Disneyland holiday season 2009 events start this month - A look at what to expect, including Santa

November 1, 7:37 AMPhoenix Western US Travel ExaminerAngele Sionna

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“Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle”/ Photo courtesy: Disneyland

November begins holiday season in Disneyland. This year the Christmas decorations go up and the parades start on November 13, 2009 and will stay up through January 3, 2010.

Among the highlights of "Holiday Season" at Disneyland are special holiday versions of “it’s a small world” and Haunted Mansion, along with colorful holiday décor and a nightly snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A.

Other holiday fun will include the traditional snowdrifts and icicles adorning Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, as seen in the photo above. After dark a holiday lighting and special effects show will carry the magic of the holidays from the castle all the way to the Christmas tree in Town Square. The Disneyland Christmas tree is specially designed to present a nightly holiday light show with more than 62,000 energy-efficient lights.

The Sleeping Beauty Winter Castle presentation unfolds throughout the evening in three acts, each of them featuring a touch of winter snow on Main Street, U.S.A. The finale of the show includes the legendary “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks show, which ends with “White Christmas” along with a climactic snowfall swirling down on Main Street, “it’s a small world” Mall and New Orleans Square.

Guests will also be able to book guided holiday tours that provide entry into the “it’s a small world” holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday, reserved seating for the Disneyland “A Christmas Fantasy” parade, a keepsake remembrance, and entertaining information about the history behind Disneyland holiday traditions.

Holiday Season at the Disneyland park:

• “it’s a small world” holiday transforms “it’s a small world” into a worldwide celebration of the season, boasting more than 300,000 glittering lights on its facade.
• Haunted Mansion Holiday presents a madcap celebration as the traditions of Halloween and Christmas collide. Tim Burton’s "The Nightmare Before Christmas” is the theme of the Haunted Mansion, similar to during Halloweentime.
• “A Christmas Fantasy” parade will be presented daily, November 13 through January 3, on Main Street. This ever-popular procession depicts a collection of holiday scenes, music and a cast of Disney characters and performers in yuletide vignettes.
• Santa Claus and his reindeer will return to greet Disneyland guests in Frontierland at Big Thunder Ranch. Kids and their families will chat with St. Nick and see real reindeer grazing in a corral.

At Disney’s California Adventure:

• “CALIFORNIA” letters transformed to appear as swirling red and white peppermint sticks.
• “a bug’s land” transforms as Flik and his bug buddies spread giant Christmas lights and oversized ornaments throughout their realm.
• The holiday scene along the Paradise Bay boardwalk includes a beautifully decorated Christmas tree and lampposts decorated with seasonal wreaths.
• The ever-popular “Disney’s Electrical Parade” will be presented nightly at the height of the holiday season, December 18 through January 3, 2010.

Additional new and continuing shows and attractions:

• “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!,” which begins daily performances November 6 in New Orleans Square in Disneyland, will be a rousing, colorful show with a jazz-filled holiday celebration vibe. It will begin as guests are invited to join a Mardi Gras-style cavalcade in New Orleans Square. The cavalcade will lead guests to the waterfront where Princess Tiana and other “Princess and the Frog” characters will board the Mark Twain Riverboat. The boat will then take to the river where Tiana and company will entertain guests on shore with a musical show including songs from the motion picture.
• In Disney’s California Adventure, the “Pixar Play Parade” is complemented by performances of the energetic, traveling rock and dance concert show, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year-Right Here! Right Now!”
• At Disneyland in December, guests will explore the newly relocated Disney Gallery on Town Square, Main Street, U.S.A. Next door, The Disneyland Story featuring Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is scheduled to reopen in late December with new technology and an enhanced presentation.

Here are some videos of the "Holiday Season" at Disneyland from the Disneyland Resort: