Thursday November 12, 2009
From the beginning of the Disneyland Paris Resort, back when it was called Eurodisney, I'd heard about the cultural differences, specifically how French castmembers had to be coached to smile at guests. I couldn't leave Paris without taking a day trip to see for myself how the land of the Mouse translated overseas.
My sister and brother-in-law, both big Disney fans, came along. The surreal metro ride from Paris to Marne-la-Vallée, which takes about 40 minutes (RER A for about 6.5 Euros), was my first clue about how different the experience would be. Far from the jovial we're-all-on-vacation atmosphere of the monorails and buses at the east and west coast U.S. Disney parks, it seemed people had left their souls back in Paris. Even the children wore somber faces.
Once we arrived, the atmosphere lightened considerably. The park was beautifully landscaped, and a uniformed band pumped out a tune. We headed first to Walt Disney Studios Park, where the extremely cool Crush's Coaster topped my list of rides to experience. The first ride of the day, and we were greeted by a smiling cast member: so far, so good. We hopped on a car for four and my brother-in-law foolishly pulled down his safety bar.
Apparently you're not supposed to do that, since it causes the safety bars for the rest of us to be released and reset. The castmember smiled broadly as he called my quiet, unassuming brother-in-law a "mean and stupid person" a few times in a charming French accent. To be sure, the whole incident put big smiles on our faces for the rest of the day. Really, for years to come, as we tried to imagine castmembers in Disney World insulting guests. Surreal? Definitely.
Of course, it wasn't all play for me. I toured the grand Disneyland Hotel, which reminded me of the Grand Floridian at Disney World. The hotel sits directly over the entrance to the Disneyland Park, a nice touch. Three other hotels are situated around a lake, on the other side of a compact Downtown Disney area, called Disney Village. Worth a visit? If you're a Disney fan, you betcha. Just be prepared for some culture shock.
Image courtesy Disney
Wednesday November 11, 2009
How's this for a view from your room? Disney's Bay Lake Tower, right next to the Contemporary Resort, is so close to the Magic Kingdom that we could watch the fireworks from our balcony. We could even hear the crowds oo'ing and ah'ing when the show was over.
The smallest room type, the studio, was perfect for our family of four with two small children. We shared a Queen bed while the kids bunked in the pull-out sleeper sofa. A small kitchenette had a mini-fridge for milk, water and snacks, and having a microwave came in handy.
Crossing to the Contemporary Resort via the skybridge was a novelty as well as a convenience, and we had a wide selection of restaurants over there, from the casual and quick Contempo Cafe to the fabulous rooftop California Grill, where they squeezed us in at the sushi bar with no reservations. We even got up early to dine with Mickey Mouse, Goofy and the gang at Chef Mickey's.
The location of Bay Lake Tower and the Contemporary Resort really can't be beat - they're the only resorts that are connected to the Magic Kingdom with a walkway. It's about a ten minute walk. Avoiding the monorail and buses is a big benefit on crowded nights when the entire park empties out after the fireworks are over - we loved taking the short walk back to our room.
Image copyright Charlyn Keating Chisholm, licensed to About.com.
Tuesday November 10, 2009
The Christmas season has officially started at Disney World. Tonight is the first night of the fantastic Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, a specially-ticketed event at the Magic Kingdom that runs on select nights through the end of the year. Party guests are treated to shorter-than-usual lines for major attractions, the Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, hot cocoa and cookies, and "snow" flurries on Main Street.
Disney runs several parties throughout the year, including Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, a favorite of my family's. Even the grownups get to trick-or-treat at that one, and the sight of the headless horseman galloping ahead of the big Halloween parade always sends chills up my spine.
This week, I'll take you to Disneyland Paris, where you can actually stay inside the Magic Kingdom park. I'll also take you to Bay Lake Tower, the newest resort in Disney World that puts you as close to the magic as you can get without staying in Cinderella's Castle.
Image courtesy Walt Disney Company
Thursday November 5, 2009
After a couple of nights at the fabulously upscale Le Meurice, I was ready to put away my high heels and dust off my jeans and sneakers. A short cab ride (or two Metro trains) later, I arrived at the tiny Hotel des Academies et des Arts. With only 20 guest rooms, no tophatted doormen, and absolutely nothing gilded, I was seeing a completely different side of Paris - one in which I was very comfortable.
Hotel des Academies et des Arts is, as the name implies, dedicated to the arts, and is tucked away into a Latin Quarter neighborhood where art supply stores replace upscale boutiques. In the past, you may have run into Picasso, Chagall, Hemingway or Sartre here. Next door to the hotel was a little curio shop with a skeleton in the window (no, it wasn't Halloween). Inside the hotel, "white body" sculptures and paintings by two artists adorn the lobby, hallways and guest rooms. I changed into my jeans and found a casual sidewalk café just around the corner.
Image of the lobby of the Hotel des Academies et des Arts in Paris copyright Charlyn Keating Chisholm, licensed to About.com.
