Disneyland Holidays
There are only a few places in this world where innocence and magic are still very much alive and Disneyland Paris is one of them.
Walking through the entrance gates to the park, visitors on their holidays in Disneyland are immediately taken over by the magic of the resort. Here, there is no litter, cheerful music is gently playing in the background, the buildings are bright and in perfect condition and the hedges and grass are immaculate.
Disneyland Paris was opened in April 1992 and is situated just outside Paris in a resort known as Marne-la-Vallée. The resort is made up of two theme parks, entertainment areas and several Disney hotels.
The park has seen huge developments over the years and is now hugely popular with children and adults alike. On Disneyland holidays, the children enjoy meeting the real life characters who wander around and watching the magic come alive in the spectacular shows. There are also plenty of rides aimed at children of all ages as well as thrill seeker rides for the big kids who visit the resort.
Disneyland Hotels
The hotels in Disneyland Paris have a deliberate American feel to them. There are a total of seven to choose from with varying rates so it is always possible to book cheap holidays to Disneyland if you pick the right hotels.
The hotel which is most commonly recognised is the Disneyland Hotel. This magnificent hotel is situated at the entrance to the park. The pink palace with the famous Mickey Mouse clock on the front is the ultimate luxury hotel offering impeccable service. From a lot of the rooms, you can look right over the park which is great when the nightly fireworks are going off.
For something a little more cosmopolitan, there’s the Hotel New York which, with its City Bar and Manhattan Restaurant, offers you the ultimate American experience.
The Newport Bay Club offers peace and relaxation if you’re looking for something calm. Situated next to Lake Disney, this nautically themed hotel has a lovely seaside atmosphere.
Disney’s Sequoia Lodge offers a tranquil outdoor atmosphere with the design being based on American national parks while Hotel Cheyenne is a country and western style hotel. Discover the vibrant New Mexico feel of Hotel Santa Fe or, if you are looking for cheap holidays to Disneyland go back to basics with the Davy Crockett Ranch where you can stay in your very own log cabin.
Disneyland Attractions
Discoveryland is a favourite with children and adults alike as the Space Mountain: Mission 2 and Orbitron rides keep the thrill seekers happy and the whole family can be left baffled and entertained by the Honey I Shrunk the Audience experience.
In Backlot you can get off the a speedy start on your Disneyland holidays with the incredibly fast Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith ride or marvel at the clever effects as you ride through space on the Armageddon Special Effects ride.
Adventureland offers two of the park’s most popular rides in Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril. The first takes you into the world of the pirates in the caves and caverns aboard your own mini pirate’s boat. The second takes you on a thrilling trip aboard a runaway wagon.
If you’re looking for a gentler holiday Disneyland can offer you Fantasyland which is a favourite with the little ones. Not only can they discover the famous It’s a Small World ride but they also have chance to take a ride on Dumbo the Flying Elephant. It’s in this land where the magic really does happen.
The other lands to explore are Production Courtyard, Toon Studio, Frontier Land and Main Street USA. All lands have their own special quirks and there is plenty to explore and enjoy in each one with attractions and rides for both young and old.
Eating in Disneyland
The entire park, including the restaurants is very family orientated but as well as simple American or Tex-Mex food, you can also enjoy some French and Italian cuisine. There are plenty of fast food restaurants for a lunch time hot dog or pizza and there are kiosks dotted all over the parks so you can pick up a snack whenever you are peckish. For a sit down meal with table service, there’s the Rainforest Cafe or The Steakhouse among others.
Things not to miss on your holidays in Disneyland
Most visitors try to experience everything during their Disneyland holidays. But if you are only going for a short time, you may find it difficult to squeeze everything in. There are certain attractions and experiences that you should definitely make the time for:
1. Be transported to the Wild West with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Sit back and tuck into a cowboy feast and cheer on your favourites as you watch some spectacular stunts being performed on horses and wagons right before your eyes.
2. Children love to meet their favourite Disney characters while on their holidays in Disneyland. They are normally wandering around the parks and in the restaurants and there are special photo sessions with the characters at certain times of the day.
3. For stunts and action, there’s no better experience than at the Moteurs... Action! Stunt Show Spectacular. Sit in the grandstand and watch the cars and motorcycles jump and spin on a village set. The finale, in particular, is breathtaking.
4. Every night, you can step into the magical Disney world by watching the beautiful parades where visitors line the streets to see their favourite characters go by on decorated floats in time to the music. The real treat is after the parade though when a spectacular fireworks display will make your jaw drop and provide the perfect end to your Disneyland holidays.
As one of the best known film producers, it is not surprising that several resorts have been inspired by Walt Disney’s work. But what is surprising is the fact that Disneyland maintains its innocent and magical feel. It’s a refreshing change to experience a land where there is no litter and everything is perfect and because of this, Disneyland holidays are designed for people both young and old who are looking for a bit of escapism and fun.