While it has wonderful hotels, shopping and food, there’s no doubt the main draw of Disneyland Paris is the two theme parks. And when people think of Disneyland Paris, chances are they picture the dreaming spires of the castle in Disneyland Parc. So here’s an overview of Disneyland Parc – it’s history, what there is to do there, and more!

History

Disneyland Parc is the original of the two theme parks in Disneyland Paris, opening back in 1992. Its opening wasn’t without controversy! Being modelled on the Disney castle theme parks elsewhere, notably at Anaheim and Orlando, there was a lot of concern about the ‘Americanisation’ of French culture.

To respond to this, the park was designed to have an undoubtedly European flair, nodding not only to US history but the heritage in Europe that inspired many of the stories that Disney are now known for – Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and more. The result is a park that’s widely held as being the most beautiful of the Disney castle parks, with a strong attention to detail that encourages people to sit and savour (as well as stampede to the next big attraction!).

The park hasn’t been without its issues. It’s well known that Disneyland Paris (then called Eurodisney) struggled in its early years, the financial repercussions of which had big impacts elsewhere in the Disney sphere. The park did also use to suffer a bit with a lack of updates and maintenance, but since Disney Parks took over the full operation many of the classic attractions have had updates and upgrades.

Now Disneyland Parc is very much the heart and soul of Disneyland Paris.

Layout

The park follows the same ‘hub and spoke’ layout that the other Disney castle parks have had since Disneyland opened in 1955. One key difference though is the entrance to the park, as at Disneyland Paris you need to walk under the Disneyland Hotel (otherwise known as the ‘Pink Palace’) to reach the entrance turnstiles. Once through you then enter under the train station until you find yourself in Main Street USA. This street funnels people into a central ‘hub’ – the area just in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. From here the five lands are easily accessed – in a clockwise direction starting from Main Street, there’s then Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland and Discoveryland.

Each land has its own distinct theme and atmosphere. As well as being accessed from the hub many also have paths linking them, so you don’t need to retreat to the Hub each time you want to move from land the land.

So taking each of the lands in turn…

Main Street USA

Overview: Main Street USA is designed to funnel people from the park entrance to the Hub. It’s the shopping and dining heart of the park. Like other Main Streets in Disney Parks it’s inspired by Walt Disney’s childhood town of Marceline, Missouri. However unlike the other Main Streets there are touches that pay tribute to the USA’s link to Europe, particularly France.

Main Attractions: There’s only really one main attraction here, the Disneyland Railroad. This classic steam train runs around the outside of the park, with other stations in Frontierland, Fantasyland and Discoveryland. Having said that the other stations seem to be closed a lot, so best to view this as a ride in and of itself rather than a way to save your feet! Main Street is also the prime viewing location for the parades and calvacades, as well as the space to view the night-time shows on the castle. It will get busy!

What else is there?: Rides wise, horse-drawn trolleys and classic vehicles sometimes move people from park entrance to the hub and back again. You can also often find characters on Main Street, check the times guide for who, where and when because it does vary – and expect the queues to build up. As the main service hub for the park, Main Street also holds Guest Services, First Aid and the Baby Care Centre.

Easily overlooked details: Main Street USA is chock full of theming, from visual details to sound effects and even smells. It’s a good place to stop and wander to appreciate it all! People can also miss the two arcades either side of Main Street that run between the entrance and the Hub. Both are full of theming, and the Liberty Arcade includes a diorama about the dedication of the Statue of Liberty. They’re also a great way to get in or out the park when Main Street is packed, and to shelter from the rain!

Dining: There’s one table service on Main Street itself, Walt’s – An American Restaurant. It features rooms themed to the lands of the park, and a menu inspired by Walt Disney himself. Plaza Gardens is just off the hub, and serves breakfast and dinner buffets attended by characters. Quick Service wise Casey’s Corner is a Disney staple serving hot dogs, and Market House Deli serves sandwiches, toasties and more. There are also numerous small counters selling everything from baked goods, ice cream, coffee and pretty much anything else!

Shopping: Almost the entirety of one side of Main Street are the interconnected shops of the Emporium, your best one stop shop for souvenirs in the park. On the other side of the street smaller shops specialise in adult clothing, jewellery, children’s clothing, and sweet treats.

Frontierland

Overview: Welcome to the Wild West! Frontierland takes you to the settlement of Thunder Mesa, settled during the Gold Rush (according to Disney at least). The story of the town is followed through the architecture and rides in the land.

Main Attractions: The two big draws in this land are the coaster Big Thunder Mountain, and the Phantom Manor (Disneyland Paris’ version of the classic Haunted Mansion). The Chapparal Theatre also hosts large shows, currently Lion King: Rhythm of the Pridelands. The show is epic, go watch it!

What else is there? There’s the Thunder Mesa Riverboat that takes a leisurely cruise around the Big Thunder Mountain island, and a shooting arcade. There’s also a Pocahontas playground for littles to work off some steam! Characters can also be found in the land, notably by Phantom Manor and by Cowboy Cookout restaurant.

Easily overlooked details: A lot of people seem to miss that you can walk around the Fort at the entrance of the land off Main Street, with tableaus, lookout posts and more. Also take time to walk around the Boot Hill cemetery as you leave Phantom Manor as it has a lot of details and puns! But small theming elements are everywhere in this land.

Dining: There’s one table-service restaurant here, the Silver Spur Steakhouse. Reviews are, well, let’s call it mixed. Quick service wise there’s Cowboy Cookout and Casa de Coco, both great choices, as well as a number of snack stands. There’s also the Lucky Nugget which seems to have an identity crisis somewhere between a table service and a quick service!

Shopping: There’s only one main location here which is Thunder Mesa Mercantile. Expect a mixture of items themed to the rides in the land, the Wild West, collectibles, as well as a range of home goods and snacks.

Adventureland

Overview: Adventureland is inspired by a mixture of locations to chosen to inspire adventure. In this land you can journey from Aladdin’s Agrabah, to exotic jungles, to pirate castles! It’s a big sprawling land with a lot to look at.

Main Attractions: The two big rides here are the classic Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride, and the roller-coaster Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril. The latter does feature one upside-down loop.

What else is there? Adventureland has a lot of walk through spaces – there’s Le Passage Enchante d’Aladdin which retells the Aladdin story, and the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse that lets you climb through the treehouse from the classic story. There’s also the massive Adventure Isle that contains caves, bridges, winding paths, beaches and even a pirate ship! And expect to find characters from Aladdin, the Jungle Book, Pirates of the Caribbean and more.

Easily overlooked details: Adventure Isle is so large and sprawling that there’s details and treasures lurking round every corner! We’ve been more times than I can count and keep finding new details each trip.

Dining: There are two table service restaurants in this land. Captain Jack’s is actually inside the Pirates ride and looks over a bayou scene, and focuses on seafood. Agrabah Cafe is a buffet with a focus on Middle-Eastern food, where you dine in a replica market place. People seem to like Agrabah but it’s also a good shout for a last minute reservation! Counter service wise the two main options are Restaurant Hakuna Matata, with African flavours, and Colonel Haiti’s Outpost, which has pizza and Indian inspired dishes (because naturally they go together…). There’s a lot of snack kiosks too.

Shopping: Our favourite shop here is the one at the exit of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, featuring pirate and spooky inspired merchandise. Also look in the Curious Giraffe for African inspired gifts, and there’s the Indiana Jones Outpost for all things Indy.

Fantasyland

Overview: Probably the spiritual heart of Disneyland Parc, Fantasyland is home to characters and stories inspired by classic fairy tales and Disney films. The architecture is largely taken from the different European locations that inspired the rides or restaurants they house.

Main Attractions: Fantasyland is packed full of attractions! The biggest draw is Peter Pan’s Flight, where you fly in a pirate ship over Neverland. There are also dark rides inspired by Pinocchio and Snow White, and the Disney classic It’s a Small World boat ride. Other Disney classics include Dumbo, where you get to fly in an elephant, and Mad Tea Party. One of the biggest attractions here though, and the longest lines, are for the characters – notably the Princesses in their meet and greet spot. Mickey Mouse also greets guests here.

What else is there: There’s an Alice in Wonderland themed walk-through maze which is a lot of fun! There’s another classic attraction in the form of the Carousel, and tucked towards the back of the land is a little area with two rides – Casey Jr is a mini rollercoaster of sorts, while Le Pays des Contes de Fees is a slow boat ride featuring dioramas from classic Disney films.

Easily overlooked details: Don’t run through the castle to the rides and forget to stop in the castle itself! The castle actually holds two attractions, upstairs is a walk through that tells the tale of Sleeping Beauty in tapestry, stained glass and statues. And under the castle there lurks a dragon!

Dining: There’s one table-service spot here, Auberge de Cendrillon, which serves French inspired fare while people get to meet princesses. It’s very popular so definitely book in advance! Counter service wise there’s a few options; Toad Hall serves fish and chips, Au Chalet de la Marionette has German inspired fare, and Pizzeria Bella Notte features pizza and pasta. There’s a lot of snack stands too, including a little market next to It’s a Small World with some popular treats!

Shopping: Almost every ride in this land has a shop at the exit! There’s great details in Sir Mickey’s, and Le Chaumiere de Sept Nains has a full on cottage inside (as well as a lot of Princess inspired gear). Also don’t miss the two shops in the castle, one selling Christmas items all year round, the other focusing on glassware and jewellery.

Discoveryland

Overview: Those used to Disney parks elsewhere in the world would expect Tomorrowland in this spot! But for Paris the Imagineers wanted a different approach, partly because tomorrow has an annoying habit of becoming today and the land therefore needing updates, but also because they wanted to pay tribute to European writers such as Jules Verne. The result is a very steam punk-esque land packed full of detail.

Main Attractions: The big attraction here you can’t miss when you walk into the land – the rollercoaster Space Mountain. This is a lot more intense a coaster that its US cousins! Also big draws in this land are Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, where you get to battle the Evil Emperor Zurg, and the Star Tours: the Adventures Continue ride simulator.

What else is there? Obitron is similar to Dumbo but rocket-themed, and rather more terrifying for some reason! There’s also Autopia, where you can drive little cars around a set track. It’s very popular with little ones. Characters can also often be found here, particular from Star Wars.

Easily overlooked details: Don’t miss the opportunity to walk through the Nautilus submarine inspired by the classic film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. And a lot of people seem to miss that Mickey’s Philharmagic, a 3D film featuring a number of Disney films, is in the back of the land. It’s a wonderful film and a great way to get out of the cold, wet or heat!

Dining: Discoveryland doesn’t have much in the way of dining. There’s no table-service restaurants, and only one main counter-service, although it’s a good one! Cafe Hyperion serves standard theme park fare, but it has a large seating area overlooking a small stage. Sometimes there are shows here, but when there’s not they play Disney Cartoons. It’s another great place to take a break in the parks! There are also a few snack stands in the land.

Shopping: There are two big shops in this land. Constellations is at the exit of the Buzz Lightyear ride, and has a mix of Toy Story, Space and kid-friendly merchandise. Star Traders is at the exit of Star Tours and is your best one-stop shop for all things Star Wars related.

That was a lot of ground to cover! What’s your favourite thing in Disneyland Parc? Remember to keep following our blog where we’ll keep diving more in depth into the rides, restaurants and more!