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

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

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

The Christmas season runs from November 7 to January 6 across both parks, though Disneyland Park gets most of the decorations. Expect Christmas trees, lights, and artificial snow everywhere, along with a holiday parade and lots of characters to meet in festive outfits. It ranks among the most loved, and most crowded, times of the year.

Each major anniversary at Disneyland Paris brings a special lineup: themed decorations, all-new shows, commemorative costumes, and fresh additions. The latest one was the 30th (2022-2023). Next up is the park’s 35th, scheduled for 2027.

Yes, several shorter seasons can be added during the year depending on the lineup: the Disney Music Festival, themed seasons in some years. Dates and themes change from one year to the next. For the latest program, check the official Disneyland Paris website and my seasonal articles.

Look on the official Disneyland Paris website or in the Disneyland Paris app, in the Calendar or Seasons section. My own calendar of seasons and events, which I keep up to date, is another option.

No. The seasons and their entertainment (decorations, parades, shows, meet and greets) are included in a regular park ticket, with no extra paid evening. Two dates are the exception: October 31 and December 31. On those days, you need a dated ticket for that day, among the priciest of the year. The only add-ons left are the usual services, like Premier Access (paid skip-the-line access) or the premium viewing area for the parade. That said, tickets often cost more during high-demand periods like Halloween, Christmas, and French school vacation.

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

Santa Claus is around during the Christmas season. You can spot him in the parade throughout the season. For a photo, you meet him in his workshop inside the Disney Clothiers store (Main Street U.S.A.), through December 25. After that, he heads back to the North Pole.

For December 31, you need a dated ticket sold at a fixed price, one of the priciest of the year. Plan on roughly €150 per adult for 1 park and €185 for 2 parks. You can’t use the undated ticket (Billet Liberté in French) that day. Every price, including kids’ tickets, is in my New Year’s Eve guide.

Disneyland Paris opened on April 12, 1992, under the name Euro Disney Resort at the time. It was the first Disney park in Europe, and the second outside the US after the one in Tokyo.

Yes. The park is open 365 days a year, December 24 included. There’s no special ticket for Christmas Eve night. A dated ticket for that day, a vacation package that covers it, or an annual pass with a reservation for that day is all you need.

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

At midnight, a special New Year’s fireworks display lights up the sky over Sleeping Beauty Castle. Central Plaza and Main Street U.S.A. both give you an excellent view. Show up well ahead of time to grab a spot, because those areas get packed quickly and December 31 draws huge crowds. Disney Adventure World also puts on a midnight show combining drones (if the weather allows) and pyrotechnics, over World of Frozen.

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

No. December 24 isn’t like December 31 (New Year’s Eve): park hours aren’t extended and no special fireworks are planned. It plays out like any other day of the Christmas season. Opening times differ from one year to another, so look them up in the app. For the 31st, head to New Year’s Eve at the park.

Not always. Capacity is limited and the 31st often sells out. In recent years, both parks were already full well ahead of the date. Book your ticket as early as you can to lock in your visit, and don’t count on last-minute availability.

Yes. The menus for the evenings of December 24 and 31, along with their prices, are updated every season. The prices mentioned in this article are historical, shared as a keepsake, and no longer apply. For current prices, check the program for this year’s edition.

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

A few appear every single season, such as Cruella, Jafar, and Captain Hook, and Jafar and Hook actually greet guests year-round. The rest rotate from year to year, for example Maleficent, Gaston, the Queen of Hearts, or Oogie Boogie. My Halloween program lists the current villains along with where to find them. To learn how meeting characters works, take a look at my meet and greets 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 about 1 hour for the front row. Since the parade runs twice, in opposite directions, the best spot depends on which performance you’re watching.

For Halloween, yes: on October 31. That’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 May 4. The rest of the time, costumes are only for kids under 12.

Children younger than 12 may wear a costume any day of the year. Once they turn 12, dressing up is limited to special days, such as October 31 for Halloween.

Getting your face painted like a character is its own separate service. Everything you need to know is in my face painting stands.

No. Costumes that fully cover the face and head aren’t allowed (except for medical reasons). Your face has to stay uncovered and clearly visible.

Yes, that’s allowed. However, you must not pose for photos or sign autographs for other guests, so nobody mistakes you for one of the park’s real characters.

No. A separate "evening" ticket no longer exists: the night of December 31 is now covered by a dated ticket for that day, a Disney vacation package with park access, or a Disneyland Pass that’s valid on that date. That dated ticket is sold at a fixed price, higher than a standard ticket. Plan on roughly €150 per adult for 1 park and €185 for 2 parks. You can’t use the undated ticket (Billet Liberté in French) that day. Both parks generally stay open until 1:00 in the morning. Note: in the past, New Year’s Eve was a stand-alone event requiring an additional ticket, which is no longer true.

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

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

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

The season is called the Disney Halloween Festival. The official name stays the same every year, and only the program and the new additions change from one edition to the next.

The big tree stands in Town Square, at the park entrance, right where Main Street U.S.A. begins. At 24 meters tall, it’s the first thing you see when you arrive. It lights up several times a day, not just at night.

Yes, artificial snow falls several times a day on Main Street U.S.A., over the rooftops and the storefronts. It’s a recurring feature, but confirm it each year with the detailed program.

The route is identical, but each version runs it the opposite way. Since the floats enter from another side, the best places to watch change too. The evening version also has more sparkle, with LED floats glowing against the dusk and Main Street, Town Square, and the castle all lit up.

Yes. Lots of park and hotel restaurants serve a Christmas menu on the 24th, and you need a reservation. You’ll find menus and prices in the Disneyland Paris app a few weeks ahead of the holidays.

Yes. Each park now has its own midnight celebration. At Disneyland Park, the fireworks light up the sky above Sleeping Beauty Castle. At Disney Adventure World, a drone show (weather permitting) with pyrotechnics rises above World of Frozen. Both start at midnight, so pick your park ahead of time. Check the official program 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 just for New Year’s Eve and come on top of the daily nighttime show, at a different time. They’re an exception to the rule that bans fireworks after 23:00, just like the July 14 fireworks.

As early as possible: up to a year ahead if you’re staying at a Disney hotel, and about two months before for other guests. Tables go very quickly, especially the ones with a character meet and greet.

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

Yes. Disney Tales of Magic, the castle’s regular nighttime show, plays every night, Halloween and Christmas included (depending on that day’s park hours). It isn’t a seasonal show, but it’s still the big event of the evening. Check the time in the Disneyland Paris app.

The 2026 program has been official since September: the dates, the extended hours on December 31, the new additions covered above, and the classics, like the parade twice a day, the big tree, and Santa Claus.

The dates are confirmed very early, but the detailed program (showtimes, new additions) comes out later, usually around the end of summer or the start of fall. The 2026 program was unveiled in September. The exact announcement date has to be confirmed each year, and I update this page as soon as it’s official.

For November and December, bring warm, rainproof layers and comfortable shoes. Expect cold, wet, drizzly weather, and you’ll spend lots of time outside waiting for parades and the nighttime show. Once evening comes, a beanie, a scarf, and gloves are a real help.

Ask the concierge desk at your Disney hotel, ideally at least 7 days before you arrive, to make sure you get one.

You receive it during your stay, from the Disney hotel you placed the order with.

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

It was Disneyland Paris’s first fully musical season, in 2025. It featured more than a dozen concerts and character meet and greets set to music, performed by live musicians, all across Disneyland Park. It was included in the park ticket.

No. The former Disney Halloween Party, which needed its own ticket, held its last edition in 2022 and was dropped in 2023. Today the whole Halloween season comes with a regular park ticket, and there’s no sign it’s coming back.

That varies by villain. The majority only show up for the Halloween season, though a few, such as Captain Hook, can be found year-round.

Yes, a free area is set aside for guests in wheelchairs. Its location can change depending on the day and any construction. You can’t reserve it: on the day itself, 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 behind them, which makes for a great shot. For the second performance, Town Square lets you catch the floats heading up the street with the castle in the background.

Some years, Disneyland Paris sells a paid premium viewing area. Either way, the cavalcade is still free to watch anywhere along the route. Check the official app regularly to see whether an option like this is offered during the season. To get a good spot without paying, see my Halloween parade guide.

No. The mood stays festive and colorful, never frightening: smiling pumpkins, goofy little ghosts, and villains played in a dress-up spirit. Everything is designed for all ages, even toddlers. Thrill rides are still best left to older kids.

It’s a busy time, but the 24th is often a bit calmer than the days that follow. Crowds build from December 25 through New Year’s Day. More details in my take on crowd levels.

Yes, it’s highly recommended, because these tables fill up fast. You can book through the Disneyland Paris app or the restaurant reservation 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 ahead for day guests and annual passholders (this timeline can change from one year to the next).

Highlights included Minnie’s marching band along Main Street U.S.A., the Disney Music Hits Concert at Videopolis, Miguel’s Fiesta Latina over in Frontierland, and a big closing number led by Mickey at the foot of the castle late in the day.

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

For the first time at Disneyland Paris, all 13 official Disney Princesses came together, with Raya making her park debut and guests getting the chance to take their first selfie with her.

The show put together for the occasion was titled "Write Your Destiny, A Celebration of the Disney Princesses." It took place on Central Plaza, in front of the castle, with Aurora, Jasmine, Ariel, and Tiana on stage.

This page archives the 2024 and 2025 editions. To find this year’s dates and schedule, go to World Princess Week.

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

During the season, costumes are only for kids under 12, who can come dressed up throughout the season. On October 31, everyone can wear one, adults included. The exact rules (no masks, face uncovered) are covered in dressing up for Halloween.

There’s no "evening" ticket: you book October 31 with a dated ticket for that day. It’s the most expensive day of the season, for 1 park or 2 parks alike. The day’s prices are in my ticket guide. Park hours are extended (9:00 to 23:00 in 2026) and everyone can wear a costume. It’s also one of the busiest days for crowds.

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

Both seasons are well done, so it comes down to what you’re in the mood for. Halloween is shorter, festive, and colorful, with reasonable crowds outside school vacation periods. 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’s. For a relaxed first visit, I’d lean toward early October or late November.

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

Yes, thanks to the M&M’s treasure hunt: a free activity with a map you pick up at Boardwalk Candy Palace, in Disneyland Park. Whether it’s offered depends on the edition, so confirm it each season.

Three major projects: bringing Space Mountain back to its first concept, "De la Terre à la Lune," a ride based on The Lion King coming to Disney Adventure World (featuring Scar’s first-ever Audio-Animatronics figure), and a brand-new daytime parade in 2028.

The current version, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, closes at the end of 2027. After several months of construction, it will reopen as Space Mountain De la Terre à la Lune. No reopening date has been announced yet.

Disneyland Park plans to launch a new daytime parade in 2028. It will be the park’s first new one since Disney Stars on Parade premiered in 2017.

Pirates of the Caribbean and Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains are gentle and well suited to younger kids. Save Phantom Manor and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror for older kids or anyone less easily spooked. See my ride guides for the details.

Yes. You can shop for them year-round at La Boutique du Château (Fantasyland, tucked under the castle), and in season at the Emporium and the Walt Disney Studios Store too.

No, the castle has no permanent Christmas decorations. It lights up every night for its regular nighttime show, "Disney Tales of Magic," which isn’t a Christmas show. That said, Christmas projections do appear on the castle during the evening version of the Christmas parade. I talk about them in my Christmas parade guide.

Plan on about 15:55 for the daytime version and about 17:45 for the evening one. These times are only a guide and change from day to day, so check them in the Disneyland Paris app.