When In Europe Visit Disneyland Paris
Before you visit Disneyland Paris, you may be wondering how is it different from Disney World Orlando? And, is it really worth the day. Paris theme park enthusiasts who’ve been to both parks have ascertained that the more up-to-date Pirates of the Caribbean ride is far superior to its American counterpart, the Indiana Jones ride is worth the money alone and the park itself is actually bigger than the Magic Kingdom, featuring many of the same areas. Of course, you won’t get Epcot or the Animal Kingdom like Disney World Orlando has nearby, but the Disney MGM studios have been recently added (called “Walt Disney Studios.”) As a singular park, the massive Paris park brings European charm to the Disney magic melting pot!
There are a few subtle nuances that make Disneyland Paris unique. For one, there’s a subterranean dragon chamber beneath Sleeping Beauty’s castle! Not Cinderella’s castle here. There’s also an Alice In Wonderland maze for kids and a thrilling Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril ride that can’t be found elsewhere! An updated 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction can still be seen at Disneyland Paris, though it was scrapped from Disneyland California in the 1960s. Disney’s Haunted Mansion has been revamped as Phantom Manor and includes scenes from the Thunder Mesa “ghost town.”
In 2002, Disneyland Paris opened a secondary Disney park with a movie theme called Walt Disney Studios. The newest land is the “Toon Studio,” where guests can go behind-the-scenes of Disney animators, participate in a drawing course taught by Mickey and Donald and check out the film set of Finding Nemo via Crush’s coaster. One of the most popular rides is the “CineMagique,” which is similar to the The Great Movie Ride at Disneyworld. Guests travel through scenes from some of their favorite movies, including: The Magnificent Seven, Mary Poppins, The Hunt For Red October, Pinnochio, The Titanic, The Exorcist, Monsters Inc., Silence of the Lambs, A Fish Called Wanda and Robin Hood. Aerosmith’s thrilling Rock N’ Rollercoaster and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror are here for the extremely brave and adventurous too! Also, don’t miss Catastrophe Canyon, which gives you a back lot tour, putting you right in the middle of explosions, flash floods, fires, earthquakes and everything movie production teams have to offer!
For Paris Disneyland hotels, there’s the Davy Crockett Ranch camp sites for the budget-conscious outdoorsy types, but be aware that this is the furthest Disney resort from the parks. The Disneyland Hotel has been dubbed “European Hotel of the Year” by the British Travel Agents Association and offers castle-like accommodations, in addition to character breakfasts for the kids. Children also love the Western-themed Hotel Cheyenne where they can play in Indian forts and eat in “barns.” Adults prefer the New York Hotel with its swanky Manhattan Restaurant or Newport Bay’s yacht club atmosphere. Santa Fe and Sequoia Lodge are also available, but not recommended.
By Travel Editor
