Why Christmas is the best time to visit Disneyland Paris

I have visited Disneyland Paris at different times of the year, but nothing compares to visiting during the Christmas season. Whether you have never been to Disneyland Paris, or you simply haven’t been during this season, here is why you should definitely visit during the Christmas period. Although be forewarned – visiting at any other time of the year will never be the same again!  (last updated – November 13th 2021)

Disneyland Paris parc extra entertainment

Compared to other Disney parks, Disneyland Paris severely lacks on the entertainment department. Outside of special seasons, the offerings across both parks are basically reduced to a day time parade and a night show. But not at Christmas! Even though you will pay the same price for your ticket, you will get five times the entertainment. Here are some of the offerings you will find during Christmas at Disneyland Paris:

Christmas parade: During the Christmas season, apart from the usual ‘Disney Stars on Parade’, there is a second Christmas parade that runs a couple of times a day. For the 2021 Christmas season, ‘Disney Stars on Parade’ is still not back, so the only parade running is in fact a brand new Christmas parade: ‘Mickey’s dazzling Christmas parade’.

For the 2021 Christmas season, unfortunately castle-side Christmas shows haven’t returned.

A merry Stitchmas: of the recently added 25th anniversary stage shows, a brand new Christmas show takes over the castle stage a couple of times a day. It’s all about Mickey and friends singing some of the classic seasonal songs, trying to get Stitch to understand what Christmas is. Definitely worth watching!

Let’s sing Christmas: During Christmas time, Mickey and friends take over the Videopolis theatre to sing some great Christmas classics. It’s a very wholesome show, and one of my Christmas favourites. It’s also indoors, which given how ridiculously cold the park gets during this time of the year, is a significant bonus. 

• For the 2021 Christmas season, unfortunately the tree lighting ceremony has not returned

Mickey’s Magical Christmas lights:If all of the above doesn’t seem like enough extra entertainment, don’t worry because there is more. Every night there is a ceremony to turn on the lights of the huge and beautiful Christmas tree on Main Street. This features Disney characters, Santa, and the best part: fake snow! Definitely one of the highlights of the Christmas season, and if you don’t believe me, you can watch this video by DLP Guide.

Walt Disney Studios entertainment

Notice how there is no need for the word ‘extra’ here? The second Disney park usually has no entertainment whatsoever, automatically making the Christmas season a more interesting time to be visiting.

• A funny snowy Christmas: This is a stage show in front of Tower Terror taking place a couple of times a day. Donald realises he’s not ready for Christmas and recruits his friends to help him. It’s a sweet show, more targeted at a younger audience than adults, but still worth watching. It certainly helps spread some much needed seasonal cheer around the park!

• For the 2021 Christmas season, unfortunately nighttime entertainment has not returned

Goofy’s incredible Christmas: This is a beautiful Christmas number that combines projections over the Tower of Terror with fireworks and a stage show led by Goofy. There are also lights and projections around the whole Production Courtyard area. As much as I didn’t particularly enjoy ‘Sing me a Merry Christmas’, I loved this show. I felt it is definitely a worthy replacement of last year’s Disneyland Paris Christmas night show. Given that the Walt Disney Studios doesn’t have a night show during the normal season, it’s a big bonus for visiting during Christmas.

• Christmas band: another nice addition to the Walt Disney Studios, is a Christmas band that plays sporadically at the entrance to the park. It significantly helps liven up this otherwise rather dull stretch.

The advent calendar

A nice touch to an already wonderful season at Disneyland Paris comes with the addition of the advent calendar. Every morning, a new door of the castle-themed calendar is opened. They reveal new Christmas-themed treats that can be bought at the park that day, from Mickey nutcrackers to Christmas cupcakes or decorations.

Christmas holiday treats

One department in which Disneyland Paris is severely lacking compared to other Disney parks, is on the snacks front. Usually, all you’d be able to buy in most cafes in the parks would be coffee or tea and a muffin or donut. But that’s not the case during Christmas season! There are all sorts of elaborate Christmas themed food items on sale. 

Disneyland Paris Christmas decorations

I have celebrated Christmas in many different cities across Europe, but nothing, I repeat – nothing, compares to how Disneyland Paris does Christmas. The minute you walk through the gates, it is a complete feast of Christmas decorations wherever you look. Every little corner has been taken care of. Not only that, but inside of restaurants, shops and even the Disney hotels decorations have been put up all around. The luxurious Disneyland Hotel in particular, goes above and beyond to decorate its reception. It includes a beautiful Christmas tree as well as a gingerbread house and even a little toy train. 

Disney Village Christmas markets

Of course, it wouldn’t be the best Christmas celebration of them all without some Christmas markets. The Disney Village hosts a bunch of classic Christmas market stalls every year. They are as overpriced as those you’d find in any other major European Christmas market, with the benefits of being even cuter. Mulled wine (or gluhwine) stall included!

Christmas window displays

Another of the highlights of the Christmas season is the beautiful window displays. Not that they aren’t beautiful any other time of the year, but it seems that Disneyland Paris takes it one step further when it comes to Christmas window displays. You won’t find a single shop window that hasn’t been carefully decorated with a touch of the holidays. An entire afternoon can easily be filled up going from one window display to another as well as admiring the extensive range of Christmas merchandise on offer.

Extra Disney characters spreading Christmas cheer

If you enjoy meeting Disney characters, visiting during the Christmas season will allow you to meet characters that you won’t find during other times of the year. Disneyland Paris brings out extra characters to spread the Christmas cheer. I am not just talking about Santa Claus (who you can also meet by the way), but about other Disney classics such as Scrooge, Jack Skellington or Thumper and Miss Bunny (Bambi).

Less crowds

Last but not least is a very important factor, or at least the key factor I take into account when booking my Disney holidays: crowds. Unless you are visiting during actual Christmas holidays (the last two weeks in December), the Christmas season is off season. This means a lot less crowds, which means a significantly less portion of your day goes towards queuing. Not only that, but Disney usually has off-season offers if you book in advance. That means it is actually one of the cheapest times of the year to go – and I speak from experience.

So there you have it! As if the happiest place on Earth wasn’t wonderful enough, it does become a whole new level of awesome during the Christmas season. And there is still plenty of time left this year, so if you have some spare money lying around and haven’t made up your mind yet, what are you waiting for?

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Any other Christmas at Disneyland Paris lovers out there?