'Plan Your Day' Game Plan: Walt Disney Studios Paris
Disneyland Paris: Planning a trip to Paris? We've got your game plan for getting the most out of a day at the new Walt Disney Studios theme park.
From Ben Mills
Posted November 6, 2002 at 10:28 AM
I warned you it was coming.
I present to you, the Theme Park Insider Game Plan for Disney's runt of the litter, Walt Disney Studios. A day full of films, television, music and (sigh) the Mouse.
Not the hardest park to get around, neither an important one to have a game plan for. But Animal Kingdom got one... Bear in mind wile reading this that if you want to alter it for any reason, do so. Chances are you won't hit a queue (except Flying Carpets), so keep an open mind.
1st - Flying Carpets Over Agrabah (provided anyone in your party wishes to go on it-if not, skip it)
2nd - Studio Tram Tour
3rd - Armaggedon
4th - Rock 'n' Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith
5th - Art of Disney Animation
Occasionaly some rides do not open on time. If that happens just come back when does, or get a FastPass. The rest you can do in any order, as it is very unlikely they will have more than half an hour queue.
Things to do in the afternoon or when lines get long - Moteurs...Action!, CineMagique, Animagique
Things to skip if necessary - Television Production Tour
FastPass: Studio Tram Tour, Flying Carpets Over Agrabah
CineMagique and Animagique show basically none stop, so go whenever you want, but you might want to plan your visit to Moteurs...Action!
Overall, this shouldn't take much more than four hours, and that is only because of the length of most things. Also, unless you're bored, you really don't want to go on Television Production Tour. It is the worst thing I have ever been on. But at the end of the day (or whatever time you get there), there really are only two things that virtually everyone agrees you must do: CineMagique and Animagique.
So there you have it. 'The magic of film and more' (their words, not mine) summed up in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee. Or whatever it is you're into.
Rock on...
...just like Aerosmith.
Okay, now that the Game Plan is out of the way... Is it actually worth going to? Even as part of a stay in the resort? It all just seems so horribly pathetic.
From Ben Mills
Posted November 9, 2002 at 4:21 PM
Well, you are right. It can be horribly pathetic. But it does have a few decent rides, and Disney have promised it will get better. They've dropped many rumors of a Tower of Terror, which is basically certain, now. You certainly do not want to plan a special trip just to see it. You may not want to spend a whole days admission on it while you're there either, so if you think you can sacrifice some time in the original park then you may want to take up on the offer that Disney were doing a few months ago (though I'm not sure if they still do this). Basically, you buy a WDS park ticket, and then after 5pm, you have access to Disneyland. That's what I did, and it works quite well for someone who knows the original park like the back of their hand, but might not be so good for any first-timers.
In response to staying on resort: don't. The train station is literally right outside both parks, so I would stay somewhere in Paris where it is cheaper and frankly, nicer. You also won't pay nearly as much for food, and you'll get to see more on the cultural side of things. You may think it is expensive to get trains in (you'll have to change at least once), but when you compare it to staying on site, it's nothing.
well have you ever stayed in a resort hotel and how long ago was it you went if you really think dlp is that sad why bother wasting your time writting plans for it? hey ?
From Ben Mills
Posted May 28, 2003 at 6:19 AM
I've stayed in the Newport Bay Club. It was so crap and overpriced that I never went back to any of their hotels, and never intend to. Ever.
I like the original Disneyland park and I like Disney Village. I dislike the hotells for the above reasons. I don't entirely dislike Walt Disney Studios. If you had bothered to read the game plan, you'll have seen that there are attractions I enjoy. However, I dislike the theming because it is all the same, and all very bland and boring, and I dislike that they charge full price for a park that is only half complete.
From Anonymous
Posted May 28, 2003 at 7:35 AM
fair enough but if you have only been to one of the hotels then its unfair to say they are all crap and overpriced.Anyway there are new hotels opening that are still theamed and very close to the resort but are not owned by disney so maybe (in your opinion) they will be better.anyway maybe things have changed since you were last there?
From Ben Mills
Posted May 28, 2003 at 3:26 PM
Okay, I can accept that it's unfair to criticise all the hotels, but from what I've read, all the guidebooks say that Newport is the best value for money, so after trying that, I stayed away. After all, no amount of Disney theming can amount to waking up in a beautiful, bustling Parisian street.
The three new hotels are run by individual chains. (They are also listed on this very site - and I put them on, I'll have you know). They aren't really themed, but I'm sure they will be good, as I have not yet been disappointed by Holiday Inn or Kyriad. MyTravel are not so good on the other hand, but at least it isn't hugely overpriced.
And everyone I have spoken to says that almost nothing has changed. Nuff said.
From Anonymous
Posted May 29, 2003 at 2:09 AM
so when are you next going back?
From Anonymous
Posted May 29, 2003 at 6:20 AM
Newport Bay club is crap. Try Sequoia Lodge or Cheyenne, they're much better.
From Anonymous
Posted May 29, 2003 at 8:49 AM
I TOTALY AGREE CHEYENNE IS GREAT ITS LIKE A WESTEREN VILLAGE, WE STAYED IN THE ANNIE OAKLY. (NICE TO SEE SOMEONE WITH A DECENT POINT OF VEIW!)
From Ben Mills
Posted May 30, 2003 at 2:13 AM
I'm not sure when I'm going back. Summer, maybe.
From Anonymous
Posted June 3, 2003 at 6:55 AM
hi ben
you say not to stay in a resort hotel and to get a train their, and you also that you have to change trains well obv these trains will be packed and if if you are going with little kids and you have to carry all there things/equipment its going to be really hard so how can you say it will be easier?(didn't think that one through did you!!!)
From Ben Mills
Posted June 3, 2003 at 12:15 PM
Actually, the trains aren't packed. Obviously, different days, different seasons, different times will mean different varieties of crowds, but in all the times I've travelled in (too many to remember) I've only had to stand once.
As for the kid situation, to an extent you're right, but I still don't see much of a problem. When we went with kids, we stayed in Paris and never had any major problems with strollers etc. But my opinion is, and always has been, that stroller age is too young to appreciate Disneyland Paris. Certainly with more than one kid. So the thought would have crossed my mind had I thought that it needed to.
so you dont think that a four year old would enjoy it??(i know they are a bit old for a "stroller" but all that walking would make them tired!)
kids i know would love going to see tinker bell and buzz and woody ect....
From Ben Mills
Posted June 3, 2003 at 2:04 PM
Ah ha! The amount of walking they would need to do to get their money's worth would tire them out. They probably wouldn't make it round anyway. I haven't met a single kid who wasn't scared of the big Disney characters. We've gone onto this so many times before, but a child's enthusiasm is often measured by an adult's enjoyment. You might as well take them to your local zoo or park. It's cheaper, easier, and quicker. Yes children can enjoy DLP, but at that age it hardly seems worth the extra hassle. I would wait probably until about 6 or 7 for taking the kids.
whatever!
From JasonK K
Posted August 31, 2005 at 12:19 PM
Hi there. My family and I visited WDS not so long ago. The first words that came into my mind was 'concrete jungle' on seeing the buildings. There was a severe lack of vegetation! (unlike the Disneyland Park next door and Disney MGM Studios in Florida).
There is a major lack of attractions and calling the place a 'park' is a bit of a con. Calling it a land would have been far more honest and appropriate.
Some serious investment is required!
One Question, When I went to Walt Disney Paris last year, it was okay, the only good ride was the Rock N Roll ride. The only I hate is the TV studio tour, its better to go to Hollywood and go to the Warner Brother Film Studio Tour.
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