The top new attractions in Disneyland Paris
The theme park has invested heavily in a Marvel-themed “universe”, which is a hit with Charlotte Cullinan and family.
As we turn a corner, Spider-Man swings out as a flash of lightning strikes. We see Thor’s hammer illuminated in one corner, while Doctor Strange’s inter-dimensional portal glows in another.
It feels like a movie set, but we’re stepping into the Super Hero Station at Disneyland Paris’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel. My two sons, nine-year-old George and five-year-old Harry, race to give Spider-Man a hug, before we move around eight Marvel scenes with their dad, Dan. The boys slip their feet into Iron Man’s boots and pose by Ant Man and The Wasp’s Quantum Tunnel, thrilled by each set-up.
Our visit takes place ahead of the launch of the Marvel Avengers Campus, which has since opened its doors. It’s the first Marvel-themed “universe” in Europe – with a counterpart at Disney California Adventure Park – and is part of a €2 billion transformation of Walt Disney Studios Park, the smaller of Disney’s two Parisian parks.
The Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel debuted in June 2021 and is perfect for fans wanting to extend the Marvel experience.
It’s home to 350 pieces of Marvel art, and our favourites are the three life-size Iron Man suits in reception, one of which was designed exclusively for the hotel by the Marvel Studios team.
Recommend the free 45-minute art tours, which are tailored to guests’ Marvel knowledge and are booked on arrival.
The art continues in the 561 rooms, and each floor is themed around a different superhero. Guests can make their own masterpieces in the Marvel Design Studio, which runs six art workshops a day, bookable on site. It’s possible to reserve the Super Hero Station in advance through the Disneyland Paris app.
For a break between rides suggest the New York subway-themed pool and the brilliant outdoor Hero Training Zone. My boys blitz between the fitness area, basketball court, mini trampoline and parkour zone at a speed Captain Marvel would be proud of.
Epic adventures
Wannabe superheroes can perfect their skills at the new Marvel Avengers Campus, which boasts two rides. While we didn’t get to try them, in Spider-Man W.E.B Adventure riders catch rogue runaway Spider Bots by slinging 3D webs from their wrists, using special glasses and gesture-tracking technology created for the attraction. It’s suitable for all ages, with no height restriction.
Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, takes the place of the former Rock’n’Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, featuring Captain Marvel and a high-tech Audio-Animatronic Iron Man. It’s a high-speed, looping ride, launching from 0-60 mph in less than three seconds, so riders must be at least 120cm tall.
Various encounters are available with Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, Black Widow, Thor and Loki. In the app, visitors book a timed slot to meet them in the Training Center, making freeze-frame video sequences with their heroes.
Look out for characters arriving in the sleek, high-tech Avengers vehicle and performing live-action stunts, and your clients can join an interactive dance-off with Guardians of the Galaxy characters.
There are four dining spots, including PYM Kitchen, inspired by Ant-Man and The Wasp’s ability to grow and shrink items. Customers can refuel with both gigantic and tiny pretzel sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, and cakes. Pecan pie is sold by the metre and red wine comes in miniature vials.
Cause for celebration
Over at Disneyland Park the 30th anniversary celebrations continue with the new Dream…and Shine Brighter! parade. It’s just starting as we arrive on our first day, and is akin to walking into a massive, fun-filled rainbow party. Around 30 Disney characters and dancers bust out impressive moves from colourful iridescent floats, and the crowd dance along to the ludicrously catchy song Ready For The Ride and a mash-up of Disney tunes.
The parade runs four times daily, and while it won’t operate between 1 October and 8 January, no end date has been set. It’s one of the highlights of our visit, so advise clients to grab a viewing spot in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, where they’ll see bubbles, mini sparkler fireworks and coloured powder explosions.
They can also admire the 10 new anniversary-themed Gardens of Wonder around the castle, featuring 30 colourful Disney and Pixar sculptures. They are exquisitely designed, with plants coated in a glow-in-the-dark biodegradable serum.
The castle reopened in December 2021 after an extensive 12-month refurbishment, and the new anniversary night-time experience, Disney D-Light, is the perfect way to appreciate it. It doesn’t start until 10.55pm during our visit (the show needs complete darkness), but we grin and high five as we watch video projections, water jets, mist and lasers, before a fleet of illuminated drones takes to the sky to form a sparkling “30” and a rotating Mickey Mouse head. It leads into the thrilling Disney fireworks display, and George declares it’s the best show he’s ever seen.
Holding out for heroes
The next day we notch up rides as we scream with laughter barrelling along the Wild West-themed Big Thunder Mountain rollercoaster and competitively zap Evil Emperor Zurg in Buzz Lightyear’s Laser Blast.
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue is our favourite ride, where we climb aboard a Star Speeder 1000 on a mission through hyperspace wearing 3D glasses. Each ride is a different combination of adventures on various planets, and both boys shriek with excitement when Darth Vader appears and controls our spacecraft.
Character meet-and-greets are now operating again, having paused during the pandemic. As we walk along there’s a collective gasp of excitement as the Jungle Book’s King Louie saunters out to take photos, and we’re first in line. Whether it’s a baddie-busting superhero or a charming classic character, you never know who you’ll run into at Disneyland Paris.
Book it: The Walt Disney Travel Company International offers prices from £443pp, based on two adults and two children (aged 3-9) sharing a Superior Room with Garden View at Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel for two nights. Includes three-day park tickets and return Eurostar travel via Lille from London St Pancras to Disneyland Paris (Marne-la-Vallee). Departing 2 October 2022. disneyholidays.co.uk
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