Disneyland Paris, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, offers a magical realm in which to lose oneself for a few precious hours or days. It is the epitome of wholesome family entertainment, and yet its origins can be traced back to a far more hedonistic type of park, the Pleasure Gardens of Regency England. But while the entertainment on offer in such gardens might have made Walt blush, and that offered by Disneyland and the countless theme parks it inspired is certainly chaste, the history and evolution of such venues illustrates our never-ending desire for environments in which we can cast aside reality and immerse ourselves in fantasy and fun.
