From Betsy Malloy,
Your Guide to California Travel.
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Disneyland takes on a special look at Christmas, the seasonal decorations adding to its already considerable charm. With the kids out of school for their holiday break, it's a fine time to consider making a trip. Years ago, people said Disneyland was not very busy at Christmas, making it an even more ideal time to visit, but that has changed. It's still a great time to go, and our tips for planning ahead will help you make the most of it.

See It Now: Photo Tour

Disneyland at Christmas

• Christmas Decorations: Christmas decorations appear everywhere in Disneyland, but they're the best in Toontown and New Orleans Square. Town Square at the end of Main Street boasts a 60-foot Christmas tree covered with thousands of lights and ornaments.

• Haunted Mansion: The special Christmas decorations here, based on Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" are extensive, with changes from the attractions' normal sights that range from the ghostly dinner party scene to the hitchhiking ghosts that make this Disneyland's best Christmas spot. Ride it twice to take it all in, and be sure to stop by after dark when candles flicker on the outside.

• Small World: Also specially decorated for Christmas and with a special Christmas music track.

• Christmas Fantasy Parade: This special Disneyland Christmas parade runs from Small World along Main Street yo Town Square. Check the entertainment schedule when you arrive to find the parade times and which direction it will be traveling. The most crowded place to watch is along Main Street, but it's also the most beautiful.

• Snowfall: Just as the fireworks end, snow falls in selected spots through the park. Pick up a Disneyland map at the gate to find out where it happens. The best spots for watching the fireworks are taken as much as two hours before the show, especially in the snowfall locations.

• Santa: Frontierland's Big Thunder Ranch becomes a "West Pole" getaway where Santa can unwind with Mrs. Claus and his team of reindeer. In Toontown, Goofy does the honors for Mr. Claus, and over in California Adventure, you'll find Santa wearing a surfer's shirt and waxing his board.

Special Holiday Tours

In 2007, the 2.5-hour "Holiday Time" tour ran November 16 through January 6. It included a chance to learn about and see all the holiday traditions and decorations. It also allowed express boarding for "it's a small world" Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday and reserved seating for "A Christmas Fantasy" Parade. Expect to pay about $60 per person.

Plan Ahead for Disneyland at Christmas

Disneyland gets its biggest winter biggest crowds over Thanksgiving weekend and from Christmas Eve to New Year's. In the past, Disneyland was less crowded from December first through Christmas Eve, but that's changing. I visited on Sunday a week before Christmas and found Disneyland as crowded as it is on a mid-August weekend.

The crowds are manageable if you plan ahead. These are some things to do:

• If you're going for more than one day, buy your Disneyland tickets online in advance to avoid standing in line for them.

• Use Ridemax to avoid standing in line. When I visited to research this article, it saved me two hours in line, just at Space Mountain and Indiana Jones' Adventure.

• Reserve Disneyland tours such as the Walk in Walt's Footsteps Tour more than a month in advance at 714-781-4400.

• Make reservations for Disneyland restaurants such as the Blue Bayou or California Adventure's Golden Vine up to a month and at least two weeks in advance by phone at 714-781-3463.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary admission for the purpose of researching this story. While it has not influenced this article, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.