Footsteps on the Globe

Disneyland Paris is the kingdom of magic and the stuff of fairytale dreams…but it’s also home to some seriously awesome rides and some even more awesome facts. Here are 20 of my favourite facts about Disneyland Paris, enjoy!

1) The official opening date and time of the park was 12th April 1992 at 9.01am

To be precise ;)

2) The original location of the park wasn’t even Paris

That’s right! Disney originally wanted a warmer location in Europe that would correlate with the warm temperatures like in the Florida and California parks. However Paris bid and won because of the estimated four hour drive from 70 million people and a two hour flight away from 300 million people in central Europe. A sound argument I’d say!

3) €59 million has been spent by visitors since its opening

That’s a lot of Mickey Mouse teddies…

4) Disneyland Paris welcomed its 250 millionth visitor in November 2011

That’s a third of the entire population of Europe :O

5) There’s a secret network of underground tunnels

Ever wondered how Mickey and his pals seem to be in two places at once? I’m afraid this isn’t a sprinkle of Tinker Bell dust…just underground tunnels! Characters need to dash from one side of the park to the other without the bustle of the crowds slowing them down. A network of underground tunnels were built to solve this and are also used to haul equipment as not to tarnish the ‘magic’ of Disney’s image.

6) Lilly’s Boutique in Main Street is named after Walt’s wife

Walt Disney wanted Main Street to feel just like home, so named the boutique after his beloved wife Lillian. If you have a closer look, you’ll notice some pictures of her and Walt in the shop. Aw!

7) Every castle in each park is different

You might think the castles in the US would be better because they were first but the castle in Disneyland Paris is actually more elaborate and dream-like as they were already a big part of European history so the Paris castle is more fairytale like.

8) The park’s original name wasn’t ‘Disneyland Paris’

It was originally called Euro Disney, however research into low visitor numbers found Europeans associated ‘Euro’ too much with finance and work. Americans on the other hand, thought it sounded glamorous *shrugs*

9) There are hundreds of ‘hidden mickeys’ all over the park

From the treasure on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride to the fire hydrants on Main Street, no one quite knows how many there are but if you keep a look out, you’ll see them quite literally, everywhere.

10) Disneyland Paris has had lots of famous visitors

George W. Bush and the French president François Mitterrand had lunch at The Cinderella’s Inn restaurant in July 1994 and as well as Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, model Claudia Schiffer and Michael Jackson (not at the same time obviously).

11) There is a population of rogue cats

The staff are so grateful for the cats keeping the rodent population (except you Mickey!) down they spay and neuter adults, bring kittens to animal shelters and provide food stations to make sure they’re well looked after.

12) Many of the tenants in the Main Street windows are real people

Many of these ‘tenants’ contributed to the concept and development of Disneyland Paris. Walt Disney and his brother Roy are credited as “Founders and Partners” on one window and Walt’s long-time friend, Imagineering Executive Martin Sklar is listed as a newspaper Editor.

13) A stained glass expert from England created the windows in Sleeping Beauty’s Castle

Paul Chapman in 1992 (then in his 80s) was asked to design the stained glass windows after he had previously worked on the restoration of Notre Dame.

14) Disneyland Paris is only the second resort open outside the US

The other one is in Tokyo which opened on 15th April 1983. Whose up for Disneyland UK?? #awesomesauce

15) It’s a Small World was only supposed to be temporary

It’s a Small World was created for the 1964 New York World’s Fair but because it was so popular it has now been replicated in every Disney Park…although some of us wish it hadn’t *cue annoying music*.

16) Elton John sang at the opening of Space Mountain

During the European leg of his tour Elton ‘dropped in’ to give a special performance to 40,000 visitors to celebrate the opening of Space Mountain in 1995, how cool is that?

17) The oldest person to visit the Park was 106 years old

Proof that Disneyland isn’t just for the kids!

18) Disneyland Paris is Europe’s leading tourist destination

With two amazing theme parks (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park), seven Disney themed hotels, shops, a nightclub and a cinema complex is it any wonder? In all, Disneyland Paris includes 54 attractions, 56 shops and 69 themed restaurants and four interactive shows.

19) Aerosmith re-recorded vocals and guitar riffs especially for the Rock n Roller Coaster

The recorded songs, including ‘Love on a Roller Coaster’ cannot be heard anywhere else. It’s also one of the best rides in the Park!

20) Disneyland Paris will never be completed

In Walt Disney’s own words, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” And Walt wouldn’t be disappointed as just in the last five years Disneyland Paris has opened Toy Story Land with three new rides and Ratatouille: The Adventure.

I hope you enjoyed these fun facts, at the very least one of these may come up on the pub quiz and you’ll be the team hero ;)

If you know any interesting facts about Disneyland Paris please share them with me! For more on Disneyland Paris, check out my latest video, top 10 things to do in Disneyland Paris below 😉