We started this year experiencing the Christmas season* at Disneyland Paris*. The last time we visited Disneyland Paris at Christmas Ethan was three. We were visiting with Darren’s sister and her family. After getting the chance to visit the Magic Kingdoms Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in 2017. We knew we wanted the children to see the Disneyland Paris Christmas decorations. This year’s school Christmas holiday fell perfectly giving us the opportunity to go.
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We love sharing our Disneyland Paris adventures on our blog. Make sure you visit our Disneyland Paris Trips and Experiences post to read all about them.
The Disneyland Paris Surprise
Our trip was a surprise for the children and their main Christmas gift. To let them know about our trip I organised a surprise balloon reveal for them to open on Christmas morning. They each had a big box to open containing a Disney balloon. There was a note printed on the box telling them about their surprise adventure. Little E understood right away but it took a little while for our gift to sink in for Ethan. He was too distracted with the unopened gifts under the Christmas tree.
Disneyland Paris at Christmas
When we visited in the 2013 Christmas season I only remember there being a Christmas parade. I think there might have been a show around switching on the Christmas lights but we didn’t get to see it. This year Disney’s Enchanted Christmas included Let’s Sing Christmas, The Royal Sparkling Winter Waltz, Disney’s Christmas Parade, Mickey’s Magical Christmas Lights, Mickey’s Christmas Big Band and #SURPRISEMICKEY Christmas Special. As we visited after Christmas Day we couldn’t meet with Santa but we did see him in the Christmas parade. We did get to meet Jack Skellington dressed as Father Christmas. Out of all of the extra Christmas events, there were only two that we didn’t get to watch.
Disney’s Christmas Parade
I do love a Disney parade* and Little E is starting to share my love of them. She eagerly waves at everyone who passes her. I was worried that it would be too busy for Ethan to watch the Christmas parade. We opted to watch the second parade of the day and we managed to get a good viewing point without having to hang around for long.
Mickey’s Magical Christmas Lights
As we never saw the Christmas light show in 2013 it was on my list of things to do this year. I didn’t take any photos during Mickey’s Magical Christmas Lights as it was lightly raining. I did film it so you will be able to see it in our Disney vlogs.
Mickey’s Christmas Big Band
When we visited Disneyland Paris last May we got to see Mickey and the Magician. This is an absolutely amazing show and one of the best shows I have seen in a Disney Park. During the Christmas season, this theatre had a show called Mickey’s Christmas Big Band. We were able to squeeze in a performance before one of our booked dinners and it didn’t disappoint. It was another amazing show, including live music and singing. We all loved it and the costumes were amazing too.
#SURPRISEMICKEY Christmas Special
I saw that there was going to be a Christmas show in the Production Courtyard in the Walt Disney Studios Park*. I did wonder if they would use the Hollywood Tower Hotel for projections. We saw them do this with the Star Wars fireworks during our February trip in 2018. It was for the Season of the Force and the show was amazing. The #SURPRISEMICKEY Christmas Special was a show about creating a surprise for Mickey Mouse. They didn’t use the projections right away but they introduced them as the show went on. It didn’t wow us as the Star Wars show did but it was an enjoyable watch. The children really enjoyed it too which is what we want.
Jack Skellington Christmas Meet
There are two ways to meet the characters* in Disneyland Paris. One is to stand in a queue. Last year we used Ethan’s Disneyland Paris Priority Card (green pass) to meet some of the characters. The second is to virtually queue using the Lineberty app. The Lineberty app is mostly used for the character meets in the Walt Disney Studios Park. But I had noticed that the Jack Skellington Christmas meet in Disneyland Park required the app. I tried to use the app last year but never managed to grab a ticket as they go so quickly. I thought I would try for Jack Skellington being that he is a rare character. Never expecting it to work but by some miracle, we managed to get a ticket to virtually queue. I’m so glad we did as it was fantastic meeting Jack Skellington he was really good.
More ‘Firsts’ At Disneyland Paris
After an amazing trip to Disneyland Paris in May that was full of firsts, I never expected we would tick more new experiences off our list. But we did! This time our firsts included meeting different characters, going on an attraction for the first time, new places to eat, trying Disney snacks and staying at a different Disney hotel*.
The Disneyland Hotel
Staying at the ‘Pink Hotel’ has been a dream of mine since Disneyland Paris opened its doors. It is something I said I would do for my 40th birthday. Knowing that we could only stay for two nights we discussed booking a stay at the Disneyland Hotel*. The location of the hotel would make our short time in Disneyland Paris as easy as possible. It still hasn’t quite sunk in that we have actually stayed at the ‘Pink Hotel’. It really makes it a different experience staying there. I hope we haven’t spoilt any future trips!
A Disney Gingerbread House
Staying at the Disneyland Hotel meant we also saw the hotel’s Christmas decorations. I have heard amazing things about the Disney Gingerbread Houses in Walt Disney World. The Disneyland Hotel also has one in the hotel lobby. Anyone can visit the hotel to view it but staying there meant we had no excuse to miss it.
Café Mickey
I wanted to book dinner on our first night at Inventions but it was fully booked. I was able to get us a reservation at Café Mickey. We have eaten here before, for my 30th birthday and during our 2013 trip, but never as a family of four. We got to meet familiar favourites Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Pluto. I never expected that we would meet characters that we haven’t met at Disneyland Paris before, characters that Little E has actually never met! We also got to meet Eeyore and Tigger.
Bistrot Chez Rémy
Bistrot Chez Rémy has been on our list of must-do restaurants to try for quite a while. Having the dining plan* for this trip I booked us a table. I can honestly say we had the best meal we have ever had on a Disney holiday at Bistrot Chez Rémy. The food was amazing and there was so much of it. I would highly recommend this restaurant if you ever get the chance to visit.
Plaza Gardens Restaurant
We have never eaten at a character breakfast during a stay in Disneyland Paris. The walk to the park has always put Darren off. Being that we were staying in the ‘Pink Hotel’ and were just steps away from the park we booked one. At this meal, we got to meet Mickey Mouse, Daisy Duck, Donald Duck, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet.
Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing
We have never been on the Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing. I saw that it was running whilst we waited for the boys to go on Big Thunder Mountain. So we went for a ride on the Molly Brown. We took Ethan on the Liberty Square Riverboat in the Magic Kingdom when he was two. He spent the time walking up and down the stairs as that was a new thing for him. We did wonder if he would do the same this time but he enjoyed looking at the view of Big Thunder Mountain*.
Disney Snacks
When we stay at Disney’s Sequoia Lodge we try to book a club level room which gives us breakfast and afternoon tea in the price. At the Disneyland Hotel, we only had breakfast and dinner included in our package. This gave us the perfect opportunity to try some Disney snacks. Minne’s Very Berry Hot Chocolate and the Sparkling Donuts were some of my favourites.
I’m so glad we got the chance to visit Disneyland Paris during the Christmas season. A two-night visit was enough to see what we wanted to see but they were very busy days. We always said two nights are better than no nights. A Disney Christmas really is amazing. I really hope we get the chance to visit Disneyland Paris at Christmas again!
We love sharing our Disneyland Paris adventures on our blog. Make sure you visit our Disneyland Paris Trips and Experiences post to read all about them.
Books to help you plan your trip…