‘Tis the season to be at Disneyland Resort Paris

December 2nd, 2008 . by admin

If it doesn’t snow for real, you can at least be guaranteed some fake snow as you walk down Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland Park. Christmas has arrived at Disneyland Resort Paris and along with daily snow flurries, the endless Christmas music is sure to get you into the spirit of the season.

Everywhere you turn the parks and hotels have been “Christmasified” with bells, baubles and fake snow. Kids will whoop with delight as they get to meet the man in red himself, and adults will look on in awe at the thousands of lights that cover the Castle each night. This is truly a magical time to visit the Paris parks!

Disneyland Park is awash with Christmas decorations and fake snow, starting on in Town Square as you enter the park with a 25m Christmas tree and a host of smaller trees, each bathed in blue light. Kids can get in line to meet Santa Goofy, or pose for a picture under the tree. Christmas wreaths line Main Street, U.S.A. and snow falls every 15 minutes.

The daily Disney’s Once Upon a Dream Parade has a special ending with Santa Claus himself, accompanied by wooden toy soldiers and his reindeer. This may be the first time you’ll hear the catchy “C’est Noel” Christmas tune, but certainly not the last and I defy you not to be humming it as you leave the park each day!

Over in Frontierland, kids of all ages can visit Santa Claus’ Village, a winter wonderland of snowmen, and a delightful toy workshop display (see if you can spot Mickey). Here they can meet Santa and let him know what they’d like for Christmas this year, before having their photograph taken with him. This is a very popular attraction, even though it’s a bit out of the way, and I’d strongly advise visiting early in the day to avoid lengthy waits. Refreshments are available at a counter in the Village, but kids can easily get bored in the outdoor queue area. After meeting Santa, kids are encouraged to write down their wish list and post it at the special Post Office located right next to Santa’s hut. Special envelopes are available at the Post Office or from your Disney hotel concierge, and each child is promised a reply.

Still in Frontierland, Mickey and Minnie take to the stage in the Chapparal Theater several times each day to perform Mickey’s Winter Wonderland, an ice-skating show that’s not to be missed.

The Enchanted Candleabration puts a Christmas twist on the celebration that’s been running throughout the 15th anniversary celebrations. Each evening, gather round the Castle Stage for a show featuring your favourite Disney characters and Princesses, finishing off with a maginificent lighting up of the Castle and it’s thousands of tiny blue and white lights. Be sure to arrive early for a good view of the show, and stand in front of or around the Castle Stage rather than the Castle.

If you want to partake in some festive shopping, look no further than the quaint Belle’s Christmas Village in Fantasyland. With a number of cabins offering everything from soft toys to mulled wine, it’s a nice place to escape from the rides and spend those Euros! Belle and the Beast appear here daily for meet and greets, check the park programme for details.

Next door, at Walt Disney Studios Park, Christmas has arrived, although not quite as much as Disneyland Park. A large tree dominates Place des Stars, and a host of beautiful gold trees are scattered throughout Front Lot.

Toons on Set for Christmas is a mini parade held each day (check programme for times) running from Toon Studio to Place des Stars and culminating in a character meet and greet, where guests can typically meet Santa Goofy, Donald, Chip ‘n’ Dale, Lilo & Stitch and Cruella de Vil.

Over in Disney Village a nice Christmasy photo opportunity is available across from Cafe Mickey, with Christmas trees and a sleigh to pose in. Of course, I don’t need to mention all of the Christmas shopping opportunities that exist in Disney Village!

The festive season runs through to 6th January, 2009, and unlike the parks in Florida, you may even experience some real snow!

Happy Christmas!

More photos can be found here-
Christmas at Disneyland Park
Christmas at Walt Disney Studios
Belle’s Christmas Village
Santa Claus’ Village

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