Disneyland Paris for Christmas

[BecauseICan22]

This will probably have been done to death so I apologise in advance.

We are off to Disneyland for Christmas this year. We are taking 3DC, good ages to go, youngest is 9.

Any tips that anyone may have, please do share them.
I know it's going to be freezing so we will pack for the weather.
We're staying off site but there is a free regular shuttle service to the parks.
We've bought 3 day passes for both parks.
Just please hit me with your wisdom.

www.grand-magic-hotel.com/en/?campaign=CA002582&campaignb&d=30d-xppc&partner=FB-PACK-PPC-15&campaignId=11406438641%7C113301600642%7Ckwd-kwd-1627618305752%7CCA002582%7C&device=m&network=google
^ This is where we're staying.

Thank you.

Start researching where you want to dine and make your restaurant reservations as soon as booking opens (I think it’s still 60 days before your visit). If you want to meet characters but don’t fancy all the queuing then I would highly recommend you book character dining. You can eat at Inventions during the day or evening, the food is of a really great quality and you will individually meet between 5-7 main characters at your dining table. It is our favourite and makes amazing memories. I would book a spot for lunch as the lighting really isn’t camera friendly in the evening!
Watch the parade from Main street to get the full experience including the fake snow, although do need to find your spot some 45 mins before it starts. My top tip would be to take up a different spot each time you watch it so that you get to see it from different angles.
The Disney village is especially good at Christmas as there is a small Christmas market where you can pick up festive food and gifts.

The light show on the castle is my favourite thing. Get a good spot early. Wrap up warm. Take snacks with you.
I can’t remember the name of the restaurant- I know it was pizza place- they had characters come to each table.

Are you there on xmas day? It’s slightly quieter.

Hello, thank you for the tip regarding snacks, I'm actually contemplating taking a suitcase full of their favourite snacks from home! DH thinks there's no need.

We are indeed there Christmas day and Boxing day and Christmas Eve! I think I'm more excited than the kids!!

Thank you for this. Booking restaurants in advance is a great tip. Would I do this through their website? Our flight and hotel are all already booked.

Thank you once again.

The easiest way is to reserve a table via the Disneyland Paris app. When you open the app you’ll see a picture of Mickey with 3 blocks underneath. The middle one is Reserve a table. You can then enter your desired day and the number of people. Then you will immediately see a list of the restaurants that are still available and for which times you can make reservations.
After entering your details you’ll then be sent an email confirmation as proof of reservation, it will also allow you to cancel your booking. Bookings are not linked to a Disney account and so this email is the only way to change bookings.
If you don’t like what’s available, it’s always worth trying on the phone. In the past we’ve managed to book a few dinners that are showing as fully booked online 🤷‍♀️.
Also quiet a lot of restaurants don’t work with a reservation system so it’s not the end of the world.

I took lots of snacks as it’s expensive and the queues are long

theres a McDonald’s but it’s always rammed. Starbucks wasn’t too bad.

There's airport style security going in.

I loved staying over Xmas. It’s magical. Xmas day if you’re on site is all expensive gala dinners from
what I remember so maybe eat off site

Ohhh how exciting for you :) we did this but in Disney world a few years ago. Fantastic Christmas!!!

was going to start another thread but wondering if I can piggy back and ask - what’s the cheapest nice way to book a Disney land Paris holiday? Eg travel hotel tickets (through main website or separates?) thanks x

Be prepared that the character’s wandering outside and the parades may get cancelled if it gets too cold. We went for Christmas, it was -4c and only the morning meet and greet outside went ahead.

If the forecast shows snow, take some waterproof boots/wellies. You can buy them there in kids sizes but they are £££.

In the Disney village bit there’s a coffee shop (Starbucks?!), you can get some hot chocolate for the walk around in the evenings.

There’s a few good UK based bloggers on YouTube who have great tips for Disney Paris visits. The Kershaw’s (a couple with a young child) and Adam Hatton (a man who used to work in Disney USA). They often show you the inside of restaurants, menus and how to book via the apps etc. Might give you an idea if it would suit you and all the DC.

I booked through dlp website and flight with EasyJet

Hello all, thank you for the tips so far.

I'm looking for more tips about clothes and also, snacks from here!

My DH keeps telling me there's no need, we'll buy there. But I want to take a selection of dry snacks for my DC's, especially my 2 that are ND - they struggle with food. I'm talking snacks they can eat on the go AND it's cheaper to take our own. Are crisps, biscuits, cakes and or little bread rolls allowed in suitcases?

I know you can't take and meat, fish or dairy over - does anyone have any recent ezpe8rnc please?

I took wrapped pain au choc, bread rolls, those pack lunch tuna tubs, all in my suitcase in the hold.

Hello again =)

And no questions were asked? Did you find the snacks worth the cost there? I may even take a frozen homemade shepherde pie! I'm joking, or am I...... 😏

no questions asked.

You can’t fresh foods but processed/ packaged stuff is ok.

It saved time as well as cost. We stayed on site and breakfast queues were chaos at times. So sometimes we would eat in the room from our snack pile or take it into the resort and eat on the go. We were distracted by all the magic that we didn’t really focus on food.

Prices on site were hefty so yes definitely worth it to me on my own with 2 dc. A fantastic trip though. Well worth it.

If I could’ve snuck in a shepherds pie I would have!

You have been so lovely and helpful, I really do appreciate it. I'm definitely taking a suitcase of snacks! I know it'll be appreciated when we're there.

Do you have plans to go again?

And my youngest is worrying there there'll be no homemade curry and chapatti when we're there, DEFINITELY can't sneak that on 😁

Ahh you’re welcome x You’ll have an amazing time and the dc too 😀

I would definitely go again but only at Christmas. I was surprised tbh how much I loved it. It was a nice easy place to be despite the crowds.

it’ll be all American style food on site. But imagine how amazing that first home cooked curry will be when you’re back!

If you’re off site remember that the firework/ light show is at 10pm I think so plan logistics around that too. I dont know when the last bus/ train is. I remember people heading for train at end of the show.

We went last November it was very wet. Bring waterproof footwear. H&m do waterproof trainers for kids. I wore Merrell footwear. Lots of walking involved. We had big umbrellas and were well worth bringing. Handwarmers/snoods/base layers helped. Yes bring snacks. Food is rubbish but if you are staying near shopping centre I'm sure your options are better. Travel cups for hot drinks might be handy.

@Rummikub thank you

not sure if land is the same as world for activities etc but the light show and fireworks on Christmas Eve was magical for my kids (and me) and they had fake snow pour down also. Really hope you have a fab time x

Book your restaurants asap on t jn d day 2 months before so24 oct do Xmas Eve.

im going in 6 weeks and can’t book much at all 🙈