Christmas at Disneyland Paris
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The Merriest Place on Earth?
There is no denying the pure majesty of Tony Baxter’s vision for a Magic Kingdom that arose from the farmland of Marne la Vallee over a decade ago. The sheer scale and grandeur of Disneyland Paris ensures that there is no park in the Disney empire that can embrace Christmas so perfectly.
Much like the U.S. Magic Kingdoms, Disneyland Park has a giant (artificial) tree at the foot of Main Street U.S.A., dominating the entire of Town Square. Due to the width of Main Street itself, Disneyland park has room for the towering white arches of the Lights of Winter (identical to those that can be found on the walkway to World Showcase at EPCOT in Walt Disney World). Later in the day, this steel framework provides the centrepiece for the Tree Lighting Ceremony.
This year, guests cannot cross Central Plaza due to a series of gates that deny access, as a stage has been set up for the Christmas season. Once again, the trees decorated by each of the characters (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy & Chip ‘n’ Dale) grace each of the quarters that make up Central Plaza. However, the character Meet ‘n’ Greet area that was so popular in prior years is absent and it is strangely eerie to not be able to walk freely around Central Plaza at this time of year.
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