Turnaround

1995 turnaround

On May 31, 1995, a new attraction opened at the theme park. Space Mountain - De la Terre а la Lune had been planned since the inception of Euro Disneyland, but was reserved for a revival of public interest. With a redesign of the attraction (which had premiered at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in 1975) including a 'cannon' launch system and an on-ride soundtrack, the USD $100 million attraction was dedicated in a ceremony attended by celebrities such as Elton John, Claudia Schiffer and Buzz Aldrin.

On July 25, 1995, Euro Disney S.C.A. reported its first ever quarterly profit of USD $35.3 million. On November 15, the results for the fiscal year ending September 30 were released; in one year the theme park's attendance had climbed from 8.8 million to 10.7 million — an increase of 21%. Hotel occupancy had also climbed from 60 to 68.5%. After debt payments, Disneyland Resort Paris ended the year with a net profit of USD $22.8 million.

The complex

Disneyland Resort Paris encompasses 4,800 acres [15] (19 km), including theme parks, resort hotels, nightclubs, a golf course, a railway station and more.

Theme parks

Main articles: Disneyland Park (Paris) and Walt Disney Studios Park

The Disneyland Park is based on a formula pioneered by Disneyland in California and further employed at the Magic Kingdom in Florida and Tokyo Disneyland in Japan. Occupying 566,560 m (140 acres), it is the largest Disney park based on the original in California.

On March 16, 2002, the Walt Disney Studios Park opened its doors to the public. At 27 hectares, it is a continuation on an earlier, never realized concept; the Disney-MGM Studios Europe.

The April 2007 issue of trade magazine Park World reported the following attendance estimates for 2006 compiled by Economic Research Associates in partnership with TEA (formerly the Themed Entertainment Association):

·  Disneyland Park, 10.6 million visits (No. 5 worldwide);

·  Walt Disney Studios, 2.2 million visits.

 

Other recreation

 

Main articles: Disney Village and Golf Disneyland

The Disney Village entertainment district contains a variety of restaurants, bars, shops and other venues and stays open after the parks close.

Golf Disneyland features 9-hole and 18-hole courses.

 

Hotels

The complex features seven Disneyland Resort Paris hotels. The Disneyland Hotel is located over the entrance of the Disneyland Park and is marketed as the most prestigious hotel on property. A body of water known as Lake Disney is surrounded by Disney's Hotel New York, Disney's Newport Bay Club and Disney's Sequoia Lodge. Disney's Hotel Cheyenne and Disney's Hotel Santa Fe are located near Lake Disney, Disney's Davy Crockett Ranch is located in a woodland area outside the resort perimeter.

Disneyland Resort Paris includes six Associated Hotels which are not managed by Euro Disney S.C.A. but provide free shuttle buses to the parks: Marriott's Village d'lle-de-France, Radisson SAS Hotel, a Holiday Inn Hotel, Vienna International Dream Castle Hotel, MyTravel's Explorers Hotel and a Kyriad Hotel.

Transport

A railway station, Marne-la-Vallйe - Chessy, with connection to the suburban RER network and the TGV high-speed rail network is located between the theme parks and Disney Village. Thalys no longer operates from Marne-la-Valle train station, but there are daily services from London on the Eurostar. On June 10, 2007, a new TGV line, LGV Est, began service between Paris and Strasbourg.

Free shuttle buses provide transport to all Disney hotels (except Disney's Davy Crockett Ranch) and Associated Hotels.

The background...

When, under Michael Eisner, the Disney CEO and miracle worker who is generally credited with having turned Disney around in the early 80s, Disney was looking for a European site the choice was between Spain and France. Spain had everything going for it - established tourist industry, the weather, sympathetic government, the weather, good air links, the weather...

Paris, however, had two major points in its favour; an extremely good position- almost in the centre of Europe and a large expanse of flat, featureless land. Disney has never wanted people to be drawn away from its parks by beautiful countryside neither has it wanted anything to interfere with the theme park experience. Also, the French government was willing to 'make it worthwhile' for Disney to build in Marne la Valee. For a more detailed account of the first ten years of the resort's fortunes,

But why should you choose Paris Disney?

Basically, it's a better theme park than the Magic Kingdom in Florida. Disney has learnt from Disneyland, WDW's Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland and have created something rather special in Disneyland Paris. Besides being physically the largest Park of the four, it has a number of intimate little paths and hidden corners on much the same lines as those which imbue the Californian park with such charm. The rides are, of course, technologically more recent (Pirates of the Caribbean is much superior to its WDW cousin) and, owing to the different safety legislation in France, you don't have the illusion in the 'darker' rides spoilt by seeing little red 'Exit' signs! It's also achieved a European flavor, has fewer controls than the States (probably because the Paris natives don't listen to anyone!) and is a more up to date, intimate park than Florida overall. Besides which, if you hate long flights in economy class, then it's only an hour away!

The most compelling reason, however, has to be the addition of the Walt Disney Studios, making Disneyland Paris the first Disney theme park in the World (outside of the States) to have a second theme Park (unfortunately, Disneyland in Anaheim beat Paris by seven months, but their second park isn't in the same league as the new Studios). The WD Studios is fairly small at the moment, but plans are afoot to bring some of the world's greatest attractions to the Studios in the near future. One ride many have wanted to see there is the Tower of Terror, the astonishingly designed freefall lift (or elevator for the Americans) ride which currently features as the biggest draw in Florida's theme parks, The other excellent reason has to be the Val d'Europe shopping complex.

From the outset, you need to be aware that Disney is very much about control. From the moment you get up in your hotel to the moment you turn out the lights at the end of the day, Disney will attempt to control your every experience. Sounds sinister? Well, not really. What they offer is a total experience and they believe they can't achieve the level of experience they want without the degree of control they exert.

All Disney Cast members have to be trained in and adhere to a four point system: Safety, Courtesy, Efficiency and Show. Everything they do is governed by the order of those points. If you know how the system works, then you have some hope of using it to your advantage. For instance, be assured that if something infringes the safety of another guest (or even your own!) everything else comes second - including the legendary courtesy. However, if it's not endangering someone, then the courtesy element is their next point and you can often achieve your aim. However, they do not control people with the same degree of firmness as in the States. The parades are a typical example.

The Hotels

Very important:

Disney sometimes operates an early entry policy for its hotel guests. Any advantage you might gain by following this guide will be destroyed if the hotel guests have early entry privileges on the day you visit so be sure to telephone the park the day before you plan to come to ascertain which days, if any, Disney Hotel guests have that privilege and avoid those days like the plague!!

On the other hand, if you're actually staying at a Disney Hotel (by far the best idea, anyway) you will be given a hotel ID card. This unprepossessing little card is very important. Besides being able to charge absolutely anything you buy back to your hotel room one exceptionally useful function of the card is to allow you to enter the Disneyland hotel grounds early in the morning while they're still shut to day trippers (these grounds act as the entrance to the park as well as the hotel grounds). Disney makes the day trippers and non-hotel guests line up at these imposing gates. You can walk through simply by brandishing your ID card and shouting "Excuse moi" or something equally inane.

There are six hotels on the site and one camping ground, three miles away. All hotel rooms sleep 4 people in two double beds and the Newport Bay, New York and Disneyland Hotels offer some rooms that sleep five. All the hotels except Hotel Cheyenne and Santa Fe also have suites. Tea and coffee making facilities are not provided and Cheyenne and Santa Fe don't have a swimming pool. Guests staying there used to be able to use the Sequoia Lodge pool, but that has now been discontinued.

Staying at any of the hotels is quite an experience because of the attention to detail Disney lavishes on everything. Disney would maintain that quality of service (as opposed to levels of service) are all equal; some, however, are more equal than others. Click on the highlighted links to learn more.

Santa Fe

Basic, small, cheap and not recommended. The main areas can be noisy as well in our experience, although we've started get emails from people who say that the Santa Fe has improved considerably. Their only restaurant is La Cantina

Hotel Cheyenne.

Fantastic themed hotel, about 17 minutes walk from the park. First one we stayed in. Small rooms (with bunks for the kids), cheap but a great experience. Disney have reintroduced the ubiquitous hotel charge card facility to both the Cheyenne and the Santa Fe, a very good move, as the charge card facility is excellent. Eating is in the decorously named Chuck Wagon

Sequoia Lodge

Lakeside hunter's lodge type hotel. A nasty fire a few years ago caused it to smell a lot for about three months but they've rectified that now. Make sure you get a room in the main building. It can be a nuisance hauling yourself in from one of the lodges in bad weather. Excellent swimming pool and some very good rooms on the front with stunning views. Beaver Creek Tavern and Hunters Grill provide comestibles.

Newport Bay

Absolutely huge, nautically themed, hotel on the lakeside again. Best hotel shop, great swimming pool and three floors of extra services if you pay. Cape Cod and Yacht Club delight the palette.

New York

Good for business people, not a lot for the kids. Expensive but a little too sterile for our tastes. Parkside Diner and the classy Manhattan Restaurant keep body and soul together

Disneyland Hotel

The best. Judged 'European Hotel of the Year' by the British Travel Agents Association. Expensive, pink and right at the entrance to the park, a first for any Disney park in the world. By itself, this is a great hotel, especially in winter, when you can leave the blizzards and wind outside and pop back to your room for a quick chocolate. However, the Castle Club, a 50 room boutique hotel within the Disneyland is amazing. If you can afford it, try it. A week of decadent fawning and unrestrained hedonism can be yours! Inventions, the California Grill and the Piano Bar provide sustenance.

All of the hotels are frequented by Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy at certain times but the Disneyland Hotel is the most visited. Meeting the characters in your hotel has the advantage that you don't waste valuable riding time in the park standing in a queue with your offspring hoping to have the autograph book signed.

Davy Crockett Ranch

About three miles from the park is the campsite at the Davy Crockett Ranch. An excellent swimming pool and great log cabin type accommodation make it a good place for the kids. The withdrawal of the bus service between the site and the main park has been something of a blow, however, and staying at the Campsite is only practical if you have your own transport.

The complex

The theme park’s 138 acres are divided into five theme Lands: Main Street USA, Frontier land, Adventure land, Fantasyland and Discovery land. Disney, however, has ensured that nothing is left to chance. From the smallest detail in planning to the largest construction, everything tells a story.

MAIN STREET USA

Main Street is Walt Disney’s idealized idea of a small-town, Victorian America. The Main Street traffic includes horse-drawn rail cars, old double-decker buses, an antique fire engine, a Keystone-cop style paddy wagon and a vintage car which together tell the story of the evolution of transport. These form part of a working transport system which moves visitors between the Town Square and the central hub of the park near Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, beneath which a Dragon lurks. Here is the Central Plaza, the point from which paths radiate to the other four lands. The Castle itself acts as a landmark throughout the park, enabling guests to find where they are when Aunty Edna has just walked off with the only copy of the map. The Park's pathways are an adventure in them and offer both dry and open routes between Frontier land, Adventure land and Fantasyland. Some of these are rarely discovered by the guests, so intent are they on getting to the castle but they can save a great deal of time. Watch out for the path that runs from the main entrance to Fort Comstock, past the toilets and towards Adventure land. This route offers cover and a fabulous example of the imaginers’' best work, where they imperceptibly change from Frontier America construction to Arabian and Central African thatching.

As you enter Main St, you pass beneath Main St Station from where you can ride a nineteenth century ‘steam’ engine around the park. En route, you pass through a Grand Canyon Diorama, a visual depiction of the Canyon from dawn to dusk. The train also stops in each of the other lands from where you can explore. Trains run every ten minutes but boarding in the lands is sometimes prohibited before midday. Beneath the station are lockers where, for 10 ff, you can store valuables and bags. (Currently suspended owing to the security risks)

FRONTIERLAND

From the Central Plaza, this is the first land you encounter, a musical, visual and live action recreation of America’s Wild West. Entry is through Fort Comstock’s imposing wooden gate and fort grounds, in which children can pretend they’re winning the West all over again, mainly by dropping their sticky lollipops on the heads of unsuspecting passers by.

Rides:

Big Thunder Mountain

Phantom manor

Shows:

Chaparral theatre

ADVENTURELAND

Inspired by tales of swashbuckling Pirates and Daring Adventurers in Exotic Places, in Adventure land you can experience wild rides and amazing audioanimatronic productions and then explore the mysteries of Adventure island, an experience all of its own. Watch out for the wobbly barrel, the fantastic rope suspension bridge and the maze of dimly lit caves!

Rides:

Pirates of the Caribbean

Indiana Jones

Adventure isle

FANTASYLAND

It’s an unusual person who doesn’t immediately feel a sense of warmth and security in this, the most magical of the lands. With their usual impeccable sense of design, the Imaginers have modeled the buildings (including the castle) on the animated features in the Disney stable. If you have very young offspring, let them try their hand at removing the Sword in the Stone, between the castle and the Gallopers.

Rides:

It's a small World

Les Pirouettes du Vieux Moulin (The bucket ride)

Peter Pan's Flight

Casey Junior

Story book ride

Alice's Curious Labyrinth

Mad Hatter's tea cups

Snow White and the seven Dwarfs

The adventures of Pinocchio

The Lancelot Carrousel

Dumbo

Shows:

Castle Theatre (seasonal

The Train station theatre (seasonal)

DISCOVERYLAND

Dedicated to man’s technological achievements and dreams, the entrance to Discovery land appears to thrust its way upwards from the earth. Here the theme is travel through Space and Time and, in the process, the dreams, ideas and works of Jules Verne are celebrated, as are those of Leonardo DeVinci and HG Wells. Video polis, the Park's largest cafe, also hosts the best shows.

Rides:

Buzz Lightyear

Star Tours

Space Mountain

Autopia

Orbitron

Nautilus

Le Visionarium

Honey, I shrunk the Audience!

Shows:

Video polis

Walt Disney STUDIOS

You will be able to see what the Studios have to offer in a day, but this will mean a little planning. When you arrive, be sure to stop at Studio Services - on the right as you enter the Studios and before you enter Studio 1 - and pick up a timetable. This is essential as many of the Studio attractions are shows and occur at certain times. The following shows are timetabled:

The Parade - 1.30 and 6.00 (in peak times)

Cinemagique - every 45 minutes

Motors - Action! - 5 or 6 times a day

Sister Act - about twice a day

The following shows are continuous loaders:

The Art of Disney Animation

Television Production Tour

And Armageddon, The Rock 'n Roller Coaster, Studio Tram Tour and Flying Carpets are essentially rides.

The Current visitor patterns for the Walt Disney Studios suggest about a 1:4 guest ratio in favor of the Disneyland Park (Magic Kingdom). Although that might imply a relatively quiet day in the Studios, there are fewer attractions and therefore less to do and so the actual attractions may well be as busy. Other factors which have a major impact on the queue lengths include the timing of the Stunt show (when it ends, 4000 people pour out, just looking for something to ride!) and the various other shows' endings, such as Cinemagique and Animagique.

However, in late July 2003, the numbers in the Studio were such that queues were few throughout the day and entering the attractions generally stress-free. The proximity of the two parks also allows for mass migrations at certain times, notably about half an hour before the Main Street Electrical Parade in the Disneyland Park (Magic Kingdom) and shortly after the Studios close for the evening - in peak times at about 8.30 pm. The signs are that the Studios has not yet found its rhythm in terms of visitor movements but expect this to start happening in the next few months as repeat visitors arrive, armed with the knowledge of what they want to do, and when. For now, our advice is to visit the Disneyland Park (Magic Kingdom) first and the Studios in the mid to late afternoon.

THE PARKS

Disneyland Paris consists of two theme parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios. Disneyland Park is based on the Magic Kingdom of California and consists of 42 rides or Attractions which are among the finest in the world. The newest park, however, is the Walt Disney Studios, based upon Disney MGM in Florida and only the second park in the world to build on the relationship between the legendary Metro Goldwyn Mayer film studios and the Walt Disney Company.

Opening hours

Generally the Disneyland Park opens at 9.00 in the high season and 10.00 in the low. Closing times are usually 22.00 in the high season and between 19.00 and 21.00 in the low during weekdays and 20.00 - 22.00 on Saturdays. Times can change at very short notice and special events, such as Halloween, can mean extended hours.

Lost Property

During the busiest seasons, the Lost property folk rack up between 30000 and 50000 lost items a week. Anything not clamed within a reasonable time is handed over to the Police and thence to local charities. City Hall should be your first port of call.

Annual passes

For the Fantasy annual passport (345/365 days entry) the price is approx Ј100 for a single ticket. For 3 to the same family (same address) you get 10% discount, 4 get 15%, 5 get 20% and finally 6 get a whopping 25% off. The procedure when purchasing these is go to the Ticket desk at the entrance of the park, explain that you are buying an annual passport. On payment of the money, they will then issue you with a temporary paper ticket, after which you enter the park and make for the annual passport office (City Hall) where, on production of the mandatory photo and evidence of family address they will issue you with a full, photo annual passport.

Accidents

Almost unheard of on rides, but they do happen in the park when little ones trip and collide with things. A fully manned and first rate medical centre exists in both parks.

Special diets

With sufficient notice, Disney hotels and restaurants can provide almost anything.

Pin Trading

A cult in WDW, management at DLP hoped it would catch on to the same extent in Paris. It hasn't, quite, but it's still a fascinating pursuit.

When to visit Disneyland Paris is busiest at Christmas and New year, Mid-February to early April and July to early September, with the middle of October usually busy also. The busiest days are Saturday, Sunday and Monday and the quietest Tuesday and Wednesday. Different times of the year and week have different charges.

How long should I stay?

To experience everything Disneyland Paris has to offer you really need to spend three or four days at the resort. Although it is possible to tour the Parks in one day each (just) to enjoy them at less than breakneck pace you need at least two days for Disneyland Park alone, and if you want to include the Wild West show or visit some of the nightclubs in Disney Village, then you’ll be pushed to manage it all in under four days. The locals turn up on a daily basis from Paris, which is only 35 minutes away on the RER, but most guests from further a field will stay in hotels. Disney offer several packages for those who wish to savor the delights of staying on site at one of their hotels. These include Passes for the parks and accommodation with continental breakfast included. All inclusive packages can also be booked.

Tickets and passes

If you book a package, Passports (the Disney-speak for ‘tickets’) will be included in the price. Disneyland Park admission passports themselves can be bought from any Disney Store before you leave home or at the Park upon arrival, although this means wasting good riding time waiting at a ticket booth. 1,2 or 3 day passports are available to the non-staying guest.

Group discounts

Disney offer discounts to groups including youth organizations (Scouts, Guides, etc.) and even large families.

Getting around

Disney provide an efficient transport system between the Parks and the hotels (excluding Camp Davy Crockett) with buses on the half hour. In summer, one delight is the fleet of little open deck buses which drive slowly around Lake Disney, ferrying guests between the three lakeside hotels and Disney Village. However, if you’re staying at any of the on site hotels, it’s only a short walk (20 minutes at most) from your hotel to the park gates.

Weather and climate

Paris enjoys a temperate, mid-European continental climate. That means April - June is very pleasant, July - September warm, October - December cooler but not cold and January - March pretty cold, but not below freezing. The DLP area has a fairly low rainfall - about 19 inches a year - so there's not much call for the ubiquitous yellow capes that appear like magic in the infrequent showers. However, in the recent heat waves of the past few summers, younger males in particular have been stripping down. Park regulations - of which there are, mercifully few - specify minimum clothing requirements.

Money

Prices are shown throughout in Euros and credit cards are accepted everywhere within the resort. ATMs and commission free foreign exchange is available immediately inside the Parks and at the reception in all the hotels.

Disabled travelers

City Hall (immediately within Disneyland Park) has a brochure explaining the facilities for the disabled and a Disabled Guest Guide can be pre-ordered (free) from the Disneyland Paris website. Disneyland Paris has designed the complex very much with the disabled in mind but you should be aware that cast members are not allowed to assist with lifting people or moving wheelchairs.

Young children

Many people take young children to the park and Disney provide pushchairs which can be left at the entrance to attractions. One point: while you’re on the ride, a cast member will often tidy the strollers up and, when you emerge, yours may have disappeared. Don’t worry about this, but simply take any other that’s handy. They’re all returned to the park entrance at the end, anyway. If you really want to stop it being taken, tie a beer or brown vinegar soaked nappy around the handle when you first get your stroller. It’s unlikely anyone will be tempted to acquire one that has been so personalized.

Interestingly, they’ve introduced a new system whereby you can now take the stroller back to the hotel with you providing you get an A4 sized receipt at the hire point.

Toilets

Distributed throughout the park these are invariably clean, exceptionally well maintained and a delight to use. Best toilets: Main Street (next to Town Hall) all the restaurants, Video polis and all the Fantasyland collection. However, it's in areas such as this that Disney has set the standard and you will be most unlikely ever to encounter a toilet whose conditions stray far from perfection.

Top Tips:

First, arrive early and always half an hour before the published opening time. If the park opens at 9.00 be there for 8.30. and so on.

Secondly, go to the most visited attractions early. Big Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Space Mountain and Peter Pan quickly attract large numbers and the waiting time by 12.00 can be in excess of two hours at peak times.

Third, make use of the recently introduced ‘Fast pass’ system. Using this system, you can visit a ride and, if there’s a long queue or you just don’t fancy waiting, insert your passport and a little ticket will print out, giving you a one hour ‘window’ in which to return. You can return at any time during that hour and you’ll go straight to the head of the queue. Fast Pass limits you to one ride per two hour period but, in conjunction with the suggested itineraries you can ride all the major rides without any real waiting.

Fourth, ride during the parades; most folk line up for half and hour prior to the parades and the queues at the rides diminish sharply.

Fifth, be aware that folk will position themselves for the fireworks very early - at about 9.00 pm when the fireworks aren't due 'till 10.00 pm. During the 9 - 10 periods, you can frequently walk onto otherwise busy rides.

Finally, bear in mind that the WDStudios close at 6.00 pm each evening, so there will normally be a significant exodus towards the Magic Kingdom.