Disney Viva Navidad Street Party

I’m like a 5 year old at Disneyland. I love Jose Carioca, so I wanted to check out the street party. It was better than I though. It’s very vibrant and entertaining.

This was a little fun thing at DCA You got music, dancing and singing great little holiday treat. Sorry for the short review on this one.

Great to see Disney celebrating the history and embracing California’s rich cultural history!

I was super excited when I read that Disneyland would be having some Hispanic themed holiday festivities and made certain that we made it out to see it before the holidays were over.
I have to say, Disney really did good with this one! I absolutely LOVED the Viva Navidad festivities, food, and entertainment!
The small street party was nothing short of spectacular! My daughter dances Folklorico so I know good Folklorico dancers when I see them. Not only that but the choreography was fabulous!
I was very hesitant to try the food at the Paradise Garden Café, since it seemed like they were trying too hard to serve authentic Mexican dishes but I was pleasantly surprised! The tortas were delish and the buñuelos were yummy.
We listened to some amazing mariachis and even a female mariachi group called the Mariachi Divas.
Unfortunately for us we only were able to make it to DCA twice this holiday season. But we relished every moment both times! I really hope Disney will bring this back again next year and go even bigger!

Since Disney faced a shit storm of backlash for trying to copyright and market Dia de los Muertos I suppose the next best thing to get at that so called «Hispanic Market» and its dollars is to go via the stomach.
The place was Disney Magic™ and the food was better than expected.
DVNSP is located in the area of California Adventure that use to be the location of McDonalds (yeah that back corner ey). The area is done up all Disney festive with brilliant colors, live music, a photo booth that features popular characters all dressed up in charro/​sombreros, arts & crafts for the kids and fooooood.
The Food:
Wife & Kids has the Barbacoa street tacos (very good and filling) and sopes… also better than expected. Served with rice and beans.
I decided on the Torta Al Pastor. That’s right. Al Pastor cabrones!
This mendiga torta was a beast! HUGE! Meat, beans, salsa, lettuce and avocado packed in some real thick bread. But here was the problem with it… the taste was way off IMO.
Al Pastor meat has a unique taste that I have come to recognize and identify over the course of my life. I know what Al Pastor is and this wasn’t. Just red colored bland meat. The bread was off too. A torta is typically served up in an airy Bolillo roll, gutted of some of the breads inside and one shouldn’t have to open wiiiiide to get a bite of it. It should just fit.
I did like the giant pickled Jalapeño as a side garnish. A nice espicee touch. :)
Naturally it all comes at a price you’d expect to pay at D Land… need I say more about that? :(
Overall:
Some of the food needs fine tuning, but Its pretty damn close tho. everything else is (the atmosphere, music, gifts for sale, bells & whistles is what you’d expect at the Magic Kingdom! So if its still there year round I do recommend for something uniquely different.
Oh…DEMAND that they bring back Fantasia Ice Cream at Disneyland and that they bring back Inca Kola to DVNSP!!!
Inca Kola is crack! So damn good!!!
Ay los Watcho Amigos.

A street performance like only Disney can do. Plenty of fun music from all over Latin America celebrating Christmas with Donald and his caballeros.
Live music, singing, dancing and Disney magic make this a fun addition to the holiday celebration at Disney’s California Adventure park.
They also added arts and crafts as well as Character photo ops in the area for the kiddos.

What a spectacular surprise! Viva Navidad is so exciting that we’ve already attended twice and are definitely going again. Come on down to Paradise Grill and you will understand why. In addition to the street party and parade, there is live entertainment — and the food is quite good too. The music itself is just wonderful. I must say I’m very impressed with this absolutely fabulous celebration event. The musicians and dancers were superb while it was so much fun to see the giant mojiganga puppets including Santa :) There is something for everyone to enjoy from babies to Grandparents and yes, even you «Scrooges». LOL Thank you Disney, and please continue this tradition. Viva Navidad!

This was one of those performances that really grew on me. I enjoyed it the first time but I was a bit confused with the concept. The second time around, I was swaying and singing along with everyone else. I really appreciated the Latin fusion of the Mexican and Brazilian cultural dances.
Donald was donning a sombrero and was dancing to the beat and he maintained great rhythm and coordination. Mickey and Minnie also sported some traditional Latin clothing to include a flared skirt (Minnie) and a sash tied around his waist (Mickey). Notice that the color of his pants matched the color of his necktie! I really think that the creative team at Disney consulted the right people to make the costumes appear to be more authentic.
Mariachis played their trumpets and it quickly brought me back to my days hanging out at Olvera Street as a child. Their attire consisted of black clothing that was embellished with a shiny trim on their pants and shirts.
As I perused the crowd, I noticed that a majority of the people in the audience were people who were not of Latin descent. The crowds’ familiarity with the characters really helped to draw curious onlookers into the performance. Children are also selected from the audience to partake in the celebration and get down with their bad selves!
I’m quite impressed with this program. If you have an opportunity to catch this performance, make sure that you stand closer to the Silly Symphony Swings because you’ll have the perfect view of the show. If you stand closer to the Jumping Jellyfish ride, your view will be obstructed and you must realize that you will be further away from the main attractions!
Leave it to Disney to create a festive Christmas program to immerse tourists and others who really don’t know a lot about traditional Latin customs/​cultures into a whole new world!

In addition to the street party, Viva Navidad, also offers up Mexican specialties over at the Paradise Garden Grill. Viva Navidad is a celebration of Latino culture and holiday traditions and takes place from November 15, 2013 — January 6, 2014. I tried the sopes de barbacoa and the champurrado (hot chocolate). The sopes are pretty tasty but I much preferred the tender beef and not so spicy salsa. The champurrado was just ok. The corn meal they put in it made it really thick and bland so it was hard to drink. I ended up throwing it out halfway through which was not a bad thing. Grace C. ordered the chicken mole and she said that the meat was fork tender while the sauce was acceptable. We also tried the chocolate flan which to be honest sat on top of a layer of chocolate cake. The custard part was dense and delicious. I didn’t care much for the cake part but it was good too. I only wish that I tried the pumpkin cheesecake when I had the chance to grab it. Next time. If you’re expecting authentic Mexican dishes, you’ll be sadly disappointed because after all this is Disney, it’s ok food just jazzed up.

New for the 2013 Christmas Time holiday season at Disney California Adventure is Viva Navidad! which takes place on the parade route between Jumping Jellyfish /​Silly Symphony Swings and Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta
Viva Navidad is a 12 minute street party celebrating the joyous songs of Mexico and Brazil. Leading the celebration are Donald Duck, Panchito, and Jose, who are the Three Caballeros!
Panchito, who is from Mexico, leads off the celebration with familiar Mexican songs. Mariachis provide live music with Mexican dancers dance in their vibrant attire. Next Jose, from Brazil, gives us the gift of the Samba! Samba dancers beat conga drums and perform for us. Colorful giant mojiganga puppets also join in and move around to the beats of the music.
Just then Mickey and Minnie make a surprise appearance and come out to see everyone having a good time with all the wonderful music. Soon Mickey, Minnie, and the rest of the gang start to sing «Feliz Navidad».
The street party enters and exits through the parade gates across from Silly Symphony Swings with the viewing area stretching between Silly Symphony Swings and Jumping Jellyfish. There is one main float that the Three Caballeros stand on and that stops by Bayside Brews.
I wasn’t expecting a lot from this little street party, but I was impressed. The audience looked to be in high spirits and having a great time listening to the music and watching the dancers. I think I had a smile on my face for a majority, if not all, during the performance. ha ha
I would recommend catching this little show.