First Timers tips for visiting Disneyland Paris on Christmas Day

[jourknee2master]

Taking a Christmas trip out to the UK during Christmas 2024 and making a quick detour to Paris to visit Disneyland Paris on Christmas Day. We plan on only spending the 1 day at the park and maybe visiting studios if time permits. We were looking at the different fast pass options and were wondering if the Ultimate Premier pas sis available if you are not staying on property? We are planning on staying in the city center and just taking the train in for the day. Would love any advise on this, the parks and MUST DO Christmas time activities or eats in the parks! I am a Disney and Christmas junkie so this is all a dream come true.

Looking forward to hearing from all of you and learning and experiencing my first international Disney park!

 

[Karin1984]

Hello!

We plan on only spending the 1 day at the park and maybe visiting studios if time permits.

Keep in mind that this is the busiest time of the year, if you are not staying onsite, make sure you make your park reservations as soon as you can. Very likely, the park will sell out.

We were looking at the different fast pass options and were wondering if the Ultimate Premier pas sis available if you are not staying on property?

You can buy any pass regardless of where you are staying.

the parks and MUST DO Christmas time activities or eats in the parks! I

The Christmas activities haven't been announced yet.
You can go to Facebook for ED92/DLP Report/Pixiedust.be (the biggest fansites) and scroll back to Christmas last year to get an idea what was offered last year.

What there will be, 100% sure:
- Decorations on Main Street
- Seasonal snacks,
These will probably be new.
- Characters in Christmas outfits

Very likely:
- Christmas parade, this one goes out twice in daylight and after dark.
- Let's sing Christmas (20 minute show with carollers and Disney characters singing Christmas songs)
- Meet Father Christmas

Hopefully:
- Mickey's Christmas Big Band
They didn't do this last year, which is a pity as this is one of the best shows Disney ever had. And it's just what it sounds like: Mickey (and the other fab characters) with a big band doing Christmas songs.

As Castle Stage is going through a lengthy refurbishment, there won't be an additional show here.

I recently started a thread with all kind of starter tips. Maybe there are some helpful tips in there for your first visit.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/karin’s-disneyland-paris-first-timer-tips-2024.3950886/

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I was at Disneyland Paris at Christmas 2013. We stayed onsite so had early entry.

Christmas Day is very busy. In France the main family day is Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is like Boxing Day, as in the day everyone is out and about doing things.

It was magical walking down Main Street early on Christmas morning, with the low crowds.

Meet Santa ends on Christmas Eve but all the other Christmas activities happen, the tree lighting, parade etc.

Some of the table service restaurants have a special Christmas Character meal , and not their regular menu. These book up in advance. We did the Christmas Character lunch meal in Manhattan Restaurant in the old Hotel New York.

I went into the parks after the meal about 4pm, and I was very surprised how busy it was and how long the ride wait times were.

As its peak season, the parks have late closing. This means the main night time Castle projections show will be late, I think it was 11pm. We did it one night, but it was cold that late and very busy and it took a good while to exit the park afterwards. We were just walking back to Sequoia Lodge, but it would have been a big scramble to get the last train back into Paris.

 

[jourknee2master]

Hello!


Keep in mind that this is the busiest time of the year, if you are not staying onsite, make sure you make your park reservations as soon as you can. Very likely, the park will sell out.


You can buy any pass regardless of where you are staying.


The Christmas activities haven't been announced yet.
You can go to Facebook for ED92/DLP Report/Pixiedust.be (the biggest fansites) and scroll back to Christmas last year to get an idea what was offered last year.

What there will be, 100% sure:
- Decorations on Main Street
- Seasonal snacks,
These will probably be new.
- Characters in Christmas outfits

Very likely:
- Christmas parade, this one goes out twice in daylight and after dark.
- Let's sing Christmas (20 minute show with carollers and Disney characters singing Christmas songs)
- Meet Father Christmas

Hopefully:
- Mickey's Christmas Big Band
They didn't do this last year, which is a pity as this is one of the best shows Disney ever had. And it's just what it sounds like: Mickey (and the other fab characters) with a big band doing Christmas songs.

As Castle Stage is going through a lengthy refurbishment, there won't be an additional show here.

I recently started a thread with all kind of starter tips. Maybe there are some helpful tips in there for your first visit.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/karin’s-disneyland-paris-first-timer-tips-2024.3950886/

Thank you for all these amazing tips! I’ll be sure to follow the other thread and visit those fansites for more details.

I just bought our tickets and premiere pass last night and they are dated for 12/25/2024, do I still need to make a park reservation?

 

[Karin1984]

Thank you for all these amazing tips! I’ll be sure to follow the other thread and visit those fansites for more details.

I just bought our tickets and premiere pass last night and they are dated for 12/25/2024, do I still need to make a park reservation?

Apologies, no you don't. Dated tickets do not have to register. Only undated and AP holders have to.

https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/register-tickets/

 

[jourknee2master]

Apologies, no you don't. Dated tickets do not have to register. Only undated and AP holders have to.

https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/register-tickets/

Thank you!

 

[ngl]

@jourknee2master Would love to hear about your Christmas experience at DLP once you get home! We are seriously considering this for 2025 and would love input. Have a wonderful 2024 holiday season!!

 

[Karin1984]

@jourknee2master Would love to hear about your Christmas experience at DLP once you get home! We are seriously considering this for 2025 and would love input. Have a wonderful 2024 holiday season!!

I did 2 trips this Christmas, anything in particular you want to know?

 

[ngl]

Thanks! We have been to DLP & really enjoyed it (we live in FL & DVC so do the US parks often) but that was over the summer. Assume just like US parks it’s crowded but was curious if they offer “nice” Christmas dinners onsite? Most likely would stay at Disneyland hotel. And this is totally random question but we go to Mass on Cmas Eve. Any idea how far the closest place would be from DLP to take a train for a service? (& maybe it’s just going into Paris?)

 

[Karin1984]

Thanks! We have been to DLP & really enjoyed it (we live in FL & DVC so do the US parks often) but that was over the summer. Assume just like US parks it’s crowded but was curious if they offer “nice” Christmas dinners onsite? Most likely would stay at Disneyland hotel. And this is totally random question but we go to Mass on Cmas Eve. Any idea how far the closest place would be from DLP to take a train for a service? (& maybe it’s just going into Paris?)

I haven't been on Christmas day itself, but it is a bank holiday in every EU country and all the schools have a holiday break, so it will be busy.

They offer several special Christmas dinners throughout the park for 24 and 31 December. Most expensive is Table de Lumière at €230 per adult. Others are €100-150.

For Mass on the 24th, there are several in the surrounding villages. But they will be all in French. The schedule is on this website. Easiest is to use an Uber, but no idea how easy they are to get on Christmas Eve.
https://www.poledevaldeurope.catho77.fr

If you want to go to a Mass in English, you will have to go to Paris.
https://www.parisdiscoveryguide.com/christmas-eve-mass-in-paris.html#services

 

[ngl]

Thank you so much for this information!!! Have you been there for NYE? Debating whether to go at Cmas or NYE.

 

[Karin1984]

Thank you so much for this information!!! Have you been there for NYE? Debating whether to go at Cmas or NYE.

I would love to, but I cannot justify the hotel prices for that night (or week )

I would do NYE as there is going to be special fireworks. I am not 100% sure, but I believe 24-26 december is the regular evening show for the Christmas season.