An American (Park) in Paris

Kim and I have enjoyed visiting Disneyland Paris on past trips, kind of like a dream. You know the place but it is different. On our last trip to France, we visited Parc Astrix with Syd and had a lot of fun. 15 years have passed, we decided it was time for a Disney visit.

There are some unique things at this park, there is a dragon under the castle, an Alice in Wonderland maze, and instead of Tomorrowland, there is Discoveryland which is themed on European thinkers and includes a Nautilus submarine walk thru. The Pirates of the Caribbean and Phantom Manor, this park’s version of The Haunted Mansion, are two of my favorite versions of these rides. In all our visits we have found the parks to be small enough to do what we want in a day-to-day and a half, easier now that this Disney location has Disney Premier Access letting us “hot-foot it into the fast lane” as the website puts it.

Changes in how Disney handles additions were evident, light theming is the new mantra. One of the new rides, Avengers Assemble: Flight Force was like being on Space Mountain except instead of stars and planets it was Ironman and Captain Marvel being projected. The Ironman animatronic at the start was nice but the rest of the ride was routine. In Discoveryland, Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune is now Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain. Originally the rollercoaster was themed around Jules Verne’s From the Earth to the Moon and many of those elements still exist but with Star Wars music and pictures being projected. A light touch change with a mix of themes. These are just two examples, there were more. All in all, we did have a good time, it was worth the visit, especially after such a long time. But I would like readers to be aware of what to expect if they visit.

Kim meeting the locals.
Kim meeting the locals.
I ain't 'fraid of no ghost
I ain’t ‘fraid of no ghost
La Tanière du Dragon
La Tanière du Dragon.
Pirates' Beach
Pirates’ Beach
The Molly Brown and Phantom Manor.
The Molly Brown and Phantom Manor.
Alice's Curious Labyrinth
Alice’s Curious Labyrinth
Les Mystères du Nautilus
Les Mystères du Nautilus
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
Inside Parc Walt Disney Studios
Inside Parc Walt Disney Studios
visiting with Loki & Thor
visiting with Loki & Thor
Ironman Animatronic
Ironman Animatronic in Avengers Assemble: Flight Force.
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Disney Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel
Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel
More ghostly visitors
More ghostly visitors
The obligatory Disney Castle selfie.
The obligatory Disney Castle selfie.