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Original poster

Disneyland paris for xmas?!

41 replies

PileOfBooks · 15/09/2021 19:30

Has anyone been to dlp over xmas? How crazy an idea is it?

I would have older children (13 and 11!) But they love rides and love Merlin. They went when small and are keen to go back.

Realistically we cant see how we can before then. Husband works in a uni and only gets 2 weeks at xmas/no half terms.
We could do early july next year but my daughter has a condition that means she struggles with heat.

Id like to go term-time Oct-March but kust can't see how.

So xmas term time.... crowds!?!? Queues!?!? We'd have whatever their version of a disability pass is...

Is it lovely or really for littlies...

Does it pour with rain...

OP posts:
StickersStickers · 15/09/2021 19:39

We went to DLP before Christmas in term time and were surprised at how busy it was (we've also done DW Florida). It didn't rain and there's a lovely little Christmas village in "the village" (the little main street next to DLP, I forget the name).

The best resource for DLP is probably The Dibb forum.

WeAreTheWeirdosMister · 15/09/2021 19:42

I've been for Christmas, and there was up and downs...the meal we had with Princesses on Christmas day was amazing, the staff at Chez Remy were horrible... we'd only been to the American parks and the staff (sorry 'cast members') were no where near as nice.

After going we decided not to go back with small kids - 1, 4, 9 and 14

It was drizzly, so prepare for a wet day out and you'll be fine.

Checking in to the hotel took over two hours and it's the last thing you need after being on a flight with 4 kids.

It was busy and lots of smoking. Longest we waited was 90 mins for a ride (crush's coaster).

The booked meals were so much better than the grab and go as we waited ages for a burger meal - everything was rammed. So I'd say book as much as you can and have snacks on hand.

Floralnomad · 15/09/2021 19:43

We used to go the week before Christmas coming home on the Friday before Christmas every year when our children were younger , it’s fabulous . That said at the moment the Disneyland hotel is closed for refurbishment and they’ve just extended their mask policy in the park so we won’t be going back for a while .

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Original poster
PileOfBooks · 15/09/2021 19:46

Ah we've not been to the usa parks and chez remy was my favourite! Albeit 7 odd years ago now 😬.

90min queue 😬. Eeek.

Ok with drizzle. Would hate full on rain. Alternative is too hot. Its frustrating jobs wont allow us a happy medium!

We last went mid Jan when it was empty. Hmm..

OP posts:
JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 15/09/2021 19:47

I took DD on 19 dec and came back on Christmas Eve. It was great. Not crowded at all but plenty of atmosphere and the Christmas decorations and parade were fabulous. Friends who went the following week said it was packed and not much fun.

Original poster
PileOfBooks · 15/09/2021 19:49

Oooh Floral thats exciting! We're hoping to go Dec 2022 (well I'd hoped to go before then...) so will book for then when the dates come out soon. We are more Santa Fe budget than DLH. We were wondering about staying over xmas itself as xmas is just us and might be a bit flat after.

OP posts:
FawnFrenchieMum · 15/09/2021 19:55

We haven’t been over Christmas but have been in Mid December twice and it was busy, but sooo lovely to see it lite up at Christmas with all the lights, fake snow on Main Street etc.

If you qualify for the green pass (the disability pass) it doesn’t make too much difference how busy it is. They are amazing with their disability policies but also very strict on what evidence they accept so make sure you research that before you go.

FawnFrenchieMum · 15/09/2021 19:58

Another thing to consider is the castle is currently covered up for a refurb but I’m not sure when that is due to be finished, hopefully before Dec 22!

If you have Facebook join Disneyland Paris for Brits, you will find tonnes of info on there.

Returnoftheowl · 15/09/2021 20:04

With the weather, it's Europe in December... Rain is definitely a possibility.

I've been in November several times and had gloriously sunny days (although not warm) but also had days of torrential rain.

Original poster
PileOfBooks · 15/09/2021 20:10

Thankyou all.

Yes with Dla we qualify for green pass, but I read somewhere they might change how it works? At Merlin you get "timed out" for the same length of time as the queue.

Castle - I thought was supposed to be done for 30th birthday in April. I am hoping all sorted by Dec.... but I am aware covid could change everything!

Thankyou everyone x

OP posts:
Original poster
PileOfBooks · 15/09/2021 20:10

Return thats what I was thinking. Will just have to have fingers crossed its not torrential everyday...

OP posts:
FawnFrenchieMum · 15/09/2021 20:29

@PileOfBooks

Thankyou all.

Yes with Dla we qualify for green pass, but I read somewhere they might change how it works? At Merlin you get "timed out" for the same length of time as the queue.

Castle - I thought was supposed to be done for 30th birthday in April. I am hoping all sorted by Dec.... but I am aware covid could change everything!

Thankyou everyone x

They don’t actually accept the DLA award as evidence though. You need a GP’s / Consultants letter and they are very specific over what it must say.
Original poster
PileOfBooks · 15/09/2021 20:49

Merlin ask for a specific letter so we have that, and evidence to fill your boots...

However the website just says dla. It would be helpful to know if this is not the case.

Disneyland paris for xmas?!
OP posts:
Original poster
PileOfBooks · 15/09/2021 20:52

Ah this is a better screenshot. Looks like its just a letter if you can't produce dla? I agree though dla isnt enough for Merlin as it doesn't pŕove you have difficulty queuing.

Disneyland paris for xmas?!
OP posts:
Leeds2 · 15/09/2021 21:27

I have been twice, both times for three days in the week after Christmas. All I remember is that on both occasions it was bitterly, bitterly cold!

Original poster
PileOfBooks · 15/09/2021 21:28

Well I guess that's better than remembering crowds... We cannplan for cold. We can always add more layers. We can't cope with heat!

OP posts:
Original poster
PileOfBooks · 15/09/2021 21:28

No "magic"?!

What is xmas day like?

I guess if you went twice it must have been good enough to go back...

OP posts:
leavesthataregreen · 15/09/2021 21:34

We went in new year. (About 12 years ago, though!) Flew out on NYD and stayed 3-4 nights. It was fantastic. We walked onto every ride - no queues. It still had all the Christmas decor up and the Christmas Parade. The DC loved it - did about 14 rides a day because of the lack of queues. One day i think we did 22 rides because there was one gthey loved and they just jumped off and straight back on as it was empty. It was freezing cold but DC had such a good time they didn't notice.

ZZGirl · 15/09/2021 21:41

While DLP is busy at Christmas, they're still running on reduced capacity due to covid and the Disneyland Hotel being closed for refurbishment. DLP is beautiful at Christmas.
Check out the FB group Disneyland paris for Brits

Original poster
PileOfBooks · 15/09/2021 21:56

We're looking at 2022 rather than this year so the castle should be finished. Although goodness knows about covid!

Leaves that sounds amazing! I'd go new year rather than xmas if that would be the case. We prefer it when you can walk on rides but it shows as one of their busiest times on the crowd calculators!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
PileOfBooks · 15/09/2021 21:56

Unless those 3-4days were when schools are back which would make sense but we can't do that 😭.

Great to hear people have had a fab time!

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 15/09/2021 23:22

We had snow on quite a few occasions when we’ve been in December .

FawnFrenchieMum · 16/09/2021 05:53

@PileOfBooks

Ah this is a better screenshot. Looks like its just a letter if you can't produce dla? I agree though dla isnt enough for Merlin as it doesn't pŕove you have difficulty queuing.
Oh that’s brilliant! They have updated it since we last went.
RossIsTheBestFriend · 16/09/2021 06:02

@PileOfBooks

Has anyone been to dlp over xmas? How crazy an idea is it?

I would have older children (13 and 11!) But they love rides and love Merlin. They went when small and are keen to go back.

Realistically we cant see how we can before then. Husband works in a uni and only gets 2 weeks at xmas/no half terms.
We could do early july next year but my daughter has a condition that means she struggles with heat.

Id like to go term-time Oct-March but kust can't see how.

So xmas term time.... crowds!?!? Queues!?!? We'd have whatever their version of a disability pass is...

Is it lovely or really for littlies...

Does it pour with rain...

@PileOfBooks Never been for Christmas - although we would love to 😍 I can’t imagine it being anything other than magical.

I don’t know about school holidays etc but last time we went we arrived on St Patrick’s Day and stayed 4 days and it was the perfect time of year IMO! Lovely sunny days - but not hot. And the parks were quiet! Our longest queue was 20 minutes 😊

DanteThunderstone · 16/09/2021 06:03

Not sure if this is relevant OP but my nephew was allowed an 'authorised absence' from school during term time because his disability meant he wouldn't cope with a holiday at a busier time.

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