During Christmas at Disneyland Paris, the parks are even more magical. That’s why it’s everyone’s favourite season to visit the resort. And with festive decorations, magical shows, parades, and delicious holiday treats, it’s easy to see why. Let’s look at everything you can experience during this time of year and see if you love it as much as we do!
When is Disneyland Paris Christmas?
The Christmas season at Disneyland Paris is called Disney Enchanted Christmas and runs from mid-November until the beginning of January. During that time, both Disney Parks, Disney Village, and even the hotels are decked out for the festive season.
There are Christmas decorations everywhere! Trees, garlands, planters, festive lights and lots of other items to get you in the holiday spirit. And the best part? It’s all included in your stay!
There is no need to buy a separate ticket or miss out on some of the holiday fun. Even in November, the Disney Enchanted Christmas celebration will get you in the festive mood during this season.
Entertainment during Disney Enchanted Christmas
The best thing about the Disneyland Paris Christmas season is the shows, parades, and character interactions. You even get to meet Santa and personally bring him your list. This is one of the best experiences for little ones during the Disney Enchanted Christmas celebrations.
You can meet your favourite characters in their festive outfits, like Winnie the Pooh, Stitch, and Goofy. But you can meet many other characters during this time and find all their locations in the Disneyland Paris app.
Another great way to spot all your favourite Disney Characters is by watching the parade and the evening show. Last year there were two parades, as you could see Mickey’s Dazzling Christmas Parade during the day and night when the floats were sparkling with thousands of lights.
And to finish the festive day at the parks, you can watch the nighttime show Disney Dreams! of Christmas. This is a lovely family spectacular hosted by Olaf, who will visit other Disney characters to get them in the holiday spirit. The show has many special effects, fireworks, and all your favourite holiday songs.
Finally, you don’t want to miss the “Let’s Sing Christmas!” show if you love music. We don’t know yet whether this will be part of the Disneyland Paris Christmas celebrations in 2023; there will be a special Christmas show with many Disney Characters during this season, without a doubt.
The Christmas tree lighting is the part of this season that always makes me tear up. It’s a festive little moment where Mickey needs your help to light up the tree, and somehow this always makes me cry.
Holiday treats and merchandise
Christmas at Disneyland Paris is not complete without some holiday treats and souvenirs! The park is filled with festive food, from gingerbread cookies to hot chocolate, and there’s also a wide selection of winter-inspired meals at L’Hiver Gourmand.
L’Hiver Gourmand is a food festival at Walt Disney Studios Park. Multiple booths sell all sorts of winter foods from around France and Europe. The best thing about this festival is that you can sample various items cheaply, making it easy to share and allowing you to try other food items than typical theme park food.
The Christmas season merchandise aims to get you and your home in the Disney spirit. You can buy decorations for your home, like ornaments, festive clothing, and stuffed animals wearing Christmas outfits, and even dress up your little ones like a Disney Princess ready for the holidays.
The crowds during Christmas
Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year at Disneyland Paris, so planning is essential. If you want to make the most of the holiday season, book your tickets in advance and arrive early to beat the crowds. Book a stay at a Disney Hotel to benefit from Extra Magic Time, granting you access to the parks one hour earlier.
Also, avoid the weekends and the final week of December, from Christmas until the new year. And if you are stuck with the Christmas crowds, buy Premier Access to get on your favourite rides, get to the shows and parades at least 30 minutes before showtime to find a good spot, and don’t forget to make your park reservations when you have a ticket without a date or an Annual Pass.
The best time to enjoy the holiday season at Disneyland Paris is on weekdays in November and early December. Then the crowds are manageable, and ticket prices and packages are still affordable.
Celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve at Disneyland Paris
What’s more magical than celebrating actual Christmas at the Disneyland Paris Parks? There is no additional entertainment, but most restaurants offer a special Christmas meal. Book those in advance because seating is limited, especially on those nights.
Another great time to celebrate at Disneyland Paris is New Year’s Eve. Who doesn’t want to ring in the new year with lots of music, Disney characters, rides, and fireworks at the castle at midnight?
New Year’s Eve at Disneyland Paris is a special ticketed event, usually sold out way in advance. So if you don’t want to miss it, book your tickets as early as possible. Regular park tickets won’t give access to this event, and you will be asked to leave at about 8 pm. Walt Disney Studios Park will be open to all guests until 2 am that day.
Why visit Disneyland Paris during Christmas?
So why does everybody love the Disneyland Paris Christmas season so much? It’s because of the magical atmosphere of thousands of sparkling lights and festive music. It will get you in the holiday mood, even on a warm and sunny November day.
For me, it’s the Christmas tree lighting that gets me every time. Somehow this brings you back to your childhood, and seeing the little ones smile, you know they will have lasting memories of this magical family moment. And for me, that’s what makes it worth it.
Besides that, we love the Christmas Parade, especially the nighttime edition with the lights, and of course Disney Dreams! of Christmas. We are also looking forward to Disney Dreams!, the regular edition returning to the parks in April. And as foodies, we went to the L’Hiver Gourmand food festival and tried lots of samples and some wines. To stay warm, of course!
You will love the holiday season at Disneyland Paris, without a doubt. Send me a message afterwards; I would love to hear about your experience!
