Discoveryland isnât just another âTomorrowland.â Itâs a design masterpiece exclusive to Paris. Instead of imagining a future of plastic and neon (which goes out of style in 10 years), the Imagineers decided to base it on how Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, and Leonardo da Vinci imagined the future from the past.
Nothing here is random: the volcanic rocks, oxidized copper, and airships form the style known as Raygun Gothic or Steampunk.
If you love science fiction and history, this land is literally an open-air museum.
đ 1. The Volcanic Rocks Arenât Just Decoration
Have you noticed the strange dark rock formations emerging from the ground and water at the entrance to the area?
Theyâre not just any stones: they represent volcanic basite.
The narrative suggests that Discoveryland was built over an unstable geothermal energy source.
The âbubblingâ rocks symbolize Earthâs energy rising to the surface, which powers the steam turbines and machines throughout the area.
đ« 2. The âColumbiadâ Cannon Has a Name and Surname
The huge cannon attached to Space Mountain is called Columbiad, a direct tribute to Jules Verneâs novel From the Earth to the Moon.
Geeky detail: on the side of the cannon, youâll see a golden plaque that reads Baltimore Gun Club, the fictional artillery club from the book.
Although it no longer fires the trains like in the original version, the cannon still has:
- Recoil mechanism
- Steam effects
- Loading sound before launch
Watch closely before a train departs!
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đ€ 3. Captain Rex Has Been Demoted (Star Tours)
In the queue for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, look to the sides where the defective or packaged droids are.
Youâll see a white and red robot that stutters: RX-24 (Rex).
He was the original pilot of the attraction from 1992 to 2016.
Since he was a terrible (and adorable) driver, Disney placed him âout of serviceâ in the new version as a nostalgic tribute.
đą 4. The Nautilus Organ and Nemoâs Ghost
Inside the submarine Les MystĂšres du Nautilus, in the main room youâll see Captain Nemoâs famous organ.
Listen: it plays Bachâs Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, the same piece Nemo plays in the 1954 film.
Look at the mirror above the organ:
If you wait a few seconds, youâll see Captain Nemoâs face appear, watching you sternly. One of the best âsilentâ scares in the park.
đ 5. The Hyperion Is the Largest Prop in Any Disney Park
The giant airship embedded in the Videopolis building is called Hyperion.
Itâs not a random design:
- Itâs based directly on the ship from the movie The Island at the Top of the World (1974).
- Itâs one of the largest fixed props ever built for a Disney park.
- The Imagineers fell in love with the design even though the film was a flop.
Extra fact: The pigeons you see on it⊠some are real and others are fake for added realism.
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đïž 6. The Hidden Tribute to Visionarium in Buzz Lightyear
Before Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, this building housed Le Visionarium, a 360Âș cinema attraction starring Timekeeper and his assistant Nine-Eye.
Where are they now?
In the Buzz attraction, in the first room with the boxing robot:
- Look under the red robotâs arm.
- Among the scrap, youâll see Nine-Eyeâs head, hidden as a nod to the past.
A precious easter egg for veteran fans.
đŁïž 7. The Star Tours PA System Is Looking for George Lucas
In the Star Tours area, listen to the announcements over the PA system.
From time to time they call for a certain âMr. Egroeg Saculâ.
If you read it backwards: George Lucas.
Itâs an inside joke Disney has used since 1992.
đ 8. Autopia and the âSolariaâ Highway
Autopia isnât just a simple car track. It has its own narrative: Solaria.
Notice the 1950s-style signs along the route:
- They represent an optimistic future, full of elevated highways
- The cars, tunnels, and lights evoke how they imagined the year 2000 from the 50s
- Itâs a retrofuturistic time capsule
Itâs one of the most âvintage futureâ areas of the park.
đŻ 9. The Ultimate Trick to Win at Buzz Lightyear
The highest-scoring target isnât hidden, but itâs hard to hit:
- In the second room, above the volcano, thereâs a target worth many points.
- And on Zurgâs chest, another worth 50,000 points.
If you hit it, youâre almost on your way to becoming a Galactic Hero (999,999 points).
đ 10. A Floor Thatâs a Star Map
In front of Videopolis, look at the ground:
- Youâll see metallic inlays forming real constellations.
- Some lines light up at night using fiber optics (though the system is old and sometimes fails).
- The idea is that you âwalk on the sky.â
A thematic gem that many donât even notice.
đ± 11. Hidden WALL-E and EVE
To the left of Videopolis, near the train station, thereâs a small garden that often goes unnoticed.
There youâll find adorable statues of WALL-E and EVE.
They donât do anything, but itâs one of the quietest and most photogenic spots in Discoveryland.
đ Conclusion: Where Past and Future Shake Hands
Discoveryland is the place where past and future shake hands.
While other parks tear down the old to build the new, Paris preserves that unique âdreamed futureâ aesthetic that makes it timeless.
Next time you enter:
- Observe the rivets
- Listen to the droid announcements
- Look for nods to attractions that no longer exist
Safe travels, time explorer!
