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Europe’s best theme parks
Rollercoasters, fairytales and Gallic warriors:
angels & urchins’ guide to
three of Europe’s best theme parks.
Useful tips
- Unless you are a seasoned theme park visitor, it is worth bearing a few points in mind. Study the park map from the website/buy a book to plan your trip in advance. Recommended book for Disneyland is Disneyland Resort Paris by Simon Veness (Foulsham £7.99)
- Go with children of a similar age/interests.
- Pace yourself. Going to any theme park can be very daunting and exhausting. Before it all gets too much, take a break.
- With a few exceptions most outlets within the parks sell fast food so take along some healthy snacks.
Universal Mediterranea, Barcelona
Disneyland, Paris
Parc Asterix, Northern France
Universal Mediterranea
What
to expect
Port Aventura consists of rollercoasters, rides and mega shows based around
5 themed lands, including China and Mediterranea. Adjacent is the Costa
Caribe waterpark with an indoor interactive wet and wild activity zone,
2 vertical body slides (in the dark) and 2 junior slides.
Don’t miss
La Laguna de Woody – water jets and cannons for a really good soaking.
Admission prices
Two-day passes to Port Aventura and Costa Caribe cost £34 for adults,
£26 for under 13s and under 5s free.
Where to stay
2 on-site 4 star hotels with swimming pools and kids’ clubs. Book
online
at or call 0800 966540. Mediterranean-themed Hotel Port Aventura: £306
for 2 adults and 2 children in a family room for two nights, including
breakfast and admission to the parks. The same deal at the Mexican-themed
Hotel El Paso costs £327.
Queues
Fastpass available.
New for 2004
Can-Can Show; El Rio Loco, where you drift along on the waves to a huge
outdoor lagoon complex.
How to get there
Fly direct to Barcelona or by the Portsmouth to Bilbao P&O ferry crossing.
Ryanair flies twice
daily from Stansted to Reus, with return fares from £8.99 per person,
and then it’s only a 15-min taxi ride from airport.
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Disneyland, Paris
What
to expect
Everything you imagine and more. Disneyland Park is the main attraction
with the parades, most popular rides and roaming Disney characters; Disney
Studios is a mix of spectacular shows and more rides; Disney Village houses
loads of restaurants.
Don’t miss
Thunder Mountain; Princess Parade; Peter Pan’s Flight; slumbering
dragon under the castle; Star Tours; the nightly fireworks and the Wild
West Show (book ahead at hotel).
Admission prices
Daily rate: Adults 49 euros ; children 39 euros, which gives access to
Park and Studio.
Where to stay
Many onsite hotels to choose from that are a short bus journey away. A
family package of 2 nights and 3 days at Newport Bay Hotel approx £1108
(includes return travel with Eurostar, b&b and admission to park for
2 adults and 2 children sharing a room). Same package at Disneyland Hotel
(right in the park) is £1192. Book online
or call 0870 503 0303.
Queues
Use Fastpass and go to popular rides during parades. Book restaurants
at peak times.
New for 2004
The Lion King comes to Disneyland, complete with a themed restaurant.
How to get there
19 miles south of Paris. 31/2 hours by Eurostar from Waterloo. One direct
train a day (otherwise via Lille). Package deals available - see above.
Alternatively book online
or call 08705 186 186. If you arrive direct to Disneyland via Eurostar
you can use the Disney Express Service and your luggage will be taken
from the station to your hotel.
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Parc Astérix
What
to expect
It helps it you are an Astérix fan but there is masses of entertainment
for a wide age range. The rollercoasters are superb, both wild and scary
and wet and wild. Main park with rollercoasters and other rides; Gallic
village and Théatre de Poseidon.
Don’t miss
Tonnerre de Zeus, a giant wooden roller-coaster that goes over 80kph;
Styx for a soaking; Théâtre de Poséidon for sea-lion
and dolphin shows.
Admission prices
Daily rate (discount for subsequent days): Adults 32 euros; children 23
euros; under 3s free.
Where to stay
Onsite at the 3 star Hotel des Trois Hiboux, a chalet-like hotel. Book
online or call 00
33 8 91 67 67 11. Hotel: based on 2 adults and 2 children sharing 2 days
and 1 night adults: 135 euros; children 46 euros.
Queues
Not too bad even in summer.
New for 2004
Celebrating its 15th year with year-long celebrations.
How to get there
A1 Paris-Lille Highway. Take the Parc Astérix exit between exits
no.7 and no.8 30 km north of Paris. Useful stop-off if you are travelling
by car to the south of France.
First published in angels & urchins, Summer 2004