July 19, 2020

Design Detail: Disneyland Paris' Entrance

Sometimes the tropics, sometimes elsewhere, but today I want to take you to the most beautiful of all Magic Kingdoms, the stunning Disneyland Paris! Once you arrive on the property either by RER train or by auto, you find yourself walking through the Disney Village. Think Downtown Disney or Disney Springs but entirely different in execution. You'd expect to come to the end of the shopping district and see the gates of the Magic Kingdom. No, not at all!  Instead, to your left you find the entrance to Walt Disney Studios Paris. It's rather bland and unappealing.

The entrance to the castle parc is unexpected. Behind this lush French garden with water pond lies the official Disneyland Hotel. You must pass under the entryway before you reach the turnstiles and get into the park. Only when you've done so can you see the Main Street U.S.A. railroad station. It's a masterful reveal and a wonderful design detail! 

Imagineering's genius Eddie Sotto worked under the inspired leadership of  Tony Baxter, creating the perfect version of an elegant French vision of the dreamlike American cities of years gone by. Must be seen to be appreciated. 

(Photograph copyright Hello Disneyland.)

No comments: