Ooh can't resist some Disney magic! (Disneyland Resort Paris - Disney Village)

Member Name: karalouk

Product:	Disneyland Resort Paris - Disney Village
Date:	01/06/09 (66 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nice selection of places to eat, free entry, good disney themed shops, full of disney charm

Disadvantages: Not very big, lots of franchise restaurants, expensive

Disney Village is situated in Disneyland Resort, Paris.

It it just outside the entrances of the other 2 parks - Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios. It is in walking distance to and from all 7 of the Disney hotels (although it's quicker and easier to just get the free shuttle service which picks you up from your hotel and takes you right outside Disney Village). The Eurostar train station and Lake Disney are also right next to it.

Unlike the other parks it is totally free to visit and there is no entry fee. Rather than a park of rides it is actually a strip of shops, bars, restaraunts and general entertainment. Disney Village is not supposed to be an all day thing but rather just a place to spend an hour or two. It is a lot like Downtown Disney in Florida but a smaller version with slightly less to see and do.

Disney Village is hard to miss as it is full of big buildings, weird and wonderful arcitecture and lights. Disney Village looks especially nice at night time when it's all lit up with neon lights. There is also a big arch way with 'Disney Village' written above at the entrance.

Disney Village is home to a giant hot air balloon (one of the worlds largest infact) called PanoraMagique Balloon. The balloon floats up to 100 metres in the air and stays still rather than making a trip. It can carry up to 30 people at a time and makes 6 trips per hour - it's a very popular attraction. The balloon only stays afloat for 6 minutes but in that time you have enough time to have a good look over Disneyland and Paris, and get a few photographs. There is a charge to ride the balloon but the prices aren't bad (12 euros for adults and 6 euros for children).

Places to eat include King Ludwig's Castle (a fairtytale castle themed sit down restaurant), Annette's Diner (a 50s style American diner), Billy Bob's Country Western Saloon (a western themed bar with live entertainment which includes dancing and country music), Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Kiosk (the best ice cream ever), La Grange (Tex-Mex buffet service which is actually situated on an upper floor inside Bily Bob's Country Western Saloon), Sports Bar (specialising in snacks and show live sporting events), McDonald's (a bigger than usual counter service restaurant), New York Style Sandwiches (counter service restaurant - the name says it all really), Starbucks, Rainforest Cafe (a fantastic sit down restaurant which is rainforest themed with simulated rainstorms, an aquarium, shop and robotic animals) and The Steakhouse (Chicago warehouse themed sit down restuarant).

Planet Hollywood is a big blue dome shaped restaurant near the entrance of Disney Village - you can't miss it. It has a escalator with neon light arch which leads you inside the restuarant. It is a movie themed restuarant which is full of movie memrobilia including hand prints and signed photographs of famous filmstars and genuine props and costumes from major films. Movie fans will love it but anybody not into movies probably won't be that impressed. It is a relaxed atmosphere and there is quite a selection of food to choose from. I seem to remember the portions being quite big but not memorable. Make sure you take plenty of money along because it's very expensive indeed.

I really enjoyed our meal at Cafe Mickey. I wasn't expecting much but as we ordered our food all the Disney characters came out and continued to do so throughout our meal. There were all the favourites - Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Tigger and Chip and Dale. Kids (and big kids) will totally love this. They also made me the best Pina Colada I have ever tasted!

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show is a new wild west show (cowboys and indians parading around on horses and such) which you can watch whilst eating. I can't really comment on it as I've never been inside, although I did once go to a similar event and really enjoyed it. You have to pay per person and sadly it is quite expensive.

Shops include The Disney Store (sells everything from toys and homewares to clothes and stationary - all Disney of course), The Disney Gallery (sells lovely Disney pictures, ornaments and other decorative treasures), Disney Fashion (sells Disney clothes and accessories for everybody), Hollywood Pictures, Buffalo Trading Company (full of wild west merchandise) and World of Toys.

There is also a big cinema and I-Max which screen the latest films. I didn't watch anything there as I don't much fancy spending my holidays inside a movie theatre but each to their own.. I suppose it might be nice to do one evening for a couple of hours. Below the I-Max is Nex games arcade which has loads of games and a bowling alley inside.

Hurricanes nightclub is free to those staying in the Disney resort. It is a club with a big dance floor to boogie along to songs from the past and present. Most nights have a different theme (ladies night, so 90's party etc). It runs from 11pm until 'dawn'.

Street entertainment is not unusual either (dancing, shows, characters etc).

I personally found that Disney Village was a good place to visit in the evenings as I was getting an included breakfast at my hotel and was busy at the parks during the day. The restaurants provided a good meal at dinner time with entertainment and some night life. The shops were also open later than regular shops which meant there was an opportunity for a little late night shopping! I enjoyed the shops although I noticed that most of them sold the same things as in the shops inside the Disney parks. Everything was slightly overpriced but you do have to expect that these days. As nice as they were I didn't really like the fact that there were so many non-disney franchises (McDonalds, Planet Hollywood etc) and felt there should have been less of those and more Disney themed restaurants (it is meant to be Disneyland afterall).

Summary: Nice way to spend the evenings.