Disneyland Paris, originally Euro Disneyland, opened its doors April 12, 1992.
Located in Marne-la-Vallee, France (just outside of Paris), the park opened to feature 29 attractions in a layout much like Disneyland park in California, with the exception of offering a Discoveryland instead of Tomorrowland.
The centerpiece of the theme park is Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty Castle). The 167-foot structure was inspired by the architecture of Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, as well as castle descriptions that appear in different versions of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale.
Disney’s first European park welcomed more than 11 million guests in its first year alone, and has since celebrated exciting growth over the years, including the debut of attractions like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril in 1993, Space Mountain: De la Terre a la Lune in 1995 and Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast in 2006.
Did You Know? When The Walt Disney Company was scouting spots to build its first European theme park, another location that was a top contender was Barcelona, Spain.
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I’ve only been there once but I plan to go back next time I go to Paris. Happy Birthday to Disneyland Paris!
….and the park is getting more beautifull than ever while it’s getting ready for her twentieth birthday, ofcourse we’re going there a few times this year (wouldn’t miss my coffee at Salon Mickey, dinner at Walts’or the Magical Moments Festival) but I almost can’t wait ’till next year….
Bonne anniversaire Disneyland Paris!
Correction: Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant wasn’t inspired by the German Neuschwanstein Castle. Because there where so many real castles in the direct neighbourhood of the park, the Imagineers chose to build a fantasy castle.
Neuschwanstein was the inspiration for the very first Disney castle, Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland, Anaheim.
Just a random Disney question… Has Disney considered making a movie of The 12 Dancing Princesses?
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