Disneyland Resort celebrates the holidays in Latin-style with “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!”. The grand finale is a commemoration of the Three Kings Day/Día de Reyes from Jan. 3-6, 2014.

As we shared with you when the  ¡Viva Navidad! celebrations started last month, we’ve been extremely excited by the way our culture is being interpreted for our kids to immerse themselves in it. From the fabulous Street Party with Mojiganga puppets, mariachi and samba music, folkloric dancers and the Three Caballeros and Mickey and Minnie in festive attire, to the Latin-inspried food, shows and crafts for kids.

For Día de Reyes, Paradise Pier at Disney’s California Adventure Park invites guest to come and celebrate this special celebration observed mainly by Catholics, but that has become a traditional celebration across Latin America and carried on by Latinos around the world.

Kids will find booths for face painting, arts, crafts and to take special pictures con Melchor, Gaspar y Baltazar.

The Three Caballeros go all out to celebrate Disney ¡Viva Navidad! and kids can have fun decorating these special crowns.

The menu for the celebration takes on some of the favorite Latin dishes. We all raved about the pozole and you can check out how to make it in this video.

We interview Susana Tubert, one of the Disney creatives behind the whole ¡Viva Navidad! concept, to tell us more about how families can celebrate el Día de Reyes Magos at Disneyland Resort.

We also got to chat with Cristian León, Disneyland Resort spokesperson, with Micky, Minnie, a giant mojiganga and folkloric dancers adding the fiesta to our video.

For more videos, pictures and information on Disney’s ¡Viva Navidad! celebration, check out Disneyland.com/Holidays and  our full coverage below:

Disneyland’s Pozole Recipe for Día de Reyes Magos

Disney’s ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party Celebrates Latino Culture and Language

Sneek Peek at Disney’s ¡Viva Navidad! Street Fiesta

La Navidad is Coming to Disneyland Resort: Disney ¡Viva Navidad! 

Disneyland’s Latino-Style ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party: 5 Reasons Why It’s a Must-See

Disneyland Resort has been celebrating la Navidad a lo grande with “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” throughout the holiday season with beautiful shows, music, activities and food that celebrates nuestra cultura. The grand finale is an observance of Día de Reyes from Friday, Jan. 3 to Monday, Jan. 6.

We were there for a media event to capture some of this Three Kings Day magic, happening at Paradise Pier Gardens in Disney’s California Adventure Park, and got the chance to meet with Chef José Ruiz and learn how they prepare the delicious pozole that has been a guest favorite during ¡Viva Navidad!, among the delicious menu of Latin fare that includes mole, tortas al pastor, sopes, street style tacos, conchas and much more.

If you get a chance to visit Disney’s California Adventure Park, make sure you stop by the Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta in Paradise Pier to grab your bowl of some very delicious and authentic pozole!

For more videos, pictures and information on Disney’s ¡Viva Navidad! celebration, check out Disneyland.com/Holidays and  our full coverage below:

How to Celebrate Three Kings Day/Día de Reyes at Disneyland Resort

Disney’s ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party Celebrates Latino Culture and Language

Sneek Peek at Disney’s ¡Viva Navidad! Street Fiesta

La Navidad is Coming to Disneyland Resort: Disney ¡Viva Navidad! 

Disneyland’s Latino-Style ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party: 5 Reasons Why It’s a Must-See

Disney’s ¡Viva Navidad! isn’t the only thing that got us completely in the Holidays mood at Disneyland Resorts. It’s definitely our favorite because of the special meaning it holds for us, but both Disneyland and California Adventure have been transformed into magical wonderlands for the holidays.

One of the many seasonal shows we were excited about experiencing was the transformation of World of Color, the fabulous after-dark spectacle in Disney California Adventure’s Paradise Bay, into “Winter Dreams.” It took a team of Imagineers over three months to program the new show that features seven sequences full of new and favorite characters and even Disney fans from around the country.

According to Disneyland News, the voices of more than 500 singers representing all 50 United States appear in the pre-show carol, “Glow.” Participants signed up on a “World of Color” Honor Choir website and performed “virtually,” in front of their computer webcams. Disneyland Resort teamed with Grammy®-winning composer Eric Whitacre, who has joined hundreds of voices online in similar “virtual choirs.

Our guide through ”World of Color — Winter Dreams” is Olaf, the snowman from “Frozen” who loves summer, and he sets the tone for a fun, whimsical and all-around beautiful show.

I got a chance to interview Eddy Collins, spokesperson for Disneyland Resorts, to chat a bit more about “World of Color — Winter Dreams.” Eddy is from Guatemala and we had a blast recording a Spanglish interview in full code-switching mode!

Photo credit: Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland Resort

Disclosure: I was invited with my family to attend to the media event for Disney Holidays. No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

My family and I are lucky to be able to go to Disneyland quite frequently, but I can attest that never have we felt so thrilled and felt so at home as we did last week when we were invited to the media event for Disney’s ¡Viva Navidad! at California Adventure.

I already shared with you a sneak peek with a few Instagram videos I took, but I promised you more and here it is!

I got the chance to interview Susana Tubert, one of the Disney creatives behind the whole ¡Viva Navidad! concept. Susana, a bilingual Argentinean, had the fun task of bringing alive the spirit of the Latin American celebrations of la navidad in a uniquely Disney way. Susana, who is also the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Latino International Theater Festival of New York, Inc. came on board only a few months ago and I’ve gotta say that what she and Disney delivered is a pure fiesta con mucho corazón y alma latina.

Just check it out y comienza a vivir la navidad!

Want more of Disney’s ¡Viva Navidad!? Check out five reasons why  it’s a must-see.

Last night we were invited to the premiere of Disney’s first-ever celebration of La Navidad: ¡Viva Navidad!

Located in Paradise Gardens at Disney California Adventure Park, Disney’s ¡Viva Navidad! is a Latin-themed holiday street party that’s toda una fiesta con verdadero sabor navideño! From the music that includes Mexican mariachi and samba, to the folkloric dance, colorful pageantry and just overall festive environment that Disney got just right. Of course, the fun is led by The Three Caballeros with a very special appearance by Mickey and Minnie!

I can’t even explain to you how happy I felt when I saw it the first time. I felt I was definitely witnessing a beautiful homage to part of our Latin culture that exemplifies nuestro amor por la vida y las tradiciones. My daughter felt completely identified and was singing out loud to the tunes of “Feliz Navidad” and wouldn’t stop dancing. She even recognized that her Mexican doll looked like the dancers!

Here are two Instagram videos I shot with a sneak peek into the ¡Viva Navidad! street party that’s going on now until January 6 with around six daily performances. In a few days I will bring you an interview with one of the Latina’s behind the creation of  ¡Viva Navidad!, as well as video of the complete street party.

Oh, and there’s also lots of Mexican street food and desserts to enjoy at the Paradise Gardens, to the tunes of Latin bands. How about a Mickey concha?

Can it be true? Can Disneyland Resort really be creating a special 8-week long celebration in “inspired by the warmth and joyous spirit of the Latino culture, filled with holiday traditions, jubilant dancing and exciting music”. ¡Así es!

We live so close to Disneyland Resort and are lucky enough to visit the parks many times per year and are always happy to see things like their Día de Muertos altars or Reyes Magos celebrations, but in some way it’s never quite enough. So you can imagine lo felices que estamos that Disney announced today “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” from November 15, 2013 to January 6th, 2014 in Disney California Adventure Park.

From their announcement:

“Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” is a merry celebration inspired by the warmth and joyous spirit of the Latino culture, filled with holiday traditions, jubilant dancing and exciting music. Based in and around the Paradise Garden area of Disney California Adventure, the special activities include crafts and face-painting for children, live Latino music, dance lessons, holiday foods, a “Disney ¡Viva Navidad! Street Party” and, of course, appearances by some popular Disney characters.

The grand finale of “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” will be the special celebration of Three Kings Day (Día de los Reyes) Jan. 3 through 6, 2014 in Paradise Garden. We will for sure not miss that one!

To read the full announcement with more details on the Latino-centered celebrations, visit the Disneyland News blog.

What do you think about this announcement? Do you want to go to “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!”?

For many people the idea of “celebrating” death might seem gory and even disrespectful, but for those in Mexico and other countries in Latin America remembering those that have passed before us is filled with joy and a festive atmosphere. Much of the symbolism associated with the traditional Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) holiday celebrated in Latin America on November 1st and 2nd, has crossed over to the United States and is starting to fuse with Halloween due to its proximity in days and its seemingly related themes dealing with the after life.

TO CONTINUE READING HOW DISNEYLAND PARK COMMEMORATES DÍA DE MUERTOS CLICK ON TO READ THE REST OF MY POST ON BABBLE

It’s almost that time of year again — Halloween and Day of the Dead are almost here! Even though some of us may still be trying to figure out what (and if!) to dress up as, the celebration has actually begun at Disneyland with Halloween Time.

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resorts is when The Happiest Place on Earth gets a bit spooky with Disney villains, Mickey Mouse and his friends in Halloween costumes and  even a Día de los Muertos celebration.

Tickets have already gone on sale for the special after-hours Mickey’s Halloween Party which begins tonight, Sept. 27  at Disneyland Park, featuring the “Halloween Screams” fireworks spectacular, all part of the Halloween Time fun at the Disneyland Resort, through Oct. 31.

This will be our fourth year in a row going to Mickey’s Halloween Party and it feels like a family tradition full of so many memories now. My girl was three years old the first time we went and I thought she might be too young for it, but she still remembers the mad dash to be the first ones in the trick-or-treat lines and how scared she was when the “Halloween Screams” firework spectacle started and it was a ghost dog flying through the air instead of Tinkerbell!

As she grows older, it’s fun to see how much braver and mature she becomes. Last year she finally asked to go to the Haunted Mansion Holiday and, even though she admits it was a bit “spooky,” she still boasts about having been inside. Now she says she’s ready for more — though not Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy just yet. Papá will have to ride that one alone while we dance along with “Mickey’s Costume Party” cavalcade and check out some of our favorite Disney character’s costumes!

Mickey’s Halloween Party is definitely fun for the whole family, but I highly suggest you make purchase your tickets in advance. It starts tomorrow and there will be only 13 special nights in September and October, but it’s a separate ticket admission from a regular day at Disneyland Park. If you purchase your ticket in advance, you’ll not only guarantee it won’t be sold out on the night that you want to go, but you also get a discount rate.

For more information on dates, rates and all special events happening during Halloween Time and Mickey’s Halloween Party, go here.

Courtesy of the Disneyland Resorts, I’ll be attending with my family the first night of Mickey’s Halloween Party tonight. Follow our spooky party adventure on Instagram and get a peek at all the fun that Disneyland Park has put together for Halloween and Día de Muertos.

I’ve been a fan of watching the Rose Parade ever since I can remember. I used to wake up early on New Year’s Day after staying up super late the night before in some classic Salvadoran party-all-night style (yes, even when I was just a child!) just to watch the Rose Parade in its dubbed-to-Spanish version. It was always such a treat to see these massive and gorgeous floats decorated with flowers, seeds, leafs and such parade along Pasadena with lively music and entertainment.

Little did I know that one day I would get to go with my family behind the scenes as a guest of the Disneyland Resort to learn how these floats are made. Click on over to my Babble Voices post to check out the pictures of my girl and I having a blast getting up close with the “Destination: Cars Land” float and some fun tidbits about the making of this special Disneyland Resort float.

Make sure you tune in tomorrow on New Year’s Day for the 124th Rose Parade starting at 8am PST and set your clock for the Cars Land float making it’s magical appearance at 9am.

Last week my family and I were lucky enough to be invited to see for ourselves the transformation the Disneyland Resort goes through to celebrate the holidays. Simply put, it’s magical and the festive holiday feeling is all around you. In true Disney style, no detail is spared and the result is the feeling that the holidays are here.

We were there just for one day, so we focused on seeing and doing as much of the special holiday attractions and shows at both Disneyland and California Adventure as we could, but it’s definitely not easy to do in one day. Even so, we took in as much as possible and even got some beautiful family pictures with our PhotoPass.

If you’re planning on checking out Disneyland Resort during the holidays, here are 5 must-do’s you should plan for your visit before Jan. 6, 2013.

1. “A Christmas Fantasy Parade” – Children just adore the Disneyland parades and this one is extra special because it features Santa Claus and many special holiday characters like tin soldiers, snowflake faries, dancing reindeers and more. Of course, all the favorite Disney Princesses, Mickey, Minnie and other characters make an appearance as well.

2. “Believe…In Holiday Magic” fireworks show happens every night during the holiday season and it’s the grandest spectacle of them all, culminating with a swirling snowfall. The show bursts with holiday magic and celebrates the best of this season in true splendor.

3. Cars Land in California Adventure has been decorated to the T with fun holiday details all along Route 66. Tires hang as wreaths all throughout Radiator Springs and each address along Route 66 has been decorated with whimsical and very unique touches.

4. “it’s a small world” holiday will have you singing-out-loud to Jingle Bells while you visit with the children of many nations as they celebrate their special holiday traditions. Our favorite, of course, was the area that features Mexico and Latin America because it was just bursting with color and life.

5. A lazy stroll down Buena Vista Street in California Adventure will allow you to take in all the many holiday details that have been added to this street that was inspired by the 1920′s Los Angeles that Walt Disney arrived to. It’s adorned by a 50-foot tall Christmas tree that’s decorated with vintage ornaments and beautiful lights.

Aside from those attractions, you should also make sure you get a free PhotoPass and take advantage of the many opportunities you’ll get to have a high-quality picture taken of you and your whole family with many fabulous backgrounds. You never know if that could end up being your favorite holiday picture!

We’re also very excited that Disneyland will once again celebrate Three Kings Day/Día de los Reyes Magos next year from Jan, 4-6 in Fronteirland. This is such a special occasion to show your child the foods, special decor, and traditions surrounding this Latino holiday we love to embrace.

Read: Disneyland Celebrates Three Kings Day…and we were there!

To check out a slideshow of our favorite Disneyland Resort holiday activities, go here.

For more information and details about the holidays at Disneyland Resort, visit www.Disneyland.com