Disneyland Park (Paris)
Theme park within Disneyland Paris
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Disneyland Park, originally Euro Disneyland Park, is a theme park found at Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, France. The park opened on 12 April 1992, as the first of the two parks built at the resort. Designed and built by Walt Disney Imagineering, its layout is similar to Disneyland Park in California and Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World in Florida. Spanning 56.656 ha (140 acres)—the second largest Disney park based on the original, after Shanghai Disneyland—it is dedicated to fairy tales and Disney characters.[1]
Previously known as Euro Disneyland Park (1992-1994) | |
| |
 Sleeping Beauty Castle, icon of Disneyland Park, in 2002 | |
 Interactive map of Disneyland Park | |
| Location | Disneyland Paris, Marne-la-Vallée, France |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 48°52′21″N 2°46′36″E |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | 12 April 1992 |
| Owner | Disney Experiences (The Walt Disney Company) |
| Operated by | Euro Disneyland Participations S.A.S. |
| Theme | Fairy tales and Disney characters |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Website | Official website |
The park is represented by Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty Castle), a replica of the fairy tale castle seen in Disney Animation's 1959 film Sleeping Beauty. In 2024 the park hosted 10.2 million visitors, making it the tenth-most visited theme park in the world and the most-visited theme park in Europe.[2]
History
In order to make things more distinct and not be a mere copy of the original, modifications were made to the park's concepts and designs. Among the changes was the change of Tomorrowland to Discoveryland, giving the area a retrofuturistic theme. Other altered elements include the Haunted Mansion, which was redesigned as Phantom Manor and a retro, more intense version of Space Mountain (now Hyperspace Mountain). The park's location brought forth its own challenges. Sleeping Beauty Castle (Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant) is said by its designers to have been necessarily reevaluated for a continent on which authentic castles stand.[3] Modifications to the park were made to protect against changes in weather in the Parisian climate. Covered walkways referred to as "arcades" were added, and Michael Eisner ordered the installation of 35 fireplaces in hotels and restaurants.
The park, as well as its surrounding complex, initially failed to meet financial expectations, resulting in an image change in which the word "Euro" was phased out of several names, including Euro Disney. The park was known as Euro Disney until May 1994, Euro Disneyland Paris until September 1994, Disneyland Paris until February 2002, and Disneyland Park (English) and Parc Disneyland (French) since March 2002.
Michael Eisner noted, "As Americans, the word 'Euro' is believed to mean glamorous or exciting. For Europeans it turned out to be a term they associated with business, currency, and commerce. Renaming the park 'Disneyland Paris' was a way of identifying it with one of the most romantic and exciting cities in the world."[4]
On 14 March 2020, Disneyland Park, alongside the Walt Disney Studios Park, was temporarily closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[5][6] Both parks remained closed for four months, resuming operations on 15 July with strict rules such as limited guest attendance, social distancing, and mandatory wearing of face masks.[7][8] The park closed again on 29 October 2020 following a second nationwide lockdown.[9] The park reopened on 17 June 2021.[10]
Park layout and attractions
Disneyland Park is divided into five themed "lands", which house 49 attractions. Designed like a wheel with the hub on Central Plaza before Sleeping Beauty Castle, pathways spoke out across the 140 acres (57 ha) of the park and lead to the lands.[11] The 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge Disneyland Railroad runs along the perimeter of the park and stops in Main Street, U.S.A., Frontierland, Fantasyland and Discoveryland.
| Themed Land | Picture | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street, USA | .jpg) |
Main Street USA serves as the main entrance boulevard into the park and is themed after early-20th-century small-town America, inspired by Walt Disney's hometown of Marceline, Missouri, complete with a train station and Victorian architecture. The street terminates at the central hub of the park with Sleeping Beauty Castle. |
| Frontierland |  |
Frontierland is themed after the 19th century American Old West mining town of Thunder Mesa. Features include desert and wilderness landscaping, large rock formations, a river, and frontier architecture. |
| Adventureland |  |
Adventureland is themed to recreate the feel of the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa and India. Lush landscaping is abundant throughout the land to give visitors the impression of being in a remote jungle. |
| Fantasyland | .jpg) |
Sleeping Beauty Castle serves as the main entrance to Fantasyland, which is themed after a storybook village taking many architectural traits from various European villages. |
| Discoveryland | _1.jpg) |
Discoveryland is themed after the visions of famed European thinkers and explorers such as Leonardo da Vinci, HG Wells, or Jules Verne. |
Main Street, USA
- Liberty Arcade (covered walkway)
- Discovery Arcade (covered walkway)
- Horse Drawn Streetcars (3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge tramway)[12]
- Main Street Vehicles
- Disneyland Railroad - Main Street Station
Frontierland
Adventureland
Fantasyland
- Sleeping Beauty Castle[20]
- The Dragon's Lair
- Lancelot's Carousel
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs[21]
- Pinocchio's Daring Journey[22]
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Peter Pan's Flight
- Alice's Curious Labyrinth
- Mad Hatter's Tea Cups[23]
- It's a Small World
- Storybook Land Canal Boats[24]
- Casey Jr. Circus Train[25]
- Meet Mickey Mouse
- Princess Pavilion
- Disneyland Paris Railroad – Fantasyland Station
Discoveryland
Attendance
- 2008 – 12,688,000[30]
- 2009 – 12,740,000[31]
- 2010 – 10,500,000[32]
- 2011 – 10,990,000[33]
- 2012 – 11,500,000[34]
- 2013 – 10,430,000[35]
- 2014 – 9,940,000[36]
- 2015 – 10,360,000[37]
- 2016 – 8,400,000[38]
- 2017 – 9,660,000[39]
- 2018 – 9,843,000[40]
- 2019 – 9,745,000[41]
- 2020 – 2,620,000[42]
- 2021 – 3,500,000[43]
- 2022 – 9,930,000[44]
- 2023 – 10,400,000[45]
- 2024 – 10,214,000[46]
Top 4 amusement parks in Europe by annual attendance (in millions)
| Disneyland Paris (Parc Disneyland) | |
| Europa-Park | |
| Efteling | |
| Disney Adventure World (Walt Disney Studios Park) |
Shows and parades
Disneyland Park hosts a range of daytime and nighttime entertainment throughout the year.[47]
Current
- Main parade:
- Disney Stars on Parade: 2017–present
- Daytime shows:
- Rhythms of the Pride Lands: 2019–2020, 2022–present
- Nighttime shows:
- Disney Tales of Magic: 10 January 2025 – present
- Mickey's Goodnight Kiss: 2017–2018, 2021–present
- Special or seasonal events, shows, or parades:
- Early Season (January – March 2026)
- No specific season name announced.
- A Million Splashes of Colour: February - September 2024, From February 2026
- No specific season name announced.
- Early Season (January – March 2026)
- Spring Season (April - May 2026)
- No specific season name announced.
- A Million Splashes of Colour: February – September 2024, From February 2026
- No specific season name announced.
- Spring Season (April - May 2026)
- Summer Season (June – September 2026)
- No specific season name announced.
- A Million Splashes of Colour: February – September 2024, From February 2026
- No specific season name announced.
- Summer Season (June – September 2026)
- Halloween Season [Disney Halloween Festival] (October – November 2026)
- 2026 season begins 26th September 2026 and runs until 1st November 2026.
- Nothing else yet announced. The 2025 season included:
- Mickey's Halloween Celebration: 2013–2016, 2018–present
- Halloween Party:
- Now part of main season (2023 season – present).
- Halloween Season [Disney Halloween Festival] (October – November 2026)
- Christmas Season [Disney Enchanted Christmas] (November 2025 – January 2026)
- Mickey's Dazzling Christmas Parade: 2021–present
- Let's Sing Christmas!: 2018–present
- Disney Princesses Holiday Season Celebration: a magical waltz: New 2025
- Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony: 1992–2012, 2025 (21st November onwards) – present
- New Years Eve Party:
- Now part of main season (2023 season – present).
- Sparkling New Year's Eve Fireworks: 1992–present
- Christmas Season [Disney Enchanted Christmas] (November 2025 – January 2026)
- Anniversaries
- No current Park specific or Disney wide anniversaries open or announced. The next scheduled anniversary (if announced) should be Disneyland Paris' 35th Anniversary in 2027.
- Anniversaries
Retired
- Parades
- Disney Magic on Parade (2012–2017)
- Disney's Once Upon a Dream Parade (2007–2012)
- Disney's Fantillusion (Nighttime Parade 2003–2012)
- Disney ImagiNations Parade (1999–2001)
- The Wonderful World of Disney Parade (1998–1999 and 2001–2007)
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame Carnival (1997–1998)
- Main Street Electrical Parade (Nighttime Parade 1992–2003)
- Disney Classics Parade (1992–1997)
- Daytime shows
- The Forest of enchantment: A Disney Musical Adventure (February – May 2016 & July – September 2017)
- Jedi Training Academy (2015–2017)
- Chantons La Reine des Neiges – Frozen Sing-Along (2015–2018)
- Tarzan: The Encounter (2000–2008, 2011–2012)
- Winnie the Pooh and Friends, too (1998–2005, 2006–2011)
- Mulan, la Légende (1999–2002)
- Beauty and the Beast (1992–1996)
- Nighttime shows
- Disney Electrical Sky Parade: (8 January 2024 – 9 January 2025)
- Halloween Scene addition to Disney Electrical Sky Parade: (2024; seasonals)
- Christamas scene addition to Disney Electrical Sky Parade: (2024; seasonals)
- Disney Illuminations: (2017–2023, 2024–2025)
- Disney Dreams! (2012–2017, April 2023–May 2024)
- Disney Dreams! of Christmas (2013–2017, 2022; seasonals)
- The Enchanted Fireworks (2008–2012)
- Wishes (2005–2007)
- Fantasy in the Sky (1992–2005)
- Disney Electrical Sky Parade: (8 January 2024 – 9 January 2025)
- Train parades
- Minnie's Little Spring Train (2015–2016)
- Disney's 20th Anniversary Celebration Train (2012–2013)
- Disney Dance Express (2011–2012)
- Disney All Stars Express (2010–2011)
- Minnie's Party Train (2009–2010)
- Disney Characters Express (2007–2009)
- Events & seasonal shows (Most recently retired)
- Early Season
- Disney Symphony of Colours (Early & Spring seasons 2024)
- Spring season
- Disney Music Festival (April – September 2025)
- Summer Season
- The Lion King & Jungle Festival (2019–2020)
- Jungle Book Jive (2019–2020)
- The Lion King & Jungle Festival (2019–2020)
- Halloween Season
- Are You Brave Enough? (2019)
- The Disney Villains Halloween Parade (2017–2019)
- Christmas Season
- Royal Sparkling Christmas Waltz (2019–2020)
- Mickey's Magical Christmas Lights (2015–2020)
- Disney's Christmas Parade (2012–2019)
- Ready for the Night (2022/23 New Year Parade)
- Early Season
- Anniversary Specific Celebrations & Events
- 25th Anniversary (2017–2018)
- The Starlit Princess Waltz (2017–2018)
- Mickey Presents Happy Anniversary Disneyland Paris (2017–2018)
- 30th Anniversary & 30th Anniversary Grand Finale (2022 – September 2023)
- Dream... and shine brighter (2022–2023)
- Disney D-light (v1.0: 2022 – 11 April 2023, v2.0: 12 April – 29 September 2023, 'Final day' version 30 September 2023 only)
- 25th Anniversary (2017–2018)
Gallery
Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing in Frontierland
At night
Horse tram
Old-time vehicle in Main Street, U.S.A.
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