| Planning a trip to France with the kids but don't | | | | games room for children and a bar with a terrace. |
| know where to go? Looking for theme park | | | | Nearby hotels include Novotel, Kyriad, Campanile |
| excitement in Europe to rival that of America? | | | | and Mercure, so you'll never be stuck for |
| Then why not visit Paris - not only is it one of the | | | | somewhere to stay. |
| most beautiful cities in the world, but it also has | | | | Disneyland Paris |
| two great theme parks nearby, which kids will | | | | Introduction |
| love. Enter the cartoon world of Gaul at Parc | | | | Disney's only theme park in Europe is very similar |
| Asterix or mingle with Mickey, Minnie and | | | | in style to the parks in America. The Magic |
| company at Disneyland Paris. | | | | Kingdom comprises four different lands, all of |
| Parc Asterix | | | | which converge on Main Street USA - an early |
| Introduction | | | | 20th century themed street with horses, trams |
| This quintessentially French theme park brings to | | | | and vintage cars. Fantasyland is a world of |
| life one of France's most popular comic book | | | | fairytales and is aimed at young children. There's |
| cartoons of all time - Asterix de Gaul, a small and | | | | Sleeping Beauty's castle, Snow White's house and |
| quirky warrior living in Armorica in 50 BC, in the | | | | Alice in Wonderland's maze. Peter Pan, Dumbo and |
| only part of Gaul not to be conquered by the | | | | Pinocchio also put in an appearance. Frontierland is |
| Romans. The amusing stories in the comic books | | | | a gold rush themed area with Pocahontas Indian |
| focus on Asterix, his kind-hearted and somewhat | | | | Village, a shooting gallery, Big Thunder Mountain |
| rotund best friend Obelix, and the local druid | | | | and Wild West legends all around. Adventureland |
| Getafix (Panoramix in French) who prepares | | | | sweeps you through marvellous exotic lands from |
| magic potions for them. | | | | Aladdin's Enchanted Passage to the Pirates of the |
| Location | | | | Caribbean lagoon. Discoveryland is a wonderful |
| The park is located approximately 30 kilometres | | | | area of science and space. |
| (20 miles) north of Paris, north of Charles de | | | | Attractions |
| Gaulle airport on the A1 Paris to Lille motorway. | | | | All the most popular attractions from the |
| Attractions | | | | American parks are recreated in Disneyland Paris. |
| There are some exhilarating and hair-raising rides, | | | | There's the terrifying Space Mountain, the Mad |
| all loosely based on a classical themes - there's | | | | Hatters' Teacups, It's a Small World, the Pirates |
| the Thunder of Zeus - the largest wooden | | | | of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain and |
| rollercoaster in Europe, the swinging Roman galley | | | | Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. |
| ship, the Trojan horse and the death-defying | | | | Shows |
| Goudurix loop-the-loop ride, as well as flying chairs, | | | | No trip to a Disney theme park would be |
| log flumes and other popular theme park | | | | complete without a parade where you can meet |
| favourites. | | | | your favourite Disney characters. There are |
| Shows | | | | parades in various parts of the park all day, so |
| There's always plenty of entertainment going on | | | | you'll never miss out. Some of the excellent stage |
| when you want a break from the rides. Meet | | | | show performances include The Lion King, The |
| your favourite characters at the costume parade | | | | Tarzan Encounter and Winnie the Pooh and |
| - they're held several times a day, or go back in | | | | Friends Too. |
| time to a Gaulish Village Festival, where there are | | | | Restaurants |
| lots of great activities and funny goings-on daily. | | | | Every zone has its own range of eating places to |
| The dolphin and sea lion show is captivating, and | | | | cater for all tastes and appetites at any time of |
| the Panoramix Magic Show will leave you | | | | day. Some of the best ones are Victoria's |
| spellbound. And that's not all - there are several | | | | Homestyle Restaurant in Main Street USA, which |
| different stage performances throughout the day, | | | | serves wholesome, traditional American dishes |
| in which Asterix and his friends get involved in | | | | such as meat pie and chocolate brownies. The |
| great high jinks and adventures. | | | | Cowboy Cookout in Frontierland is a |
| Restaurants | | | | mouth-watering barbeque restaurant with country |
| Being a French theme park, the food here is of | | | | music and dancing, while Buzz Lightyear's Pizza |
| course excellent and there's a huge variety of | | | | Planet serves pizzas in an intergalactic |
| eating places to choose from, whether you're | | | | atmosphere. |
| looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a snack. | | | | Shops |
| There's a great pizzeria, a tasty creperie and a | | | | You won't have any bother finding a souvenir of |
| delicious burger bar to name just a few. All the | | | | your favourite Disney character - there's a huge |
| restaurants are themed too - there's a medieval | | | | selection of soft toys in many of the shops |
| banqueting hall, a circus buffet in a colourful big | | | | dotted around the park, from old classics like |
| top tent, a Gaulish tavern and a Roman villa. | | | | Winnie the Pooh to the space-age Buzz Lightyear. |
| Shops | | | | The shops in Discoveryland have some weird and |
| You can get Asterix souvenirs in all shapes and | | | | wonderful scientific gadgets and gizmos, while |
| sizes, from t-shirts and mugs to helmets and | | | | Adventureland has exotic gifts and souvenirs |
| swords. There are stalls and boutiques all over the | | | | from far-flung lands. Budding cowboys can kit |
| park, so you can get whatever you want, | | | | themselves out at the Bonanza store in |
| whenever you want. If you're looking for other | | | | Frontierland, from Stetson hat to boot spurs. |
| gifts and souvenirs, there are some wonderful | | | | Accommodation |
| shops selling Egyptian, Roman and Greek themed | | | | It's rather expensive to stay in the resort itself, |
| ornaments, crafts and clothes. | | | | although for a real treat it is very good fun. |
| Accommodation | | | | Disneyland Hotel on Main Street USA is the most |
| Hotel des Trois Hiboux is the only accommodation | | | | expensive, while Davey Crockett's Ranch is the |
| within the park itself, but it's a wondeful place to | | | | cheapest option. The cosy log cabins are about |
| stay and offers great value for money. The | | | | quarter of an hour's drive from the park. Other |
| facilities in this three-star hotel are excellent - | | | | hotels outside the park include the Radisson SAS, |
| there's a cosy lounge with a roaring fireplace, a | | | | Kyriad, Holiday Inn and Pierre et Vacances Hotel. |