Disneyland Resort Paris
Located about 20 miles from Paris in Marne la Vallée, Disneyland Paris opened on April 12, 1992, the second Disney resort outside the U.S., Tokyo being first. Operating under the name of Euro Disney, the park gained little revenue with declining attendance and hotel occupancy in the early years. By 2002, however, the name was changed to Disneyland Paris, and the company began to show a profit. With the advantage of a central location in Western Europe and easily accessible by a short drive or flight, it is today a leading tourist attraction that millions of people visit each year. Disneyland Paris covers an estimated 140 acres, with approximately 48 attractions in five areas or “lands,” each representing different themes or time periods. These include Main Street USA, America in the 1900’s; Frontierland; Adventureland, with pirates and buried treasure; Fantasyland of Disney characters, and Discoveryland of space exploration.
The Resort has two theme parks, Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios Park, an entertainment district, fourteen hotels, and even a wooded area for campsites. When Studios Park opened in 2002 as a separate park, its attraction as a working film studio was not very successful, but attendance increased as new features were added. Visitors follow a story line through four studio lots, the Production Courtyard, Toon, Backlot, and Frontlot, as they take part in a filming sequence. In June 2007, Toon Studio brought more Disney characters to the Animation Courtyard including Remy the rat and his brother Emile from the film Ratatouille. Visitors can swim with Nemo, or ride in giant teacups, or on the spinning roller coaster. Other attractions at Studios Park include the car and motorcycle stunt show Moteurs in the Backlot, a high-speed ride to the music of Aerosmith on the Rock n’ Roller coaster, and a future Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Disney Studios Park has magic carpets for the little ones to ride, sing-along’s with Disney friends, and a film parade of Disney classics every afternoon.
Meeting Disney characters is, of course, a main attraction at Disneyland Paris, as it is in other Disney parks. In addition to Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Pooh, there are dragons, witches, and pirates too. For the youngest child, It’s a Small World, one that’s filled with 281 animated figures, 48 toys, and 247 accessories, or a journey with Peter Pan to Never land. Families, or adults, will enjoy visiting Phantom Manor, sailing with Captain Jack Sparrow and the Pirates of the Caribbean, or interacting with Buzz in a laser blast. Others will find thrills and excitement on Thunder Mountain’s runaway train, with Indiana Jones in the mines, or on a trip in Space Mission 2.
The entertainment, shopping, and dining resort complex, designed by Frank Gehry, includes over 65 restaurants serving everything from European to Tex Mex cuisine, with indoor and outdoor seating, buffet, counter, full service, and meals with Disney characters. In addition to numerous shops with souvenirs and collectibles, there’s an IMAX theater at Disney Village, live shows such as Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, and golf, tennis, and fitness facilities nearby.
Exciting events fill the calendar as Disneyland Paris celebrated its 15th anniversary this year in the Once Upon a Dream parade. The 2008 season will feature a 3-day Welsh festival, 29 February to 2 March, with Mickey and Minnie in costume, traditional crafts, and legends, as well as music and dance performances, face painting, and fireworks.
No matter how old or how young, there’s something of the child in each of us that still enjoys magic and adventure. Here, in Disneyland Paris, fantasy becomes real – 365 days a year.
Hours: Disneyland Park – 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Studios Park – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Parking, hotels, and all facilities are handicap accessible, strollers and wheelchairs can be rented, guided tours available.
(Note: All types of special offers, holiday packages, and 1, 2, or 3-day passes can be booked online.)