DLP over New Year? About This Page:

[KimberleyinOz]

I will be in Paris Dec 30, 31 and January 1 and 2 and was thinking of using one of those days to visit Disneyland Paris.
I know it will be cold, but what will the crowds be like over those days? Does DLP do anything special on New Years' Eve or New Years' Day?
I was thinking that museums and such in Paris might be closed New Years' Day, so we could use that time at DLP.
Any suggestions?

[Disneybine]

It will be crazy crowded on any of those days as kids are on break from school There are special dining opportunities that I know you can book as part of a hotel package. Not sure if you can book them separately? I'd contact Disney directly if that's something you're interested in.

Despite the cold and the crowds, I would LOVE to spend New Year's Eve at DLP at least once!

[sturgess]

Hi,
I know this is far too late to help you but hopefully may help others in the future.

We too thought this would be a great idea 2 years ago whilst we were staying in a Gite not too far away for the Christmas & New Year break. We thought that New Year's Eve in Disney would be magical and sadly far from it.

It was the usual price for entry so that was OK but we suddenly found that the restaurant we had a dining reservation at had doubled its price because it was New Year's Eve. We checked the detail but there was nothing special added or included, just the price doubled because they could. We cancelled the booking and dined at the Cowboy cookout counter service instead which was the normal price.

We then discovered that the usual park programme was in place, no extra entertainment until midnight so from late afternoon, apart from going on the rides, there was nothing. No extra parade, no shows, nothing. Just go on the rides until they closed at their usual time.

So, there we were, stuck in the park with two tired kids in wheelchairs with only the shops to go in and spend money whilst we waited.

The only special thing they had on was a load of counters selling champagne at 12 Euro per glass. Needless to say we didn't bother with that.

From 10pm we grabbed a place in front of the castle to await New Year at midnight and the fireworks. We waited for 2 hours in a huge crowd where even our kids in their wheelchairs were pushed and shoved because the crowd was way too big. People stood in front of us which we didn't mind but our two kids could then not see a thing from their low vantage point.

At midnight there was a countdown and the usual firework display, nothing different and then they played disco music whilst the lights flashed on the castle. Not really that great.

So, we left very disappointed and would never go back on New Year's Eve, not to Paris anyway, I am more than sure that the other parks are different but Paris was just a pure rip-off.

We still visit DLP but it is nothing compared with WDW where I am sure they do New Year's Eve much better.

[KimberleyinOz]

Thanks

We did do DLP on New Year's Eve and as it was my first Disney experience in thirty years, it was thrilling.
Park didn't get crazy crowded until after 6pm. Fireworks were OK. Not as good as a normal night at Magic Kingdom or the extra ones we saw one night at Hollywood Studios over the hat, but as there are no fireworks in Paris proper, it makes little difference.
Would warn future visitors that there can be crushes after fireworks. We were caught in a surge crush as families tried to leave against a tide of young people trying to head towards Space Mountain etc after midnight.
A fight broke out and a cast member was hit.
It also took us more than two hours to get out of the carpark. No cast members helping. Wouldn't see that in the US.

[chezp]

Hi and welcome to the boards!

I'd pick up a copy of PassPorter's Disneyland Paris, as this book will tell you everything you need to know to plan a visit to the park.

If you're going to go, I'd allow two or three days, as there's so much to see and do there. If you can, I'd also visit on a weekday, as generally these are quieter than weekends.

[sturgess]

Hi Michalhassi
Well, the first thing if you have never been to a Disney Park is you must make every effort to go there. You will absolutely adore it.

We took some friends a number of years ago who had never been to Disney and as they said, "Didn't do theme parks" but they tolerated our wishes and tagged along with us. Sadly, we went on the worst day possible in August on the Bank Holiday and the park was packed, we could hardly make our way round it was so busy. I was expecting them to say they did not enjoy the day but despite us doing very little compared to our normal visits, they fell in love with the place and have been many times since.

Planning is important, not to the level of it being a military operation but do research the park, the rides and the restaurants and make lists of the things you want to do in priority order then work your way through the list when you get to the park.

Make sure you see the parades and if at all possible, stay for the new nightime spectacular, it is absolutely astounding.
If you can, make an advanced reservation for a meal or meals and if possible, a character meal can be great fun even for adults.

Hope you have a great visit

Pete