At DLP, Tomorrowland has been re-imagined and renamed Discoveryland--and I think it is beautiful. The whole thing has a Jules Verne-esque quality to it, the future as imagined by the people of the 1800s.
As you enter the land from the main hub, the view is dominated by the Astro Orbitors ride topped by this fabulous model of the universe which constantly rotates--it is stunning and a centerpiece of the land--with Space mountain behind. Be sire to view it both in daylight and again once it is lit up at night:
There is no themed entry to the land, just walking in as things subtly change, much like in the US parks and then being hit by that gorgeous view above. While gorgeous, the ride itself is not all that interesting and much the same as its US counterpart, only much lower to the ground. Lines tend to be long as it has a slow low speed. If you are travelling with limited time, I rate this a low priority simply due to it's similarity with the US and its slow load speed/long lines.
The first ride, which is on the left as you enter from the main castle hub, is Buzz Lightyear's Laser Blasters. This is the ride whose building least fits the theming--I always wish they had worked harder to have it blend in. That said,it is basically behind you as you walk in so does not interupt the view too much and it is a fun ride--much like the Florida counterpart, except the laser blasters are not fixed to the ride vehicles, which means you have a lot more maneuverability.
This is one of the rides for which fast pass is available (fast pass is like the old system in the US, though with only half hour return windows)---it is worth noting that the fastpass and stand by queues merge pretty early on and you can expect to spend at least 15 minutes standing in line even with a fast pass. If you are travelling with limited time, I rate this a low priority simply due to it's similarity with the US version.
Continuing around to the left is the Hyperion Cafe, which is now home to the Jedi Training Academy as well as serving Star Wars themed burgers. Take a few minutes to look up at all the details put into that air ship over the entrance.
Continuing on around to the left (behind the Hyperion, and not really visible from the central area) is Star Tours.
This has previously been identical to the ride in Florida, with the exception that your robot pilot speaks to you in French. It is currently down for rehab and I can only assume that it will be getting the same multiple trip possibilities which the upgraded Florida ride now has. Assuming nothing totally different is added: If you are travelling with limited time, I rate this a low priority simply due to it's similarity with the US version.
Continuing behind the Hyperion and on around to behind Space Mountain you will also find: a train station (also currently under rehab), a 4-D movie theatre which is currently underutilized ans showing an extended, 3-D "sneak peak preview" of Ant-Man (calling a trailer for a film already out on DVD a preview is just, well, pathetic, isn't it?), and a rarely open restaurant: Pizza Planet. When open, in peak seasons, Pizza Planet has an all you can eat pizza, pasta, salad and dessert buffet, including unlimited soft drinks or water, for about 20€ per person. It is paper plates and counter service style aluminum tables and chairs in what appears to have once been an arcade, but it is the most food you will get for the money anywhere on property, and the food is decent (the desserts are quite nice actually, French bakery style).
Going back to the entrance, off to the right is Autotopia:
Once again, this ride is virtually the same as in the US parks--including the molasses slow load speed and line that never dips below a 60 minute wait. If you are travelling with limited time, I rate this don't bother.
Straight ahead, past Astro Orbitors as you enter is not only a great view, but two great, unique attractions: The Nautilus and Space Mountain.
(view looking back from near the exit to Space Mountain)
The Nautilus is a walk through attraction--a model of Captain Nemo's submarine from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. It is considerably "bigger on the inside" and pretty (though dark when you first enter, I am told more injuries happen on this ride than any other in the park, due to people tripping on the stairs as they enter the dimly lit room from bright sun outdoors). With almost no wait time virtually any time, if you are travelling with limited time, I rate this high priority.
Finally, the major attraction in Discoveryland is Space Mountain, Mission 2. Based on Jules Verne's novel From the Earth to the Moon it is simply lovely to behold (reading the novel pre trip would be a great way to get in the mood):
That long tunnel on the side of the mountain is your "launch tube" and it is quite a neat feeling moving onto the track, being held at a steep angle and being launched a high speed directly uphill by the magnetic accelerators--it really does give a good impression of being shot out of a huge cannon at the moon.
(detail from the queue)
(loading area)
(nice roomy cars, which seat 4, in two pairs)
This is a much faster moving ride than the US counterpart and features barrel rolls, etc. It is a bit rough, meaning my old body can only handle it a couple of times per trip, but it is worth the shake up! Lines can be long, but we find that many days they dip to under half an hour around midday (everyone seems to run to the coasters first) and does have fast pass as an option. If you are travelling with limited time, I rate this not to be missed!
All in all, this land is just about perfect in theming and feels so very Disney and so very French and so very elegant all at once--with the result that I can just hang out in the main area in soak in the view and be happy
--Hadley
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