This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
It’s November 1st, so in my book, it’s perfectly acceptable to now start talking about Christmas and all things surrounding the holidays. I don’t think I’ve ever been more ready for the Holidays at The Disneyland Resort than I am now! This year, the resort will be transformed into the Merriest Place on Earth and guests can experience the holidays beginning Friday, November 8, 2019 through Jan. 6, 2020. 
Resort guests will be dazzled by the return of “World of Color – Season of Light,” a holiday-themed production of this nighttime spectacular that features lights, lasers, water, fire and hundreds of fountains bringing animation to life. Also returning are guest-favorite holiday experiences and entertainment, including Disney Festival of Holidays – which honors the sights, sounds and tastes of Christmas/Navidad, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day (Jan. 3-6) – and the “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular. Guests may even partake in a “Frozen” adventure as they encounter Anna and Elsa in the theme parks, just in time to celebrate the release of Disney’s new animated film, “Frozen 2,” in theaters Nov. 22, 2019.
Guests plan their seasonal visits to Disneyland Resort year after year to experience beloved Holiday traditions and festive cheer, from snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A., to glistening décor, Disney-themed treats and merchandise, holiday entertainment and the one-of-a-kind transformations that create “it’s a small world” Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday.
Here are some of the holday offerings you’ll find at Disneyland Park:
Guests entering Disneyland are greeted by a magnificent. 60-foot tall Christmas tree on Main Street, U.S.A., decorated with nearly 1,800 ornaments. The classic tree is an ideal location for holiday photos, to document the magical memory for a lifetime.
Mickey, Minnie, Disney Princesses and Santa celebrate the season in “A Christmas Fantasy” parade, a daily procession with floats, music and marching “tin soldiers.” Guests may wave to Anna, Elsa and Olaf, who bid them a warm winter welcome from their fantastic “Frozen” float.
The holiday magic shines brightly with the glow of the shimmering icicles and twinkling lights on Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, enchanting guests from day to night.
In the evening, the spectacular “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular and its magical snowfall finale create lasting holiday memories for guests.
Disneyland guests also will want to experience the popular seasonal transformations of these attractions:
“it’s a small world” is transformed each evening into “it’s a small world” Holiday, with 50,000-plus colorful lights, music and video projections. Inside the attraction, holiday magic takes guests around the world and back as dolls and toys representing children enjoy the distinctive holiday traditions of their countries.
‘Twas “The Nightmare before Christmas” and all through the Haunted Mansion, Jack Skellington and his friends are causing a collision between Christmas and Halloween to transform the Haunted Mansion into Haunted Mansion Holiday.**Haunted Mansion Holiday is inspired by “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
Here’s what you can find at Disney California Adventure Park:
The nighttime spectacular “World of Color – Season of Light” wraps guests in the warm glow of holiday magic. Fusing cherished holiday music sung by beloved artists with memorable moments from treasured Disney animated films, this sparkling winter fantasy is magical for all ages. This production of “World of Color” is made extra brilliant with dazzling lights, lasers and high-definition projections.
Disney Festival of Holidays brings the spirit of the season to life through lively entertainment and special traditions. Children will enjoy craft stations and everyone will appreciate the delicious food at Festive Foods Marketplace, featuring a mix of holiday dishes and beverages that bridge many diverse cultures and family traditions.
The Three Caballeros host the popular “Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party” celebration, featuring folklórico and samba dancers, live musicians, and Mickey and Minnie in their fiesta best.
The holidays are zooming into Cars Land and the residents are racing to celebrate the season. Two attractions rely on holiday magic to transform into Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree. The whimsical “Snowcar” greets guests on the road to Radiator Springs, and each “Cars” character also gets a holiday makeover at their Route 66 address to reflect their personality.
Santa Claus is coming to town! Guests will enjoy special holiday-themed activities with Santa and his sleigh full of mischievous elves at Santa’s Holiday Visit at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.
As guests enter the park and stroll along Buena Vista Street, a dazzling, 50-foot Christmas tree adorns Carthay Circle to help guests get in the holiday spirit. The tree and surrounding buildings are decorated with vintage-style ornaments in keeping with the theme of Buena Vista Street, inspired by Los Angeles as it appeared when Walt Disney arrived in the 1920’s. Pacific Wharf, Hollywood Land and Grizzly Peak will also sparkle with holiday décor throughout the season.
Guests will drift into a wintry mood as they encounter the splendid sisters Anna and Elsa inside the Disney Animation building. Guests may also relive the story of the Disney blockbuster film “Frozen” as they immerse themselves in the wondrous magic and music in the spectacular stage musical, “Frozen – Live at the Hyperion.”
Throughout the resort, guests will discover holiday culinary treats and festive fare, along with special merchandise for the merry season.
Also during the holiday season, the Downtown Disney District will be full of festive shopping, dining and entertainment and the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort also join in the yuletide celebration with twinkling lights and ornaments, holiday displays, special entertainment and holiday-inspired eats and treats.
What are YOU most excited for this holiday season? Are you planning a visit to the Disneyland Resort? Share your plans with me in the comments. I’d love to hear all about them!
For more information about the Holidays at Disneyland Resort, please visit HERE.
Visitors may take their own pictures with Santa or you may purchase a picture taken by Irvine Park Railroad. Each 5” x 7” photo will be presented with an Irvine Park Railroad frame and available for pickup shortly after being taken. 
After visiting with Santa, hop back aboard the train and enjoy the colorful Christmas lights and decorations, as well as the magical “Tunnel of Lights”, on the ride back to the station. When visiting the Christmas Train, remember to dress warmly, bring a camera, and arrive early to avoid crowds.
Knott’s Spooky Farm is annual datytime family-friendly celebration that takes place on Saturday and Sunday days through October 27, as well as Halloween day. This kid-inspired “spooky” celebration offers a a variety of fun activities, throughout the park, geared towards children ages 3-11 and are included in the price of your regular park ticket. (or Season Pass) Children will be able to interact spooky (but very friendly) shopkeepers and ghosts in Ghost Town. Children are welcome to dress up in costumes. Adults are too. (no masks please.)
“The Monsters are Coming, Charlie Brown” (Camp Snoopy Theatre) – Camp Snoopy Theater plays host to the “Monsters are Coming” show. The Peanuts Gang will have you singing and dancing right along with them to classic Halloween tunes! Several shows a day are offered.where children are encouraged to participate in the daily “Calling All Monsters” costume contest.
A Trip to Camp Spooky (Grand Sierra Railroad) – While you’re visiting Camp Spooky, be sure to take a ride on the Grand Sierra Railroad. This year, special for Knott’s Spooky Farm, guests will find added 2D and 3D Hallowen themed characters and effects as The Grand Sierra Railroad has been transformed into a one-of-a-kind experience that will take riders on an adventure to Camp Spooky, along with the Peanuts Gang.
Creepy Critters of Calico (Livery Stable) – This year, Stanley Scarecrow has opened his Livery Stable to guests of all ages to come in and get up close and personal with the Creepy Critters of Calico, if you dare! You’ll find insects and other creepy crawlers, rats, and even a white python! The horses at the stable are also dressed up for the occasion.
Spooky Story Time (Bird Cage Theatre) – stop by Bird Cage Theatre for semi-haunted tales told by charismatic storytellers.
That’s right, now through August 30, Disneyland Annual Passholders can purchase up to three (3) $99 Park Hopper tickets per day! Also, if a Passholder is blocked out on that day, they, too, may purchase a $99 Park Hopper ticket for entrance that day. This is an amazing deal for a Park Hopper ticket, especially with some of the newest offerings at the Resort right now:
One of the best parts about the OC Fair is all of the ways fair goers can save money on admission and tickets. There are so many great opportunities to do so and if you plan ahead, you can maximize the savings.
Here is a list of 10 tips to save you money at this year’s OC Fair:
I hope these tips are helpful for you. If you’re a planner like me, then these are definitely going to come in handy as you plan for the summer!
Held in Kaleidoscope’s event space inside Union Market Mission Viejo, the fun events are every Tuesday from 11:30am – 12:30pm, June 18 through July 23.
The summer events will culminate with the annual Kaleido Kids Carnival on Tuesday, July 30 from 11am to 2:30pm. Tickets are $10 per person, with all games and activities included, and all proceeds benefitting Make-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire. The Carnival has raised nearly $56,000 for the non-profit over the last seven years.
The Kaleido Kids events are 11:30am – 12:30pm with the following schedule:
On Tuesday, July 30, the Kaleido Kids Carnival will include games, activities, balloon art, face painting, costumed characters, photo opportunities, a DJ, and refreshments. Admission is $10 per person and benefits Make-A-Wish. Tickets must be purchased in advance through 
Guests who bring a new backpack or new toy (no guns please) to donate to Make-A-Wish will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win one Kaleidoscope family gift basket.
Throughout April, the family-friendly indoor water park resort will offer a blue version of the brand’s signature wolf ears, available to guests for a minimum $5 donation to Autism Speaks. A limited-edition collection of 10,000 blue wolf ears were made for this event and will be available for purchase at all 16 of the company’s U.S.-based resorts.
All proceeds from the Blue Wolf Ears campaign go directly to Autism Speaks, with a goal of raising $50,000 to support its mission of enhancing lives across the spectrum at every stage of life. Last year alone, the non-profit aided more than 1 million people through Autism Speaks-funded programs and resources.
To increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism, Great Wolf Lodge is launching a social media campaign in conjunction with the Blue Wolf Ears effort. The company encourages guests to post a photo on social media of themselves or a family member wearing their blue wolf ears, using #GreatWolfCares. For each post using this special hashtag, Great Wolf Lodge will make an additional $5 donation to Autism Speaks, up to $20,000. 
For more information on Great Wolf Resorts and its brands of indoor water park resorts, please visit 
The Pet Expo will also debut “Kids’ Pet Care Course.” Led by licensed dog trainers, Kid Camp is an immersive experience where kids age 6-12 can learn how to care for their pet and will Earn a responsible pet ownership certificate. In 2018, there were more than 698 animal adoptions including dogs, cats – and even a few guinea pigs who found forever homes during the three-day event which drew approximately 50,000 attendees.
Coming this year to America’s Family Pet Expo is the Instagram sensation “Moshow the Cat Rapper” (@iAmMoshow), who boasts nearly 223K followers and more than 1M video views. Known for rapping about cat care and his passion for “cat ladies and cats,” he will be rapping on stage along with meet and greets at the TICA Cat Show twice daily, all weekend.
The “All-Star Stunt Dog Show” will be entertaining at the Pet Expo. Founded in 1999, the canine agility-show features high-flying, fearless and air-defying canines as they try to out-trick, flip and out jump one another. Audiences will be mesmerized by their talent and boundless energy.
The 2019 Expo will be the “Cat’s Meow” as the The Catit Playground and TICA, The International Cat Association, returns. From rare breeds to household domestics, TICA will offer continuous opportunities for owners to showcase their prize-worthy felines for best in show categories. Alongside TICA, the Catit Playground will provide a close-up view for guests to watch adorable, adoptable cats and kittens and see how they interact with different toys and people.
Returning favorites to the Pet Expo include Repticon, Reptile Show andSale, offering hundreds of common and rare species of reptiles in all shapes and sizes, such as lizards, snakes, and spiders. Plus, the ever-popular Splash Dogs will also be on hand offering a “splashing” good time as these dogs compete at dock jumping.
In advance of America’s Family Pet Expo, kids can design and create a 10-gallon aquarium in the Kid’s Aquarium Contest sponsored by Tetra/Marineland. Continuing this year is the America’s Family Pet Expo Hobbyist Aquascaping contest sponsored by FLUVAL. Plus, the ever-popular Splash Dogs sponsored by CANIDAE will also be on hand offering a “splashing” good time as these dogs compete at dock jumping. There will also be the Butterfly Walk-Through, Police and Protection Dog Demonstrations, an Aquatic Touch Tank, Tortoise Petting Exjbit and The Free Flight Bird Show as added features.
Doggie makeovers and pet adoptions will be handled onsite for those looking for that perfect animal addition to the family. There will be hundreds of animals hoping to find their “fur-ever home” from local community partner organizations at the Pet Expo.
Guests will have the opportunity to indulge in a tantalizing line up of dishes ranging from savory foods with a boysenberry twist to one-of-a-kind specialty desserts and drinks that can only be found at Knott’s Berry Farm during this time of the year. In addition to the numerous food and drink offerings, the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival offers a wide selection of local crafters, live music, musical stage shows and fun activities for guests of all ages to enjoy.
This year’s Boysenberry Festival runs 31 days starting March 29, operating daily through April 28, 2019. This year’s lineup will introduce several new food items including:
Knott’s Boysenberry Tasting Cards 
Boysenberry Festival Merchandise
The Knott’s Berry Market (located in the Marketplace outside the Park) also features signature boysenberry items like the delicious boysenberry BBQ sauce or the classic jams and preserves.
The Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival is included with admission to Knott’s Berry Farm. Additional costs apply for food tasting experiences within the event. Knott’s will have extended hours on select days March 29 – April 28, allowing guests extra time to take advantage of all of the limitedt-ime offerings.
The best way to savor every day of the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival and all of the other Seasons of Fun is with a 2019 Season Pass. A Regular Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2019 to Knott’s Berry Farm with no blackout dates, and a Gold Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2019 to both Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City Waterpark with no blackout dates. Regular passes are just $98 or five easy payments of $15.50 after an initial payment and Gold Passes are $118 or five easy payments of just $18.50 after an initial payment. These offers end April 28, 2019. Applicable taxes and fees apply. Payment plans are only available at 
For more information about Knott’s Berry Farm please visit 