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knowledge attractions
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Disneyland Resort Paris
Doing it for the kids
Disneyland Resort Paris has
added new attractions and
rides as part of its 15th
anniversary celebrations.
Robin Searle reports
I
guess it’s true what they say – if you
really want to appreciate Disney, then
you need to see it through the eyes of
a child. In my case, it was actually two
children – my nephews Benjamin, six, and
Joseph, three.
I’d been to Disneyland Resort Paris before
on official duties, but with a raft of new
attractions opening over the past couple of
years and the resort now celebrating its 15th
anniversary, I thought it was time to return
with my two young judges and their parents
and get their verdicts on the additions.
Disneyland Park
The main recent attraction in the Disneyland
Park is the interactive Buzz Lightyear Laser
Blast, which gives riders the chance to fire Above: studying the moves at High School Musical to get a degree in fun, while Ben and Joseph (below) bring out the magic for Robin
lasers at targets from a slowly moving track.
In essence a glorified shooting gallery, its the two boys gave a running commentary on that didn’t stop their dad and I making a
simplicity is also its main selling point. Lightning McQueen and his cohorts, we en- beeline for The Twilight Zone Tower of
The two youngsters absolutely loved being joyed a simple, well-themed spinning ride. Terror. We weren’t disappointed: genuinely
able to manoeuvre the carriages and pick off After a quick stop to let Ben show off his disorienting and thrilling, it had us both
the bad guys, and us so-called adults also got word-perfect accompaniment of the High heading for the exit wearing huge grins.
a kick out of the scoring system that allows School Musical 2 live show, it was on to Stitch
you to turn the ride into a competition. Live. Not having seen Lilo & Stitch, and having Verdict
had an aversion to interactive shows since At 15 years old, it seems that the resort has
Walt Disney Studios Park a particularly traumatic pantomime truly now come of age. The new attractions
The Disney Studios park has received the experience 30-odd years ago, I wasn’t all add something to the mix, and when Ben
lion’s share of recent investment as it grows particularly looking forward to and Joseph returned home, they could talk
to rival its more established sibling. Stitch Live. of nothing else.
I was impressed by the But I must admit, I was impressed. As an adult, you can’t fail to be impressed.
expansion, with much more From the clever queue system But add in the children’s perspective, and
theming, new rides and shows which allows you to time your the magic really comes alive.
creating a park that now stands run by giving a rolling update
alone rather than feeling like on available space to the
an extension of the main show which allows a cartoon
Disneyland Park. character on a screen to interact
BOOK IT
We were hoping to check with audience members, it was
Disneyland Resort Paris offers two nights’ bed and
out Crush’s Coaster, but with a smooth and entertaining
breakfast at Hotel New York, plus three-day park
an 80-minute queue and no fast experience. tickets and travel on Eurostar this December from
pass access, we decided against Sadly for the youngsters, there
£351 per adult, £170 per child aged 7-11, and £90 per
it. Instead, we headed for the is a height limit for the Studios
child aged 4-6.
■ disneylandparis.com
Cars Race Rally next door. While Park’s main new attraction but
60 24.10.2008
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