Crush's Coaster is an indoor rollercoaster that takes riders gently through Nemo's underwater world before plunging them into the East Australia Current for a thrilling, spinning, high-speed end to the journey. Walt Disney Imagineers have created vivid underwater scenes, complete with bubbles, swaying weeds, and dimensional versions of the characters from the Disney Pixar animation Finding Nemo. The coaster is classified as a moderate thrill – similar in intensity to Disney's Big Thunder Mountain mine train ride.

The second new ride, Cars Race Rally, is also based on a Pixar animation and will debut in June when the Toon Studios opens its gates. This attraction is for younger guests and is rather like a souped up version of a tea cups ride, only you're sitting inside character cars that whiz around a race track set in Radiator Springs.

Later in 2007, Walt Disney Studios will open Stitch Encounter – an interactive show in which members of the audience chat with the cute-but-mischievous animated alien. Stitch interacts in real time with guests, plays games with kids and even teaches a few words of Hawaiian.

If it's big thrills you are after, the key time to visit is early 2008, when the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror finally arrives at Walt Disney Studios. Hollywood Tower Hotel logos on a building in the Studios have been tantalising eagle-eyed guests since the park opened in 2002. And finally, six years on, Disney's faster-than-gravity 13-storey drop ride will take its first plunge in Europe.

The opening of the Tower of Terror also sees the unveiling of a second new section within the Studios park – Hollywood Boulevard, completely with palm trees and 1950s shop facades. With the addition of Toon Studios and Hollywood Boulevard, the Imagineers hope to inject new life into the streets of the Walt Disney Studios which have been criticised for lacking detail and atmosphere since the park opened.

In addition to all the in-park activity, the icing on the birthday cake for Disney fans is the news that the Disney Magic liner will sail to Europe for the first time this summer. Departing from Barcelona, the ship will visit eight European cities in Italy, France and Spain during 10- and 11-day Mediterranean cruises from May to August. Built to look like an elegant liner from yesteryear and offering an array of activities and entertainment for all ages, the Disney Cruise Line is widely acknowledged to offer some of the best holidays at sea.

Whether you’re familiar with Disneyland Resort Paris or planning your first trip, the next 12 months will be the best time to visit the park in its 15-year history. The resort is already buzzing with the lavish new parade, fresh decorations and the Candleabration ceremony. And as the year progresses, new rides and attractions will create an irresistible offering to families and theme park fans alike.

Need to know

As an additional lure to families, Disney is offering free hotel accommodation and park entry to all children under seven throughout the birthday year. The Kids Under Seven Stay & Play Free offer is valid on all adult packages booked for arrival dates between March 30, 2007 and March 20, 2008.

Prices for a two-night three-day package including return travel with Eurostar in May 2007 start from £339 per adult, £156 per child (aged 7-11yrs). The price includes two nights’ accommodation with continental breakfast at Disney’s deluxe Hotel New York and three day hopper tickets for the Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. The same package staying at Disney’s value Hotel Santa Fe starts from £262 per adult, £156 per child (aged 7-11yrs)

For information on family breaks during the 15th birthday celebration, call direct on 08705 030303 or visit www.disneyland15.com.

For details of the Disney Cruise Line’s European voyages, visit www.disneycruise.com

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