I came back to the land of the living at an early hour after a restless night of sleep in an uncomortable bed next to another man on the morning of Monday, July 14, 2008. But other than that, life was good. And how could it not be when I had a day at Paris Disneyland and a visit to the city of Paris ahead of me that day? After getting ready, we dragged ourselves to the Cape Cod room in the our Newport Bay Club hotel for a nice breakfast buffet. Just like the Avifauna, Disney had a huge complimentary European breakfast buffet prepared for us – full of lunchmeats, cheeses, croissants (both regular and chocolate), fruit, and yogurt. It was an outstanding way to start the day.
If nothing else did, breakfast made these early wake-up times well worthwhile in Europe
Staying on the Disney property gave us the right of early admission into Parc Disneyland, so we decided to take full advantage. By the time we arrived there on foot, it was 8:15am and it had just been open for 15 minutes. I was beginning to forget that back home it was only 2:15am as we entered the gates.
Getting ready for round two of Disneyland Park. As you can see it was rather chilly.
Our first stop that morning was in Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant, which simply translates as The Castle of Sleeping Beauty – which unlike the castles at the American Disney parks actually has some scenery inside. After taking some pictures of it and with it, we were able to walk through it – going up to the upper level to see an array of set pieces from the film version of Sleeping Beauty. There was also a dragon in the lower level of the castle, but it wasn’t yet open. We’d have to wait until the next day to catch it.
Although it was now 16 years old, having been opened in April 1992, Lumière and I were still celebrating the 15th Anniversary of Disneyland Paris
Me in front of the castle, with vastly different landscaping then seen at the other parks. Notice the hills leading up to the castle on the left.
The castle notes the Anniversary and adds bronze displays of Disney characters
Trying my luck with the Sword in the Stone as we entered Fantasyland
We went right on through the castle, coming out in Fantasyland, which was the only land open for those admitted early. Although we didn’t ride it, I was tickled to see the new French name of the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Ride – Blanche Neige et les Sept Nains. Those French have such a way with words! Our first ride of the morning was Peter Pan’s Flight. Except for the language, it was mostly the same as in the American Parks, although slightly longer and with larger capacity flying boats.
We didn’t ride it, but this name cracked me up
With the Peter Pan attendant, ready to board
Michael and John Darling with Peter Pan on his magical flight
Since it was a virtual walk-on, David, Jimmy, and I then got on the Mad Hatter Tea Cups – with the stipulation from David that we would not spin them. I think neither Jimmy nor I had any problem with that. We all recanted near the end though and spun them wildly for the last fifteen seconds or so.
A quick Fantasyland rest
Going for a spin with Jimmy and David
Feigning after-Tea-Cup-illness on this utterly sunny day
Just outside the tea cups was this kettle. If you waited long enough this little mouse would rear it’s ugly head
We then took another ride through Les voyages de Pinocchio (David’s favorite) before stopping briefly in Discoveryland (Tomorrowland) for the Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, our final ride of the morning at Disneyland before we headed over to the other park. Although this particular ride has a different name at literally every park, it is the same old lame moving arcade shooting game. I scored over 100,000 points designating me as an éclaireur spatial – or in English, a space scout.
Geppetto and Pinnochio as seen inside the ride
Same old same old in Paris
Space Scout executing his deadly aim
We had taken advantage of the early entry at Disneyland, but wanted to get some time in the second park which didn’t open until 10am – so after Buzz Lightyear, we headed over to the Walt Disney Studios – whose closest cousin would be Disney’s Hollywood Studios, formerly the Disney-MGM Studios in Florida. I’m frankly getting tired of all the confusing name changes!
Entering the Walt Disney Studios of Paris, France
We got there right about when it opened up for the day. Jimmy and I re-created our Walt and Mickey pose from Disneyland ’07 (which you can see here) and then grabbed a Fastpass for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. We were going to ride the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, but it was unfortunately shut down, so instead we boarded the Studio Tram Tour: Behind the Magic. This attraction was lame beyond belief with props from modern Disney films like Dinotopia, 102 Dalmations, and the Chronicles of Narnia. The sole highlight was the re-creation of Catastrophe Canyon, which still wasn’t as good as the Florida version. One set the tram passes through is a destroyed version of London, which has supposedly been wrecked by a dragon. All we get to see of the dragon is his fire coming out from the ground. An animatronic would have vastly improved this scene.
Jimmy and I just can’t get enough of this pose
Big Jimmy and David are excited beyond belief to be on the Tram Tour…
…as are Kris and me
Set piece from Dinotopia. Thrilling.
This was all we got to see of the dragon. Thrilling.
Jimmy and Kris take an ice cream break. As you can see from their faces…this was thrilling!
By this time, we were ready to use our Fastpass and board the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, which was very similar to the version in California, in that the elevator does not pass through the scenes as it does in Florida. This was our last ride of the day.
Another ominous Tower of Terror
The thrills come fast and furious. David’s face on this ride is always priceless. I forget whether Kris stayed off this ride, or if she is out of view, attached to the elevator ceiling.
The Walt Disney Studios has a unique ‘Main Street’ called the Front Lot, with Disney Studio 1 as its focal point. This is a huge soundstage which basically brings the entire street indoors and was doubtlessly designed for the more typcial inclement weather that might be experienced in Paris. We exited through here and stopped to have lunch (and I picked up a couple of magnets). We ate at the Restaurant en Coulisse. Always in search of exotic European cuisine, I enjoyed the Twilight Zone burger, which was a hamburger with a potato patty on it (from the picture of it on the menu, I had assumed that the potato was chicken, but it was still good nonetheless).
With my Twilight Zone burger box. Notice the blue packets of Fritesauce – glorified mayonnaise – next to the fries. Also note that luscious goatee really taking shape.
Yes, it had been another busy day so far, but it was only about 1pm. The rest of the day would be spent in city of Paris…fighting some unusually large crowds.
If there’s one thing the French are known for, it’s larger capacity flying boats.
Chris
October 27th, 2008