by Dawn Ilsley

Created on: July 27, 2010

Disneyland Park in Paris is split into “lands”, each with a different theme and the one that is probably most distinctive is Discoveryland where the Disney Imagineers have taken inspiration from the work of historical figures such as Jules Verne.  This produces a unique area with the presentation of the future as seen from the past.  In Orlando and Anaheim this area is known as Tomorrowland but a fresh new look was designated as a necessity for Paris.

Discoveryland is home to several very popular attractions so it does become very busy.  It is a good place to start your Disney day before the crowds and the waiting times increase.

Dominating the area is the magnificent structure that houses Space Mountain: Mission 2.  As riders you are blasted into deep space and with the accompanying music and light effects you are in for a breath-taking ride.  Queues build up here early but a Fastpass is available.  I am quite a fan of roller-coasters but this was not a favourite, the primary blast was not as exciting as in the Rock'n'Roller Coaster and I found it very jarring and came off with a headache.  I have been known to ride big coasters 5 or 6 times in succession but once was enough on this one for me.  I prefer the old version in Orlando which is tamer but more fun.

As you exit Space Mountain you can visit a walkthrough attraction which is a simulation of Captain Nemos famous submarine, make sure you take time to watch the squid through the porthole and enjoy looking at all the details.  This does close earlier than the rest of the park so check your guide for details.

Orbitron is simply a futuristic themed version of the Dumbo ride.  However it does look stunning and if the queue is short it is worth a quick whizz around for some great views of the park.  Unfortunately the queue is slow moving as loading takes a while so pick your moment.

Star Tours is a Star Wars themed simulator ride; it is an exact replica of the ride at Hollywood Studios in Orlando and Disneyland California except that the dialogue is in French.  It doesn’t matter if you have no grasp of the language as the antics of the new robot pilot are easy to appreciate and the simulation effects are good.  This ride also offers Fastpass but the queuing area is interesting as there is lots to see and C3PO chatting in French was a novelty to me!

Autopia is a rather dated ride which allows you to “drive” a small

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