Along the Rivers of the Far West

A trip down the Rivers of the Far West aboard the Mark Twain or Molly Brown erases any sense of being in the French countryside, effectively transporting you to the American frontier of 150 years ago. The steamships navigate a path counterclockwise around the buttes and outcroppings of Big Thunder Mountain, affording views not available by any other means.

Along the way, you're likely to spot native wildlife, both living and extinct. These dinosaur bones are found among the salt-encrusted geysers at the river's eastern shore. Elsewhere, a family of moose have come down to the river to graze.

There's the occasional settler in these parts, too, like Ol' Joe. Joe and his dog live alone in this small cabin by the river, just fishing and rocking the day away. His is a peaceful existence. The same probably can't be said, though, for the group who made camp around the bend. From the looks of things, they may have fallen victim to river pirates.

Some of the most beautiful sights along the river are those created by Mother Nature herself (with a little help from Disney's Imagineers). Just take a look at this natural arch bridge. The wind, rain and river have worn away at the rock, revealing layers of history in the sediment. A closer view of these rock formations also uncovers petroglyphs, left by ancient people who lived in this area, perhaps even before the river ran this way. Of course, the petroglyphs are easier to see from the deck of a keelboat, which can actually pass beneath the arch.

Of course, a trip on the Rivers of the Far West also provides an opportunity for long, lingering looks at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. In other Disney Parks, this attraction can only be seen from select angles (or flashing by from the seat of a runaway train). Here at Disneyland Paris, though, Big Thunder may be viewed from 360 degrees.

From this perspective, you can really appreciate the detail that went into creating the attraction. Here are just two glimpses for you: An entrance to the Big Thunder Mine where blasting is underway and a riverside processing area where ore can be loaded onto ships for transport.

Check back tomorrow, and I'll have even more for you from the Big Thunder Mining Co.

Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing

With the growing prosperity of Thunder Mesa during the Gold Rush, the riverboat landing became a hot spot of activity for passengers and freight coming in and out of town. The landing is a fairly utilitarian space for sorting and loading cargo (complete with a great old fire hose hitch). Some of the ships that call at the landing, however, provide Thunder Mesa's citizens with the most opulent means of travel available.

First among these ships is the stern-wheeler, Mark Twain, based on the original design conceived for Disneyland back in the '50s and named for the author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. During my recent visit, the Mark Twain was being refurbished, but could still be seen around a bend in the river.

The other ship plying the Rivers of the Far West is one unique to Disneyland Paris, the side-wheeler Molly Brown. The ship's namesake made her fortune in the west during the Gold Rush, later toured Europe and became famous as a survivor of the Titanic - the "unsinkable" Molly Brown.

Here, Molly Brown is the Western River Line's "Queen of the River." A tour of her decks reveals Molly Brown, like Mark Twain, is a functioning steamship. Guests on board are afforded an up-close look at the boiler and other machinery that actually drives the ship down the river.

There's also a pair of lifeboats and a display of real antiques from the era of river travel in the west.

Owing to the weather in Paris (which was beautiful during my visit in mid-May, but can often be cold or rainy), the ship is also equipped with several interior cabins. They're richly appointed with upholstered seating and pot-belly stoves for heating.

Now that you're aboard, make yourself comfortable. Tomorrow, we'll be departing for a scenic tour of the Rivers of the Far West.