Like any trip we book, many of us are constrained by a number of factors. One of the biggest – if not the biggest – is whether or not we have children in school (or we work in education). For anyone reading who is not in the U.K., the law places restrictions on when we can take our children on holiday during term time. Basically, we can’t (we know it’s ridiculous), and should we risk it, we get fined and maybe even prosecuted (Yes – ridiculous). So our hands really are tied. But maybe you are free as a bird to travel whenever you like!
One good piece of news if you are travelling to Disneyland Paris during peak times is that there is notably less seasonal variation in pricing. As an overview, if you’re booking a package holiday, strict rules protect you from excessive price hikes. Dynamic pricing is not prohibited by EU consumer protection law: Companies can freely determine the prices they charge as long as they adequately inform consumers about the total price. Current rules like the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCPD) can prohibit it if it becomes misleading or aggressive. So you will see some seasonal variation, but not as much as if you are booking trips abroad from the U.K. or taking a trip in the U.K.
If you want to attend DLP for events such as Christmas and Halloween, or if you visit in the summer, of course you will see some increase in prices, and crowd numbers can be much higher. The other thing to consider are school holidays: not just in France but consider the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy, as these countries send the majority of visitors outside of France, which makes up around half.
Once New Year is over, prices and crowds drop. If you are after quieter months, this is a great time to go. However, do remember that temperatures can plummet – the fountain outside the entrance to Disneyland Park has been known to freeze on many occasions and snow makes an appearance around this time more often than not. There are also seasonal changes to park opening times, so you do get less park hours in the winter. This does have the advantage of the drone and fireworks shows being earlier as in the summer, it makes for a very late night for little ones. Disneyland Park can close as early as 9pm compared to 11pm, and Studios Park 8pm rather than 9pm. This is also can affect how many food outlets are open, so check exact park times and dining options using the official DLP website and/or app.
If you are still after less crowds but hate the cold (like me!), then September also sees a big drop in crowds after the summer season, and the weather will be much warmer (although no one can predict the rain anytime!).
A visit to DLP is never cheap but going off peak can make it less expensive. Weekday bookings can also be cheaper and Tuesdays – Thursdays especially are a lot quieter. You do not need park tickets for Disney Village, so that can get more busy than the parks at evenings and weekends. You can still take advantage of early entry for resort guests at any time of year, and if you are happy to eat outside of regular dining hours, even during peak season you are more likely to be able to get a reservation for table service.
Last of all, keep an eye on the Disneyland Paris website – you might get some good deals come up for off-peak seasons if you’re lucky!
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