Parc Disneyland

I have vague memories of my first visit to Disneyland, the original theme park built by Walt himself.  I was 4-ish and I remember Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Dumbo's Flying Circus, the Bobsled on The Matterhorn and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction.  I really remember that one in a vague sort of way.  I remember that there was a big hall, with huge glass windows that were portals to all the fascinating creatures in the sea. Miraculously, these creatures hung out in front of the portals so we could see them instead of swimming away.  I remember that you could walk along a main path, and then take a few steps down to a viewing area closer to the window.  I remember that I wasn't keen on taking the step downs and getting closer to the window, especially not in front of the window behind which a gigantic squid was milling about.  I was less frightened viewing the gigantic squid from behind the safety of the railing that separated the main path from the sunken viewing area.  I remember sort of hanging on to the railing and then tragedy struck.  My mouse ears fell off and down into the sunken viewing area - right in front of the giant squid!  I was terrified and distraught.  I probably even cried.  My mouse ears were gone FOREVER as there was no way I could muster the courage to come face to face with that giant squid.  But my Daddy, my very courageous Daddy faced that nasty giant squid, with only inches and glass separating him from a creature that could devour him in one slurp, and he rescued my mouse ears!  Hooray!  It was a joyous moment.  I probably stopped crying.

Despite living less than 10 miles from Disneyland, we didn't and still don't go to Disneyland often.  I can't say for sure, but I think I've been there less than 20 times.    So when Chris and Jeff came to visit us here and one of their top things to do was go to Parc Disneyland, we were all for it!  And excited!  

Disclaimer and credit where credit is due:  I didn't take a camera!  Carrying around a 7 lb kit all day and getting on and off rides with it didn't sound fun, so we let Chris and Jeff document the day with their pocket camera.  All of the photos in this post are from their camera and most of the photos were taken by them.  Except the photos of them.  I probably took those.  Or Ron did.  So here's our day in photos:

And ha!  The very first photo is one I took at the train station, Marne-la-Vallée / Chessy Parcs Disneyland - Chris and Jeff are ready for an exciting day at Disneyland!

We thought this was the entrance, but alas, only a security checkpoint.  There were no lines, just a mob moving forward.  We are Americans, we cannot function without a queue.  We pondered, doubted, queried and mused as we inched our way forward.  Finally, they peeked in our bags and waved us through.  Easy peasy despite our queueless discomfort!

A path on the way to the main gate.  The lovely building is the Disneyland Hotel.  Beneath the building are arched passageways and ticket booths.  We had pre-purchased tickets so we walked right through.

Inside the main gate and on Main Street Square.  We found the lockers and then discovered that lockers are no longer available for use, so we were stuck with our jackets all day.

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Phantom Manor - aka The Haunted Mansion

Warning!  If you don't speak French or English you might be scared.

Very cool photo! She looks very phantasmic.

Another view of Phantom Manor.  It is very similar to the Haunted Mansion - we had fun noting the differences. 

We stopped for lunch earlier than we anticipated, partly because some of were hungry, but I suspect mostly because this was a Mexican-themed eatery!  Yay for Mexican food!

We rode the train all around the park.  I guess the train ride TO Parc Disneyland didn't satisfy our daily train requirements!

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril - this is a roller coaster ride and we don't have this in Anaheim.  It broke down whilst we were in line.  We were smart though, and waited for them to fix it and get it going again.  It took only 30 minutes or so - it turned out that waiting, rather than leaving and coming back, was the better option.

Still waiting - Chris wasn't sure waiting was a good idea.  Yet. 

Yo ho! Yo ho!  A pirate's life for me!

Very similar, but not exactly the same ride as Anaheim - we had fun finding and noting the differences.

Instead of the Storybook Ride, they have Alice's Curious Labryinth.  I was the only one interested so we passed.

It's A Small World!  I think it is pretty much the same - the song definitely is.  It's a small world after all...

We had just gotten off Space Mountain - an AMAZING roller coaster which may or may not be just like the one in Anaheim.  It was dark, it was fast, it was twisty turny upside downy and it was fun.  It did make me a little queasy (dang, it stinks getting old!), so we watched the Autopia while our stomachs settled.

I forgot to mention that we made dinner reservations for the Blue Lagoon restaurant.  It is very similar to the Blue Bayou restaurant in Anaheim.  So this is us at the Blue Lagoon.

Chris and Jeff at the Blue Lagoon

Ron, with his flambeed Creme Brulee

The Pineapple dessert platter - Chris and Jeff got the same thing I think.  Sadly, the food here was less than stellar.  The atmosphere was wonderful, but oy - our dinner was very expensive and very undergood.  I remember the dessert being not bad though!

Ron and Jeff at Skull Rock

 

Chris and Jeff on Adventure Isle.

The suspension bridge on Adventure Isle

Moi on the suspension bridge - I managed, but not gracefully!

We left Parc Disneyland and headed over to Walt Disney Studios.  Closed.  Hmmm.  Our two-park, one-day passes weren't such a bargain after all.  And we got bum information from a very helpful if not inaccurate Disneyland employee.

Disney Village was open though - so we strolled through the village before heading back to the train station

We didn't go to McDonald's, but I think that has to be the biggest one I've ever seen!

Parc Disneyland was a lot of fun!  Naturally, there were a LOT of families there and the big thing these days is to get the kidlets a princess dress or other character outfit and they wear it over their street clothes.  We must have seen hundreds of little princesses there!

Having been away from home for awhile, a visit to Parc Disneyland was like a little visit back home.  There are a lot of differences, way too many to remember without taking notes, but I think the overall feel is very similar.  Disneyland is a magical place to spend the day, no matter what country you're in!