Vintage Disneyland Paris Photos from 1998

The year was 1998, and it was our first (and I thought only ever) visit to Disneyland Paris. My wife and I had saved quite a bit of money to take our growing family to go see our relatives in California. Then, in a surprise move by British Airways, they opened up the Denver to London market by announcing $99 one way to London. Of course, we quickly called them, explained the opportunity, and waved "Farewell" to California but "Hello" to London and Paris. 

A newly opened and freshly planted Parisian Storybookland.

It was the adventure of a lifetime for our 8, 12, 13, and 14 year old kids. It was for us as well as we love to travel but had always seen a trip to Europe as something that financially would never happen. Of course, God had different plans. It was going to be very tight financially to do this, but due to a windfall business situation, my Mom and Dad sent us a few thousand dollars as a gift! We were on our way to Europe on Delta, who had matched the fares of the competition.

The classic Discoveryland attraction.

Amazing tales were the order of the trip! I won't go into any details here that matter to folks outside our family, but suffice it to say, for Americans in London and Paris, our ten days flew by with one discovery after another. 

Given we had our kids with us, we kept things very family friendly with a few rules as we planned: One museum a day and/or one church a day when we visited either, as many famous kid-friendly sights (Tower of London, etc.) as possible, and for dear old Dad in particular, a trip to Disneyland. Not that the family minded!

It all went off without too much of a hitch- that is until a huge storm made it very difficult to get across the English Channel to France. Eventually, we did about 3 am in the morning but at the cost of losing our lunch reservation at the cheapest restaurant at the Eiffel Tower by an hour. (Still a splurge, though! We did get to the top of the Tower later in the week, standing in line next to a family from Cuba. What a treat to meet so many people from different parts of the world.)

The three oldest kids got to ride Space Mountain with Dad. 

The youngest was two inches too short, 

so he settled for Autopia with Mom.

As a Disney park freak, I loved absolutely everything about Disneyland Paris! The incredible and unique Le Visionarium was a favorite as well as the dragon in the castle's dungeon, the stunning new Space Mountain, the Nautilus, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and my favorite version of Pirates of the Caribbean. It's an old family joke now that the castle was "boxed up" for repairs, but at the time I was a bit disappointed.

We all returned home happily exhausted. Mom and Dad determined to return to Europe without the kids one day, and we would do so in 2007 to celebrate our 25th anniversary. (Trip report here.) Nor did we realize we would do it again in 2013 and 2014 due to a business trip I needed to take. (Oops- I just realized I never did finish that series on our 2014 trip to Switzerland and the South of France. No Disneyland Paris at all then.) Together, that's meant three trips to Disneyland Paris in three different seasons and in three different decades. God never ceases to amaze me... 

The kids are much older now with families of their own, but they still talk about this trip! As do we with very fond memories and a few laughs.

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Tomorrowland Attraction Poster: Metropolis Science Centre

When it comes to photography, I'll admit it: I'm no Tom Bricker over at the Disney Tourist Blog, but every once in awhile, even a blind pig can find an ear of corn- or something like that.

Here's a shot I took in 1999. Made even more special now with the passing of Robin Williams. 

Timekeeper, a Circle-Vision 360 presentation adapted for a new audience, was a great centerpiece project of Walt Disney World's New Tomorrowland. Gone was the old "let's take an earnest look at the future". In it's place was a world where aliens and humans alike co-existed in harmony with robots and technology. (That is, until the frightfully wonderful  Alien Encounter revealed the truth.)

This poster for the Metropolis Science Centre was too cool a piece of art for me to pass by. I do wish it was available for sale- and that Robin Williams was still around to sign it.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Back to the Future: 1994 at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

The year: 1994. The mission: a remodel of the Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland.

Love it or loathe it, upon the Magic Kingdom's opening in 1971, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom had a pretty sterile looking white palette. This was even before the massive Space Mountain entered the picture. There was soon If You Had Wings, a personal favorite, and the Wedway Peoplemover to round out the land. The feeling was fresh and contemporary but nothing futuristic aside from Flight to the Moon.

Above image from the amazing Vintage Disneyland Tickets

For the remake, the future was catching up with the Imagineers. So it would be a whole new alien world that would debut.

I couldn't wait for my next trip to see it- and I was not at all disappointed! Reusing the old Mission to Mars facility, the exciting Alien Encounter was a whole newform of thrill in the Disney lexicon. Mildly terrifying without much humor and clearly aiming for the teen audience. Add in a stateside version of Disneyland Paris's Le Visionarium, new "skins" on the existing buildings, fun props, great signage, and lots of neon, and it was a galaxy far far away from the serenity of opening day. Especially at night!

Thanks to Disney and More for the above image.

Unfortunately, time and new management has not been very kind to the Magic Kingdom's land of the future. The centerpiece attraction Alien Encounter gave way to the child friendly Stitch's Great Escape, and the Timekeeper attraction said goodbye, only to be replaced by the characters of Monsters Inc. Of course, the character invasion started years earlier when Wings and it look alike attractions were replaced by Buzz Lightyear. Could the success of Tron: Legacy lead us back to the future? One can only hope!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Disneyland Paris' Le Visionarium

This painted mural at Disneyland Paris stood near the entrance to the excellent and elegant Le Visionarium attraction. In some ways, this was the emotional and philosophical centerpiece of Discoveryland, paying tribute to great visionaries of the past. A few years ago, this was replaced with a smaller but very popular version of Buzz Lightyear's AstroBlasters. It's too bad, really. 

 

The good news is you can find a video of the stateside version of this attraction at this YouTube link.
(Photo copyright Mark Taft.)

Le Visionarium at Disneyland Paris

This painted mural at Disneyland Paris stood near the entrance to the excellent and elegant Le Visionarium attraction. In some ways, this was the emotional and philosophical centerpiece of the park's Discoveryland, paying tribute to great visionaries of the past such as Jules Verne. A few years ago, this was replaced with a smaller but very popular version of Buzz Lightyear's AstroBlasters. It's too bad, really.

The good news is you can find a video of the stateside version of this attraction at this YouTube link.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)