The second generation of Imagineers took charge and created a brilliant new castle park for Disney’s fourth resort (at the time). Originally named Euro Disneyland, Disneyland Paris included cool updates to classics like Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I loved the chance to visit this resort in 2006 during our vacation to London and Paris. We only visited for one day, but I still loved the chance to experience this international Disney spot.
We also spent the morning at the Walt Disney Studios, but more on that later. The real draw for me was the beautiful original park. Designed by Tom K. Morris, the Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant castle pictured above sets just the right tone for the entire park. It feels European like the prior Disney castles but has its own style that fits with this resort. It was a chilly rainy day, but we still saw a lot. Join for me a voyage back to 2006 for this photo journey through Disneyland Paris!
Located beneath the castle is a wonderful touch unique to Disneyland Paris. La Tanière du Dragon includes a massive animatronic dragon that’s hard to capture well on camera. This creature may be sleeping, but watch out if it wakes up! This small space is the type of attraction that I’d love to see more in the parks. It’s easy to access by foot and enhances the castle’s story. Plus, who doesn’t want to see a cool dragon?
A Brilliant New Take on Tomorrowland
I love the overall design of Discoveryland, which uses the steampunk aesthetic beautifully. This is the world of dreamers like Jules Verne and isn’t locked into a specific era. The striking look of Space Mountain from show producer Tim Delaney’s team encapsulates why this land works so well. We experienced Mission 2, and I could have sworn the coaster was going a lot faster than 44 miles per hour. The first Disney coaster with inversions, Space Mountain includes a thrilling launch and impressive effects. It functions as Hyperspace Mountain today but still looks amazing.
The Walt Disney Studios
We actually started our day at the Walt Disney Studios, which wasn’t the best idea. This strange entrance to the second Paris park takes you inside for dining and shopping before you venture into the world of concrete. In this shot, I do enjoy the glimpse of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror under construction. We visited the Studios before most of its popular attractions were added. I enjoyed Cinemagique and the weird Studio Tram Tour, and both are now gone from a park that’s changed a lot since 2006.
We also snapped this picture that gives you a better look of the Tower of Terror under construction. It wouldn’t open until 2007, so there was still a lot to add at this point. This version resembles the one at DCA that was replaced by Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout. It now offers three different experiences with “A New Dimension of Chills”, which increases my interest in this version of the Tower.
Disney often promotes their latest films in the parks, and Paris is no different. I couldn’t help but take a picture with this odd figure from a 2005 release. We watched The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe recently, and I discovered this dude’s name is Ginarrbrik. Played by Kiran Shah, he was a henchman for Tilda Swinton’s White Witch. This was really just an excuse to take a silly picture.
The Disney Village
This was my only picture of the Disney Village, which sits between the parks. You can make out part of the giant Planet Hollywood globe on the right side. As you can see, the weather was not our friend on this day. We thought about eating at one of the establishments for dinner, but nothing stood out for us. Our fast-food lunch at the Studios is still the worst meal I’ve ever had at a theme park. We decided to play it safe and enjoyed a relaxing, cheaper dinner at our hotel.
The Disneyland Hotel
Let’s close this short trip to Disneyland Paris with this shot of the Disneyland Hotel, which stands above the parks’s entrance. I love the idea of basically staying inside the park, but it wasn’t feasible at the time. I also like the Mickey clock, which is also pictured in a closer shot below. If we ever return to Disneyland Paris, I’ll definitely look into staying at least a night in this fancy hotel. I doubt the prices are cheap, though.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this look back at our Disneyland Paris trip! I’d love to hear your thoughts on Disneyland Paris in the comments!
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