a big impact on your Disney vacation planning. This story, plus Disney Aulani news and a Christmas 2023 Disneyland update.
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Disney Vacation Planning Just Got Better
One Small Change that will Make One Big Difference: You Can Now Book DIsney Advanced Dining for the Times You Actually Want
After many years of frustration that caused guests to jump through hoops and juggle plans around Disney dining, Disney if finally making it much more efficient to book dining reservations.
The new updates include:
The Ability to See and Pick from All Available Reservation Slots (not just three): We shouldn't be so excited for something that should have been there all along, but now all available dining reservation slots will show up for your selected dining location and timeframe on the Disneyland website/Disneyland app and on the Walt Disney World website/My Disney Experience app.
Reservation Slots Sorted by Meal Period: Reservation availability will be sorted by meal period so you can see which menu is being served during the time of your reservation. This is most important around the transition time periods, for example if you're booking 4:00 p.m. you'll see if they're still serving lunch or starting on the dinner menu.
These updates will roll out in phases across the website and iOS and Android platforms.
Disney Aulani Refurbishment Update: Ka Maka Pool and Grotto are Shutting Down
If you're heading to Disney Aulani Hawaii this October, this is important news. The Ka Maka Pool and Grotto, including Ka Maka whirlpool spa, will be closed from October 9 - 28, 2023 for refurbishment. This is a showpiece pool so it will be missed by guests visiting at this time.
Resort pools and water features that will be open include the Waikolohe Pool and Stream, the two water slides, multiple whirlpool spas, Keiki Cove splash zone, and the Wailana Pool.
2023 Disneyland Resort Holiday Season Dates and Details Revealed
The Holidays dates for Disneyland Resort this year will be November 10, 2023, through January 7, 2024.
Here is what's happening including the celebrations, décor, entertainment and more for this year's Christmas and holiday season.
Cultural Celebrations in Disney California Adventure Park with Disney Festival of Holidays
The Disney Festival of Holidays draws inspiration from a wide range of global holiday celebrations, including Christmas, Navidad, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day.
Enjoy new treats and returning favorite food and beverage items at the Disney Festival of Holidays marketplaces and get into the spirit of it all with music and dance performances at the Palisades Stage, Sonoma Terrace and for the first time, in the Hollywood Backlot. Plus, you can dance along as Disney and Pixar characters march to the beat of the Holiday Toy Drummers in “Mickey’s Happy Holidays.”
The Sip and Savor Pass is back and offers eight entitlement tabs that can be redeemed for select food and non-alcoholic beverages from several marketplaces and participating dining locations in Disney California Adventure. Each Sip and Savor Pass is valid for the entire of Disney Festival of Holidays and can be shared among friends and family, so your whole group can sample dishes together this season.
Disney ¡Viva Navidad! is back at the Paradise Gardens Park for its 10th season. This year, you can taste your way through an all-new menu at Paradise Garden Grill. The Three Caballeros will host a joyous street party, featuring Mexican folklórico dancers and mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers and percussionists, giant mojiganga puppets and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their holiday best. Additional festivities in this area will include live music and dancing, visits with more Disney characters and special appearances by Mirabel from Encanto.
Festive Décor and Attractions Across Disneyland Resort
Anchored by Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, adorned with icicles and snow-capped turrets as a must see, also be sure to visit the oversize gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. If you like Christmas trees with uniquely themed ornaments, there will be plenty to see in both parks, Downtown Disney District, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Disneyland Hotel. And since it's the Christmas holiday season, you may just see a little Disney magic “snow” falling nightly in select areas of Disneyland park.
And that's not all: ornaments, lights and more will also embellish favorite attractions that get a special holiday overlay. In Disneyland, you'll be serenaded with choruses of jolly tunes on the wintry waterway of “it’s a small world” Holiday, and Jack Skellington redecorates the Haunted Mansion as usual, transforming it into the frightfully festive Haunted Mansion Holiday -- this year with a new haunted gingerbread house. In Disney California Adventure, Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, both offer up seasonal spins for the “haul-idays.”
Delight in Seasonal Spectaculars and Holiday Entertainment
For festive photos, watch for Mickey Mouse and friends with all-new holiday outfits in Disneyland park, putting a spin on the classic red and green with midcentury modern-inspired looks. Plus, Santa Claus will be there too and available to pose for jolly photos around Disneyland Resort through December 24.
For merry entertainment, Disneyland Park offers “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” starring characters from Frozen, Toy Story and more. In the evening, watch for the “Believe…In Holiday Magic” nighttime spectacular, which will light up the night sky with fireworks and sprinklings of snow.
At Disney California Adventure, World of Color – Season of Light will fill Paradise Bay with the holiday spirit as hundreds of fountains illustrate warm moments from Disney animated films.
Downtown Disney isn't just for holiday shopping, you can also groove to a variety of seasonal live musical performances on select evenings at the Downtown Disney LIVE! stage. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel will also have live entertainment on select nights.
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Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic