Fun Facts

General

1. Consider this to be just a rumor until I can provide some evidence, but Disneyland Paris' official name is still Euro Disneyland. Supposedly, officially changing the name would somehow violate the original contracts Disney signed with the french government back in 1987. If it's true, this would explain why certain things in the park like the trains still say Euro Disneyland and will not be changed. I guess Disneyland Paris is just a nickname.
   REPORTED: James 20 OCT 01
   James states that the disneyland paris park is actually still named eurodisney and that disneyland paris is merely a nickname I can tell you this is not true; he mixes two things up the park was officialy renamed into disneyland paris when the ceo of the walt disney company, michael eisner, became aware of the fact that 'euro' doesn't bring up positive thoughts with most europeans. Most of the times they associate it with politics and bureaucracy. At a time that a big crisis brought the park to a near-bankruptcy, the name disneyland paris was introduced as part of a restructuring operation to save the park in the mid 90s obviously the walt disney company is not the direct owner of the park, the actual park is part of a company called eurodisney s.c.a. in which the walt disney company has a share of somewhat 49%. So the park is officialy named disneyland paris now, but the company which operates the park (just like the oriental land company operates Disneyland Tokyo) is still called eurodisney, probably because of reasons concerning contracts and laws. visit the homepage of eurodisney company here: www.eurodisney.com
   UPDATE: anon 27 JAN 02
2. If anyone owns DLP shares there is actually a way to get profit from these. Call the reservation service for your country... and ask if you can speak a representative of the shareholders club (service des acctionaires) They can send you a form to order the "shareholders card" (100 FF) Include xerox copies of your shares and a waiver from your bank to prove you still own the shares You can find the form on the DLP website under companies or investors. This card gives you a 10% discount in the parks shops and a 5% to 15% on room rates
   REPORTED: Kristof 04 SEP 00
3. Usualy, the park closes its doors at 62,000 guests. A normal summer day is about 50 or 60,000 guests. On the best days, they can reach 70,000 guests
   REPORTED: Thomas BARDENAT 07 JUL 97
   I have actually known days with higher attendance than 70.000, they have a very accurate system that shows the number of entries, the number of exits and so on, so you have a perfect visual of how many people are actually on the Parc at any given moment. Easter '95 was an extremelu busy day with a total of over 90.000 pepole that visited the Parc.
   UPDATE: Wizzkid 31 DEC 98
4. Its a little fact about cast members! When you work at Disneyland Paris you are given a place to live if you have a CDD(contrat duree determine) and the most popular appartment complex is "La Boiserie" which is commonly known as "La Baiserie" !! (look it upin the dictionary!)
   REPORTED: hon 29 JUL 00
5. Did you know DLP-castmembers have to buy their own namebadge if they loose it? Wearing the badge is mandatory. I saw a castmember wearingÊsomeone else's badge. When I asked her about it, she told me she lost her own, and didn't feel like buying a new one. This is considered better than wearing no badge at all...
   REPORTED: Dick Koers 05 AUG 00
6. I have visited Disneyland Paris six times, the first in May 1996 and the last in February 1999. I got to stay in all six resort hotels, took in the Wild West Show and cinema, spent at least three days on each visit, and took a guided tour with an English-speaking cast member from City Hall. When I visited in June 1997, the lockers beneath the Main Street Train Station were closed, and remained closed throughout all my other visits as well. I surmise that they were closed as a security measure. Guests who need to store bags can do so right outside the gates to the right at Guest Relations for a nominal fee. As well, when I first visited the park in 1996 there was a free service available to guests shopping in the park: they could pick up their purchases next to the wheelchair rental instead of lugging their loot around all day.
   REPORTED: Alan Cranford 23 MAR 99
7. Disneyland Paris does not hire Americans unless they are on the management training program but you have to be between 18-26.
   REPORTED: anon 25 OCT 97
   Americans do not have to be in the management training program. To go to work at Disneyland Paris you must be between the ages of 18-26. There is also another program where Disney sends American managers to Paris to work, and I believe you can be older than 26.
   REPORTED: anon 26 OCT 97
8. Ticketing : Now, Cast members who have to direct people have big gloves that look like Mickey's ones.
   REPORTED: Thomas BARDENAT 07 JUL 97
9. There is a new service in the park: the souvenirs you buy will be brought to the exit for you, where they are stored till you pick them up in the evening. This service is free!
   REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97
10. The Disneyland Paris park seems to be now the reference for all the other Disney parks. For instance, since Pirates of the Caribbean has been refurbished, they have completely changed the water ride system, using the one in the French park (ie booster pumps to create a stream that makes the boats move, and boat stops along the ride to make them stop at indicated locations). Tomorrowland is now being redesigned as Disneyland Paris' Discoveryland (you can even see pictures of Discoveryland on the boardings, and hear the music of "Le Visionarium" throughout the land. The on-board audio system in Space Mountain is directly imported from its French counterpart, although it's not the same music ! And etc... !
    REPORTED: Song 13 SEP 97
11. Both male and female Cast Members share the same locker room.
    REPORTED: Glenn Nickerson 12 JAN 96
    CONFIRMED: Casper and Rasmus 29 JUL 96
    CONFIRMED: Glenn Nickerson 12 JAN 96
    Joint locker room is true. Though there are seperate changing areas, nobody uses them.
    CONFIRMED: Eric Evans 19 JUN 97
12. Some Disney characters are played women! I noticed this when I hugged one.
    REPORTED: Alexander "Eo" Marschitz 13 FEB 97
    True, but short men also play short characters and tall women have been known to play tall characters and men don't always play men's parts and women not only women's parts.
    UPDATE: Wizzkid 31 DEC 98
    Characters were played by male or female.
    CONFIRMED: anon 10 JUN 99
13. All Cast Members have their bags checked by security everytime they leave the premises
    REPORTED: Casper and Rasmus 29 JUL 96
    CONFIRMED: Eric Evans 19 JUN 97
    This is not only so when they leave (theft) but also upon entering the backstage area (bombs, alcohol, dangerous substances, video-equipment, etc.)
    UPDATE: Wizzkid 31 DEC 98
14. I was at Disneyland Paris and noticed something I thought I would never see in a Disney park. A missed detail! Yes, one of the signs pointing the way from the hotels to the park still said EuroDisneyland. Well, to say the least that required that I take a picture of that. Please look at the full size and look at the bottom of the arrow.
    REPORTED: Arthur Sanders 23 JUN 99
15. Even though the costumes are restricted to the lands they were made for and Main Street USA there are places were the actually tell Cast Members to leave their land and go work in another land... without changing costume. Example: Fuente Del Oro and Hakkuna Matata "share" Cast Members.
    REPORTED: Casper and Rasmus 29 JUL 96
    I am writing in response to cast members being allowed to wear their costumes in other areas of the park. After working at WDW and then DLP the differences were amazing. At WDW, they were very strict with their costumes and one could not leave the land and sometimes specific attraction they worked in. At DLP, it was a different story. I worked in Adventureland and I could wear and work in my safari costume, if needed, at Frontierland. I could not go into Fantasyland or Discoveryland. On one occasion we did have a Discoveryland costumed cast member work at Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost. Main Street is accesible to every cast member for a few reasons: They take a few cast members from each land for crowd control at parades, the only cast member restaurant, Sodexho, is located there and cash control is behind city hall. Every night we would carry the daily monies there, through the park. Like you would see that in Florida. Unlike WDW, we could walk across the park to go eat. According to French law, it is illegal to force a dress code. I was not required to wear my hat, scarf or belt, tuck in my shirt, even wear black shoes. We were asked to, but many did not and could not be punished for it. Once in Florida, I was sent back to costuming for the nail polish I had on, while in France, anything goes. One friend of mine who worked at Camp Davy Crockett even had a nose ring! In fact, I knew I was in for it when, in Tradittions, our instructor told us, "If you don't feel like smiling, don't." That's my two cents on the subject.
    UPDATE: Liz Larcomb 18 JUL 97
    DLP used to be extremely strict on this dress code in '92, but due to disagreements (France does not allow imposing of a dress-code) they had to ease up somewhat. During my own Tradition, we were told: "If you don't feel like smiling, Stay home!!! You should learn to leave your worries in your locker when you put on your costume! Never mix your job (actors every single one of them) with your private life. I could put on my costume feeling upset or sad, go into the Parc and see a child's face light up when seeing Mickey "in the flesh" and feel a smile building up. The DLP employees are not called "Castmembers" for no reason, they are all part of the magic, they are the actors in the experience the guest has. If they do their job right and feel good about doing it, the guest will have had a good experience. When they feel bad about themsemves and they would prefer to be somewhere else, the guests sense that and it will take the shine off their experience. DLP is a great place to work at, especially when you have a good team around you and a manager that will work together with the castmembers and will join in the fun. That's the best. And I had a great time there during the summer of '95, working in Parc Support on Main Street USA. I had a great manager and the team was good. Thanks to all of you and any who might be reading this and recognising the scene.
    UPDATE: Wizzkid 31 DEC 98
16. Disneyland Paris is the only "Magic Kingdom" where they serve Alcoholic Drinks. But that's only at the table service restaurants and only if ordered with a meal. The first 1 1/2-year there was a "Non-alcoholic" Policy at the Park but the French people complained, that they would like to drink wine or beer with their meals.
    REPORTED: Marc Benz 29 FEB 96
17. In 1992, when the park opened, characters were beaten by the public because EuroDisney was not very welcome. Due to this, they had to have guards, other Cast Members, that follow the characters.
    REPORTED: Adam Gustafsson 05 NOV 96
18. Mickey Mouse is a woman! So is Donald Duck, Minnie and Daisy. Most characters are women due to their size.
    REPORTED: anon 25 NOV 96
    I knew men who played both Mickey and Minnie (same size) and also men who played Donald Duck (yes, even this short!!) and also have I known men to play female parts (The Queen of Hearts, and the 2 mice from Cinderella (sorry, I can only remember their French names : Suzy & Perla)
    UPDATE: Wizzkid 31 DEC 98
19. People that live on Disneyland Paris property have to ask permission to paint their houses.
    REPORTED: anon 25 NOV 96
20. Since Disneyland Paris was built in the middle of nowhere in the French countryside they have a major field mouse problem.
    REPORTED: Elizabeth Jour 08 APR 97
21. If there is an attraction down, you always hear the castmembers saying "code 101". If the problem is solved an attraction is "102". If an attraction works on half the normal capacitity, it is "105" (like only one in stead of two riverboats). Actually there are a lot of codes. Code "77" means that it is 25 Degrees Celsius, so you can take of your coat. Another one, if characters have problem (they are 101) they put both arms for their eyes. This is sign for the man/woman next to him to get quick behind the scenes.
    REPORTED: Jasper Verweij 27 MAR 97
    There are indeed a lot of codes used over the radio and among the castmembers. This makes communication very easy and very fast, especially between people of different nationalities (eg. Japanese-Dutch, Bulgarian-Spanish) How would you expect these people to understand each other were it not for a set of specified codes all to be used in English (or "Frenchised" by some people). It's really quick and easy. Imagine someone who injured himself, one doesn't need to explain everything, they just call the Security Headquarters and call in the code, Security then knows exactly what's going on and can send in whoever is needed.
    UPDATE: Wizzkid 31 DEC 98
22. The ticket systems installed at Disneyland Paris. Disneyland Paris are the same type of ticket system removed from the Eiffel tower years ago. An Italian company makes it. At Disneyland Paris when a person checks into a resort and receives the Hotel ID that is not only be their room key, but also their park admission, transportation pass, and charge card. They are working on the conversion now to do the same at Walt Disney World.
    REPORTED: W. Todd Stephenson 11 JAN 96
    The hotel ID is definitely not Parc Admission. Parc Admission ticket is a plastic card with magnetic strip. The hotel ID is just a pink piece of paper and is valid only for:
    • Breakfast reservation in your hotel
    • Character breakfast wherever it's held
    • Charge card - if you have a credit card
    The key to your room is another plastic card with magnetic strip. Now, all the hotels share the same design, so when you lose it nobody knows what hotel it's from (less likely for anybody to find your room and break into it), if you find a card you can return it to any hotel or keep it as a souvenir.
    UPDATE: Wizzkid 31 DEC 98
23. In the first months after the opening of Euro-Disneyland guests and Cast Members at Disney Village were individually scanned with metal detectors because of security concerns that arose after a Cast Member was cut in the face by a guest wielding a razor blade.
    REPORTED: Glenn Nickerson 12 JAN 96
    Cast members have been checked with metal detectors due to a problem with a guest at the Hurricane Bar.
    CONFIRMED: Eric Evans 19 JUN 97
24. On several occasions, Cast Members were physically attacked and beaten in downtown Paris by French citizens who were aparantly put-off by their "Euro-Disney Opening Crew" jackets.
    REPORTED: Glenn Nickerson 12 JAN 96
25. The CRS, France's elite, sub-machine gun toting, police force , normally confined to the subway stations and airports, also frequented the popluar night spots guns in hand.
    REPORTED: Glenn Nickerson 12 JAN 96
26. In 1992, just weeks after the opening of the park, a problem with fireworks/noise permits and complaints from surrounding villages led to the temporary cancellation of the nightly fireworks display (then launched from behind Fantasyland.) In an effort to appease guests who wanted to see their fireworks display, a decision was made to launch from inside the park. A decision that, just minutes into the first evening's return of the fireworks display, set Sleeping Beauty's Castle on fire...melting a large portion of the balcony facing Adventureland... When the fireworks permits problem was finally worked out...the launch returned to the back stage area behind Fantasyland...however, because of falling debris and shell cgs from the fireworks, operations was forced to close down Fantasyland prior to and for the duration of the display....
    REPORTED: Glenn Nickerson 12 JAN 96
    The Castle was set on fire the first night when the fireworks were being launched from the Castle. I called in the fire (signal 25 - confirmed flames signal 29 - smoke) from Its a Small World.
    CONFIRMED: Eric Evans 19 JUN 97
    In 1997 they sarted experimenting with "silent" fireworks. They are blasted into the sky by means of compressed air if I'm not mistaking. The only part that remains noisy is when the shell actually bursts open.
    UPDATE: Wizzkid 31 DEC 98
27. Disney Fireworks Patents: US05627338, US05739462, US05526750, 5440990 and US05339741
28. Parks Documentation keeps everything there is to know about attractions in all of the parks. What kind of paint is on the castle, who composed the music for Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris... they've got it all. They keep the blueprints, etc. They're pretty touchy too. when I last worked there they were in Main Street Operations West... I think above the Emporium.
    REPORTED: W. Todd Stephenson 11 JAN 96
29. In former times two different CD-projects have been issued in connection with DLP / EuroDisney: The Soundtrack Music of Buffallo Bill's Wild West Show Music (Wald Disney Records distributed by Sony); C'Est Magique / Feel The Magic / Eine Reise durchs Wunderland der Phantasie - the music from the show presented in the opening year at the festival stage on a CD by Walt Disney Records (in France a CD with the french version was available as in England an english and in Germany a german version).
    REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97
30. There is a new DLP-CD-series (all combined in english and french): EDDA002-2: Christmas at DLP - music from the show "'twas the night before Christmas", "Christmas Main Street Electrical Parade", "Christmas Parade"; EDDA003-2: 1997 The Year to be Here - fifth anniversary song, music from the "La Parade Disney", "Main Street Electrical Parade", "En Scene S'il Vous Plait", "Le Livre Magique De Mickey", "C'Est Magique", "Fantasia in the Sky Fireworks", "Disney Classics, The Music and the Magic"; EDDA004-2: En Scene S'Il Vous Plait - The music from the show at the Festival stage.
    REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97
31. When Euro Disney, changed their name to Disneyland Paris, they changed most of the park's names, but when you look at the green light poles when walking from the Disney village to the Disneyland Hotel or to the Disney lake, on the service panels on the green light poles there is a picture of mickey with the name Euro Disney imprinted next to it. By the looks of it Euro Disney want to save money after they went almost bankrupt, and didn't replace the panels.
    REPORTED: Dominique Ver. 27 APR 01

Main Street USA

1. On Main Street there are some open windows at the second floor from where you hear some funny noises. There is a bathroom window where someone is brushing his teeths or a dentist (Painless teeths extraction), where you hear the customers screams.
   UPDATE: Marc Benz 09 FEB 96
   I confirm that there are additional sounds in Main Street. You can hear a dentist just in front of Town Hall. A man that washes himself can be heard near Plaza Gardens (the restaurant)
   UPDATE: David Calvo 13 JUL 97
   On Main Street, USA, first street to the right, at the "Coffee-Grinder" you can hear a dog barking. Perhaps in connection with the shop opposite, where toy-Dalmatians were sold. So, its not only the music, the dentist and the person cleaning teeth and mouth but one more.
   UPDATE: Martin Korsch 10 JUL 98
   There are indeed a lot of aditionnal noises on every part of the Parc. It adds to the magic, 'cause it keeps people (that is: children) wondering whether the characters actually live on the Parc.
   UPDATE: Wizzkid 31 DEC 98
   On the subject of sound effects from windows on Main Street, there is also a Mah-jong (how do you spell that?) game going on near the Arcade entrance in the middle of Main Street and also a dance lesson above Harmony Barbershop.
   CONFIRMED: Stephen Green 10 JUN 99
   Off of one of the side streets on the right of Main Street, you can hear voices. They come from a Cast Member cafeteria hidden back there.
   UPDATE: Michael Schmidt 13 MAR 01
2. There is window that is a tribute to the current Disney Management. It reads "Conducting Daily The Main Street Marching Band. Leading the Parade sine 1884, Michael Eisener and Frank Wells. We work while you whistle."
   REPORTED: Joseph Weeks 11 SEP 96
3. Just a word about the music you can hear while walking on Main Street, USA. It all comes from "Ragtime", the film by Milos Forman (1981), composed by Randy Newman, and distributed by Ariola / BMG. You can hear "I could love a million girls" in the instrumental version and "Atlantic City".
   REPORTED: David Calvo 13 JUL 97

Phantom Manor

1. The Haunted Mansion is the only attraction that is at all 4 Magic Kingdoms, but is in a different land in each park (Disneyland-New Orlean's Square, WDW-Liberty Square, Tokyo-Fantasyland, Paris-Frontierland). Does anyone know where it will be located at in Hong Kong?
   REPORTED: Jim 14 NOV 01
2. At Phantom Manor, Cast Members gave themselves names. the "greeters" are now called "portiers" (door-keepers). The "unloads" are now "sommeliers" (wine-waiters). When a new Cast-members arrives, he has to present himself and his function in Mr. Ravenswood's house, to the others cast-members with a ghost voice. This takes place on the stairs, inside the attraction.
   REPORTED: Thomas BARDENAT 07 JUL 97
3. Take a careful look at the mansion of the phantom in Frontierland. At the outmost right window at front of the first floor a window shutter is moving all the day long as if a ghosts hand is trying to close it or to make some noise with it by pushing it against the wall.
   REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97
4. As you approach the house from the line, there are two windows straight ahead of you (on the side of the house). If you look closely at the botom left corner of the right window, you can clearly see 'SOS' (save our souls) drawn in the dust of the window from the inside. Does anyone know if this was the work of a mischievous cast member, or was it part of the design?
   REPORTED: Lisa Thompson 30 DEC 00
5. Your visit of the manor is not made in the house in it hidden; it is only a entrance which is used for the 2 stretching rooms. Your visit is made building in an invisible building for the guests, behind the fir trees.
   REPORTED: manuel TERCIC 27 FEB 98
6. The narration was originally recorded by Vincent Price both in English and French. However, five months after the park opened, the narration was replaced by a French-only soundtrack after complaints from French guests. The new recording is that of a French actor.
   REPORTED: Jim O'Connor 25 APR 97
7. The stretch rooms in Disneyland Paris go both up and down to create the illusion.
   REPORTED: Terry Coopers 25 OCT 95
   The "antichambers" are both going up and down. The top is going up and the bottom is going one floor down.
   CONFIRMED: Jasper Verweij 25 JUN 97
   CONFIRMED: manuel TERCIC 27 FEB 98
8. In Phantom Manor there are 120 "doombuggies". The maximum capacity is 2400 guests/hour. Foyer: 90 guests, Stretches: 80 guests and galerie des portraits: 120 guests.
   REPORTED: Jasper Verweij 25 JUN 97
9. If you really wants to be haunted, you have to go with stretch number 2 (the one straight ahead if you enter the foyer). Last year they had a lot of problems with this one. Doors were sometimes not closing, the stretch went down with the doors open. Even the maintenace didn't know what to do.
   REPORTED: Jasper Verweij 25 JUN 97
10. If you want to stop the ride in Phantom Manor, step out of the doombuggie. All around the attraction there are special "tapis". This "tapis" are connected with a computer, so we could see precisely the place where somebody stood on the "tapis".
    REPORTED: Jasper Verweij 25 JUN 97
    There are electronic carpets traversing the entire house (except in one place) to tell the cast member if anyone tries to get off the attraction.
    CONFIRMED: manuel TERCIC 27 FEB 98
11. There is a story behind the bride in the mansion, the dead figure hanging in the elevator, and the whole haunting in general. The bride and groom were married; the bride goes out of town to visit family after the wedding; while she's away the groom builds the mansion. The mansion looks so inviting to a ghost that the ghost moves in, falls in love with the bride (from her picture? since she's not there yet), and kills the groom (he's the dead one on the ceiling.) The bride returns home, gets in her wedding gown for the planned reception, looks around for her husband, realizes what has happened, and begins to cry. The ghost condemns her to live for eternity in the mansion, and invites a few friends (since the mansion has 999 happy haunts, I guess he invited 996 friends.) The mansion itself doesn't make this very clear, but once you know the story, you understand the mansion better.
    REPORTED: Meg 29 JUL 96
    CONFIRMED: Jed 31 JUL 96
    As a sort of addendum to the Phantom Manor storyline, the original poster got one small bit of the story wrong: The house wasn't built by the Groom but was indeed owned by the Phantom, a mysterious figure who was never seen by the townspeople. When the wedding was announced, the Phantom sent a gracious letter insisting that he be allowed to extend his hospitality through his granting the use of his manor for the wedding. When the Groom showed up (first), he was hung as soon as he stepped through the doors. The Bride arrived and looked in vain for her love, remaining in the manor until she withered and died of old age.
    UPDATE: Michael Bergman 27 AUG 96
    In "Tous-En-ScËne", the annual passport magazine, the story of Phantom Manor was posted a little different: The patriarch of a pioneer family that struck it rich during the gold rush of Thunder Mesa built the manor and wanted his daughter to marry against her will. On the day of her marriage the bride mysteriously disappeared and was never to be seen again. I spent an evening to translate the (French) text, equipped with a pen, a piece of paper and a dictionary before I found out that there is an (however incomplete) English version of this text at the official DLP web site...
    UPDATE: David Goebel 01 FEB 98
12. In the middle at the large ballroom, there are phantoms/ghosts having a party. These are projections. In fact, nothing occurs in the room lower part; the images of the phantoms which dance are projected on a large pane which is in front of the Doom Buggies. It is possible to see this when the pane is dirty
    REPORTED: manuel TERCIC 27 FEB 98
13. "4 ghosts" sing towards the end of the attraction. The shape of their faces are engraved on the stone (the nose; cheeks...). A hidden projector creates the illusion of the "Grim Grinning Ghosts."
    REPORTED: manuel TERCIC 27 FEB 98
14. The Grim Grinning Ghosts bust projections are of Imagineers that worked on the project rather than the Mellomen..... only Thurl's projection remained.
    REPORTED: Foxx 05 SEP 99
15. To train and know what to do with a 1.0.1 error message, Cast members can now use a special machine, hidden in Phantom Manor's backstage (at the second floor). This kind of simulator may be created for Space Mountain.
    REPORTED: Thomas BARDENAT 07 JUL 97

Adventureland

1. The big torches at the stairways of the "Indiana Jones Temple" weren't used anymore. Also torches in other parts/attractions of the park were used.
   REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97

Indiana Jones et le Temple du Peril

Pirates of the Caribbean

Original Art

1. Pirates of the Caribbean is twice as long at Disneyland Paris than at any other Disney Park.
   REPORTED: Mieke Thijs 03 FEB 96

   Backyard Imagineering Fireflies

2. The fireflies in Pirates are actually small blinking lights on a small string or wire, blown in different directions by small fans.
   REPORTED: Scott Mackay 14 MAR 96
   CONFIRMED: Eric B 22 AUG 96
   To be more specific, the fireflies that are throughout the load area on Pirates of the Caribbean, are small lights on thin black wires but they don't blink. They look like they do because the small light is glued to a black piece of cardboard which "flutters" from air blown from small fans below each fly. The blinking action is because the black cardboard blocks the small light from your view.
   CONFIRMED: David Smith 23 JAN 97
3. How about the fog that drifts out from behind the boat in the "Battle" area. It is the Mee Fog effect. Water is shot through a small hole at 1000PSI, in fact the hole is smaller than a hair from your head. Because it forced out so fast, the water condenses, just like real fog does. Hence the Mee Fog, slogan, "Real Fog"
   REPORTED: jojobean 15 APR 97

   Backyard Imagineering Fireflies

4. When the flames in the Spanish Port O' Call were turned on, the French fire marshals thought they were real. Adventureland designer Chris Tietz had to stop them from calling in a REAL fire alarm!
   REPORTED: Tony 10 AUG 98
5. The fire on Pirates is made by shining lights onto a special, moving cloth.
   REPORTED: DaWiZard 12 MAY 97
6. The Pirates of the Carribean ride at Disneyland Paris, unlike its counterparts, tells the story in clear chronological order. Also, the GREAT swordfighting scene is enhanced by syncing the movements of the animatronic figures (kinda jerky) with a shadow projection of actual people fighting, close enough to the figures to give the impression they're moving more realistically.
   REPORTED: CineGrrl 15 MAR 01
7. How about the effect of the cannon ball hitting the water. It is done with a air cannon. You can see this effect at the "Inside the magic" studio tour at Disney/MGM. Just compressed air under the water.
   REPORTED: jojobean 15 APR 97
8. Unlike in American Disney Parks, the pirates chase the women in Disneyland Paris
   REPORTED: Peter Stepniewicz 04 SEP 99

Frontierland

1. Souvenire-photos are taken in the entrance-hall of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in front of a western-style building together with an indian.
   REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97
2. The riverboat is not a boat but a train. It's "sailing" on tracks.
   REPORTED: anon 25 NOV 96
   I can confirm that there is a track under water on wich the boats are 'riding'. There are two ways to find that out for yourself: First, the boats always makes exactly the same trip. It is never an inch more to the left or the right. The dockings of the boats are just too perfect to be true. Second, if you go inside City Hall, you can see overview pictures of the construction site at DLP, on the walls on both sides of the counter. On at least one of these pictures, you can clearly see the tracks that are now under water.
   REPORTED: anon 16 JAN 99
3. As in the Anaheim park, a guest can ask to ride and steer the riverboats in Frontierland. You also get to sign a guest book and recieve a pilot's certificate. When I visited this last Christmas, the Mark Twain was down, but I was able to pilot and get my certificate for the Molly Brown. They possibly do this too often as they had run out of real certificates and were using Xerox copies of an original.
   REPORTED: Jim O'Connor 25 APR 97
4. When you want to pilot the Mark Twain boat... you don't pilot it... the helm is false. Instead of playing with it, I spoke to the "capitaine" and he told me that even if there was a rail under the boat, it really floats ! There are also two protecting walls at the right and at the left of the river. When both boats (in fact, there may be 4 boats with little ones) are on the river, they communicate with radio. The problem of the indian canoes was a problem of security : how could they synchronize 6 boats on this river ? Another function of the "capitaine" : he has to press a white key to make the pre-recorded "story" go on from time to time.
   REPORTED: Thomas BARDENAT 07 JUL 97
5. On the same week of the opening of Space Montain, an other attraction did open. It was placed in Frontierland. Children were able to try to pan for gold. At first they had to pay 10 francs but, when the manager of the park saw this, he made it free. The children where also getting chocolate for free at the end. They did close it because nobody wanted to sponser it.
   REPORTED: Tony 19 FEB 96

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

1. I read about Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Walt Disney World on your Disney Fun Facts page as having key that must be taken during maintainence. I want to confirm that the same happens at Disneyland Paris. I've been working for 10 months in Big Thunder Mountain in Paris and it's true. When a Cast Member needs to go in the track in the morning or during a technical problem, they must take a key. When this key is taken, a red light comes on. When they come back, they must put the key back. If not, the attraction is not allowed to go on. It's the same for the maintenance crew.
   REPORTED: Hedy 08 JAN 96
2. The pictures at Big Thunder Mountain are taken while the train is driving "through" the water of the lake. When you leave the station on land you walk through a small building where you can take a look at your photo. If you like it, you can pick it up at the Kodak-Light-Speed-Photography-Stand on the left side after leaving the Big Thundermountain (45 FF one picture in a souvenire folder).
   REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97
3. Big Thunder Mesa was manufactured by Vekoma International

La Cabane des Robinson (Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse)

1. The kitchen at the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse has a reference to the Disney film, "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids."
   REPORTED: Peter Stepniewicz 04 SEP 99

Fantasyland

1. When Snow White and the Seven Dwarf sculptures were made for Disneyland Paris, the same size mistake was made as at Disneyland, so Disneyland Paris had to arrange them in "forced perspective" like Disneyland Anaheim. When they were made for Disneyland Tokyo, the error was corrected. Tokyo sent them back - they wanted theirs to be exactly like Disneyland's!
   REPORTED: Roger Worden 18 MAR 99
2. The sound tracks for the various attractions in Fantasyland were originally recorded in the story's native language - ie: Snow White in German, Pinocchio in Italian, Peter Pan in English. Due to protests from French guests all the sound tracks were rerecorded in French only.
   REPORTED: Jim O'Connor 25 APR 97
   The 'language of origin' policy for Fantasyland dark rides was scrapped BEFORE recordings took place. Snow White, Pinnocchio, and the others were originally recorded in 1991, mostly at Point 12 recording studio in Paris. Snow White was NOT recorded in German. Pinnocchio was NOT recorded in Italian. I directed the sessions.
   UPDATE: anon 10 FEB 98

Castle de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty's Castle)

1. When you enter the castle, coming from Main Street, and you're inside the big hallway, turn around and look up; you'll see a round coloured glass window with a pigeon; wait a while and you'll see it turn slowly into a rose, and vice versa...
   REPORTED: Guido Schrijvers 10 FEB 97
2. The fireworks spectacular takes place at 23.00 (till 31.08. every evening) right behind and above the castle. The rockets are fired from Fantasyland. The firework is integrated to a symphonic recording of the music from "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", which was especially therefor newly recorded by the London Symphonic Orchestra. The firworks is best seen from Main Street, as it is centered above and on the left and right side of the castle.
   REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97

Peter Pan's Flight

1. Peter Pan's Flight is one of the top attractions in the park, as you can see on the high attendance. As this results in long queues, often people had to stand in front of the building in rain or burning sun. Now a tent-roof has been erricted for a part of this waiting area.
   REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97

Alice's Curious Labyrinth

1. 350 guest can enter this attraction at the same time.
   REPORTED: Thomas BARDENAT 07 JUL 97

Its a Small World

1. There are no American Small World scenes in Walt Disney World, so there's one in Disneyland Paris.
   REPORTED: Peter Stepniewicz 04 SEP 99

Discoveryland

1. The "Buzz Lightyear Pizza Planet Restaurant" next to the "Cinema Magique" right behind Space Mountain is located inside of a hugh tent. But as the tent is behind a small "hill" when you approach the restaurant from the parc you wont recognize it, as long as you dont take a carefull look at the inside of the restaurant. The whole thing looks as if it has been build in just a few days. The people working there even have no special uniform, often they came from the Hyperion-restaurant at Videopolis.
   REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97
   True, before it became Buzz Lightyear's Pizza Planet, the tent (it really is a tent, just check out the restrooms!!!) hosted an exhibition on Space Travelling. After the exhibition, they decided to keep the tent and turn it into a restaurant. The crew that works there doesn't have a specific costume, but they come from all over Discoveryland (also from the rides) and they are there mostly to keep an eye on the children in the playing area and refill whatever is needed at the counter.
   UPDATE: Wizzkid 31 DEC 98

CineMagique (Honey, I Shrunk the Audience)

De la Terre a la Lune (Space Mountain)

1. Space Mountain did cost 600 millions francs.
   REPORTED: Thomas BARDENAT 05 MAR 97
2. Space Mountain accomodates 2600 guest/hour.
   REPORTED: Thomas BARDENAT 05 MAR 97
   With a maximum of 5 trains and with a launch interval of 36.1 seconds, this results in 2400 guests per hour
   UPDATE: barbara 20 NOV 00
3. Space Mountain is the centerpiece of Disneyland Paris. It's 141 feet tall, and it's 203 feet in diameter. It's so huge, in fact, that it can be seen from miles away, when driving through the french countryside, to the resort.
   REPORTED: Alan Taff 09 MAR 96
4. The Columbiad cannon weighs 15.5 tons, and it's 72 feet long. The main barrel of the cannon is 16 feet in diameter.
   REPORTED: Alan Taff 09 MAR 96
5. "The biggest challenge was trying to light a monster. You know, it's a huge building, and it's such an unusual shape. But to light it in such a way that it wasn't heavy handed. To light it in such a way that the lighting was a living part of it, an intrigal part of it. That was the challenge." Joe Falzetta, Principal Show Lighting Designer.
   REPORTED: Alan Taff 09 MAR 96
6. On the wall were the following words, taken from the 26^th Chapter of Jules Verne's, "From the Earth to the Moon": "An appalling unearthly report followed instantly, such as can be compared to nothing whatever know, not even to the roar of thunder, or the blast of volcanic explosions! No words can convey the slightest idea of the terrific sound!"
   REPORTED: Alan Taff 09 MAR 96
7. The angle of the barrel of the cannon is 32 degrees
   REPORTED: Alan Taff 09 MAR 96
8. The acceleration of the cannon is 0-50 mph in 1.8 seconds. Just to give you something to compare it to, a Ferrari F-40 accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.98 seconds, and that's the fastest accelerating car in the world. So, when you get shot out of Columbiad, you're moving pretty fast; 30% faster than any other Disney thrill ride, in fact. You pull 1.3 G's, so the skin on your face gets pushed backwards quite a bit, and your head gets forced back into the seat.
   REPORTED: Alan Taff 09 MAR 96
   That is 3 G!
   CONFIRMED: Thomas BARDENAT 05 MAR 97
   CONFIRMED: Benjamin Rockwell 09 MAR 97
9. Thrill elements: 360 degree "sidewinder" loop, "corkscrew" loop, 180 degree "tongue" loop
   REPORTED: Benjamin Rockwell 09 MAR 97
10. Ride controls: Redundant programmable logic controller based system, employing six main computers and 1,300 input/output points
    REPORTED: Benjamin Rockwell 09 MAR 97
11. The pusher vehicle consists of a chassis that's mounted on rails, below the main ride rails, and has a fin that interfaces with the launch pole on the train. An electric motor rapidly winds up a thick metal rope, that pulls the pusher vehicle up the track, that pushes the train up to the top of the catapult. This system is very similar to the high speed wench systems used to launch aircraft on carriers, only its more reliable and safer.
    REPORTED: Alan Taff 09 MAR 96
12. The track is 0.62 miles long, 3300 feet, and the ride only lasts less than 2 and a half minutes.
    REPORTED: Alan Taff 09 MAR 96
    CONFIRMED: Benjamin Rockwell 09 MAR 97
13. The music was written by movie composer Steve Bramson, who won an Emmy for his work with Steven Spielberg. The music is a sort of mix of John William's themes for Jurassic Park, E.T, and Star Wars, and it was finally recorded by an orchestra in Hollywood, just 10 days before the ride officially opened! The Local Control Unit, or LCU for short, was installed on the trains by John Groper, senior audio and video Engineer. The music is controlled by "WDI Digital Sound Source and sequencer" software on a laptop PC, that is kept in the back of the trains. The music is stored digitally, in solid state form, on small plastic flash memory cards. Each of these cards can hold roughly 20MB of data. The music for the ride is divided up into musical lairs. As the trains roar along the track their exact position is plotted, by infra red sensors. A computer receives this information and triggers off the appropriate section of music, automatically adjusting the playback speed, to synchronize the musical score with key elements of the show.
    REPORTED: Alan Taff 09 MAR 96
    According to the official DLP-site, the sound track of Space Mountain was not composed by Steve Bramson but by John Debney, who also did other music for Disney parks like the IllumiNations opening theme at Epcot.
    UPDATE: David Goebel 31 JAN 98
    The Space Mountain Score was composed by John Debney. (He also rescored the Phantom Manor soundtrack)
    UPDATE: michael B 10 JUL 98
    There are 23 musical lairs. The synchronized music uses sensors on the tracks to advance or retard the music to match where the train is on the ride.
    UPDATE: barbara 20 NOV 00
14. The music is played through the 6 built-in speakers, per seat. Considering that there are 24 seats to a train, there are a grand total of 144 speakers, which explains why the music is so loud.
    REPORTED: Alan Taff 09 MAR 96

    Buy Movie

15. About the welcoming music of Space Mountain, they all come from "Krull" and "The Rocketeer". They were composed by "James Horner". You can find this music on CD.
    REPORTED: David Calvo 13 JUL 97
16. Originally the ride was going to be called Discovery Mountain, but at the last minute the name was changed to Space Mountain De la terre a la lune. As a result, there are DM logos all over the attraction (e.g on the trains, and on warning signs on the walls) which don¹t fit in, and shouldn't be there.
    REPORTED: Alan Taff 09 MAR 96
    Another inside bit of information that not a lot of people may catch is something I noticed about the trains on Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris. The original name of the ride was supposed to be Discovery Mountain, but sometime in the developemental stages it was changed to the traditional Space Mountain. However, on the sides of the trains, "DS" is printed in very decorative letters. Could this be because the trains were completed before the name was changed, and the "DS" stands for Discovery Mountain? Regardless of this minor flaw, I found this Space Mountain to be the absolute, hands down, best of any Disney thrill ride, ever. I didn't think that anything would beat Tower of Terror in my book, but when that train shot into the darkness at 50 mph., there was no doubt in my mind.
    CONFIRMED: mobri 11 APR 96
    De la Terre a la Lune (Space Mountain) - I confirm the fact that the original name of this attraction was "Discovery Mountain." The letters "DM" are actually printed on the side of the vehicules, just like on the side of some barriers outside the attraction. Moreover, I've got an advertising which has been edited before the opening of Space Mountain and on which the attraction is named "Discovery Mountain." I've also seen a TV show presenting Space Mountain. We could see technicians working inside the attraction. They had security helmets on which the letters "DM" were also printed... I still don't really know why they changed the name, and what puzzles me more is why they changed it so late...
    CONFIRMED: Thomas Weiss 17 JUN 96
    Do you know - that "Space Mountain" usually named "Discovery Mountain" and the signs are nor "SM" but "DM" in DL Paris!
    CONFIRMED: Armin Mohr 19 JAN 98
    This is to confirm the last-minute change from the name "Discovery Mountain" to "Space Mountain", and to add some tidbits of info. According to the small-world-manager of Discoveryland when I worked there in 1998, there were two main resons for the name change; A: park pre-demographics showed a far higher interest in the French park by american tourists than perviously expected (meaning they may have changed the name because Space Mountain was so well known in the U.S.and to anyone who had visited the American parks), and B: they felt that naming the attraction "Discovery Mountain" would indicate that all of "Discoveryland" was only there to act as a backdrop for this one ride. Possibly, people at Lucasarts had misgivings about this since Star Tours is located behind Space Mountain in Discoveryland. The decision to change the name was made only three weeks before the park opened, and all CM costumes had to be scrapped and have logos removed.
    CONFIRMED: Ottar Kraemer 27 JAN 01
17. As we all know the french-german relationship is not as wonderfull as most people would like it to be. So here a idea why they changed the name from "Discovery Mountain" to "Space Mountain" in the last minute. The offical "shortcut" of Discovery Mountain as printed on the cars is "DM" which is the same as for the german currency - maybe the french didn't wanted it therefor.
    REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97
18. The souvenire-photos at Space Mountain are taken when the train goes down the first drop, that is the only drop before the cannon. When you leave the Space Mountain and take the "normal exit" you walk right through a small building, where the pictures can be seen on monitors. If you like your picture, you can buy it right after leaving this building at the left at "Kodak-Light-Speed-Photography" for 45 FF in a special souvenire-folder.
    REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97
19. The lift that makes us reach the moon is called "lift B".
    REPORTED: Thomas BARDENAT 07 JUL 97
20. The big meteorite we go through is called MOM. (Mother of Meteorites).
    REPORTED: Thomas BARDENAT 07 JUL 97
21. When Space Mountain is out of order, the technical crew tests zone by zone the attraction... from the end to the begining. (Zone 8 to zone 1, it seems)
    REPORTED: Thomas BARDENAT 07 JUL 97
22. The changing to the sun into the moon has not worked since the first days of opening
    REPORTED: barbara 20 NOV 00
23. When queuing for Space Mountain I noticed that when the moon train flies through the Bleu moon mine company thing, somthing sparks very bright, I can only think that's its the wheels rubbing against the track.
    REPORTED: martin branford 10 JAN 02

Le Visionarium

1. The "Time to Time" show: Timekeeper, the Transportarium - whatever they call it at Walt Disney World (Le Visionarium at Disneyland Paris) has a few little things in it. All the items on the preshow video (clock, camera, etc.) are on display in the Timekeeper's lab at Disneyland Paris... the preshow area. When the film begins you see 9eye's cameras in operation. You will see to the right of a green circular grid (all of this is computer animated) a countdown clock running backwards. It begins with EDL00450 (or some number) and decreases it's number. Next to it is another clock BJW (I think) with random numbers displaying. Naturally, the EDL code stands for Euro Disney and, if I remember correctly, the other initials are those of the person who worked on the show. Unfortunately, I can't remember his name. Also, in this show H.G. Wells is the only person who speaks real English. If you watch everyone else's mouths, they are speaking French. Disney dubbed in English. At Disneyland Paris, you can listen to the show in 5 different languages. Le Visionarium is much better at Disneyland Paris. They cut the Red Square hot air balloon scene and also the scene with Depardue - the actor from Green Card outside France. The "car of the future" at the end of the show is also on display outside the entrance to Le Visionarium at Disneyland Paris.
   REPORTED: W. Todd Stephenson 11 JAN 96
2. Did you that Timekeeper's voice is made by a french actor. His name is Michel Leb and he his also making the translation in other languages.
   REPORTED: Tony 19 FEB 96
3. The design of the "Timekeeper", the audio-animatronic in Le Visionarium can also be seen as Tom Morrow at Innoventions at Disneyland-Anaheim and at the Timekeeper show at Walt Disney World.
   REPORTED: Tony 10 AUG 98
   In Star Tours, and other attractions, you hear about Tom Morrow. On the Disney Channel, there is a special little show called "Imaginear That" and the host is Tom Morrow 2.0!!!
   UPDATE: anon 16 JUL 01

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Star Tours

1. I had a tour backstage! at Star Tours you are going (in the line) up to go at the same heigth as the simulator is. the simulater is about 1,5 meter's above the ground en is connected to a airhose and a projector for the film. as you going in to the simulator you can see your heiger then ground level and if you look carefully if you go out you can see a mirror in the left corner, behind that mirror is a room so you can spot everybody whitout anybody seeing you! the simulator itself is standing in a big room if you go out that room at ground level not where everybody exits the simulator) there is for every simulator a big computer who coordinates the hole ride.....6 sims,6 comps! if you want to come into a sort of tunnel (a long hall with doors) you must enter the wheelchair entree then as your going with the elevator (up) there are 2 doors (right for the ride, left going outside) you must go outside and go of a stair,then turn right and see that under the stair is a door!!
   REPORTED: michiel 20 SEP 97
2. The name of the Red Leader you see on the smaller screen in Star Tours is Steve Gawley. He's a model shop project supervisor at ILM and he did the models for Star Wars. In the book "Industrial Light and Magic: Into the Digital Realm", he tells the story of how other ILM employees had been inserted into movies, but he never got the chance because he's bald and has a beard. But since the Red Leader has helmet and chin strap, they let him play the part.
   REPORTED: FMImperial 09 AUG 99
3. Did you know that Star Tours was once visited by George Lucas. Geroge Lucas owns all the rights to Star Tours. During the visit George Lucas took up his video and started taping the Star Tour show. Since its forbidden, one of the castmember went to stop the show, go in and say to the man she saw wiht the camera to stop recording because this show was ownd by George Lucas. ( She did not see it was George Lucas ). Luckely another Castmember knew it was George Lucas in there and managed to stop her before she made a complete fool of herself.
   REPORTED: Emelie Norborg 29 JUN 01

Disney-Village

1. The show-schedule of Disney-Village is available on the official www-site of DLP.
   REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97
2. Be carefull when eating at the Planet Hollywood at Disney Village. This is a private enterprise not connected to DLP, so they don't accept the hotel-charge-cards or coupons - there have been minor problems with this in the last months
   REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97
3. While the renaming of the Festival Disney to Disney Village happened some time ago, the back-side of the hugh signs at the entrance of Disney Village at the parc-side still reads "Festival Disney"
   REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97

Resorts

1. The Newport Bay Club is the largest hotel in western europe. The new "Newport Bay Club Convention Centre" offers a huge room (which can be separated into several smaller ones) - an 1800 square-meter space plus a permanent stage (unique in europe).
   REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 23 OCT 97
2. Tips for future stays at the hotels:
   1. If the info-counter in the lobby says Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show is outsoled ask again at the ticket counter of the show (right in the movie-theater-entrance-hall). Sometimes they have still some tickets in store.
   2. If you have a credit-card you should order a hotel-card-with-payment-feature at the check-in. With it you can pay everything in the themepark, hotel or Disney-Village (not the cinema and the Planet Hollywood) with this card and all is charged on your credit-card in one position when you leave. Mostly (at last with American Express Cards) it's cheaper to pay this way, than to change your currency in FF and then pay with them (and it is more convenient).
   3. Be carefull when eating at the Planet Hollywood at Disney Village. This is a private enterprise not connected to DLP, so they don't accept the hotel-charge-cards or coupons - there have been minor problems with this in the last months
   
   REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97
3. The rooms in the upper floors in the main building of the Sequia Lodge (at least the seventh floor and parts of the sixth) have been renovated and redecorated after the fire last year. They still look like in a mountain-lodges.
   REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97
4. Hotel guests must reserve their breakfast-times at least on evening in advance; the following times are available: 0700, 0800, 0845, 0930, 1015.
   REPORTED: Dirk v. Diringshofen 10 SEP 97
5. When the Newport Bay Club first opened back in '92 it was making no profits what so ever. It was spending more money then it was taking in. How do I know this? Well the last time I was in Disneyland Paris. I was staying in the Newport Bay Club on the 6th floor (the admiral's floor)as I was walking the halls of the hotel I noticed on of the service panels open, so I took a look in inside and found the annual report book of late '92-early '93. Which stated the profits and losses of the hotel. In almost every area of the hotel they were over spending, the funny thing was that according the employee records there where only 2 mechanics on duty during this time period for the entire hotel. Too bad that I didn't keep those books, so I could publish them here.
   REPORTED: Dominique Ver. 27 APR 01

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