Things To Do in Disneyland Paris

The U.S. has Disneyland and Disney World; in France, you could call it Disney Universe. This giant resort has two parks: the classic Disneyland, complete with the Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast and Star Wars rides, like Hyperspace Mountain; and Disney Studios, which, in addition to the Marvel Avengers Campus (and the “Frozen” land under construction) has thrill rides and exhibits themed around Disney animation techniques and films. Outside the parks, there’s a golf course, a spa, tennis courts, and Disney Village, with its boutiques, restaurants, disco, and IMAX theatre.

However, unless you’re a diehard Disney fan in search of the classics, don’t expect your mind to be blown in or out of the parks: Only Marvel brings anything particularly new to the table. Staff, though helpful, seem under pressure and barely smile. And without the FastPass system (discontinued), lines can be horrifically long (I’m talking 110 minutes, at one point during our visit, for Crush’s Coaster; click here for more on the new system). And don’t get me started on the noise: With hundreds crammed into snaking spaces, the decibel levels were so high there were times we couldn’t hear the piped-in ambiance music on rides (like the haunted house) where sound is a big part of the experience. If you’re an huge Disney fan, you may still find some enjoyment. But if you’re not, see Parc Astérix, where you get the theme park thrills in a much more pleasant environment—plus a bit of French culture for good measure.