The Disneyland Paris Christmas season is one of the most magical times of the year. There are thousands of sparkling lights, Christmas trees and decorations, and special entertainment you can only see at that time of the year. Many people want to experience this special season, making this one of the busiest times to visit the resort. So how bad are the Christmas Crowds in Disneyland Pairs? Let’s take a look!
How bad are the Christmas Crowds in Disneyland Paris?
The Christmas season in Disneyland Paris runs annually from mid-November until early January. You can expect large crowds during peak periods, such as the days immediately before and after Christmas Day. Especially on the weekends and during school holidays.
Probably the busiest time of the year in Disneyland Paris is the final week of December, including Christmas up until New Year’s. The queues of the most popular attractions like Crush’s Coaster, Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure, Big Thunder Mountain and Peter Pan’s Flight will all last well above an hour and even hit up to two hours during the day. To meet the Disney Princesses or Mickey Mouse at their special locations, you will also need to bring a lot of patience, with queues going up to almost three hours on very busy days.
Quieter times to enjoy the Christmas Season
This all might sound a bit daunting if you don’t like crowds. Fortunately, there are quieter times to enjoy all the festive season has to offer.
The best time to go is on a weekday from Mid-November until Mid-December. There will still be people in the parks, and you probably will have to wait a bit for the more popular rides, but it’s far less crowded than during the last week of the year.
How to deal with the Christmas Crowds?
Going to Disneyland Paris during the most crowded time of the year might sound challenging, but it’s actually pretty doable. You just have to come prepared.
- Book a Disney Hotel to benefit from Extra Magic Time, which will get you in the parks one hour early. That way, you can experience some rides with a much shorter wait.
- If you have an Annual Pass or undated ticket, make your park reservations as early as possible. Are they sold out? Then you can try to buy a dated ticket or book a room in a Disney Hotel to get access to the Parks.
- Bring warm clothing, as many of the Disneyland Paris queues are outside. Warm socks, gloves, scarves, and waterproof shoes will be a lifesaver!
- Buy Premier Access for the rides you don’t want to miss. With Premier Access, you can pay to enter a shorter queue, usually used for people with disabilities. This means you will wait 10 to 15 minutes instead of an hour or more. Want to experience all popular rides? Then consider Premier Access Ultimate.
- If you are staying outside the resort and need to take a shuttle bus, try to avoid the buses right before and right after the park opening. Many people will try to get on the bus, which sometimes results in unpleasant situations. That’s also the case for the first bus after the fireworks.
- Make your dinner reservations as soon as possible. This is up to 12 months in advance for Disney Hotel guests and two months for all the other guests. Is your favourite restaurant unavailable? Keep refreshing and check the app early in the day, as most people will cancel their booking after receiving a reminder email in the morning.
- If you want to get away from the crowds, Disney Village is usually a lot quieter during the day. You can also return to your Disney Hotel and enjoy some time in the pool or bar.
- And finally, if you have a medical condition that Disney recognizes, you can apply for a disability pass. This pass will give you access to a shorter queue and a private area during shows and parades.
Should we avoid Christmas Season for the crowds?
No! There are many ways to manage the Disneyland Paris crowds during Christmas. It’s also a magical time to be in the Disney Parks with all the special entertainment and decorations. If crowds are not your thing, go during weekdays and avoid the last week of the year. Otherwise, just go for it; you will love it!