Paris Disneyland Resort Paris

It’s a small, small world, and Disney is hell-bent on making it even smaller. When EuroDisney opened on April 12, 1992, Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, and Snow White were met by the jeers of French intellectuals and the popular press, who called the Disney theme park a “cultural Chernobyl.” Resistance has subsided since Walt & Co. renamed it Disneyland Resort Paris and started serving wine. Pre-construction press touted the complex as a vast entertainment and resort center covering an area one-fifth the size of Paris. In truth, the theme park doesn’t even measure the size of an arrondissement , though Disney owns (and may eventually develop) 600 hectares. Technologically advanced, the special effects on some rides will blow you away. If you have bottomless pockets, indulging in one of the park’s seven world-class hotels, like the palatial Disneyland Hotel, may be worth the luxury. For the more frugal—and those with a low tolerance for toddlers—a daytrip will more than suffice.

Catering to both English and French speaking tourists, the park provides detailed bilingual maps at its entrance. The Guests’ Special Services Guide has info on wheelchair accessibility. For more info on Disneyland Paris, call ☎08 448 008 111, or visit their website at www.disneylandparis.com.

Transportation: Take RER A4 from either Gare de Lyon, Opéra (RER: Auber) or Châtelet-Les Halles (dir. Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy) to the last stop, Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy. Before boarding the train, check the boards hanging above the platform to make sure there’s a light next to the Marne-la-Vallée stop and not the Boissy-Saint-Leger stop (40min., departs every 30min., round-trip from Opéra-Auber €12.50). The last train to Paris leaves Disney at 12:20am, but the metro closes just before 1am M-Th and Su, so you’ll have to catch an earlier train if your route involves taking a second line home. TGV service from de Gaulle reaches the park in a under 10min., making Disneyland Paris easily accessible for travelers with Eurail passes and international visitors (www.tgv.fr. 18 trains per day, €23-30). Eurostar trains now run directly between Waterloo Station in London and Disneyland. (☎00 44 1233 617 575 from outside the UK, from within the UK 08705 186 186; www.eurostar.co.uk. 1 train per day to and from Disney, 23/4hr., from €250.) By car, take the A4 highway from Paris and get off at Exit 14, marked “Parcs Disney/Bailly-Romainvilliers”. Parking €8 per day; 11,000 spaces.
Tickets: Instead of selling tickets, Disneyland Paris issues passeports , valid for 1 day and available online and at the entrance. Passeports are also sold at Paris tourist office kiosks (see Practical Information, ), FNAC, Virgin Megastores, any Disney Store, many hotels in Paris, and at any of the major stations on RER line A, such as Châtelet-Les Halles, Gare de Lyon, or Charles de Gaulle-Étoile. Any of these options beats buying tickets at the park where unwieldy, long lines dominate. Buy online in advance for the best deals at www.disneylandparis.com.
Admission: A 1-day ticket allows entry to either Disneyland Park or Walt Disney Studios. For an extra €10, you can visit both theme parks. Apr.-Nov. €49, children €31. 2- and 3-day passeports also available (€110-135, child €92-114); days do not need to be consecutive. Year-long season tickets €89-179; entitles holder to entrance to the 2 parks 300-365 days of the year plus additional reductions on hotel, parking, and shops. Free Fastpasses allow guests to make reservations on attractions, enabling them to cut the standard line at their designated ride time. Print your Fastpass from the Fastpass counters outside each attraction; patrons may only reserve one ride at a time.
Hours: Disneyland Park open Jan. M-F 10am-6pm, Sa 10am-9pm, Su 10am-8pm; Feb. M-F 10am-7pm, Sa 10am-9pm, Su 10am-8pm; Mar., May, and Sept. M-F 10am-7pm, Sa 10am-10pm, Su 10am-9pm; Apr. M-F 10am-8pm, Sa 10am-9pm, Su 10am-8pm; June M-F 10am-8pm, Sa 10am-10pm, Su 10am-9pm; July-Aug. daily 10am-11pm; Oct.-Nov. M-Th 10am-6pm, F 10am-7pm, Sa 10am-10pm, Su 10am-9pm; Dec. M-F 10am-7pm, Sa-Su 10am-10pm. Walt Disney Studios open Feb.-Aug. daily 10am-7pm; Sept.-Jan. M-F 10am-6pm, Sa-Su 10am-7pm.

Sights

Disneyland Park. Divided into five areas, each filled to bursting with families, Disneyland Park showcases American cultural imperialism. Main Street, Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Discoveryland circle around the park’s central plaza—a flowery garden in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Employing old-fashioned streetcars and bubble gum facades, “Main St., U.S.A.” attempts to recreate the 20th-century charm of small-town America. Giant floats and dancing Disney characters stream down Main Street and pass before Sleeping Beauty Castle weekdays at 4pm and weekends at 5pm during the Once Upon A Dream Parade. Carefully choreographed, the parade will delight the young at heart. During the summer, Disney caps off the magical night with fireworks.

The park’s main draws, of course, are its 45 rides and attractions. Smaller than its American counterparts, Disneyland Paris feels less overwhelming; the whole park can easily be conquered in a day. Perennial favorites, the slow-moving Pinocchio’s Fantastic Journey and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves recount Disney classics; colorful and amusing, they are perfect for small children or die-hard fans. For iron-stomached guests seeking more action, I ndiana Jones and the Temple of Peril and Space Mountain are sure to thrill. Passengers ride on a turbulent “rocket-powered” spaceship that climbs, drops, loops, and twists through complete darkness. For a swash-buckling good time, stow away on the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction that inspired the 2003 American movie of the same name. It’s A Small World presents a more peaceful boat ride through a Disney-fied Earth; all smiles and waves, and of course, the miniature inhabitants share the same utopian melody.

Walt Disney Studios. More technical than Disneyland Park, Walt Disney Studios features several motor stunt shows daily, an Armageddon special effects exhibit, and an entire building dedicated to the art of Disney animation. Coaster-enthusiasts fret not: the Rock ’N’ Roller Coaster with Aerosmith is a thrilling indoor coaster with loud music, strobe lights, and dizzying loops. Lines in Walt Disney studios are usually much shorter than those in its sister park, but with good reason: the thrills in this park are few and far between. Children may enjoy an Animagique show with Mickey, Donald, and the rest of the gang (daily at 11:30am, 12:25, 1:20, 2:15, 4:30, and 5:25pm).