FRONTIERLAND

From the Central Plaza, this is the first land you encounter, a musical, visual and live action recreation of America's Wild West. Entry is through Fort Comstock's imposing wooden gate and fort grounds, in which children can pretend they're winning the West all over again, mainly by dropping their sticky lollipops on the heads of unsuspecting passers by.

Rides:

Big Thunder Mountain

Phantom manor

Shows:

Chaparral theatre

ADVENTURELAND

Inspired by tales of swashbuckling Pirates and Daring Adventurers in Exotic Places, in Adventure land you can experience wild rides and amazing audioanimatronic productions and then explore the mysteries of Adventure island, an experience all of its own. Watch out for the wobbly barrel, the fantastic rope suspension bridge and the maze of dimly lit caves!

Rides:

Pirates of the Caribbean

Indiana Jones

Adventure isle

FANTASYLAND

It's an unusual person who doesn't immediately feel a sense of warmth and security in this, the most magical of the lands. With their usual impeccable sense of design, the Imaginers have modeled the buildings (including the castle) on the animated features in the Disney stable. If you have very young offspring, let them try their hand at removing the Sword in the Stone, between the castle and the Gallopers.

Rides:

It's a small World

Les Pirouettes du Vieux Moulin (The bucket ride)

Peter Pan's Flight

Casey Junior

Story book ride

Alice's Curious Labyrinth

Mad Hatter's tea cups

Snow White and the seven Dwarfs

The adventures of Pinocchio

The Lancelot Carrousel

Dumbo

Shows:

Castle Theatre (seasonal

The Train station theatre (seasonal)

DISCOVERYLAND

Dedicated to man's technological achievements and dreams, the entrance to Discovery land appears to thrust its way upwards from the earth. Here the theme is travel through Space and Time and, in the process, the dreams, ideas and works of Jules Verne are celebrated, as are those of Leonardo DeVinci and HG Wells. Video polis, the Park's largest cafe, also hosts the best shows.

Rides:

Buzz Lightyear

Star Tours

Space Mountain

Autopia

Orbitron

Nautilus

Le Visionarium

Honey, I shrunk the Audience!

Shows:

Video polis

Walt Disney STUDIOS

You will be able to see what the Studios have to offer in a day, but this will mean a little planning. When you arrive, be sure to stop at Studio Services - on the right as you enter the Studios and before you enter Studio 1 - and pick up a timetable. This is essential as many of the Studio attractions are shows and occur at certain times. The following shows are timetabled:

The Parade - 1.30 and 6.00 (in peak times)

Cinemagique - every 45 minutes

Motors - Action! - 5 or 6 times a day

Sister Act - about twice a day

The following shows are continuous loaders:

The Art of Disney Animation

Television Production Tour

And Armageddon, The Rock 'n Roller Coaster, Studio Tram Tour and Flying Carpets are essentially rides.

The Current visitor patterns for the Walt Disney Studios suggest about a 1:4 guest ratio in favor of the Disneyland Park (Magic Kingdom). Although that might imply a relatively quiet day in the Studios, there are fewer attractions and therefore less to do and so the actual attractions may well be as busy. Other factors which have a major impact on the queue lengths include the timing of the Stunt show (when it ends, 4000 people pour out, just looking for something to ride!) and the various other shows' endings, such as Cinemagique and Animagique.

However, in late July 2003, the numbers in the Studio were such that queues were few throughout the day and entering the attractions generally stress-free. The proximity of the two parks also allows for mass migrations at certain times, notably about half an hour before the Main Street Electrical Parade in the Disneyland Park (Magic Kingdom) and shortly after the Studios close for the evening - in peak times at about 8.30 pm. The signs are that the Studios has not yet found its rhythm in terms of visitor movements but expect this to start happening in the next few months as repeat visitors arrive, armed with the knowledge of what they want to do, and when. For now, our advice is to visit the Disneyland Park (Magic Kingdom) first and the Studios in the mid to late afternoon.

THE PARKS

Disneyland Paris consists of two theme parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios. Disneyland Park is based on the Magic Kingdom of California and consists of 42 rides or Attractions which are among the finest in the world. The newest park, however, is the Walt Disney Studios, based upon Disney MGM in Florida and only the second park in the world to build on the relationship between the legendary Metro Goldwyn Mayer film studios and the Walt Disney Company.

Opening hours

Generally the Disneyland Park opens at 9.00 in the high season and 10.00 in the low. Closing times are usually 22.00 in the high season and between 19.00 and 21.00 in the low during weekdays and 20.00 - 22.00 on Saturdays. Times can change at very short notice and special events, such as Halloween, can mean extended hours.

Lost Property

During the busiest seasons, the Lost property folk rack up between 30000 and 50000 lost items a week. Anything not clamed within a reasonable time is handed over to the Police and thence to local charities. City Hall should be your first port of call.

Annual passes

For the Fantasy annual passport (345/365 days entry) the price is approx Ј100 for a single ticket. For 3 to the same family (same address) you get 10% discount, 4 get 15%, 5 get 20% and finally 6 get a whopping 25% off. The procedure when purchasing these is go to the Ticket desk at the entrance of the park, explain that you are buying an annual passport. On payment of the money, they will then issue you with a temporary paper ticket, after which you enter the park and make for the annual passport office (City Hall) where, on production of the mandatory photo and evidence of family address they will issue you with a full, photo annual passport.

Accidents

Almost unheard of on rides, but they do happen in the park when little ones trip and collide with things. A fully manned and first rate medical centre exists in both parks.

Special diets

With sufficient notice, Disney hotels and restaurants can provide almost anything.

Pin Trading

A cult in WDW, management at DLP hoped it would catch on to the same extent in Paris. It hasn't, quite, but it's still a fascinating pursuit.

When to visit Disneyland Paris is busiest at Christmas and New year, Mid-February to early April and July to early September, with the middle of October usually busy also. The busiest days are Saturday, Sunday and Monday and the quietest Tuesday and Wednesday. Different times of the year and week have different charges.

How long should I stay?

To experience everything Disneyland Paris has to offer you really need to spend three or four days at the resort. Although it is possible to tour the Parks in one day each (just) to enjoy them at less than breakneck pace you need at least two days for Disneyland Park alone, and if you want to include the Wild West show or visit some of the nightclubs in Disney Village, then you'll be pushed to manage it all in under four days. The locals turn up on a daily basis from Paris, which is only 35 minutes away on the RER, but most guests from further a field will stay in hotels. Disney offer several packages for those who wish to savor the delights of staying on site at one of their hotels. These include Passes for the parks and accommodation with continental breakfast included. All inclusive packages can also be booked.

Tickets and passes

If you book a package, Passports (the Disney-speak for `tickets') will be included in the price. Disneyland Park admission passports themselves can be bought from any Disney Store before you leave home or at the Park upon arrival, although this means wasting good riding time waiting at a ticket booth. 1,2 or 3 day passports are available to the non-staying guest.

Group discounts

Disney offer discounts to groups including youth organizations (Scouts, Guides, etc.) and even large families.

Getting around

Disney provide an efficient transport system between the Parks and the hotels (excluding Camp Davy Crockett) with buses on the half hour. In summer, one delight is the fleet of little open deck buses which drive slowly around Lake Disney, ferrying guests between the three lakeside hotels and Disney Village. However, if you're staying at any of the on site hotels, it's only a short walk (20 minutes at most) from your hotel to the park gates.

Weather and climate

Paris enjoys a temperate, mid-European continental climate. That means April - June is very pleasant, July - September warm, October - December cooler but not cold and January - March pretty cold, but not below freezing. The DLP area has a fairly low rainfall - about 19 inches a year - so there's not much call for the ubiquitous yellow capes that appear like magic in the infrequent showers. However, in the recent heat waves of the past few summers, younger males in particular have been stripping down. Park regulations - of which there are, mercifully few - specify minimum clothing requirements.

Money

Prices are shown throughout in Euros and credit cards are accepted everywhere within the resort. ATMs and commission free foreign exchange is available immediately inside the Parks and at the reception in all the hotels.

Disabled travelers

City Hall (immediately within Disneyland Park) has a brochure explaining the facilities for the disabled and a Disabled Guest Guide can be pre-ordered (free) from the Disneyland Paris website. Disneyland Paris has designed the complex very much with the disabled in mind but you should be aware that cast members are not allowed to assist with lifting people or moving wheelchairs.

Young children

Many people take young children to the park and Disney provide pushchairs which can be left at the entrance to attractions. One point: while you're on the ride, a cast member will often tidy the strollers up and, when you emerge, yours may have disappeared. Don't worry about this, but simply take any other that's handy. They're all returned to the park entrance at the end, anyway. If you really want to stop it being taken, tie a beer or brown vinegar soaked nappy around the handle when you first get your stroller. It's unlikely anyone will be tempted to acquire one that has been so personalized.

Interestingly, they've introduced a new system whereby you can now take the stroller back to the hotel with you providing you get an A4 sized receipt at the hire point.

Toilets

Distributed throughout the park these are invariably clean, exceptionally well maintained and a delight to use. Best toilets: Main Street (next to Town Hall) all the restaurants, Video polis and all the Fantasyland collection. However, it's in areas such as this that Disney has set the standard and you will be most unlikely ever to encounter a toilet whose conditions stray far from perfection.

Top Tips:

First, arrive early and always half an hour before the published opening time. If the park opens at 9.00 be there for 8.30. and so on.

Secondly, go to the most visited attractions early. Big Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Space Mountain and Peter Pan quickly attract large numbers and the waiting time by 12.00 can be in excess of two hours at peak times.

Third, make use of the recently introduced `Fast pass' system. Using this system, you can visit a ride and, if there's a long queue or you just don't fancy waiting, insert your passport and a little ticket will print out, giving you a one hour `window' in which to return. You can return at any time during that hour and you'll go straight to the head of the queue. Fast Pass limits you to one ride per two hour period but, in conjunction with the suggested itineraries you can ride all the major rides without any real waiting.

Fourth, ride during the parades; most folk line up for half and hour prior to the parades and the queues at the rides diminish sharply.

Fifth, be aware that folk will position themselves for the fireworks very early - at about 9.00 pm when the fireworks aren't due 'till 10.00 pm. During the 9 - 10 periods, you can frequently walk onto otherwise busy rides.

Finally, bear in mind that the WDStudios close at 6.00 pm each evening, so there will normally be a significant exodus towards the Magic Kingdom.

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