Big news for anyone in Anaheim today: Sleeping Beauty Castle has turned into a TV set. According to reports, the area in front of the castle is closed off for filming holiday specials for ABC, and guests are being told they can watch.
Sleeping Beauty Castle is the landmark at the heart of Disneyland, and it’s the spot where many guests stop for photos. On Monday, just days before Halloween, reports say the holidays arrived there early, complete with a stage and cast members standing guard.
Here’s the rundown. Everything is tied to its source, our own guesses are labeled as guesses, and where the reports don’t match, we’ll say so. Let’s roll.
The Cheat Sheet
- Where: In front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, reportedly closed off
- What: Filming for ABC, with signs reading Disney Parks Holiday Special
- First filming: Apparently 3:00 PM, or around 3:05 pm per Matt Desmond
- Final filming: Reportedly 10:30 PM
- Who can watch: Cast members said anyone in the park was welcome
- Air dates: Not given
The Posts
Matt Desmond (@DisneyScoopGuy) shared a photo of Sleeping Beauty Castle with signage stating that the Christmas special will be taped at Disneyland today. His post, with photos, reads: “The Christmas special is taping tonight at Disneyland!”
The Christmas special is taping tonight at Disneyland! https://t.co/TgtHq6JKk4
— Matt Desmond (@DisneyScoopGuy) October 26, 2026
His follow-up: “The entire area in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland has been closed off in preparation for the first concert of the Disney Parks Holiday Special! The first performance is expected to be around 3:05pm and they’re already letting people wait behind the rope!”
The entire area in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland has been closed off in preparation for the first concert of the Disney Parks Holiday Special! The first performance is expected to be around 3:05pm and they’re already letting people wait behind the rope! https://t.co/o4KXAm4hsM
— Matt Desmond (@DisneyScoopGuy) October 26, 2026
What Guests Spotted Monday Morning
A separate report says guests visiting Disneyland on Monday morning found more than snow decorating the castle. In front of it, staging was set up for filming Christmas specials for ABC, and the stage appeared to be set for a performer and band.
Mike and Matt, described as friends of Daps Magic, stopped by Monday morning and took photos and videos of the setup, the report says.
The Photo Prop
Guests found a photo prop reading The Wonderful World of Disney Holiday Spectacular, placed to ring in the holiday season just days before Halloween, according to the report.
The Signs
Signs indicate the filming is for the Disney Parks Holiday Special, the report says. They don’t say when it will air. They do say that what is filmed will air on ABC.
The Crowd Rules
Cast members were guarding the stage and told guests that filming would happen later in the day, according to the report. They said anyone in the park was welcome to watch. Desmond’s follow-up says people were already being allowed to wait behind the rope.
A Quick Note on Wording
You’ll see “reportedly” and “apparently” a lot in this story. That’s deliberate. Both signal that a detail comes from posts, signs, or observers, not from an official Disney announcement we’ve seen, and we want you to be able to tell the firmer details from the softer ones.
Wait, What Time Is It Again?
Here’s where the reports differ. The Daps Magic report says the first filming apparently begins at 3:00 PM, with the final filming at 10:30 PM. Desmond’s post says the first performance is expected around 3:05 pm.
“Apparently” and “expected” tell us the times come from signs, cast members, and observers, not from an official announcement we’ve seen. We’re reporting both, and we’re not picking a winner.
Same Event, Different Names
The event shows up under several names. Desmond refers to the “Christmas special” and the “Disney Parks Holiday Special.” The signs reportedly say Disney Parks Holiday Special, and the prop says The Wonderful World of Disney Holiday Spectacular.
The information we have doesn’t say how those names relate, so we aren’t treating them as interchangeable.
One Special or Two?
According to the report, there’s traditionally one special that airs during Thanksgiving weekend and another on Christmas Day, generally anchored by holiday parades from Walt Disney World or Disneyland. Because the filming is happening during the day and at night, it calls it very possible that this is for both specials Disney generally offers.
That’s the report’s guess. Nothing we’ve seen confirms how many specials are being filmed or when they’ll air.
Where to Watch Later
The signs say what is filmed will air on ABC. The report also says that, traditionally, whatever airs on ABC for the holidays arrives on Disney+ the following day. That’s a description of past practice, not an announcement about this year, and no air dates were given.
If You’re in the Park Today
Here’s how to play it, based on the reports. The area in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle has been closed off, according to Desmond, so your usual castle photo spot may not be available. Cast members said anyone in the park could watch, and people were reportedly waiting behind a rope.
If you want to catch a performance, the reported times are around 3:00 to 3:05 PM for the first and 10:30 PM for the last. Since those times are reported and not officially confirmed, check the Disneyland app for updates and keep your plans flexible. That’s general advice, not a statement about Disneyland’s procedures.
Tell Us What You Saw
Are you at Disneyland today, or did you catch the setup in person? Tell us in the comments what you noticed, and let us know if you managed to watch a taping. We’ll update this as more details come in.
