Disneyland Paris was designed from the start with the less-than
perfect climate in mind. There are more attractions undercover
than at other Disney parks across the world and even Main Street has
alternative Arcades to walk down in inclement weather like the rain we
had on Saturday. Why then build so many paths out of tiles and
other materials that immediately become slippery at even the slightest
hint of wetness?
Welcome to Disney's Slip and Slide ride
Having just about stayed upright through the park entrance we
arrived on Main Street USA, the superb and much copied gateway to all
of Disney's Magic Kingdom parks.
The society of yellow Jedi Knights and I get our
first glimpse of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Our first point of call was the Information Board below the castle
to find out queue times. We took the chance to ask whether the
new Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast ride was open. Although it
doesn't officially open until April 8th, it had a "soft
opening" the previous Monday.
We were told that the Monday opening had been a special surprise
and it would not be open again until April 7th. There was no
chance of a ride until then ... but it may be worth going and having a
look at 5pm.
I discovered this special Disney-speak all over the park. It
seems that a cast member has an official story they must tell
you. After they've given the required corporate spiel they often
hint at the truth.
Since it was almost five o'clock anyway we headed
over to see what was going on, only to find it already open.
Even though it was still raining, the (non-slippery
floored) queue was almost an hour.
Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast is similar in concept to
Tomb Blaster (CWoA), Duel (Alton) and Golden Nuggets (Drayton) - shoot
at things and get points.
The second half of the queue is inside. It was
like a crazed cross between the X:\No Way Out and old Fifth Dimension
queuelines.
Zurg is out to steal all the batteries in the
Universe. If I was Paul I wouldn't stick my hand that close.
A big screw screwed into the wall with little
screws! Well I thought it was funny.
Here's an all-singing all-dancing audio-animatronic
Buzz. Ok, maybe not singing or dancing.
Eventually we arrived in the station and boarded our
Space Cruisers.
As well as guns, the ride cars have a joystick that
allows riders to spin the car around 360º at will. Even if
you're not good at hitting targets there's something to do!
If the reactions of people on Saturday are anything to
go by, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast should be a hit (get it?)
Since we were in Discoveryland and had been standing
next to it for the previous hour, it only seemed sensible that Space
Mountain: Mission 2 should be the next experience.
The ride takes place inside a big mountain.
Riders are blasted into space by a large cannon.
We're going on a mission to a supernova.
The queue moved very slowly so it took a long time to get on the
ride. Unfortunately my second Disney coaster was nowhere near as
good as my first. Ride-wise, it's rough and the restraints were
very hard against my shoulders - not a problem I encounter very often.
The special effects are rather mediocre too. There are lots
of stars all over the place and a few planet models. The
supernova itself is projected onto a far too obvious screen. It
really wasn't up to the standard of other Disney theming - something
very surprising since the ride was only re-themed a year ago.
After being blasted into space, we went for a more
leisurely commercial tour.
Star Tours is a simulator ride through the galaxy
featuring R2D2 and C3P0 from Star Wars.
The queue turned out to be very long because only
two of the six simulators were in operation.
After a long wait we boarded our StarSpeeder for our
tour.
Even if the wait was long, Star Tours turned out to be a great way
to end the day. It is one of the more violent simulators I've ridden,
and definitely one of the most enjoyable.
Night had fallen over Disneyland.
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