Traveleye on Disneyland Paris (France)

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Overview:

Disneyland Paris is an ever growing theme park and if you visited it a number of years back then you can only really comment on its place in history for what it probably is now, will be very different. Whilst Disneyland Paris will never achieve the Dizzy height of Disney World, Orlando, it is certainly catching up with its brother over in California. The park features pretty much everything from the Magic Kingdom in Orlando and more.

Adjoining the ticket-only Disneyland Paris theme park, there is public-access hotel and leisure complex, running 2¼ mls from N to S and 1¾ mls E to W, has many attractions in its own right. The principal buildings and accommodation are grouped around the artificial Lake Buena Vista and feeder rivers such as the Rio Grande. Landscaping is well established, thanks to thousands of mature trees having been transplanted. All parts of the complex are linked by broad pedestrian boulevards and promenades illuminated at night by cast-iron Victorian-style street lamps. Loop roads provide access for vehicles which are carefully separated from pedestrians. Architecture is varied and inspired by various American themes, with the exception of the rather glitzy complex of restaurants and entertainments known as Disney Village. Nearly all of the young, international staff speak English, and cafes, bars and restaurants have menus and signs in English. Everything is concocted for the taste of a clientele drawn to Americana and Disney characters.

Locality:

Disneyland Paris is situated in N France, 25 mls E of central Paris; 18 mls SE of Roissy/Charles de Gaulle airport. It is positioned on gently undulating, rural land on the S side of the Marne Valley, just off the main Paris-to-Reims A4 auto route.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Theme-park activities, rides and entertainments suit most tastes, age groups and pockets, although add-ons and eating costs can soon strain the wallet. Disneyland Paris is the definitive family venue with traditional Disney entertainment, marred by the risk of inclement weather.

Half a dozen very large and well-equipped hotels varying from fairly economical to expensive can be found in the area. Each of the hotels depicts a theme from the well-advertised "American way of life". Room-sharing families or sharing couples may find savings. Departing guests are required to check out by 11am, but new arrivals cannot check in until 3pm.

Shopping here is unsurprisingly dominated by all manner of Disney regalia, souvenirs and tourist tat, ranging from a myriad soft toys to Mickey Mouse hats, T-shirts and videos of famous Disney films. The hotels have boutiques and small shops matching their own particular theme. Head out of the park for genuine French food and fashion.

Popular activities away from the theme park itself include: a stroll around Lake Buena Vista's pedestrian promenade; swagger down Dodge City streets of Hotel Cheyenne; circular "spin-boats" for hire from quay; giant multiscreen cinemas outside Disney Village; Walt Disney Studios, a smaller second theme park, which specialises in Disney-produced films and hair-raising rides. Kids will love watching out for the numerous roving Disney characters. 1 ml from the hotels is Golf Disneyland Paris (a 27-hole golf course). By night the Disney Village lights up with an array of diversions, including a nightclub, eateries, live music and Buffalo Bill spectacular. Hotels offer their own, often themed, entertainment programmes.

Getting to and around the Disneyland Paris area is fairly easy with the RER train service from Paris which also links with the outlying villages and accommodation in Marne la Vallee. Disneyland Paris shuttle buses from Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports depart every 45 mins. Free shuttle between hotels (except Davy Crockett Ranch); tram service; occasional ferry across lake. Public buses to local Marne la Vallee villages.

Local excursions from Disneyland Paris include trips to: Paris (less than 1-hr journey); Meaux, a large town with medieval centre; Benedictine abbey at Jouarre; 17th-century chateau and gardens at Champs-sur-Marne; Fontainebleau chateau, former summer residence of French kings.