THIS week, Monday Miles leaves the skyline of Paris behind, stepping into a world where imagination rules, castles shimmer in the morning sun and which is known as the happiest place on Earth. Today we will be wandering through Disneyland Paris, where children and adults’ dreams of fantasy become reality and childhood memories are reborn with every parade and familiar song playing.

Also read: Monday Miles: Reaching new heights with the iconic Eiffel Tower [Video]

History and accolades

Since it’s inauguration day on April 12, 1992, more than 375 million guests have visited Disneyland Paris, which is now the leading tourist destination in Europe and a cultural icon in its own right. From a second theme park to its high-speed TGV train station, the resort’s 30-year history is packed with spectacular milestones and bold expansions.

Fun facts

The land of magic and mouse ears carries a treasure trove of interesting secrets that even the most avid Disney fans have never heard about. Here are some of the most amazing tidbits behind Europe’s version of the happiest place on Earth:

• The original location was not meant to be Paris at all- At first, Disney had considered the Mediterranean coast for a theme park to mirror the warm climates of Florida and California. Ultimately, Paris won because it sits within four hours’ driving distance for 70 million people and a two-hour flight for 300 million more.
• There is a whole hidden world beneath your feet- A network of underground tunnels lets characters and cast members move between lands without breaking the illusion. Even equipment and supplies travel this way to keep the magic seamless.
• ‘Euro Disney’ was renamed because it sounded too boring- When Disneyland Paris opened originally as Euro Disney, the term ‘Euro’ felt financial and dull to Europeans, not magical. Americans thought it sounded chic.
• Hundreds of ‘Hidden Mickeys’ are scattered throughout the park- From rust patterns on treasure chests to subtle outlines in carvings and architecture, Mickey is everywhere, if you know where to look.
• Many of the names in Main Street, U.S.A. windows belong to real people- While several of the names are playful fictions, most are in honour of individuals who helped develop or delineate the park, including Walt and Roy Disney and Imagineer Martin Sklar.
• The stained-glass windows of Sleeping Beauty Castle were made by a master craftsman in his 80s- Paul Chapman, an English expert who had worked on restoring Notre Dame, oversaw the creation of the castle’s stained-glass pieces well into his 80s – a fairytale feat in itself.

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This week Monday Miles visits Disneyland Paris, where fantasy meets history in Europe’s most popular tourist destination. From hidden tunnels and hidden Mickeys to the thrilling Avengers Campus and nightly fireworks, the park continues to deliver pure Disney magic. #mondaymiles #travel #disneyland southlandssun #paris

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Personal highlights

Disneyland Paris is also home to an Avengers Campus, a space in the park dedicated to the Marvel’s mightiest heroes. The campus features high tech buildings with themed rides, restaurants and shops as well as the heroes themselves roaming the park.

As a big fan of Star Wars and Marvel being able to explore these areas was just absolutely mind blowing. I think the highlight for me remained the fireworks and light show at the end of the day to signify the park closing. This over-the-top show is done every day, I genuinely cannot understand how, but hey it’s because they have some Disney magic on their side.

That’s all we have for this week, I wonder where the Monday Miles will take us next week.

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