The Hidden Greenhouses of Disneyland Paris aka EuroDisney

We Disney fans love our Hidden Mickeys! In fact, to find anything that is hidden while we are in the parks is a delight. At Disney Animal Kingdom's opening, there was the famous hidden trail which was actually found along the main path linking Asia and Africa. This sweet little area was designed by Joe Rohde and his Imagineering team. 

In another surprise, EuroDisney (Land aka Disneyland Paris) has a set of gorgeous victorian styled greenhouses set far away from the guests eye. The photo looks like a backstage area of where Fantasyland meets Adventureland, but I can assure they are not there. In fact, they are truly thousands of miles away in my home state, Colorado. "What?" you say.

Let me back up, each visit to Southern California, we travel to Roger's Gardens in Newport Beach. This beautiful place is home to a piece of Disneyland history. The famous Disneyland Bandstand rests inside the nursery. (See can see my post about it here.) It made me start to think.

In 2017, we found a portion of EuroDisney that was never installed and instead shipped to Denver, Colorado at our Denver Botanic Gardens.  Read the sign below:

The absolutely gorgeous solariums /greenhouses were initially ordered by the Walt Disney Company when the Imagineers planned to install them in the Company's French parc. 

Seven of these lovely structures were ordered and never installed, but this one in Denver is the only one available for public display. My cel phone photographs do not do justice to the detail. Today, during a visit, a wedding and reception was being held there, so I had to use old photographs to maintain some privacy for the newlyweds.

The green painted metalwork is strikingly similar to what is found on Paris' stunning Main Street U.S.A. Were they to be used in the gardens found right in front of the theme park? Maybe the hub? Were they not so simple bus stop structures designed to welcome guests in case of inclement weather? I have no idea. Yet they are beautiful, no doubt.

Interestingly, years before that visit, we had walked right by them one evening at Christmas while we were enjoying the garden's annual Blossoms of Light decor.  I never noticed the little metal sign. 

When it found it again, it was like a "kiss" from God- a time when you discover something unexpected and so out of the ordinary. It brought an instant smile to my face- and an immediate discussion of just how we might have to return to Paris and that beautiful Disney park.

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

More Disneyland Paris to be Found in Denver

Back about two years ago, I posted some beautiful photos showing an unexpected connection between Denver and Disneyland Paris. This garden structure was originally built for EuroDisney’s Main Street. Well, we just returned from the Denver Botanical Gardens, and I had to take a look at it again with a summertime atmosphere. 

It wasn't as enchanting as during the winter, but it was still pretty sweet. Reminded me of Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom favorite, The Crystal Palace- but on a much smaller scale.

The original blog story and the beautiful wintertime pics can be found on my post here. 

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

A Bit of EuroDisney in Denver

Every visit to Southern California, we attempt to go to Roger's Gardens in Newport Beach. Not only is the place stunning, it also houses a slice of Disneyland history. The famous Disneyland Bandstand now resides within the confines of the nursery. (See can see my post about it here.) Little did I know that a bit of glamorous EuroDisney finds its home in my city of Denver, Colorado.

I have visited the beautiful Denver Botanic Gardens so many times that I can't count them. But today, for the first time ever, I noticed something I never saw before. See below.

The gorgeous solarium was ordered by the Walt Disney Company and planned to be installed in their first French parc. As you can tell if you enlarge the above photo, it never made it.

Seven of these lovely structures were ordered and never installed, but this one in Denver is the only one available for public display. My cel phone photographs do not do justice to the detail.

Where were these to go? Certainly the green painted metalwork is striking in its similarity to what is found on Main Street U.S.A. Were they to be used in the gardens found right in front of the theme park? Were they not so simple bus stop structures designed to welcome guests in case of inclement weather? I have no idea. Yet they are beautiful, no doubt.

Interestingly, we had walked right by the structure one evening at Christmas while we were enjoying the annual Blossoms of Light decor.  I never noticed the little metal sign I photographed today. Maybe its because it wasn't lit, or perhaps I was too busy enjoying the lighting on the solarium and the contents within. 

Seeing this today was like a "kiss" from God. It brought an instant smile to my face- and a discussion of just how we might have to return to that beautiful French Disney park.

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)