Best Disneyland Paris Attractions & Ride Guide
Disneyland Paris (or Parc Disneyland) is France’s version of the Magic Kingdom. This guide to Disneyland Paris attractions contains short reviews and numerical scores for every ride and show in the park. If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland Resort Paris, this is a great place to start when determining what to do and when to do it.
The guide will give you a rough idea of an itinerary, although our only experiences with Disneyland Paris have been on days with light crowds. We can extrapolate from these experiences some things concerning popular attractions, but our inferences and how wait times actually scale may not be quite perfect.
We’ve tried to keep this guide to Disneyland Paris’ attractions as objective as possible with enough description so you’ll know whether particular attractions will appeal to your group. This Disneyland Paris guide includes headliners, smaller attractions, and shows. Disneyland Paris doesn’t have a ton of attractions so you may not want to skip anything, but note that the attractions aren’t the big draw.
The big draw is the beauty of the park, itself. If you’ve read our other attraction guides, you know we are big on theme parks with senses of place. Disneyland Paris is definitely Disney’s most gorgeous castle park, with the highlight being the whimsical Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty Castle). The lavish original design of Disneyland Paris (to lure sophisticated European guests) is well-documented, as are the resulting debt problems that have plagued the park since due to its initial cost.
This is not an appropriate place to detail the plight of Disneyland Paris, but it is worth noting that because of its initial cost, hotel build, and subsequent operating losses, Disneyland Paris to this day has issues with maintenance, staffing, running entertainment, and additions. A lot has changed since the start of the 25th Anniversary last year, and we’ve updated these reviews as a result.
Because its financial woes have prevented it from seeing the type of expansion other parks have since its opening, Disneyland Paris’ attraction lineup is not as solid as it could be. The flagship opening day attractions and a couple of subsequent additions are quite well done, but it could still use some more substance. Fortunately, the gorgeous design of Disneyland Paris still shines through to this day, and it’s a park that is a pleasure to just explore and experience.
We could (and have) spent multiple days just wandering Disneyland Paris, engrossed in its beauty and details, without doing many attractions. Hence our calling it the most gorgeous castle park (which it unquestionably is), rather than the best overall castle park (which, in light of attractions, it is not).
This guide will mention similarities and differences between attractions in the US parks and Disneyland Paris where pertinent to determine what can be safely skipped (should you so desire). Depending upon your perspective, Disneyland Paris is a 1-day park or a the-sky-is-the-limit-day park. If you approach the parks with an attraction checklist and that’s it, you’ll certainly only need one day.
If you love the detail and design of the Disney theme parks and enjoy slowing down and exploring, you’ll need more time (in that case, we’d recommend 2-3 days). This guide is written in English on a site catering to US Disney theme park enthusiasts, so it’s written with the assumption that you’re a Disney fan. If you’re not, our recommendations might be extreme.
Numerical scores are on a scale of 1 to 10, and only take into consideration overall quality relative to that specific type of attraction. Dark rides are judged against other dark rides, roller coasters are judged against other coasters, etc., to create a relatively level playing field. Attractions are rated based upon how much their target audience will enjoy them. In our ratings, we only consider how well done the attraction is, overall and within its category, when experienced by its target demographic.
Top Disneyland Paris Attractions
Disney Illuminations! (8.5/10) – Disneyland Paris’ exclusive nighttime spectacular featuring fire, fireworks, water fountains, lasers, castle projections, and more. Disney Illuminations debuted for the 25th Anniversary, replacing Disney Dreams. It’s not quite as good as its predecessor. There is no narrative thread here to tie the stories together, and the second half is jarring with segments devoted to the live action Beauty and the Beast, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars, and Frozen. It’s still a visually and technically impressive show, and is not to be missed, but it leaves something to be desired as compared to Disney Dreams. We have this viewing and photography guide for those interested in finding the best spot and taking photos.
Disney Stars on Parade (9/10) – Disneyland Paris’ daytime parade was unveiled for the park’s 25th Anniversary and is a nice upgrade from its predecessor. There are a lot of similarities to Festival of Fantasy at Walt Disney World, including the flagship Maleficent Dragon float. We aren’t daytime parade people, but even we enjoyed this. It’s so energetic and pretty that it’s hard not to love it. This parade is very popular, so if you want a good view, show up at least 30 minutes (much more if it’s busy) in advance to stake out a spot for the parade, and be prepared to defend your turf!
Pirates of the Caribbean (10/10) – Pirates of the Caribbean is a boat-ride back in time to the days when pirates ruled the Caribbean. The attractions features Audio Animatronics pirates engaging in swashbuckling mayhem. This is the best version of perhaps Disney’s best ride, making this arguably Disney’s best attraction anywhere (we’d put it in the top 10, but not #1). Pirates of the Caribbean is housed in a beautiful, bunker-style fortress, with an elaborate queue containing a lot of detail. (Its queue is better than the Magic Kingdom queue, which is better than the Disneyland queue.) It has most of the same “extra” scenes as the Disneyland version, although they appear at the end instead of the beginning. Here, the logical consequence of the decadent and nefarious lifestyle of pirates is death and despair, so the arrangement makes sense.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (9.5/10) – Big Thunder Mountain a rollercoaster themed as a runaway mine train on a ride through the barren landscape of the Old West. Thanks to its location on an island in Frontierland (the queue is in Frontierland and travel underwater on the ride to get to the island) and some extra details throughout the queue and attraction, this is the best version of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. This received a huge refurbishment ahead of the 25th Anniversary, and is now looking better than ever. Don’t do it first thing–get a FastPass for it.
Hyperspace Mountain (9/10) – Hyperspace Mountain is a dark, intense roller coaster through outer space with a Star Wars motif. The visual effects and soundtrack from the Star Wars films are cool, as are other aspects of this intense (by Disney standards) coaster. The outdoor blast-off is all sorts of cool, and there’s more of visual interest than the other Space Mountains, but the ride beats you up. This isn’t just the minor thrashing you get on a rough roller coaster–it seems to strive for minor brain damage. Much like the rest of Discoveryland, the exterior and ride vehicles have a strong Jules Verne and steampunk influence, but the Hyperspace Mountain overlay is not an ideal fit for that on the inside. Don’t do Hyperspace Mountain first thing in the morning–wait and use a FastPass (preferably with a nighttime return window).
‘it’s a small world’ – (7/10) – The classic boat ride featuring the children of the world. Those familiar with Mary Blair’s art will spot a noticeable difference between this and the US version. The design is overall more detailed, and perhaps this was an attempt to make it more appealing to a European audience that likely isn’t familiar with Mary Blair. The result isn’t exactly that. While there is beauty and refinement in the deceptively simplistic, angular look of Blair’s ‘it’s a small world,’ the more “detailed” small world in Paris lacks this refinement. The sets are still reminiscent of the original and the dolls are in the same style, but it feels a bit like a cheaper imitation. It looks a bit cartoonish and lacking a distinct aesthetic. It also has a Christmas version–read about that in our Disneyland Paris Christmas Guide. This is popular in Paris, but it has such a high capacity that you can ride whenever.
Alice’s Curious Labyrinth (8/10) – Walk-through interactive hedge maze based on Alice in Wonderland with some cool scenes and the Queen of Hearts’ Castle at the end. This is a fun area to explore, and there are neat things to see and photo ops along the way. The view of Fantasyland from Queen of Hearts’ Castle at the end is the highlight (and can be accessed without going through the maze, just enter through the exit of the attraction).
Dumbo (7/10) – The iconic Disney spinner attraction. This version is lavishly done and offers nice views of Disney’s best castle. It’s about as good as this type of ride gets.
Phantom Manor (10/10) – This is Disneyland Paris’ take on the Haunted Mansion, which is a slow-moving ride through a house that is inhabited by haunts. We take a full look at the story with a lot of photos in this post. Phantom Manor offers a brilliant twist on the conventional Haunted Mansion, with just as many differences as similarities and an overall darker tone. There is more of a story to this version; unfortunately, that story is in French. This is an absolute must-do for all guests visiting Disneyland Paris, and we recommend doing it first thing in the morning or late at night to avoid crowds. It doesn’t have FastPass and is very popular. (Currently under refurbishment/re-imagining until September 2018.)
Le Pays de Contes de Fées (8/10) – Known as Storybook Land Canal Boats in English, this is a boat ride through miniature storybook (stationary) scenes from Disney classics. This is basically a modernized version of the quaint Disneyland classic, with improved/modernized ride infrastructure. Unfortunately, it lacks Cast Members providing on-board narration, but the superior scenes make up for that.
Casey Jr. – Le Petit Train du Cirque (8/10) – Casey Jr. is a scenic roller coaster through the foliage of Fantasyland as guests ride aboard cars or in cages. This is more advanced than the Disneyland version (it’s a coaster here–although so tame that you might not even notice). It’s another attraction that is simple, but has a lot of appeal thanks to the great views it offers of Fantasyland, the fun music, and the whimsy of the train, itself. While the Disneyland version offers an elevated view of all of Fantasyland, this is more about views of the woods and into Storybook Land.
La Tanière du Dragon (10/10) – This is just a walk-through to see the dragon that lives under the castle. “Just” is a serious understatement–there’s a moving DRAGON living in a cave under the castle! The dragon gives the castle incredible amounts of street cred, as one can only imagine all of the crazy things that go on inside if they have a dragon chained down in the basement. Explaining why a “simple” Audio Animatronics dragon is so awesome defies explanation much the same way as trying to explain why a mountain is awesome. It just is. It creates a certain sense of awe in guests young and old alike. We stood in front of that dragon with suspended disbelief on multiple occasions, and consider this one of the highlights of Disneyland Paris. Do this whenever.
Le Passage Enchanté d’Aladdin (8.5/10) – A walk-through exhibit featuring vignette windows with scenes from Aladdin. Certainly not a headliner, but this attraction is pretty close to perfect for the minor walk-through attraction that it is.
Peter Pan’s Flight (8.5/10) – Iconic Fantasyland dark ride that takes guests in “flying” ships above London and Neverland. Every version of Peter Pan’s Flight is different, and while I think this is the best version, it’s not head and shoulders above Disneyland’s or Walt Disney World’s. It is marginally better because of a few new effects. The simple hook of the flying ships is great, but in this era, I think this attraction could be so much more than it is. Use FastPass.
Adventure Isle (10/10) – A large play area in Adventureland including caves, a treehouse, pirate ship, and more. Since Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is on the island that’s normally Tom Sawyer Island, this alternative is located at the edge of Adventureland, with its centerpieces being Skull Rock and the Swiss Family Treehouse. It’s incredibly well done with a lot of area of explore, and number of varied environments.
Thunder Mesa Riverboats (7.5/10) – A boat ride around the Rivers of America aboard either the Mark Twain or the Molly Brown, departing from the Thunder Mesa dock. Disneyland Paris’ Frontierland/Thunder Mesa is a beautiful place, and this is the best way to see parts of it that you won’t otherwise see, including great views of Big Thunder Mountain, Wilderness Island, caves, and more. It’s a great ambiance ride with some excellent views. Sunset and night cruises aboard the Molly Brown are recommended.
La Galerie de la Belle au Bois Dormant (7.5/10) – A simple, but fun walk-through of Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty Castle) featuring tapestries and interactive items from the film. The inside of the castle is just as ornate as the outside, so definitely take the time to do this.
Orbitron (6/10) – Spinner ride similar to Dumbo; this one makes it onto our ‘top’ list because it’s more detailed than the US versions and offers a great view of Space Mountain lit up at night. Do it at night or don’t do it at all.
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue (8.5/10) – Star Tours is a flight-motion simulator into the Star Wars world with Audio Animatronics characters and in-vehicle effects. This is still the original version of the attraction, and it’s been given a shot in the arm with the overdue update to “The Adventures Continue” version of the attraction found in other parks.
Les Mystères du Nautilus (9.5/10) – This incredibly elaborate walk-through takes guests underwater into the Nautilus, with some cool effects. It is painstakingly attentive to every little detail and worth slowing down to appreciate. It’s not a set piece out of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, but it feels like it could be one. There’s a treasure trove to see and appreciate in this surprisingly large walk-through.
Disneyland Railroad (7.5/10) – A railroad ride around the perimeter of Disneyland Paris with scenic surprises along the way. Much like everything at Disneyland Paris, the (Euro) Disneyland Railroad has a ton of meticulous detail, especially at the Main Street Station. The Grand Canyon diorama is also nice, as are other familiar scenes along the way.
The Rest
Autopia (5.5/10) – Kids might like it as it gives them a chance to drive in interesting futuristic environments and large track. For adults without kids, there’s not much of a draw, although some of the Art Deco-inspired designs are neat.
Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains (6/10) – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in English, this is a dated Fantasyland dark ride that tells a condensed version of the story. It’s a cute attraction if you have the time, but nothing all that impressive. Very similar to the Disneyland version, except with a happy and less-abrupt ending. Do it early in the day. Entirely in French, although dialogue is minimal and not necessary to understanding.
Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast (7/10) – Interactive ride through shooting game set in the Toy Story universe. This is a reasonably popular attractions in Disneyland Paris, but it’s essentially a direct clone of the Disneyland version (which is superior to the Walt Disney World version). If your time is limited and you’ve done the Disneyland version, skip it. If you’ve only done the Walt Disney World version, do this one. FastPass is available, but you probably won’t need it.
Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril (4/10) – An intense coaster with a 360-degree loop, this ride is short and lazily themed. Despite that (and its placement at the back of the park), it’s still reasonably popular. FastPass is available, but we wouldn’t use it for this.
Le Carrousel de Lancelot (5/10) – Garden variety, albeit detailed carousel located behind Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Les Voyages des Pinocchio (6/10) – Decent dark ride based on Pinocchio. Has some better scenery than the Snow White dark ride, but still feels dated. Identical to the Disneyland version. Do it relatively early for the shortest lines.
Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups (5/10) – The spinning teacups at every castle park in the world.
This leaves out some additional walk-throughs and exhibits (namely the stuff in the Main Street Arcades), seasonal entertainment, character meet & greets, and the stage shows (the reason these are left out is because none are currently running), but it’s all of the significant, year-round attractions. You should have the time to do virtually everything on this list in a single day–just don’t do it all at the expense of exploring and appreciating the beautiful park!
For the basics of planning a visit to Disneyland Paris, check out our Disneyland Paris Trip Planning Guide. Want to see more photos or read about Disneyland Paris in agonizing detail? Check out our Disneyland Paris Trip Report!
Your Thoughts…
Which of these attractions interest you the most? If you’ve been to Disneyland Paris, what are your favorite attractions? With which of our ratings do you agree and disagree? Anything else to add? Hearing from you is half the fun, so please share your questions and thoughts in the comments!
It’s beautiful:-)
this is the besttttt park lolololol
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So I’m not the only one who thinks my intelligence level went down three notches after the brain-shaking experience that was Space Mountain in Paris! That’s refreshing to hear. I do like the takeoff though.
When you started with “my intelligence level went down three notches…” I thought that was going to be followed by, “as a result of reading this blog.” 😉
Phew, glad to hear it was only because of Space Mountain. It’s definitely worth doing at least once, but they really should work on making it smoother.
LOL! Actually, I think reading this blog made up for the three notches lost on Space Mountain…I have learned so many useless and random facts! With some useful ones thrown in. 😉
As far as Space Mountain is concerned, I agree that it is worthwhile to do once, but I, for one, don’t think I will be doing it again. 😉
Great report Tom,
Always love to read stories about ‘our’ European Disneyland.
Just one thing ; Star Tours really isn’t in 3D here.. like you also wrote, it’s the old original version which was never in 3D at the other parks..
🙂
Ah, I don’t know what I was thinking with that! Sometimes the parks blur together. Fixed, thanks!
Great article Tom! Are you planning on doing one for WDSP? 🙂
I’m unsure at this point. When we were at WDSP, a lot was down for refurbishment, and we also skipped other things. The list would probably be half “?” for ratings, so I’m not sure how useful it would be. Thinking maybe I’ll wait until after we go back.
Ok, thank you Tom! 🙂
The Tower of Terror in WDSP is pretty amazing. For me, it was an even bigger rush of adrenalin than Space Mountain !
You get in the “lift” of a Hotel, we are all seated and attached of course. Going up the 13 flights, they tell you the story of the hotel, the “night of terror…”.
Once we are at the top, they open the door for us to see the view and then the lift suddenly starts falling.
It’s crazy!!!
Your report is timely! My husband and I plan to visit Paris – including DLRP – December 2014. More than likely December 23rd – not the best timing for crowds, I am betting, but incredibly festive!? My / Our sincere gratitude for the article and messages, including what to expect (details, beauty, rides, attractions) and warnings (rudeness, maintenance problems.) I feel better prepared to take in the Magic Kingdom after reading this article, not to mention several [several] additional sites, which I will be combing this entire year. While the US and Japan do seem a bit more “smile happy” than Europe, I can live with that. However, I do hope measured excitement will not give way to incredible disappointment; Disneyland is our home park so we are accustom to crowds but a great deal of options for dining, riding and park hopping. (We will be park-hopping for two days in DLRP as well… 🙂
Space Mountain certainly is a tricky one. Years ago, my sister and I stayed on it for 5 consecutive rides. But it has become so uncomfortable that now I bypass it altogether. I decided to give it a try again on my last visit but no, still too painful!
I adore the dragon. I could just stand and watch it for ages. Actually, I do.
I am a European, and I have to say that we brought our family to DLP several times when they were younger, it was always a disappointment. YES we have on several occasions encountered rude CMs,this is the main reason we no longer visit, we wait and save for a couple of years and go to WDW.
The DLP castle is by far the prettiest in the lands but that does not make up for the parks downfalls, we have encountered Characters breaking out of character and chatting to their accompanying CM, I studied french for 6 years and yes on several occasions we were subjected to downright rudeness. I witnessed CMs making fun of American tourists in French, While smiling and dealing with the tourists at the same time. I could take no more. In fairness what did Disney expect, France is not exactly renowned for it warm welcoming hospitality.
Yet , I have visited Paris and many parts of France and enjoyed it. But it was easier because I can speak French. I discovered that French people appreciated any effort to communicate in French. But I think Disney needs to improve matters.
I can speak a little French (quite awfully), and I had read the same about the French appreciating efforts to communicate in French, so I always started any conversation in French, but then almost immediately explained that while I comprehend spoken French, I do not speak it well.
In addition to that, my wife and I also dressed nicely every day we were in France, including in the parks. Purely anecdotal, but I think the French tend to look down on people who are sloppy, obese, etc. While we weren’t exactly out of the pages of French Vogue, we at least looked nice.
I think the combination of these two things really worked in our favor, and we only ever encountered one rude person in all of France (a Cast Member in Blue Lagoon). Perhaps we were just lucky, but I think the better explanation is that we positioned ourselves well.
Just a thought for anyone else heading to France. Your mileage may vary.
“I think the French tend to look down on people who are sloppy, obese, etc.”
Bingo! If you look like a tourist, they will treat you like they treat tourists: like crap. And we’re all tourists there, so…
Still, many of the CMs are not French, they are from many European countries, as they try to have native speakers of several languages so foreigners can communicate. Still, the French don’t really like foreign languages or foreigners who can’t speak French like Émile Zola, so you’ll probably have to deal with their rudeness.
Disneyland Paris should be the fairest Magic Kingdom of them all but ends up as a bit of a Norma Desmond. When I first visited back in 2002 the park blew me away with its beauty and unique takes on classic rides.
When I returned last year I was so disappointed. No live entertainment, rotting architecture and failing attractions. Dispute it being a public holiday all the restaurants closed at 7pm leaving people to wander the park until the fireworks at 10pm. Some parts like Main st were still gorgeous but other areas like Discoveryland were a mess of chipped paint and dirt. It was the only time I’ve ever felt sad in a Magic Kingdom
I’ve not been to Florida since 1999 or Anaheim since 2003 but I have visited Tokyo in 2010 and it a much better maintained park. If DLP refreshed its facilities and added some more attractions (the park lacks a tiki room or country bear type animatronic show and a Splash Mnt or Indiana. Jones Adventure wouldn’t go amiss) it could recoup the top spot, but until then I’ll stay away and go to Tokyo, even if Paris is my local Park from the UK.
The restaurant situation is a bit perplexing, and I’ve heard that from others recently, too. I wonder why they’re closing so early.
As for your opinion of park condition, I wonder if it’s a matter of timing? Tokyo is head and shoulders above the other resorts, so visiting those parks and then Paris would be quite the contrast. FWIW, I’d say the Magic Kingdom is much closer to Paris in terms of maintenance than it is to Tokyo if we were to put the parks on a spectrum. In fact, parts of Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom look downright awful. Same goes for the monorails, and a few other things.
Disneyland Paris is really lovely – I’ve always thought it to be one of the most beautiful parks Disney has (although I haven’t seen Tokyo Disney yet). The dragon under the castle is amazing!! Really has to be seen– I remember just staring at it and basically feeling like I was in a fairy tale. Never had any problems with the cast members either, everyone was perfectly nice (I visited in 2003 and 2005), but I did make an attempt to speak French and maybe that helped.
Was it mentioned that Space Mountain goes upside down here? I agree with Steve that it’s much more intense and comparable to Rock n Roller Coaster than typical Space Mountain. We saved it till the end of our day in the park and I was glad as I had such a headache afterwards!
Eager to hear your thoughts on Hong Kong Disneyland! My husband and I visited for a day in August but didn’t get to see everything. Have to admit I saw the castle and was like “that’s IT?!”. Mystic Manor made it well worth the trip, though!
In terms of design, I think Disneyland Paris is second only to Tokyo DisneySea. That park is just something else.
As for the Hong Kong castle, I think that’s the same reaction a lot of people have to Disneyland’s castle. On the plus side for Hong Kong, those mountains acting as a backdrop for the castle have a certain ‘wow-factor.’
Mystic Point and Grizzly Gulch went a long way towards making our overall opinion of Hong Kong Disneyland positive.
We went to Disneyland Paris for a day in 2006, and I wish we’d had more time. It was rainy and colder, even in April. I only rode them once, but I think Phantom Manor, Pirates, and Big Thunder are the best versions of those rides anywhere. Space Mountain was a blast because it’s so intense, but it is pretty rough. I agree with the low score on the Indy coaster. That was really dumb and seemed out of a lesser park. I love the theming of the entire park, especially around Pirates. It’s up there with Disneyland as my favorite Disney park in terms of the overall look.
I love Disneyland Paris and I also don’t get its reputation. Last year I was there and I got the annual passport. I spent 10 days exploring the park. Most of the days not doing a single attraction, just admiring the beauty of the place. What they have done there design wise is amazing. The park is phenomenal. Besides that, I had several encounters with many cast members and I din’t have a single bad experience. Almost all were so friendly and willing to chat. Maybe some people don’t like the fact that they don’t smile all the time, but for me it’s not a problem. Having a smile all the time doesn’t mean great service to me. Actually, places where people smile like a robot creeps me out.
I also don’t see the terrible maintenance issue people talk about. I have seen things much worse in Orlando. Another great thing is that you don’t have strollers everywhere. You see children WALKING. A park without a sea of strollers is a different experience. A much better experience. The details put into every restaurant is unbelievable, even the counter service ones. They really tell a story and you can spend hours just exploring them. For me the buffet restaurants are the best option considering price, quality of food and ambiance. However, I have had great experience at Walt’s and I think it is a must do.
I agree the attractions line up is not the best, even though it has the best versions of several classic rides.
Disneyland Park in Paris is the most beautiful of all the ones I have been to. I think the difference is in the level of detail, which is a notch above the others. There are also many more winding paths, little nooks and areas that are not really necessary but add to the level of immersion. For this reason there is a lot more to see in the park.
I love the attractions, which I agree are generally “plussed” versions of their US versions. Space Mountain is fun, but really quite intense. It is more comparable to the Rock and Rollercoaster than the other Space Mountains. If I ride more than once it gives me a headache. The look and theming of the ride is great, but in all honesty I would really prefer the classic version of the ride…
LOVE that photo of the Molly Brown side-wheeler!
Did you buy an annual pass? I heard from someone that 3 days visit is worth for an AP since it could gives dining discount and ticket discount as well…
You can buy an annual pass. It is available on the French Disneyland Paris website (for some reason it is not available on the English language one). Here is the link http://www.disneylandparis.fr/passeport-annuel/index.html
I love Disneyland Paris. It’s a beautiful park. I never had any issues with rude CMs. In fact I never encountered rude or snobbish people anywhere in Paris. The Parisians were always very polite and helpful when I traveled there.
DLRP probably has my favorite version of Big Thunder Mountain. It definitely has my favorite Pirates! It was beautiful thing to see the pre-movie Pirates again. No Jack Sparrow and original music and vocal tracks. Truly wonderful! The pirates swinging overhead were a nice addition.
What I love about the Paris park is the fact that it has a definite World Showcase/Animal Kingdom quality to it. Namely that it is one of those parks where you can wander for hours and soak up the theming and details, especially with a camera.
Now I see why someone stated that Sleeping Beauty’s castle was more beautiful. Holy cow. A dragon??? How lucky!
Mikey I agree with you, it is a culture clash. I have lived in a few other countries and I’ve noticed the difference.
It’s funny because stateside I don’t like all the shows and what not (but I love the street performers), however I kept finding myself looking for them in your article.
Ahh, the beautiful Disneyland Paris (before I visited the US parks I had assumed that each Disneyland had a beautiful hotel over the gate!). I’m so glad you both enjoyed it, it’s refreshing to hear. I really feel this park receives an unfair reputation. I personally believe most attractions in Paris (and their respective lands)are far more beautiful and immersive than either of the US magic kingdoms. I love Disneyland Anaheim too, but in a completely different way.
I have always thought that Disneyland Paris just feels ‘right’ and comfortable. As if this is the park that fairy tales live and breathe. A refined version perhaps of what the original and subsequent Magic Kingdom attempted to do. I just wish more people could recognise that this park isn’t the poor cousin of Florida (of Anaheim).
It’s interesting to read your comments about Space Mountain. I’ve not found it to be too bad. In fact, I have more of a problem with Space Mountain in the Magic Kingdom which, I believe, is intent on turfing me out at every opportunity. I maintain that Disney should offer chiropractors in their little shop at the exit to this ride. It’s just awful. One thing I always do, however, in the Paris version is to make sure my head is firmly placed against against the headrest before the launch. It saves a beaten scull as the train comes to an abrupt stop.
I’ve noticed a pattern that US Disney fans who go to DLRP generally dislike it. I’m wondering what your theories are? Do you think it’s a loyalty to the US parks? Somewhat similar to the Magic Kingdom vs Disneyland mentality? Although there is maintenance issues and debt problems, in my several visits to Disneyland Paris I’ve found this to be over-stated. Similarly, I’ve found the opinion that the French CM’s are rude to be over-stated as well (perhaps it’s a clash of cultures) As we fly to Paris from Australia the difference in perception is intriguing.
We are booked up for Hong Kong, Toyko and Paris Disneylands this year and would be very interested in your experience with Hong Kong. Will you be writing a trip report?
We can’t wait to experience Ratatouille!
Keep up the good work!
I love Disneyland Paris. For me it’s all about that gorgeous design, which is the same reason I love Tokyo DisneySea.
I think you’ve touched upon why a lot of other people dislike Disneyland Paris, especially the rude cast/guests, which I also feel is untrue. People generally don’t like what’s unfamiliar to them, and I think a lot of Americans just don’t take well to French culture.
I think another thing is the attraction lineup at Disneyland Paris as compared to Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom. In my opinion, it’s not as solid, and while that isn’t a big deal to me, a lot of Disney fans are focused solely on attractions (I think that’s a big mistake, but whatever). From that perspective, I can see how Disneyland Paris might be a disappointment. Disneyland Paris arguably has the weakest castle park attraction lineup (including Hong Kong).
As for not being beaten up on Space Mountain…I’ve tried that, and I’ve tried wrapping my head in a scarf (seriously) before riding. Neither worked. Maybe I’m just an idiot.
Trip report is coming on Hong Kong, but an attraction guide will probably be coming first! Thanks!