Welcome to those of you joining me from The Magical Mouse Pad and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the final stop on our Magical Blogorail.
When I found out that this month's topic was about Disneyland Paris, I started mentally cursing my traveling companions from The Great Study Abroad Adventure, who refused to go to Disneyland Paris when I suggested we make it a day trip during our weekend there. (We went champagne tasting instead. It was awesome. Not that DLP wouldn't have been awesome. But champagne. In France. C'mon!) However, my sister, the fabulous
@bonjourmelissa, was able to talk her traveling companion into going during HER Great Study Abroad Adventure. So I thought I'd ask her a few questions about her experience so I could live vicariously through her:
Zut alors! I have never been to Disneyland Paris! What should I do first?
Grab a fast pass, of course! Just like in WDW, traffic splits between Space Mountain and Big Thunder. But head toward Discoveryland (their Tomorrowland) because Disneyland Paris' Space Mountain is different than the WDW version we know and love in America. Space Mountain: Mission 2 goes upside down! And it's totally awesome! Sort of like an inter-galactic Rockin' Roller Coaster. Now, if you do the extra magic hours and head here first, you will get on in no time. In fact, my friend (who didn't like upside down coasters) and I got on so fast, that we missed all the warnings (which include written signs and videos that play in French and English) clearly stating that the ride "includes sharps twists and turns and 360 degree inversions." When we boarded, I saw the shoulder restraints and thought, "That's weird, maybe they're just really into safety here?" Whoops! On the plus side, my friend loved it and now goes on upside down coasters. Score one for Disney magic!
If you have small children who can't ride the coasters, Peter Pan's Flight never has a wait time under 60 minutes (which continues to baffle me since it's a continuously moving ride!), and Buzz Lightyear got up to a wait time of 75 minutes when I was there. So I would grab Fast Passes to one of those right off the bat.
What is the best ride there?
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| Vive Les Etats-Unis! |
I enjoyed Space Mountain: Mission 2, but I have to say their It's a Small World is adorable! The queue features flags with different ways to say hello, and has a big "Happiest Cruise to Ever Sail 'Round The World" in the front. Not to mention, the Europe section inside is much more extensive. And the America section is hilarious! It's the last part of the ride, and includes some pretty awesome stereotypes. For the western section: there's a cowboy, with an Oregon Trail-inspired wagon, roasting marshmallows by a fire with his horse and a smiling cactus. Then, there are some farmers and Native Americans. On the other side, the Golden Gate bridge, with an NYC taxi cab on it and the Hollywood sign behind it. Classic. Lastly, before entering the finale room, you see a football player and a baseball player, with a sign overhead that simply reads" Rah!" It. Is. Awesome.
I am a silly American. Do they speak English in Disneyland Paris?
But of course! The great thing about Disneyland Paris is that they're used to guests from all over Europe, so they're used to interacting with people who aren't French. Most rides are in English, with a few exceptions. They have a Pinocchio ride, Le Voyages de Pinocchio (which is set up like a Peter Pan/Snow White sort of deal). It is en francais, and made me realize I really don't remember anything that happened in that movie except for the whole swallowed-by-whale part. And in Disneyland Paris, it's "Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains," not Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Also, both Disneyland Park and Walt Dinsey Studios Park have big boards near the entrances to tell guests which attractions are in English, which are in French, and which have multiple language options. Some attractions even alternate languages throughout the day.
Also, Disneyland Paris is crazy organized. When you check in, the manager asks you what language you speak, writes your answer on your confirmation sheet, and puts you in a specific line. At the end of that line is a cast member, who speaks at least 3 different languages. Above the cast member is a sign denoting which languages they speak. You hand them the sheet, and they begin speaking to you in the language noted. And they work fast. I've never seen a line move that quickly. You get your tickets, which are Park Hoppers since the parks are right next to each other, and you sign up for the continental breakfast. You must go at a specific time (this would never work in America), so they give you a few options and the choice of eating at the hotel or in the park. It's really efficient, and perfectly organized.
Is there anything I should avoid?
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| Je n'aime pas du peril. |
If you are short, I would not recommend the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril coaster. It's an upside-down coaster, which I believe only has one loop. It's hard to recall because my head got banged around so much. The seats are literally meant for giants and if you're not Kareem Abdul Jabar, chances are your head will not end up where it is supposed to. Plus it's a jerky ride to begin with. My head did not even come close to reaching the head rest area, and no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't manage to keep it from slamming into the seat. I've never had that problem on a coaster before, but I've heard the version in California has the same issue.
In terms of culture, even though everyone speaks English, it's polite to not assume that. Approach cast members with a "bonjour" before you break out the English because you are still in France. But generally speaking, they can tell you're not French and will address you in English.
Which characters are you most likely to see roaming around?
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| Six-Deux-Six |
Stitch. And I don't know why because he's not French. But he was everywhere - and always in some weird costume. He even partakes in this odd, 80's-inspired hip-hop dance party. Our hotel also had character meet-and-greets in the lobby everyday with either Mickey, Goofy, or Pluto. Over in Walt Disney Studios, you can sometimes catch Remy talking to people on a cheese plate. Also, since Disneyland Paris is home to Sleeping Beauty's Castle, you can also find Maleficent roaming around. And I must say, she continues to scare the begeebees out of me!
Do Europeans love turkey legs as much as Americans do?
Thankfully, no. Let's be honest, Europeans are far too civilized to gnaw on a turkey bone in public. But they do love hot dogs. There are hot dog stands everywhere, and there's a Casey's on Main Street. And I recommend the Kettle Corn. It's delicious. So much so that a cast member in the Pirates of the Caribbean queue tried to pillage and plunder mine from me. Not cool.
How do you say "Dole Whip" in French?
Sadly, you don't. They don't have an Aloha Isle (at least I didn't see one, so I will be tres triste if I missed it). Instead, they have Mickey brioche and croque-monsieurs. And some seriously tasty chocolate du pain (I actually bought a bunch to take with me to our next stop).
You know me pretty well. What will I be most excited by?
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| C'est awesome. |
Disney World Studios is still in love with
Armageddon, which just happens to be one of your favorite films
[Ed. Note: This is true. Don't judge me.]. There are giant movie posters all over the park, and it even has its own special effects attraction. Michael Clarke Duncan (dubbed in French by some guy with a much higher register - with English, German, and Spanish subtitles on separate screens) introduces you to the world of Michael Bay/Jerry Bruckheimer awesomeness. Then a cast member takes you inside this weird chamber thing and you recreate the special effects used in the scene on the space station where everything breaks. It's awkward and awesome at the same time.
Which is better - the croissants in Europe France or the croissants in Epcot France?
You will not starve in Disneyland Paris, particularly if you stay on property where there is continental breakfast. And not American continental breakfast, with English muffins and Fruit Loops. I mean the works. They have cereal, breads, meats, pastries, coffee, tea, and juices galore. And the pain du chocolates (chocolate croissants) are AMAZING. Better than the ones I ate in Paris. And while I do enjoy the Epcot patisserie, it pains me to say their croissants are simply not as buttery. I should also note, this amazing, free breakfast can be consumed either at your hotel or in the park. That's right, in the park. What a magical way to start your day!
Any words of wisdom for readers who are thinking about visiting Disneyland Paris?
You definitely do not need to spend days on end here. There are only the two parks, and a Downtown Disney type place. The parks are literally next door to each other, so you can walk from one to the next in a matter of 5 minutes. They're also much smaller than the WDW parks, so there is less to do. And like I said, it's worth it to stay on property and enjoy a free breakfast that is both hearty and delicious. So if you're thinking about it, you should definitely go! Plus, it's only a 45 minute train ride from Paris, so why not add a little pixie dust to your trip?
Thank you for joining Magical Blogorail Black this month. We will be back December 13th with an all new theme. Keep checking in with our blogs in between loops to keep up to date with our Disney news, photos and stories. If you are looking for more Disney magic, you can make your way over to The Magical Blogorail website to see all our members and their blogs, as well as all our previous loops.
Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:
1st Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog
2nd Stop ~ Mommy Mouseketeer
3rd Stop ~ Delightfully Disney
4th Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad
Final Stop ~ The Disney Chick
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Gimme More!
* Better Know a Disney Fan: Interview with Mouse of Zen
* Segway Tours in WDW: This is How I Roll
* The Most Memorable Meal I Ever Had in WDW
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