Disneyland Park (Paris)

For other uses, see Disneyland (disambiguation).
Disneyland Park (Paris)
Previously known as Euro Disneyland Park
Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park
Location Disneyland Paris, Marne-la-Vallée, Paris, France
Coordinates 48.872608°N 2.776747°E / 48.872608; 2.776747
Status Operating
Opened 12 April 1992
Owner The Walt Disney Company
Operated by Euro Disneyland Participations S.A.S.
(Disney Experiences)
Theme Fairy tales, Disney characters and other experiences
Website Official website

Disneyland Park, originally Euro Disneyland Park, is a theme park found at Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, France. The park opened on 12 April 1992 as the first of the two parks built at the resort. Designed and built by Walt Disney Imagineering, its layout is similar to Disneyland Park in California and Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World in Florida. Spanning 56.656 ha (140 acres)—the second largest Disney park based on the original, after Shanghai Disneyland Park—it is dedicated to fairy tales and Disney characters.

In 2016, the park hosted approximately 8.4 million visitors, making it the most-visited theme park in Europe and the 13th-most visited theme park in the world. The park is represented by Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty Castle), a replica of the fairy tale castle seen in Disney's 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty.

History

In order to make things more distinct and not be a mere copy of the original, modifications were made to the park's concepts and designs. Among the changes was the change of Tomorrowland to Discoveryland, giving the area a retrofuturistic theme. Other altered elements include the Haunted Mansion, which was redesigned as Phantom Manor and a retro, more intense version of Space Mountain (now Hyperspace Mountain). The park's location brought forth its own challenges. Sleeping Beauty Castle (Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant) is said by its designers to have been necessarily reevaluated for a continent on which authentic castles stand. Modifications to the park were made to protect against changes in weather in the Parisian climate. Covered walkways referred to as "arcades" were added, and Michael Eisner ordered the installation of 35 fireplaces in hotels and restaurants.

The park, as well as its surrounding complex, initially failed to meet financial expectations, resulting in an image change in which the word "Euro" was phased out of several names, including Euro Disney. The park was known as Euro Disney until May 1994, Euro Disneyland Paris until September 1994, Disneyland Paris until February 2002, and Disneyland Park (English) and Parc Disneyland (French) since March 2002.

Michael Eisner noted, "As Americans, the word 'Euro' is believed to mean glamorous or exciting. For Europeans it turned out to be a term they associated with business, currency, and commerce. Renaming the park 'Disneyland Paris' was a way of identifying it with one of the most romantic and exciting cities in the world."

On 14 March 2020, Disneyland Park, alongside the Walt Disney Studios Park, was temporarily closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Both parks remained closed for four months, resuming operations on 15 July with strict rules such as limited guest attendance, social distancing, and mandatory wearing of face masks. The park closed again on 29 October 2020 following a second nationwide lockdown. The park reopened in 17 June 2021.

Park layout and attractions

Main article: List of Disneyland Park (Paris) attractions

Disneyland Park is divided into five themed "lands", which house 49 attractions. Designed like a wheel with the hub on Central Plaza before Sleeping Beauty Castle, pathways spoke out across the 140 acres (57 ha) of the park and lead to the lands. The 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge Disneyland Railroad runs along the perimeter of the park and stops in Main Street, U.S.A., Frontierland, Fantasyland and Discoveryland.

Themed Land Picture Notes
Main Street, U.S.A. Main Street USA serves as the main entrance boulevard into the park and is themed after early-20th-century small-town America, inspired by Walt Disney's hometown of Marceline, Missouri, complete with a train station and Victorian architecture. The street terminates at the central hub of the park with Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Frontierland Frontierland is themed after the 19th century American Old West mining town of Thunder Mesa. Features include desert and wilderness landscaping, large rock formations, a river, and frontier architecture.
Adventureland Adventureland is themed to recreate the feel of the Caribbean, the Middle East Africa and India. Lush landscaping is abundant throughout the land to give visitors the impression of being in a remote jungle.
Fantasyland Sleeping Beauty Castle serves as the main entrance to Fantasyland, which is themed after a storybook village taking many architectural traits from various European villages.
Discoveryland Discoveryland is themed after the visions of famed European thinkers and explorers such as Leonardo da Vinci, HG Wells, or Jules Verne.

Main Street, U.S.A.

Main article: Main Street, U.S.A.

Frontierland

Main article: Frontierland

Adventureland

Main article: Adventureland

Fantasyland

Main article: Fantasyland

Discoveryland

Main article: Tomorrowland

Attendance

  • 2008 – 12,688,000
  • 2009 – 12,740,000
  • 2010 – 10,500,000
  • 2011 – 10,990,000
  • 2012 – 11,500,000
  • 2013 – 10,430,000
  • 2014 – 9,940,000
  • 2015 – 10,360,000
  • 2016 – 8,400,000
  • 2017 – 9,660,000
  • 2018 – 9,843,000
  • 2019 – 9,745,000
  • 2020 – 2,620,000
  • 2021 - 3,500,000

Top 3 amusement parks in Europe of annual attendance

blue Efteling
red Disneyland Paris
yellow Europa-Park

Shows and parades

Disneyland Park hosts a range of daytime and nighttime entertainment throughout the year.

Current

Parades

Daytime shows

  • Rhythms of the Pride Lands: 2019–2020, 2022–present

Nighttime shows

  • Disney Dreams!: 2012-2017, 2023–present
  • Mickey's Goodnight Kiss: 2017–2018, 2021–present

Events & seasonal shows

  • Early Season (Jan - March of current year)
    • Taken up by 30th Anniversary celebrations
  • Spring Season (2023)
    • Taken up by 30th Anniversary celebrations
  • Summer Season (2023)
    • Taken up by 30th Anniversary celebrations
  • Halloween Season (2023)
    • Mickey's Halloween Celebration: 2013–2016, 2018–present
  • Christmas Season (2023)
  • Halloween Party
    • Now part of main season (2023 season - Present).
  • New Years eve Party (2022)
    • Disney's New Year's Eve Parade: 2017–present
    • Sparkling New Year's Eve Fireworks: 1992–present

Anniversary Specific Celebrations & Events

  • None currently open. 30th Anniversary celebrations ended 30 September 2023, as part of The Walt Disney Company's 100th Anniversary celebration.
  • Disney Symphony of Colours (Opening on January 8, 2024)
    • Disney Electrical Sky Parade (Nighttime shows pre-show; Opening January 8, 2024)
    • A Million Splashes of Colour (daytime shows; Opening on February 10, 2024)
    • Blooming in Colours: a journey into fairy worlds! (Opening on February 10, 2024)

Retired

Parades

  • Disney Magic on Parade (2012–2017)
  • Disney's Once Upon a Dream Parade (2007–2012)
  • Disney's Fantillusion (Nighttime Parade 2003–2012)
  • Disney ImagiNations Parade (1999–2001)
  • The Wonderful World of Disney Parade (1998–1999 and 2001–2007)
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame Carnival (1997–1998)
  • Main Street Electrical Parade (Nighttime Parade 1992–2003)
  • Disney Classics Parade (1992–1997)

Daytime shows

  • The Forest of enchantment: A Disney Musical Adventure (Feb-May 2016 & Jul-Sept 2017)
  • Jedi Training Academy (2015–2017)
  • Chantons La Reine des Neiges - Frozen Sing-Along (2015-2018)
  • Tarzan: The Encounter (2000-2008, 2011-2012)
  • Winnie the Pooh and Friends, too (1998-2005, 2006-2011)
  • Mulan, la Légende (1999-2002)
  • Beauty and the Beast (1992-1996)

Nighttime shows

Train parades

  • Minnie's Little Spring Train (2015 - 2016)
  • Disney's 20th Anniversary Celebration Train (2012–2013)
  • Disney Dance Express (2011–2012)
  • Disney All Stars Express (2010–2011)
  • Minnie's Party Train (2009–2010)
  • Disney Characters Express (2007–2009)

Events & seasonal shows (Most recently retired)

  • Spring season
    • Festival of Pirates & Princesses (Spring 2018 and Jan - March 2019)
  • Summer Season
    • The Lion King & Jungle Festival (2019–2020)
      • Jungle Book Jive (2019–2020)
  • Halloween Season
    • Are You Brave Enough? (2019)
  • Christmas Season
    • Royal Sparkling Christmas Waltz (2019–2020)
    • Mickey's Magical Christmas Lights (2015–2020)
    • Disney's Christmas Parade (2012–2019)

Anniversary Specific Celebrations & Events

  • 25th Anniversary (2017 - 2018)
    • The Starlit Princess Waltz (2017 – 2018)
    • Mickey Presents Happy Anniversary Disneyland Paris (2017 – 2018)
  • 30th Anniversary & 30th Anniversary Grand Finale (2022 - September 2023)
    • Dream... and shine brighter (2022 - 2023)
    • Disney D-light (v1.0: 2022 - 11 April 2023, v2.0: 12 April - 29th September 2023, 'Final day' version 30 September 2023 only)

See also