Christmas may still be a few months away, but Disney popcorn bucket collectors already have two new reasons to start thinking about the holidays.
An early preview has revealed a pair of elaborate 2026 Christmas popcorn buckets featuring some of Disney's most recognizable characters. One puts Mickey Mouse aboard a festive train, while the other turns the world of Toy Story into a gingerbread house filled with small character details.
Only one has been confirmed for Disneyland Resort in California so far. Still, both designs could have collectors watching closely as Disney prepares for another holiday season filled with specialty merchandise.
An Early Christmas Preview Reveals Two New Designs
The first look comes from a Hong Kong Disneyland fan, who recently shared two popcorn buckets planned for the resort's 2026 Christmas season.
The Mickey Mouse design turns the popcorn container into a holiday train covered in white, teal green, and red.
Mickey rides on top wearing a Santa hat with presents around him. The compartment beneath the character opens, creating the storage area for popcorn.
Disney didn't leave Mickey alone for the ride. Pluto appears on one side wearing reindeer antlers, with an actual reindeer joining him.
While the train embraces a traditional Disney Christmas look, the second bucket goes in a very different direction.
Toy Story Fans May Want This Gingerbread House
Disney transformed the second popcorn bucket into a Toy Story gingerbread house filled with details from the Pixar franchise.
White icing covers the rooftop, while colorful decorations make the entire container look like an oversized Christmas treat.
Woody and Bo Peep appear together on one side. Nearby, Bo Peep's sheep have gotten their own seasonal transformation by dressing as snowmen.
Another Little Green Alien stands next to a cookie resembling Hamm.
However, one of the most interesting details sits at the top of the house.
A Little Green Alien pops out of the chimney, and Disney made this figure interactive. Fans can press it to make the Alien move.
There's one catch for California collectors. Disney has not announced the Toy Story gingerbread house for Disneyland Resort at this time.
The other bucket is a different story.
Disneyland Has Already Confirmed Mickey's Holiday Train
Disneyland Resort has confirmed that the Mickey Train Light-Up Popcorn Bucket will arrive in California for the 2026 holiday season.
Disney has also confirmed that the train lights up, making it more than a container for popcorn. Once the snacks are gone, the bucket can easily become part of a Christmas display at home.
The announcement means Disneyland guests will get at least one of the two designs previewed for Hong Kong.
Another holiday collectible is coming as well.
Disneyland Resort has confirmed a Holiday Stitch Christmas Tree Sipper. Combining Stitch with a Christmas tree gives Disney fans another seasonal item to watch when holiday merchandise begins arriving.
Until then, Disneyland already has quite a few popcorn buckets competing for collectors' attention.
Disneyland Guests Already Have Plenty to Collect
Guests don't have to wait until Christmas to hunt for specialty popcorn buckets.
Disneyland Resort currently offers several options, with Halloween designs among the most noticeable. The lineup includes:
- The Headless Horseman Bucket
- Jack Skellington Gravestone Bucket, inspired by Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
- Vampire Mickey Mouse Bucket
- Haunted Mansion Hatbox Ghost Popcorn Bucket
- Bullseye Popcorn Bucket
- Lightning McQueen Bucket, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Cars (2006)
- Tauntaun Bucket
That's a wide selection spanning Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Halloween, and anniversary merchandise.
Several specialty sippers are also available around Disneyland Resort, giving fans even more collectibles to choose from before the Christmas lineup arrives.
Mickey Could Become a Holiday Favorite
There's no guarantee that any popcorn bucket will sell out, but Mickey's Christmas train has several elements that could make it especially appealing.
It features Mickey and Pluto, embraces a colorful Christmas theme, and includes a light-up feature that gives it display value beyond its original purpose.
The Toy Story gingerbread house could generate similar interest if Disney eventually decides to bring it to California. Its interactive Little Green Alien and character-filled design make it one of the more elaborate buckets in the preview.
For now, California fans only have the Mickey Train officially confirmed.
Once Disneyland's holiday merchandise begins arriving, though, collectors may not want to wait too long before making a decision. Mickey's newest Christmas train looks ready to become one of the season's most tempting souvenirs.
