Disneyland Paris {What's the Difference?}

Disneyland Paris met, and exceeded, any expectations I had of it. It was just as magical as the parks in the US, yet still uniquely Parisian. I told you all about my favorite parts of the park in the post Disneyland Paris - Fav 5 {Travel Guide}.

Now I want to talk specifically about Disneyland Paris and the similarities and differences between it and our parks at home (meaning Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida). Put your mouse ears on for another magical stroll though the Parisian park!

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Jessica, aka the Bucket List Family Mom, said that "Main Street felt like home" while still being very Parisian and I couldn't agree more with her statement. Gee family please adopt me!

​Once upon a time, my husband actually agreed to go to Paris with me. Somehow, someway, he also agreed that spending a day at Disney was a great thing to do! All day we compared and contrasted the experience with our previous park trips. Here's the deal...

The Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Paris, which you walk THROUGH to get into the park

DIFFERENT: You take public transportation to the park!

The train system can take you from the heart of Paris to "Paris Disneyland", just over an hour away. We took one train to get to the A line, then the A line directly to the park. We've had our struggles taking public transportation while abroad before. The iconic Mickey silhouette will guide you to the MAGIC, it's so simple. 

Do you know that feeling when your schlepping yourself to work, thick in the middle of your day-to-day grind, and you see some LUCKY folks who are floating around carelessly because they're clearly on vacation? You envy and HATE them all at once? We were those JERKS on the first train, giddy with excitement and decked out in Disney gear while the Parisians all commuted to work. 

Disneyland is at the end of the train line so you won't miss your stop. You walk a few minutes in standard looking train stations before climbing a set of stairs to emerge above ground and DIRECTLY at the park. 

The Paris trains will take you to Disneyland, and you'll notice the correct train line right away

It's so clear which train will take you to the MAGIC!

There's no question about the proper train stop for Disneyland Paris once you see this sign!

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DIFFERENT: Walking through the Disneyland Hotel into to the park!

​It's the only way in and it's unlike any other entry at the other parks. HOW COOL?!

As I mentioned in Disneyland Paris - Fav 5, I'd looked into to spending one night at this hotel but it was over $1,000...for ONE night! Walking through was just fine. Maybe someday!

Your first magical experience at Disneyland Paris is walking through the Disneyland Hotel into the park!

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SAME: Main Street leads you directly to the Castle.

It's the route you know well, complete with charm, stores, and the risk of rolling an ankle on the trolley tracks! 

An excited Main Street selfie at Disneyland Paris

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DIFFERENT: The functionality of Sleeping Beauty's Castle is far superior to any American park. You can go inside the castle, upstairs, outside, and down below to find the dragon! 

In Florida you can (only sometimes) walk through the main floor of Cinderella's Castle. In California you can walk through the second floor of Sleeping Beauty's Castle. While smaller than the others, Disneyland Paris' Castle really is the Fairest of them all.

You can see many more photos of the Parisian castle here and the California Castle here.

Disneyland Paris' Castle IS the fairest of them all

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SAME: Disneyland Paris is separated into "lands."

Disneyland Paris has 4 lands: Adventureland, Frontierland, Discoveryland, and my favorite, Fantasyland. 

Like the US Disney Parks, Disneyland Paris is separated into "lands" like Adventureland

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SAME: Disneyland Paris "Resort" is made up of more than one park. 

The format in Paris is most similar to Disneyland in California with two parks, one a Disneyland and the other an ode to California!

Walt Disney Studios in Paris is essentially part Disney's California Adventure (California) and part Hollywood Studios (Florida). They've all got a focus on the nostalgia of old California, Hollywood movie studios, and more recent movie big shots like Toy Story, Ratatouille, and Finding Nemo.

We went to "California" inside Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris, ironic especially for my California born husband!

The Toy Story decor at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Disneyland Paris

Bryce visits with Rex at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Disneyland Paris

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SAME: The classic Americana theme. 

Main Street is truly called Main Street USA, after all! We loved seeing the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France to America, and a shout out to Atlantic City, New Jersey all the way in France.

Bryce, a former US Marine, proudly poses by the Statue of Liberty at Disneyland Paris

Lady Liberty is everywhere, Disneyland Paris

As a Pennsylvania girl, I was delighted to see a display for Atlantic City, New Jersey at Disneyland Paris!

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 SAME: Shopping in the parks is amazing.

There were so many stores, adorable costumes, hats, and ears, plus a ton of uniquely Parisian items at Disneyland Paris. The Spiderman DRESS was amazing and I regret walking away without it. 

See more Disneyland Paris merch, specifically focused on Remy from Ratatouille, over at Disneyland Paris - Fav 5.

Disneyland Paris really plays up the OG Disney crew and the Eiffel Tower together

The shopping at Disneyland Paris was out of this world!

A Jafar hat complete with a shoulder Iago, at Disneyland Paris

Why didn't I buy this Spiderman dress at Disneyland Paris?

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DIFFERENT: There are very few Mickey shaped treats!

​The US parks are filled with Mickey, Minnie, and other themed treats and foods. Jolly Holiday, my favorite restaurant at Disneyland, in California, has Mickey shaped French macarons, ironically!

Throughout the whole day at Disneyland Paris we didn't spot any mouse shaped treats. Finally, in the evening on our final stroll down Main Street to the exit we stumbled across  one bakery with many Mickey and Minnie cookies. 

The mouse shaped cookies, which were hard to come by, at Disneyland Paris

The CUTEST cookies at Disneyland Paris

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DIFFERENT: Disneyland Paris has Floating Pineapple Whip, instead of Dole Whip.

Don't be fooled by this Dole Whip wanna-be! Floating Pineapple Whip consists of vanilla ice cream surrounded by pineapple juice and syrup. It's tasty but doesn't compare, at all, to the true pineapple flavored treat at our Disney parks. Using the straw I quickly drank up all the juice and was left with a cup of vanilla ice cream. 

Dole Whip remains our own superior and magical treat!

Disneyland Paris' Floating Pineapple Whip doesn't compare, at all, to our Dole Whip

The Floating Pineapple Whip at Disneyland Paris is cool and tasty, but not nearly as good as Dole Whip in the US parks

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DIFFERENT: People casually smoke cigarettes in the park at Disneyland Paris. 

I didn't know until last year that Disney parks have designated smoking areas. I imagine that's really handy for smokers to not have to leave the park and it's surely nice to keep the majority of the parks smoke-free. 

Doesn't it seem so Parisian to smoke where you'd like, instead of going to the designated area? There weren't tons of smokers or smoke throughout the park, just a few people here and there lighting up wherever they pleased.

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Thanks for 'visiting' Disneyland Paris with me. If this post is helpful to you, or if you have questions about the park, please contact me!

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