Bienvenue à Disneyland Resort Paris

Over the coming weeks, we'll be taking an in-depth look at the myriad stories and details which can be found throughout Disneyland Resort Paris. Before we get started, though, a bit of orientation may be in order.

Disneyland Resort Paris occupies a site covering approximately 5000 acres, twenty miles east of Paris near the town of Marne-la-Vallée. The original park, known as Euro Disneyland when it opened in April 1992, is situated in the top left of the above image. At the entrance to the park is the Disneyland Hotel, one of seven properties to debut with the resort two decades ago.

Just outside the gates of Disneyland Paris are a rail station (with links to Metro, RER and TGV) and Disney Village shopping, dining and entertainment district. Disney Village (center of the map) connects the park to the resort area. Surrounding Lake Disney are three deluxe resorts: Hotel New York, Sequoia Lodge and Newport Bay Club. Further down the path are the more moderate accommodations, Hotel Cheyenne and Hotel Santa Fe. Partner hotels are located further to the right and offer shuttles to the park. On the lower right, you'll also see Golf Disneyland and Davy Crockett Ranch, a campground facility.

Disneyland Resort Paris debuted its second park in March 2002. Walt Disney Studios Park Paris is on the left of the above map, just steps from the entrance of the original park. The final area of development seen on the map, toward the bottom and left, is Val d'Europe, a planned community similar in some ways to Celebration, Florida.

Disneyland Resort Paris is certainly vast, second in size only to Walt Disney World. Here, we'll be sticking primarily to the two theme parks, with brief visits to Disney Village and the six hotels, so stay tuned!