Booking was pretty straightforward. I was flexible with my departure days. I booked myself into the Sequoia Lodge for a two-night/three day stay. The price included breakfast and Disney Hopper Pass for three days. I asked them about Eurostar but the price (I was quoted an extra £180) was horrendous. I decided to book my own transport.
Living half an hour from Luton airport, I decided to book an Easy Jet flight to Paris Charles de Gaulles Airport. The flight was cheap. I took the first plane out from Luton and arrived in Paris at just after 8 in the morning. I was directed to the bus stop, told the driver where I wanted to get off and within 45 minutes I was dropped outside the Sequoia Lodge. It was too early to go into the room but at least you are given the option to check in and deposit your luggage at the hotel before going to the parks.
I was getting excited. It was my first time in the new Walt Disney Studios Park. I had been to Disneyland Park 18 months earlier and wanted to go there again after I had experienced the new park. I had been to Disney's MGM Studios in Florida so expected more of the same.
And please keep in mind one thing while you are reading this, I went at the end of January. And it is about Walt Disney Studios only.
Crowds? …. What crowds???? The place was deserted.
So here it goes.
You are walking through the main entrance gates onto the 'Front Lot' area. Here you will find the usual information booth, toilets, pushchair rental, lost and found, etc. You then walk into 'Studio 1', shopping on your left, big fast food outlet on the right. Here you will find Disney cast members pretend they are filming a movie or live music.
Coming out of the building leads you onto 'Production Courtyard', a central place from where you can explore the rest of the park. First impression: Oh! … My! … Gosh! …, it's … soooooo … tiny!!!!!!! You can have a look around and see every part of the park without having to move. Handy, if you want to see where the biggest crowds are.
I take the systematic approach. I walk straight ahead towards the Studio Tram Tour. You chose the waiting area according to the language you speak. They cater for French, English, German and, I think, Italian or Spanish speakers. Once on board the tram you set off and a film is played in your chosen language. Two actors (Jeremy Irons and a female who's name escaped me in the English speaking part) tell you about how movies are made and what you see on the tour. You drive along some paths with some movie props dotted around into Catastrophe Canyon. Big special effect area with water, fire and explosion. The tour then takes you past a building where Disney costumiers work and into a movie set of London streets with more explosions and fire. Before you know it the ride's over.
To warm up I went into Art of Disney Animation in the 'Animation Courtyard'. Here you are being told how Disney animated movies are made. Earphones (for translation into English) are provided unless you understand French and can go without. You walk out into an interactive play area where you can learn how to draw Mickey Mouse, play games, etc.
A bit further you find Flying Carpets Over Agrabah, based on Aladdin. It's, as the name says, a flying carpet ride, up and down, round and round.
There is also Animagique. I didn't go inside, the show times were so few and far that I couldn't be bothered. From the pictures outside it looked like a stage show with Disney characters but I may be wrong.
Back at the Production Courtyard I decided to see Cinematique. The movie was about to start just when I was passing so I went in. It's basically a 25-minute movie telling you the story of film making, from silent movies to high tech action. A little live action is thrown in as an annoying visitor is sucked into the action on the screen.
Next along was Walt Disney Television Studios. Here, you can have a look behind the scenes of the day-to-day running of the Disney Channel. I think they said all Disney Channels over Europe are centrally put out from here. You stop of at a recording of an episode of Playhouse Disney. Unless of course, they are on a break. The nice lady explained that earlier that day the Italians were filming their Playhouse Disney episodes. At the end of the tour you invited into an interactive play area.
Now, I hoped, it was getting interesting for me. I entered the 'Backlot' area of the park. On my right was Armageddon Special Effects. You walk into the first room - a pre-ride holding area where members of the public are invited to help how special effects, like blue-screen, work. Then it's off to the main ride. You are standing in the control room of the space station and asteroids are about to destroy it. Will you escape or die trying? Call me cynical but what was that all about? Standing in a room waiting for something to happen is not really my idea of an interesting ride. Maybe I am just becoming blaze about big rides and expect too much.
Now one of my favourite rides from the MGM park in Florida: Rock 'n' Roller Coaster with Aerosmith (well, their music and a very short film featuring the band). A high-speed roller coaster through the dark to the music of Aerosmith. Strapped into the seat of the car the ride stated, loops, drops, corkscrews and music. It's a great ride, although I was a little disappointed. I remembered it being faster and more furious. Still the best ride in the park.
Tower of Terror is the latest addition to the park and I can only say, thank goodness for that. I had been waiting for this to happen for years. The arrival of this new ride was postponed after what had happened in New York on 9/11 but it had never stopped the ride in Florida. I am glad they have now come to their senses and added this great ride to the park. After all, it's not often that you can drop down 13 floors and survive to tell the tale.
Only one more show to explore, Moteur… Action. A high-speed stunt show with cars, bikes and explosions.
I didn't wait around for the afternoon movie parade so I can't comment on it.
Because the park was so empty when I was there I managed to do virtually everything in one morning. I entered the park at 10.30 in the morning and was ready to leave a few hours later. And I did. I was sipping a cup of hot coffee in the Disneyland Park before 2 in the afternoon.
As with all Disney Parks you can spend as much or as little time as you want in there. But in my eyes it wasn't value for money. I wouldn't be able to spend a whole day there.
NB: More photos to be uploaded when I can find my photo DVD...
