Visiting Disneyland Paris in January Tips

Looking for the best visiting Disneyland Paris in January tips? In this guide we cover everything from what it is like at Disneyland Paris in January, how busy it is, what to expect from the weather and what to pack for Disneyland Paris in January to where to stay at Disneyland Paris in the winter, what to do and of course what special events are on at Disneyland Paris in January.

Important Note: This post may contain affiliate links which means if you click through and make a purchase I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you!

Table of Contents

Is Disneyland Paris open in January?

Visiting Disneyland Paris in January Tips

Yes Disneyland Paris is open in January. In fact Disneyland Paris is open 365 days a year. So now we know if is open the next questions to ask is about the attractions at Disneyland Paris.

Are Disneyland Paris rides open in January?

Yes Disneyland Paris rides are open in January however there are caveats to this. Whatever park you are at around the world, Disney rides tend to shut in extreme weather conditions such as very heavy rain. For more information on visiting Disneyland Paris in the rain tips check out this post.

As you are visiting Paris in January you are likely to experience some not great weather that could threaten to temporarily shut some rides, though I stress this is temporary and the cast members always do their best to get everything open as soon as it safe to do so.

It is also worth mentioning that you may find that there is a lot of park maintenance in January which could mean a more than usual amount of ride closes in January at Disneyland Paris. As this is one of the quieter months Disney obviously take the opportunity to do essential maintenance when the crowds aren’t peak. Therefore if you are traveling to Disneyland Paris to go on a particular ride I would advise you to check the future and current ride closures at Disneyland Paris schedule to avoid disappointment.

So knowing this

Is it worth going to Disneyland Paris in January?

Generally speaking if you want to go to Disneyland Paris at a time that is both cheap and less crowded then January may be the perfect month for you to visit.

However you there are two counter points to consider:

The Park opening hours are reduced in January (as they are throughout the Winter months)
there may be some rides that are closed for essential maintenance in January.

The usual opening hours in January at Disneyland Paris are:

Weekdays Disneyland Park 10.00 till 19.00, Walt Disney Studios Park 10.00 till 18.00
Weekend Disneyland Park 10.00 till 22.00, Walt Disney Studios Park 10.00 till 20.00

With Early Magic Hours being around 8:30 – 9:30 – currently only available in the Disneyland Park NOT the Walt Disney Studios Park.

Please note these timings are just for guidance and are subject to change and haven’t been released for 2022 yet so be sure to keep checking back.

Is Disneyland Paris crowded in January?

Is Disneyland Paris crowded in November? Disneyland Paris Crowd Calendar, Is Disneyland Paris crowded in January?

Disneyland Paris is not crowded in January compared to other months of the year but there are some notable exceptions (more on that below). In fact along with March and Disneyland Paris in November it is one of the least crowded months to visit if you go once the schools have returned from vacation.

However if you are visiting during the school holidays, over the Christmas period and for New Years Eve and New Years Day you will experience some of the peak crowds at Disneyland Paris.

January 1st, New Years Day or Jour De l’an as the French call it is a public holiday in France as it is in the UK. You can therefore expect the parks to reach capacity on this day.

Also Christmas at Disneyland Paris extends into January. Christmas is the most popular season at Disneyland Paris so you can expect the crowds who want to see the Christmas decorations, festive shows and eat the festive foods to still be there in January.

There is also a New Years Eve party held at Disneyland Paris which means those with party tickets will be able to party in the park until 2am. As a result the combination of day ticket passes and party ticket holders can cause the crowds to swell in the afternoon of New Years Eve in particular.

For the 2022-2023 Christmas season at Disneyland Paris the decorations and festivities extend until 8th January 2023. You can expect crowds to be high until this ends (especially during the school holidays and at the weekend).

However after the Christmas decorations have gone down after the 8th January you can expect the crowd levels to fall off dramatically. If you don’t have school aged children and plan to visit Disneyland Paris as adults or do Disneyland Paris with toddlers this is definitely the time to go to avoid the crowds unless you don’t like the cold – keep reading for weather info.

For more information on the best time to visit Disneyland Paris check out this post.

Disneyland Paris Crowd Calendar January 2023

For 2023, The Disneyland Paris Crowd Calendar tells us the dates that are likely to busiest are from from 1st January – 8th Janaury and then on weekends as opposed to weekdays. Click here for more information on the best day to visit Disneyland Paris.

NEXT READ: are you looking for information on how to get to Disneyland Paris – check our our guides to help guests find their way to the park from the airport and Eurostar terminal below:

Are there any special events at Disneyland Paris in January

January tends to a month that is quiet in terms of special events at Disneyland Paris. However you should remember that

Christmas season extends to early January in Disneyland Paris
there is a New Years Eve Party – which is an extra ticketed event.

What is the Disneyland Paris in January Weather?

As you would expect the weather in Disneyland Paris in January tends to be cold to mild but with a chance of rain throughout the month.

In answer to is Disneyland Paris cold in January I would have to say that it really depends on the year. Some years you are lucky and the temperatures in January can average reach 8C. However it is not unlikely that you will experience a severe cold snap where you are met with some icy wind.

So although the weather can get up to around 8C I would caution that it can feel cold in Disneyland Paris in Janaury and you should take appropriate thermal and warm clothing with you especially if you plan to stay in the parks past nightfall to see the evening parades, illuminations and the fireworks.

Does it rain at Disneyland Paris in January?

If you are visiting Disneyland Paris in January there is a high probability that you will experience rain during your trip. Disneyland Paris in January usually has rainfall on about 15 days of the month. However the good news is that it usually isn’t too heavy.

Does it snow at Disneyland Paris in January?

Although the weather at Disneyland Paris in January can be quite cold it is actually quite uncommon to get snow at Disneyland Paris in January.

If your visit to Disneyland Paris spreads over two months be sure to check out our other monthly guide for further weather and special event information:

What to Wear to Disneyland Paris In January

They key to what to wear to Disneyland Paris in January is layers and lots of them. It can be cold at Disneyland Paris in January and you will definitely feel it, especially if the wind is hitting you in the wrong direction when you are queuing outside for rides and shows.

We recommend wearing things like jeans, long sleeve t shirts coupled with hoodies and sweaters as well as coats. This way you have lots of layers to protect you from the cold but you can easily remove a layer if you get too warm indoors.

But if you like me feel the cold then I would also advise you packing:

Hat, scarf and gloves
Thermals
Waterproofs
Waterproof shoes – there is nothing worse than walking around the parks with wet feet.

These things are especially essential if you plan to stay in the parks after dark to see the fireworks and the illuminations as the temperatures really do drop once the sun has gone down.

And if you are visiting during the Christmas period then you could chose to add a Christmas jumper into the Disneyland Paris packing list which will make for some cute pictures and festive meet and greets.

Elsa’s Traveling Outfit from Frozen two
Belle from Beauty and the Beasts Winter outfit
Animal costumes such as simba or an Olaf costume which has a lot of stuffing to help keep your little ones warm.

I also insist my daughter always wear thermals and a coat with any costumes she wears to Disneyland Paris in Winter.

Visiting Disneyland Paris in January Tips

Now in my opinion if your budget can afford it I always recommend staying on site for several reasons. They are that

you are walking distance to the parks which is convenient if you need a break or a change of clothes or simply want to escape the cold weather or a rain shower
you get early magic hours. This is especially important when the park is operating at its reduced winter hours to make sure you fit everything into your Disneyland Paris Itinerary.