After opening in 1992, some questioned if Disneyland Paris would hold the same
appeal as its American cousins in Florida and California. The answer lies in the recent
celebration welcoming the park's 100 millionth visitor. The Imagineers who create the rides and visual
attractions are doing something right, as Disneyland Paris has become a noteworthy pit stop during visits to France. Advances in technology have also helped. Rides are more
daring, and easier to enjoy - thanks to such features as the new FASTPASS, which distributes special tickets at entrances of popular
attractions assigning ride times, and thus cut down on lines. Stop by the rides currently
offering FASTPASS early in the trip to pick up tickets, which will
designate your ride times. Organize the day at the park around these times, letting the assigned time
dictate the order in which you visit the different areas of the park.
As with any theme park, there are must-see
attractions at Disneyland Paris to consider while preparing to say bonjour to Monsieur Mickey. Each visitor has his or her favorites, but there are some standards that shouldn't be missed. Right through the entrance is Main Street, where the
traditional charm of small-town America is brought to life. Hop aboard the Disneyland Railroad for a tour of the park, but feel free to get off at any of the three train stops - Frontierland, Fantasyland and Discoveryland. While Main Street certainly warrants a
stroll, you can also hire an old-fashioned car to
cruise the street. Chances are good, however, that both kids and adults will be eager to get to the rides.
Start the adventure in
dreamy Fantasyland at Sleeping Beauty's Castle. This part of the park is a perfect marriage of American Disney and European style, with thatched cottages, gabled windows and cobblestone paths. After visiting with the famed beauty, follow the stories of childhood favorites Peter Pan, Snow White and Pinocchio while gliding from ride to ride. Lines are rarely long at the
classic It's a Small World, and you should save the carousel for the evening, when it's illuminated.
Not far from Fantasyland, Discoveryland puts a new twist on America's Tomorrowland, paying
homage to
heroic visionaries of yesterday, including H.G. Wells. Upon entering this area of the park, make your first stop Space Mountain. The name - de la Terre a la Lune - may sound peaceful, but with a loop and three inversions this is, by far, the most thrilling Space Mountain of any of the Disney parks. Other excellent "discoveries" include the Visionarium and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience - a 3-D interactive adventure. This
attraction is offered in both French and English, so check the
schedule ahead of time.
Next stop, Adventureland, where the Indiana Jones backward
roller coaster cannot be missed. For the more weak of heart (or stomach), there is the
classic Pirates of the Caribbean, where visitors ride through caves and tunnels amid
pirate fights and swashbuckling victory parties. An even calmer experience can be found at the Le Passage Enchanté d'Aladdin, which re-creates the story of Aladdin's journey with
animated scenes. The technicolor sets and detail make this
attractionappealing for visitors of all ages.
Even if you are staying in one of the park's Western-themed hotels, Frontierland is as close to the old Wild West as it gets in Paris - due in part to one of the park's main
attractions, Big Thunder Mountain, another FASTPASS ride. This Western-themed
roller coaster winds through
mining tunnels until reaching the final
destination - a dynamite-packed mine shaft. Wait until the bewitching hour to visit the haunted
mansion, as the spooky ambiance escalates after sun down.
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