PARIS (NEXSTAR) – Welcome to Main Street, U.S.A. in Paris. If you’ve been to Disney World in Florida or Disneyland in California, Disneyland Paris likely looks familiar. But there are many unique aspects of the French park that have been enchanting children and adults alike since the early ’90s.
From the lush flowers and landscaping to the colorful shops on Main Street U.S.A., and the nostalgic touches that make you feel like a kid again, it’s no wonder 50,000 people walk through the gates every single day.
Along with the castles found around the French countryside, there is also a bespoke version of Sleeping Beauty’s castle.
“It would seem silly for all those European audience to come here to see something they have in their own country,” Imagineer Laurent Cayuela explained. “So, the challenge was do the most magical castle without any castle influences.”
Accordingly, Disney Imagineers pulled their inspiration from different sources.
“So, for example, the shape of the castle is Le Mont-Saint-Michel, which is a monastery in Normandy.”
Along with Main Street, you’ll find a Parisian streetscape designed to take you into the Disney Pixar film “Ratatouille.”
“If you look closely at this chimney, for example, they are all a bit crooked because in a cartoon when you draw a line, it can never be exact,” Cayuela pointed out. “So, all this wonderful Paris experience is actually created from the movie.”
Disneyland Paris also has many attractions from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with the Disney Hotel New York: The Art of Marvel.
“It’s actually the only place in the world with an art gallery entirely dedicated to the art of Marvel. We have over 300 artworks,” Cayuela said.
And it’s not just art. They also have Tony Stark himself.
“There is somebody in it,” Laurent said. “Artificial intelligence called Friday has been created by Tony Stark. And we have it here exclusively at Disneyland Paris.”
There’s also a special connection between Disney in the U.S. and Disneyland Paris. The name “Disney” comes from a village in the Normandy region.
“When the ancestors would come, and then they were asked, who are you? Who in France sounds like ‘où’ meaning ‘where.’ So instead of giving them name, they gave the name of the location they were from. So instead of saying we are such and such, they say we are from and then the city is called Isigny. So, they said we are D’Isigny. And that’s how the word Disney is naming.”
And so, just outside the City of Light you’ll also find a little bit of magic.