Destinations and attractions tips for disneyland paris

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

Where do Monsieur Mickey Mouse and Mademoiselle Minnie spend their time when in France? Why, none other than Disneyland Paris! This overview of the theme park's attractions offers comparisons to its American counterparts as well as provides tips for having the best time in this Parisian wonderland.

WHEN TO GO

The most popular time for families to visit the park is usually tied to school vacations, the predominant ones being summer, Christmas and Easter. Note: If you search "French School Holidays" on the Internet, you'll have a heads up on when the park is likely to be packed.

Summer ranks particularly high at the House of the Mouse because of the extended park hours and the nightly fireworks extravaganza. The lines to the rides will be much longer, of course, and finding a good viewing spot for the parades can be a challenge. If you have the leisure of getting a multi-day family passport, however, you can spread out your adventure and not feel as if you're wasting time inching along like turtles. Disney has also been implementing a Fast-Pass program whereby park visitors can pick designated time slots for the major rides. In addition, you may want to check with your hotel on whether it is part of the Early Birds program in which hotel guests can be let into the park an hour before the general public.

If you want to enjoy the park's many gardens in radiant bloom--especially the topiaries in Fantasia--try to schedule your visit in the spring. During the fall and winter months, you'll need to be prepared for inclement weather. For the majority of the rides, the rain and wind aren't a problem because the attractions are indoors and below ground. As for Main Street, the designers took the weather into account and installed covered promenades that allow you to leisurely shop without getting soaked.

HAVING A STRATEGY

As you will see from this article's listing of Disneyland Paris rides, there is a lot of similarity to both the California and Florida venues. The major difference, of course, is that the signs, the lyrics and the employees utilize both French and English. Even if you don't parlez vous Francais, you'll have no problem finding fun, food, or new friends.

The important thing to do is map out a game plan for hitting everyone's favorite rides, especially if you're only planning to see the whole park in just one day. The Disneyland Paris website makes this easy for you by providing a map whereby you can get the lay of the land before you ever get there.

The best strategy is to pick the ride that you anticipate will be the most popular and head for that one as soon as you enter the park. Keep in mind that there will be plenty of time to explore Main Street and Fantasia Garden, as well as shop for souvenirs, later in the day.

It's also practical to cluster your ride choices in each realm before moving on to the next one, especially if you have younger children who will get tired going from one end of the park to another.

In addition to first thing in the morning, it's also recommended that lunchtime and late evening are the best opportunities for shorter waiting lines. The parades are another good opportunity to get into your favorite rides faster. Even better, the parades are held several times during the day so it's not as if you'll miss out on seeing the floats and your favorite Disney characters.

WHEN AND WHERE TO EAT

If you're a fast food aficionado, there's no shortage of eateries where you can elbow your way through the crowd and grab a snack. If you prefer table service and a more relaxed atmosphere to unwind before your next round of rides, however, it would behoove you to make a reservation. This can either be done through your concierge if you're staying at a nearby hotel or at the Main Street City Hall if you don't remember it until you're already at the park. You can also make reservations at the restaurant themselves, keeping in mind that 11: 30-1:30 and 5:30-7:30 are always the slots that fill up the most quickly. If you can orchestrate your appetite to kick in outside of these timeframes, you shouldn't have a problem being spontaneous.

Many families also find it prudent to maximize their wait time in lines by sending one family member to go put the name in for a reservation and rejoin the line, especially if the restaurant is close to the attraction. The Blue Lagoon Restaurant, for instance, is within easy sprinting distance of Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril. On Main Street (which was fashioned after Walt Disney's hometown), the most elegant dining venue is Walt's. Reservations are definitely required.

If lunch or dinner in the park itself isn't a crucial element to having fun, you're within easy distance of Disney Village or any of the area hotels. Reservations are rarely necessary there because during the peak times everyone else is scrambling for a table within the park itself. Just be sure to get your hand stamped so you can get back in!

For table service within Disneyland Paris or a nearby hotel, be sure to take note of whether tips are included in the price of the meal. This is a foreign practice that many new travelers aren't always aware of. As a consequence, they end up tipping twice for the service instead of just once.

If eating on the run is your style, there are plenty of ice cream, candy, popcorn and soda concession stands located throughout the park. There is a prohibition, however, against eating and drinking while on the rides or in any of the shops. It's also advisable to carry a water bottle or purchase water from a Disney vendor, especially during warmer weather. With all of the walking you'll be doing, it's easy to get dehydrated.

IN CASE YOU GET SEPARATED

As with any family vacation, always pre-plan a strategy for what to do if you get separated from one another. This can either be accomplished by designating a meeting spot that everyone will know how to find or using cell phones or pagers. Depending on your calling plan and roaming charges, however, a cell phone can be a pricey proposition for trying to locate one another.

FANTASYLAND

The most enduring symbol of the Magic Kingdom is the Sleeping Beauty Castle. Here in France, it is known as Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant. It's also the entrance to the storybook realm of Disneyland Paris. Similar in content to the other Disney ventures, this one has a carousel, fairy tale rides for the younger set, and architecture that will make you feel as if you've just stepped into a quaint Medieval European township.

DISCOVERYLAND

This is the counterpart to what is popularly known as Tomorrowland. The rides range from the undersea submarine adventures of Jules Verne to the outer space exploits of Star Tours. There's also an ode to the movies in the 3-D Imagination Institute attraction, "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience." Want to do some time traveling? Discoveryland's theater with 9 giant screens that completely surround visitors will take you from the dawn of Man, past the stars, and into the distant future.

FRONTIERLAND

The French have always had a passion for the early days of the American Wild West. That enthusiasm is aptly reflected in the rootin', tootin' adventures of staged gunfights, a Mississippi paddle wheeler on the Rivers of the West, and a runaway train roaring through the mesa's Big Thunder Mountain. The Chaparral Stage productions, the Pocahontas Indian Village, and a children's petting zoo with goats, sheep and piglets are a low-key way to decompress from the park's wilder adventures. Frontierland is also where you'll find Phantom Manor a.k.a. The Haunted Mansion. The evening hours not only make this ghostly habitat spookier but you'll also find that the lines inexplicably move twice as fast.

ADVENTURELAND

Step into an atmosphere that resembles something out of the Arabian Nights. Adventureland is home to the Indiana Jones roller coaster ride and those rascal pirates who plunder, pillage, and sing drunken songs. Grab a snack at the Hakuna Matata cafe or Colonel Hathi's Pizza. When it comes to souvenirs, Adventureland offers the most exotic fare and best collection of stuffed animals.

MAINSTREET USA

With the exception of the old town trolleys, the railroad station, and the horse drawn carriages, Main Street USA is the only sector of the park that doesn't have theme rides. Its early Americana atmosphere makes it a place for strolling, shopping, and photo ops. At the Arcade Liberte, visitors can also reacquaint themselves with the longstanding relationship between France and the United States. Through exhibits and photos, the story of France's largest gift--the Statue of Liberty--is colorfully unfolded.

Last but not least is the Main Street Emporium, touted as the best place for buying Disney clothing, candy, videos and collectibles. One word of caution, however: unless you are planning a midday break and adjournment to your hotel, try to save your shopping for day's end. While lockers are available for stowing purchases, they are really more trouble than they're worth. In addition, the crowded conditions of amusement parks have made them a popular locale for pickpockets. Guard your wallets and purses carefully, especially during the parades when your attention is diverted elsewhere.