25 ears old
Disneyland Paris is celebrating a special birthday and Mickey Mouse is in the house
As the night sky over Disneyland Paris lit up in a memorable kaleidoscope of fire, lights, pyrotechnics and giant fountains we all gasped. But the sheer scale of the display shouldn’t have come as a surprise.
The theme park was marking its 25th anniversary with all the razzmatazz we’ve come to expect from the house of mouse. It’s hard to believe that a quarter of a century has flown by since Disney first sprinkled its magic dust over a plot of land in a little farming town 15 miles outside the French capital.
And when it comes to celebrating, Disney doesn’t take the Mickey – there are exciting new parades, thrilling rides and a stunning light show.
My journey on Eurostar was a breeze. Just two hours after leaving St Pancras International in London I was checking into Disney’s Newport Bay Club, a 15-minute stroll through Disney Village, the shopping and eating mecca that surrounds the park entrance.
Set beside Lake Disney, this Cape Codstyle mansion is awash with maritime charm – it even has its own lighthouse.
GIDDY
But there was no time to lose as, armed with a pair of Mickey Mouse ears, I entered the park and wandered down the famous Main Street, towards Sleeping Beauty’s castle.
Feeling as if I’d stumbled into a Disney animation, it was hard not to get a little giddy with excitement when I spotted a giant mouse and duck greeting visitors.
First stop was Fantasyland, home to some of the Park’s most familiar rides and characters, including Dumbo the Flying Elephant, The Mad Hatter’s Teacups, It’s A Small World and Alice’s Curious Labyrinth.
In Discoveryland I was taken to a galaxy far, far away on new Star Wars ride, Star Tours: The Adventure Continues! This proved to be my favourite attraction as I embarked on a journey with my pilot, droid C3-PO.
Together we explored one of more than 72 different worlds on offer, such as Jakku, Hoth, Tantooine – you never know where the Force might take you! There was even the chance to meet the Dark Side of the Force in the Death Star face off against Darth Vader. As a Star Wars fanatic I confess I went back three times, and as each experience is selected at random they were different every time. I also got acquainted with Chewbacca, co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon, who decided I needed a few flying tips, which I took on board – best not to argue with a Wookie! Then there are the white-knuckle rides such as Big Thunder Mountain and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril. These tend to attract long queues, so visit early or late, or use the Fastpass machine at the ride entrance to jump the
Chewbacca decided I needed a few flying tips – and you don’t argue with a Wookie
line. When you’ve had your fill of stomachchurning roller coasters, you can wind down with a relaxing walk round Walt Disney Studios Park as you learn about the fascinating world of cinema and television.
And yes, I own up to behaving like a big kid, spending an embarrassing amount of time chasing after Disney characters on the hunt for selfies – among my conquests were Baloo, Aladdin and Minnie Mouse.
Aladdin was very amusing as he tackled the difficult questions children tend to ask, with the particularly cute comeback “the Genie told me.”
The new parades are amazing as Mickey and friends glide by on fabulous new floats, including a fire-breathing dragon! If there’s a character you haven’t spotted on your travels round the park, chances are you will catch them on the parade.
And after hearing the “Magic Everywhere” theme tune from the parade I predict you’ll be humming it days later.
I’d recommend buying an ice cream and getting to Main Street early as the good spots go quickly. But for a fantastic finale, be sure to stay until after dark for a spectacular show you’ll never forget.
I gazed in awe as Sleeping Beauty’s Castle became a dramatic backdrop for the fantastic fireworks display, incredible light projections and stunning water shows bringing classic Disney tales to life.
I can’t wait to see what the next 25 years will bring, but you can count on Disney making them every bit as magical as the last quarter of a century.