It's not Mickey Mouse...
Cloud Nine
Attracting over 30 million visitors a year between them, Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Paris are theme parks on an epic scale. Much more than a day trip, each offers acre after acre of themed attractions of all kinds, more than enough to enthral kids of all ages for a whole holiday.
Hmm, Paris or Florida? Alike in some ways, very different in others, there are plenty of good reasons for choosing either resort, depending on what you and your wide-eyed tribe are looking for. Quite simply, more travel gets you more resort: Disneyland Paris sparkles enough to drop the jaws of even the most Xbox-hardened of the younger generation, but Orlando is on a different scale. Paris has two generously sized parks, but when Florida says Disney World, it means it – there are five parks to see, making it the holiday of a lifetime (especially if you’re nine).
If, on the other hand, you’re not nine, don’t despair; these parks didn’t get to be the raging success stories that they are by neglecting the family members tall enough to look Mickey & co straight in the brightly coloured face. There are plenty of shops and restaurants on-site to keep parents (almost) as entertained as their kids.
Every part of every Disney resort is well thought through, excellently presented and staffed by people dedicated to making the visitors’ experience flawless. It’s more than a park – it’s a show – and the people that bring you the show refer to themselves as a ‘cast’, all the way from Goofey and friends, to the army that works to keep the place meticulously clean.
A journey into the heart of the movie-inspired fantasyland doesn’t come cheap whichever resort you head to, but it needn’t be too expensive either. While there are hotels on site that do have the benefit of getting you into and out of the parks quickly and easily so that you get the most from each day, you could help stretch your budget by exploring nearby independent hotels. Food outlets in the parks, while plentiful, can also squeeze the pocket a little, so thinking about a packed lunch might be a good idea too.
Paris
Situated on the outskirts of the French capital, Disneyland Paris is reached via a shuttle bus every 15 minutes from Charles de Gaulle Airport, after a flight from Birmingham of less than two hours. The resort has two main attractions – Disneyland Paris, modelled on the original fantasy kingdom attraction in Anaheim California, and Walt Disney Studios, which has a more general movie theme.
The fantasy kingdom is one you’ll find in any of the planet’s Disney lands / worlds; a mixture of rides and shows, liberally coated in the Disney Technicolor gloss, surrounding visitors with cartoons brought to vividly bouncing life. As you stroll from rollercoaster to stage show you’re constantly greeted by larger than life-size cartoon characters from all your favourite feature films, always ready with a wave and a smile (most of them literally can’t stop smiling). These encounters may seem random and spontaneous, but they’re not; like everything, there’s plenty of thought and rehearsal gone in to making visitors enjoy the show. The performers operate in troupes, with never more than one of each character within sight at any time, so that the spell is never broken.
Rides vary from sedate to white-knuckle, with everything in-between. Height restrictions do apply to some, so it’s best to check before joining the queue (which can be long, especially in school holidays or at the weekends) to avoid disappointment. Unlike many theme parks, the live shows are arguably even more entertaining than the rides, with the company’s heritage of entertainment really making them shine, so even the most ardent ’coaster fan should enjoy the break.
The park is divided into five areas. Main Street USA is an idealised version of small town America and central hub of park, with links to other four areas. Frontierland is themed around the Wild West, with two rides and a theatre show on offer. Exotic locations and heroic escapades fill Adventureland, including the nerve-jangling Indiana Jones rollercoaster. Fantasyland is perfect for younger visitors, a gentle flight of whimsy through Mad Hatter’s tea cups or a aerial ride with Dumbo, while Discoveryland dives into science fiction, in the company of Buzz Lightyear or the extreme ‘coaster of Space Mountain.
The Walt Disney Studios Park is smaller and less crowded than its neighbour, basing its show on the worlds of TV and movie production, telling its story on four studio ‘lots’. Front Lot is similar to Main Street USA – a recreation of a classic 1930 Hollywood studio and acting as a hub for the other lots. Toon Studio take visitors into the world of animation, through a combination of live shows and rides, while Production Courtyard is a trip to a make-believe film set, told though rides like the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror or the interactive Stitch Live show.
Perhaps the star attraction is 'Lights, Action, Motors', on the Backlot, an incredible display of closely choreographed stunt driving, played out in front of a live audience, re-creating a wild car chase through a Mediterranean village.
Florida
Connecting via Newark or direct with Thomson Airways to Sanford from May to October and at around 13 hours from Birmingham, Orlando is well worth the trip – even before you make it to any of the attractions –Florida deserves its nickname as the ‘sunshine state’, basking in a sub-tropical climate. And when you do make it to the attractions, they’re very much more attractive, not only does Orlando offer fantasy kingdom and movie production themed parks along the lines of those in France, there are three more to keep you entertained: the Animal Kingdom, Water Parks and futuristic Epcot.
The Animal Kingdom blends together real live animals with characteristic Disney movie fantasy. Visitors can track dinosaurs and yetis and see a million years of evolution race by in a single day, or get close enough to touch Simba in the spectacular Festival of the Lion King live performance show, before venturing into the Kilimanjaro Safaris to see the genuine article (not quite as close, though).
Natural wonders, science and glittering visions of the future roar into life at Epcot. You can soar to the edge of space, or plunge into the oceans in a combination of entertaining rides and enthralling exhibitions. Designed to enlighten, as well as delight, learning about science, nature and technology seems nothing like an education when presented Epcot-style.
Finally, save some energy for the twin water parks of Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, unlike any water park you’ve seen before. With both the largest wave machine in the world and America’s highest waterslide, they’re just another part of what makes Disney Orlando the world’s biggest visitor attraction.