Must-Sees at Disneyland Paris - July 2005
Written: Jul 25 '05 (Updated Sep 05 '05)
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Pros: Beautiful castle and theming, great rides and shows, information in multiple languages, good food
Cons: Don't order tickets online! Some problems with cleanliness and restrooms being closed
The Bottom Line: If you love Disney or want to make your children very happy, spend a day or two here!
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| chelledun's Full Review: Disneyland Paris |
I’m a huge fan of Disney World in Florida and have spent over one hundred days there. Additionally, my husband was an employee there on a couple of occasions throughout his college career. I’d been to Paris once before but for a very brief visit so obviously this time Disneyland Paris had to be on the agenda. Some may think I am crazy for dedicating a day of my time in Paris to a visit to this park but I don’t regret doing so. While there is definitely still room for improvement as compared to the other Disney theme parks, Disneyland Paris has some fabulous attractions and very special things to offer.
General Information
Disneyland Paris is about a 40 minute train ride from central Paris. Trains run very frequently until midnight and we found this method of transportation to be quick and convenient. Hours at Disneyland Paris fluctuate according to season. July, when we visited, is supposed to be peak season although it was not very crowded on a Friday. As a result the park was open from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. During other times of the year it opens as late as 10:00 or 11:00 and closes as early as 7:00.
Disneyland Paris is actually a massive resort complex, much like Walt Disney World in Florida. There are two parks, Disneyland Paris and Disney Studios. There is also a nighttime entertainment complex with shows and restaurants as well as many resorts in different price ranges. It would be possible to spend four or five days enjoying all the Disney attractions, but even a huge Disney fan like me could only spare a day of my Paris vacation to visit. As a result, this review is focused exclusively on the Disneyland Paris park which is essentially similar to Florida’s Magic Kingdom.
An Unfortunate Beginning to Our Day…
After dragging my husband on the train at a ridiculously early hour, we ran into a major snafu at the park gate. Hoping to avoid a ticket line my husband had purchased our tickets online about two weeks in advance. A few days later he received a priority mail letter claiming he needed to “present this paper at the park” to receive tickets. We assumed it was some type of a will-call situation. However, when we got to the park we were shuffled around a bit and informed that we should have actually received tickets, and a teeny fine print section on the back of one of the papers stated that the tickets themselves would be coming priority mail.
At this point, our options were to wait around for some guy to bring tickets a half hour later or purchase new tickets and try to get a refund later. Since the park had already been open for twenty minutes we opted to just purchase the new tickets to avoid the long lines which would form in the late morning. Late in the afternoon my husband tried again to receive a refund but was shuffled to two or three different people again with no luck. I was kind of shocked and frustrated by this situation because the employees did not seem very empowered to help guests, as opposed to the United States parks where they will bend over backwards. Anyway, about a half hour late we were finally able to enter the park and hopefully will receive a refund later.
***UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2005 - We have complained and now received the paperwork to claim our refund for one set of the tickets. 92 Euros will be refunded to my account. Thank goodness!
MUST-SEE Attractions
The attractions at Disneyland Paris are divided into five distinct ‘lands’ organized around the central hub of the castle. Each land is distinguished by unique theming, restaurants, and attractions. From the front of the park in counter-clockwise order the lands are Main Street, U.S.A., Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Discoveryland. This means the park has two fewer lands than the Magic Kingdom, which I found to be a plus. Concentrating on fewer lands helped to give each area a distinct feel and better differentiation. Disneyland Paris has a huge variety of attractions and shows, but the following is a brief description of the don’t miss attractions for any visitor.
Frontierland
1. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - This is definitely one of my picks for one of the top three attractions at the park. This is a roller coaster with a family focus so it is not too wild of a ride. However, the mine theme is great and the ride is pretty long. Look forward to going through several tunnels in the dark. We rode this first upon entering the park and I think that was a good choice since it seemed to have the longest line of any attraction by the end of the day. Later we rode again because I felt it was worth a forty minute wait.
2. Phantom Manor - Disneyland’s version of a haunted house may be more child-friendly than some, but it may still frighten some small children. I thought this ride was fabulously well done, with special effects much more impressive than the Disney World version. The bride and groom theme is woven throughout the ride repeatedly. Guests board ‘doom buggies’ for a ride through a variety of scenes including a ghostly party, western town, and picking up your own “hitch-hiking ghost”.
See if you have time - We would have loved to see Tarzan Encounter, but it is very difficult to time with the days other shows and we really wanted to see the Lion King show.
Adventureland
1. Pirates of the Caribbean - A fabulous attraction at any of the Disney park’s, Paris’s version is especially well done. Guests will board boats at a dark pier and travel through a fire battle and pirates pillaging a town. The ride is nice and long and offers two fun little drops, so warn children ahead of time. My only complaint about this attraction was the way the boats became piled up about halfway through the ride. The line moved very quickly, so do not be put off if it seems a bit long.
2. Adventure Isle - This recommendation is based on families with children. Adventure Isle is a great effort at a themed play area where kids can run around and act like pirates. Even for adults, its fun to see Captain Hook’s Pirate Ship and take a few photos with the beautiful beach in the background. Even if you are on a tight schedule, a short mid-afternoon break to let the kids run around will do wonders for everyone’s moods.
See if you have time - If you are a major coaster fan, you can give Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril a try. I am underwhelmed with this coaster and find it to be standard amusement park fare and a bit rattly. It is fairly brief and does not go through the temple or anything, but if you want one more roller coaster to ride here you go. Lines never reached more than fifteen minutes on the day I was there but FASTPASS is available if you visit on a busy day.
Fantasyland
Les Voyages de Pinnochio - This attraction was especially fun for me because there isn’t anything like it at the Florida parks. This ride takes place in the dark and takes visitors through the Pinnochio story fairly faithfully. I love the final scene in Geppeto’s workshop which features dozens of the cuckoo clocks shown in the film.
Peter Pan’s Flight - Board a Pirate ship and take off to Neverland! Sights include London at night, Neverland, and Peter Pan fighting Captain Hook. This ride is a great favorite of visitors of all ages and 45 minute lines had developed within an hour of entering the park. We used FASTPASS here to cut our weight down to about five minutes. I suggest picking passes up when you enter Fantasyland and then riding the other attractions in the area while you wait for your time to pop up.
Sleeping Beauty Castle Attractions - The beautiful castle is the park’s centerpiece and has its own offerings inside. Climbing the stairs will take you to the wonderful gallery of tapestries and stained-glass windows which follow the story of Sleeping Beauty. Guests can also walk around outside among the turrets for a great view of the park. Lurking below the castle is an audio-animatronic dragon who snorts, growls, and moves around every so often.
It’s a Small World - Love it or hate it, this attraction with its infection theme song and dancing dolls is worth a visit. For visitors from the U.S. like me its fun to see the “America” section of the attraction complete with Statue of Liberty and the Hollywood sign. The ride’s façade and waiting area is very attractive, especially on a nice day. Lines move very quickly and were never long on our visit.
See if you have time - Many Fantasyland attractions fall under this category for those traveling with small children. If you are willing to wait, Dumbo is a special experience for a child’s first visit to Disney. I don't know why kids like it so much, but they do. The Casey Junior train ride is a zippy little engine and not too bad for adults either. At night, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is truly beautiful if you can time your trip right.
Discoveryland
Legend of the Lion King - DO NOT miss this show, it was my surprise favorite attraction at the park. The show includes live singing, dancing, and has the quality of a Broadway musical. I only wish it were longer! Shows are every couple of hours alternating in French and English. The procedure to get tickets is quite complicated, although the tickets themselves are free. Check signs entering the park to see what times you should line up at Videopolis. Once you are there (fifteen minutes early!) make sure you are in the correct queue by asking a cast member, or several. All the songs are in English, so we were absolutely thrilled with attending a French show because it was fun to hear dialogue in French. If you can’t get tickets to the show you can watch it from further away by eating a meal in Hyperion during one of the show times.
Space Mountain, Mission 2 - This is a roller coaster that gives you a lot of bang for your buck! After being shot out of a cannon-type blast off, there are loops, dips, and scenes of outer space projected throughout the ride. The attraction has a fun soundtrack and great imagery, although it rattled my head a bit more than I prefer. My husband is a big roller coaster fan and he rode twice and loved this attraction. FASTPASS is available for this ride.
Star Tours - This is a fun Star Wars themed motion simulator, although a bit in need of an update. The show doesn’t load very quickly so long lines can develop. Ride early or use FASTPASS.
See if You Have Time - Good for a laugh is Honey I Shrunk the Audience, a 3-D movie featuring Rick Moranis and company. I didn’t see this in Paris because the same show is available at Epcot Center. If you have read or viewed 㦀,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” you will enjoy the walk-through attraction Les Mystères du Nautilus where you can walk through Captain Nemo’s submarine. Don’t miss the “attack” by the giant squid out the window on the left side of the sub.
I’m Hungry! Where Should I Eat?
In general, I was pleasantly surprised with both the quality and value of the meals and snacks I purchased at Disneyland Paris. Lunch was burgers and fries at the Hyperion in Discoveryland, where you can eat in a futuristic atmosphere among animals from the Lion King. (An odd mixture, but it works!) Dinner was a very delicious barbecued rib/chicken platter at Cowboy Cookout Barbecue. Lunch for two cost under 10 Euros while dinner ran about 20 Euros, which seemed very reasonable for a theme park.
A scrumptious array of snacks can be found throughout the park. I had some great ice cream at the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor. A huge cotton candy hit the spot before the parade, made fresh from one of the kiosks on Main Street U.S.A. Popcorn and ice cream vendors are available throughout the park.
Since my visit was only one day I did not have time to dine at any of the sit-down restaurants, but I did take the time to check out some of the menus. If you are willing to pay for the luxury of a beautiful setting, the most appealing location in my opinion would be the Blue Lagoon Restaurant. This restaurant is right in the heart of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and you can watch boats pass right by your table. If I ever return to this park, a meal here will be a must. There was also a character tea available at the Plaza House on the day of our visit which would be a unique experience.
Evening Entertainment
We lined up about a half hour early to get a good spot for Fantillusions, the 10:30 p.m. parade. There were families staking out prime spots for the parade about two hours early which made for nice short lines on some of the other attractions at night. Fantillusions was a light parade featuring floats dedicated to favorite Disney characters. These included Mickey, Ariel, villains such as Jafar and Ursula, and Princess Minnie bringing up the rear. The floats were very well done but I felt that the parade lacked a cohesive theme bringing it together. Wishes is a fireworks show presented at 11:15, but we cut out early to be sure to get on a train home. I’m not a huge fireworks person in general, so watching them in a mob and then racing for the train isn’t my cup of tea.
Cleanliness and Facilities
In general, the facilities were fairly clean although I did encounter a bit more trash in some sections of the park than I expected. There is a boat ride attraction in Fantasyland and I was shocked to see cans and wrappers floating amongst some of the sets. Also some of the queuing areas became quite full of litter because there were no garbage fans. Don’t get me wrong, the park is still very clean by general theme park standards but Disney generally is more particular about such matters.
The restrooms I used were pretty clean although a couple of locations were inexplicably closed during my visit. In particular, it bothered me that in Fantasyland the women’s restroom was closed (although the men’s was still open.) This meant it was necessary to walk all the way to Discoveryland to use a toilet, taking away from the efficiency of a touring plan. There didn’t seem to be as many restroom facilities as the other Disney Parks I have visited.
Overall…
My trip to Disneyland Paris was definitely one of the highlights of my time in Europe. It was a great pleasure to visit someplace new but that seemed so familiar. The line-up of attractions and entertainment at this park is absolutely fabulous and lines moved quickly and efficiently. The food was good and a great value. However, the inexplicable delay we had in entering the park was very frustrating and has still not been resolved even after we were sent three or four different places. At the moment we have paid twice the normal rate for our day at the park and for me this knocks the experience down to 4 stars instead of five. I am confident this issue will be resolved now that my husband is back in the U.S. and will update accordingly. Even considering this inconvenience, I still found my day at Disneyland Paris to be pretty magical and a worthwhile trip.
*Planning a trip to Paris? My general review is available here.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
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