France in January

I've been to Paris last two Januarys and found the weather to be quite mild from my North American perspective. Could be as high as +10 or as cold as -5. Two years ago the Parisiens where excited about the blanket of snow they got the week before, but it had all melted by the time we arrived. As far as Disneyland, there is a chance you could get one of those +10 days and you could give it a go.

I would think you would bring a good quality anorak for skiing/boarding that also would serve as a winter coat for the rest of the time in Europe. Other specialized ski clothing you can rent at most sports shops in the mountains. Courcheval is definitely high end, so be prepared to exercise your wallet.

It depends. If the weather is coming from the east (Russia), it can get quite cold. Just pay attention to the forecast and pack accordingly.

Ha. Replies about Paris in winter from someone in Green Bay and another in Boise. Too funny. The frozen tundra and all ;) .

We are going the exact same time so we will see you on the streets of Paris. If you can stand the cold on a chairlift 30+ feet off the ground, I think you should be able to enjoy any city in winter. In both instances, the problem is how you dress. Much like you don't want to wear too much to get too hot while you ski, the tradeoff is freezing on the lift if there are strong winds. The issue we will face is dressing for the cold of the streets while removing and lugging layers around while inside of the museums. We are taking the ski jacket and ski thermals approach ourselves as well as rain shells.

We went to Disney World in February when it was colder than our hometown of Boston. We didn't bring any winter jackets because we thought it would be warmer. Oops. We still had fun though as there weren't as many crowds. I am not sure what DLP will be like. It seems not as much is open and what is open is not open for very long.

Layers will be key. Also, we have found winter hours to be a little more restrictive for a number of the attractions, museums, etc. Some aren't open at all. Still looking forward to it. Perhaps some ice skating on the tennis court sized rink of the Eiffel Tower.

Paris is located at about the same latitude as the Canadian border, a reason one could reasonably expect it to be a bit nippy in January.

I live some 300km north of Paris, so climate is quiet comparable. There are some differences, partly to explain that Paris lies also more inland as I live quiet close near the coast. In January temperatures are usually around zero and if there is no wind and a clear blue sky like today it´s perfect wheather for outdoor activities. For those coming from places with much higher average temperatures it´s hard to say how you will experience colder wheather. Best is to wear clothes in layers like dew3 already noticed and RS usually advises, so you can better regulate the level of comfort. If necessary you can always buy a cheap “extra layer” on the spot. It makes ofcourse also a big difference if you will be physical active or not.

Windy freezing wheather can be very uncomfortable, so be sure that one of the layers will be wind resistant. To me the most annoying wheather is here strong wind, rain and a temperature just above zero. The combination of wind and rain can cool down body temperature way more and gives the feeling of a much lower unpleasant temperature and doesn´t invite to do something outdoors.

The warm Gulf Stream makes the climate in Western-Europe moderate. Madrid and New York are almost exactly at the same lattitude, but the latter lies just outside the stream and explains the extreme winters there we hardly can think to have here. So climate of both sides of the Atlantic is not so easy to compare.

The two ends of the body -- head and feet -- are vulnerable to winter cold yet often neglected. Dampness is the concern for footwear in the big city more than actual snow. The head deserves a warm covering that includes the ears and still looks jaunty. Scarves are standard Paris attire three seasons of the year, as you know from previous visits.
French weather is influenced by the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the North Sea so conditions can be variable. Actual latitude is an undependable guide. Weather along the Canadian border at Vancouver is hardly the same as along the border in Saskatchewan (and my part of that border, in the east-central, is on the same latitude as Barcelona yet gets harsher conditions than Vancouver.)
Dubai will be about as warm as Sydney in January. You can go skiing and skating indoors.

Paris is a great winter city. If the weather is bright and cold then some outdoor wandering and even cafe sitting (they have heaters) is in order. If it is rainy and miserable, it is a town full of wonderful indoor venues. I would not waste a day in Paris on Disneyland, especially in January, but if the day is sunny and bright and you really want to do this, you could easily do so. You should have the warm clothes after a sky vacation. If you do Disney get Mobilis transport tickets as they cost about the same as a round trip on the RER with single point to point tickets (2 of them) and you then still have use of the pass in the evening back in Paris until midnight.