Walt Disney Studios, Paris- Travel #25

Bonjour Steemit friends, let me take you on a whimsical journey to Walt Disney Studios in Paris, France. Walt Disney Studios is the second of 2 theme parks built at Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, France. It opened its gates for the first time on the 16th of March 2002, 10 years after Disneyland Paris or Euro Disney as it was once known as. Even though it is a Disney theme park it has a different atmosphere to Disneyland. This park is dedicated to the show business aspect, themed after movies, productions and the behind-the-scenes. Giving you a taste of what goes into making a feature production with lots of behind-the-scenes experiences and tours. Hollywood and movies have fascinated us for generations and it's no surprise that this park alone hosts approximately 5 million guests per year. It has two sister parks, Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Florida and Disney California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. These parks internationally prove that no matter our nationality, race, religion or background, we can all relate to the magic of Disney, we really have Walt to thank for that.

I always dreamed of going to Disneyland from an early age and I was lucky enough to experience it for the first time with my family. My mum and my two brothers Wayne and Scott. My younger brother Scott is wheelchair bound however, he has never let this hinder his travels. Disney is well known around the world for its first class service, hospitality and its work with charities making it one of the easiest places to get around. Scott was treated so well and it was almost as though his wheelchair didn't exist which is all we could ever ask for. Walt Disney Studios is located right next to Disneyland Paris and you can hop between parks in a day if you choose to. As a family we decided to focus on one park per day to get the most out of them. There really is so much to do, you would miss out on so much if you tried to tackle both parks in one day. To read about Disneyland Paris, you can read my previous blog by clicking this picture below:

If you are staying in central Paris, the most popular way to travel between the city centre and Walt Disney Studios is on the suburban commuter trains called the RER (Regional Express Network). Line A of the RER system terminates at Marne-la-Valee station which is very conveniently located next to the front gates of Disney Village and the theme parks at Disneyland Paris. The journey takes about 40 minutes. My family and I decided to stay on-site at one of Disneyland's many resort hotels. This offered easy access around the resort via complimentary shuttles. Other transportation options include hiring a car, catching a shuttle from Charles De Gaulle airport or from your central Parisian hotel.

To find me, look for my chihuahua's face

Walt Disney Studios

Being able to stay on site at one of the Disney resort hotels was a treat and I highly recommend it. The hotels are of course of a high standard to align with the name Disney and are affordable. The convenience of being a short complimentary shuttle ride away to both theme parks and Disney village is a dream. Even if you would like to explore outside of Disney, staying at one of their resort hotels is only a 40 minutes train ride into central Paris. An added bonus of staying at a Disney resort hotel is that all the staff speak English and are very polite, this is sheer opposite of what it can be like in Paris itself. Before heading out for the day we enjoyed a delicious Disney inspired buffet breakfast at the hotel, I must say I devoured more than my fair share of Mickey dark chocolate croissants. Another added bonus of staying on-site is that the hotel can cater to your dietary requirements and advise you accurately of your options within the parks. This saves a lot of time and frustration for those like myself who have specific requirements.

The entrance - note the Mickey ears on the water tower

Mum and Scotty enjoying breakfast

Scotty and I ready for a fun day

When planning any holiday or vacation, it's handy to have as much information as possible to save time, money and overall reduce any stress. You can pick up park maps and show timetables prior to entering the park so that you can create an itinerary for yourself. I understand that some of you may be spur of the moment go with the flow kind of people and that is great, not great at a Disney park however, as you will miss out on a lot without planning. Depending on what appeals to you and your family will determine what you prioritise in seeing and experiencing. The Walt Disney studios map is very deceptive, it does not look huge but trust me you need an entire day there to enjoy everything this park has to offer.

Park Map

Walt Disney studios is a very different experience to Disneyland. It caters to all ages, from the adrenaline thrill seekers to those that just fancy a cup of tea and a show. Disneyland is a whole Disney experience, from the finest details in theming as for Walt Disney Studios is more action packed and ride based. The studios is faster paced and where you go to see how movie magic happens, get the real inside scoop yourself. It is definitely an action packed day that will please even the fussiest of teenagers. In words best described by Michael D. Eisner, the CEO of the Walt Disney company at the time of Walt Disney Studio's opening:

"To all who enter this studio of dreams...welcome. Walt Disney Studios is dedicated to our timeless fascination and affection for cinema and television. Here we celebrate the art and the artistry of storytellers from Europe and around the world who create magic. May this special place stir our own memories of the past, and our dreams of the future"

Lights, Camera, Action

I have to admit that probably my favourite thing about visiting a Disney park or Disney in general is the spark of imagination and creativity that it sets off in my heart. In life it is very easy to get caught up and lost in the stress of the daily 9 to 5 that coming here can reignite our passions once lost. Sounds far fetched but it really isn't, sometimes all you need is time out to forget the woes and live in the magical world that is Disney. A wise man once said "do something everyday that makes your 4 year old self happy".

Meeting the mouse himself

Every theme park around the world has that one ride that people talk about the most, that is hyped up and gets labelled a "must do", for Walt Disney studios it's the Hollywood tower hotel. The Hollywood tower hotel, also known as the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, is an accelerated drop ride through the dark and is not for the faint of heart. It is inspired by Rod Serling's anthology television series, The Twilight Zone, and takes place in the Hollywood Tower Hotel in Los Angeles, California. This "hotel" places riders in a seemingly ordinary elevator, and then presents them with a backstory. The legend goes that guests mysteriously disappeared in that very elevator under the influence of supernatural elements years earlier. Will you make it out the elevator or will you become the newest permanent guest at the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Oooh spooky....

Hollywood tower hotel

The park's most famous attraction

If spooky does not appeal to you then maybe Pixar will. Walt Disney studios features Toon Studio which is inspired by Disney and Pixar animated characters. The studio features such Pixar characters as Crush (from Finding Nemo), Mater and Lightning McQueen (from Cars), Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and other characters from Toy Story just to name a few. Pixar is very light hearted and a trip through Toon studios is bound to please all children especially the children at heart. I mean how many of us waited years for the latest Toy Story to come out, no doubt we have a fond connection with Pixar.

Lightening McQueen

Hollywood walk of fame

Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse

One of the coolest attractions at this park has to be the cinematic backlot. The backlot is almost an exact replica of an industrial movie set decorated in alignment to what an actual backlot would be like in Hollywood. This lot showcases the high thrills of blockbusters such as Mission: Impossible, Planet of the Apes, Batman and Independence Day to name a few. Let me tell you, I did not expect the backlot to be my favourite attraction as it sure packs a ton of surprises. You feel like you are on an actual live Hollywood feature set as live action stunts are performed all around you, possibly even involving you. It is definitely one not to be missed. However, if you get jump scared easily then maybe give this one a miss.

Mum and I on a live backlot set tour

Original plaque

Now what would Disney be without a classic love story. The story of Walt’s romance with Lillian Bounds is as good a fairy tale as any in the Disney stratosphere. The couple, who met in the 1920's while Lillian was working in the Ink and Paint department at the studio, were married for 41 years. Walt and Lillian shared a wonderful life together, stood strong through uncertain times and financial collapse to become one of the worlds most adored couples.

"I think my dad fell in love with her almost immediately, she was an independent little lady," says daughter Diane Disney Miller about her mother Lillian.

Walt's and Lillian's love for each other was eternal and lives on today in the parks. Their love story along with photographs and videos can be seen at these studios here in Paris in a cute little museum.

Walt and Lillian Disney

One of the best things about Walt Disney studios is its live stage productions. These live performances are magical, performed by world class actors, singers, dancers and acrobats. These performers not only look the part but are extraordinarily talented and dedicated. They are of standard of any Broadway and West End production. I encourage all of you to watch the shows and appreciate the time and effort gone into making our favourite fairy tales come to life on stage. Watching these performances can get very emotional with the impeccable way that Disney pull at your heart strings combining visual and audio collaborations. Honestly, I could sit in the amphitheatre all day and watch every show. Watching these shows alone make a trip to the studios well worth it.

Live stage productions

Jungle Book

Tarzan

Rapunzel

Brave

Spectacular ending with all the Disney characters

After a full day filled with action packed rides, stunning animation and heart warming shows, it was time to head back to our hotel. Staying at a Disney resort hotel means that the magic doesn't end when you walk out the gates, it continues into your beautifully themed rooms. Even then the magic doesn't have to end there, you can keep it in your heart forever for as long as you believe. So all in all I highly recommend a trip to Disney Paris, whether it be with your loved ones or even by yourself, get out there and immerse yourself in the magic.

Disney hotel

I hope you have enjoyed my blog on Walt Disney Studios, Paris, France, thank you for reading and I look forward to sharing more adventures with you, until next time, Au revoir , Vegoutt Everybody!

Off on my next adventure