An American in Paris - Walt's magical world

Disneyland Paris sits in the new town of Marne-la-Vallée, about 20 miles to the east of the French capital.  Not that you'd know it, for in many ways, it's worlds away from the boulevard cafes and artistic backstreets.  This is a small piece of America, which just happens to sit in France, and you'd be totally forgiven for thinking you're spending dollars, and not euros.  For the short-haul visitor, it's a unique kind of culture shock; should I try speaking French to the shop assistant?  Is it a betrayal if I order a burger and fries?  Lizzie tries a bit with the French, but gets a decidedly English response, and so the matter is settled.

Disneyland was invented on July 17 1955 when Walt himself, having personally supervised its construction, opened Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.  On that morning, Disney spoke to the crowds, saying: "To all who come to this happy place: Welcome.  Disneyland is your land.  Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savour the challenge and promise of the future.  Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America, with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world."  Over the next 60 years, that inspiration has seen parks spring up in Florida, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and of course Paris.  There's a four-ship strong Disney cruise line, a points-based Disney vacation club, and a Disney resort and spa in Hawaii.  Disneyland Paris arrived in 1992, to a mixed response from the locals, many of whom worried that the park would introduce American consumerism to France.  I can't imagine why.

Walt presents his dream (source: Remembering Disney)

A wander down Main Street USA, as discussed previously, is an assault on the senses, and by the time you make it to the end of the street, you've been transported to a whole other world.  The centrepiece of the park, known the world over, is of course the Disneyland Castle.  Wannabe princes and princesses run around with boundless energy, enchanted at the prospect of seeing Sleeping Beauty awake from her timeless sleep.  For me, there's something even better to discover here - the sword in the stone, from one of my favourite films.  Unlike Arthur in the depths of Dark Age London, I'm unable to pull it from its anvil, but it does make for a good photo op, and is surely one to tick off the childhood dreams list. 

 "Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is rightwise king born of all England..."

The iconic Disney castle

Disney, rightly so, is unashamed of its identity, and through the park it pays homage to the many famous moments and characters brought to life by animation.  The cats from the Aristocats; the Mad Hatter's tea party; Aladdin's magic carpet ride; round every corner is another reminder, a further celebration.  With this in mind, the major attractions sort of play second-fiddle to the act of simply being in Disneyland, and our favourite rides are not the fast or the furious ones.  A cute little buggy takes you through the story of Pinocchio; a hanging pirate ship flies you over the rooftops of London with Peter Pan; a spiralled hedge maze brings you face-to-face with the Cheshire Cat.  This is what Disneyland means to us - it's the reconnection of the famous old stories from childhood, and in that respect it renders many of the scary rides somewhat out-of-place.

The Aristocats in making merry music

This way or that?  Lost in a hedge maze

The landscaping around the Disneyland park is superb.  One moment we're in the deepest Wild West, the next we're in the thick of an Arabian street market.  The good people in the props department really do a number on Disneyland, leaving no patch of ground vacant in their attempt to give you the real deal.  There are four 'lands' within the park, with piratical Adventure Land conjuring up a Peter Pan world, landscaped to perfection, and our favourite place to linger.  Adventure Land is also the home of the ride, Pirates of the Caribbean, the famous inspiration behind the international film series starring Johnny Depp.  Total fantasy and good old romantic imagery ensue, as our little water boat is bumped along a dusky island coast, past an 18th century Spanish fortress, and into the lives of rum-drinking, sword-wielding pirates, all to the memorable tune of yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate's life for me.  

Adventureland, home of pirates

If there's one thing besides rides and attractions that every single person seems to do in Disneyland, it's shop.  There are shops everywhere, hawking every conceivable thing that will fit a mouse motif.  Cuddly toys, crockery, clothes, porcelain figures, badges, baseball caps, sweets, biscuits...  the list, truly, is endless.  My impression of the shopping in Disneyland is that they simply saturate you until you buy something, for most of the emporiums sell identical wares.  However, this doesn't stop each and every premises from maintaining presentable, inviting properties, in keeping with the usual Disney image.  In an evening where the night closed in, the wind blew up and the rain poured, flitting from shop-to-shop became our lifeline against the elements, and we enjoyed each-and-every carefully-designed window display.  Created with care, delivered to perfection - the Disney way.

Shop windows along Main Street USA