Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
By Car:
Disneylandisabout40minutes(20miles)eastofParisontheA-4autoroute
(direction Nancy/Metz, exit #14). Parking is about €15/day at the park.
TheDisneylandParisResortisasprawlingcomplexhousingtwothemeparks(Disneyland
ParisandWaltDisneyStudios),afewentertainment venues,andseveralhotels.Openedin
1992, it was the second Disney resort built outside the US (Tokyo was first). With upward
of 15 million visitors a year, it quickly became Europe's single leading tourist destination.
Mickey has arrived.
Disneyland Paris:
This park has a corner on the fun market, with the classic rides
and Disney characters you came to see. You'll find familiar favorites wrapped in French
packaging,likeSpaceMountain(a.k.a.
DelaTerreàlaLune
)andPiratesoftheCaribbean
(Pirates des Caraïbes)
.
Walt Disney Studios:
This zone has a Hollywood focus geared for an older crowd,
with animation, special effects, and movie magic “rides.” The cinema-themed rides in-
cludeCinéMagique (aslow-motioncruisethroughfilmhistoryonapeople-mover,mixing
film clips, audio-animatronic figures, and live actors); Studio Tram Tour: Behind the Ma-
gic (another slow-mo ride, this time mostly outdoors, through a “movie backlot”); and
Moteurs... Action! Stunt Show Spectacular (an actual movie sequence is filmed with stunt
drivers, audience bit players, and brash MTV-style hosts). The top thrill rides include the
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster (which starts out by accelerating from a standstill to 57 miles
per hour in less than three seconds, all while Aerosmith tunes blast in your ears) and the
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (which drops passengers from a precarious 200-foot-high
perch).
Skipping Lines:
The free FASTPASS system is a worthwhile timesaver for the nine
most popular rides. At the ride, insert your park admission ticket into the FASTPASS ma-
chine,whichspitsoutaticketprintedwithyourreturntime—oftenwithin45minutes(you
mayonlyhaveoneFASTPASSticketatatime).You'llalsosavetimebybuyingyourpark
tickets ahead(atairportTIs,someMétrostations, oralongtheChamps-Elysées attheDis-
ney Store, or Virgin Megastore).
Cost:
Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios charge the same. You can pay sep-
arately for each or buy a combined ticket for both. A one-day pass to either park is about
€60 for adults and €50 for kids ages 3-11 (check their website for special offers). Kids un-
der age 3 are free.
A two-day ticket for entry to both parks is about €135 for adults (less for kids); a
three-dayticketisabout€175.Regularpricesarediscountedabout25percentNov-March,
and promotions are offered occasionally (check
www.disneylandparis.com
).
