Visiting Disneyland Paris in January, Best Dates, Top Tips, Hotel Discounts, Weather and more!

Are you looking for the best tips and tricks and the cheapest hotels when visiting Disneyland Paris in January? Then you have come to the right place. In our guide we will cover everything you need to know when visiting Disneyland Paris in January including the cheapest dates to visit, busy periods, school holidays, usual weather conditionals and any special events you may way to attend!

Visiting Disneyland Paris in January

Disneyland Paris is open 365 days a year, but generally speaking visiting Disneyland Paris in January allows you to enjoy the Disney magic at one of the cheapest times of the year and also benefit from lower crowd levels, which mean shorter queue times for attractions and character meet and greets! What more would a Disney fan wish for!

They are also points to consider when visiting Disneyland Paris during January. As this is one of the quietest times at Disneyland Paris, Disney takes this opportunity to complete essential maintenance and over the past few years we have seen more DLP Attraction closures and refurbishments take place during January.

The month of January sits in the middle of winter, you are more likely to experience cold temperatures, rain and possible snow! Unlike other parks, Disneyland Paris was designed with this weather expectation and many of its attractions are located under cover or indoors. The park also features two ‘arcades’ (undercover passageways) down either side of main street, and undercover walkways around the park which provide great areas for shelter and also places to sit and relax with a hot drink.

The Cheapest Dates to Visit Disneyland Paris in January

Please be aware that Disneyland Paris hotel prices are based on availability, and the earlier you book the better price you will get. Remember, they also have a Hotel & Ticket Price Promise to ensure you always get the best prices when you book direct!

You can also get exclusive hotel discounts with a Disneyland Paris Annual Pass.

Disneyland Paris January Key Dates and Events

January is a quiet time in terms of special seasons and events. In the past we have seen a Frozen ‘season’ come to Disneyland Paris to fill the gap and provide something new for guests to enjoy, however, this has not been confirmed to return in 2023.

Guests will be able to celebrate Christmas at Disneyland Paris until the 8th January. Christmas is the most popular season at Disneyland Paris, and if you celebrate during the first week of January you will be able to enjoy all the Christmas entertainment DLP has to offer at a much cheaper price.

Disneyland Paris holds a hard ticket New Years Eve party, which allows guests to celebrate, party, and enjoy exclusive entertainment until 2 am.

After the festivities ends, the parks 30th Celebrations will return! From the 9th of January guests will once again be able to enjoy all the night time spectaculars, entertainment, and the popular Dream and Shine Brighter parade!

Minnie Mouse Polka Dot Day – 22nd of January!

Guests visiting the parks on the 22nd of January can experience Polka Dot Day and enjoy the exclusive activities and performances by Minnie Mouse! This event usually takes place within the Walt Disney Studios park and is not a “hard ticket” event, meaning all guests can enjoy this!

Is Disneyland Paris busy in January

January and November are the quietest months to visit Disneyland Paris, and guests will find much shorter queue times for attractions and character meet and greets. This allows you to see and do more during your Disney holiday. We have also found it easier to book dining reservations for Character meals, and for popular dining locations such as Walts Restaurant.

As always there is an exception! The the first week of January can be one of the busiest times of the year. Due to the Christmas festivities take place until January 8th, New Year celebrations, and French public holidays its not uncommon for the parks to reach capacity. 

Once the Christmas decorations are taken down, you can expect the crowd levels to drastically reduce and if you don’t mind wrapping up in winter, this is one of the best times to visit Disneyland Paris!

Consider School Holidays and Bank Holidays Dates

Disneyland Paris is a popular holiday destination throughout Europe, with millions visiting each year from not only France but also from the surrounding nations including the UK, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, and Belgium.

French Bank Holidays in January

• 1 January (Sunday): New Year’s Day (Jour de l’an)

Important School Holiday Dates to consider

Please note, these dates are used for a guideline as dates may vary slightly in certain counties and districts.

• France:
  18 December 2022 – 2 January 2023
• UK:
  21 December 2022 – 4 January 2023
• Spain:
  23 December 2022 – 6 January 2023
• Germany:
  21 December 2022 – 8 January 2023
  30 January – 25 February 2023 
• Portugal:
  19 December 2021 – 2 January 2022
• Italy:
  24 December, 2022 – 7 January, 2023
• Netherlands:
  24 December 2022 – 8 January 2023
• Belgium:
  26 December 2022 – 6 January 2023

Disneyland Paris January Weather

One of the most common questions we are asked is Disneyland Paris cold in January? Just as you would expect in winter, the weather in Disneyland Paris throughout January tends to be a frosty winter month with rainfall. You can still experience some fantastic winter sunshine days, but most days you will feel the mild to cold weather with an average temperature of 1-8°C (34-46°F)

Another common question we are asked on our Instagram page from people staying during the month of January is does it rain and snow a lot during January at Disneyland Paris?

If you visit during January, its more than likely you will experience at least one rainy day. However, snow at Disneyland Paris is less common, not counting the ‘snoap’ which falls down Main Street USA during the festive season.

It is also worth mentioning that in extreme weather conditions rides may close temporarily for safety reasons.

Our Top Tips for Visiting Disneyland Paris in January

One of our biggest tips for guests staying at Disneyland Paris during the month of January is to stay on-site, if you budget allows it. During January, a Disney hotel costs a lot less and is within the budget of mosts guests. The DLP Hotels are located very close to the parks with each only a short 5-10 minute walk or bus ride to and from the park, which makes it far easier to change clothes, add extra layers or take a break if needed!

Our other top tips include;

• Enjoy the last few days of Christmas Celebrations! For the first week of January you can still enjoy the magic of Christmas at Disneyland Paris!
• Take advantage of Extra Magic Time (EMT). During winter, the park has reduced opening hours, and by using this extra time you have more chance of doing everything you want during your Disney holiday.
• Use your hotels heated pools. Newport Bay, Sequoia and Hotel New York – Art of Marvel all have heated pools and is a great place to relax indoors on those extra cold days
• Meet Disney characters in your hotel. Each morning or evening you can meet a selection of Disney Characters with your hotel, and you can often find even shorter queue lines. Plus you are indoors, keeping warm!
• Take appropriate clothing! We always advise you to take warm or thermal clothing options, along with waterproof coats. If you plan to sit and wait for parades or stay in the parks to watch the illuminations and the fireworks you will need them!

Visiting Disneyland Paris in January FAQ