Storybookland Boat
Ride
Storybookland is located at the far North of the park,
between Alice's Curious Labyrinth and the Old Mill ferris wheel,
behind It's a Small World. Access to the area is via a path under
the Disneyland Paris Railroad (a bit like "Mickey's Toontown"
in DisneyLand and WDW).
The Storybook boat ride, which was constructed by Mack
GmbH of Germany, is a 'no-host' ride, unlike other similar rides
at other Disney parks. It's a continuous cable-towed boat ride,
departing from a step-on, step-off turntable in front of a giant
open book.
The brightly coloured boats each carry up to 20 guests.
There are open storybooks along the route identifying the story
for each set. The boats pass under a stone bridge (Casey Junior's
track), then in front of beautifully landscaped, richly detailed
miniatures. On your left you will see the Seven Dwarfs' house
(the mine is in the background, with diamond effects and sounds
of the dwarfs working), Hansel & Gretel cake house, Rapunzel's
Tower (note her long blond hair hanging down from it). On your
right, on the top of a small island, is Mount Olympus from Fantasia.
The boats then pass under a second bridge. You enter
the snow-covered area of Peter and the Wolf (on your left). On
your right is the best model: the village, ruins, cemetery & mountain
from Night on Bald Mountain (from Fantasia), now including Chernabog
sitting atop of the ruined castle tower.
The boats turn around the mountain set and enter Aladdin's
Cave of Wonder, through the tiger's mouth. Inside the cave is
a miniature of the treasure, and a little further on is a miniature
of the lamp resting at the top of the stairs, bathing in a magical
beam of light.
Leaving the cave, you see on your left a Sword in the
Stone model, then a large replica of Belle's village from Beauty
and the Beast. The Beast's castle is in the background, with Casey's
track curling around its walls. The final miniature is the Emerald
City of Oz, after which the boats return to the station.
Miniature figures have now been added to the sets of
Storybookland: dwarves in the mine and the evil witch for Snow
White, Prince Eric for Little Mermaid, Centaurs for Mount Olympus,
Peter and the Wolf for Peter and the Wolf, Abu for the Cave of
Wonders, Belle sitting by the fountain in her village, and the
famous Oz quatuor at the entrance to the Emerald City. The sets
now look more alive.
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