Disneyland Paris events and seasons: dates, special nights and crowds

Two big seasons shape the year: Halloween (from 26 September to 1 November) and Christmas (from 7 November to 6 January). On top of these come special days (the park’s anniversary on 12 April, Star Wars Day on 4 May, 14 July) and sometimes festivals.

The Halloween season runs from 26 September to 1 November, at Disneyland Park. The pumpkin decorations are concentrated on Main Street U.S.A. and in Frontierland, with Disney villains to meet and a dedicated parade. On 31 October, both parks extend their opening hours into the evening (exact times on the official calendar).

The Christmas season runs from 7 November to 6 January, in both parks, with most of the decorations in Disneyland Park. The park is dressed with Christmas trees, lights and artificial snow, with a dedicated parade and plenty of character meet and greets in festive outfits. It’s one of the most popular and busiest times of the year.

Disneyland Paris marks its major anniversaries with special programming: dedicated decorations, brand-new shows, commemorative costumes and new features. The most recent was the 30th anniversary (2022-2023). The next will be the park’s 35th anniversary, planned for 2027.

Yes, several shorter seasons can be added during the year depending on the programming: the Disney Music Festival, themed seasons depending on the year. The dates and themes change from one year to the next. You’ll find the up-to-date programme on the official Disneyland Paris website and in my seasonal articles.

On the official Disneyland Paris website and in the Disneyland Paris app, under Calendar or Seasons. You can also check my calendar of seasons and events, updated regularly.

No. The seasons and their entertainment (decorations, parades, shows, meet and greets) are included in the standard admission ticket, with no extra paid evening event. Two dates are the exception: 31 October and 31 December. On those days, you need a dated ticket for that day, among the most expensive of the year. Only the usual services remain optional, like Premier Access (a paid fast track) or the premium viewing area for the parade. That said, tickets are often more expensive during high-demand periods like Halloween, Christmas and the French school holidays.

Yes, but costumes are for children under 12 only. An exception is made on the evening of 31 October: on that day, everyone can normally come dressed up. Costumes are sometimes allowed on Star Wars Day (4 May) too.

Santa Claus is there during the Christmas season. You’ll spot him in the parade throughout the season. For a photo, you can meet him in his workshop in the Disney Clothiers shop (Main Street U.S.A.), up to and including 25 December. After that, he heads back to the North Pole.

The 31 December ticket is a dated ticket with a fixed price, among the most expensive of the year. Expect around €150 per adult for 1 park and €185 for 2 parks. The undated ticket (Billet Liberté in French) isn’t valid that day. All the prices, children included, are in my New Year’s Eve guide.

Disneyland Paris opened on 12 April 1992, back then under the name Euro Disney Resort. It was the first Disney park in Europe, and the second outside the US after Tokyo’s.

Yes. The park is open 365 days a year, 24 December included. There’s no special ticket for Christmas Eve: a dated ticket for that day, a holiday that includes it or a booked annual pass is all you need.

When it opened in 1992, the resort was called Euro Disney. To Europeans, the word "Euro" mostly brought to mind business and money. So the resort was renamed Disneyland Paris on 1 October 1994, during its financial recovery, to put the spotlight on Paris and move away from a damaged image. Euro Disney long remained the name of the company that ran the park.

The special New Year fireworks go off at midnight above Sleeping Beauty Castle. You get a very good view from Central Plaza or Main Street U.S.A. Get there early to claim your spot, as these areas fill up fast and crowds are heavy on 31 December. At Disney Adventure World, a drone show (weather permitting) with pyrotechnics also takes place at midnight, above the World of Frozen.

No. 31 December requires a ticket dated specifically for that day. An undated ticket won’t get you in that evening, so you need to book an entry for the 31st.

No. Unlike 31 December (New Year’s Eve), there are no extended opening hours and no special fireworks on the 24th: it’s a normal Christmas day. Opening times vary from year to year, so check them in the app. For the 31st, see New Year’s Eve in the park.

Not always. Places are limited and the 31st often sells out: in recent years, both parks were full well before the date. Book your ticket as early as possible to secure your visit, and don’t count on last-minute availability.

Yes. The set menus for the evenings of 24 and 31 December, and their prices, are reviewed every season. The prices quoted in this article are historical, kept for the record only: they no longer apply. For current prices, check the programme for this year’s edition.

Yes, several table-service restaurants and all-you-can-eat buffets serve festive set menus for New Year’s Eve on 31 December (salmon, oysters, lobster, champagne), sometimes with a character meet and greet. These menus cost more than during the rest of the year and tables go quickly, so I recommend booking ahead. The menus and prices can be found in the Disneyland Paris app and are confirmed when you book.

Some are there every season, like Cruella, Jafar and Captain Hook. Jafar and Hook can even be met all year round. The others change from one year to the next, like Maleficent, Gaston, the Queen of Hearts or Oogie Boogie. I list this year’s villains and where to find them in my Halloween programme. For how the meet and greets work, see the characters hub.

The safe bets are the Central Plaza hub and Town Square, facing the castle. Allow 30 to 45 minutes for a good spot, and around 1 hour for the front row. As the parade is performed two times, in opposite directions, the best spot depends on the performance.

For Halloween, yes: on 31 October. It’s the one day of the season when adults and teens can come in costume. Disney also holds other costume days during the year, like Star Wars Day on 4 May. The rest of the time, dressing up is for children under 12 only.

Children under 12 can dress up all year round, on any day. From age 12, costumes are only allowed on special days, including 31 October for Halloween.

Character make-up is a separate service. You’ll find all the details in my guide to the make-up stands.

No. Costumes that fully cover the face and head are not allowed (except for medical reasons). Your face must stay uncovered and clearly visible.

Yes, that’s allowed. However, you must not pose for photos or sign autographs for other visitors, to avoid any confusion with the park’s real characters.

No, there’s no longer a separate "evening" ticket: the evening of 31 December is now included in the dated ticket for that day, in a Disney holiday that includes the parks or with a Disneyland Pass valid on that date. This dated ticket has a fixed price and costs more than a standard ticket. Expect around €150 per adult for 1 park and €185 for 2 parks. The undated ticket (Billet Liberté in French) isn’t valid that day. Both parks usually stay open until 1:00 in the morning. Note: New Year’s Eve used to be a separate evening event that required an extra ticket, but that’s no longer the case.

Your best bet is to come early in the season, on a weekday, outside French school holidays: the first two weeks are usually fairly quiet. The busiest days are 31 October for Halloween and the period between Christmas and New Year for Christmas. The day-by-day breakdown is in my crowd guide.

Disney usually reveals the detailed programme between mid-August and mid-September, 2 to 6 weeks before the season opens. The 2026 programme was announced in early September.

Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy wear new Halloween outfits. Main Street, U.S.A. gets a new look, with Villains stained-glass windows at the station and projections in the evening. In Frontierland, The Unlucky Nugget Saloon expands upstairs. The season also opens earlier than usual, from 26 September.

The season is called the Disney Halloween Festival. It’s the same official name every year, only the programme and the new features change from one edition to the next.

The giant tree stands in Town Square, at the park entrance, right at the start of Main Street U.S.A. It’s 24 metres tall, so you’ll see it as soon as you arrive. It lights up several times a day, not just in the evening.

Yes, artificial snow falls several times a day on Main Street U.S.A., over the roofs and shopfronts. It’s a regular feature, but check it each year against the detailed programme.

Both versions follow the same route, but in opposite directions: the parade arrives from a different side, so the good spots aren’t the same. The evening version is also brighter, as the LED floats stand out in the dark, with Main Street, Town Square and the castle all lit up.

Yes. Many restaurants in the parks and hotels offer a Christmas set menu on the 24th, by reservation. The menus and prices are published in the Disneyland Paris app a few weeks before the festive season.

Yes. Each park now has its own midnight celebration. At Disneyland Park, the fireworks go off above Sleeping Beauty Castle. At Disney Adventure World, a drone show (weather permitting) with pyrotechnics rises above the World of Frozen. Both take place at midnight, so choose your park in advance. Check the official programme before your visit for the exact times. I cover the whole evening in my guide to New Year’s Eve at Disneyland Paris.

Yes. The midnight fireworks are created especially for New Year’s Eve and come on top of the daily night-time show, at a different time. They’re an exception to the rule banning fireworks after 23:00, like the 14 July fireworks.

As early as possible: up to one year ahead for stays in a Disney hotel, and about two months before for other visitors. Tables go very fast, especially those with a character meet and greet.

It usually runs over one week in summer, at Disneyland Park (next edition expected in August 2027, dates to be confirmed). The meet and greets and entertainment are included in the ticket. Only the Mon Rêve Royal makeover and the themed meals cost extra, by reservation. The dates change every year.

Yes. The castle’s usual night-time show, Disney Tales of Magic, runs every evening, including during Halloween and Christmas (subject to the day’s opening hours). It’s not a seasonal show, but it’s still the big event of the evening. Check the time in the Disneyland Paris app.

The 2026 programme has been official since September: the dates, the extended opening hours on 31 December, the new features described above and the big classics, like the parade twice a day, the giant tree and Santa Claus.

The dates are confirmed very early, but the detailed programme (show times, new features) comes out later, usually around late summer or early autumn. The 2026 programme was unveiled in September. The exact date has to be confirmed each year, and I update this page as soon as it’s officially announced.

In November and December, pack warm, waterproof clothes and good shoes: it can be cold, damp and rainy, and you spend a lot of time outside waiting for the parades and the evening show. A hat, a scarf and gloves soon come in handy in the evening.

Ask your Disney hotel’s concierge, ideally at least 7 days before your arrival date to be sure of getting one.

It’s handed to you during your stay, at the Disney hotel where you ordered it.

The Disney Halloween Festival runs from 26 September to 1 November. On 31 October, Halloween night, the park extends its opening hours into the evening.

The first fully musical season at Disneyland Paris, in 2025. It offered more than a dozen concerts and musical character meet and greets, performed by real musicians, all around Disneyland Park. It was included in the admission ticket.

No. The former Disney Halloween Party, with its separate ticket, held its last edition in 2022 and was dropped in 2023. Today the whole Halloween season is included in the standard admission ticket, and there’s no sign of it coming back.

It depends on the villain. Most only appear during the Halloween season, but some, like Captain Hook, are there all year round.

Yes, a free viewing area is set aside for visitors in wheelchairs. Its location can vary depending on the day and any construction work. It can’t be booked: on the day, ask the Cast Members along the route to point you in the right direction.

Stand in Central Plaza or Town Square, facing the castle: you’ll get the floats and dancers with the castle in the background, for a lovely shot. For the second performance, Town Square gives you the floats coming back up with the castle behind them.

Some years, Disneyland Paris offers a paid premium viewing area. Either way, the cavalcade stays free all along the route. Check the official app regularly to see if this kind of option is offered during the season. To get a good spot without paying, see my guide to the Halloween parade.

No. The mood stays festive and colourful, never frightening: smiling pumpkins, funny little ghosts and villains played for dressing-up fun. Everything is designed for all ages, even toddlers. The thrill rides are still best kept for older kids.

It’s a busy period, but the 24th is often a little quieter than the days that follow: crowds build from 25 December to New Year’s Day. More details in my crowd guide.

Yes, it’s strongly recommended, as these tables fill up fast. You book through the Disneyland Paris app or the restaurant booking service. For Disney hotel guests, booking opens as soon as the stay is confirmed (up to about 12 months before arrival), and about 60 days before for day visitors and annual passholders (this schedule can change from one year to the next).

The standout moments were Minnie’s marching band on Main Street U.S.A., the Disney Music Hits Concert at Videopolis, Miguel’s Fiesta Latina in Frontierland and the grand finale led by Mickey in front of the castle, at the end of the day.

The 2025 edition ran from 23 to 31 August 2025, at Disneyland Park.

For the first time at Disneyland Paris, all 13 official Disney Princesses were brought together, with Raya’s debut in the park and the chance to take your first selfie with her.

The show created for the occasion was called "Write Your Destiny, A Celebration of Disney Princesses". It was performed on Central Plaza, in front of the Castle, and featured Aurora, Jasmine, Ariel and Tiana.

This page is an archive of the 2024 and 2025 editions. For the dates and programme of the current edition, see World Princess Week.

From 19 April to 7 September 2025. The season covered spring and summer, French school holidays included. This edition is now over.

During the season, costumes are for children under 12 only, who can come dressed up throughout the season. On 31 October, everyone can dress up, adults included. The exact rules (no masks, face uncovered) are set out in my guide to dressing up for Halloween.

There’s no "evening" ticket: you book 31 October with a dated ticket for that day. It’s the most expensive of the season, for 1 park as well as for 2 parks. The prices for the day are in my ticket guide. Opening hours are extended (9:00-23:00 in 2026) and everyone can dress up. It’s also a peak day for crowds.

The 2024 edition took place from 25 to 31 August 2024, at Disneyland Park.

Both seasons are great, so it comes down to what you fancy. Halloween is shorter, festive and colourful, with reasonable crowds outside the holidays. Christmas lasts longer, with the tree, the snow and the lights, but it’s the busiest time of the year, especially between Christmas and New Year. For a relaxed first visit, I’d go for early October or late November.

No, the meet and greets included in the ticket can’t be booked. However, the themed meals and the Mon Rêve Royal makeover need to be booked in advance.

Yes, thanks to the M&M’s treasure hunt: a free activity with a map you ask for at Boardwalk Candy Palace, in Disneyland Park. It depends on the edition, so check each season.

Three big projects: Space Mountain going back to its original "De la Terre à la Lune" concept, a ride inspired by The Lion King at Disney Adventure World (with the very first Audio-Animatronics figure of Scar) and a new daytime parade in 2028.

The current version, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, closes at the end of 2027. After several months of construction work, it will reopen as Space Mountain De la Terre à la Lune. The reopening date hasn’t been announced yet.

A new daytime parade is planned for 2028 at Disneyland Park. It will be the first since Disney Stars on Parade, launched in 2017.

Pirates of the Caribbean and Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains are gentle and suitable for young children. Save Phantom Manor and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror for older kids or the less easily scared. See my ride guides for the details.

Yes. All year round at La Boutique du Château (Fantasyland, under the castle), and during the season also at the Emporium and the Walt Disney Studios Store.

No, the castle has no permanent Christmas decorations. It’s lit up every evening by its usual night-time show, "Disney Tales of Magic", which isn’t a Christmas show. Christmas projections do appear on the castle during the evening version of the Christmas parade, though: I talk about them in my guide to the Christmas parade.

Expect it at around 15:55 for the daytime version and around 17:45 for the evening version. These times are a guide only and vary from day to day, so check them in the Disneyland Paris app.