Off the Beaten Path - Disneyland Paris

As a family, with friends, or as a couple, Disneyland Paris is a must-visit, and is just 35 minutes from Paris. The theme park opened in 1992 in Marne-la-Vallee, and is the most visited attraction of its kind in Europe. Though there are, your not to miss, sights that everyone visits in the park, however there are also sights not typically seen by everyone. Keep a sharp eye out for these five special hidden gems. 

La Taniere du Dragon
The second attraction and coolest by far, tucked away in Sleeping Beauty Castle is the Dragon, which is located in its cavernous basement. This provides a home for an incredible dragon, which breathes steam at visitors that dare to disturb its slumber. Measuring some 88 feet from head to tail, the audio-animatronic dragon was the largest figure of its type ever built in Disneyland Paris.

Le Passage Enchanté d’Aladdin (Aladdin’s Enchanted Passage) 
Listed on Disneyland Paris’ park maps, it seems to be easy to breeze straight pass Aladdin’s Enchanted Passage. This unique little area takes guests on a walking tour past various miniature scenes that recreate the story of Disney’s classic Aladdin animated movie. While it’s never going to rival Pirates of the Caribbean in the popularity, the passage is a great way to pass the time during the peak afternoon hours when the park’s most popular rides are overrun by large crowds.

La Galerie de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty Gallery)
No Disneyland Paris visitor is likely to miss Sleeping Beauty Castle, which towers over the park. It boasts one of Disney’s best castle designs, but what you might not see is that it also crams in two mini-attractions that the majority of guests fail to spot. The first of these is the gallery located in its upper floors, which houses a selection of beautifully-crafted figures, tapestries and stained glass windows that tell the story of Sleeping Beauty. The tapestries were made in the French village of Creuse, internationally renowned for its textile creations since the 14th century. Meanwhile one of the windows uses polarized light to switch between separate images of the Three Fairies bringing gifts to Princess Aurora.

Les Mysteres du Nautilus
Do not mistake the submarine that sits in the lake in front of Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris to be purely ornamental. It is in fact a walkthrough attraction that recreates the famous Nautilus vessel seen in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. One could almost imagine that Jules Verne himself designed it, as it is a perfect fit with the retro-futuristic Discoveryland area that surrounds it. Try and visit early in the day or just before the attraction closes and you’re likely to have it all to yourself. 

The Phantom Manor Graveyard
Located in Frontierland, Phantom Manor is Disneyland Paris’ take on the famous Haunted Mansion attraction at Disneyland. Most guests exiting Phantom Manor are too busy deciding their next destination or discussing the events of the ride, to notice its spooky graveyard. Take the time to pause and have a look around, and you’ll find a number of ingenious puns and in-jokes displayed on the tombstones, as well as some unusual sounds emanating from some of the graves. At night-time, you’ll even be able to catch a glimpse of the “phantom” himself lurking behind the Manor's upper window.

There are all kinds of other hidden gems at Disneyland Paris. Look for them in the scenes that feature in the park’s rides and queues, and you’ll add extra fun to your visit.

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