Disneyland adds ‘Coco,’ ‘Encanto’ shows

Music from animated films will be performed alongside many other holiday entertainments

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Renderings envision new holiday shows at Disney California Adventure based on animated films. Left, “Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season” will feature characters from the 2021 movie “Encanto,” while “A Musical Christmas” will have Miguel and others from 2017’s “Coco” singing holiday songs in two languages with a mariachi band. Courtesy of Disney

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By Brady MacDonald

bmacdonald@scng.com

Disney California Adventure will add a pair of holiday shows themed to “Coco” and “Encanto” to a returning Christmas entertainment lineup at the Disneyland Resort that includes a parade, fireworks, a nighttime spectacle and live music.

The winter holiday season returns to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure through Jan. 6.

“Mirabel’s Gifts of the Season” musical show in California Adventure’s Paradise Gardens will feature songs and characters from “Encanto,” Disney’s 2021 musical comedy animated film.

“Encanto” tells the story of a Colombian family with supernatural powers that lives in a magical house in the charmed and hidden mountain town of Encanto.

The new Paradise Gardens show playing on weekdays will include performances by Mirabel, the protagonist of “Encanto.”

The new “A Musical Christmas,” starring Miguel from Pixar’s 2017 animated film “Coco,” will feature music by Mariachi Alegria on California Adventure’s Buena Vista Street.

The Oscar-winning “Coco” follows the journey of 12-year-old Miguel Rivera into the colorful Land of the Dead in search of his family’s true history.

The musicians and dancers in the new Buena Vista Street show will perform bilingual versions of Christmas songs on weekday evenings, with a “Silent Night” finale by Miguel.

“A Christmas Fantasy” parade and the “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks show return to Disneyland for the holiday season, while the “World of Color — Season of Light” water show and Viva Navidad Street Party will be back again at Disney California Adventure.

The “Disney Holiday Dance Party” show will take over Disneyland’s Tomorrowland Terrace stage, while the Holiday Toy Drummers will march along California Adventure’s parade route in “Mickey’s Happy Holidays.”

The Haunted Mansion, It’s a Small World, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters attractions will once again be in holiday overlay mode.

Live music featuring jazz, pop, fusion, reggae and polka along with cultural performance groups will be found throughout Disney California Adventure.

The Downtown Disney Live stage in the outdoor shopping mall next to the parks will have live rock and jazz, Christmas caroling and “snoap” snowfall. Santa Claus will make the rounds at Disneyland’s Fantasyland Theatre, California Adventure’s Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, Pixar Place Hotel and Disneyland Hotel. Holiday carolers will also visit Disney’s three hotels.