Euro Disney?

[ufgator]

DH and I went 3 years ago and thought it really lacked the magic of WDW and DL in CA. The rides are scarier - Space Mountain is one. The CMs and the guests were not like in the USA. I'm glad I went because I was curious. Just don't expect it to be like CA and FL.

For a French theme park, we liked Asterix park. Asterix is a French cartoon character. The park was different and so were the rides.

 

[FatCow]

For a French theme park, we liked Asterix park. Asterix is a French cartoon character. The park was different and so were the rides.

Do you have the official link to the Asterix park? I loooove Asterix, especially Obelix and Idefix.

Also somewhere in France they have this technological 'park' filled with different types of IMAX technology. They have several theatres including IMAX, OmniMAX, IMAX-3D, and "Soaring"-type theatre.

 

[dbanzai]

My favorite amusement park so far in Europe is Efteling in The Netherlands... It has quite a Disney feel to it, with some similar rides (i.e. Vogel Rok is like Space Moutain).

The site for that one is www.efteling.nl

Then again I'm biased towards most things Dutch or German.

 

[fizz13]

I have done 4 trips to DLP now, the latest being in August. The park merchandise and food is pricey, but central Paris can be even pricier. I think this area is expensive full stop.

There is definately no organised lines for characters and it can be a fight to get your child close. It is not safe and we try to avoid it unless we find out in advance a character is going to be there so we can be first.

The main problem with CMs is that a lot don't speak english, so some will try to avoid you. The CM at the times board at the end of Main St did not even speak english, which seemed a bit odd, so prepare yourself with a bilingual dictionary.

The movie studios will be a dissapointment to anyone that has been to WDW. It is small and very show-based but can be fun if you go in with no expectations. Having a lot of indoors attractions actually makes it a great place to go if the weather is not in your favour (a frequent occurance in Europe I'm afraid). However, Rock n Roller coaster is better than WDW IMHO.

Other than all that, it can be a great place to visit. I think you only need 2 -3 days to see everything so definately combine it with a Paris stay. The transport to and from Paris is so easy with direct trains and shuttle buses. BTW if the prices for the Disney hotels seem steep, check out Val d@Europe. It's one stop away by train, has a shuttle bus as an alternative, is more luxurious than some of the Disney hotels and can be a lot cheaper.

Claire

 

[FatCow]

My favorite amusement park so far in Europe is Efteling in The Netherlands... It has quite a Disney feel to it, with some similar rides (i.e. Vogel Rok is like Space Moutain).

The site for that one is www.efteling.nl

Then again I'm biased towards most things Dutch or German.

Do they still have Europa Park? (obviously in somewhere Europe) and How about Legoland Denmark?

 

[FatCow]

Funny that on Efteling website, there is a new show called (after translation) "The Little Sea Mermaid". Cute!

Looking at the "more information" page, it looks like a rip-off of "Voyage of the Little Mermaid" (I don't mean it in a negative way) Again, cute!

 

[dbanzai]

The original Legoland in Billund/Denmark is still there, and there's one in Germany now as well.

I once tried to get to Legoland Denmark, thinking they were opened in winter, but we we got close and found out we were wrong. Darn Let's Go made myself and one of my co-students think it was open... They wrote their hours of operation section in a poor way.

I don't know about Europa Park.

Efteling has a number of fairy tale-based things, including a section of fairy tale scenes. Therefore a Little Mermaid attraction isn't too surprising... Actually here are some pictures of me there:

in front of Vogel Rok... Vogel = Eagle, so it's Eagle Mountain as opposed to Space Mountain.

Yes, I bought the t-shirt.

A fairy tale castle:

They have themed hotels and rides that if they aren't exactly like Disney, they have that feel. Like they have a ride which reminds me of a fairy-version of "It's a Small World" meets the "Haunted Mansion." There's a train around the place and other similar rides. Cueing up is much like Disney as opposed to "regular" amusement parks.

The Netherlands also have a place called Madorudam, which is a park of miniatures... No rides but fun and very well-done (detailed) models Dutch sites. That's www.madurodam.nl

 

[FatCow]

Funny that Europa Park also have a ride that reminds me of Haunted Mansion and It's a Small World.

In fact, Dunia Fantasi (Fantasy World) in Indonesia also have a ride which is VERY similay to It's a Small World and had a ride that's very similar to Haunted Mansion (just imagine Haunted Mansion, but really crappy)

 

[FatCow]

Oooh, oooh! I still remember Madurodam. Love that thing! In Canada we also have the crapozoidal version of Madurodam, it's called "Cullen Garden".

 

[ufgator]

Do you have the official link to the Asterix park? I loooove Asterix, especially Obelix and Idefix.

Also somewhere in France they have this technological 'park' filled with different types of IMAX technology. They have several theatres including IMAX, OmniMAX, IMAX-3D, and "Soaring"-type theatre.

I don't know the official site. You could probably find it on Google. I think it's Parc Asterix in French. I just knew about it from some of my French classes - we used to watch some of the cartoons. I've never heard of that technology park, but I bet my DH would have liked it.


Has anyone been to Tivoli in Copenhagen? One of the rides there is very similar to It's a Small World. DH and I thought Disney took some ideas from there, esp. because the park has been around for so long. The park is really cute.

 

[FatCow]

I've been to Tivoli in Copenhaagen twice, but I didn't remember the ride that's similar to IaSW. Tivoli keeps upgrading the park just like Disney, both times I went there (more than 12 years ago), I didn't (recall) seeing that ride.

 

[dbanzai]

I've been outside Tivoli... That same time we were trying to get to Legoland we spent time in Cobenhavn. It looked like it would have been a fun time in an old-style amusement park.

We did get to the Madame Tusuad's right outside Tivoli. Not the best in the chain.

 

[FatCow]

We did get to the Madame Tusuad's right outside Tivoli. Not the best in the chain.

Gotta see Mme Tussaud's museum at Niagara Falls before it was demolished, it's much worse than the one next to Tivoli Garden.

 

[dbanzai]

I guess I'm spoiled, the first one I saw was Amsterdam, then near Tivoli, then the two in London (the original and the Rock Circus. The latter being my favorite). So I saw some of the best in my first few tries. I've been to a few others since, including the new one in Times Square.

 

[momsgoofy]

...Efteling has a number of fairy tale-based things, including a section of fairy tale scenes. Therefore a Little Mermaid attraction isn't too surprising...
They have themed hotels and rides that if they aren't exactly like Disney, they have that feel. Like they have a ride which reminds me of a fairy-version of "It's a Small World" meets the "Haunted Mansion." There's a train around the place and other similar rides. Cueing up is much like Disney as opposed to "regular" amusement parks.

The Netherlands also have a place called Madorudam, which is a park of miniatures... No rides but fun and very well-done (detailed) models Dutch sites. That's www.madurodam.nl

dbanzai...you are making me terribly homesick for my little row house in Hooglanderveen... where I lived for a year with my sister and her family as their nanny. I turned 19 a month after I arrived there and I had one of the most wonderful years of my life there!

D'Eftling was such a neat place back then...1985-86. One of the fondest memories I have is of the talking garbage cans...my nephews begged for bits of paper to toss into them. And I took my oldest nephew on his first rollercoaster ride there...he was 6 and had the fear of God look on his face, but begged to get right back on it. I still have our photo taken on the Luge ride they had back then...

That same nephew absolutely embarrassed his mom at Maduradaum! We had just visited the beach at Schevingegan...okay my Dutch is a bit rusty...anyway when we were walking around Madoradaum we saw the miniature beach there and the same nephew yelled to his mom in his best English..."Hey, Mom! They've gotten naked ladies on the beach here too!" He was correct in his observation, but it was a hoot to watch him as calm as could be make it and his mom try to crawl under the nearest miniature rock!

When my mom visited she was 55 and insisted on visiting the museum located about 2 blocks from the train station in Amsterdam on the right...it had two very unique "columns" that arched upward like elephant's tusks at it's entrance. She insisted on having her photo taken in the entryway...it's one of the family favorites...especially since she died 5 years ago.

Dagnabit! I am really hurtin' for a good batch of frietes and frietsauce or an olliebollen...yummy!

Well, at least I can have a taste of Gouda...it's in the fridge thanks to Sam's Club.

I could go on forever about how wonderful I think the Netherlands are and how badly I want to go back, but I won't...I'll just dream and say...some day I will!

DA!
Laura ºoº

 

[dbanzai]

I spent two semesters in Limburg during college... By far my two best semesters of college. I made some great friends and go back to visit once or twice a year. The Netherlands is my second home, and if I'm not going to Disney, then I'm likely heading over there.

That museum in Amsterdam, is it the one with Marylin Monroe inside?

 

[Fromeurope]

Hi everyone, thanks for all your enthousiastic messages about my homecountry the Netherlands
This is so nice to read.
I wish I could invite you all and spoil you with Dutch treats like patat (french fries) and oliebollen, and how about stroopwafels?
Anyway I am sending you lots of love from Amsterdam!
Byebye

 

[Fromeurope]

Do you have the official link to the Asterix park? I loooove Asterix, especially Obelix and Idefix.


The official link is www.parcasterix.fr
Have fun!

 

[dbanzai]

Hi everyone, thanks for all your enthousiastic messages about my homecountry the Netherlands
This is so nice to read.
I wish I could invite you all and spoil you with Dutch treats like patat (french fries) and oliebollen, and how about stroopwafels?
Anyway I am sending you lots of love from Amsterdam!
Byebye

Send me some Brand bier and I'll be quite happy! And personally I like fleis croqueten met frites... Also panenkoeken met spec!

Stroopwafels are sometimes too sweet for me.

 

[Fromeurope]

Yes, the Dutch pancakes (pannenkoeken) are really different from the ones you're used to. We like yours better
By the way, no Heineken (that's real Dutch as well) for you?