DLRP Today

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring… not even a mouse! To celebrate Christmas Eve, Mickey and his friends welcome everyone, big and small alike, to their house, where magic and surprises await. Be sure to pay them a visit before Father Christmas arrives!

Step out of the cold and into the cosy shelter of Fantasy Festival Stage theatre near Fantasyland’s railroad station. It’s the height of Christmas season and the most popular festive character show is just about to begin!

As the classic red curtain rises on the scene, we’re at home with Mickey and Minnie Mouse on Christmas Eve. The romantic couple and their Christmas helpers sing “We need a little Christmas”, before settling down for the night and attempting to get to sleep before Santa arrives!

As Mickey drifts off into his dreams, the stuffed head of a bear on the walls comes to life, and the wall breaks away to reveal a real life country bear! Joined by two pals, they tip-toe into the centre of the stage and their full hilarious costumes are revealed. Dressed for the sugar plub fairy, they swirl around in circles and dance delicately around the ballet of Tchaikovsky.

Mickey is awakened by a visit from Chip n Dale with Pluto, and the bears fade away, leaving behind a “Gone with the Dream” sign on the wall. Prancing and dancing around the lounge, Chip, Dale and Pluto sing their own unique version Jingle Bells with the Christmas helpers, until they come across a left-over item from the sugar plum fairy bears - their magic wand! With a single flick, the trio are transported to the dream world of toyland…

Toy soldiers come to life, dolls dance in beautiful choreography and a classic scene from the Nutcracker comes together before their eyes. Back at the house, Mickey and Minnie have another visitor - is it who they’ve all been waiting for? The musical number “Santa Clause is coming to town” is brought to life, and as he comes tumbling down the chimney, they gasp in anticipation. Wait, it’s only Goofy, dressed as Santa Clause! Luckily though, he joins in the music and comes bearing gifts - spreading a little Christmas magic to all his friends with presents and festive wishes.

For the final act, we’re taken outside to a classic, snowy, Winter landscape. Before Chip and Dale even have chance to start their snowball fight, Frosty the Snowman comes to life and the gang surprise him with his own musical number. Then, as the grand finale to an unforgettable Christmas Eve, the entire gang and their Christmas helpers join together out amongst the frost for a final Christmas sing-song of “White Christmas” and “We Need a Little Christmas”, before snow begins falling all around them and their most wonderful, festive holiday night ever is complete.

Le Noël de Mickey was undoubtedly the longest-running show in the history of Disneyland Resort Paris. It began with the very first Christmas season in 1992 and had its final farewell season just last year, in 2005/06. The show was very much of the same breed as the other original Fantasy Festival Stage show C’est Magique, with fast-paced, chirpy music and high-pitched vocals. The costumes were bright, large and unmistakably from the early 90s, whilst the sets used an interesting comic strip/pop-art style and featured numerous touches relating to Mickey’s many animated shorts.

Replacing C’est Magique during the Winter months, it was an immediate success and continued to be a popular feature of Disney’s Christmas Season until its final years. With the introduction of Mickey’s Winter Wonderland at The Chaparral Theater in 1998, the park sought to replicate the successful formula, and infact subsequently produced an even more popular show that has now taken over the seasonal reigns as the main Mickey & Friends Christmas production.

Le Noël de Mickey played from early December to the end of each Christmas Season, and has been replaced in 2006 by a Christmas version of Winnie the Pooh and Friends Too, adding a new set of characters into the Christmas entertainment mix. Music from the show was released on the first two Noël à Disneyland Paris CDs, with a single track later also showing up on the 10th Anniversary CD.