By Courtney Traub
Paris Travel Expert, about.com
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When Disneyland Paris first opened its gates in the Paris suburb of
Marne-la-Vallée in 1992-- then called Eurodisney- many predicted it
would be a flop, expecting Europeans to show little enthusiasm for the
American concept. But the attraction park and resort has since become
one of Europe's most popular destinations, attracting millions of
visitors each year. Less than an hour's reach of Paris by a single
commuter train and offering two full theme parks, a hotel and shopping
and entertainment strip, the popular park makes a perfect Paris day trip and family attraction on any vacation in the city of lights.
Location and Access[post_ads_2]
Disneyland
Paris is located approximately 20 miles east of central Paris in
Marne-la-Vallée, and can be easily accessed by commuter train (RER) or
high-speed train (TGV) at the Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy stop.
Getting There With Public Transportation: There are several ways to get to the park from the center of the city or from the airports.
Getting There With Public Transportation: There are several ways to get to the park from the center of the city or from the airports.
You may want to purchase a Paris Visite metro/attractions pass, which will allow you to get to and from Disneyland and Paris without paying for extra travel zones.
- From Central Paris: Take the RER A
commuter train from the Chatelet-les-Halles or Nation stations in
central Paris, going in the direction "Marne-la-Vallee". The train will
drop you off in front of the main entrance to the park.
From Paris Airports: [post_ads]From Charles de Gaulle-Roissy airport, take the Roissybus shuttlebus to
the Opera station in Paris, then transfer to the RER A-- direction
Marne la Vallee-Chessy at the Havre-Caumartin station near Opera. You
can also take the high-speed TGV train directly
from Terminal B at Roissy, but this is a costlier option. From Orly
Airport, take the Orlybus shuttle to the Denfert-Rochereau station. Get
on the RER B and take it to Chatelet-les-Halles; then connect to the RER
A which will take you directly to Disneyland.
Opening Hours
Disneyland Park: Mon-Fri, 10 am to 7 pm; Saturdays 10 am to 10 pm; Sundays 10 am to 9 pm.Walt Disney Studios Park: Mon-Fri, 10 am to 6 pm; Saturdays 10 am to 7 pm, Sundays 10 am to 7 pm.
Note: Check the official website for opening hours which may fluctuate throughout the year.
Tickets and Packages
Tickets to the theme parks: Consult this page at the official website for updated information on ticket prices and packages, or to reserve park tickets direct.Vacation Packages: You can book complete complete vacation packages at the Resort, including accommodations, tickets to both parks, and more, at this page.
Theme Parks[post_ads_2]
In terms of main attractions, the Resort boasts two main theme parks and the shopping and entertainment complex known as Disney Village.Disneyland Park
The
classic Magic Kingdom park is very much reminiscent of the original in
Anaheim, California, but some of the rides here bearing the same names,
including Space Mountain, are perhaps less suited for children and more
for adolescents and adults. Still, there are plenty of attractions and
rides perfect for even the youngest enthusiasts, including classics such
as the Mad Hatter's Teacup Ride.
Like its US counterparts, the park is divided
into several "lands": Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Adventureland,
Frontierland and Discoveryland.
Walt Disney Studios Park
The
world of cinema and television is the theme of Walt Disney Studios
Park. This park's most coveted attraction is currently the Twilight Zone
Tower of Terror, which plunges visitors in a freefall for 13 floors.
There's also a tram tour of the studios and a number of attractions
susceptible to interest young visitors.
Disney Village
Housing an IMAX theater, dozens of restaurants, bars, and cinemas, a game arcade, and a permanent venue for the Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, Disney Village offers nearly round-the-clock entertainment.Hotels and Accommodations
The Resort offers several hotels and other lodging options on or within close reach of the resort.Read More About Disneyland Paris Hotels
How to Make the Most of Your Visit? [post_ads_2]
As with any highly popular attraction, some careful planning is in order if you want to avoid annoyances like excessive crowds and prohibitively long lines. After all, who wants to spend a small fortune on a theme park and then only get on three rides?
I recommend going in the fall or early spring,
if at all possible. Summer and late spring in Paris is extremely busy, and the lines and crowds at Disneyland are likely to be overwhelming, especially on nicer days. If you want to make the theme park a big part of your Parisian vacation, it might be worth planning a trip in March, late September or early to mid-October, when things are likely to be a bit calmer. Even a winter trip is not necessarily unpleasant-- it can be a lot of fun to visit the park at Christmas, for example.
