Disneyland Paris 2014 - Part 1

Arriving At Europe's Magic Kingdom

Wednesday - January 1st 2014

When we had been to Disneyland Paris last year, we bought an Annual Pass, because we couldn't stay in a Disney Hotel and since it was expiring soon, we decided to return to Europe's Magic Kingdom. 

Around 7:30am Claudia and I started our journey to France. We drove from Salzburg via Munich, Stuttgart and Reims to Paris and after a nine hours drive we finally arrived at our hotel in Chessy. Like last year we chose the Relais Spa Chessy Hotel, because the hotel was conviniently located near the huge Val D'Europe Shopping Center with an Auchan supermarket and it only took a few minutes by train, RER Line A, to Disneyland Paris.

After we arrived, we parked our car, checked in and dropped our luggage off. Our room included a small kitchen with a stove and a fridge, but no mini bar. Both the main room and the bathroom were nice and clean and big enough for two persons. From the window we could see the two Disney Parks in the distance. Of course there was a TV as well and finally a German channel was added to the selection. The hotel also offered free wi-fi, so we could use our iPad. Breakfast was not included in our package, but for an extra fee of 15 Euros it was possible to book it. However we didn't do that and went to Starbucks or to the Cable Car Bake Shop at Disneyland instead.

Relais Spa Chessy Hotel

Hotel Lobby

Our Room

Kitchen

Bathroom

Disney Parks seen from the Hotel

After we refeshed a bit, we were on our way to the Disney Parks. Unfortunately January 1st was a block out day, which meant we couldn't use our Annual Passes on that day. We knew that before and so we spent the evening in the Disney Village enjoying some drinks during Happy Hour at King Ludwig's Castle and strolled through the Disney shops afterwards to check out the merchandise.

Disneyland Resort Anaheim Plaque in Disney Village

Walt Disney World Resort Plaque in Disney Village

Tokyo Disney Resort Plaque in Disney Village

Hong Kong Disneyland Plaque in Disney Village

King Ludwig's Castle

King Ludwig's Castle Bar

King Ludwig's Castle Restaurant

Indiana Mickey in the Disney Gallery

Before we returned to the hotel, we had dinner at Earl of Sandwich, which was disappointing, because they took the veggie sandwich from the menu, but we managed to get another one. Last time we went there every day, but during this vacation we ate there only once, thanks to the bad veggie selection.

Earl of Sandwich

Avocado Tomato Sandwich

Back at the hotel we watched TV and went to bed early because of the exhausting drive to Paris.

Disneyland Paris 2014 - Part 2

Our First Day In The Parks

Thursday - January 2nd 2014

Our Annual Pass included the Extra Magic Hours and of course we wanted to make full use of them. During 8:00am and 10:00am Fantasyland and Discoveryland are only open to Disney Hotel guests and to Annual Pass holders.

Shortly after 8:00am we arrived at the park gates and walked straight to Buzz Lightyear's Laser Blast. Although the ride doesn't fit into the Discoveryland theme centered around European visionairies like Jules Verne, we enjoy this attraction a lot. Afterwards it was time for Space Mountain and during this visit we had the best rides ever. Nearly all effects were working, I have never seen fog used as a special effect in all my six visits, and the ride wasn't as bumpy as remembered.

Buzz Lightyear's Laser Blast

Star Tours

Space Mountain's Columbiad Canon and The Nautilus

Star Tours wasn't open yet and so we decided to walk to Fantasyland. Peter Pan's Flight was already open and since we haven't done it in years due to the long lines, we gave it another try. What a lovely ride. Mad Hatter's Tea Cups were next and then we visited one of Disneyland Paris' best features, the dragon beneath the castle. 

Le Chateau De La Belle Au Bois Dormant

Peter Pan's Flight

Mad Hatter's Tea Cups

The Dragon

Then it was time for coffee at the Cable Car Bake Shop. I'm not a big fan of the coffee offered inside the parks, but we didn't want to leave Disneyland for Starbucks. It's time to bring Starbucks into the parks, like in the US Disney Parks.

Central Plaza

Main Street Vehicles

Main Street USA

Cable Car Bake Shop

Segafredo Coffee

Main Street USA

Now all lands were open and after breakfast we headed to Frontierland and queued for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the wildest ride in the wilderness. Later we did one of Disney's best attractions ever, the Phantom Manor.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Phantom Manor

Phantom Manor

Phantom Manor

Today we had an early reservation at our favourite restaurant for lunch, but before we cruised the Rivers of the Far West with the Molly Brown. It was a first time for us, until now we only experienced the Mark Twain. The riverboats are a good opportunity to escape the crowds on heavy days. We still had some time left and so we watched the Christmas Cavalcade on Central Plaza.

Molly Brown

Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing

Thunder Mesa

Rivers of the Far West

Inside Molly Brown

Inside Molly Brown

Le Chateau De La Belle Au Bois Dormant

Christmas Cavalcade

Christmas Cavalcade

Claudia is vegan and unfortunately Disneyland Paris can't be compared to Walt Disney World when it comes to vegetarian friendly menus, but Agrabah Cafe, a buffet style eatery, offers Oriental inspired food and many vegetarian options, like couscous salad. Another good thing about that restaurant is, that it doesn't get so crowded.

Agrabah Cafe

Agrabah Cafe

Agrabah Cafe Salad Buffet

Lunch at Agrabah Cafe

Lunch at Agrabah Cafe

Lunch at Agrabah Cafe

After lunch we walked over to the Walt Disney Studios Park. At first we wanted to ride The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, but the line was too long and so we lined up for the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop, which we had never tried before. I guess this ride is for kids who can't do the Tower of Terror yet. Then we walked around Toy Story Playland and took a look over the fence at the construction site of the upcoming Ratatouille ride.

Town Square

City Hall on Main Street

Disneyland Railroad Main Street Station

Disneyland Hotel

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Toy Story Playland

Toy Story Playland

Toy Story Playland

Toy Soldier Parachute Drop

Rex eating me

Rock'n'Roller Coaster was next on our list, but Animagique was about to begin and so we decided to watch this cute black light show first. Later it was time to join Aerosmith, but the coaster was disappointing, because the onboard music didn't work. Luckily that changed during the rest of our trip.

Toon Studio

Studio 1

Backlot

Backlot

Backlot

To escape the crowds we headed to the Disneyland Hotel and enjoyed a bottle of Disneyland Paris' 20th Anniversary wine at Cafe Fantasia. This bar is one of our most favourite places at Disneyland Paris.

Front Lot

Walt Disney Studios Park Entrance

Cafe Fantasia

20th Anniversary Wine Bottle

Wine at Cafe Fantasia

Cafe Fantasia

Disneyland Hotel Lobby

Afterwards we returned to the Studios Park to have dinner at the En Coulisse Restaurant. We both ordered fries and a salad and redeemed our free tea coupons. Later the crowds were lighter and we finaly did the Tower of Terror.

Inside Studio 1

Dinner at En Coulisse Restaurant

Tower of Terror

Inside Tower of Terror

Moteurs...Action!

Rock'n'Roller Coaster by Night

Cinemagique

Then we just walked around the park and decided to leave the Disney resort. We took the RER back to Val D'Europe, where we went to the Auchan supermarket before returning to our hotel.