For those who know me (Caroline) - Eurodisney was a strange decision due to the large volume of child creatures wandering around freely - however, it was a wonderful time - despite everything...
Transportation To EuroDisney (TGV)
We took the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse, meaning high-speed train) to Paris . Fortunately we can do this from outside our apartment, and its a direct train. It takes about 5mins to stroll to the train station.
Door to Door - 4hrs.
We left Neuchatel at 0910AM precisely. Trains in Switzerland are very rarely late. Train climbed over the Jura Mountains, and down through the Dijon countryside. There were rolling hills, and farmland. We travelled through massive bright yellow rape fields, and past 8 massive windmills. These were the wind powered electricity turbines. I was shocked at how huge they were.
I would love to have provided photos however, the camera didnt work very well from where I had left it on the kitchen table.
Transportation To EuroDisney (Paris - Gare De Lyon)
Gare De Lyon is a typical old European railway station. A large structure with an impressive stone frontage, and iron warehouse style station area covering the trains. It was noisy, and dusty - and had the wonderful timetable boards that clicked as they changed arrivals/departures. It was very impressive seeing the lines of TGV's that arrive and leave from this station. We arrived at around 1pm.
Unfortunately, it is in need of a little attention - as I found out when I tripped and fell in the pothole on the platform. Randy mentioned something about multi-tasking issues, I just tried to catch my breath as I had winded myself quite badly (much like the rollerblading incident in DC)
Transportation To EuroDisney (Paris - RER)
Fortunately, in our Neuchatel Train station where we booked the tickets- The ticket man gave us an additional 2 small purple tickets to use on the Paris Metro/Underground/RER. I was very surprised when the ticket machine accepted our tickets, and we were on our way. It was a typical underground station with buskers, and long tiled walkways. We got to our platform. There is a board with a list of destinations on it, and lights appear next to the destinations that the next train will go to. We got on the train and off we went. 15mins later. We arrive at Marne-la-Vallée, or Eurodisney.
Eurodisney - Newport Bay Hotel
Our hotel was the Newport Bay (Providence Yachting theme), just a quick stroll through the Disney village (Planet Hollywood, Rainforest Cafe, Disney Store, Sportsbars, Billy Bobs with bucking bronco). The room was a nautical theme, and the hotel corridors were like corridors on a boat with portholes. However, we soon learned that we wished to never, ever, have a striped bedroom, with striped curtains and furniture. Temperature was hard to control in the room, view was incredible. Wish I had the camera. It was over the lake and the park, looked great at night.
Hotel had pool, and games room, and jacuzzi (which was quite chilly). It had a great bar with some cool cocktails. Drinks were approx 10E ($20) each.
Donald Duck was there the morning we left, having photos taken in the lobby.
EuroDisney - The Parks
Eurodisney and the Walt Disney Studios were an amazing couple of parks. We enjoyed the Finding Nemo ride (Too cool to surf the EAC man), and Aerosmith Ride (whoa - fast FAST start), Pirates of the Caribbean (cool animatronics) and the "its a small world" ride.
EuroDisney - The Parks - Armageddon Ride
My favourite - the Armageddon ride - In this ride, you are playing extras in a new scene for the Armageddon movie. You have a movie introduction by Michael Clark Duncan where he tells you about working on a movie set. Then you practice some ducks, and screams and scared looks with a lady at the front. When she gets a call from the set director - all us "extras" walked down this corridor onto the set. The set was a circular flight deck on a spaceship, there were monitors and shoots and it was all very science fiction. When the "cameras started rolling" there were a series of very good special effects directed onto you - including steam, wind, platform collapse, metal collapsing noises and a fire with quite an intesnse heat. The 3rd or 4th burst of fire set the kids all crying. Poor parents! Poor kids - they were so scared. LOL. I did chuckle a little... I have to say.
EuroDisney - Overall Impression
The parks were a little tatty, but it was still a wonderful fantasyland. We climbed the Swiss Robinson Tree House, and watched kids fly in dumbos. We went to see the dragon under the castle, and found the queen of hearts in a maze. We watched a parade of our cartoon and flim favourites come to life.
There were a number of attractions that were closed (Toy Story area, Studio Movie Tram Tour and the Stunt Car Show) - this was quite unfortunate, and we were a little disappointed. In addition, we had planned to do the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show the 2nd night, but didnt realise that it was not scheduled for that night until too late.
I would recommend checking on all showtimes for your plans with the concierge as soon as you arrive.
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