The Most Magical Time of the Year at the Most Magical Place on Earth

I have gone to Disneyland more times than I can count by now, but somehow I had never been for Christmas.  As we all know by now I love Disney, but did you also know that I love Christmas!  It is without a doubt my most favorite time of the year.  It's always been a dream of mine to go to Disneyland around Christmas time in fact it has been on my unofficial bucket list for years now.
Finally this year I was able to go!  OH MY GOSH!!! It was the most amazing thing ever!  My little Disney heart almost exploded.
I could go into deep detail about everything to do in the park, but I'll leave that for another day.  Today we're just going to talk about those things that have to do especially with Christmas.
Disneyland:

• The Parade

Everybody who has ever been to a Disney Park knows how great their parades are and how much effort that they put into each and everyone of their parades.  Around Christmas time they have a parade especially for that magical time of the year.

They got your marching soldiers

And Mrs. Claus

And of course what would Disneyland be without some of the characters that we all love and adore! 

The whole while they are playing Christmas music!

  

And don't forget the Big Man in Red

• Projections on the Castle

When I was working for Disney World one of my favorite things to do was to go and watch the projections that they had on the castle at night time. I was truly excited when I learned that they do something very similar for Disneyland at Christmas time.  The whole thing is complete with narration about Christmas wishes and then it ends with SNOW!

• It's a Small World

A lot of people try to avoid It's a Small World after going on it once.  For me it's almost like a tradition.  Yes, it's the same ride every time and yes that song get's stuck in your head and yes it goes on forever, but come on it's a classic.
Anyways if you haven't been on it around Christmas time, go! Don't even question it just go!  If this helps talk you into it at all they change the song.  And it's all decorated!


And that's just the outside.  Let's take a look inside.



Just to show a few.  It shows all of the different places from around the world and the different ways that they celebrate the holidays.
Also after dark when the outside it all lit up they also do projections.

• Haunted Mansion

Starting in October the whole premise to the Haunted Mansion changes.  Instead of wandering around the normal spooks that we are used to we are suddenly on a journey with none other than Jack Skeleton as he tries to add his own little flare to the holiday season.

Probably my favorite scene is the normal dancing scene because now there is a gingerbread house and it actually smells like it too!

• Snow on the Waters of America

At night time at the Waters of America the New Orleans Quartet band comes out onto the water and plays some Christmas music.  It's really fun to see them and they are really good at the music that they play.  Then as they start to play "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas."  it begins to snow and it's so magical!

Also hint: I believe that the snow smells like peppermint.

• Fireworks

I like to believe that Disney is known for it's amazing firework displays.  They change their fireworks depending on the time of year too.  Last year I was accidentally able to see the Halloween ones and they were awesome.  I also saw that they were doing a New Years display this year, wish I had been there for that.
Can I give you guys a suggestion for viewing the fireworks?  Stand on Main Street.  Don't try to stand on the side of the castle or just off to the side, and especially for the Christmas ones... STAND ON MAIN STREET!

Why stand on Main Street?  Well first you get the beautiful view of the fireworks in the sky, but then as you look around you something else magical happens.

The shops along Main Street get to join the show.  And then of course it wouldn't be Christmas without even more snow!
There is also tons of merchandise around that you can buy and not to mention all of the yummy treats.  One of the treats you have to try at Disneyland is the beignets.  You can find them at the Mint Julep shop and they have different flavors all throughout the year.  Around Christmas they had peppermint flavored!
I know that I kind of just flew this, but if you have any questions about Disneyland at Christmas feel free to comment.  If I have time tomorrow I'll be trying to post the second part of this which will be about California Adventure at Christmas time.
But for now... Have a Magical Day