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**jml338** · 10-01-2006, 12:30 PM

Re: Disney in December? Help!

Well, if you go before it opens, you should be fine. Nothing should be closed (except, maybe, Indiana Jones or BTM if the weather is really horrible). I remember that the ice was a major problem for BTM and Indiana Jones, delaying the opening of those two rides quite a bit.

Go first to Big Thunder Mountain which is the most popular ride there, go to Indiana Jones after and then to the POTC (if there is any weather problem, switch the order and get a fastpass). Go to Fantasyland and do Peter Pan right away (because it is super popular) and then do whatever you want there (it will become quickly crowded). You can then direct your attention toward Tomorrowland: Space Moutain is not as popular as it use to be, Star Tours is usually easy to get to and Buzz goes pretty fast even if it is new. Phantom Manor is NEVER crowded unless it is a very bad day (then, you will be screwed after riding POTC).

December is not so bad but I do not know if the kids are going to be out of school... Check that out to make sure.

The weather can be VERY cold and unpleasant especially because of the winds. Get very warm clothes.

Oh, and, btw, enjoy!

**Nancywitt** · 10-01-2006, 01:41 PM

Re: Disney in December? Help!

Make sure you stop by under the castle to visit the dragon. That was the soul reason that got me to go all that way.

By the way, the park is beautiful. Full of details. And the people are great. Enjoy!

**blaxx** · 10-01-2006, 02:17 PM

Re: Disney in December? Help!

Hey, thanks for your replies....very much appreciated!

I think school is going to be out for sure by then, although they might not expect big crowds if they close at 7PM? Who knows, hopefully the fact that is Monday and Tuesday and a bit chilly will make it not too terribly busy...

Any other tips? Does Phantom Manor have the special "Nightmare Before..." added to it in Paris too? Does it go until December? It sounds nice, but I would like to see the ride without anything added to it.

**Malin** · 10-01-2006, 03:06 PM

Re: Disney in December? Help!

Hi blaxx

Park hours vary on park attendance,if attendance is high the park will close later if vice versa its low it will close earlier.If its going to close at say 6.00pm that should give you plenty of time to check out all the big attractions atleast once during your visit,as most should be walk ons.Except maybe the small dark rides in Fantasyland.

The park does get very cold and bitter especially in Dec,wrap up warm.But do bare in mind that the park is built especially with the cold weather in mind and offers a lot more in the way of shelter like for instance the in door arcades on Main Street.

If you go when kids are out of school it will be packed and lines will be long,also the christmas event will be on and that will always bring in the crowds.Might want to re consider your dates.

Paris Phantom Manor does not include the overlay

**The Goddess Mara** · 10-01-2006, 07:10 PM

Re: Disney in December? Help!

Disneyland Paris is a horrible place during the winter: it's frequently raining--cold, frigid rain, biting cold wind, and DAMN cold. It's about as unpleasant a way to experience a Disney park as you can imagine.

I did it about two or three years ago just after Walt Disney Studios opened because I was in London on a business trip. So, I thought it made sense to hope on the Eurostar and be there in about 3 hours. What a miserable damn day! My butt was freezing from sitting on the damn metal bleachers to watch Lights! Motors! BOREDOM! What kind of an idiot puts metal seats in an open theater in an area that is frigid in the winter? Terrible.

Also, in the winter, a bunch of attractions are usually closed, including the Nautilus walk through (one of the most unusual things in the park), Autopia, and if the weather is lousy, count out Big Thunder Mountain and the off-the-shelf Indy coaster as well (as noted above).

The only good thing was that the park was empty--every single ride was a walk on. We did every open ride twice even with the short opening hours. My Parisian friend had a great time because he'd never seen the park with no lines before, and he didn't care about the weather because he lived a half hour away. I would never do it again.

This contrasts greatly with my experience in 2000, when I went with my wife during September and it was sunny and 80 degrees everyday. Then we had a fantastic time.

**J9000** · 10-02-2006, 01:38 AM

Re: Disney in December? Help!

ive gone in december repeatedly, never seen btm or indy shuttered. nautilus is always open, just shuts early. autopia i never see open.

1. park website says opeing is untill 7pm (7pm-8pm in december is DEAD, like own streaching room dead)

2. not as cold as november or febuary (strange that) but wrap up warm, hot tea helps

3. britsh schools are not out, nor are the french ones, so attendence should be quiet.
french school calerndar - http://www.edutel.fr/prat/calendrier/calendrier.php

ps. planning on going myself the week before.

**Zarniwoop** · 10-02-2006, 04:57 AM

Re: Disney in December? Help!

Originally posted by blaxx View Post

2. How cold does it get? Do rides close because of the weather? Would be really sad to wait in line for a long time if the weather is too cold

This analysis is based on data from the past 10 years.
17th Dec - 24th Dec: The average daily maximum temperature was between and .
At night it cooled down to temperatures between and .
On average there were 3 days with precipitation.

**Zarniwoop** · 10-02-2006, 11:48 AM

Re: Disney in December? Help!

Originally posted by The Goddess Mara View Post

Also, in the winter, a bunch of attractions are usually closed, including the Nautilus walk through (one of the most unusual things in the park), Autopia, and if the weather is lousy, count out Big Thunder Mountain and the off-the-shelf Indy coaster as well (as noted above).

**blaxx** · 10-02-2006, 12:37 PM

Re: Disney in December? Help!

Pardon my French, but I can't really read that calendar...does that mean that schools in France are not off until December 23? (Or 22 for that matter).

Well, I'm from Canada, so the cold should be not bad at all, compared to our -20/ -40 C winters here... if it was in the pluses I would be okay!

Thank you all for your advise, you sure know it all about this park!

Anything else I shouldn't miss?

**Olivier** · 10-02-2006, 11:36 PM

Re: Disney in December? Help!

Originally posted by blaxx View Post

Pardon my French, but I can't really read that calendar...does that mean that schools in France are not off until December 23? (Or 22 for that matter).

This year Christmas school holidays : from december 23 until january 8.

**J9000** · 10-03-2006, 06:24 AM

Re: Disney in December? Help!

i carnt read french either, but the dates are all you need to know!

the french public schools are on three timetables, all the holidays are at different times, the only dates the same are the christmas and summer breaks. as olivier said, they break on the 23rd this year. (most british schools will proberbly be the same week)

as for stuff not to miss, phantom manor, the nautilus and the dragon in the castle!

**The Goddess Mara** · 10-03-2006, 07:58 PM

Re: Disney in December? Help!

Glad to hear they're keeping those rides open year round. Forgot to mention Casey Junior--it's a lot of fun and seems to go considerably faster than its sister at Disneyland in Anaheim.

**blaxx** · 10-04-2006, 11:29 AM

Re: Disney in December? Help!

You guys are true experts! Thanks so much!

**hoppypooh** · 10-04-2006, 04:47 PM

Re: Disney in December? Help!

Hey Blaxx!

Cheers from a fellow Canuck... I'm from Ottawa.

Please be sure to post a trip report when you return. I'd love to hear how things went for your first trip. I am planning a December 2007 trip.

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