Tucked high away in the mountains near Lake Arrowhead is the magical town of Santa’s Village. This charming park features outdoor adventures for the whole family, whimsical stores and restaurants, and most importantly of all, Santa Claus!
Nearly all of the attractions and entertainment are included with the cost of admission which can be purchased as a single day ticket or a season pass.
Here’s what we experienced on our visit as a family of 3!
We arrived around 9:30, knowing that the park didn’t open until 10am, to avoid waiting in the long line which forms at the entrance. A special Breakfast with Santa can be purchased for an additional fee, which grants you earlier access to the Village.
It’s very important to check the weather before your visit! The temperature was in the 30s during our visit with a light dusting of snow on the ground from the night before. While this made the mountains even more beautiful, it meant that we needed to wear many layers in order to stay warm and comfortable.
Included with the cost of our admission, we were able to enjoy: ice skating, a private meet and greet with Santa, a miniature train ride, a pedal car circuit, a balance bike circuit for our daughter, hiking through the beautiful woods, archery, and live show from children’s performers Kids Imagine Nation!
We also enjoyed a delicious lunch from one of the several restaurants within Santa’s Village, as well as delicious treats and coffee from the gingerbread house bakery!
A few important things to note. In order to reach Santa’s Village, you will have to drive up a steep and windy mountain road, so plan accordingly. We left before sunset to avoid driving down in the dark. Moreover, since most of the activities are outside, they may be closed if the weather isn’t cooperative. For example, on the day of our visit, the zip line was not available due to icy conditions.
Overall, we were very impressed with the friendly employees and the beautiful mountain setting. This picturesque park is the perfect spot for holiday photos and gathering with family to celebrate the season. We look forward to making this a new tradition and returning next winter!
If you’d like to follow along with our day, come watch our vlog on our YouTube channel: In a Magical Mood
For the first time, Disneyland is offering guests an exclusive, after hours event for the Holiday Season. Here are the most important details that you need to know if you plan on attending this year or if you are considering buying tickets in the future.
Your ticket to Merriest Nites grants you entry to Disneyland Park (not California Adventure) starting at 5:00pm. During that day, other guests can still remain in the park, so this will be the most crowded time. All rides, attractions and food options will be open during that time, an important note, since Galaxy’s Edge, Toontown and Critter Country close at 7:00 pm. At that time, the Park will officially close for anyone who is not attending the event. From 7:00-8:00pm, party guests can go on rides, make mobile orders for most restaurants, and check out the exclusive photo spots (although only some photo locations will have characters or PhotoPass photographers available until 8:00pm). Once 8:00pm hits, guests can enjoy attractions with significantly shorter wait times, meet rare characters, purchase party exclusive food items, and choose from a variety of entertainment. All Photopass photos are included with the ticket, but food, drinks, and merchandise are a separate cost. The event runs until midnight.
Ticket prices range from $165-$175 per person. So the big question is, is this event worth the cost?
In my opinion, the answer depends on your expectations and goals for the event.
RIDES: Are you hoping to ride nearly every attraction in the Park with little to no wait? This party is the perfect way to do that!
While the most popular attractions like Haunted Mansion Holiday and Peter Pan’s Flight had 10-15 minute waits (compared to an hour or more during normal operating hours), all of the attractions we visited had no line at all. If you take advantage of the time before the event starts, you should have enough time to enjoy most if not all of the attractions which are closed during the event (Smuggler’s Run, Splash Mountain, Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, Gadget’s Go Coaster, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and the Disneyland Railroad).
CHARACTERS: Would you like to take photos with and speak to rare characters? This party is fantastic for character fans!
This event featured many characters who had never been seen before in Disneyland, including Scrooge McDuck and Goofy as Marley from Mickey’s Christmas Carol, Sandy Claws Jack Skellington, Hans and the Duke of Weselton, Santa Stitch and Lilo, as well as other characters in special outfits or photo backdrops. Compared to events in the past, I found the PhotoPass lines to be organized and efficient. Cast Members worked hard to ensure that guests were ready to take their photos and photographers quickly snapped 2 photos per group to keep the lines moving. I also noticed many more photographers on Main Street USA and near the castle, offering guests more options to make the most of their PhotoPass.
MUPPETS: Are you a Muppet fan? Would you like to see the Muppets perform in person? This party is incredible if you love the Muppets!
Several times throughout the night, the Muppets (yes, the REAL Muppets) perform a Christmas carol sing-a-long at the end of Main Street USA. All of your favorite characters make an appearance, including Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Fozzie, Pepe, Sam Eagle and chickens! While the voices and music are pre-recorded, the talented puppeteers are cleverly concealed within the Disneyland Omnibus. The performance includes witty Muppet humor and high energy dancing from all of the characters. It honestly felt like watching a Muppet movie in person, and I loved every minute of it. As a big Muppet fan, this was the main reason I attended this event, and it was worth it to me to see this show three separate times throughout the night. If you are a casual Muppet fan, I still recommend watching the show.
How does this party compare to what’s offered at Walt Disney World?
In the past, I have been able to enjoy Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and an After Hours event at the Magic Kingdom. While the short ride time and rare character experiences were very similar, the biggest difference is that the Disneyland version does NOT include any food or drink items. While the options have been modified in 2021, both Magic Kingdom parties included unlimited snacks and beverages in various forms. In contrast, the Disneyland event only offered food and drink options that were an extra cost. While some of these items were event exclusive and delicious (the dipping chocolate and waffles from Jolly Holiday Bakery was fantastic), you still were required to pay extra for them.
The other main difference is that the Walt Disney World events included an exclusive fireworks show and parade, while Disneyland only had their Christmas Fantasy parade which runs during normal park hours in the Holiday season.
Ultimately, you’ll need to decide which after hours event meets your family’s goals for your trip! As a local Disneyland Magic Key Pass Holder, I felt like this event was an extra special treat and a festive way to celebrate moving back to “normal” after a tough year. The Muppet performance was enough for me to justify the cost of the ticket, but I know that’s not the same for everyone.
If you’d like to watch a full video of the Muppet’s Christmas Caroling Coach, please check out our new YouTube channel HERE: In A Magical Mood
Castles, Characters, and Crayons 