It’s was just Halloween and BAM Christmas is here! This week we look at the season opening weekend, plus our usual look at everything going on around the resort. Let’s go!
Christmas is Here
Every year like clockwork, Disney Enchanted Christmas returns to Disneyland Park. We’re unpacking the season which isn’t bringing any major new feature but a decent slate of updated offerings.
Decor
It’s all about the vibe! Main Street and Central Plaza are ready for the season and of course, the Christmas Tree is here.
Shops – including the new Disney Village shops, shop windows and restaurants are also decorated for the season.
This year, official partner Lavazza is sponsoring .. decorations ? The usual move by the partnerships team to shoehorn sponsors anywhere they can even if it makes no sense at all. Sure brands sponsor shops, attractions and parades around the world but this one was too weird to not have a little bit of fun. It goes further with integration into the Mrs Claus happening – more on that later. Merry Lavazza everyone!
Holiday decor is also in place at the Disneyland Hotel with the return of seasonal entertainment for hotel guests “Guards of the Winter Holidays”
And at Walt Disney Studios Park in Front Lot and Place de Rémy.
Entertainment
Of course Mickey’s Dazzling Christmas Parade returns by day…
And by night !
New this year: the Disney Princesses on foot carry a flower bouquet that lights their faces. Mulan is also making more regular appearances.
In the evening, and also new this year, a new series of Main Street projection sequences cycle on Main Street for some extra holiday magic, and another sequence is used during night performances of Mickey’s Dazzling Christmas Parade. Just like for Halloween, it’s great to see this new tech put to use across seasons!
Another new addition this year, Mrs Lavazza.. no sorry Mrs. Claus hosts a short happening in the Town Square Gazebo.
Sure the show provides a bit of animation to Town Square but mostly it’s the backdrop to plug this little pamphlet promoting .. the timeless tradition of Lavazza.
And let’s not forget “Let’s Sing Christmas” now playing at Videopolis.
It was also revealed – via poster – that Tink will be hosting an Advent Calendar happening on Cadtle Stage from Dec 1. The Disney Princess show and the new Tree Lighting Ceremony featuring choirs will also start late.
In short:
- Now showing: Mrs. Claus, Mickey’s Dazzling Christmas Parade, Main Street Sequences, Let’s Sing Xmas, Characters
- Nov 15: Disney Princesses show
- Nov 21: Tree Lighting Show
- Dec 1: Tinker Bell’s Advent Calendar
Characters
A decent selection of Disney Friends as usual meet Guests each day, with notably Belle in her holiday dress in Castle Courtyard this heat and Sandy Claws with his updated look.
Food
Snacks snacks snacks all around. The snack game is pretty strong this season – while there is nothing really groundbreaking there also aren’t any particularly shocking items.
Most quick service locations have holiday items and of course Santa’s favorite coffee, Lavazza is making drinks at Victoria’s this year. There are a few offenders in this category.
Is the Hyperion menu weird and unappetizing ? Well. Is Christmas on December 25?
And at the Nugget that has become Lucky again , while we liked the puff pastry dessert, the venison stew presentation was really poor. It also featured a strong spicy BBQ sauce that killed any type of taste.
At Annette’s it’s an Italian Christmas, with the new “Festivissimo” burger (brioche bagel, shallot & cherries confit, tartufata cream, €23). The cream is pretty garlicky but goes surprisingly well with the shallot & cherries confit. A solid burger as often at Annette’s, even if a bit pricey.
Are popcorn buckets food? Maybe. This season’s design is cute!
Merchandise
While we cover Christmas merchandise as it starts arriving in August, here are some of the latest arrivals for the season.
And that’s Disney Enchanted Christmas partially launched for 2025. A lovely classic season that doesn’t need much more to attract big crowds each year. Stay tuned as we cover the other entretiennent offering coming online in the next few weeks.
Pop!
The Disneyland Pass Pop Up Surprises meet and greet has returned – for this edition it’s a character from Up! + a character from Inside Out each day. The chance to meet these Disney Friends in a relaxing setting if you haven’t already. Reservations are currently full for this entire edition.
Construction and Refurbishments
Starting at Disney Village this week where the Footballer Goofy tarp has been installed at the Sports Bar! It looks pretty cool and the concept art shows it was gonna be a tarp (some were surprised). Hopefully it doesn’t get dirty too quickly.
Rounding up our look at Disney Village with progress at Casa Giulia, faster progress at Mc Donald’s (with notably work on the waterfront esplanade) and walls by the cinema (which remains open) for the next phase of repaving.
At Walt Disney Studios Park, erasure of history – I mean the Walt Disney Studios sign – is complete on the entrance arch. Like it’s never been there !
In World Premiere Plaza construction of the merchandise kiosks continue. This is very yellow on yellow on yellow.
At Disney Adventure World, vegetation was trimmed behind World Of Frozen , allowing the outside world this view.
Over at Disneyland Park, Phantom Manor was so tired from Halloween that it closed for refurbishment until this weekend.
And for just a few day, Discoveryland Station was open for business, as Main Street Station was closed during the seasonal overlay installation.
This and That..
A sign at the Disneyland Hotel entrance reiterates the policy of restricting access to hotel guests only at busy times.
And in London, iconic department store Selfridges is having a very Disney Christmas, with notably a huge Sleeping Beauty Castle structure on the facade.
