Planning a trip to Disneyland Paris? Whether you're visiting for the first time or returning to experience the magic of Christmas, a little preparation can make your holiday much easier.
From making the most of Extra Magic Time and booking restaurants to choosing the right extras and preparing for long days in the parks, there are plenty of things worth knowing before you go.
During our own Disneyland Paris Christmas trip, we discovered a few things that made our experience even more special — along with some lessons we'd definitely keep in mind for our next visit.
In this guide, I'm sharing 10 Disneyland Paris tips I wish I'd known before our trip, particularly if you're visiting with children during the busy festive season.
1. Book your Disney Hotel package in advance
If you're planning to stay at an official Disneyland Paris Hotel, consider booking a hotel and park ticket package directly through the official Disneyland Paris website.
This allows you to explore the available packages and any additional options that may suit your trip. Booking early is especially worthwhile during popular periods such as Christmas, when certain hotels and room categories can become unavailable.
If you're travelling during the festive season, I'd recommend researching your preferred hotel and dates several months in advance wherever possible.
Planning ahead also gives you more time to organise restaurant reservations, character experiences and other activities before you arrive.
2. Choose your extras carefully
When booking your stay, take a look at the optional extras and consider which ones you'll genuinely use.
Two options we found particularly useful were PhotoPass and the half-board meal plan.
Is PhotoPass worth it?
PhotoPass can be a great option if you're planning to enjoy lots of character meet-and-greets and want professional photos to remember your trip.
During the Christmas season, you may have opportunities to meet Disney Characters in festive outfits, with special seasonal encounters depending on the programme available during your visit.
Consider how many photo opportunities you expect to enjoy before deciding whether the additional cost makes sense for your family.
Is the half-board meal plan worth it?
A meal plan can make budgeting for meals easier, particularly if you plan to dine at Disney Hotels or restaurants inside the parks.
Depending on the plan, participating restaurants and applicable conditions, your meal plan may be used at eligible restaurants across the resort.
Before purchasing one, compare the price with the restaurants you want to visit and check exactly what's included. The best value will depend on your family's dining preferences and itinerary.
3. Make the most of Extra Magic Time
One of the major benefits of staying at an eligible Disney Hotel is Extra Magic Time.
This allows eligible guests to enter the parks before the general opening time, giving them an opportunity to experience selected attractions and other experiences with potentially shorter queues.
We found this particularly worthwhile.
On one morning, we managed to experience around four or five major rides in a single park, and we even walked straight onto some attractions more than once!
Extra Magic Time can also be a fantastic opportunity to take photos and film the parks before they become busier. If you'd love a picture in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle with fewer people in the background, those early hours can be ideal.
Just remember that park access, opening times and available attractions can vary, so check the official schedule for your dates.
4. Download the Disneyland Paris app before you go
The official Disneyland Paris app is one of the most useful tools for planning your visit.
Download it before travelling and familiarise yourself with its features. Depending on your booking and the services available, you can use it to check attraction wait times, view entertainment schedules, explore restaurants and manage relevant tickets or reservations.
It's particularly useful during the Christmas season, when seasonal shows, parades and character experiences may have specific times or availability.
I recommend making a list of your must-do attractions and experiences, then using the app to help organise your days.
You can also save experiences to your favourites, helping you keep track of what you'd most like to see.
Remember to keep checking the app as your trip approaches, as seasonal information and schedules can change.
5. Reserve your restaurants early
If there are specific restaurants you'd love to try, don't leave your reservations until the last minute.
Disneyland Paris generally allows restaurant reservations up to two months in advance, while guests with confirmed Disney Hotel packages may be able to book earlier. Check the current booking rules applicable to your package and chosen restaurant.
Some popular restaurants can fill up quickly, particularly during busy holiday periods.
We were interested in dining at Downtown Restaurant at Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, so we had to plan around the available reservation times.
One tip from our experience is to secure a suitable available time rather than waiting for your perfect slot. You can politely ask the restaurant team on the day whether another time is possible, although changes are never guaranteed.
It's also worth checking the app periodically in case a more suitable reservation becomes available.
6. Explore the facilities at your Disney Hotel
Your Disney Hotel can be more than just somewhere to sleep between park visits.
Depending on the hotel, facilities and activities may include swimming pools, fitness facilities, children's activities and character experiences.
During our stay at Disney Newport Bay Club, we discovered the Discovery Quest activity. After completing it, children could visit the gift shop for a little prize.
These smaller experiences can be a lovely addition to your holiday, especially if you're travelling with younger children who need a break from the parks.
Before you arrive, check your hotel's facilities and activity information so you know what's available during your stay.
7. Ask about a physical MagicPass
When checking in, ask whether you can receive a physical MagicPass for each member of your booking, including your children.
The MagicPass can hold your park tickets and applicable package benefits. Digital options may also be available, but we found the physical cards convenient to use when entering the parks.
They also make a nice personalised souvenir from your trip.
I'd recommend keeping your digital version available as a backup where possible, especially if you're relying on your phone for bookings and other park information.
Remember that the MagicPass is not a ride fast pass, so check the current rules for any separate attraction access options.
8. Look into festive Christmas boxes and hotel extras
If you're visiting during the festive season, check whether your Disney Hotel offers a special Christmas box or other seasonal extras.
These may contain themed gifts, souvenirs and festive surprises, with availability, prices and contents varying by hotel and year.
We thought the Christmas box was a lovely touch, particularly for families with children. If offered, certain extras may be arranged for your room before arrival, subject to the hotel's conditions.
Disney Hotels may also offer special arrangements for occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries.
If you're celebrating something special, contact Disneyland Paris or your hotel in advance to ask about the current options, prices and arrangements.
These extras aren't essential, but they can add a memorable personal touch to your stay.
9. Pack for cold weather and long days
This is particularly important if you're visiting Disneyland Paris during winter with young children.
The weather can be cold, rainy and unpredictable, and you'll likely spend plenty of time walking or waiting outdoors.
I'd recommend packing:
Comfortable walking shoes.
Warm layers, including hats, scarves and gloves.
Waterproof jackets and, if useful, waterproof trousers for children.
An umbrella or ponchos.
Spare clothes for younger children.
A refillable water bottle.
We walked more than 20,000 steps a day during our trip, which can be a lot for little legs!
If you think your child might get tired, you can bring your own pushchair or look into hiring one at the parks. Disney's pushchair rental is paid and subject to availability, so check the latest details before travelling.
You'll find Disney rental points near the entrance to Disneyland Park at Town Square Terrace and near the entrance to Disney Adventure World at Studio Services.
It's also worth checking your hotel room facilities before packing snacks. We expected to have a mini fridge in our room, but didn't have the one we needed, which meant some of our food went to waste.
We also discovered so many tempting snacks and treats around the parks that we barely used the snacks we'd brought with us!
My biggest advice is to plan for long days, take breaks and avoid trying to fit absolutely everything into one visit.
10. Prioritise Christmas entertainment and character meet-and-greets
If you're visiting Disneyland Paris at Christmas, make time for the seasonal entertainment and character experiences.
Depending on the season, you may find festive parades, Christmas shows, special decorations, characters wearing their holiday outfits and opportunities to meet Santa Claus.
However, these experiences can be extremely popular.
We waited more than two hours to meet Stitch in his festive outfit! It was a memorable experience, but it's a good reminder to plan your priorities before arriving.
Some special character experiences may use a Virtual Queue through the official app, with limited availability and specific booking instructions. Check the app and follow the directions provided for the experience you're interested in.
I recommend choosing your favourite characters and must-see shows in advance, then checking the daily entertainment schedule as soon as it's available.
The programme changes between seasons, so don't assume that an experience you saw online will necessarily be available on your dates.
Watch Our Full Video
🎥 Watch our Disneyland Paris during the Christmas season experience on YouTube: The Atlas Journey, where we share our full review, tips and experience.
Is Disneyland Paris at Christmas worth it?
For us, visiting Disneyland Paris during the Christmas season made the experience feel extra special.
The festive decorations, seasonal entertainment and character encounters added something different to the parks, while staying at a Disney Hotel gave us more opportunities to enjoy the resort beyond the main attractions.
However, Christmas is also a popular time to visit, so it's worth preparing for busy days, queues and cold weather.
My advice is to plan your priorities, book important experiences early where possible, and leave enough flexibility in your itinerary to enjoy the unexpected moments too.
You don't have to do absolutely everything to have a wonderful Disney holiday.