On our visit to Disneyland Park Paris we were left enchanted for the beauty and magic of the place. The Park is a triumph to craftsmanship, and an outstanding achievement to mankind. As you walk through the Park you experience a real-life fairytale and adventure town; and unlike watching a film where the magic is on the screen, in Disneyland Park you are actually inside the magic, or as the French say, C’Magic.
The Park is one part of Disneyland Resort, which also consists Walt Disney Studios and the nearby Disney hotels. In our 3-day holiday we have visited only a small portion of the attractions – probably about 10%; and the following photographs document only a small part of what we have seen.
Once you pass the security gates, you will see the magnificent Disneyland Hotel, situated next to the Park. Through the hotel is the entrance ticket hall to the Park. If you can afford this hotel, you will receive a VIP pass which means you will not have to wait in the long queues for the attractions and rides.
This hotel and the area in front are so beautiful, that in first glance I thought that this was the Park itself… It took me a moment to realise that there were no attractions there, and that it must be the entrance to the Park.
The ticket entrance, which is right below Disneyland Hotel. Usually there are long queues there. This photo was taken between 8-10am where the Park was open only to visitors who stayed in one of the hotels in the Resort. In the package we bought, included the early 8-10am entry, as well as a fast-pass entry though the ticket gates when it was busy.
Inside the Park, attention to details was remarkable.
The first ‘street’ is MainStreet USA.
In the distance of MainStreet USA is Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Sleeping Beauty Caste. Exterior.
Interior of the castle.
Below the castle is the dungeon, where a real-life size dragon lives in a dark cave. We took a photo of the cave only…
From one of the castle’s shops.
Stones on the doors of the shop.
Something to see, all around.
We waited 40 minutes for a photo and a signature from Minnie Mouse. And it was worth the wait… Minnie was very professional, giving full attention to every single child.
Initially I did not have a paper to hand to Minnie (you can buy a special notebook or use any piece of paper you have) – so I pulled out a £5 note. Minnie took my note politely and handed it to a staff member who stood by, and who said she cannot sign notes… Then someone gave me a piece of card, which you can see here.
I asked Minnie ‘Vous parlez français?’ and she nodded to indicate she did… However she did not speak at all, rather was silent all the time… In the excitement, Minnie misspelled Yael’s name, but we concluded that this must be the French version of writing Yael’s name…
The Park can be overcrowded most of the time. However, between 8-10am, and some hours at the evening, the Park is open to Disney Resort hotels’ visitors only, which makes a massive difference.
Waiting…
The carousel (merry-go-round). Here you can see Yael in three glorious stages: Anticipation, Acceptance, and a Graceful Triumph…
Anticipation:
Acceptance:
Graceful Triumph:
A rare view with no queue (at 8.30am).
A beautiful horse top (I think this was not part of the carousel).
Sparkly-diamond-like leaves, shining in the hot French sun.
And the shimmering light dancing on water from a fountain at the bottom of Dumbo ride.
The little office where Dumbo-ride operator sits.
A Dumbo-ride operator.
This was in the square next to our hotel (the Sequoia Lodge hotel), and was not part of the Park itself. 10 euros for 12 minutes in these giant balls (zorb balls). Parents were allowed to walk in and push these bouncy balls.
A 20 minutes ride on this pedal car around the square (with its beautiful pond) costs 10 euros. Children can sit only at the front chair (with the small stirring wheels) but for the purpose of this photo Yael sat at the driver’s seat.
The square itself is surrounded by 4 hotels, all a 10minute walk from the Park’s entrance. Here in the distance is New York hotel. Our hotel is to the right (not seen).
Another attraction in the square is this balloon which was attached to a rope. The ride was about 10 euros. Below the balloon, in the distance, is a food quarter (‘food street’ as I call it). If you walk pass it you will reach the Park’s entrance.
Jumping from one bed to the other, in the hotel room.
Some breakfast.
The regular shuttle buses from all Disney Resort hotels stop at the entrance to the Park and the Studio, just opposite Eurostar train station. In the background of this photo is the train station, where there is a small shop that sells still-water at standard price. Prices inside the Park are usually very high, so it is best to buy water before you enter the Park, specially in the hot Paris weather. There are plenty of good restaurants inside the Park, as well as a ‘food street’ (as I call it) outside next to the Park. We paid some 35 euros for 3 slices of pizza there, only to learn later that at the end of that ‘street’ is a MacDonald’s with standard prices.
The long shuttle bus had a swirling middle – an attraction in itself…
The security check gate at the main entrance. This photo was taken at 1.30pm. The long queues would be earlier.
Names of visitors on the floor.
The Park is very long, and there was a lot of walking. Little children may prefer on dady’s shoulders…
Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups in the Park.
The only photo I managed to capture at the end of the magnificent Peter Pan’s Flight ride. We sat at a ship-like car and flew through to Neverland.
Alice Curious Labyrinth, a hedge maze with the Queen of Hearts’ maze and castle.
Alice’s tea party.
So much to see… We probably covered only 10% of the Park and Studios.
Entrance to the ‘Small World’ cruise (‘sail’ really) which we did not take at the end.
Roof tops of some shops.
The All Mighty Aladdin’s Genie…
The enchanted Aladdin section. Next to it is the magnificent Adventure Isle (we did not take photos there).
The train (Railroad) goes around some quarter of the Park, and is a great way to sit, relax, and see some of the Park. On the way, we were lucky to see actors waving to us from the road outside, dressed up as early 20th century Americans. These photos are from the Frontierland Depot (Station).
The breathtaking Frontierland, with its riverboat and mountains.
Walt Disney Studios.
There were many hands-on art activities in the Studios. Here Yael is drawing an animation line.
We captured this sunset at Paris Orly Airport, on our way back.
25 Aug 2011. © Gil Dekel.
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