Marne-la-Vallée Things to Do

It would be fair to say that the 'Disneyland' part of things is aimed quite clearly at the younger age group. There are only two rides that have a 1m40 height restriction on them. These are the two larger rollercoasters. The 'sister' park of the Walt Disney studios is also probably more tuned to teenagers and older. Still, with a five year old and a two year old we were resigned to a sugary diet of fairytales as imagined by Disney. Fantasyland therefore took up much pof the day with the traditional spinning teacups, flying elephants and dreamy castles. Most of the rides are what are known as 'dark rides' as they basically follow a track by some means through a series of 'scenes'. The peter pan flight, Snow white, pinnochio and 'small world' would all fit into this category. If you didn't know some of the outline of the stories involved then it would turn into nothing more than a surreal assortment of 'things moving about'. Even witha dimly remembered recollection of the stories I found it difficult to process - and I'm in my fourties ! The absence of 'commentary' on the rides apart from a few snatches of French and English did not help the situation either.

The 'Pirates of a carribean' falls into this category as well, although aimed at perhaps a slightly older audience than those who live their lives in fantasyland.

Other rides include a couple of 'Space rides' on Tomorrowland (sorry 'discoveryland'). One is 'Star tours' (a motion simulator - see other tip) and the other a 'Buzz lightyear' one where you shoot aliens for points, which was actually rather good. Autopia and the Captain Nemo rides in the same area were (in my opinion) very poor and better suited to a tatty English seaside resort.

Frontierland features a suprisingly good rollercoaster (given a height limit of only 1.02m) modelled on the runaway train ride in the American parks. Unfortunately we missed out on the 'Phantom manner'.

Overall the expereince was great if you are aged under 7, but perhaps a little disappointing for anybody else. Very disappointing for anyone who actually has to pick up the tab !

Where?

In the Discoveryland zone, close to the Space Mountain 2 (look for the jet!)

What?

A simulator ride that first takes you through a Star Wars-themed airport (which would take the prize for the best queue zone in the park, I think :) ) and then on a ride to the Moon of Endor.

As you queue, you can see filmed 'commercials' inviting you to visit other locations in the Star Wars universe (which I found quite entertaining for their similarity to some of the real life travel agency commercials), and you can see C-3PO and R2-D2.

Once you board, you learn that it's your pilot's first flight and, in an effort to make your trip more pleasant, he 'opens' the cockpit door. Mistakes follow as you go through wrong turns, maintenance yards, etc. - with disaster averted at the last moment with a sharp movement - and finally you get to light speed.

However, your troubles on the trip are not over. Comets come next, and then a battle with Star Destroyer and, finally, a little trip through 'Death Star'.

Another light speed trip, and you land... almost safely :)

Where?

In the Adventureland kingdom

What?

'Pirates of the Caribbean' is a dark ride where you first walk through a ruined fortress and then board boat-like for a trip down (and up!) the river through a pirate adventure. First, you pass through a lagoon which is, in fact, the setting of Disneyland's seafood restaurant.

After the lagoon and the shipwreck, you go through an old fortress where pirates were held and then through a cannon ball-shaped hole in the wall down a waterfall into the fight scene. The city is burning being pillaged by the pirates, and you are fired at (albeit occasionally).

Once done, you do down another small waterfall and enter the grottoes with treasure, ship staterooms with (by now dead) pirates, and skull-like grotto walls. From here it's back to the landing stage.

There is a camera at one of the waterfalls and you can buy the shots at the exit.

Where?

In Fantasyworld zone

What?

In "It's a Small World" you travel in a boat-like vehicle on a river from room to room, with each room featuring animated dolls dressed in the national (or simply characteristic) costumes of a particular country or territory against this territory's particular sights or back-drops.

In turns, you visit:

- Europe (Scandinavia, England, Scotland, Netherlands, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Greece)
- Asia (Japan, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia)
- Africa (including Egypt)
- Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Peru among others), and
- North America (Montreal, New York, Indian territories, California and Hollywood, Arizona)

One note - the song is going to stick in your mind for long after you are done with the ride itself!

The ride, as may be expected, is very family-friendly, but thanks to large-capacity boats there are rarely queues longer than 20 minutes for this one.

Where?

In the Frontierland kingdom

What?

A mild roller-coaster that can be ridden by most kids (and therefore always with some of the longest queues, much more so than for any of the more 'grown-up' rides - i.e, Space Mountain 2).

Design of the set is based on the Monument Valley in Utah and Arizona with the runaway mine trains among them. Once you leave the station, you first go through a series of dark tunnels with a few turns, and then go up a fairly steep (for a mild ride) hill with dripping water - after which you emerge into the open.

After a few corners and drops you go through a washed out section in the track with water splashing about - this is also where the onsite camera is, so have your best smile at the ready :)

You climb up again, with fine views of Phantom Manor and pretty much all of Frontierland, and shortly plunge back into darkness, where you can see some of the rocks shaking as if about to fall. Once you are back into the open again the ride is over and you are heading back to the station.

Attractions:

- Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters
- Space Mountain: Mission 2
- Autopia
- Disneyland Railroad- Discoveryland Station
- Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
- Les Mystères du Nautilus
- Orbitron, Machines Volantes
- Star Tours
- Arcade Alpha & Arcade Bêta
- L'Astroport Services Interstellaires
- Videopolis theatre

Shopping:

- Constellations
- Light Speed Photography
- Star Traders

Food & Drink:

- Buzz Lightyear's Pizza Planet
- Café Hyperion
- Cool Station
- Rocket Café

Attractions:

- Snow White's Scary Adventures
- Pinocchio's Daring Journey
- Casey Jr. Circus Train
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Alice's Curious Labyrinth
- Mad Hatter Tea Cups
- Peter Pan's Flight
- Sleeping Beauty Castle, Galley and Dragon Lair
- Sleeping Beauty's Gallery
- Disneyland Railroad Fantasyland Station
- It's a small world
- Lancelot's Carousel
- Le Théâtre du Chateau
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
- Fantasy Festival Stage

Shopping:

- Castle Boutique
- Merlin l'Enchanteur
- La Chaumière des Sept Nains
- La Confiserie des Trois Fées
- La Ménagerie de Royaume
- La Bottega di Geppetto
- Le Brave Petit Tailleur

Food & Drink:

- The Old Mill
- Auberge de Cendrillon
- Au Chalet de la Marionnette
- Pizzeria Bella Notte
- Toad hall Restaurant
- Fantasia Gelati
- March Hare Refreshments

Attractions:

- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril
- Captain Hook's Pirate Ship
- Le Passage Enchanté d'Aladdin
- Adventure Isle
- La Cabane des Robinson
- Pirates' Beach (children's play area)

Shopping:

- Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost
- Le Coffre du Captain
- Les Trésors de Shéhérazade
- La Girafe Curieuse

Food & Drink:

- Agrabah Café Restaurant
- Restaurant Hakuna Matata
- Blue Lagoon restaurant
- Colonel Hathi's Pizza Outpost
- Coolpost