Le Chateau at Disneyland Paris
Based on all the backlash when it opened back in 1992, you’d think Eurodisney Paris would have closed down by now. But rechristened as Disneyland Paris Resort, it’s the top attraction in France, pulling in 50 million visitors a year. And they’re not all American either – 40% of them are from France.
The nearly 5,000-acre park is larger than the Disneyland in California, and almost one-fifth as large as the city of Paris. It’s manicured to perfection with sparking fountains, beautiful plantings, and pretty plazas.
Located in the suburb of Marne-la-Vallee, it’s about a 45-minute train ride from Paris. The RER commuter express will drop you within walking distance, and trains run every 15 minutes or so. You can also take a shuttle bus from the airports or as part of a package.
As in the United States, admission is not cheap, but multi-day and park-hopper passes offer some savings. If you’re visiting between June and September, using Fast Pass will reduce the amount of time you spend in lines.
The entertainment complex of the park is Disney Village, which has ten restaurants, several bars and dance clubs, shops, a 15-screen multiplex and an IMAX 3-D theater. Admission to the Village is free although some of the bars have cover charges.
Walt Disney Studios
Disney characters, many of whom are multi lingual, are on hand to entertain the kids, and the dungeon of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle produces a dragon that’s guaranteed to scare the pants off them. And there are frequent parades and stage shows for kids of all ages.
Like its American counterparts, Disneyland Paris has Main Street USA, Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Discoveryland. A train circles the perimeter, making it easier to get to your favorite attractions. They’re all here – Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, and Space Mountain Mission 2, plus new attractions like Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast.
Walt Disney Studios, which opened in 2002, provide an up-close look at modern moviemaking, with an emphasis on animation. There’s a huge sound studio filled with props, a television studio, special effects displays, and a live stunt show. Trying to do both the Eurodisney and the studio in a single day is way too ambitious.
Eurodisney Paris hotels.
Toy Story
There are seven Disney hotels in the park. Although Disney offers accommodations in all price ranges, they are slightly more expensive than non-Disney properties in the area.
The most luxurious is the Disneyland Hotel, modeled after an old, albeit huge, Victorian mansion. It’s rated 4 Star de Luxe by the French Tourist Board and is located at the entrance to the park. If you want to be able to just stroll on over to the park, this is the place.
The 1,093-room Newport Bay hotel is the largest in France. Overlooking a man-made lake, it looks like a 19th-century New England resort. Disney’s Hotel New York is Art Deco in design. Sequoia Lodge has lots of wood and slate, and Cheyenne and Santa Fe are the least expensive Disney Hotels. All of them are a five-minute, free shuttle ride from the park.
Most of the major French chains have hotels within a few miles of the park, and most offer free shuttles. The Radisson Blu is on the Disneyland Golf Course. And the Dream Castle Hotel Disneyland is a 4-star hotel designed to resemble a 17th-century chateau.
Find more things to do in Paris here.
Le Chateau at Disneyland Paris Image Flickr: tipoyock
Walt Disney Studios Image Flickr: coconut wireless
Toy Story Image Flickr: Wolfgang Jung
Interested to read an article on Disneyland Paris from what I guess is the viewpoint of an American writer. Ithought the park was small, so suprised to see that it is actually bigger than the California park. Visited that one years ago, but couldn’t remember how small that one was.
Comment by Fat Boris on March 8th, 2010 @ 12:46 pmI am intrigued as to whether the Paris park redevelops existing plots within the park or whether it builds on their owned land outside the exisiting perimetter to make the park bigger. Seems that the Studios section is where most of the new rides and attractions are opening – such as Toy Story and Tower of Terror from a couple of years ago. A question regarding USA parks for you: Do rooms have fridges? When I stayed at Cheyenne in the Paris park, there was no refridgerator, so couldn’t keep my meds cool. (I have to take medication when i travel). Not good surely for a family resort!
Anyway, I’m going back in June this year withShort Breaks and hopefully the fridge issue has been addressed. I also hope that Pirates of the Caribbean ride is back open. When i visited last the sign said “This attraction is closed for your future enjoyment”.!