EnglishDisneyland - Disney Enchanted Christmas 2024: Disneyland Paris opened its doors today for a magical holiday season
By Mulder, Chesy, Disneyland Paris, 09 november 2024
Today marked the inauguration of Disneyland Paris' Enchanted Christmas 2024, a much-anticipated seasonal celebration that will run until January 6, 2025. This festive event promises visitors a winter wonderland filled with immersive experiences, joyous encounters and Christmas magic that stretches across Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. Every corner of Disneyland Paris will be lit up with the spirit of the festive season, making it the ultimate destination for families, friends and Disney enthusiasts to experience the enchantment of Christmas.
As of today, Disneyland Paris has welcomed its many visitors with a magnificent 24-metre Christmas tree, adorned with over 1,000 decorations, standing proudly on Main Street, U.S.A. Strolling through the park, visitors are treated to snowfalls several times a day, covering Main Street with a layer of festive charm. This year, over 80 Christmas trees and almost 15,000 decorations adorn the park's entrance, transforming it into a cozy fairytale setting. The attention to detail is astonishing, from the garlanded Main Street lampposts to Sleeping Beauty's Castle, which is adorned with twinkling Christmas lights and decorations, serving as a sparkling centerpiece to the festive landscape.
The Disneyland Paris horticultural team has been hard at work planting 37,000 flowers to bring a fresh, natural touch to the Christmas decor. Each flowerbed complements the Christmas decorations and gives the park a warm, welcoming atmosphere. This immersive winter wonderland has been carefully designed to bring holiday cheer to every corner, promising countless photo opportunities for visitors of all ages.
One of the highlights of the day is Mickey's dazzling, award-winning Christmas Parade. This spectacular parade, which won the Brass Ring Award for Most Creative Christmas Show from the International Association of Amusement Parks (IAAPA) in 2022, features five elaborate floats, adorned with festive lights and vibrant decorations. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and a host of Disney princesses, including Cinderella, Belle and Rapunzel, make appearances alongside Santa, spreading holiday cheer and spirit as they glide through the streets of Disneyland Park.
The parade, featuring some 90 performers, takes place twice a day. During the day, visitors can admire the floats in all their festive splendor, while the evening show transforms the floats into a luminous procession that illuminates the park, adding an extra touch of magic. At the end of the last parade of the day, Town Square visitors were treated to the lighting of the giant Christmas tree, a beloved Disneyland Paris tradition that marks the official start of the season. With its blue, red and gold lights, the tree lighting ceremony is a spectacle sure to warm the hearts of visitors.
From this day onwards, visitors have the chance to meet their favorite Disney characters dressed in special festive costumes, creating the perfect moments to capture the magic of Christmas. Characters such as Chip 'n' Dale, Goofy and Stitch appear in Santa-inspired outfits. Santa himself is also present at Disneyland Paris, eagerly awaiting children's Christmas wishes before embarking on his journey around the world.
For those wishing to immerse themselves in the musical spirit of Christmas, Discoveryland's Videopolis Theatre will welcome the return of Let's Sing Christmas! this Sunday, November 10. This animated musical show invites visitors to join Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy in singing timeless Christmas carols, with lyrics displayed on screen to encourage audience participation. Classics like Little Santa Claus and Jingle Bells come to life in an interactive show that promises laughter, song and holiday cheer, creating unforgettable memories for families.
As night falls, vacation magic at Disneyland Paris reaches new heights with Disney's Electric Celestial Parade, a dazzling display of drones and projections that lights up the sky above Sleeping Beauty Castle. The show, which won the Parksmania Award for Best New European Attraction in 2024, features scenes of snowflakes, Christmas trees and festive decorations, creating a mesmerizing visual experience just before the beloved Disney Illuminations nighttime show. Additional scenes this year include special nods to Disney's “it's a small world” and the North Pole, all designed to transport visitors to a vacation fairytale under the stars.
Food is always a highlight of any Disney celebration, and Disney's Enchanted Christmas is no exception. Tomorrow, Les Chalets Gourmands open their doors at Fantasyland in Disneyland Park and La Place de Rémy in Walt Disney Studios Park, offering visitors the chance to sample traditional holiday delights across France. Hearty hot dishes like reblochon tartiflette and roasted chestnuts are available alongside sweet treats like Nutella pancakes and Mickey-shaped gingerbread cookies. The chalets offer a cozy setting to savor festive flavors while enjoying the sights and sounds of the holiday season. And for adults, a glass of mulled wine will add an extra touch of warmth to cold winter evenings.
The Disneyland Hotel also joins in the festivities, offering a luxurious vacation experience for visitors looking for an out-of-the-ordinary stay. Today marks the debut of The Keeper of Time and the Winter Light, an all-new show that delights visitors in the hotel lobby. This interactive show invites children to open a magical book that unleashes the Winter Light” illuminating the hotel's Christmas tree in a dazzling display. This year, young guests can take part in My Royal Dream, an experience that lets children transform into princesses or princes with costumes, make-up and accessories.
Exclusive seasonal items, including Christmas decorations featuring the hotel's iconic façade, are available for those wishing to bring a little magic home. The Disneyland Hotel also offers a selection of holiday-inspired meals and treats, creating a warm, family-friendly atmosphere where visitors can indulge in the flavors of Christmas.
The festivities will continue throughout the New Year, with Disneyland Paris remaining open until 1 a.m. on December 31. Visitors can bid farewell to 2024 and welcome 2025 with an unforgettable fireworks display above Sleeping Beauty Castle. This New Year's Eve celebration offers extended opening hours and special entertainment, allowing families and friends to start the year in true Disney style, surrounded by festive lights, music and an enchanting atmosphere unique to Disneyland Paris.
True to its tradition of spreading cheer, Disneyland Paris will also be bringing the magic of Christmas to children in hospitals across France. Disney Volunteers, accompanied by Disney characters and actors, will wrap thousands of gifts for over 80 children's hospitals, ensuring that children who can't make it to Disneyland Paris can still experience a touch of Christmas magic. This annual initiative is an integral part of Disney's commitment to bringing smiles and joy to children during the festive season.
For visitors who want to take a little Disney Christmas magic home with them, the resort's boutiques offer a wide range of holiday-themed merchandise, from festive Mickey and Minnie plush toys to seasonal clothing. This year, the special Disneyland Paris edition of Monopoly returns, with park locations and attractions on the game board, allowing fans to enjoy a touch of Disneyland magic even after they've left. The Castle Boutique, located in Sleeping Beauty Castle, is fully stocked with Christmas decorations, so visitors can find the perfect ornament or gift to commemorate their visit.
As Disneyland Paris opens its doors for Disney's Enchanted Christmas 2024, visitors can look forward to an unforgettable experience, filled with joy, magic and memories that will stay with them forever. Whether watching Mickey's dazzling Christmas Parade, singing along with beloved characters, savoring festive treats at the Chalets Gourmands, or basking in the nighttime glow of Disney's Electric Sky Parade, Disney's Enchanted Christmas is sure to be a season of wonder and enchantment. Get ready to enter a world of enchantment and visit Disneyland Paris this season to share the magic of Christmas, Disney-style.
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Photos and video : Boris Colletier / Mulderville