Which season to choose for your Disneyland Paris trip

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 quietest periods are January, March and September. If you don’t like crowds, avoid July-August, the French autumn half-term (Toussaint, Halloween season), the Christmas holidays and weekends in May. Midweek, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the best days, and Saturday is the busiest. On the other hand, the Halloween and Christmas seasons bring extra decorations and shows, at the cost of bigger crowds.

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.

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.