Would you like to discover the magical Christmas season at Disneyland Paris? Would you like to know why this is the ideal time for a memorable visit to the park? Then you’ve come to the right place!
With the Julieears blog, immerse yourself in the enchantment of Christmas and get ready for an unforgettable experience at Disneyland Paris!
On this page, I explain why the Christmas season is the perfect time to visit Disneyland Paris. You’ll discover everything the park has to offer for this magical time of year: must-see attractions, festive shows and restaurants with special menus. You’ll also find recommendations for shops where you can pick up unique souvenirs, as well as this year’s detailed programme and an overview of past celebrations. It’s all here to help you plan an unforgettable and magical visit to Disneyland Paris!
Table of contents
- Why come to Disneyland Paris for Christmas?
- What can you do at Disneyland Paris during the Christmas season?
- The 2024 Christmas season programme at Disneyland Paris
- Attractions to do especially for Christmas
- Shops with special Christmas products
- Where to eat special Christmas products?
- The answer to all your questions about Christmas at Disneyland Paris
- The programme from previous years
- My other articles on the subject
- Some photos of the Christmas season at Disneyland Paris
Why come to Disneyland Paris for Christmas?
Christmas at Disneyland Paris is a particularly enchanting time of year, attracting large numbers of visitors every year. For this period, the park is transformed into an even more magical place, with illuminated decorations and a festive atmosphere that will delight all families and friends. You can discover magical shows, take part in special activities and admire the sumptuous decorations that create a unique atmosphere. This is the perfect season to enjoy the magic of Christmas in an exceptional setting, with attractions and events designed to make your visit unforgettable.
If you’d like to come to the park this season and find out more about how to get organized, please visit my pages on how to prepare your visit or how to prepare your stay at Disneyland Paris.
What can you do at Disneyland Paris during the Christmas season?
The Christmas period at Disneyland Paris offers a host of activities and shows to enhance your visit. This season, which lasts twice as long as Halloween, allows you to :
- Attend a Christmas-themed drone show (pre-show).
- Enjoy a Christmas parade that passes through the park several times a day.
- Listen to a musical show with special guests.
- Meet Disney characters dressed up especially for the occasion.
- See Santa Claus, who is only present during this period.
- Enjoy Christmas menus in the park’s restaurants.
- Admire the themed decorations in the park and Disney hotels.
- Buy exclusive Christmas products in the park’s boutiques.
What’s more, you can explore attractions that lend themselves perfectly to the Christmas theme, adding a festive touch to your experience.
The 2024 Christmas season programme at Disneyland Paris
The 2024 Christmas season at Disneyland Paris offers a programme packed with festivities and magic. Here’s what you can discover:
- Discover the many decorations in the park, with a gigantic Christmas tree at the park entrance.
- Share a moment of laughter and good humour with Mickey and his friends in Town Square, at the entrance to the park.
- Immerse yourself in a fairytale with the Disney princesses at Central Plaza.
- Meet Aurora and Prince Philip in the Courtyard of Sleeping Beauty Castle, new for 2024.
- Meet the other Disney characters, some of whom are dressed in Christmas outfits.
- Meet Santa Claus in his workshop and take a photo with him.
- See the Christmas tree lit up several times a day.
- Discover the Christmas Carol show with Mickey and his friends, and a brand new guest this year.
- Take part in the Sparkling Christmas Parade with Mickey and friends, presented twice a day in daytime and night-time versions.
- Admire the snow falling on Main Street U.S.A.
- See the night-time Disney Electrical Sky Parade drone show, specially revisited for Christmas.
- Enjoy sweet and savoury treats in the park’s chalets, snack bars and restaurants.
- Book a special meal for Christmas Eve on 24 and 31 December.
- Buy exclusive Christmas products in the park’s boutiques.
- For those staying at the Disneyland Hotel, you’ll have the chance to see the Timekeeper and The Light of Winter show in the heart of the hotel. The Royal Banquet and Fleur de Lys Bar will also be serving Christmas specialities.
You can find the detailed programme for Christmas 2024 in my dedicated article and consult all the timetables on the Disneyland Paris mobile application.
Special Christmas attractions
At Disneyland Paris during the Christmas season, although the park doesn’t offer attractions specifically with a Christmas theme, you’ll still find other themed experiences. Don’t miss out on themed shows and parades such as A Christmas Carol and the Sparkling Christmas Parade with Mickey and Santa. To round off your experience, you can also enjoy popular cult attractions such as It’s a Small World, Disneyland Railroad (the train that circles the park), Les Voyages de Pinocchio and Mickey and the Magician. These attractions offer a timeless magic that I think fits in well with the park’s Christmas atmosphere.
Shops with Christmas products
At Disneyland Paris, you can buy a variety of Christmas products, from baubles and ornaments to clothing such as Spirit Jerseys. These items are available in several of the park’s shops, and some of them even offer them throughout the year. During the Christmas period, you’ll find most of these products in the following shops:
- Ribbons and Bows Hat Shop on Main Street U.S.A.
- Emporium on Main Street U.S.A.
Main Street Motors on Main Street U.S.A. - Walt Disney Studios Store at the entrance to Walt Disney Studios Park
- World of Disney at Disney Village
For those who want to buy baubles or other special ornaments, I recommend you visit at any time of year:
- Merlin l’Enchanteur in the Castle
- La boutique du Château, also located in the Castle
For those who want to do their shopping elsewhere than in the park, you can also find a wide range of products on the Disney Store website.
Where to eat during the Christmas season?
During the Christmas period, Disneyland Paris offers a delicious variety of seasonal products in its two parks. You can discover the Chalets Gourmands, located in Fantasyland and World of Pixar, where you can sample winter specialities such as mulled wine, crêpes and waffles, as well as Savoyard dishes such as tartiflette and raclette. For other winter treats, I’d also recommend going to the Boardwalk Candy Palace or Victoria’s Home Style Restaurant.
Some of the park’s restaurants, such as Walt’s Restaurant, L’Auberge de Cendrillon and Annette’s Diner in Disney Village, also offer dishes specially designed for the festive season. In addition, for Christmas and New Year’s Eve, several restaurants offer special menus. Although these are often more expensive than the rest of the year, they are adapted to the festive atmosphere of the season.
At Disney hotels, you can also enjoy cocktails specially created for Christmas, and at Hunter’s Grill in the Sequoia Lodge hotel, all-you-can-eat raclette is available in winter to warm up your stay.
The answer to all your questions about Christmas at Disneyland Paris
Is it possible to meet Santa Claus at Disneyland Paris?
Yes, you can meet Santa Claus at Disneyland Paris during the Christmas season. You can catch a glimpse of him throughout the season in the Christmas parade. And until 25 December, you can meet him and take a photo with him in his workshop. After that, Santa heads back to the North Pole to rest up after his grand tour.
Is the park busier at Christmas?
Yes, the park is very busy during the Christmas season, especially between 20 December and 1 January, when most of Europe is on holiday. To avoid the crowds, we recommend visiting Disneyland Paris during the first two weeks of December or the first week of January.
Can we meet characters exclusive to this season?
Yes, you can meet characters in Christmas costumes, as well as Santa Claus, who is only present during this season!
Is the whole park decorated for Christmas?
Yes, the park is decorated for Christmas, but not in all the lands. The majority of the decorations are on Main Street U.S.A., where you can admire a gigantic Christmas tree over 20 metres high, garlands of lights on the Christmas statues and artificial snow falling from the rooftops. Christmas trees are also scattered throughout the park, adding a festive touch while respecting the original world of Disneyland Paris.
Can we come in costume for the Christmas season?
Yes, but only for children under 12. However, I wouldn’t recommend coming in costume at this time of year, as it’s usually very cold and a suit isn’t warm enough to last all day.
Can I buy Christmas ornaments on site?
Yes, several shops in the park sell baubles and other Christmas ornaments.
The programme from previous years
No programmes from previous years are currently available on my blog.
My other articles on the subject
My Christmas photo gallery
