Disneyland Paris Rides And Activities for all the Family
Europe’s own tribute to the magical world of Disney sits, just outside of Paris, in a secluded spot and features a collection of rides, attractions, hotels and restaurants, all within walking distance, offering an enchanting experience to everyone, young and old. For those lucky enough to have Disneyland Paris tickets, there are usually enough rides within both parks, Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios, to appease everybody but for those arriving with the family, here are the best:
Studio Tram Tour: Behind The Magic
The ride, taking place in a long tram-like vehicle,
takes guests on a slow yet entertaining trip through the movies, passing sets, props and even some of the Disney back-lot where their bustling staffs operates. The two sets of note include a disaster scene where the tram stops next to a series of rocks; after a while, water is released, flying across the rocks at speed with fireballs being emitted from various other props. After that, the tram passes through war-torn London which has been ravaged by dragons.
Big Thunder Mountain
The classic runaway train scenario, always a favourite with Disneyland callers; with the majority of the coaster taking place on an island separated from the mainland by a small lake, visitors are plunged into darkness at the start, travelling under the water to reach the main track. From then, a series of thrilling turns and drops make this ride perfect fun for everyone. Influenced heavily by a noticeable Western motif, the ride features many in-ride caves and coves to enhance the experience for its riders as well as offering an on-ride photograph.
Pirates of the Caribbean
This ride was so popular that they successfully based a Hollywood blockbuster on it. The ride is heavily themed, starting from outside the ride itself, for those standing in the queue (it is one of the most popular), there’s enough to be looking at and time to take photos. The ride is a log flume which never moves too fast but does feature the occasional drop. It travels through the world of pirates, featuring a variety of robotic props and music blaring out to make this a wondrous ride for the younger members of the family.
It’s A Small World
It’s A Small World, perhaps the most popular Disney ride among children (and some adults), has been operating at Disneyland Paris since the very beginning. The ride is a gentle and fun-themed water ride through a series of cultural phases depicting each nation of the world, characterised by dancing, singing robotic figures. Most of it relies on whimsical humour and the music sung is sure to be stuck in the family’s head all day long.
Main Street Parades
Back in 2007, Disneyland Paris threw the Once Upon a Dream parade which coincided with their 15th anniversary. Beginning in 2012, and to celebrate their 20th anniversary, the park started Disney’s Magic On Parade. Whilst the parades don’t alter between each other too much, they’re worth checking out for the spectacle alone. A series of floats featuring popular Disney characters as well as a dazzling array of lights all contribute to an entrancing atmosphere, bringing families together to be part of the magic.
Getting the Disneyland Paris tickets ahead of time was something I would definitely advise, the look of the huge lines in the morning meant I was glad that I didn’t have to run breakfast like a military operation on what was meant to be a holiday, just to get the family into the park and onto the rides before lunchtime.
Peter Graham tends to live in countries rather than just visit, spending at least 3-6 months (or whatever a visa will allow) to immerse himself in the country and the culture.