Bastille Day at Disneyland Paris: the special July 14 fireworks

July 14 is Bastille Day, France’s national day and a public holiday. But don’t worry: Disneyland Paris is open as usual that day.

Ticket-wise, it’s one of the three big dates of the year, along with October 31 and December 31. You need a ticket dated July 14, which costs more than on most other days. The undated ticket (Billet Liberté in French) isn’t valid that day. I go over the prices in my tickets guide.

On the other hand, don’t expect anything out of the ordinary in terms of entertainment. There are no special decorations for the occasion, and no dedicated parades or shows during the day. As far as the daytime schedule goes, July 14 looks like any other summer day at the park.

It all happens at night. That’s when Disneyland Paris pulls out all the stops, with fireworks that have nothing in common with the usual nighttime show.

Every July 14, Disneyland Paris has a reputation for staging some of the finest fireworks anywhere in France. The show lights up the sky above Sleeping Beauty Castle, normally a little before closing time.

It’s a grand, special fireworks show, with far more bursts and pyrotechnics than the regular nighttime show. The number of shells, the length, the scale: everything is taken further. The result is spectacular.

Seeing it is one of my favorite things to do, and I go nearly every year even with the crowds. There aren’t many nights when I’m willing to fight that many people for a spot in front of the castle, but this is one of them.

To give you a sense of how ambitious these nights are: in 2024, Disneyland Paris made it into Guinness World Records by forming Mickey with 1,571 drones above Sleeping Beauty Castle, after an earlier record of 1,495 drones in 2023. The program changes every year, but the spirit stays the same: a night that goes well beyond the usual.

If you want to see how these fireworks fit into the park’s nighttime lineup, you can check out the nighttime shows guide.

Normally, a prefectural order (a local government rule) bans fireworks and drone flights in the area after 23:00. But for big nights like July 14 (and New Year’s Eve), an exemption allows the show to go off later, just before the park closes.

That’s why the July 14 show often starts late. On the day itself, look up the exact time in the official app.

On July 14, crowds at Disneyland Paris are usually heavy to very heavy. Several reasons add up: it’s summer, school is out in much of Europe, it’s a public holiday in France, and some years it falls on a long weekend.

My advice: come mainly if you can stay several days in a row. That way, you’ll get calmer moments and can watch the usual nighttime show on another, quieter evening. It’s also a good day if you’re an annual passholder, since you can come back at other times of the year with no pressure.

To plan ahead, check the crowd calendar.

A frank word: the only real perk of July 14 is the fireworks at night. During the day, there’s no special entertainment, the crowds hit record levels, and ticket prices are high. With young kids, keep in mind that the fireworks go off late and you’ll have to stand and wait a long time for a good spot. Go for it if the nighttime show is really your priority.

Ideally, stand facing Sleeping Beauty Castle straight on, without getting too close. The fireworks spread out a lot to the sides, so if you’re right up against the stage, you miss part of the picture.

My favorite spot: just before Central Plaza, between Victoria’s and Casey’s Corner (the two restaurants at the end of Main Street, right before the plaza facing the castle). The castle stays nicely centered, and you’re far enough back to see the full width of the fireworks.

For details on the different areas facing the castle and what each one offers, check out my dedicated guide: where to watch Disney Tales of Magic, which covers the same spots.

Not up for hunting down a place and waiting? You can pay for a reserved viewing area instead: see the reserved viewing area.

Plan to get there between 1 hour 15 minutes and 1 hour 45 minutes before the fireworks start. The show draws more people every year, and the good spots go fast.

If you arrive too late, you may end up far away or off to one side, with part of the view blocked. It’s better to claim your spot early and wait than to hunt for one at the last minute.

Here’s some good news for your wallet: the July 14 fireworks cost nothing extra, just like every nighttime show at Disneyland Paris, since your admission ticket covers them. No booking is needed.

If you’d like a set-aside spot with an easier view, the only paid option is the reserved viewing area: see the reserved viewing area.

Think about getting back before the fireworks even start. The show goes off late and everyone leaves the park at the same time: the exit is packed, the RER A (the Paris commuter train) is jammed, and the parking lot empties slowly.

If you’re taking the train back to Paris, keep an eye on the time of the last RER A so you don’t miss it. The most comfortable option that night is to spend the night on site (a Disney hotel or nearby) so you can enjoy the fireworks without stressing about the trip back.