Posted by
Mike and Chris Pettey
on January 19, 2021
Category:
Disney vs. Disney
Tags:
Casey Jr
Disney vs. Disney
Disneyland
Disneyland Paris
Storybook Land
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Casey Jr. Circus Train is a train-themed attraction that travels over, around, and through the Storybook Land section of Fantasyland, interwoven with the Storybook Land Canal Boats attraction. The ride can be found at two of the six Disney Resorts across the globe. We’ve ridden every Casey Jr. Circus Train attraction in person.
Major Similarities & Differences
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You can watch fantastic videos of all versions of the attraction online, so we won’t spend time re-hashing the details of each experience. Instead, we will just point out the major similarities and differences we feel are worth calling out:
- The California version was an opening day attraction. The Paris version opened approximately two years after the park debuted.
- The California version is actually a miniature railroad, with a chain-operated lift hill midway through the ride. By contrast, the Paris version is a powered roller coaster, which travels at much higher speeds along a much larger footprint.
- Both versions are located in the Storybook Land area of their respective parks. This is a mini-land within Fantasyland, and contains miniature models of prominent structures and places within various Disney animated classic films.
- Both versions are intertwined with a boat attraction called the Storybook Land Canal Boats.
The Rankings (from least favorite to favorite)
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To be clear, Casey Jr. Circus Train attraction at Disneyland Paris park is not a bad attraction. On the contrary, it is a fantastic take on the original, with enough differences to make it a worthwhile experience for anyone visiting this beautiful theme park. Like the rest of the Paris park, the ride has been integrated into the scenery and theming in a way that is second to none. Storybook Land here feels truly tucked away in a far corner, secluded in a way that feels authentic and magical. The area the attraction travels is much larger than its California counterpart, and this extra space was utilized to the fullest with gorgeous landscaping and fantastic models of various Disney animated film scenes and structures. The ride is a very different experience than that in California, as this is a true roller coaster attraction, though it is a “powered” coaster, which means that instead of relying solely upon an initial lift hill and the forces of gravity, it uses a motor within the train to start and stop the ride. As a result the attraction moves at a much higher speed – perhaps in some cases a bit too fast to enjoy the scenery – and teeters the line between family and thrill ride. It all adds up to a very unique and enjoyable experience, but it can’t quite match the charm of the California original, and as a result, it sits firmly in second place.
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It’s a real testament to the ingenuity and vision of Walt Disney himself that over 60 years have passed, and the original versions of some attractions are still by far the best. Such is the case with Casey Jr. Circus Train. On paper, it doesn’t really make sense: this ride is smaller, slower, and simpler than the Paris version. But like so many things at Disneyland park, the lack of size means that every square inch of the attraction is utilized in a way that adds a depth and charm that is unique and superior. Casey Jr. Circus Train here travels very slowly through Storybook Land, giving riders a real chance to soak up all of the details. Mid-course, the ride hits a traditional chain lift hill that carries the train up above Storybook Land to the “I think I can” line from the film. Then, it is released to a high(er) speed decent, which, while the fastest part of the attraction, does not travel too fast – and still allows for the enjoyment of the amazing scenery. The Storybook Land models here are more detailed, higher in quantity, and landscaped meticulously in a way that is second to none in this park. The tunnels and mountains are packed in tightly, and the intertwining Storybook Land Canal Boat attraction has much more interaction here, literally passing along and under the train several times during the ride. It’s hard to do justice to this small slice of Walt Disney-era charm, but it really packs a huge punch into a very small package. The result is a do-not-miss experience, and the best version of this attraction in the world.
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Written by
Mike and Chris Pettey
YOUR THOUGHTS?
Agree or disagree with our rankings? Have you experienced any of these attractions – either in person, or virtually via the internet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
2 Comments
Agree totaly 🙂
I wish to add a comment to the Paris version. Yes, the landscaping is meticulous. So, that’s not the point.
The thing with this powered coaster is, that it is so visually fake, trying to be a Casey Jr. Circus “Train”. They did nothing ar all to hide the (elevated) coaster tracks from the spectators viewline. This means : Killing the “train”, not even any effort to hide out the tech. More, the fake train wheels glued on the carriages are really visually so fake, that a 3 year old could see that. 🙂
The same goes for the canal boats, by the way. Being a cable towed system known as ‘Gondoletta’, the boats cannot dock in as expected, but go on the turnwheel station. It breaks down the experience of a real canal. The Disney co. went for this system after seeing it at Efteling theme park, where a Gondoletta has existed well before the opening of Disneyland Paris. The Efteling gondoletta is a large scale scenic ride (almost 20 minutes), and I call it ‘The picnic boats’ as those 20 minutes allow you to eat a snack. (…not forbidden 🙂 …) However, the system relies on underwater turntables for every change of direction. At Efteling they are not visible due to slighty muddy real lake water. The canal boats in Paris sit in clear (clorified..) water which means the riders have an undisturbed view on those mechanical parts (even the tow cable) in the water. Again, taking away the magic. No effort at all was taken to hide the tech out of the viewline from the riders.
Cheers.
Thanks for the great comment! All very interesting and good points. Especially about the boats – really do wish they’d add coloring to the water like they do in California, to hide the cable and gears underwater. It would make the experience feel a lot more authentic for sure. Still no match for California’s Storybook Land attractions, but it would be a major improvement.