Disneyland, Paris

Disneyland, Paris

To those of you who know me, it will come as no surprise to you that my first full day in the “City of Light” was spent at Disney. The Paris Metro and RER trains are a true marvel; 35 minutes after leaving our hotel room we were standing at the entrance to Disneyland Park!

This is a beautiful park, probably the most visually appealing park in the vast Disney Empire! A company that prides itself on attention to detail, they truly outdid themselves here. Main Street evokes all the whimsy of yesteryear small town America, and at first impression my son remarked that we might as well be in California…until the castle came into view.

The castle that is the center piece of Disneyland, Paris is breathtaking in its beauty and detail. I suppose one could argue that being in Europe it had to be stunning, after all Europeans know what real castles look like, but this castle is a Disney masterpiece. After we spent 10 minutes taking photos, (coming soon to the video section at the sidebar) we went inside. Not a façade like its California counterpart, we visited the castle's interior and met the resident dragon!

Pirates of the Caribbean, the perennial theme park favorite, is delightful here. Unlike the abbreviated version at WDW, this incarnation of Pirates did not disappoint! Still without the movie updates, this experience provided a bit of nostalgia I sincerely appreciated!

Phantom Manor, aka The Haunted Mansion in the states, was another attraction equal to both California and Orlando in presentation and appeal. Something I especially like about this attraction, no matter which location it is in; they are all different yet all evoke Disney magic and storytelling at its finest!

Space Mountain, according to my son the roller coaster expert, is, without a doubt, the best roller coaster he has ever been on—and he’s been on a fair few. I cannot offer my personal endorsement, however, as I *chickened out* of this experience.

The exterior of the attractions, especially Toad Hall, Pirates, Phantom Manor, and Small World is intricate in detail and thus pulls you into the emotional aspects of a Disney experience. I feel this pull most strongly at the California Park but I must admit that in Paris it cannot be ignored; the park is very, very well done.



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