Disneyland, Paris - April 2006
So okay every family has been and knows it is best with kids of a young age. They believe the magic!
Take my picture mummy
The Disney castle does, of course, stand out for kilometres around and is inevitably the first image that tells you, you have arrived. No matter how you travel, and we flew, there is a sense of tiredness when you finally flop into your hotel room. However it doesn't hold you back long before you are off out exploring. For us the Disney Village was new. We also had passes for the Disney Studio complex.
It was still early evening so it wasn't much of a wait before we got a seat at the Rainforest Cafe. The walls and ceiling are covered with enough plants and animals to give a good impression of a rain forest. Near us was a low wall which, intermittently, was showered with water to promote that steamy atmosphere. The large Tree Frog clinging to a 'tree' nearby added to the scene wonderfully.
The cafe is littered with many animals: parrots, elephants, tree frogs and Primates of various kinds. The food, at least for one adult, the reason to be there was fine though lacking much in the way of roughage and vegetables, ironic really.
The Big Day
Where to go first? Disney Hotel guests benefit from early exclusive entry to the park. We were not in any great rush and walked up to the Fantasy Land in search of Dumbo and the first ride.
Actually it was the George and Dragon merry-go-round to start off the day. Mostly the queues were not very long, though there is suspicion that this is achieved by making the rides themselves on the short side.
I would also say that there are more staff on duty than at many other theme parks, and it shows. The staff are all courteous and helpful, and not phased by different the languages being employed by the various visitors from all around the world.
Who is he?
It's a small world
David dragged us off around a maze next. His sense of direction was admirable and bettered his elders so we did eventually get out! And as if proof that it's a small world that's where we headed next! The tune can really get into your head and stay, whether you want it to, or not.
Find out for yourself? MIDI file.
The Studio
Studio effects
The most popular attraction was the trip around the 'behind the scenes' tour and not surprisingly it had attracted a large crowd. We queued for twenty minutes or more. As they had to take one train out of service a few extra minutes were added to our queuing but we hardly noticed.
Mostly the tour just reveals old props and some recreated scenes. Still worth a look and the earthquake scene that actually plays out in flame and water is fun!
Monsters Incorporating David!
The place is covered with the numerous Disney characters and autograph hunting seemed to be common pursuit amongst the younger element of the visitor population. Many of the 'characters' took great pride in their work adding pictures and words of their own above a mere character name. David liked Chip and Dale. He still comments on never seeing Donald Duck (we did see his Uncle, I think).
Chicken Little was a bubbly character and managed to scary one child when he pretended to steal her toy. Kids don't always understand. The park has official photographers around to take pictures but we were happy with our own so we can't comment on the cost.
Wow! Pirates
Finally we risked the Pirate ride; wild but mild. The journey included a couple of drops through water falls but we kept drier than earlier in the Studio. The little one enjoyed the scary scenes of pirate battles, skeletons and high seas adventures.
Photographs do not do the scenic rides justice as they either over light the dioramas or you see next to nothing. Also at the speed you go there is no time for any detailed examination. The kids like it and that is what counts.
Café Mickey
Stop goofing about Mummy!
This restaurant is very popular and we were lucky in getting in without a reservation. The advantages of being in a small party I guess.
We met Goofy (again), Minnie Mouse, Eeyore, The Genie, et al. Naturally there were two birthdays, each greeted by the gathering of the cast and crew coming together for some loud singing and dancing.
On the last day we used the hotel swimming pool and jacuzzi - nice. Then back by coach and plane (a small vehicle, very toy like on first sight) and finally the train and taxi to good old home. Double nice.
