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

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

You’ll still see all the Christmas decor around the park, and several characters show up dressed for the celebration.

Here’s the most important thing to know: the party comes with your regular ticket for December 31. Since 2023, Disney hasn’t sold a separate "evening" ticket. As long as your admission is valid for that date, you can stay to the very end at no extra cost.

People often blend the two together, but the 24th (Christmas Eve) and the 31st (New Year’s Eve) are separate nights with separate rules. On December 24, the park keeps its normal hours: no late closing and no extra fireworks.

The 31st, on the other hand, stays open later and adds midnight fireworks. For everything about Christmas Eve, I go through it all in my article on Christmas Eve on December 24, and the season as a whole is covered in my guide to Christmas at Disneyland Paris.

You can get into Disneyland Park on the night of December 31 in one of three ways:

• with a ticket valid for December 31
• with a Disney hotel package that includes park admission on that date
• with a December 31 park reservation made through your Disneyland Pass

To avoid disappointment, know this: undated tickets won’t work on December 31. The only option is a ticket issued for that exact date. If you bought an undated ticket (Billet Liberté in French) ahead of time, it won’t let you in that evening.

The December 31 ticket follows its own pricing rule: the price stays the same all year long. It never goes down when demand is low, and it isn’t part of the dynamic pricing Disney uses on other days. On top of that, it’s pricier than a regular dated ticket.

As a ballpark figure, plan on about €150 per adult for 1 park and €185 for 2 parks. Kids ages 3 to 11 run about €140 (1 park) and €175 (2 parks). Disney updates these prices each year, so double-check before you pay.

A little background on how the night has evolved: up through 2022, your day ticket didn’t cover the New Year’s Eve party. Getting in took a separate ticket, so the evening drew fewer people than the daytime. Now anyone with a ticket for the 31st can stay, and evening crowds have grown a lot as a result.

One more practical note: capacity is capped, and the 31st frequently sells out. Lately, both parks have hit capacity long before the big night. I can’t guarantee tickets will still be available, so if this night is on your list, buy as soon as you can.

The detailed program for the upcoming edition isn’t announced until December, so what I’m sharing here is the typical format that comes back year after year, not a guaranteed schedule. Always check the official program before your visit.

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

In past years, lands like Frontierland and Discoveryland have hosted the DJ sets. I won’t commit to precise spots, though, because the setup has shifted from year to year and keeps evolving.

In earlier years, the late-night fun (lasting until about 1:00) was mostly a Disneyland Park thing. From New Year’s Eve 2026 on, Disney Adventure World throws a party of its own, featuring pyrotechnics and a drone show (if the weather cooperates) above World of Frozen. That gives both parks a midnight celebration, which I describe in the next section.

Both parks now close at the same time, usually around 1:00 in the morning. Exact hours are confirmed each year, so check the official program before your visit.

Don’t confuse these either: the regular nighttime show, which wraps up every evening at closing, is separate from the midnight fireworks. If you want to understand how that nightly show works, I explain it in my article on the nighttime shows.

Finally, plan for crowds: December 31 is one of the busiest days of the year. To get a feel for the busiest periods, take a look at my article on crowds at Disneyland Paris.

The midnight fireworks are the high point of December 31. They’re created especially for the occasion and launched at midnight over Sleeping Beauty Castle to mark the start of the new year. They come on top of the regular nighttime show: these really are two different things, at two different times.

New for 2026: the Castle fireworks are no longer the only midnight event. At Disney Adventure World, a drone show (weather permitting) and pyrotechnics now take place over World of Frozen. Both happen at midnight, in two different parks, so you can’t catch both: pick your park ahead of time based on the mood you’re after.

Why it feels so special: as a rule, local law doesn’t allow fireworks past 23:00. New Year’s midnight is one of the exceptions, along with the July 14 show. Only on a handful of nights each year do you see the sky ablaze that late.

For a good view, Central Plaza or Main Street U.S.A. work very well, even a little farther back, since the fireworks fill much of the sky above the Castle. To choose your exact viewing spot, see my best spots for the nighttime show, as well as my complete article on the fireworks.

My tip: get there well ahead of time, the crowds are heavy and it’s hard to find a new spot once everyone has settled in.

On the evening of the 31st, several restaurants, both table-service and all-you-can-eat buffets, offer menus created for the occasion. At Disneyland Park, that includes Walt’s, a table-service restaurant along Main Street U.S.A., and Plaza Gardens, an all-you-can-eat buffet where characters stop by. You’ll find holiday dishes such as salmon, oysters, lobster, or champagne, and some restaurants pair the meal with a character meet and greet.

Be ready for a higher bill than on a regular night. Each restaurant’s holiday menu and price show up in the Disneyland Paris app, and you’ll see the details again as you make your reservation.

Book ahead, because tables go very quickly. Allow up to a year in advance for Disney hotel stays and about two months ahead for other visitors. If dinner at the resort is part of your plans for the night, don’t wait to book.

To pick a table, have a look at the restaurants at Disneyland Paris. And if you’re coming for a vacation stay, I explain how meal plans work in my article on meal plans.