Discoveryland is Disneyland Paris' equivelant of Tomorrowland, realized with an entirely different concept. European culture was used distinctively in the park and Discoveryland uses the ideas of famed European thinkers and explorers such as Leonardo da Vinci and H.G. Wells, with Jules Verne featured most prominently. This land was heavily inspired by the abandoned Disneyland concept Discovery Bay, which would have sat at the north end of the park's Rivers of America.
Architecturally designed using Jules Verne's vision of the future as inspiration, the land is laid out very differently from its predecessors. Many Tomorrowland classics are featured in Discoveryland, such as Autopia and Orbitron, some in an altered way, but Space Mountain is changed the most. Its theme is Steampunk/Clockpunk, with elements of Raygun Gothic.
History[]
Originally conceived as Discovery Mountain, it was originally proposed to hold more than one attraction, including an improved version of Horizons from Epcot, a larger Nautilus walk-through complete with a restaurant and a free-fall ride based on Journey to the Center of the Earth. But due to budget cuts, it opened in 1995 as Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune (From the Earth to the Moon). Beside the Space Mountain show building is the Nautilus Lagoon, with a walk-through recreation of the Nautilus submarine from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
The showcase attraction on opening day was a Circle-Vision 360 film, titled Le Visionarium. The attraction featured an eccentric time-traveling robot and his robotic assistant, who take Jules Verne into the world of today, which is pictured as the future he dreamed of. The attraction was later exported to both the Magic Kingdom and to Tokyo Disneyland.
Space Mountain was completely refurbished in 2005 for the Happiest Celebration on Earth, with a new soundtrack and special effects. Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast opened April 8, 2006, in the former building of Le Visionarium, which closed in September 2004.
Attractions and entertainment[]
- Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
- Orbitron – Machines Volantes
- Autopia
- Videopolis Theater (Fast Food Restaurant with video shorts)
- Arcade Alpha & Arcade Bêta
- Les Mystères du Nautilus
- Disneyland Railroad – Discoveryland Station
- Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
- Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain: Rebel Mission
- Mickey's Philarmagic
Former[]
- Le Visionarium (1992–2004)
- Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune (1995–2005)
- Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (1999–2010)
- Captain EO (1992-2015)
- Star Tours (1992-2016)
- Space Mountain: Mission 2 (1995-2017)
- Le Café des Visionnaires
- Arcade Omega
- Ant-Man Sneak Peek
- Star Wars: Path of The Jedi
- L'Astroport Services Interstellaires
Restaurants[]
- Cool Station
- Café Hyperion
- Rocket Café
Former[]
Shops[]
- Constellations
- Light Speed Photography
- Star Traders
