Christmas Time at California Adventure 2012

This Christmas Buena Vista Street is filled with holiday
decor, entertainers, Christmas window displays and more.

This Christmas Time at California Adventure (November 12, 2012, through January 6, 2013) has expanded greatly from last year due to the completion of its $1 billion expansion. Now when you enter California Adventure, you will be entering a Winter Wonderland, with the festively decorated Buena Vista Street, Cars Land and much more! When you visit California Adventure this holiday season, make sure to see:

• See the 50-foot California Adventure Christmas tree on Buena Vista Street outside of the Elias & Co. shop. The tree is decorated with vintage-looking Disney toy ornaments that look like toys that could have been found underneath Christmas tree is the 1920s and '30s.
• Enjoy the holiday window displays and live entertainment, including a group of singers and handbell players, as you stroll down Buena Vista Street.
• Visit with Santa at Elias & Co. and get your picture taken.
• See all of the car-themed Christmas decorations at Cars Land, including a "snowcar" snowman and Christmas trees made from car tires and hubcaps.
• Watch elves Lanny and Wayne from Disney's Prep & Landing television show at World of Color.
• Meet Duffy and other Disney characters by the Christmas tree at Paradise Bay.
• Dance along with Phineas and Ferb at the Rockin' Rollin' Dance Party on Paradise Pier. 

Check out Christmas Time at Disneyland 2012.

Meet Santa at the Elias & Co. department store.

Hear a singing handbell choir perform Christmas songs on Buena Vista Street.

Take a look at all of the vintage-style ornaments
on the 50-foot California Adventure Christmas tree.

Even the Red Car Trolley is decorated for Christmas.

Get your picture taken with a "snowcar," the Cars
Land version of a snowman! Photo © Disney.

Say "Hello" to a festive Tow Mater, who dons a Santa hat during the holidays. Photo © Disney.

Every address along Route 66 in Cars Land
is decked out in car-themed Christmas decorations.

Cars Land wreaths are made of old tires.

Even the founder of Radiator Springs,
the steam car Stanley, wears a Santa hat this Christmas.

Christmas Time at Disneyland 2012

See the Disneyland Christmas Tree light up at dusk each night.

This Christmas Time at Disneyland (November 12, 2012, through January 6, 2013) has the same great features of last year, as well as a few new holiday additions. When you visit Disneyland this holiday season, make sure to see:

• Sleeping Beauty's Winter Castle, which has wreaths, snow and icicles, and 62,000 energy-efficient LED lights. The Sleeping Beauty Castle lights up at night.
• It's a Small World is transformed into a colorful light display, and inside the children sing Christmas songs instead of "It's a Small World."
• A Christmas Fantasy Parade, where toy soldiers, Disney Characters, elves, reindeer and Santa sing and dance for guests.
• The Believe... In Holiday Magic fireworks show, which ends in soap snowflakes falling from the sky in warm Southern California.
• Haunted Mansion Holiday, where you can see Jack Skellington and other characters from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.
• Take a picture with Santa, decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus, play reindeer games, watch the Billy Hill and the Hillbillies and more at the Jingle Jangle Jamboree (note: the reindeer are no longer on display at Big Thunder Ranch during the holidays).
• The Candlelight Processional, which expanded to 20 days this year, due to the popularity of the program. The processional will run from December 1 to 20 and feature the following hosts: Dennis Haysbert (Dec. 1-2); Kurt Russell (Dec. 3-5); Edward James Olmos (Dec. 6-8); Lou Diamond Phillips (Dec. 9-11); Dick Van Dyke (Dec. 12-13); Marcia Gay Harden (Dec. 14); Patricia Heaton (Dec. 15-16); Molly Ringwald (Dec. 17-19); Dennis Haysbert (Dec. 20). (Read about last year's Candlelight Processional, hosted by Gary Sinise.)
• Three Kings Day, Or Dia de los Reyes Magos, from January 4 to 6, 2013, at Zocalo Park in Frontierland. (Read about last year's Three Kings Day celebration.)
• Special Holiday Time at Disneyland tours, which include entry into several holiday rides, reserved seating for the Christmas Fantasy parade, a keepsake and information about Disney holiday traditions. For more information, call (714) 781-TOUR (781-8687).

Check out Christmas Time at California Adventure 2012.

The Disney Castle has 62,000 LED lights. Photo © Disney.

Cast members make holiday-themed goodies.

Characters like Winnie the Pooh dress up in winter clothing.

It's a Small World lights up at night. Photo © Disney.

New Orleans Square is decked out in Christmas decorations.

There are lots of fun activities at the Jingle Jangle Jamboree at Big Thunder Ranch.

Play Reindeer Games, decorate cookies and more at Big Thunder Ranch.

The Jingle Jangle Jamboree has become a popular spot this holiday.

Santa riding in his sleigh at the finale of the Christmas Fantasy parade.

The Art of Frankenweenie Exhibition

From September 14 to November 5, 2012, visit The Art of Frankenweenie, a special exhibit in the Disney Animation building in California Adventure's Hollywood Land. The exhibition features some of the actual sets, props and puppets used to film Frankenweenie, opening in theaters on October 5. Learn how Tim Burton used stop-animation to film the movie, Burton's character designs (even actual sketches by Tim Burton).

A sign as you enter the exhibit reads:

Original concept art by Tim Burton.

"Frankenweenie is a very personal pet project of mine, which developed from an idea I had in 1984. It's the story of a boy who, inspired by science and the love of his dog, brings back his pet from an untimely passing. The craft of stop motion animation is a great passion of mine. The hand made quality of these puppets and sets will be heightened by the film's black and white, 3D release. The Art of Frankenweenie Exhibit offers a glimpse into the filmmaking process and captures the incredible detail that has gone into bringing this story to the big screen. Frankenweenie has been a labor of love for the cast, crew and myself. I hope you enjoy this experience as much as we enjoyed making the film."

A view of the transformed Disney Animation building
that now holds the Art of Frankenweenie exhibition.

The set of Mr. Rzykruski's science classroom.

The "skeleton" of Sparky (Frankenweenie) that allows
it to be posed for the stop motion animation technique.

Victor Frankenstein and Frankenweenie in the attic set.

Frank-n-Weenie and Franken-Fusion lemonade
from award Wieners. Photo Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland.

When you're done with the exhibit, learn to draw Sparky or Victor Frankenstein at the Animation Academy, visit the Muppet Vision 3D theater for a special 4D sneak peek of the movie, and if you're feeling hungry, make sure to grab a "Frank-n-Weenie" from Award Wieners across from Disney Animation. According to Disney, the Frank-n-Weenie is "a pork frank stitched together with bacon and brought to life with grilled onions and apple slices on a jalapeno cheese bun, topped with a lighting bolt of barbeque sauce." Award Wieners will also offer "Franken-Fusion Lemonade" with a "thunderbolt shot" of blackberry and wild grape, topped with lemon-lime foam. There is also special Frankenweenie merchandise in the "Off the Page" store next to the Animation building.

See a sneak peek of the Frankenweenie film.

Frankenweenie merchandise from Off the Page.