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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Am I mad to think of going to Disneyland Paris in December?

23 replies

LinaLamont · 16/08/2010 14:57

It's DD1's 4th birthday on December 20th and I'd like to organise something very separate from Christmas for her. It would mean us going over Dec 20th. Am I mad? Is it freezing?

I used to live in Florida and Disneyworld is mad-busy at that time of year - but at least it's warm.
Your top tips please!

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 16/08/2010 15:01

cold tbh and but beautiful parades for winter and Christams

though not a lot your dd will be able to go on.

i took my dd1 on the sunday befroe Christams and came back on the wednesday and the Christmas was on the friday - lovely trip and stayed in paris and got the train to disney

we did other paris things aswell so not just disney - dd1 was 7 but tall so could go on most of the rides

teameric · 16/08/2010 15:04

I must be mad too cos I have been thinking about going there for Christmas or New Year too, I took my DS there when he was 4 and that was in January, it was cold and rained the whole time but we still had a fab time

kayah · 16/08/2010 15:07

we went to Paris just b4 christmas few years ago
it was much colder than in London
so make sure she has winter clothes and more important - boots as Disneyland was very wet and cold
we enjoyed it, not too crowded, so lots of rides and not many queues...

we had a buggy for our 5 yo as she was warmer on it wrapped up whilst watching parades and when we went back to the part in the evening for fireworks

so plenty of warm clothes for the whole familly abd you'll be fine

it was too cold to do much sightseeing in Paris so we ended up in the science museum which had lovely kids area and hardly any visitors :)

montmartre · 16/08/2010 15:30

We have been on Dec 27th (dh and me, pre-dc)... it was f r e e z I n g ..... we were so cold, meant lots of hovering in shops and the like, which wasn't much fun.
I suppose it depends on how harsh a winter we have...

Could you not go later in spring? A 4yo usually understands about having to wait...

Original poster
LinaLamont · 16/08/2010 15:33

We could go later, but we're hardy Scots and used to cold weather! So, Ugg boots all round!
Is it really busy in December?

OP posts:
kayah · 16/08/2010 15:39

we went about 6-7 years ago around 18-22 dec and it wasn't that busybut maybe things changed now people learned that disneyland gets lovely christmasy decorations andspecial parades :)

kiwibella · 16/08/2010 15:40

I've booked to go the same weekend as you LL. I'm figuring that it's going to be cold but hope that dd2 will be so absorbed by what's going on. Failing that, we'll go back to the hotel. We will only spend one day at the park so as long as we see the characters and father christmas, all should be happy.

Good tip about snow boots kayah, thanks!

Original poster
LinaLamont · 16/08/2010 15:42

I think I'll book! Is it wrong that I'm now getting excited?

OP posts:
kiwibella · 16/08/2010 15:45

nope! I'm excited too Grin. So is dd2 who tells everyone she is going to Mickey Mouse's house but has no idea when Christmas is!!

teameric · 16/08/2010 15:46

not wrong at all, I haven't even booked yet but I think I'm more excited than the kids Grin

kiwibella · 16/08/2010 15:47

Lina... just thinking about your comment about ugg boots earlier - are they hardy enough for wet / snowy weather? I've always wanted some and might NEED them now :)

madeindevon2 · 16/08/2010 15:53

its fab in december (i went last december)
xmas parades....and it will snow artificially even when its not snowing!!
just wrap up warm!

Original poster
LinaLamont · 16/08/2010 15:57

Ugg boots are probably a bad choice if it's wet...but cosy nonetheless!

OP posts:
magentastardust · 16/08/2010 17:53

we went for dc's 2nd and 5th birthdays a couple of years back from 20th-23rd December.
Was great-the santa there is brilliant and the xmas shows get you in the festive mood. Oh and they sell the nicest hot chocolate in the world.
It was very busy and very cold though. My littlest one wore a ski suit most of the time and we all wore thermols or leggings under our jeans and warm cosy boots!
You will have a fab time!

GeekOfTheWeek · 17/08/2010 21:44

We went ast august and have vowed to go in December next time.

Enjoy Smile

mamas12 · 17/08/2010 21:56

Ugg boots are a terrible idea they won't keep you dry. You will need to get waterproof warm boots.
Try proper snow boots.

It will be icy slushy conditions (think walking through icy streams) and freeeeezing with a lot of looooong queues with nothing for littlies to go on.

Other than that the cinema and arts place was ok for them.

Sorry but that was my experience!!

bruffin · 17/08/2010 22:03

Took DCs when they were 3 and 5 for christmas, went on christmas eve and came back 27th. It poured with rain and was busy but we did have a lovely time. We stayed opposite the train station at Bussy St George. It only took 10 minutes to get there and the trains ran regularly on christmas day and went straight to the gates at Disney.

Granard · 17/08/2010 23:07

LinaLamont, agree with all posters about the cold. We went in January & have never actually been so cold. Strongly recommend thermals and ski suit for your little one.

You can arrange a birthday cake at some of the restaurants and the characters will bring the cake to the table & sing happy birthday etc.

I know that Cafe Mickey do it and Inventions at the DL hotel. We stayed at DL hotel and a family (someone famous in fact!) at the table beside us had a birthday & Mickey, Minnie & Goofy arrived at the table with the cake and made a huge fuss of the birthday boy. Magical!

Figgygirl · 22/08/2010 00:53

We go at the beginning of December most years. The parks are nice and quiet, so short queue lines, but the Christmas celebrations are in full swing as they begin at the end of November. We have had years when it has been very cold, and we wore our ski jackets, gloves, hats, scarves, thermals, and lots of layers, and also years ( like last year) when it was mild and quite warm when we were sitting in the sun. ( we just missed the snow that came later).So you need to pack for all weather, including waterproof footwear and brollies.
It was actually cold and very wet in Florida last December as well!
If you can afford to stay in a Disney hotel onsite, it is easy to go back and change clothes if necessary during the day.If you get cold, you can go into the Disneyland Hotel over the DL park entrance, and warm up in there for a while - there is a bar/ cafe/ lounge upstairs. There are often Characters in this hotel.
Disneyland is designed for the whole family to enjoy rides together, there are only a few that have a height requirement, and some are not recommended for taking young babies on.
It is a lovely way to begin the Christmas period, we usually go for 2 nts 3 days Monday to Wednesday.
You can get lots of information, help and advice on the Trip Advisor Marne La Vallee Forum, which is mainly for Disneyland Paris.

bryonyelf · 18/01/2015 11:02

Sorry to bump an old thread but research for our trip next month says no jeans because if they get wet you will be miserable so what do you wear on your winter trips. I have thermals, lots of under layers, fleeces and my Barbour jacket with gloves, hat etc. Got waterproof walking shoes yesterday and thermal socks so only legs now to consider.

Heels99 · 20/01/2015 11:46

I wear Jersey trousers with tights underneath when we went to disneyland Paris in February. if you have ski trousers you should wear those. Ski gloves a must. Waterproof boots not uggs.

bryonyelf · 20/01/2015 13:18

Jersey trousers - where would I get those? M&S may be?

Heels99 · 20/01/2015 13:27

Yes like really thick leggings, several layers. Or ski trousers.

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