Visiting DLP in January

[jan2010]

Hi all

I am planning a visit to Disneyland Paris in January 2010. I was thinking of the first week in january and I am wondering has anyone been there at this time before and can they tell me if it is very busy at this time or what is it like?

I would be arriving around the 5th or 6th perhaps so it is after New Years but I know that some children will still be on Christmas holidays for that week so I am wondering does this make it very busy or how have people found it at this time?

Thanks.

[tennisfan]

From what people have said it gets quite quiet after the 1st as many school are back etc. It is also usually very cold.

[sweetiepie71]

We normally go early January, as soon as the christmas stuff finishes (and the prices drop drastically!) It's normal fairly quiet (but not empty by any stretch of the imagination) during the week-Mon-Fri -but the weekends can still be quite busy with lots of queues.

The park opening hours are quite short, so you need to find other things to do of an evening if you have older kids -mine are only young so after a lateish dinner are happy to go to bed.

There are often a number of rides being refurbed, we've never seen Pirates of the Caribbean working in three visits and I'm fairly sure it won't be working when we go this time either as it always seems to be the same rides closed when we go.

It's cold. Like, really REALLY cold. Often snows and the cold is bitter. You will need very warm clothing, thermals, proper gloves, hats etc. Small kids will need snowsuits/skiwear. Lake Disney froze when we were there two visits ago, and most of the water in the parks is frozen.

Despite all this, I love it in January. The queues for rides are significantly shorter (during the week, not weekends), some rides you can just ride again straight away, there is a more peaceful atmosphere and it gives us something lovely to look forward to after the madness of Christmas is over. The restaurants arent as busy and the staff seem much happier, probably because they aren't as busy as in high season. It's wonderful to come in from the cold to one of the restaurants and sip a hot chocolate in the warm, before going back outside. The cold is crisp and not like the damp cold you seem to get here that freezes your bones!


I'd say as long as you think you'll cope with the weather, go. You'll have a wonderful and magical time.

[mommy2ash]

i went at the start of feb this year and the park was empty. everything was a walk on. it was still very cold but not nearly as cold as jan was this year. i would say try to avoid weekends whenever you are going.

[jan2010]

Thanks for that advice.

I will probably be going midweek so should be a bit quieter there hopefully.

Is there any way of knowing when certain rides will be closed - I'd hate to miss some of my favourite rides - have been once before and loved pirates of carribbean, would have enjoyed going on it again!

[mommy2ash]

they are a bit slow coming out with info. i am going in 7 weeks and i still dont know what will be closed during my stay. its quite annoying especially if you have a favourite ride. my dd loves its a small world and i dont know what we will do if its closed lol

[sweetiepie71]

they are a bit slow coming out with info. i am going in 7 weeks and i still dont know what will be closed during my stay. its quite annoying especially if you have a favourite ride. my dd loves its a small world and i dont know what we will do if its closed lol

Yes, it is annoying, rather like Russian Roulette LOL! You have to book so far in advance, yet they can't tell you what will be closed until sometimes days before. Just keep fingers crossed, I guess.

[jillrobinson]

On the phone today the CM did apologise that at this time she didn't have details of closures and reburishments for our dates, although she did say the pool will definately be open. :goodvibes

[DLPdaft]

Hi jan2010,
Elaine, Jackie, Elaine and Reid welcome you to the DLP DIS board :goodvibes

We are a friendly bunch here so please join in on any other thread or if you have a number of questions then just start a new thread for each

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http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1477038,
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[poppyolivia]

I love January...we are going in the first wk next year...so excited.....think of the coldest you've ever been and multiply it by 10....bingo you have what it feels like!!!!:rotfl: If you have the right clothes its not too bad..one year my knuckles were crunching and it hurt to breathe!!!..BUT we still had an amazing time!!!!!:thumbsup2

[thelittlemermaid83]

January is a great time to go if you like rain, snow and generally cold weather :lmao:

[sweetiepie71]

January is a great time to go if you like rain, snow and generally cold weather :lmao:

Actually, you are more likely to get rain if you go in Spring, or Autumn.....aren't you going in Autumn? :rotfl2:

[thelittlemermaid83]

Actually, you are more likely to get rain if you go in Spring, or Autumn.....aren't you going in Autumn? :rotfl2:

I'm going tomorrow and Nov and i went same time last year and had no rain...guess im just lucky and have been unlucky the 2 times i have been in January with rain and thick snow.

[DLPdaft]

Now you mention it Emma, I do remember your first ever trip report from January, and you saying how wet your feet were almost the entire time you were there.

I almost always go to DLRP in either Spring or Autumn, and yes, its rained every time. In October though, it was only drizzle, and intermittent with lovely sunshine, and it wasn't cold at all. In June I bought ponchos because it rained so much - but it still wasn't cold, just very wet :). May this year, I was very unlucky, in that the first 2 days of my trip were about the only rain anyone had seen in the area for about a month either side :confused3.

I'll be perfectly honest, and say the trip reports, wonderful as they all were, from early January this year, have put me off forever from attempting DLRP at that time - I do not like freezing cold (unless I'm inside all tucked up with a steaming mug of coffee, looking out at all the prettiness).

[thelittlemermaid83]

Now you mention it Emma, I do remember your first ever trip report from January, and you saying how wet your feet were almost the entire time you were there.

.

:rotfl2: Shame i didnt learn from my mistake when i went the 2nd time in January.:lmao:

[sweetiepie71]

I'll be perfectly honest, and say the trip reports, wonderful as they all were, from early January this year, have put me off forever from attempting DLRP at that time - I do not like freezing cold (unless I'm inside all tucked up with a steaming mug of coffee, looking out at all the prettiness).


That's pretty sensible. In all seriousness, if you don't like cold weather, there's absolutely no point going in January. Pre-kids, I skiied a lot, the cold doesn't bother me at all, in fact I'd rather be wrapped up warm in Wintry weather than sweating buckets in the heat, personally, so Winter is the best time for us to go. But if you think you might be miserable, shivering to death, then you won't enjoy it at all. Good job DLP is open all year round, so we can all find our own best time to go. ;)

[angel girl]

We went from the 2nd-5th Jan this year and it was still very busy, but all the decorations were still up and it was a lovely atmosphere. I would definitely go at that time of year again-though as others have said it was ridiculously cold :scared1: (and I am not usually one to feel the cold, though I was suffering from anaemia at the time which def didn't help :sad1:). Having said that as long as you wrap up warm and have plenty of hot chocolates you will be fine :rotfl:

[Ljay]

in fact I'd rather be wrapped up warm in Wintry weather than sweating buckets in the heat, personally, so Winter is the best time for us to go.

I feel the same as you, i much prefer the colder weather and being wrapped up warm, then walking around in the heat, i get grumpy and lazy in the heat:)
I love blue sky and crisp cold weather (not to much when you cant feel your ears or toes though:lmao:)

Ive never been dlp in the warmer months come to think of it, would like to maybe try June sometime. Long as it doesnt rain im good! rain turns my head into a frizz ball! i couldnt meet micky like that! he would be thinking i was a new character on the block!:rotfl2:

[wideeyes]

We did January last year and it was cold but dry for us though I know it was not as cold for us as it was for Emma and the others who went just after new years. (we went late January)

my DD coped okay with it however I wouldn't do it with a very young kid who may need a buggy. I went in december when my DD was 3 and she was miserable with the cold however at 7 she can walk around and run to keep warm.

The park was quiet however the weekend was very busy, so I would always try to avoid the weekend any time of the year.