Christmas Activity

Disneyland Resort Holiday Time #DisneyHolidays

 

 

disney holiday

Disclosure: This is not a compensated post. Complimentary tickets were provided to facilitate the writing of this post.

 

I feel like every year I find myself saying, Wow, the decorations are the best they have ever been and there is no way that it can’t get any better next year, and yet again I’m proven wrong by Disney. The holidays at the Disneyland Resort are bigger and better than ever. The Disneyland Resort is decked out wall to wall in beautiful holiday decorations. There is something just so magical about visiting Disneyland and Disney California Adventure during this time of the year.

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The Disneyland Resort is dressed up for the holiday season until January 6th, 2015. Some of the highlights of the holidays at the Disneyland Resort are:

  • It’s a Small World Holiday – sing along with the dolls to holiday tunes
  • A Christmas Fantasy Parade – we love the marching wooden soldiers!
  • Haunted Mansion Holiday – this year’s gingerbread house is frighteningly festive
  • Jingle Jangle Jamboree – meet and greet with Santa, Mickey and some great entertainment in Big Thunder Ranch
  • Cars Land Decked out for the holidays – some of the most creative holiday displays ever created
  • Sleeping Beauty Castle Draped in Beautiful Lights
  • Jingle Cruise – the animals discovered some dropped Christmas cargo and have gotten into the spirit.

small world holiday

The resort is truly magical during this time of year and the decorations throughout the park are amazing. Disney ¡Viva Navidad! celebrates Latin holiday traditions, just inside Frontierland with special decorations, entertainment and food options.  Disney ¡Viva Navidad! continues in the New Year with a grand finale: Three Kings’ Day, January 2 – 6, 2015. Get ready to make some memories at the Disneyland Resort. A visit is a must during this holiday season!  For resort hours and other information can be found here.

 

The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade

Newport Beach Boat Parade

Newport Beach Boat Parade

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  One of our favorite Christmas traditions is almost here. Every year we look forward to the Newport Beach Boat Parade. The parade has been a So Cal tradition for over 100 years! Watching the parade is one of my family’s favorite Christmas traditions. It is a definite must do for the family. If you’re also a boat owner, you may visit this site if you’re looking for the cheapest boat hull and trailer for sale. Make sure as well not to forget about extra boat batteries and safety equipment.

The parade begins on Wednesday Dec 17th and ends on Sunday December 21st. The parade starts off at Bay Island at 6:30pm and ends there at approximately 9:30. We try to make it at least one night every year.

Here are a  couple of tips to make your evening as enjoyable as possible.
1. Dress warmly. I forgot to bring gloves last year and I will make sure not to forget them this year. I also will remember to bring a blanket for each of my kiddos.
2. Arrive as early as possible. Traffic is horrible and arriving early will assure you a spot and less congestion.
3. Be prepared to pay for parking. Whether you are parking in one of the state lots or an improvised private lot, make sure to bring at least 10 dollars for parking. If you want to save on parking, make sure to bring good walking shoes and park a little further away from the bay area.
4. Bring something warm to drink . We bring something warm to drink and lots of fun treats.
5. My favorite spot to watch is close to the  Balboa Peninsula/Balboa  Ferry Area. You can watch from either side.  You really can’t miss with either of these spots.
6. If you would like to view the parade in luxury many of the waterfront restaurants along the parade route have dinner/viewing packages. Check to see if your favorite restaurant is offering a deal.

To learn more about the parade and for additional info head here.

Magical Mission Inn and the Fantastic Festival of Lights

This is truly the most wonderful time of the year.  There are so many things to see and do all over Southern California.  Many of these events are free to attend and I love being able to share those places with you.

One of my favorite free events is The Mission Inn and Spa in Riverside is home to the Festival of Lights. More than 3.6 million (Yes Million!) lights transform this beautiful hotel into a holiday wonderland. The festival features nightly live entertainment, “fresh snow”, and even appearances by Santa and his reindeer. You can even ride around a horse drawn carriage around the hotel grounds.

Mission Inn Festival of Lights by Daytrippingmom.com

The City of Riverside has adopted The Mission Inn’s Festival of Lights as a citywide initiative with a vision of a Dickensian holiday spectacle featuring lights and decorations throughout downtown Riverside, an outdoor ice-skating rink on the Main Street pedestrian mall, holiday vendors and family-friendly entertainment.

The Festival of Lights at The Mission Inn Hotel is now open and continues until January 6th, 2015.  The Festival of Lights begins every night at sunset. For additional information head here.