Disneyland Paris (Euro Disney) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
OK2BU
and I would love to know about the changes in the most beautiful of
Disney's Lands. Thanx.
Andre Willey
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Last-modified: 1 Mar 1995
Version: 2.2
Disneyland Paris
(aka EuroDisney)
Frequently Asked Questions and General Information List
Version 2.2 --- 1st March 1995
Copyright (c) 1995 Andre Willey
(original version created by Tom Drynda)
Welcome to Version 2.2 of the Disneyland Paris Frequently Asked Questions
and General Information List.
This FAQ is intended for public use, and may be redistributed freely via
computer networks in its original form ONLY. If you post a copy to a
bulletin board/etc, please let me know so I can send you updates.
Other than for the above usage, this document is Copyright (c) 1995 by Andre
Willey. Where other authors' material has been included, they are credited
accordingly. This FAQ is not sponsored or endorsed by the Walt Disney
Company, or Euro Disney S.C.A, in any way. No infringement of any of their
copyrights is intended.
Please enjoy your visit to Disneyland Paris, and do let me know how you got
on. Any topical information which you can provide me with after your visit
would be much appreciated (see section 6).
===========================================================================
The main availability of this FAQ is currently as follows:
* Usenet Newsgroups (posted monthly)
rec.arts.disney
rec.parks.theme
rec.answers
news.answers
* Anonymous FTP
Site: rtfm.mit.edu
Directory: /pub/usenet/news.answers/disney-faq/
Filename: disneyland-paris
Site: yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au
Directory: /pub/disney/rad/faq/parks/dlp/
Filename: disneyland-paris.gz
(mirrored from rtfm.mit.edu)
* World Wide Web
URL: http://www.informatik.tu-muenchen.de/cgi-bin/nph-gateway/
hphalle1/~schaffnr/etc/disney/
Note: the WWW site now includes 70 full-colour pictures of the
various attractions, hotels, etc. at Disneyland Paris. Would
anyone care to volunteer space at an FTP site, too? Around 6 Mb
should be sufficient.
You can email me at "an...@cix.compulink.co.uk" for a copy of this
FAQ. Please let me know if you wish to be added to the updates
mailing list which I have now re-established.
If you require the list to be sent to you split into several parts
(due to news/email restrictions at your site), please email me
directly with your request, and tell me the maximum size email you
can handle. A FAQ will then be sent to you shortly after, split as
required. Please do not ask to be put onto the automated list, as
that is only set up to support single-message mailing.
============================================================================
Contents
1 Topical Information
1.1 Current Opening Hours
1.2 Current Gate Prices
1.3 Current Hotel Rates
1.4 Seasonal Structure
1.5 Current Special Offers, News and Gossip
1.6 Temporarily Closed Rides / Attractions
1.7 New Attractions and Attractions Under Construction
1.8 Current Financial Information
2 A Brief History of Euro Disney / Disneyland Paris
2.1 General History
2.2 Financial History
3 Overview of Disneyland Paris
3.1 Attractions and Entertainments
3.2 List of Shops
3.3 List of Restaurants and food outlets
3.4 Festival Disney
3.5 Hotels
4 Common Questions and Answers
4.1 What are the opening hours and prices?
4.2 Contact Numbers and Addresses?
4.3 Guide Books?
4.4 How To Get There?
4.5 Attractions that no other park has?
4.6 Comparisons between rides?
4.7 What language do they use?
4.8 Getting around Paris?
4.9 How do I get discounts? (Magic Kingdom Club)
4.10 Can I contact anyone at (or near) the park by e-mail?
4.11 What Disneyland Paris souvenirs are available?
4.12 What's the weather like? When should I visit?
4.13 Are there any net sites with photos of Disneyland Paris?
5 More details of specific attractions
5.1 Liberty Arcade, Discovery Arcade, Statue of Liberty Tableau
5.2 Walt's Restaurant
5.3 Phantom Manor
5.4 Big Thunder Mountain
5.5 Pirates of the Caribbean
5.6 Indiana Jones et le Temple du Peril
5.7 Adventure Isle
5.8 La Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant
5.9 Alice's Curious Labyrinth
5.10 Storybookland rides
5.11 Le Visionarium
5.12 Les Mysteres du Nautilus
5.13 Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show
6 Acknowledgements
============================================================================
1 Topical Information
1.1 Opening Hours, Spring-Summer 1995
Dates Hours
------------------------ ----------------------------------
March 10am - 6pm
April 10am - 6pm (Sats 10am - 8pm)
April 15-16 & 29-30 10am - 8pm (Holiday weekends)
May 10am - 6pm (Sats 10am - 8pm)
June 10am - 6pm (Sats 10am - 8pm)
July 9am - 11pm
August 9am - 11pm
Note: Main Street is currently open until 8pm at weekends. Hours
for May onwards are still subject to confirmation.
There are several regular parades and shows. Currently:
Main Street Parades (weather permitting):
Good Morning Main St. 10.10 am
La Parade des 3 pm
Princesses
Electrical Parade Sat/Sun only, 6.30 pm
Childrens' events:
Minnie's Tea Time 4.30 pm. Minnie & friends entertain the
kids behind the Castle
Kids' Celebration 11.30 am & 4.30 pm (no 4.30 pm on Sats)
Character greetings inside the castle
Stage Shows:
La Belle et la Bete 12.30 pm, 1.30 pm and 4 pm. Musical
stage show inside Videopolis. Extra
performances on Wednesdays at 5 pm, and
weekends at 11.30 am, 3.30 pm & 5.30 pm
None of the other open-air shows are currently running
Call Guest Relations on (+33 1) 64 74 30 00 to confirm details.
1.2 Current Gate Prices (all prices in French Francs)
Passport Category Aladdin Dalmatian Mermaid
(value) (shoulder) (peak)
One Day, Adult 175 225 250
Two Day, Adult 335 425 475
Three Day, Adult 440 565 630
One Day, Child 125 150 175
Two Day, Child 240 285 335
Three Day, Child 315 375 440
Annual Passport, Adult 695
Annual-Plus, Adult 995
Annual Passport, Child 495
Annual-Plus, Child 695
10% Magic Kingdom Club discount applies on all of the above
prices. Children are classed as aged 3-11, under 3 are free.
The standard Annual Passport is not valid during some busy weekend
and local holiday dates. The current exclusion dates, until the
end of January 1996, are as follows:
March 1995: 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26
April 1995: 15-16, 22-23, 30
May 1995: 7, 26-27
June 1995: 4
July 1995: 14
August 1995: 13-14
The 'Annual-Plus' passport is valid every day for a full 12 months
starting from the first day of use. It also gives other additional
benefits such as free parking, free stroller rental, 10% off all
resort food and merchandise purchases, a quarterly newsletter
(supposedly!), etc.
New Prices from April 1995
All of the above rates are due to change this summer, with an
AVERAGE 17% REDUCTION ON ENTRANCE PRICES. This accompanies a
switch to a new two-tier pricing structure. The new prices will
take effect from April 1995, and should be as follows (in French
Francs):
High Season Adult Child
(Mar 1-Sep 30, plus Xmas)
One Day 195 150
One Day, after 5 pm 150 100
Two Days 370 285
Three Days 505 390
Low Season Adult Child
(Oct 1-Feb 28, excluding Xmas)
One Day 150 120
Two Days 285 230
Three Days 390 310
Annual Passports Adult Child
Standard Annual 695 495
Annual Plus 995 695
1.3 Current Hotel Rates, valid until 30 April 1995
(all prices in French Francs, inc VAT, unless otherwise stated)
Disneyland Hotel Room Suite
================ ---- ------------
Value 1650 2500 - 12500
Shoulder 1650 2500 - 12500
Peak 1990 3250 - 12500
Castle Club (Disneyland) Room Suite
======================== ---- ------------
Value 2300 2500 - 12500
Shoulder 2590 2500 - 12500
Peak 2750 3250 - 12500
(MKC members get Castle Club rooms at the standard room rate)
Hotel New York Room Suite
============== ---- -----------
Value 1025 1900 - 8500
Shoulder 1025 1900 - 8500
Peak 1025 2100 - 9000
Newport Bay Club Room Suite
================ ---- -----------
Value 625 1250 - 1850
Shoulder 775 1250 - 1850
Peak 875 1400 - 2000
Sequoia Lodge Room Suite
============= ---- -----------
Value 525 1300 - 1500
Shoulder 675 1300 - 1500
Peak 775 1500 - 1700
Hotel Cheyenne Room
============== ----
Value 400
Shoulder 525
Peak 675
Hotel Santa Fe Room
============== ----
Value 300
Shoulder 450
Peak 550
Davy Crockett Ranch * 4-person 6-person 3 nights 4 nights
=================== -------- -------- -------- --------
Value 425 475 UKP 175 UKP 138
Shoulder 650 750 UKP 246 UKP 170
Peak 800 1000 UKP 296 UKP 251
8% Magic Kingdom Club discount available on all room rates. Prices
do NOT include local taxes (e.g. there is a FF 7 per person per
night Hotel Tax charged by the French government).
The above prices are for accommodation only. For an additional
charge you can opt to stay bed & breakfast, half-board or full-
board. Meals may be taken at your own hotel, or at selected
restaurants within the resort. For example, one package allows you
to eat at the Yacht Club, Parkside Diner, Los Angeles Bar & Grill,
Key West Seafood, Walt's or Plaza Gardens. Another (cheaper)
package gives you access to the Chuckwagon Cafe, Beaver Creek
Tavern, La Cantina, Crockett's Tavern or Annette's Diner.
'Classic Break' package prices are available, which include
continental breakfast and unlimited park entrance during your
stay. 'Celebration Breaks' at the Disneyland or Newport Bay Club
also give entry to Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, one dinner at
your hotel, a fruit basket & bottle of champagne on arrival, and a
day-trip to Paris if staying for more than two nights. With a
'Prestige Break' you stay in a suite at the Newport Bay Club or
Hotel New York, and the price includes full-board meals.
All packages can be purchased as 1 night/2 days, 2 nights/3 days
and 3 nights/4 days, with extra nights available if desired. The
pricing system is complex, with five price bands based on the date
of the start of your stay. The bands largely follow the main hotel
seasonal structure, with packages starting on a Saturday night
being slightly more expensive.
However, before booking a package, do weigh up the costs of
booking your room and passport separately, using your MKC card. We
found this could give much better value (around UKP 25 per person
per night cheaper for some hotels, which more than covered the
cost of paying for breakfast at the hotel or in the park).
Special Offer: Book any package deal between 2nd Jan 1995 and 30th
March 1995, and for each adult, one child (under age 12) gets the
same package free.
* The Davy Crockett Ranch is only available for multi-day stays
until the end of March, and prices appear to be the same for the
four and six person cabins. You can choose to stay three days
(arriving on a Friday) or four days (arriving on a Monday). The
booking office only had the UK pound prices listed when I phoned
them.
See below (section 4.2) for phone-numbers for making reservations
or enquiries.
1.4 Seasonal Structure, Spring 1995
Note: the seasonal structure is due to change in April, see
section 1.2 above.
Park Seasons
Aladdin (value) Jan 2-Feb 10
Dalmatian (shoulder) Feb 11-Apr 14, Apr 24-30
Mermaid (peak) Apr 15-23
Hotel Seasons
Aladdin (value) Jan 2-Feb 10
(Sat nights at shoulder-season rate)
Dalmatian (shoulder) Feb 11-Apr 13, Apr 24-27
(Sat nights, plus Mar 31 & Apr 7, at
peak-season rate)
Mermaid (peak) Apr 14-23, Apr 28-30
1.5 Current Special Offers, News and Gossip
A new Guest Guidebook has now been issued (blue/grey cover
featuring Mickey, as opposed to the old red ones). This contains
more up-to-date maps and better general information. Unusually,
the lands are now listed counter-clockwise, starting with
Discoveryland. Perhaps this will make a difference to the standard
activity patterns?
Current Special Offer: Book any package deal between 2nd Jan 1995
and 30th March 1995, and for each adult, one child (under age 12)
gets the same package free.
Note that many park restaurants are currently shut some days of
the week. Also check the latest seating times at the table-service
restaurants - some are currently as early as 3 pm, e.g. Auberge de
Cendrillon, Blue Lagoon Restaurant and the Silver Spur Steakhouse.
The table-service restaurants are currently running a special
offer of a set three-course meal, including drink, for FF 140.
Christmas at Disneyland Paris started on November 15 and lasts for
55 days. 'The Lights of Winter' (1,000 Christmas lights arched
above Main Street) will remain until March 12.
Special Seasonal package deals (while promotional stocks last)
Lion King: from May 1 to May 31, weekday 'Classic' packages
at the Cheyenne or Sequoia Lodge include a special "Simba"
Kids-surprise suitcase (one per child) and a "Simba"
certificate (limited, one per package).
Space Mountain opening: June 1 to July 13, 'Classic' packages
at the Newport Bay Club or Hotel New York include a Space
Mountain watch (limited, one per package), a Space Mountain
cap (one per child) and a Space Mountain certificate for your
first flight to the moon (one per package).
When Space Mountain opens, Disney Hotel guests will be allowed
access to the ride one hour before the official park opening,
daily.
1.6 Temporarily Closed Rides / Attractions
A number of attractions are closed at the moment, and not due to
re-open until spring. These include the two Storybookland rides
(the boats and Casey Junior Circus Train), Alice's Curious
Labyrinth, Les Pirouettes du Vieux Moulin (the Old Mill ferris
wheel), River Rogue Keelboats and the Critter Coral.
The outdoor shows are also not running until spring. Shows
currently closed include: Fantasy Festival Stage, Le Theatre du
Chateau and the Chaparral Stage. In fact, the only show running at
present is the Beauty and the Beast show in Videopolis.
The Indian Canoes are no longer operating.
Main Street Motors no longer exists as such. It is now just
another store selling Disney merchandise.
Some of the table-service restaurants have now changed to counter-
service due to lack of demand. The old Explorers Club Restaurant
has now been changed into Colonel Hathi's Pizza Outpost. The Cafe
des Visionnaires appears to be permanently closed.
The firework display over Sleeping Beauty's Castle has encountered
a few problems. It appears that the theme park straddles two
adjacent districts controlled by different French mayors, and that
one of them objected to the daily firework display during the
summer which kept his children awake. The fireworks were thus
moved to Festival Disney, an area under the other Mayor's
jurisdiction, around 15 minutes before park closure. This had the
added benefit of attracting visitors out of the park ready for
closing time. However, the firework displays have now been
suspended completely (even on Saturdays, when they would
previously have been run). It is unknown whether this is due to
political problems or is just a winter cost-cutting measure.
Please check with Guest Relations for further info - although even
their information is sometimes out of date. Detailed schedules of
attraction downtime seem almost impossible to obtain in advance.
1.7 New Attractions and Attractions Under Construction
The following attractions have opened in the last 12 months:
Indiana Jones et le Temple du Peril [Adventureland]
(Mine-car roller coaster ride, with 360 degree loop)
Le Pays des Contes de Fees [Fantasyland]
(Cruise gently through the canals of Storybookland)
Casey Junior, Le Petit Train du Cirque [Fantasyland]
(Casey Junior fast train ride around Storybookland)
Les Mysteres du Nautilus [Discoveryland]
(Walk through Captain Nemo's submarine. With squid attack)
Attractions Under Construction:
Space Mountain [Discoveryland] --- Due to open 1st June 1995
This will be a fast indoor roller coaster ride, similar to
that at WDW. Themed on Jules Verne's "From Earth to the
Moon", you are fired from a cannon on your voyage to the
moon, and the ride then dips down inside the mountain for a
wild dark roller coster ride. Soft opening for Annual Pass
holders is expected late April/early May. Public opening is
scheduled for 1st June.
From Scott Van Horn (svan...@anetbbs.com): The new Discovery
Mountain (I heard it had changed names, but I'm not sure)
looked spectacular! They were still working on the cannon,
but the building looks (and is) VERY large. I took a picture
from a distance and it looked as if they had painted a large
backdrop with that on it. The rollercoaster shoots right up
along side of the mountain and then dips down into the main
building, but everyone will think they're being propelled
into the sky. Very fun looking.
From Jean-Marc Toussaint (10043...@compuserve.com): The
ride is nearing completion for an opening scheduled between
March and July 1995. The enclosed roller coaster (Vekoma)
will feature 4 inversions (loop, sidewinder and corkscrew).
Each car will be equipped with its own stereo system for
sound effects. The trains will be launched into the circuit
thanks to a catapult housed inside a giant cannon flanking
the ride building.
Interestingly, the little ornaments on the fence leading up
to it still have "DM" on them, although all the signs say
"Space Mountain".
1.8 Current Financial Information
From Associated Press, 26 Jan 1995:
BURBANK, Calif. (AP) -- Walt Disney Co. on Thursday said
earnings grew 31 percent in its fiscal first quarter on
strong showings of three Disney films and the widespread
video sales of ``Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.''
[...]
The company's investment in Euro Disney resulted in income of
$27.9 million, reflecting a gain of $55 million from the sale
of approximately 75 million shares to Prince Alwaleed Bin
Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The 1994 Annual Report for Euro Disney S.C.A. was released at the
end of February 1995. There's obviously far too much information
in the 36 page booklet to go into here, but a summary of some of
the figures is given in section 2.2.
The Euro Disney share price on the London market at the end of
February 1995 was UKP 1.50 (FF 12.19), having risen at least 12
pence during the week since the Annual Report was issued.
Note: For UK readers, the previous day's closing price of Euro
Disney shares can be found on page 532 (subpage 27) of Channel
Four's teletext service (not Sundays).
============================================================================
2 A Brief History of Euro Disney / Disneyland Paris
2.1 General History
August 1988: Construction started.
December 1990: Espace Euro Disney - an information centre - opens
to the public.
September 1st 1991: Casting Centre opens.
April 12th 1992: Euro Disney opens. Inaugural ceremonies broadcast
to entire continent by five national networks. However, the
expected 500,000 visitors did not turn up for the first day of
business: in fact, barely 50,000 people were admitted.
May 1992: Up to 3,000 employees have reportedly quit over pay and
working conditions. Attendances are low - sources say that on
sunny weekend days the park is attracting about 20,000-25,000
visitors, much lower than the predicted 60,000. Only 3 out of 10
visitors are French. Company stock falls to FF 123 ($22.70), down
from $30.50 before the opening.
August 1992: The park is now expected to draw around 9.6 million
visitors this year, as opposed to the 11 million that had
originally been projected.
Late 1992: European recession causes property slump and Euro
Disney falls into serious financial difficulty. High interest
payments on its massive start-up loans further exacerbate the
problems, and the cheap dollar rate meant that many tourists found
it cheaper to fly to Florida for their holidays. Further blame is
placed on overstaffing and over-capacity at the Euro Disney hotels
(since visitors can do the park in one day). Newport Bay Club
hotel is therefore closed during the quiet winter months. Souvenir
and food prices are also seen as being prohibitively high, meaning
that visitors aren't spending enough money while inside the park -
hopes were that each visitor would spend around $33 per day, but
analysts reckon spending is around 12% lower.
Early 1994: Euro Disney in crisis. Rumours are rife in the press
that the park will have to close due to massive losses. Crisis
talks are held with the banks and backers.
June 1994: A financial rescue package is announced which involves
a number of actions: massive injection of new cash ($500 million)
by a Saudi prince; the Disney Company agrees to waive its royalty
fees for five years while the park finds its feet; agreement by
the banks to support better loan repayment schedules; a new issue
of shares.
August 1994: All of the park's hotels are fully booked during the
peak holiday season. At least there appears to be no shortage of
visitors, and their reactions to the park itself are generally
favourable - although food and merchandise are still seen as being
too expensive.
August 31st 1994: Trading in Euro Disney stock was temporarily
suspended for 15 minutes on the Paris stock exchange after share
prices fell to less then $2 (i.e. a drop of more than 10%). Shares
hit $1.40 in the first 10 minutes of trading. The problems were
due to 'technical reasons', and an analyst's recommendation to
sell stock. The company blames the European recession, a fall in
real estate prices and poor spending by visitors.
October 1994: The park's name is officially changed to "Disneyland
Paris". This is due to public mistrust of all things 'Euro', a
wish to more closely link the park with the romantic city of
Paris, and a desire to disassociate with the poor reputation that
has become linked with the phrase "Euro Disney". The 'Euro' part
of the logo had been reducing in size for some time, and the name
gradually transformed from "EURO Disney" to "Euro Disneyland" to
"Euro Disneyland Paris" to "Disneyland Paris". The entire resort
complex is technically still known as Euro Disney, though.
November 1994: Slightly more encouraging year-end figures are
released. The previous year's UKP 650 million loss has been
slashed to around 200 million. This is despite a 10% fall in
attendance to some 8.8 million visitors (caused largely by the 1st
and 2nd quarter panics that the park would be closed by Summer).
Winter 1994: Unlike previous years, all of the site hotels remain
open for business, except for some renovation work during early
1995 (e.g. Newport Bay Club and Santa Fe).
Spring 1995: Disneyland Paris repeats its successful 'Kids go
Free' promotional offer from last year, which helped give a much-
needed boost to trade during the slack months of January-March.
January 1995: A report headed by Jong Jarvis, an assistant
professor of communications at Robert Morris College, indicated
French cast members were dissatisfied with many of the American
working practices. These included exempting the park from
established French labour-laws, American managers requiring
English to be spoken at all meetings (even if the vast majority of
participants were French) and insistence on American standards of
dress code and personal grooming. Some of the most offensive
requirements have since been relaxed, and workers seem to have
accepted Disney values more readily now they are no longer imposed
upon them. During 1993, there was a 26% turnover within the park's
8,000 full-time staff, and a further 25% left in 1994. "That's
devastating to a business. They're retraining a quarter of their
work force just to fill those slots every year," said Jarvis.
January 26 1995: BURBANK, Calif. (Associated Press,) -- Walt
Disney Co. on Thursday said earnings grew 31 percent in its fiscal
first quarter. [...] The company's investment in Euro Disney
resulted in income of $27.9 million, reflecting a gain of $55
million from the sale of approximately 75 million shares to Prince
Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
February 1995: The Shareholder's Annual Report for the fiscal year
ending 30 September 1994 is released. Overall attendance for 1994
was confirmed as being 8.8 million, as opposed to 9.8 million in
1993. However, average hotel occupancy was up from 55% to 60% -
mainly due to an increase in winter bookings. Total attendance to
date has been 28 million (10 million of whom were French, and an
estimated 20% being repeat visitors). A brief account of some of
the financial information supplied in the Report is given in
section 2.2.
2.2 Financial History
Share Prices, Paris (Graphical version available from WWW site)
Period Price in FF
(High) (Low)
1992
October 34.93 26.39
November 35.14 26.09
December 28.76 24.19
1993
January 29.54 25.87
February 34.93 28.09
March 42.69 34.28
April 41.65 29.84
May 33.07 27.90
June 31.05 27.94
July 30.05 23.33
August 28.35 23.50
September 28.31 23.85
October 25.79 20.70
November 21.56 10.22
December 16.30 12.12
1994
January 16.49 13.11
February 16.30 13.80
March 17.16 13.07
April 14.62 13.37
May 14.88 12.16
June 18.70 11.70
July 12.15 9.80
August 11.70 7.55
September 9.85 7.70
October 7.95 6.15
November 9.75 6.70
December 11.90 8.70
1995
January 12.50 9.80
February 28 12.19 (=UKP 1.50)
Note: Following the financial restructuring and rights issue
in June 1994, the Societe des Bourses Francaises applied a
correcting coefficient of 0.431 to previous share prices.
Operating Revenue and Expenditure (millions of French Francs)
1994 1993
Revenue:
Theme Park 2,212 2,594
Hotels 1,613 1,721
Other 322 559
Construction Sales 114 851
---------------------------------------
TOTAL REVENUE 4,261 5,725
Direct Costs/Expenses:
Park & Hotels (2,961) (3,382)
Construction Sales (114) (846)
---------------------------------------
OPERATING INCOME 1,186 1,497
Depreciation (291) (227)
Lease rental expense (889) (1,712)
Royalties --- (262)
General & Admin. (854) (1,113)
Financial Income 538 719
Financial Expenses (972) (615)
---------------------------------------
LOSS (1,282) (1,713)
Exceptional loss, net (515) (3,624)
---------------------------------------
NET LOSS (1,797) (5,337)
---------------------------------------
Employees (Cast Members)
Number Annual Cost (FF, millions)
At 30 Sept 1993 11,865 2,108
At 30 Sept 1994 10,172 1,892
============================================================================
3 Overview of Disneyland Paris (a brief guide)
Obviously there is enough material to write a book on the contents of
Disneyland Paris. Several people have, in fact (see section 4.3). What
follows here is a very brief overview of the park's attractions, shops
and restaurants. More detailed notes on some of the more interesting
and/or unique elements are provided in section 5.
[*] indicates a must-see attraction (or shop) for first-time visitors.
[#] indicates that you should expect long queues for these attractions
during busy periods, so maybe do them during a parade, or early in
the day. However, some rides are faster loaders than others, so
the queues may move quickly. Pirates of the Caribbean and Phantom
Manor, for example, may have long queues but they load very
quickly.
[S] indicates a seasonal attraction. During the off-peak months, some
attractions, outdoor shows and food outlets may not be operating,
except for popular weekends and holidays.
3.1 Attractions and Entertainments
Main Street USA
Disneyland Paris Railroad, Main Street station [#]
(The park has three real steam trains: the W.E. Cody, the
C.K. Holliday and the G. Washington. Journey includes Grand
Canyon diorama, and travels through the back of Pirates of
the Caribbean)
Daily Parades (see section 1.1 for current times) [*]
(Note from Ron Vutpakdi (vutp...@houston.wireline.slb.com):
If you are going to watch the parade, watch it from where it
enters the park [near It's a Small World, in Fantasyland].
When they open the doors, you can see some of the parade
people clowning around; I saw Jafar and his guards doing a
little Rockettes-style kicking number)
Main Street vehicles
(Horse-drawn streetcars, firetrucks, etc)
Liberty Arcade, Liberty Court & Discovery Arcade
(Behind shops on either side of street. There are BNP
Automatic Teller cashpoint machines within both arcades.
Liberty Arcade forms part of the covered route to
Frontierland in poor weather)
City Hall
(Guest Relations information point)
Disneyland Paris Band
Frontierland
Legends of the Wild West
(walk-through Fort Comstock at entrance to Frontierland.
Includes small Cheyenne Indian village)
Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing
(steam paddle-wheeler Molly Brown & stern-wheeler Mark Twain)
River Rogue Keelboats [S]
(closes at dusk)
Phantom Manor [*] [#]
(ghostly haunted house; excellent)
Rustler Roundup Shootin' Gallery
(extra charge)
Big Thunder Mountain [*] [#]
(long queues; try early, or during a parade)
Critter Coral (Cottonwood Creek Ranch) [S]
(petting zoo, closes at dusk)
Disneyland Paris Railroad, Frontierland Depot
(good place to board, with little queuing)
Lucky Nugget Saloon Revue
(Lilly's Follies stage show. See also Restaurants section)
Chaparral Stage [S]
(live country-and-western style entertainment. Outdoors)
Wild-west shootout display
Adventureland
Pirates of the Caribbean [*] [#]
(Yo, ho, yo, ho - a pirate's life for me!)
La Cabane des Robinson
(Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse)
Indiana Jones et le Temple du Peril [*] [#]
(roller coaster with a 360 degree loop. Tends to have long
queues; try early, or during a parade)
Adventure Isle / Captain Hook's ship
(walk around caves, bridges, etc. Great for the kids)
Le passage Enchante d'Aladdin
(walk-through of miniature scenes from Aladdin)
African dancers
Fantasyland
Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant [*]
(Sleeping Beauty's Castle, with nice stained glass windows
upstairs, and the dragon's lair in dungeon)
Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains [#]
(Snow White dark ride)
Les Voyages de Pinocchio [#]
(Pinocchio dark ride)
Le Carrousel de Lancelot
(Ride horses on the carrousel; basically a fairground ride)
Peter Pan's Flight [*] [#]
(Magical trip over Neverland in flying pirate ships; lovely)
Dumbo the Flying Elephant [#]
(Fly your own dumbo; basically a fairground ride)
Matter Hatter's Tea Cups [#]
(Spinning tea-cups; basically a fairground ride)
Alice's Curious Labyrinth [S]
(maze with a castle in the middle. Nice view from castle)
It's a Small World
(boat ride around the world with little singing dolls. Become
brainwashed by THAT tune! At the exit is a nice display from
the ride's sponsor, France Telecom, featuring small buildings
with clever video scenes playing inside)
Disneyland Paris Railroad, Fantasyland Station
(mid-point of railroad ride. Good place to get off)
Le Theatre du Chateau [S] [*]
(outdoor stage show: Mickey's Magic Book. The tales of Snow
White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, as recounted by
Mickey. Great fun, see if you can)
Fantasy Festival Stage [S]
(covered stage show: C'est Magique, a musical trip round
Disneyland Paris. Somewhat forgettable)
Les Pirouettes du Vieux Moulin [S]
(Small ferris wheel, attached to The Old Mill restaurant)
Casey Junior, Le Petit Train du Cirque [S] [#]
(mini roller-coaster train around Storybookland)
Le Pays des Contes de Fees [S] [#]
(Storybookland cruise in little boats. No narration)
Discoveryland
Le Visionarium (Circle-Vision 360) [*]
(wonderful time-travel trip. Don't miss. See section 5.5)
Orbitron - Machines Volantes [#]
(imagine the Star Jets were made by Jules Verne)
Autopia [#]
(ditto, Grand Prix Raceway made by Jules Verne)
Star Tours [*] [#]
(main dialogue is in French, but who cares? Do it anyway! At
the exit is a computer games area organised by the ride's
sponsor, IBM. The picture morphing is fun, as is the 12-
player interactive space game, controlled by platforms upon
which you stand and rock)
CineMagique
(standard Captain EO - not even filmed by Jules Verne. In
English)
Videopolis stage show
(currently playing: Beauty and the Beast, in French)
Disneyland Paris Railroad, Discoveryland Station
(board the steam train at a futuristic station)
Les Mysteres du Nautilus [#]
(walk-through the Nautilus; see a squid outside the window.
Don't bother if the queue is more than three people!)
Space mountain - De la Terre a la Lune (opens June 1995)
(probably [*] [#] [#] [#] )
3.2 List of Shops
Main Street USA
Plaza East Boutique and Plaza West Boutique
(Park souvenirs. At park entrance, so they close late)
The Storybook Store
(Books/CDs/tapes/etc. Sells nice Disneyland Paris wall-maps)
Ribbons & Bows Hat Shop
(Hats and personalised mouse-ears)
Emporium
(Biggest store in park, sells loads of general Disney stuff)
Contains:
The Toy Chest (toys)
Bixby Brothers (clothes)
Silhouette Artist
(yep, get cut-up paper pictures of you here)
Town Square Photography
(Films, cameras, etc. Expensive same-day processing service)
Boardwalk Candy Palace
(fine chocolates, candies, etc)
Disney Clothiers, Ltd.
(clothes)
Main Street Motors
(used to sell old cars, now generally sports-oriented
clothes)
Dapper Dan's Hair Cuts
(Yes, real haircuts and shaves & souvenirs. Quartet singers)
Disney & Co.
(general Disney character merchandise)
Harrington's Fine China and Porcelains [*]
(Crystal, glassware, china, etc)
Contains:
Glass Fantasies (lovely Disney glassware, created on-site,
personalisation available)
Disneyanna Collectibles (cels, lithos, figurines, etc)
Frontierland
Thunder Mesa Mercantile Building
General wild-west themed goods. Nothing much special.
Contains:
Tobias Norton & Sons, Frontier Traders (leather items)
Bonanza Outfitters (jeans, cowboy/indian hats, etc)
Eureka Mining Supplies and Assay Office (toys and candy)
Pueblo Trading Post
Mostly Winnie the Pooh merchandise
Woodcarver's Workshop
Real woodcarvings, personalisation available.
Adventureland
Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost
(Adventureland-style clothing, jewellery, etc)
Adventureland Bazar [*]
(Big covered market complex. Nice to wander around, lots of
great detail - ironically mostly pre-Aladdin)
Contains:
Le Chant des Tam-Tams (wicker stuff & Jungle Book)
Les Tresors de Scheherazade - Articles des Mille et Une
Nuits (North African style gifts/clothes)
La Reine des Serpents - Cadeaux Exotiques (worldwide gifts)
L'Echoppe d'Aladdin (Aladdin merchandise)
La Giraffe Curieuse - Tout pour le Safari (safari gear)
Le Coffre du Capitaine
(Pirate gear and souvenirs. Don't miss)
Fantasyland
Merlin l'Enchanteur [*]
(Medieval figures, dragons, etc. Inside castle. Also contains
one entrance to the Dragon's cave)
La Boutique du Chateau [*]
(Holiday and Christmas merchandise. Inside castle)
La Chaumiere des Sept Nains
(mainly kids Snow White merchandise, plus some jewellery)
La Confiserie des Trois Fees
(sweets)
Sir Mickey's
(Disney character merchandise. Giant beanstalk outside)
Contains:
La Menagerie du Royaume (Soft toys, ceramics, glassware)
Le Brave Petit Tailleur (Disney clothes and hats)
La Bottega di Gepetto
(clocks, puppets, music boxes and hand carved toys)
La Petite Maison des Jouets
(Disney & Paris souvenirs, toys, etc)
Discoveryland
Constellations
(General Disney fare. Wonderful Mickey centrepiece)
Star Traders
(Sci-fi souvenirs. Has a big satellite/radar dish on roof)
3.3 List of Restaurants and food outlets
Wine and beer are available at all the table-service restaurants,
marked [T].
There are also mobile food carts serving popcorn, baked potatoes,
ice creams, pretzels, pizzas, sandwiches, drinks, etc.
Seasonal changes: During the winter months, some park food
facilities, marked [S], are generally closed expect for some
weekends and school holidays. Also, restaurants marked [1] may be
closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, while those marked [2] may be
closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. You may also find that some of
the hotel restaurants (especially those in hotels which boast more
than one restaurant) are closed some days during winter. It would
be a good idea to confirm in advance if you wish to visit a
particular restaurant.
Main Street USA
The Coffee Grinder [S]
(coffee kiosk half-way down Main Street)
The Ice Cream Company [S]
(nice ice-cream kiosk half-way down Main Street)
Market House Deli
(jumbo sandwiches)
Walt's - an American Restaurant [T] [2]
(Great eating place for real Disney fans. See section 5.1)
Cookie Kitchen
(expensive cookie shop)
Cable Car Bake Shop
(croissants and cakes)
Casey's Corner
(sells one-foot hot dogs. Avoid the chicken ones!)
The Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlour [S]
(ice cream sundaes, etc)
Victoria's Home-Style Cooking
(hot quiches and snacks)
Plaza Gardens Restaurant [T]
(Victorian-style. Nice place for a character breakfast)
Frontierland
Silver Spur Steakhouse [T] [2]
(rather formal, plain old-fashioned steakhouse)
The Last Chance Cafe [S]
(overlooks Thunder Mountain. Smoked beef/turkey sandwiches)
The Lucky Nugget Saloon [T] [2]
(Great old-west entertainment. Bilingual show, with audience
participation. Food is substantial)
Fuente del Oro Restaurante [S]
(Mexican food)
Cowboy Cookout Barbecue [1]
(Fast-food, burgers, etc in old-west barn location. Indoor
and outdoor seating. Cowhand Band play several times a day)
Adventureland
Colonel Hathi's Pizza Outpost [2]
(Pizzas and Italian specialities)
Aux Epices Enchantees [S]
(varied menu: lamb curry, couscous, beef/chicken brochettes)
Cafe de la Brousse [S]
(light refreshments; nice waterside location)
Captain Hook's Galley [S]
(sandwich snacks from the pirate ship)
Blue Lagoon Restaurant [T] [1]
(Great place to eat in a quiet romantic setting. Pirates of
the Caribbean boats float by as you enjoy your meal under a
deep blue 'sky' in tropical surroundings. Good service, and
the food - mostly seafood - is highly recommended)
Fantasyland
Auberge de Cendrillon [T] [1]
(Cinderella's coach sits in the courtyard, and you can see
the wishing well and the rear of Le Theatre du Chateau from
there. Watch Mickey waiting to go on stage - give him a shout
and he may wave at you)
Pizzeria Bella Notte [1]
(order a Mickey Mouse Pizza just for the hell of it)
Fantasia Gelati [S]
(nice, but expensive, ice creams)
Au Chalet de la Marionnette [2]
(Pinocchio's restaurant. Fast-food, chicken and salad)
Toad Hall Restaurant [S]
(fish & chips, steak sandwiches - yummy, says this Brit!)
March Hare Refreshments [S]
(drinks and un-birthday cakes - which are slightly larger
than cup-cakes, and look as sweet and sickly as heck!)
The Old Mill
(French bread sandwiches - "Sub's" to the Americans, I
believe. Can be busy)
Discoveryland
Cafe Hyperion [2]
(fast-food restaurant inside the Videopolis)
Cafe des Visionnaires [apparently now closed]
(good views of the parades in Fantasyland)
3.4 Festival Disney
This area is marked by the enormous silver and red vertical
columns apparently supporting nothing but a bunch of wires. These
wires actually support small lights, but during the day they're
obviously not switched on. At night, they look quite good, but the
pattern they form is only obvious from close-up. The enormous
columns contain mainly small kiosks and/or speakers which emit
music constantly while Festival Disney is open (from 8.30 am to
2.00 am). Festival Disney consists of a number of nightclubs,
restaurants, shops, kiosks, and Buffalo Bills Wild West Show (see
section 5.2).
The shops are your average Disney stores slightly themed but with
nothing spectacular inside. I saw nothing there that I wanted and
couldn't get cheaper at my local Disney Store.
Just before the exit to Festival Disney (the Disneyland end), to
the left there is a large building which contains Buffalo Bill's
Wild West Show. Just in front of this building is a small coral
area where we saw people riding around on horses.
Festival Disney includes several restaurants, many of which are
very expensive, especially for drinks. I recommend eating inside
the park, if at all possible.
Annette's Diner
(traditional burger-bar; fifties/sixties cars parked outside)
Carnegie's Deli
(you can pick up breakfast here, on your way to the park)
Key West Seafood
(nice seafood restaurant, well themed)
Los Angeles Bar and Grill
(upmarket Californian style restaurant)
The Steakhouse
(nice steaks, but ludicrously overpriced)
Regan B. Pederson (xz...@xmission.com) comments: The only thing
I'll say about Festival Disney is that it typifies the cheap
sleazy carnival atmosphere that Walt so hoped to avoid (and now it
carries his name on it). I was, however, fairly impressed with the
Buffalo Bill show. The price for it is outrageous, though.
3.5 Hotels
The Euro Disney resort complex has six main hotels plus a
campsite/log-cabin area which is a little way away from the park.
A free minibus service links the six main hotels to Festival
Disney and the park itself. Even if you stay off-site, try to find
time for a stroll around Lake Disney, and pop into some of the
hotels.
All the hotels feature rooms with twin double beds or one King-
size bed (confirm when booking), en-suite shower/bathroom, TV,
etc. Check-in from 3 pm, check-out by 11 am. See section 1.3 for
current prices.
Hotel Disneyland
Actually the smallest hotel on site, but by far the most
luxurious - just soak up the atmosphere in that massive
entrance lobby, even if you don't stay there! Situated over
the entrance to the park, the very best rooms (known as
Castle Club rooms) have a wonderful view right down Main
Street to the castle. If you can afford it, stay here, right
in the heart of the magic. Kids will *love* it! Very highly
Recommended.
* 500 "fairytale" rooms (inc 21 suites and 11 rooms for
the handicapped)
* All rooms have mini-bar and air conditioning
* Indoor heated pool with whirlpool and saunas (free)
* Health club
* Mad Hatter games room
* Laundry and dry cleaning service
* Baby-sitting service in room
* Main Street Lounge (overlooks Railroad station & Main St.)
* Three restaurants:
Cafe Fantasia (great for breakfast)
Inventions (*wonderful* buffet-style eating)
California Grill
* "Character meals" and "Birthday Cake character meals"
* Shop: Galerie Mickey
Hotel New York
Situated on Lake Disney, just past the Festival Disney
complex, this is the second-closest hotel to the park (5-10
minutes walk). Themed on the 1930's New York skyline, this
hotel has a very 'art deco' feel to it. It has a lot in
common with the Walt Disney World Swan/Dolphin resorts (not
suprising; same designer). Very plush, but rather cold and
lacking in Disney charm. Remember to request a lakeside view.
Adjoins a large conference centre.
Note: each room contains a 'Minitel' terminal. This is the
France Telecom personal comms system, originally designed to
provide all their customers with up-to-date directory
information without the need to print new phone books every
year. These days the system is much expanded to provide
access to information services, shopping and booking systems,
etc. There is also a link which allows users to send internet
e-mail, for which the access code is "3614 CALVACOM". The
Minitel hardware is a very slow and antiquated by modern
comms standards, and there is an hourly charge for using it.
* 574 rooms (inc 36 suites and 13 rooms for the handicapped)
* All rooms have Minitel terminals, mini-bar and air
conditioning
* Indoor & outdoor heated pools
* Health club
* Two tennis courts
* Open-air skating rink (winter)
* Beauty salon/barbers shop
* Times Square games room
* Laundry and dry cleaning service
* Baby-sitting service in room
* Convention Centre
* Two bar/Lounges: Rainbow Lounge and 57th Street Bar
* Two restaurants: Rainbow Room and Parkside Diner
* Shop: Stock Exchange
Newport Bay Club
Themed after a turn-of-the-century New England resort, the
Newport Bay Club is also on the shores of Lake Disney, about
10-15 minutes walk from the park. Some rooms sleep six.
Remember to request a lakeside view. One of the quieter, more
romantic hotels, with great atmosphere. Recommended.
* 1098 rooms (inc 15 suites and 23 rooms for the handicapped)
* All rooms have mini-bar and air conditioning
* Indoor & outdoor heated pools
* Health club
* Croquet Field
* Children's Playground
* Sea Horse Club games room
* Laundry and dry cleaning service
* Baby-sitting service in room
* Bar/Lounge: Fisherman's Wharf
* Two restaurants: Yacht Club and Cape Cod
* Shop: Bay Boutique
Sequoia Lodge
Themed on a Rocky Mountain hunters' lodge, this hotel is
located beside Lake Disney. Five separate accommodation
blocks spread out from the main building, so you might prefer
to request rooms in the main lodge - perhaps with a lakeside
view. The roaring log fire in the lounge area would be great
in winter. About 10-15 minutes walk from the park.
Recommended, especially if you've got kids.
* 1011 rooms (inc 14 suites and 21 rooms for the handicapped)
* All rooms have mini-bar and air conditioning
* Indoor & outdoor heated pools with slides, etc.
* Health club
* Children's Playground
* Kit Carson's Arcade Game Room
* Laundry and dry cleaning service
* Redwood Bar and Lounge
* Two restaurants: Hunter's Grill and Beaver Creek Tavern
* Shop: North West Passageway
Hotel Cheyenne
Inventively themed as a wild west town, the hotel rooms are
located in dozens of out-buildings - so you might find
yourself sleeping above the 'bank' or 'saloon'. Great for the
kids, and the only site hotel which features rooms with bunk
beds. No pool. 15-20 minutes walk from park.
* 1000 rooms (inc 21 rooms for the handicapped)
* All rooms have mini-bar. One double and two bunk beds
* Fort Apache and The Coral children's playgrounds
* Nevada games room
* Baby-sitting service in room
* Laundry and dry cleaning service
* Bar/Lounge: Red Garter Saloon
* Restaurant: Chuckwagon Cafe (9 themed 'food stores' laid
out along the town's main street).
* Shop: General Store
Hotel Santa Fe
The cheapest and most basic hotel, supposedly with a New
Mexico theme. This doesn't quite work, and it looks more like
an unfinished building site - and the entrance driveway is
incredibly tacky! Guest accommodation is spread out from the
main reception building in 42 'pueblos'. No pool. 15-20
minutes walk from park. Avoid, unless you're on a real
shoestring budget (or you're desperate to see the erupting
volcano, or the drive-in movie screen)
Report from Roy Turner (rtu...@netcom.com): It is a bit
plain, not fancy at all, but the rooms are fine. Easy walk to
the park, or there is a shuttle. There is only one on-site
food facility, which is themed as (guess what) southwest
'Mexican' food. We ate there several times, and got real
tired of it. There are only a few items on the menu. But all
in all, it was good value for the money (compared to the rest
of the hotels).
* 1000 rooms (inc 21 rooms for the handicapped)
* All rooms have mini-bar
* Totem Circle Children's Playground
* Pow Wow games room
* Baby-sitting service in room
* Laundry and dry cleaning service
* Bar/Lounge: Rio Grade Bar
* Restaurant: La Cantina
* Shop: Trading Post
Davy Crockett Ranch
About 15 minutes drive from the park, the campsite is themed
as a wilderness hideaway. The 4- or 6-person log cabins have
all the luxuries of home, though. Great activities for the
kids, but too far away from the park to consider if you don't
have a car.
Report from Olav Geisser (Fidonet 2:246/1401.52): Camp Davy
Crockett is located in a very nice forest and each bungalow
is equipped with everything you need: Outside there is a
grill and a wooden table, with connectors for electricity and
water for a caravan. Inside the bungalow it's better equipped
than usual apartments in Europe! We had a coffee maker,
microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator with prepared ice inside
the freezer, and every kind of kitchen utensil. At the check-
in we received a 'welcome basket' which contained coffee,
tee, milk, sugar and a packet of cookies.
* 181 camp sites and 414 cabins for 4 to 6 people
* All cabins feature bath, TV, telephone, heating and daily
housekeeping service
* Comfort stations with shower, laundry, etc.
* Indoor heated pool with slides, river, whirlpool, etc.
* Outdoor tennis courts and sports fields
* Davy's farm, with pony rides
* Computer Games room
* Bicycle and minicar rentals
* Restaurant: Crockett's Tavern
* Shop: Alamo Trading Post
============================================================================
4 Common Questions and Answers
4.1 What are the opening hours and prices?
See sections 1.1 - 1.4 above.
4.2 Contact Numbers and Addresses?
Note: The park appears to be in the process of rationalising its
various telephone numbers at the moment, so some of the following
may now be out of date. If in doubt, please ring the main Guest
Relations number, (+33 1) 64 74 30 00.
Note: "+" represents your own international dialling code. From
the UK, for example, replace "+" with "010".
"Disneyland Paris Direct" local booking offices:
UK/Eire: 0733 335565 / 335567
Netherlands: 06-0789
Sweden: 020 795 555
Denmark/Finland/ (+33 1) 60 30 60 70
Norway
Belgium: 0800 19 191
France: (1) 60 30 60 53
USA: (407) 934 7639
Central Reservations:
Euro Disney S.C.A.
Reservation Centrale
Boite Postale 105
F-77777 Marne-la-Vallee, Cedex 4
France
Operators are available (daily, 8am - 8pm) in the following
languages:
New direct numbers: (+33 1) 60 30 50 10 (to be confirmed)
(+33 1) 64 74 40 00
Austrian (+33 1) 49 41 49 95
Belgian (+33 1) 49 41 49 35
(French & Flemmish)
Danish (+33 1) 49 41 49 20
Dutch (+33 1) 49 41 49 80
English (+33 1) 49 41 49 10
Finnish (+33 1) 49 41 49 75
French (+33 1) 49 41 49 41
German (+33 1) 49 41 49 90
Irish (+33 1) 49 41 49 15
Italian (+33 1) 49 41 49 30
Norwegian (+33 1) 49 41 49 50
Portuguese (+33 1) 49 41 49 65
Spanish (+33 1) 49 41 49 60
Swedish (+33 1) 49 41 49 70
Swiss (+33 1) 49 41 49 25
(French & Swiss-German)
By FAX (+33 1) 60 30 60 65
By Telex 232 642
232 647
Ticket Sales:
Euro Disney S.C.A.
Service Tickets
Boite Postale 103
F-77777 Marne-la-Vallee, Cedex 4
France
Tel: (+33 1) 64 74 43 03
Conference Bookings, etc:
Euro Disney S.C.A.
Ventes, Groupes et Congres
Boite Postale 100
F-77777 Marne-la-Vallee, Cedex 4
France
Tel: (+33 1) 49 32 46 73
Fax: (+33 1) 49 32 46 62
Park Information:
Guest Relations (+33 1) 64 74 30 00
(direct line to City Hall, just inside the park)
Annual Passport Info (+33 1) 64 74 27 62
(smaller Guest Relations office - outside the park, to
the far right of the entrance turnstile area)
First Aid Centre (+33 1) 64 74 23 00
(adjacent to Plaza Gardens Restaurant, Central Plaza)
Lost Children (+33 1) 64 74 24 00
(adjacent to Plaza Gardens Restaurant, Central Plaza)
Lost Property (+33 1) 64 74 25 00
(City Hall, Town Square, just inside the park)
Baby Care Centre (+33 1) 64 74 26 00
(adjacent to Plaza Gardens Restaurant, Central Plaza)
Animal Care Centre (+33 1) 64 74 28 73
(near to guest parking area)
Buffalo Bill's Show (+33 1) 60 45 71 00
(Festival Disney)
Golf Reservations (+33 1) 60 45 69 19
Magic Kingdom Club:
UK: 0171 605 2842 / 0171 605 2843
(Heather Sheeran)
France: (+33 1) 64 74 51 00
France (fax): (+33 1) 49 32 47 80 (maybe out of date)
Germany: (+49) 6196 595 09
Germany (fax): (+49) 6196 595 980
(+49) 6196 595 990
Magic Kingdom Club Travel Centre:
From UK 0171 753 2902
Elsewhere (+33 1) 49 41 49 21
If you're interested in working at Disneyland Paris, apply to:
Disneyland Paris Casting
Euro Disney S.C.A.
G'erant: Euro Disney S.A.
Boite Postale 110
F-77777 Marne-la-Vallee, Cedex 4
4.3 Guide Books?
There is one Official guide published by (or on behalf of) Disney.
There are also a number of unofficial guides, of which the most
authoritative and informative is probably Sehlinger's, closely
followed by the Mainstream guide. I've added some short personal
comments, but obviously I haven't had a chance to try out every
one. If you've got anything to add to this section, please feel
free to send a brief review.
Title: Euro Disney Resort, Paris: The Guide
Author: Collective (BOOKMAKER)
Publisher: Harmsworth Magazines
ISBN: 0-85144-671-X
Format: Large paperback (stiff cover) 157 pages
Price: UKP 5.99
Comments: This official Disney guide is available
in four languages (English, French,
Italian and German). The guide was
printed to be ready for the park's
opening, and is thus now quite out of
date. Many photos inside are either
heavily altered to mask out signs of
construction work, or not of the Paris
park at all.
Title: The Unofficial Guide to Euro Disneyland
Author: Bob Sehlinger
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN: 0-340-57475-5
Format: Large paperback, 276 pages, no photos
Price: UKP 8.99
Comments: Very informative, although it does get
rather bogged down in techniques for
avoiding queues on the rides, and thus
you could miss out on the *fun* of the
place. Some adequate maps, no photos.
Highly recommended, but don't always
follow it too religiously.
Title: Euro Disney: The Mainstream Unofficial
Guide
Author: Tania Alexander
Publisher: Mainstream Publishing
ISBN: 1-85158-513-3
Format: Normal paperback, 271 pages, no photos
Price: UKP 5.99
Comments: Excellent compromise between the
sycophancy of the Official Guide and
the 'war-plan' of Sehlinger. It does
contain touring plans, but the emphasis
is more on what attractions are fun,
and what can be missed. No photos, and
it needs more maps, but otherwise
highly recommended.
Title: Essential Euro Disney Resort
Author: Lindsay Hunt
Publisher: AA Publishing
ISBN: 0-7495-0520-6
Format: Tall-thin paperback, 128 pages
Price: UKP 3.99
Comments: More of a tourist guide (in the Berlitz
sense) giving ratings of what's
available at the park, but little help
in seeing it all. Good maps and some
nice photos.
Title: Berlitz Pocket Guide: Euro Disney
Resort
Author: Berlitz staff writers
Publisher: Berlitz Publishing Co.
ISBN: 2-8315-2210-2
Format: Pocket sized, 128 pages, fold-out maps
Price: UKP 4.95 (first edition was UKP 3.95)
Comments: Fairly superficial, but easy to carry
around. Contains mostly old (i.e. pre-
opening) photos. Make sure you get the
second edition (with the fold-out maps
on the inside covers).
Title: Michelin Plan-Guide: Euro Disney Resort
Author: n/a
Publisher: Pneu Michelin
ISBN: 2-06-701-271-1
Format: Fold-open one-sheet map/guide
Price: UKP 2.25
Comments: Excellent maps of the whole resort and
surrounding areas. Locates all of the
restaurants, shops, hotels, etc. Highly
recommended as a souvenir map/guide in
addition to Sehlinger or the Mainstream
guide. Some nice photos, but only in
more recent editions; older versions
used artwork. Covers much the same
ground as the free booklet given out at
the park entrance.
Title: Michelin Guide: Euro Disney Resort,
Sightseeing in the Area
Author: n/a
Publisher: Pneu Michelin
ISBN: 2-06-701481-1
Format: Tall paperback, 157 pages
Price: UKP 6.95
Comments: Around 60% of the book covers the park
and hotels, with the rest devoted to
Paris and the surrounding areas. Some
good maps - but once again all of the
photos and illustrations are old (pre-
opening) views.
Title: Fodor's Euro Disney
Editor: Paula Consolo
Publisher: Fodor
ISBN: 0-679-02290-2
Format: Tall paperback, 203 pages, no photos
Price: UKP 8.99
Comments: Forget. There are only about 40 pages
applicable to the park, much of which
is out of date. The rest is about Paris
and the surrounding area (most of which
is culled from their existing Paris
guidebook). If, however, you plan to
spend a lot of your time in Paris, this
guide book could be useful.
4.4 How To Get There?
By Air:
Paris has two airports: Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly. Most
international visitors will fly into CDG. Both airports operate
shuttle buses directly to the Euro Disney resort complex. Each
airport has several terminal buildings, and the bus pick-up points
are all clearly labelled.
CDG Terminal 1: Go to Departure Level (i.e. downstairs) Gate 30
CDG Terminals 2A and 2C: Use Gate A-11 or C-1
CDG Terminals 2B and D: Use Gate D-11
Orly South (International): Use Gate C, Level 0
Orly West (Domestic): Use Gate K, Platform 7
The shuttle buses run at 45 minute intervals starting at 8.30 am
and continuing until around 8 pm. The Monday, Friday and Sunday
service from CDG runs every 30 minutes until 10.30 pm. The ride
takes 30-45 minutes from either airport, and tickets cost FF 75
per person (one way). Tickets can be purchased from the airport
Information desk, from your Travel Agent, or on the buses
themselves. Taxis are also available, but they will cost you
around FF 300.
The buses serve all of the resort hotels, and the main gate and
railway station, but not the Davy Crockett campsite. The drop-off
points are at approximately five minute intervals at: Newport Bay
Club, Sequoia Lodge, Santa Fe, Cheyenne, New York, Disneyland, and
finally the Railway Station/Main Gate. Pick-ups operate in the
reverse order.
By Road:
Note: Major roads in France have both a local Autoroute (A) number
and a newer Euroroute (E) designation.
For ferry travellers driving from Calais: Take the A26 through St.
Omer toward Arras. From Arras, take the A1 (aka E15, or "autoroute
du nord") heading south toward Paris. Turn off at exit 6, after
Charles de Gaulle airport, onto the A104 ("la Francilienne"). This
takes you to the A4 (aka E50, or "autoroute de l'est"), which you
should follow in the Reims direction (see below). Tolls will cost
you around FF 84, and the total journey is about 328 km. (UK
visitors may want to call the AA Roadwatch premium-rate
information line for Disneyland Paris on 0836 401400)
From the south/west, take the A6 (aka E05, or "autoroute du sud")
or A10 (aka E15, or "L'Aquitaine") toward Paris. Before you reach
Paris, turn off onto the N104 ("la Francilienne") heading
north/east. This will connect you to the A4 (aka E50, or
"autoroute de l'est"), which you should follow in the Reims
direction.
Travellers heading out from the Paris area should take the A4
Autoroute east toward Reims/Metz/Nancy (also known as the
"autoroute de l'est"). The park is about 32 km out of Paris (exit
14 from the A4) and is well signposted as "Parc Euro Disneyland".
From the east, follow the A4 (aka E50, or "autoroute de l'est")
toward Paris, turning off the A4 at exit 14 for the park.
Note: The Davy Crockett Camp is a short way away from the main
resort complex, on the other side of the A4, so watch out for the
separate signs (exit 13) if you're staying there. For all the
other hotels, follow the signs for the park itself.
By Rail:
The TGV (high speed train) railway station at Disneyland Paris has
now been opened. This rail link connects Paris, Lyon and Lille,
and will eventually greatly improve access. Passengers from the UK
using the Channel Tunnel should change at Lille to join the TGV
for Charles de Gaulle airport and Disneyland Paris. The current
timetable provides about five trains per day.
There is also a local rail service from Paris, which takes about
40 minutes. Pick up the RER 'A' line from any station on the A4
route (make sure you get on an A4 line train, not A2). Ensure that
you are headed in the direction for Marne-la-Vallee/Chessy, and
that the illuminated signs indicate that the train stops at Marne-
la-Vallee/Chessy (some trains terminate before then, or fork off
on a different route).
The Marne-la-Vallee/Chessy station is located between Festival
Disney and the park entrance, a couple of minutes walk from the
main gate.
4.5 Attractions that no other park has?
The following are currently unique to Disneyland Paris:
Liberty & Discovery Arcades, with Statue of Liberty Tableau
(see section 5.7)
Adventure Isle (see section 5.8)
La Taniere du Dragon (see section 5.9)
Le Theatre du Chateau (see section 5.9)
Alice's Curious Labyrinth (see section 5.4)
Le Visionarium (similar shows are now open at TDL and WDW)
(see section 5.5)
Indiana Jones et le Temple du Peril (see section 5.3)
Les Mysteres du Nautilus (see section 5.6)
Buffalo Bills Wild West Show (see section 5.2)
Disneyland Paris does not have the following attractions/rides
found in other Disney 'Magic Kingdom' parks:
Jungle Cruise
Enchanted Tiki Birds
Country Bear Jamboree
Splash Mountain
Hall of Presidents
Mr Toad's Wild Ride
Mickey's Starland
Carousel of Progress
Alien Encounter
Skyway
Space Mountain (soon, though...)
20,000 Leagues Voyage/Yellow Submarine Voyage
People Mover
Fantasmic
4.6 Comparisons between rides?
This is difficult to assess without more experience of all the
parks. Please e-mail any differences you have noted. See section 5
for more information on specific rides.
Pirates of the Caribbean is in a slightly different format to the
other parks. The animatronics are noticeably better. Features two
splash-drops.
The Swiss Family Tree House (Cabane des Robinson) is more
elaborate at Disneyland Paris.
Phantom Manor is similar, but on a wild-west theme and the
storyline is better. The narration is all in French.
Most of the other standard rides (e.g. Peter Pan) are pretty much
identical between the different parks. Orbitron is at ground level
(all the others are raised up). Small World has a different
layout; instead of being a series of rooms it's one big room with
the scenery partitioning it (giving a more open atmosphere).
Captain EO is still in English, except for the two-line
introduction, but the Cinemagique theatre is perhaps an
improvement on its predecessors.
4.7 What language do they use?
The park's official languages are French and English, and signs
are multilingual, as are the guidebooks. Hotel reception desks
should be able to attend you in French, English, German, Spanish
and Italian.
However, the simplest answer appears to be to use whatever
language you want! Cast members have flags on their name-tags
which should give you an indication of which languages they are
fluent in. When we [Tom] first arrived, we tried to use our meagre
French (poorly remembered from school). Unfortunately, the cast-
members would assume we were French and would rattle on to us in
French leaving us totally bewildered! We soon found it easier just
to speak in English. Note that this is exactly the opposite in
Paris where we found we were made far more welcome if we just
tried to make ourselves understood in French initially.
James Bohn (jb...@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu, a former cast member at WDW)
noted: In my subjective opinion, the Cast Members are more
consistently friendly to more people than the other two parks.
Perhaps it's because there are fewer people to be nice to, or
perhaps they're fighting to keep the park afloat, who knows? One
problem with the Euro-Disneyland Cast Members in general is
language. Euro-Disney functions in French, English, German, and
Italian (Spanish seems to be ignored, perhaps because of its
similarity to Italian?). Euro-Disney Cast Members often know a
handful of key statements in all of these languages, but often
they haven't learned the 'polite' forms. Thus when getting off a
ride, a Cast Member may simply say "off", rather than "please step
out to your right".
4.8 Getting around Paris?
Generally, the Paris Metro transport system is safer, cleaner and
more reliable than most. A good Parisian guide book will give you
better details than I can here, but briefly:
A "Formule-1" Metro ticket costs FF 85 and allows you to travel
the Metro, local buses and RER all day. This can be bought at the
Disneyland Paris railway station and used to go anywhere in the
Paris area. If you plan to travel more, get a "Paris-Visite"
tourist ticket, which come in 3 or 5 day versions. You may need
your passport in order to buy this ticket.
Watch out for the direction that the trains run. Lines are
indicated by colour and a ringed number (or a letter plus a number
in the case of the RER lines). Train directions are given not as
North/South, but by listing the station at which the line
terminates. This can confuse some visitors.
Excursions to various places of local interest are available,
mostly departing from in front of the Hotel New York at 10 am. Ask
at your hotel reception or at the French tourist office ("Maison
du Tourisme de Seine et Marne") in Festival Disney for more
information or to book tickets. Prices vary, but most day trips
cost FF 315 for adults, or FF 150 for children.
4.9 How do I get discounts? (Magic Kingdom Club)
The Magic Kingdom Club is an ideal way for you and your family to
enjoy Disney theme parks and Disney Stores worldwide at reduced
rates. You can also get discounts with Disney's preferred travel
companies, etc.
There are two ways to join:
Many large companies (300+ employees) provide corporate
memberships free of charge. Check with your personnel
department; if they aren't already involved, get them to get
in touch with one of the numbers below - it's free.
Individuals can take out their own memberships. For an annual
subscription, you'll get a Magic Kingdom Club Gold Card
(which gives you your discounts) plus a Membership Kit
consisting of a MKC tote bag, luggage tag, pin badge and key
ring. Application forms are available from any Disney Store,
or from the contact addresses below. The personal Gold Card
scheme is now co-ordinated from Disneyland-Paris itself - the
UK and German offices deal mainly with corporate memberships,
although they are still able to provide information to
individuals. Annual subscription currently costs UKP 22 for
the UK, DM 59 for Germany, and FF 200 for France. Payment is
accepted in Franc or Sterling cheques, as well as Visa,
Mastercard and Amex.
Whichever way you decide to join, the following Magic Kingdom Club
Benefits apply:
10% discount on all theme park Passports (including Annual)
10% discount on purchases above FF 100 in all Disneyland
Paris, Festival Disney and Resort Hotel boutiques
10% discount on purchases in Disney Stores (except Germany)
8% discount on room and package rates at all resort hotels
(minimum 2 nights stay)
Automatic upgrade to "Castle Club" floor when booking rooms
at the Disneyland Hotel (subject to availability; book early)
10% discount on admission to Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show
20% discount on the Green Fee at Disneyland Paris Golf
10% discount on P&O European Ferries
20% discount on car rental from Europcar
In France, contact:
Euro Disney Magic Kingdom Club
Boite Postale 122
F-77777 Marne-la-Vallee, Cedex 4
France
Tel: (+33 1) 64 74 51 00
Fax: (+33 1) 49 32 47 80 (maybe out of date)
In England, contact:
Euro Disney Magic Kingdom Club
Beaumont House
Kensington Village
Avonmore Road
London
W14 8TS
England
Tel: 0171 605 2842 / 0171 605 2843 (Heather Sheeran)
In Germany, contact:
Euro Disney Magic Kingdom Club
Kolner Strasse 10
D-65760 Eschborn
Deutschland
Tel: (+49) 6196 595 09
Fax: (+49) 6196 595 980
(+49) 6196 595 990
4.10 Can I contact anyone at (or near) the park by e-mail?
At present, I don't know of anyone who works at Disneyland Paris
who is contactable by e-mail. Anyone out there reading this?
However, Disney & theme-park fan Jean-Marc Toussaint can be
contacted via his Compuserve account, 10043...@compuserve.com.
Jean-Marc lives 30 minutes away from the park and is a frequent
visitor. He is quite happy for people to get in touch with him for
up-to-the-minute information - but please do check that the info
you are requesting is not already in the FAQ first.
4.11 What Disneyland Paris souvenirs are available?
Obviously, as with any other Disney theme park, there are
thousands of opportunities to buy that 'special' souvenir to take
back home. It's impossible to list them all (especially the ever-
changing range of clothing) but here are a few collectible items
that are specific to Disneyland Paris.
You should be able to find most of these in The Storybook Store or
The Emporium in Town Square at the end of Main Street. You can
also order by mail from the park, but overseas shipping and
handling charges are exorbitant!
"Euro Disneyland": Thin-ish paperback book giving a basic
tour of the park, with plenty of good (recent) photos.
Available in four languages.
"Euro Disney": Large format hardback book (purple cover). A
more detailed (and more collectible) tour of the park and
hotels, but very out-of-date photographically. Some pictures
are not even of Disneyland Paris, and others are artists
impressions. When this book is updated with new photos it
will be a 'must-have' - at which point the current one will
surely become a collector's item. Available in four
languages.
Euro Disney wall map: This is great; a full colour artwork
wall map of the park, with all the attractions, shops and
restaurants listed. Includes recent rides such an Indiana
Jones and Space Mountain, but these are shown as forthcoming
attractions.
CDs: "Euro Disney: C'est Magique", "Euro Disney: Feel the
Magic". These contain the soundtrack of the "C'est Magique"
stage show which plays at the Fantasy Festival Stage (similar
to the "Disney World is Your World" and "Disneyland is Your
Land" shows in the US parks). The show includes pop versions
of many of the pieces of music used in attractions around the
park. Available in English or French, but note that the
English version does not contain the overture.
Disneyland Paris 1995 Calendar: Pleasant wall-hanging
calendar. Each page features a photo from La Parade Disney,
plus some nice background line-art from a Disney film. The
text is trilingual (English, French and German).
4.12 What's the weather like? When should I visit?
Disneyland-Paris is promoted as an all-year-round attraction, but
even the most ardent Europhiles would be hard-pressed to find a
visit in the middle of Winter as pleasant as one in peak summer.
Some of the food outlets and attractions will be closed, and the
weather will very likely be wet, windy and rather cold (the
temperature can easily be sub-zero). On the plus side, of course,
winter attendance is lower (expect during the Christmas/New year
weeks, which are packed) so queues are very much shorter.
It's hard to say exactly the best time to visit, since European
weather patterns are not very predictable. Probably the best
periods to choose would be June or September if you want to avoid
the busiest school holiday times, or August if you want the best
guarantee of good weather, but don't mind queuing!
The park's designers have made every effort to enable you to enjoy
your visit even if the weather is poor, even down to choosing
colour schemes that will show up as well against dull grey clouds
as they will against blue skies (for example, the pinks and
blue/greens of the castle). You can get from the main gate to
Frontierland, and then on to Adventureland and Fantasyland,
completely under cover. Most of the attractions are indoors, with
fairly well-sheltered queuing areas. Some, of course, are
unavoidably in the open - such as Big Thunder Mountain, the
Indiana Jones ride, Alice's Curious Labyrinth, Orbitron, etc.
Graham Allan (gra...@spider.co.uk) comments: Seeing the park for
Christmas was very nice, but it was freezing cold (snow on the
ground, too). I would hesitate to recommend going at this time of
year, especially on weekends when there might be a crowd -
standing in lines in sub-zero temperatures was not pleasant!
However, there were loads of walk-arounds out in the park on the
Monday morning (when the park was dead). Many more than one would
normally see at DL or WDW at one time.
4.13 Are there any net sites containing photos of Disneyland-Paris?
Yes, the World Wide Web site which stores this FAQ also contains a
series of full-colour JPEG photos of various aspects of the park.
All of the unique attractions are featured, plus many other
details such as shows, parades, hotels, a colour map, and several
other images.
The URL for the official DL-P FAQ & Pictures www site is:
http://www.informatik.tu-muenchen.de/cgi-bin/nph-gateway/
hphalle1/~schaffnr/etc/disney/
If anyone would like to volunteer some disk space to make these
pictures available by FTP too, please let me know.
============================================================================
5 More details of specific attractions - arranged in 'land' order
(Personal reports from park visitors are welcome)
5.1 Liberty Arcade, Discovery Arcade, Statue of Liberty Tableau
[report by Tom Drynda]
These arcades form the back entrances to shops and restaurants in
Main Street. Liberty Arcade is also a useful covered route to
Frontierland during poor weather. Very pleasant turn of the
century style interiors with gas lamps and lots of interesting
displays of inventions and curios of both American and French (but
mainly American) origin. The Statue of Liberty Tableau is a small
display on how France gave the Statue of Liberty to America. Dull.
5.2 Walt's Restaurant [report by Tom Drynda]
This restaurant is a must for serious Disneyphiles. It is packed
full of interesting memorabilia, and various restaurant rooms are
themed to the lands in the park. You also get quite a good view of
Main Street from upstairs at Walt's.
The restaurant is L shaped with the entrance being on the corner.
One side of the restaurant runs along main street and the other
along a side-street. There are two floors in the restaurant
(ground and upstairs). The ground-floor rooms are just elegant
rooms surrounded by Disney memorabilia. The upstairs rooms have
separate themes linked to the different lands. Some rooms have
separate tables catering for couples or families. Other rooms have
just a single banqueting table clearly catering for larger parties
(conference guests, VIP's, etc.).
When you enter the restaurant the whole feel of the place seems to
be that of a luxury apartment or hotel (or maybe even restaurant!)
in Paris at the turn of the century.
The entrance lobby is quite interesting, containing hand carved
wooden furniture and nice stained glass. To the left is what I'd
imagine is the Maitre d's desk which is interesting in itself. It
has one of those spring-loaded message-passing systems. For the
technical persons among you, this is the system where you plonk
the message in a box, yank a handle, and the box containing the
message whangs up through the ceiling to the upstairs desk and
vice-versa. The message-whanging system is very ornate in heavy
scrolled brass.
Incidentally, for Disneyphiles only, the address of the restaurant
is the same address of the Imagineering workshops in Glendale,
California (1401 Flower Street). Flower Street is a side turning
off Main Street. According to the official guide book, the logo
with the initials W.D. appearing on the gas lamps, some furniture,
and windows was designed for the balcony of Walt's apartment in
Disneyland. Ahead of you are the lift and the stairs. The lift is
what really gives the impression of a turn-of-the-century Paris
interior. It is constructed (or appears to be constructed) in
ornate black cast iron scroll work with multi-coloured stained-
glass windows. The lift is fully functional.
The upstairs rooms are themed, as mentioned before, to coincide
with the various lands in the park. The rooms have to be seen to
be believed. I will not describe them fully here as I wouldn't be
able to do them justice. However, they are as follows:
A Gothic style room represents Fantasyland.
An Edwardian style library represents Frontierland and is
supposed to be a library in a western mansion. A number of
indian/cowboy-on-a-horse sculptures can be seen to enforce
this.
One corner of a large room is draped as though in a fine
Arabian tent and is clearly supposed to represent
Adventureland.
Probably the most detailed room was Captain Nemo's room. See
this. I cannot describe it. This represents Discoveryland.
5.3 Phantom Manor [extended report by Regan B. Pederson]
Phantom Manor is absolutely, positively, definitely, my favourite
theme park attraction. They did everything right here. The Haunted
Mansion (at DL or WDW) is number 3, behind Star Tours.
The name change is perfect. At DL and WDW, all the guests call the
Haunted Mansion the Haunted House. Now, at DL-P, when they are
wrong they are at least completely wrong! Phantom Manor is an
original name that belongs to an original house. The greatest
improvement from the Haunted Mansions is the music. Even as much
as I love the original Grim Grinning Ghosts, Disney worked some of
it's greatest magic here. Grim Grinning Ghosts was re-
orchestrated, slowed down, romanced, dignified, changed in the
most wonderful ways, and re-recorded in several different versions
for different sections of the ride's interior and exterior (yes,
you can finally hear the music outside in the waiting area).
You'll forget that it really is the tune of Grim Grinning Ghosts,
until you get to the singing busts.
Phantom Manor is in Frontierland, and they made it so it really
does fit in. The house exterior is again totally different. They
did well in making it intriguing but not blatantly haunted. It
looks like an old western house that is seriously dilapidated.
The Manor 'yard' is something to see in itself. Like the house it
looks like it was very beautiful at one time, but nobody's taken
care of it. There's a gazebo, plant holders, lots of nice stairs &
structure, all meant to look like it was really nice and lavish at
one point in time. The queue winds through part of it, and there
is a very large sheltered waiting area with a fountain in the
middle. The entire 'yard' is (of course) built on a hill and the
house sits on top.
You finally get up to the deck surrounding the house and walk
around to the front doors. This is a concept that was lost at the
Haunted Mansions in DL and WDW: you actually go in via the front
doors. When you get inside the foyer, Phantom Manor finally begins
to resemble the Haunted Mansions. There's the chandelier with
cobwebs and the two doors into the stretch rooms. Otherwise, the
decor is still very different. It's very antique western. There is
a small mirror in-between the two doors. When the Phantom starts
speaking, you can see a picture of the bride in the mirror.
By the way, Paul Frees died before he could play the voice of the
Phantom. I don't know who does it now, but you only hear the
Phantom speak (entirely in French) in the entrance foyer, in the
stretch room, and a little bit in the portrait hall. There is no
spoken dialogue during the ride itself. Due to language barriers,
and the fact that the scenes are so great and the music so well-
done, I think it's good that they don't have much spoken sound.
Incidentally, Vincent Price did the original Phantom narration in
English, but it was quickly replaced after the French complained.
(You can hear Paul Frees in the Manor, though. He is the voice of
the Mayor, using a line from the American parks, "we have 999
happy haunts here, but there's room for a thousand...")
It's interesting to note that the floor design of the ride is
almost identical to Disneyland. The elevator has rightfully
returned to the stretch room (yes, you do really go down at
Disneyland Paris). There is also the tunnel where the changing
pictures have been returned (these were left out in Florida). The
'basement' is actually dug into the hill, with the tunnel going
beneath some trees behind which the show building is hidden. The
tunnel does NOT go beneath the railroad tracks; the entire
attraction is housed within the same building as the Grand Canyon
Diorama.
So what is Phantom Manor all about, anyway? I spent hours trying
to figure that out - I went on it about 20 times in 2 days. This
has become somewhat of an obsession for me, and I am still
endeavouring to find out how it really goes. This information was
put together from my own personal observations, and also by asking
the Manor staff and City Hall. I do not guarantee its accuracy at
all, since one CM even told me that the story is based on
Hitchcock's Psycho movie! (only the shape of the house bears any
resemblance at all)
The year is 1860. The Phantom (he probably has a real name but I
couldn't find out what it is) owns the Manor and most of
Frontierland as well. This is, of course, why the house sits on a
hill overlooking Frontierland. When two of the town's residents
decided to get married the Phantom insisted they have the wedding
& party at his place. All of the preparations were made. The bride
got all ready and waited for her groom to show up. She never saw
him - for the Phantom had hung him soon after he walked through
the door. She waited and waited: her bouquet began to wilt; the
wedding presents stacked in the ballroom went unopened; the cake
began to sag and topple. The bride sobbed as she watched the
Phantom's guests come out of their tombs. She looked behind her,
and out the window she saw the Phantom laughing at her - and she
suddenly realized what his real intentions were. He had dug a
grave for her, right next to the freshly-filled one for her former
fiancee. She decided to put an end to her agony, so still in her
wedding dress, and still holding her bouquet, she poisoned
herself. The Phantom just laughs, and stands ready to claim his
next victim, right after they see their predecessors in Phantom
Canyon. If anybody knows the real story, or just knows that I'm
plain wrong, please tell me - I would be greatly indebted to you.
5.4 Big Thunder Mountain [report by Regan B. Pederson]
Big Thunder Mountain is significantly wilder than the versions in
the states. The trains (especially their paint jobs) are also a
lot more realistic. Overall, DL-P's Big Thunder is top notch. Like
in the states, there are still three climbs and they're like the
ones in the states: The first one goes past the stalactites &
stalagmites and the rainbow pools and under the waterfall, the
second one is outdoors, and the third one involves the earthquake
(which is a great deal more convincing and well-done here). The
long tunnels through which you go under the Rivers of the Far West
are also very exciting. The visuals during the ride (animals &
such, except for the earthquake) I would rate on a par with
Disneyland, but not quite as good as WDW because they've got that
town of Tumbleweed.
5.5 Pirates of the Caribbean
[report by Regan B. Pederson and Graham Allan]
Pirates of the Caribbean is superb, it really works here. The
theming at the load area is one of a Caribbean island (rather than
Florida's fort or the southern bayou of California/Tokyo). I
especially liked the queuing area (although it's very long). The
last scene you walk past (on your left) before entering the
'village' is also the last scene you sail past (also on the left)
before reaching the unload station.
Every scene makes sense and contributes to the story. You sail
through a Caribbean jungle and go up a ramp into the fort where
the pirates have started to make their raid. The sophistication of
the animatronic figures is truly outstanding here, as well as the
creativity and placement of the figures (and the silhouette is
first class). Almost everything in this scene is original to DL-P,
except for the jail scene; it's near the beginning here, instead
of the end, since at this point in the story the pirates haven't
yet raided the town.
You then sail through a cave and receive your proper warning and
then you slide down a flume and right into the battle between the
pirate ship and the fort (which has been going on at Disneyland
and WDW for so many years). The next few scenes are nearly
identical to the ones in the US. Everything is more detailed and
realistic, though. There is a silhouette in the fire scene that is
way, way, way first class.
Right after you get out of the fire scene, the ride changes from
its predecessors. You now slide down a second flume into the
powder room, and the burned out town goes down in a huge
explosion. You escape into secret caves (Davey Jones' Locker).
You see the skeleton at the wheel in the storm and the pirate's
secret treasure. As you leave the caves you can see the dock
looming ahead of you. I highly applaud the changes and adjustments
Disney have made; it all worked very, very well.
5.6 Indiana Jones et le Temple du Peril [report by Julie Dawe]
The ride is a short roller coaster ride that has a 360 degree
(upside down) loop in it. The ride seemed amazingly short - about
2 minutes or so (hard to judge time when you're on a roller
coaster). The cars are small - 4 seats, or 8 people per car, with
big fat secure shoulder harnesses to keep you in (uncomfortable,
if you accidentally pull them too tight towards you). I guess I
was a little disappointed - I had envisioned riding something more
like mining carts, but it was really just a short roller coaster,
wilder than Big Thunder. But not very wild, no stomach-lurching
drops, just fast.
The ride is themed very nicely, with 1940s style camp settings,
jeeps, tents, etc, that looked like they could have come out of
the Indiana Jones movie. There is creepy music playing to get you
in the mood.
[Additional report by Regan B. Pederson]
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril was a mistake. Like you've
probably heard, it's just an off the shelf roller coaster that
they built around something that's supposed to look like an
excavated ruin. The queue area is only mildly interesting. The
temple itself is somewhat impressive (especially as you ascend the
snake staircase). It has nothing to do with Peril, though. You
never go in it, and nothing ever happens. There is no story, no
plot, no cause of action. You just decide to ride a 'mine' car
around this temple thing, even though there is no mine. In
addition, mine cars do not normally go through loops. However, to
Disney's possible credit, the mine cars are extremely jerky and
bumpy, just as you'd expect one to be. However, the restraint
system is awkward and the jerkiness can make it painful.
John Stafford (staf...@claude.ma30.bull.com) mentioned: My
youngest daughter said the ride could be very jerky and not much
fun unless you keep your head firmly against the head rest. They
have been on similar rides, and found the head rests on this ride
to be better than most.
5.7 Adventure Isle [report by Tom Drynda and Andre Willey]
You really can get lost in the maze of twisty little passages and
caves - all alike! Skull Rock and Captain Hook's ship are here,
plus a rope bridge, barrel bridge and a shipwreck to look at. Not
much else there, but it's good fun anyway. Set the kids loose here
and go and relax.
5.8 La Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant
[report by Tom Drynda and Andre Willey]
Don't miss out on the two shops inside the castle, which are
charming. Upstairs, the story of Sleeping Beauty is told in ornate
tapestries and stunning stained glass - well worth a look. You
exit via the upper balconies of the castle, which afford great
views of Fantasyland.
Downstairs you'll find "La Taniere du Dragon" - the dragon's lair.
The dragon sleeps peacefully next to his pool with the occasional
snort of smoke. Then his tail twitches, more smoke and he begins
to awake... then you realise his chain is broken! Loved it.
Just in front of the castle is "Le Theatre du Chateau", an open-
air stage show. Currently playing is Mickey's Magic Book.
Basically the Snow White/Sleeping Beauty stories, with music and
dance. The magic book itself is enormous, and as each stage of the
story unfolds, so do the pages of the book with pop-up scenery.
Well worth a look.
5.9 Alice's Curious Labyrinth [report by Tom Drynda and Andre Willey]
A hedge maze. The hedge is filled with tiny blue lights. The maze
has become fairly badly damaged over time. Some of the surprises
did not work (The Queen of Hearts did not spring out and shout
"Off with her head" too well) and much of the mechanics behind
these surprises is totally visible due to the hedge wearing thin.
The castle in the middle of the maze makes a good place to get
that nice panoramic photo of the park from a more unusual angle.
This is also the place where the jumping water fountains are -
where the water appears to jump from place to place. Good to watch
and relax - or stand under and get wet.
An attraction for the younger ones mainly.
5.10 Storybookland rides [report by Jean-Marc Toussaint]
Storybookland is located at the far North of the park, between
Alice's Curious Labyrinth and the Old Mill ferris wheel, behind
It's a Small World. Access to the area via a path under the
Disneyland Paris Railroad (a bit like "Mickey's Toontown" in DL).
The Storybook boat ride, constructed by Mack GmbH of Germany, is a
'no-host' ride, unlike other similar rides at other Disney parks.
It's a continuous cable-towed boat ride, departing from a step-on,
step-off turntable in front of a giant open book. The brightly
coloured boats each carry up to 20 guests. There are open
storybooks along the route identifying the story for each set.
It's simply beautiful, especially at night since every set is
carefully illuminated.
The boats pass under a stone bridge (Casey Junior's track), then
you pass in front of beautifully landscaped, richly detailed
miniatures. On your left you will see the Seven Dwarfs' house (the
mine is in the background, with diamond effects and sounds of the
dwarfs working), Hansel & Gretel cake house, Rumplestiltskin. On
your right, on the top of a small island, is Mount Olympus from
Fantasia.
The boats then pass under a second bridge. You enter the snow-
covered area of Peter and the Wolf (on your left). On your right
is the best model: the village, ruins, cemetery & mountain from
Night on Bald Mountain. The boats turn around the mountain set and
enter Aladdin's Cave of Wonder, through the tiger's mouth. Inside
the cave is a miniature of the treasure, and a little further on
is a miniature of the lamp resting at the top of the stairs,
bathing in a magical beam of light. Leaving the cave, you see on
your left a Sword in the Stone model, then a large replica of
Belle's village from Beauty and the Beast. The Beast's castle is
in the background, with Casey's track curling around its walls.
The final miniature is the Emerald City of Oz, after which the
boats return to the station.
Casey Junior is more of a family-oriented (non-gravity) roller
coaster than a train ride. Built by Vekoma of Holland, two trains
run on the same track thanks to a clever block-system
installation. It surrounds the whole Storybook land area. The ride
is rather fast, with lots of banked turns and 'rabbit hops'. At
night, the only light is the locomotive's headlight, so ride in
the very last car for a backward, fast and completely dark trip!
5.11 Le Visionarium [report by Andre Willey]
One of the best themed attractions in the park. Based on Circle-
Vision 360 technology, The Timekeeper and his robot assistant, 9-
Eye, are your hosts on a Circle-Vision trip through time, picking
up Jules Verne en route. Very impressive period detail; must have
been quite a feat to film! Guest roles from stars such as Gerard
Depardieu and Jeremy Irons.
The show is in French, but headsets are provided with English,
German and Italian soundtracks. The animatronic guides are
excellent, and the pre-show waiting room is fascinating, with lots
to see - a video wall (French narration, translated in English,
German and Italian by LED signs), plus models of real, futuristic,
and Wells/Verne modes of transport hanging from the ceiling.
A MUST-SEE ATTRACTION.
(This is now also showing at Tokyo Disneyland, and in a slightly
modified form at WDW, Florida. Apart from the layout of the pre-
show waiting areas, the main differences are in the voices and the
Red Square/Concorde section has been replaced with shots of New
York).
5.12 Les Mysteres du Nautilus [report by Andre Willey]
To be honest, the biggest mystery of all was why is queue so long?
I guess it must be because this attraction looks so good from the
outside. A very authentic-looking Nautilus waits docked in a
lagoon near to the new Space Mountain, inviting you to come
aboard. You enter a nearby lighthouse and descend down a spiral
staircase, and then walk along a long underground corridor.
Entering the sub, you walk through several rooms (treasure room,
Captain's quarters, airlock/diving-suit room, etc) until you reach
Captain Nemo's room - complete with iris-shuttered portholes on
either side, and his grand pipe organ at one end. A short, rather
uninspiring, show takes place in which a giant animatronic squid
attacks and is repelled by electric shocks (you get to see this
through the large porthole screen) and then you leave via the
engine room.
Basically, there's nothing much to it. The engine doesn't move at
all, the squid attack is lack-lustre, and it's painfully obvious
that the walk-through is nowhere near the submarine you saw in the
pen outside (in fact, you come out *facing* it!). If only they had
at least attempted to give you the feeling of entering inside a
submarine from the long corridor (perhaps by walking beside a hull
mockup, or even by going through some sort of connecting tunnel or
bridge) but they didn't.
Unless the queue is short, don't waste your time. A shame, really,
as this could have been rather good if properly imagineered in
true Disney style.
From Scott Van Horn (svan...@anetbbs.com): The new Nautilus ride
was a disappointment - it seemed like a "we need something, how
about this?" I felt a bit embarrassed being in it.
5.13 Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show [report by Tom Drynda]
This show is a wild and exciting show obviously themed around the
American Wild-West Cowboy days. Get your tickets early (there is a
discount for MKC card-holders). There may be two shows per day
(check at Guest Relations or at your hotel). Plan to start queuing
at least an hour before the show is due to start. You must
purchase your tickets beforehand. How early you purchase your
tickets depends on the day you go, and which show you intend to
see. You can purchase your tickets well in advance by phoning the
reservations number shown in section 4.2 (it's the same number
used to reserve hotel rooms).
You don't get allocated seats until you enter the building just
before the show. I'd advise anyone going to see this to start
queuing fairly early as the earlier you get your seats, the closer
to the action you are.
The tables aren't really tables as in a normal restaurant, but
just a bench that can hold about ten people with a long table in
front of you over which you see into the arena. The tables all
overlook the arena and so everyone has a good view.
The 'table numbers' are coded by colour letter and number. The
lower the number, the closer you are to the action. The letter
defines the sector in your team area in which you will sit, and
the colour defines the team you will support during the show. The
team colours are representative of American ranches:
Golden Star Ranch, Texas
Blue Moon Ranch, Wyoming
Green Mountain Ranch, Montana
Red River Ranch, Colorado
After being issued with our hats, we passed through to the
extremely large bar having our photo taken officially on the way.
The bar is truly enormous, but fills up quickly. Order a beer as
soon as you get there. You could order a beer in their souvenir
beer glass which is in the shape of a cowboy boot. You can also
order cocktails here.
If you want to order wine with your meal, you have to go to a
smaller bar that you pass on the way in before you get to the main
bar.
Pre-show entertainment and cowboy training takes place before the
arena is loaded. The entertainment we had was the band currently
appearing at Billy Bob's Country and Western Nightclub (which is
in Festival Disney). They played a number of country and western
songs and took us through "How a cowboy cheers" (lifting your
'chapeau' off your head, waving it in the air and shouting
YAAAAHOOOOOOOOOO at the top of your voice) and a host of other
fun-type things. This really sets you up for the show.
The loading of the stadium takes place a colour at a time. The
colours are green, red, yellow, and blue.
I don't really want to spoil the fun of Buffalo Bill's Wild West
Show by giving away too much detail here. Just let me say the food
was very good, the beer was as much as you could drink (whenever
the staff came 'round to your table with their pitchers) and the
entertainment was funny, exciting, and in short it was one of the
best evening's out I've had in a very long time. Do not miss this.
DO NOT MISS THIS ON ANY ACCOUNT!
============================================================================
6 Acknowledgements
This FAQ is still in its early stages (as is Disneyland Paris, of
course) so some of the information may be incomplete, inaccurate, or
lacking in finesse. Your comments, corrections, criticisms and
suggestions are very welcome.
I would be especially grateful if people visiting the park could pick
up an extra copy of the free Guest Guidebook and weekly Entertainment
Programme (available at City Hall) while they're there, and pop them in
the post to me (e-mail me for my postal address). Also, if you're
staying at one of the on-site hotels, could you pick up an extra copy
of the newspaper-style Hotel Guide, which should be available free from
the Reception Desk. Doing so will help me enormously in keeping the FAQ
up to date.
Many thanks to the following people for their assistance:
Tom Drynda for starting this FAQ in the first place. Thanks Tom, and I
hope that I'm doing your concept justice.
Paul Fischer (pfis...@knoware.nl), Louise
(rhu...@cix.compulink.co.uk), Werner Kuehnert
(k...@zerberus.gud.siemens.co.at), Shawn Clover (cl...@ix.netcom.com)
and John Stafford (staf...@claude.ma30.bull.com) for mailing me
current guidebook and timetable sheets from the park.
Graham Allan (gra...@spider.co.uk) for notes and updates.
Jean-Marc Toussaint (10043...@compuserve.com) for local information
and news updates.
'Hick Hurtenflurst' (scha...@informatik.tu-muenchen.de) for general
information, and conversion of the FAQ for www access (see
introduction).
Tim "Quetzal" Pickett (que...@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au) for making the
FAQ available for FTP and putting it on the list of lists.
Luz Echeverria (eche...@mimosa.unice.fr) for reminders about the
unique tapestries and stained glass windows in the Sleeping-Beauty
castle (Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant) walk-through.
Yvonne Loo (yvo...@lightning.nsc.com) for useful updates and especially
for being the first person to use the FAQ in Disneyland Paris itself!
Julie Dawe <julie...@hpgrmac.gr.hp.com> for a great description of
the Indiana Jones ride and further updates above and beyond the call of
duty.
Regan B. Pederson (xz...@xmission.com), a former cast member at WDW, who
has provided a LOT of great insights into the differences between rides
at the parks.
Scott Kessler (s...@asdi.saic.com) for the great JPG pictures of the
dragon and Phantom Manor at night (now available at the WWW site).
and...
Everyone else in rec.arts.disney for their support and information
+------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Andre Willey | Cygnus Software Development |
| Email: an...@cix.compulink.co.uk | Sutton Coldfield -- England |
| or: ...{mcsun}!uknet!cix!andre | Tel: (UK/+44) 0121 308 5251 |
+------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Maintainer of the Disneyland-Paris FAQ List. E-mail me for details |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+