Disneyland - A Magical Christmas Awaits: Disneyland Paris Unveils its Enchanted Holiday Season

By Mulder, 02 november 2024

Disneyland Paris is preparing for an especially enchanting holiday season, inviting families and friends to experience the magic of Disney Enchanted Christmas. This annual event will transform the park into a true winter wonderland, with twinkling decorations, iconic Disney characters in festive attire, and an abundance of unique holiday-themed shows and experiences. The holiday season at Disneyland Paris promises to be unforgettable, extending its charm and festive spirit throughout the parks, shops, restaurants, and Disney hotels, offering a royal experience at every turn.

Upon entering Disneyland Park, visitors will be welcomed by a towering 24-meter Christmas tree standing proudly on Main Street, U.S.A. Adorned with nearly 1,000 ornaments, the massive tree sets the scene for a holiday adventure as it casts a magical glow over the entrance. Snow will fall several times daily along Main Street, adding a touch of winter magic as guests make their way toward Sleeping Beauty Castle. Near the castle, guests will encounter Princess Aurora and Prince Philip from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, and further along, meet beloved characters like Chip and Dale, Winnie the Pooh, and even Stitch, who will don their holiday best. Disney characters like Goofy, Jack Skellington, and even Stitch will add festive flair by emulating Santa Claus himself. Santa Claus will also be present in the park, delighting guests young and old as he listens to last-minute holiday wishes before embarking on his annual journey around the world.

Mickey and his friends will bring the magic to life with Mickey’s Sparkling Christmas Parade, an annual favorite that has twice-daily performances along Main Street, U.S.A. The parade was awarded the prestigious Brass Ring Award for the Most Creative Holiday Show by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) in 2022, and its 2024 return promises even more excitement. Multiple themed floats, accompanied by music and lights, will feature Mickey, Minnie, and other favorite Disney characters, including the Disney Princesses and Santa Claus himself. Nearly 90 performers will contribute to this stunning show, with dazzling costumes and decorations. As night falls, the parade will illuminate, casting a warm holiday glow over the procession, adding an extra layer of magic to this beloved celebration.

In addition to the parade, visitors can sing along with Sing Christmas! at Videopolis Theatre. This lively show features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy, who lead the audience in beloved Christmas songs such as Petit Papa Noël and Vive le Vent, with lyrics displayed on a large screen so everyone can join in. This year’s show will include a surprise guest who will further infuse the holiday spirit, making it an ideal gathering for families to celebrate the joy of Christmas through music and laughter.

Holiday magic abounds with the Disney Princesses as well, who will host a special daily waltz near Sleeping Beauty Castle. Dressed in their most elegant holiday attire, Princesses such as Aurora, Cinderella, Belle, Tiana, Jasmine, Rapunzel, Ariel, and Snow White will welcome guests in a graceful holiday dance as part of The Disney Princesses Celebrate the Holidays. This magical moment allows guests to see their favorite princesses up close and experience the charm of a fairytale Christmas.

Throughout the day, guests will have the opportunity to witness Mickey and Friends' Christmas Joyful Reunion at Town Square. Here, Mickey, Minnie, and friends such as Horace, Clarabelle, Stitch, Pinocchio, and Santa Claus will make festive appearances, greeting visitors with holiday cheer and posing for photos to capture precious memories in this joyful gathering.

As night approaches, Disney Illuminations will take center stage, illuminating Sleeping Beauty Castle in spectacular holiday colors. Before this nighttime show, the award-winning Disney Electrical Sky Parade will return, winning the Parksmania Award as the European Top New Attraction for 2024 and receiving a nomination for the Park World Excellence Awards for Best Live Entertainment. This holiday edition will incorporate Christmas scenes with giant nutcrackers, Christmas trees, gift boxes, and candy canes, filling the night sky with festive lights. New scenes pay tribute to Disneyland Paris’ It’s a Small World attraction, featuring winter elements and a North Pole-themed finale. Guests will find Main Street, U.S.A. adorned with shimmering lights and gentle snowfall, creating a mesmerizing atmosphere to end the day.

The stunning floats of Mickey’s Christmas Parade each stand over 6 meters high, weighing between 12 and 15 tons. To bring this extraordinary production to life, over 380 costumes, 3,000 costume pieces, 700 pairs of shoes, and 90 hairstyling accessories were crafted, with approximately 8 kilometers of fabric used. The parade has been a labor of love, with 200 dedicated team members working over two years to deliver this unforgettable experience.

Holiday decorations are abundant across the entire Disneyland Paris resort, with over 15,000 Christmas ornaments adorning the area and 80 Christmas trees positioned throughout. The resort’s centerpiece, the 24-meter-high Christmas tree, weighs 25 tons and is decorated with more than 1,000 ornaments, welcoming visitors with its festive grandeur. Additionally, around 37,000 flowers will be planted by horticulturists over four days, adding splashes of holiday color throughout the parks.

For food lovers, Disneyland Paris offers a variety of seasonal culinary delights. Guests can savor shared treats like a chestnut mousse pastry with blackcurrant filling or classic gingerbread Mickey cookies. Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park feature Gourmet Chalets at La Place de Rémy and Fantasyland, offering delicious holiday snacks such as tartiflette with Reblochon cheese, pretzels, and hot mulled wine to warm guests as they enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas.

This season also brings exclusive Disneyland Paris merchandise, making it easy for guests to find the perfect holiday gift. Among this year’s unique offerings are a Santa-themed Loungefly backpack, plush Mickey and Minnie in festive attire, and a special edition Disneyland Paris Monopoly game featuring iconic locations from the park. Guests can visit La Boutique du Château, a store located within Sleeping Beauty Castle dedicated to holiday decorations, where they can find ornaments and other festive items to bring Disney magic into their homes.

The enchantment of Christmas extends beyond the parks to the newly renovated Disneyland Hotel, which will be adorned with elegant holiday décor. This royal setting invites families to create joyful memories, with a new holiday-themed animation in the lobby replacing the Troupe Royale Disney. The show features the Timekeeper and Winter’s Light Ceremony, where children learn a magic phrase to unlock the book of time, releasing Winter’s Light to illuminate the grand Christmas tree. Disneyland Hotel will also offer Royal Dream Makeovers for children, allowing them to transform into princesses or princes with makeup, hairstyles, manicures, costumes, and accessories, creating a royal fairytale experience.

In addition to the festive decor, Disneyland Hotel will serve holiday-themed menus at the Royal Banquet buffet, along with exclusive seasonal drinks available at the Fleur de Lys Bar. Guests celebrating New Year’s Eve can enjoy a specially curated menu, while a grand New Year’s Eve fireworks display will light up the sky over Disneyland Park, which will remain open until 1:00 AM to welcome 2025 in a uniquely festive setting.

Disneyland Paris is also continuing its tradition of giving back through the Disney VoluntEARS program. Every year, Disney VoluntEARS bring the joy of the holidays to children in hospitals across France. Alongside their families, they wrap and distribute thousands of gifts to over 80 pediatric hospitals, ensuring that the magic of Christmas reaches those who need it most.

Disneyland Paris promises a festive season like no other, with a rich lineup of activities, entertainment, and holiday decorations that will transform the resort into a winter wonderland, creating cherished memories and capturing the true spirit of Christmas.

This year’s holiday programming at Disneyland Paris includes:
-          Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
-          Sing Christmas! Show at Videopolis Theatre
-          Disney Electrical Sky Parade
-          Disney Illuminations 

Photos : Boris Colletier / Mulderville

(Source : presse release)