- The Disney company first considered the idea of building a Disney theme park in Europe back in 1972. After Disneyland Tokyo opened in 1983 and was an instant success, the company actively started seeking locations in Europe.
- France wasn't the only European country to be considered. They considered Spain, Italy and the UK as well. Italy and the UK were quickly ruled out because there wasn't a large enough area of flat land. After looking at over 1,200 possible locations the final choice was between Marne-la-Vallée in France and the Costa Dorada in Catalonia, Spain. The Spanish site eventually became home to the theme park Port Aventura.
- There are features shared by all Disney theme parks, one of which is the castle. The castles are not the same in each location, though. In most of the parks, the castles are built to look like a typical castle in Europe, but the Euro Disney castle is built to look more like a castle in a fairy tale - because it's quite close to the real European castles and they wanted it to look different. That said, the design team visited a number of European castles for inspiration and were particularly inspired by the Church of St. Severin in Paris and Mont Saint-Michel. It's painted Pink, rather than Grey like the one in Florida, because of the European climate where the Sky is often grey. One thing it has in common with the other castles is that it is south facing to facilitate photography.
- The castle at Euro Disney is also the only one to have a Dragon in its vaults. It's an animatronic creature which is over 75 feet long and weighs over 5,500 pounds. It lives in La Taniere du Dragon beneath the Castle, where it wakes up and roars every so often.
- Rides are another common feature of Disney Parks, but Euro Disney has added some unique features to familiar rides. The Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris is the fastest of the five in operation. It can accelerate to 46 miles an hour in two seconds, using similar technology to that used to propel jet fighters. It is also the only one that goes upside-down. The Euro version of Big Thunder Mountain is the fastest, tallest and longest of them all.
- All Disney Main Streets have a barbershop, a tribute to Walt Disney's father, who was a barber. The one in Euro Disney has authentic furniture acquired from a barber in Chicago who was retiring at the time the park was being created.
- The limousine at the entrance to Studio Tram Tour: Behind the Magic at Walt Disney Studios is the actual one used by Cruella de Vil (Glenn Close) in 102 Dalmatians.
- Humans aren't the only visitors. There are so many wild Rabbits roaming the park that there is a department called "Wildlife" to manage the real animals. Hundreds of rabbits are caught and released every year. A fox once took up residence in the Peter Pan ride.
- Building an American theme park in the middle of France proved controversial. Not everyone loved the idea. French intellectuals felt it would encourage an unhealthy American type of consumerism in France. When some French farmers blockaded the park in protest about farming policy. one Le Figaro journalist wrote, "I wish with all my heart that the rebels would set fire to [Euro] Disneyland." While it is quintessentially American and Disney, there has been some tweaking to accommodate European customs and tastes. The restaurants were built with outdoor seating and some of them serve wine. Smoking is also allowed in some parts of the park.
- Euro Disney is set to get bigger. In 2018, it was announced that a €2 billion investment was to be made for an expansion to include three new areas based upon Marvel, Frozen and Star Wars, and a new lake.
New!
Closing the Circle
A stable wormhole has been established between Earth and Infinitus. Power Blaster and his friends can finally go home.
Desi Troyes is still at large on Earth - Power Blaster has vowed to bring him to justice. His wedding to Shanna is under threat as the Desperadoes launch an attempt to rescue their leader.
Someone from Power Blaster's past plays an unexpected and significant role in capturing Troyes.
The return home brings its own challenges. Not everyone can return to the life they left behind, and for some, there is unfinished business to be dealt with before they can start anew.
Ben Cole in particular cannot resume his old life as a surgeon because technology no longer works around him. He plans a new life in Classica, away from technology. Shanna hears there could be a way to reverse his condition and sets out to find it, putting herself in great danger. She doesn't know she is about to uncover the secret of Power Blaster's mysterious past.
Available from:
Amazon (Paperback)
A stable wormhole has been established between Earth and Infinitus. Power Blaster and his friends can finally go home.
Desi Troyes is still at large on Earth - Power Blaster has vowed to bring him to justice. His wedding to Shanna is under threat as the Desperadoes launch an attempt to rescue their leader.
Someone from Power Blaster's past plays an unexpected and significant role in capturing Troyes.
The return home brings its own challenges. Not everyone can return to the life they left behind, and for some, there is unfinished business to be dealt with before they can start anew.
Ben Cole in particular cannot resume his old life as a surgeon because technology no longer works around him. He plans a new life in Classica, away from technology. Shanna hears there could be a way to reverse his condition and sets out to find it, putting herself in great danger. She doesn't know she is about to uncover the secret of Power Blaster's mysterious past.
Available from:
Amazon (Paperback)
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