New Year’s Eve at Disneyland Paris: what to know about 31 December

On 31 December, Disneyland Park changes pace to see in the new year. The park stays open later than usual, generally until 1:00 in the morning, and the end of the evening revolves around three highlights: dance parties with DJs in some lands, a group countdown at midnight, then a special fireworks display over Sleeping Beauty Castle.

The Christmas season decorations are still up, and some of the characters appear in festive outfits.

One key point to remember straight away: this evening is included in the ticket dated 31 December. Since the 2023 edition, there’s no longer an extra "evening" ticket to buy. If you have valid entry for that date, you can stay until the end without paying anything more.

A common mix-up: many people confuse Christmas Eve on the 24th with New Year’s Eve on the 31st. They’re two different evenings. On 24 December the park keeps its usual daytime hours, with no special fireworks and no late opening.

The 31st, on the other hand, extends opening hours and adds midnight fireworks. I cover everything about Christmas Eve in my article on Christmas Eve on 24 December, and the season as a whole is covered in my guide to Christmas at Disneyland Paris.

To spend the evening of 31 December at Disneyland Park, there are three ways in:

• a ticket dated 31 December
• a stay in a Disney hotel with park tickets included for that date
• a valid reservation for 31 December as a Disneyland Pass holder

One detail that will spare you a nasty surprise: undated tickets aren’t valid on 31 December. You absolutely need a ticket dated specifically for that day. An undated ticket (Billet Liberté in French) bought in advance won’t get you in that night.

On price, the 31 December ticket follows its own logic: it has a fixed price all year round. In other words, it never drops with demand and has nothing to do with the dynamic pricing used the rest of the year. It also costs more than a standard dated ticket.

As a guide, allow around €150 per adult for 1 park and €185 for 2 parks. For children (aged 3 to 11), allow around €140 (1 park) and €175 (2 parks). These amounts are reviewed every year, so always check them when you buy.

A little background that shows how this evening has changed: until 2022, the New Year’s Eve party wasn’t included in the day ticket. You had to buy a specific ticket to get in, which meant smaller crowds than during the rest of the day. Since then, it’s been open to anyone with a ticket dated the 31st, which has clearly increased evening attendance.

One last practical point: places are limited and the 31st often sells out. In recent editions, both parks were full well before the date. So I can’t promise there will be tickets left: if you’re aiming for this evening, book as early as possible.

The detailed programme for the coming edition is only revealed in December, so what I describe here is the typical format that comes back year after year, not a guaranteed schedule. Always check the official programme before your visit.

In practice, the evening is built around a few recurring elements: Disney characters in festive outfits, dance parties with DJs in some lands, a group countdown at midnight, then the fireworks (which I cover in the next section).

Depending on the year, the dance parties take place in lands such as Frontierland and Discoveryland. I’d rather not be too specific about the exact locations, as the format has already changed from one year to the next and isn’t set in stone.

For a long time, it was mainly Disneyland Park that stayed open late (until around 1:00) and hosted the celebrations. From New Year’s Eve 2026, Disney Adventure World has its own end-of-year party, with a drone show (weather permitting) and pyrotechnics over World of Frozen. So each park now has its own midnight celebration (more on that just below).

Both parks now close at the same time, usually around 1:00 in the morning. The exact times are confirmed each year: check the official programme before your visit.

Another thing not to confuse: the daily night-time show, which ends every evening at closing time, is separate from the midnight fireworks. If you want to understand how that nightly show works, I explain it in my article on the night-time shows.

Finally, be ready for the crowds: 31 December is one of the busiest days of the year. For a guide to the busiest periods, have a look at my article on crowds at Disneyland Paris.

The midnight fireworks are the highlight of the evening on the 31st. They’re created specially for the occasion and set off at midnight over Sleeping Beauty Castle to mark the new year. They come on top of the daily night-time show: these really are two different things, at different times.

New in 2026, the Castle fireworks are no longer the only midnight event. At Disney Adventure World, a drone show (weather permitting) with pyrotechnics now takes place over World of Frozen. Both happen at midnight, in two different parks: you can’t see both, so choose your park in advance depending on the atmosphere you fancy.

One detail makes it extra special: local regulations normally ban fireworks after 23:00. The New Year’s midnight fireworks are an exception to this rule, just like those on 14 July. It’s one of the few nights of the year when the sky lights up after that time.

For a good view, Central Plaza or Main Street U.S.A. work very well, even a little further back, as the display lights up much of the sky above the Castle. To pick your exact viewing spot, see my best spots for the night-time show, as well as my full article on the fireworks.

My tip: get into position well in advance, as the crowds are huge and it’s hard to find a new spot once everyone has settled.

On the evening of the 31st, several restaurants, both table-service and all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants, serve menus created for the occasion. At Disneyland Park, this is the case for example at Walt’s, a table-service restaurant on Main Street U.S.A., and Plaza Gardens, an all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant where characters come by. You’ll find festive dishes such as salmon, oysters, lobster or champagne, and some tables combine the meal with a character meet and greet.

These festive menus cost more than usual: the full menus and prices are published in the Disneyland Paris app and confirmed when you book.

Book early, as tables go very fast. Allow up to a year ahead for Disney hotel stays and around two months ahead for other visitors. If dinner at the resort is part of your evening, don’t wait to book.

To choose a table, take a look at the restaurants at Disneyland Paris. And if you’re coming for a hotel stay, how the meal plans work is explained in my article on meal plans.