Disneyland candy canes: When and where to get the holiday cult classics

Disneyland candy canes are back again this Christmas season and you’re going to have to get up early if you want to take part in the holiday tradition that has been going on for more than half a century.

The limited-time seasonal candy canes will be sold Nov. 29, Dec. 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22 and 24 at the Candy Palace and Candy Kitchen in Disneyland and Nov. 30, Dec. 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23 and 25 at Trolley Treats in Disney California Adventure.

Candy makers shape fresh hand-pulled candy canes at Trolley Treats on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, December 11, 2023. Disney makes candy canes on select days at DCA and Disneyland Park. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Carolyn Thiebe poses for a picture as she waits for her candy cane at Trolley Treats on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, December 11, 2023. Disney makes candy canes on select days at DCA and Disneyland Park. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Abby McCrudden, left, and her sister, Allie, pose with a giant candy cane after their mother, Connie McCrudden, bought freshly-made candy canes at Disneyland in Anaheim on Friday, December 1, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

People wait in line for fresh hand-pulled candy canes at Trolley Treats on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, December 11, 2023. Disney makes candy canes on select days at DCA and Disneyland Park. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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If you can, your best bet is to get candy canes on a weekday at DCA (Dec. 2, 4, 9, 11, 16 and 18) or when there are fewer annual passholders are in the parks (Dec. 18, 19, 20, 24 and 25).

The worst days to go: Sundays at Disneyland (Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 22) or Saturday at DCA (Nov. 30).

You probably want to avoid the first day candy canes go on sale — Nov. 29 — unless you’re a glutton for punishment or peppermint.

Disneyland and DCA will once again use a mobile waitlist system for candy cane purchases. Sweet cravers can add their names and phone numbers to the mobile waitlists at the candy cane locations in the parks to be notified by text of their return times to make their purchases.

MousePlanet recommends showing up an hour before the official park opening to secure your candy cane. Daily visitors and passholders can and should enter Main Street USA and Buena Vista Street 30 minutes before park opening with the hotel early entry guests.

Walk briskly — no running please — as soon as the gates open to the Candy Kitchen or Trolley Treats to get in line to join the mobile wait list. Depending on where you are in the virtual queue you may have to wait until 3 p.m. to get your holiday treat.

There are no Magic Keyholder discounts or mobile orders available on the cult classic treats.

Disneyland’s candy cane making tradition dates back to 1968.

The five-ounce, 18-inch-long candy canes are handmade each holiday season from pulled sugar and peppermint extract in display kitchens along Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. and DCA’s Buena Vista Street.

Park visitors crowd outside the two shop windows to watch Disney candy makers dressed in white with striped scarves pull and mold the gooey sugar into red, green and white hooks. The aromatic Disneyland treats have a familiar peppermint taste with a more airy and flaky texture than their machine-made candy cousins.

Typically fewer than 150 candy canes are sold each day. There’s a limit of one candy cane per person. The sweet treats end up on eBay, under Christmas trees and eaten immediately while they are still fresh.