One of the greatest challenges the traditional Disneyland-style parks have faced has been the issue of Tomorrowland. Practically from the moment Walt opened the doors in 1955, the future was arriving so quickly, Tomorrowland couldn't keep up. With the creation of Disneyland Paris in 1992, the Imagineers set out to try and solve that problem. Instead of building a land that would attempt to predict the future, they set their sights on futuristic ideas of the past. As a result, Discoveryland is timeless, mixing together elements from such diverse science fiction visionaries as Leonardo Da Vinci, Jules Verne, H.G. Wells and even George Lucas.
The entrance to Discoveryland is dramatic and otherworldly, punctuated by crystalline rock formations that seem to have been forced out of the earth by some unseen energy.
Discoveryland is clearly a place dedicated to bold ideas about the future, but it's also presented as a place with tremendous history. The rocks suggest an ancient geological past, while bas relief sculptures on the sides of certain buildings hint at more of the region's richness. This sculpt, on the exterior of the Constellations gift shop, depicts various forms of Discoveryland transportation from dirigibles and Flash Gordon rocket ships to the Nautilus and a Starspeeder 3000.
New forms of science fiction have also been added to the tapestry over time, such as this photo op of WALL*E and Eve, placed alongside Space Mountain.
What helps Discoveryland work so beautifully is that even with the outlandish combination of sci-fi mythologies, so many things are based in the real and familiar. Landscaping plays a big part of that, too. Trees and plants naturally help an area feel comfortable, but here, the plants chosen each possess a bit of a futuristic or alien quality. Some of my favorites are the monkey puzzle trees. You can spot a couple in the upper left of the image below. They're so unusual and rarely seen... although they've existed on Earth since the days of the dinosaurs.
With all the diversity found in Discoveryland, the vision and aesthetic of Frenchman Jules Verne dominates much of the area. It's fitting then that a plaque emblazoned with a quote from Verne be placed at the center of the Court of Flags in the heart of Discoveryland. It reads: "Tout ce que est dans la limite du possible doit etre et sera accompli." ("All that is within the limits of the possible must be done and will be.")
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