Disneyland Paris Christmas decorations: decor, stats, shopping

When you ask me about Christmas decorations at Disneyland Paris, there are usually two wishes hiding behind the same word. The first is seeing the decor set up in the park during the "Disney Enchanted Christmas" season, from mid-November to early January (exact dates change every year, and I keep them current in my seasons calendar). The second is going home with your own Disney ornaments for your tree.

In this guide, I cover both: what to see in the park and where to buy it.

The decor starts with the big tree. It stands on Town Square, the plaza just past the park entrance, at the very start of Main Street U.S.A. You walk by it as you arrive, so there’s no way to miss it.

The specs: 24 meters tall, over 24 metric tons, more than 1,000 decorative pieces.

Good to know if you’re not staying late: the tree lights up several times a day, not just in the evening. So you don’t need to wait until closing to see it glow. The evening highlight is the live choir and Christmas carols alongside Mickey and Minnie, which I cover in my complete Christmas guide.

For photos, I think the tree looks better after dark, when its lights pop against the night sky. I stand a little back on the plaza to fit the whole thing in the frame.

Most of the decor is on Main Street U.S.A. The shop windows are decorated one by one, classic garlands run the length of the street, and trees and ornaments dot the way up to the castle.

Two effects come back several times a day. First, fake snow falls on the rooftops and storefronts at regular intervals. I think it looks great with the long view down the street, and that’s where I photograph it. Then in the evening, animated projections on the Main Street facades cover the buildings with Christmas scenes and silhouettes.

Elsewhere, Disneyland Park sticks to its year-round look, with far less holiday flair. Pressed for time? Spend it on Town Square and Main Street, since that’s where the action is.

Short answer: no. Sleeping Beauty Castle doesn’t get any permanent Christmas decor, and you won’t find a holiday light projection (mapping) in the daytime either. The show you see on its walls each night is "Disney Tales of Magic", a year-round nighttime show with no Christmas theme.

So don’t expect a castle decked out in holiday colors the way you might picture it.

There’s one nuance worth knowing, though. During the nighttime version of the Christmas parade, Christmas projections do appear on the castle while the parade goes by. That moment is tied to the parade, and I cover it in my Christmas parade guide.

Behind the decor is some serious logistics. Here are the official numbers for the Christmas decor at Disneyland Paris, handy to remember if anyone asks you.

You can see the Christmas decor at any time of day: the tree lighting and the fake snow come back several times a day, so you don’t have to stay until evening. That said, I find it more striking at night. The tree lights, the Main Street garlands, and the facade projections stand out more once it’s dark.

My go-to photo locations for the holiday decor:

• Once night falls, the giant tree on Town Square, with all of it in the shot.
• Main Street seen from Town Square, looking up toward the castle as garlands sparkle and snow drifts down.
• Close-ups of the holiday window displays in each shop.
• After dark, the glowing castle at the far end of the street as a backdrop.

Keep in mind that the holiday season draws some of the biggest crowds of the year. To get these shots without people in the way, see my crowd tips for choosing your date and time of day.

If you want to bring decorations home, there’s one place to know year-round: "La Boutique du Château". It’s in Fantasyland, beneath the castle, and it’s the park’s permanent Christmas store, decked out for Christmas in every season. You’ll find a big selection of ornaments and tree decorations, wreaths, ears, and character plush in Christmas outfits there.

During the Christmas season, the selection expands to other spots. You’ll also find them at the Emporium on Main Street U.S.A. (the park’s biggest store) and at the Walt Disney Studios Store in the second park (which kept that name even though the park was renamed Disney Adventure World).