Now his dream returns to the lands that inspired it.
Euro Disneyland is dedicated to the young and the young at heart... with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration for all the world."
The only Disney resort in Europe, formerly known as Euro Disney Resort and later Disneyland Resort Paris, and the most popular theme park on the continent followed by Europa-Park and Efteling.
Opened in 1992 as the Euro Disney Resort, and going for an even more elaborate look (as well as Darker and Edgier for some attractions). Located in the suburb of Marne-la-Vallée over twenty kilometers East of Paris (it's not in Paris itself), France, it includes two theme parks; the original one is now known as Disneyland Park (previously known as Euro Disneyland, and later the Disneyland Paris theme park) and a second opened in 2002, known as Walt Disney Studios Park.
After opening, the resort was hated by French people, who opposed the poor (by French standards, anyway) working conditions there and viewed it as an example of American cultural imperialism. The initial backlash made the park a notorious financial failure at first, being the main reason why numerous theme park projects worldwide in the '90s were cancelled.
After the resort slowly started to pick up some steam, largely thanks in part to an acclaimed variation of Space Mountain, the opening of Walt Disney Studios Park proved to bomb just as spectacularly at first, though it eventually gained some legs after the opening of Toy Story Playland and a Ratatouille-inspired miniarea.
Despite the initial hostility, today the resort has some of the largest attendance numbers of any European tourist destination (rivaled only by Germany's Europa-Park and The Netherlands' Efteling), and has started to make a profit after Disney bought most of the shares of the resort and started the ambitious Project Sparkle, a major refurbishment project that spans both parks and the hotels and that will culminate with a massive expansion of the second gate Walt Disney Studios Park featuring new areas
themed around the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars and Frozen. The Marvel area, Avengers C.A.M.P.U.S., is now open and the Frozen area is under construction. The complex also has seven hotels and a shopping and eating district similar to WDW's Disney Springs and Disneyland's Downtown Disney District called Disney Village, although much smaller in size. It also has a golf complex called Golf Disneyland, the only Disney golf courses outside of Walt Disney World.
Theme parks
Disneyland Park
Disneyland Park is split into five themed lands.
- Main Street, U.S.A.: As in other parks, based on an early 20th century/late 19th century mid-America small town, particularly Walt's own hometown of Marceline, MO. It features a city hall, train station, horse-drawn carriages and assorted vehicles to ferry guests up and down the street, and many stores and windows bearing advertising signs, some of which have audio entertainment to be heard. It leads from the train station to the Sleeping Beauty Castle hub at the far end, where entrances to the other four lands can be found. Main Street is lined by the Liberty and Discovery Arcades, running behind the shops on either side. Liberty Arcade has a hidden gem behind a false wall about halfway down: a diorama of the inauguration of the Statue of Liberty.
- Adventureland: The main attractions here are Pirates of the Caribbean and the Paris version of Indiana Jones Adventure, known here as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (which has a 360 degree loop). It also features Adventure Isle, an explorable space home to the Swiss Family Treehouse, Captain Hook's pirate ship and Skull Rock.
- Frontierland: Set in the American frontier town of Thunder Mesa, the main attractions are Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Phantom Manor. The land also features a lake surrounding an island, which is the home of Big Thunder. The lake features a pleasant riverboat voyage on board the Molly Brown, which takes you to the far side of the island and back. The Lion King stage show is currently showing in the Frontierland theatre.
- Fantasyland: Based on a medieval European village, the land is the embodiment of fairy tales, and is mainly focused on the animated films of the mid-20th Century. The most popular attractions here are Peter Pan's Flight, "it's a small world", Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Journeys of Pinocchio, Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Mad Hatter's Teacups. The land is also home to a walkthrough maze, Alice's Curious Labyrinth and a carousel. Tucked away behind Small World are a small rollercoaster called Casey Junior and Paris's version of the Storybook Boats. Sleeping Beauty Castle is considered part of this land and includes a dragon's lair in the basement.
- Discoveryland: This park's version of Tomorrowland is based on a steampunk theme heavily drawing on Jules Verne. The main attractions are Space Mountain, currently called Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain, Orbitron, Star Tours, and Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast. It also houses Autopia and Mickey's PhilharMagic. A walkthrough based on the Nautilus submarine was closed for some time for a refit but has now reopened.
Walt Disney Studios Park
note
The Studios Park, the Transatlantic Equivalent of Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World, isn't as clearly divided into lands as Disneyland Park but currently has five areas with at least two more planned. In 2024, it was announced that Walt Disney Studios would be renamed to Disney Adventure World as part of a new direction, shifting away from cinema to immersive experiences. The entrance area will be revamped while a new attraction inspired by Tangled would be built. The name change will take effect once World of Frozen opens.
- Front Lot: This mainly consists of Studio 1, the covered walkway that leads you into the park proper, containing an assortment of shops and restaurants.
- Production Courtyard: Home to the popular The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, an assortment of character encounter spots and two live shows, Disney Junior Dream Factory and Stitch Live!.note
- Toon Studio: This area only has one ride at the moment, Flying Carpets over Agrabah, but also has character encounter spots.
- Avengers C.A.M.P.U.S.: Similar to the version of this land in Disney California Adventure, it has Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure and a unique ride, Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, plus several Marvel-themed shops and restaurants. It also has character meet and greets and regular live shows from the Dora Milaje, Thor and Loki and various other heroes.
- Worlds of Pixar: This largest land includes the aforementioned Ratatouille mini-land with its ride and restaurant, Cars Road Trip (a reskinned version of the old Studio Tram Tour), the extremely popular Crush's Coaster, Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop, RC Racer, Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin and Cars Quatre Roues Rallye (Cars Roadster Rally).
Hotels
- Disney Davey Crockett Ranch: Self-catering cabins in a forest, this is the only Disney property hotel that doesn't offer a shuttle bus (except Hotel Disneyland, which doesn't need one).
- Disney Hotel Santa Fe: Themed on Cars with accommodation blocks named after its main characters. Two-star. Has an on-site buffet restaurant and bar.
- Disney Hotel Cheyenne: Wild West based with accommodation blocks named after famous characters of the Old West. Three-star but still one of the budget options, as far as that goes for Disney hotels. Has an on-site buffet restaurant and bar. In the summer months, children under 11 can have pony rides here, whether they're a guest at the hotel or not.
- Disney Sequoia Lodge: Designed as a hunting lodge with some Bambi theming. Two on-site swimming pools and a gym. Two on-site buffet restaurants and a bar.
- Disney Newport Bay Club: Nautically themed, looking like a posh 1920s yacht club. Has two on-site restaurants, one offering table service and one a buffet. On-site gym and sauna.
- Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel:note Since its refurbishment, heavily Marvel-themed. Has two on-site restaurants, one offering table service and one a buffet. On-site swimming pool and sauna.
- Disneyland Hotel: The grandest hotel Disneyland Paris has to offer, located over the main entrance of Disneyland Park with views of Main Street, now reopened with a new royal theme. Has a swimming pool, sauna, gym, yoga and meditation room and spa (treatments charged separately). Two restaurants, one offering table service and one a buffet, and a cocktail bar.
