So went to Paris for two weeks, and stayed out near Euro Disney. I ended up getting an Annual Passport for the trip, so I could visit the park in the evenings when ever my Mom was tired for the day. Here is some tips and notes about it, things others may find useful. (I'm a local to Disneyland, and typically visit Disney World at least once a year.)
1. If you have medical issues (I can't do stairs), you will need your medical card or a note from a doctor to get a Guest Assistance pass in France.
2. To get an Annual Passport, you pay at the Ticket Booth but their Passport center is up near the castle. (Between the castle & their Tomorrowland/Discovery land).
3. Most rides/shows are in French and English. Typically two characters will talk, one in English the other in French. So you only get half the conversation, but enough to follow along rather easily. (The Stitch show has entirely separate shows for English vs French).
4. I traveled during the low season, so at least half the Restaurants were closed at Disneyland, but they have lots of signs to let you know which ones were open.
5. There really isn't that much 'different' that is a 'must do', for an American Disney Park person.
They have the old versions of: Star Tours & Pirates.
Relatively the Same: Fantasyland (except Alice Maze), Thunder mountain, Train, Mark Twain, Tower of Terror, Rock'n Roller Coaster, Animation Show, Lights & Action show.
Rather Different Versions: Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain.
Lots of Walkthroughs/play areas: Castle Dragon, Nautalis, Alice maze, Adventure Island, Pocahontas Village, Toy Story Play land.
Hollywood Studios is mostly Shows: Cinemagic, Animagique, Lights Action Motor Stuntshow, Stitch show, Armageddon Show, Animation Studio show, Backstage Tour (*more a moving show then a ride).
6. Things I would say are MUST SEEs, are 1. Evening Light Show on the Castle. 2. Alice Maze. 3. Crush's Coaster.
7. People warned me about the visitors (namely the french) not knowing how to que. I didn't find this to be an issue. However I did experience what a French man told was called 'the lazy french' (and he said it as a matter of pride not insult which was odd), and this attitude was despite being low season and small crowds there were still rather long lines. Star Tours had a 20 min wait (when if the same amount of people were at Disneyland CA, there would have been no wait times really anywhere), but they were only running 1 or 2 of the simulator rooms (when they had 6). Only 2 trains for Thunder mountain, Indiana Jones Coaster, or Space Mountain each with 10 min waits which was fine. (But they had enough workers to run more capacity, but they simply didn't. And I don't think it was the workers fault but the management's). Counter Service was horrid, I had to wait 30 minutes to even place an order for food (took only a few minutes later to get the food).
8. Things I kept looking for, but they don't have: Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln/Hall of Presidents, Canoes,
9. If you stay out by Euro Disney and want to visit Paris, it is an Hour by Train (RER A Line) to get to Paris. For most major attractions you'll need to transfer to the Metro or another Train/RER from the RER A line. The RER A Line is rather modernized and set up for the comfort of English speaking visitors (announcements in English and French, and nice new looking trains), other lines vary. (Personally I would avoid the RER B line during rush hour.) Do some research before you arrive if you plan on using the Train to get to/from Euro Disney, there are some great English Language web sites that go into all about the Paris train/metro system.
10. The Light Show on the Castle, starts at CLOSING. So if the Disneyland Park closes at 9pm/17:00, that is when the Show STARTS. This is very different and odd as an American Disney person, who is use to being chased out of the park at closing. Also be aware that some of Fantasyland closes early for the lightshow fireworks (I ended up entering fantasyland at the back of Adventure Land, and had to walk all the way around to Discovery land to get to main street one night.)
Bookmarks