Lots of guests consider Christmas the most beautiful time of year at Disneyland Paris, and it’s a season I look forward to every year. Starting in November, the park puts up decorations, a giant tree, and lights, along with its own parade, Santa Claus, and winter treats. It’s also the park’s longest season, running nearly twice as long as Halloween.
In this guide, I explain what the Christmas season is, why it’s worth the trip, and everything you’ll find once you’re there. For the practical details (parade, this year’s program, New Year’s Eve, gift sets), I point you to my dedicated articles along the way. To see where Christmas fits in the full calendar, check out the seasons and special nights at Disneyland Paris.
Why visit Disneyland Paris at Christmas?
If people had to pick just one season for discovering Disneyland Paris, plenty would pick Christmas, and I’d happily agree with them.
For almost two months, it’s much more than a few decorations added to a normal visit. The whole atmosphere changes from morning to night, with lots going on. Here’s what makes this time of year so special:
- Full winter decorations. Main Street U.S.A. is covered in garlands, Christmas statues, and snow, with a giant 24-meter tree towering over it. The Disney hotels get dressed up for the holidays too.
- Plenty happening every day. The tree lights up, snow falls on Main Street, projections light up the building fronts, and the choir fills the air with Christmas carols. There’s always something going on.
- A parade all its own. Mickey’s Dazzling Christmas Parade! goes by twice a day.
- Santa Claus himself. He’s only around during this season, and you can meet him in his workshop.
- Winter flavors. Festive food chalets, Alpine dishes from Savoie, and holiday menus keep you warm during your visit.
You don’t pay anything extra for the season: it’s all part of your park admission. If this is your first time at the park, I wholeheartedly recommend this time of year.
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What to do during the Christmas season
It’s a long season packed with things to do. Here are its main highlights.
The giant tree and decorations
The centerpiece is the giant 24-meter tree standing at the park entrance, wrapped in garlands and thousands of ornaments. Most of the decorations are on Main Street U.S.A., with its shop windows, Christmas statues, and fake snow drifting down from the rooftops. The rest of the park stays more low-key, so you still get the usual Disney atmosphere.
For all the numbers and details on the tree and the castle, see my guide to the Christmas decorations.
The tree lighting and daily entertainment
Good news: many of these moments happen several times a day. The giant tree lights up at regular intervals, and snow falls on Main Street U.S.A. more than once, so you can catch the scene without necessarily waiting until evening. The real highlight only happens once a day, though: the choir show at the foot of the tree, singing Christmas carols alongside Mickey, usually from mid-November.
Together with the projections on the Main Street building fronts, this entertainment sets a holiday mood at any hour.
The Christmas parade
Mickey’s Dazzling Christmas Parade! makes its way past the castle and around the giant tree, with decorated floats, sparkling costumes, and Santa Claus bringing up the rear. It runs twice a day, once in daylight and once in the evening, when it glows even brighter. For showtimes and the best viewing spots, see my Christmas parade guide.
Santa Claus and characters in holiday outfits
Santa Claus only visits during this season. You might spot him in the parade, but above all you can meet him in his workshop until December 25 (after that, he heads back to the North Pole). His workshop is now inside the Disney Clothiers store on Main Street U.S.A. Lots of Disney characters, the princesses included, also put on their holiday outfits. You’ll find every meet and greet in the characters hub.
Rides that fit the Christmas spirit
The park doesn’t give any rides a special Christmas makeover, but a few suit the holiday mood especially well. That’s true of It’s a Small World and its childlike scenery, the Disneyland Railroad for a loop around the lit-up park, Les Voyages de Pinocchio, and the show Mickey and the Magician. They’re a nice way to stay in the holiday spirit between two events.
Christmas also reaches the second park, Disney Adventure World. There, the World of Frozen land (home to Frozen and the village of Arendelle) takes on Scandinavian-inspired decorations. To plan your route, browse all my ride guides.
Christmas treats and souvenirs
Where to eat during the Christmas season
Winter is a tasty time at Disneyland Paris. The festive food chalets, set up in Fantasyland and in Worlds of Pixar (in the second park), serve mulled wine, crêpes, and waffles, plus Alpine dishes such as tartiflette and raclette. As for restaurants, Walt’s and Auberge de Cendrillon serve seasonal dishes, and several places offer holiday menus for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve (often pricier than usual, so remember to book).
For the full list of places, see the restaurants hub. In the Disney hotels, you’ll find Christmas cocktails, and Hunter’s Grill at Sequoia Lodge serves all-you-can-eat raclette in winter.
Stores and Christmas ornaments
For souvenirs, Christmas merchandise (Christmas balls, ornaments, seasonal clothing) shows up in several stores, mostly on Main Street U.S.A. (Emporium, Ribbons and Bows Hat Shop, Main Street Motors) and at World of Disney in Disney Village. For ornaments, two stores are worth a stop all year round: Merlin l’Enchanteur and La Boutique du Château.
Sleeping at one of the Disney hotels? Then keep an eye out for their holiday gift set, described in detail in my Christmas gift set guide. My other shopping picks are listed in the stores hub.
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
Two dates stand out during the season. On December 24, Christmas Eve is celebrated in the park with a special atmosphere and dedicated menus. I go into it in my article on Christmas Eve. On December 31, it’s time for New Year’s Eve. Despite what many people think, it’s no longer a separately ticketed party. In terms of entertainment, it’s a regular park day, with extended hours (often until 1 in the morning) and holiday menus. Only the evening is different: each park now has its own midnight celebration. At Disneyland Park, fireworks go off above the castle. At Disney Adventure World, a drone show (weather permitting) and pyrotechnics rise above World of Frozen.
Ticket-wise, December 31 is one of the three big dates of the year, along with July 14 and October 31. The ticket for that day is a dated ticket with a fixed price, the most expensive of the season. Plan on about €150 per adult for 1 park and €185 for 2 parks. The undated ticket (Billet Liberté in French) isn’t valid that day. I explain everything in my article on New Year’s Eve.
When to go: Christmas crowds
Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year. November stays fairly quiet, especially on weekdays, which makes it a good time to see the decorations before the crowds show up.
Attendance climbs in December and peaks between December 20 and January 1, when much of Europe is on winter break. For a calmer visit, aim for the first two weeks of December or the final days of the season, after schools go back in January. Those quieter dates are cheaper too. Based on my own price tracking, a trip over the holidays costs a lot more. To compare your dates or get an alert when prices drop, see my price calendar.
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This year’s program
Every year, Disneyland Paris reveals the details of the season (shows, menus, new additions, meet and greets) around late summer or early fall. I cover it as soon as it’s out in my article on this year’s program. To get a feel for what’s in store, you can also look at past Christmas seasons.
Christmas for every kind of trip
How you experience Christmas depends on who you’re coming with:
- First visit: a wonderful time to discover the park, with extra atmosphere and everything included in your ticket. Come in early December to enjoy it without the crowds. My pointers are in the first-time visitor guide.
- Families with kids: Santa Claus, the tree, the snow: the season is made for them. Bundle them up well, since it’s often very cold. See the family hub.
- With teens: the evening parade, the photo-ready decorations, and the wintry atmosphere. Pointers in the teens hub.
- With a baby: soft, glowing decorations that little ones love, but make sure to bundle your baby up against the cold. See the baby hub.
- With friends: mulled wine at the festive food chalets and group shots by the tree. Get inspired by the friends hub.
- As a couple: few moments in the year feel more romantic, so it’s ideal for a getaway for two, with a festive dinner and a walk beneath the twinkling lights. Browse the couples hub for more inspiration.
- Guests with disabilities or reduced mobility: late December is very crowded, and the cold adds to the fatigue, so plan your visit ahead. It’s all in the accessibility hub.
Frequently asked questions
01 What are this year’s Christmas season dates at Disneyland Paris?
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.
02 How long does Santa Claus stay at Disneyland Paris?
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.
03 Does a season like Halloween or Christmas require a special ticket or an extra fee?
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.
04 What’s the best time to enjoy the season while avoiding crowds?
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.
05 Is there a special New Year’s Eve ticket, and what does it cost?
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.
06 Does it actually snow on Main Street during the Christmas season?
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.
07 What should you wear to Disneyland Paris in winter?
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.
