THE latest addition to Disneyland Paris, Toy Story Playland, opens on Tuesday. ELLA BUCHAN was one of the first to try out the new attraction.

STRAPPED into my parachute and dangling 90ft above the ground, I surveyed my surroundings.

A few hundred feet away the terracotta façade of the Hollywood Tower Hotel was blackened from fire damage and muffled screams came from inside.

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Below was a yard littered with toys, and a giant slinky dog appeared to have swallowed a group of humans.

Surely a job for the Green Army Men, the tiny heroes from the Toy Story films? Opening next week in Disneyland Paris, Toy Story Playland is designed to capture the imaginations of children without leaving their parents bored.

And, like the films, it does a pretty good job.

The Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop, which I was previewing before the big launch, is enough of a stomach lurcher to surprise adults, but gentle enough not to leave kids screaming in terror.

Each carriage rises gently upwards, stopping so you can admire the view of the whole park, right over to Fantasyland with its fairytale castles.

And nearer by is that Tower of Terror, one of the newest and most terrifying rides that exposes you to the spooky goings on in the Hollywood Tower Hotel.

After a few moments of peace up in the air, the parachutes plummet back down with a whoosh. Your stomach will join you shortly.

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The Parachute Drop is one of three rides in the new land, all based around beloved characters from the Disney-Pixar films.

Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin is gentle without being deathly dull. The character chases his tail around in a bumpy circle as riders sit inside.
And RC Racer is based around and named after human child Andy's toy car.

This one is definitely for older kids and adults.

And of course there are the characters, which have made Toy Story so popular with people of all ages.

The Green Army Men are the inspiration behind the Parachute Drop, and you can position yourself on a model parachute nearby for a photo opportunity.

Welcoming you to the park is a giant Buzz Lightyear, voiced in English by Tim Allen (Buzz in the films).

The astronaut is massively popular with children and so an obvious choice as the park's figurehead.

He already has a ride in the park's Fantasyland - Laser Blast, where you blast baddies from your cart.

But where's Woody?

Buzz's best friend/nemesis is conspicuously missing from the park. David Wilson, who managed the development of Playland, said they decided on Buzz because he is so popular in Europe and "an iconic figure" to welcome people into the attraction.

But don't despair, Woody fans. Over in Frontierland is Woody's round-up area, designed to look like the set of a Western.

Visitors can meet and greet Woody and love interest Jessie.

And David doesn't rule out expanding Playland to include more rides - and more characters.

"There is always room for expansion, and we are always working on something, " he says.

FACT FILE
PRICES for a two-night three-day package including return travel with Eurostar in August start from £441 per adult, £92 per child aged four to six and £202 per child aged seven to 11. Children under seven stay and play for free during the New Generation Festival (until November 8).

The price includes two nights accommodation with continental breakfast at Disney's Hotel Santa Fe and three-day hopper tickets for the Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park.

For info about a family break to Disneyland Paris, call 08448 008 111 or visit disneylandparis.com.

Eurostar operates a direct service in each direction to Disneyland Resort Paris. Fares are from £69 standard class return for adults and £44 return for children aged four to 11. Under fours travel free.

Leisure Select travel is from £146 return for adults and £94 return for children aged four to 11. Tickets are available from eurostar.com or by calling 08432 186 186.