The Insidears team met up with Louisa and Alessandro who created this year’s brand new version of the Disneyland Paris Tree Lighting Ceremony: « Mickey’s Magical Christmas Lights »

Hello Louisa and Alessandro! Could you introduce yourselves for those who don’t know you yet?

Louisa: Hello InsidEars and all Disneyland Paris fans! I have been at Disneyland Paris for 23 years now. I have had the chance to evolve within the Entertainment division for all these years and I am proud to still be there as a show director and to be able to write magic every day to make the young and the young at heart dream. I had the chance to start as a show director on « Frozen Sing-Along » at Chaparral Theater, « Mickey and the Magician » and now « Marvel Super Heroes United » at Studio Theater. Now, here I am on  » Mickey’s Magical Christmas Lights « . I’m fulfilling a dream of working with Santa Claus and Mickey at the same time!

Alessandro: Hello everyone, my adventure at Disneyland Paris started in 2004 when I had the chance to share the stage with Louisa in « Lilo and Stitch : Catch the Wave Party ». Between 2009 and 2019, I went to Asia and London to continue my career as a show director. After 10 years away from the magic of Disney, I am back for my greatest joy.

We heard that the tree lighting ceremony had some new surprises in store for us this year! What can you tell us ? 

Louisa: Indeed, this year we wanted to add even more emotion and magic to our ceremony to illuminate our beautiful tree. Moreover, the ceremony is punctuated by holiday classic tunes and songs that everyone knows.

Alessandro: We are lucky to have our royal couples who will help us illuminate the tree. The audience also will have an important part in the lighting ceremony, and the Château also. We can say that it is a not to be missed moment for this beautiful Christmas season.

What motivated this change?

Louisa: Christmas is magical at Disneyland Paris and we once again wanted to surprise our guests by adding a magical connection between the tree and the Château.

Alessandro: And above all, we wanted to create magical and precious moment that our guests can experience with their loved ones.

What was the watchword of this new version?

Louisa: There were three actually: emotions, interactive and immersion were the key words of this new version.

Alessandro : Yes, Louisa said it all😊

Which Disney Characters will we see at this Ceremony?

Louisa : We’ll have of course Santa Claus, Mickey and Minnie, as well as our two masters of ceremonies, Rosie and Louis.

Alessandro : Not to mention the Princesses and their Princes: Tiana, Ariel, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Belle, Aurora and Snow White.

What can we say about the lights?

Louisa : We gave our tree a new lease of life and changed all its lights. This year, guests have chosen the colors of the tree’s lights. Following the Internet users’ votes last September on Instagram, the classic and traditional Christmas colors were chosen and integrated into the show, namely red and green.

Alessandro : The garlands of Main Street, U.S.A. also have new illuminations. The Castle will be an integral part of the new tree lighting ceremony, which will include a mapping projection on the castle, special lighting on Central Plaza and Main Street, U.S.A., and will end with the tree lighting on Town Square.

In your opinion, what will be the moment that should surprise fans and regulars ?

Louisa : The arrival of the Princesses!

Alessandro : The moment when guests will “help” light the tree!

What is your most beautiful Christmas memory at Disneyland Paris?

Louisa : My first parade as a dancer in front of Santa’s float in 1996, my parents surprised me and came to see me.

Alessandro : I remember one Christmas when I surprised my nephews by tooking them to the park in the morning of the 25th of December. Their sparkling eyes and big smiles are a beautiful memory..