Disney is once again closing two of its parks early for several days during the 2024 holiday season – a move that’s likely to once again stir up frustration with guests.
The holidays are magical at all Disney theme parks. While the grandest celebrations unfold with iconic events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Disney’s Jollywood Nights at Magic Kingdom Park, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, every Disney park—from Disneyland Resort to Tokyo Disney Resort—embraces the holiday season in its own unique way.
However, the holiday magic will be interrupted again this year at Disneyland Paris, where two Disney theme parks are planning early closures to make way for private events.
Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park are set to implement a series of early closures on December 10, 12, 13, 17, and 19. On these dates, Disneyland Park will close as early as 6:30 p.m. rather than the usual 10 p.m.
Meanwhile, Walt Disney Studios Park will experience similar shortened hours, closing at 7 p.m. on some days.
The full early closure schedule is as follows:
- December 10: Disneyland Park closes at 9 p.m. and Walt Disney Studios Park closes at 8 p.m. (the latter follows regular hours on this day)
- December 12: Disneyland Park closes at 6.30 p.m. and Walt Disney Studios Park closes at 7 p.m.
- December 13: Disneyland Park closes at 9 p.m. and Walt Disney Studios Park closes at 8 p.m. (the latter follows regular hours on this day)
- December 17: Disneyland Park closes at 6.30 p.m. and Walt Disney Studios Park closes at 7 p.m.
- December 19: Disneyland Park closes at 6.30 p.m. and Walt Disney Studios Park closes at 7 p.m.
Similar closures in 2023 left guests frustrated when they were announced at the end of October, long after many had already booked their vacations. Understandably, visitors were upset to discover they’d have less time in the parks than what they thought they’d paid for, stirring up disappointment just as the holiday season was kicking off.
The French theme parks celebrate the holiday season with events such as Mickey’s Dazzling Christmas Parade on Main Street, U.S.A., the “Let’s Sing Christmas!” musical show, and the Magical Christmas Tree Lighting. Helping this festive experience is the fact that Disneyland Paris – unlike its sister parks in the U.S. – can be genuinely freezing in December, with some years even seeing the resort dusted with snow.
Last year, the early park closures meant that the fireworks (then Disney Dreams!) were performed hours earlier than usual. It’s currently unclear if that’s the case for Disneyland Park’s current nighttime spectaculars, Disney Illuminations, and the beloved drone show Disney Electrical Sky Parade, which is set to include a new Christmas section before its final performance in January.
Are you going to Disney this holiday season?
