First Timer to DLP!!!

[Leanne1977]

Hi everyone. ;)

We are going to DLP for the first time on 31st Jan for 4 nights staying at the Sequoia Lodge. :banana:

Just wondered if anyone could give me any general info i might need to know. What is the weather like? Is it mega cold? :scared1:

Any must dos with two boys aged 5 and 3?

We visited WDW for the first time last year and fell in love with the place, will DLP have the same effect do you think? Can't wait to try Space Mountain. ::yes::

Thanks for any help you can give. :goodvibes

[Cyrano]

I'd prepare for it to be cold but knowing European weather it is just as likely to be warm and sunny :goodvibes

Given the ages I think you'll spend most of your time in Fantasyland. So make sure you get an early FP for Peter Pan.

Main advice is get to the parks early. You'll have done most of the major rides before the park starts filling up by lunch-time :)

Have a look at the Tips and DLP secret threads also

[Leanne1977]

Thank you for your quick reply. Some good tips there.

I am really excited about going. My two boys don't know anything about it, its a secret. Shhh!!

We have booked a Good Morning Fantasyland breakfast so hopefully we will be able to get on Peter Pan straight away.

We have also booked a character tea party at Plaza Gardens. Does anyone know what characters are usually here or do they change them regularly?

Cheers again Reid. ;)

[diberry]

Hi Leanne!!!! Lucky you going to DLP so soon. Don't expect WDW - it's not the same but wonderful in its own way and it has many of the same rides and attractions. We all love it. I'd prepare for extreme cold as it's miserable if you're freezing and not kitted out in lots of warm layers. If it's not that cold you can always peel off some layers!!
We had a character breakfast at Plaza Gardens in November and it was brilliant. We met Smee, Friar Tuck, Baloo, Pinocchio, Gideon, Tigger, Pluto and Minnie.
Have a wonderful time - I know you will!!

[Leanne1977]

Thanks Diberry! :goodvibes

I have prepared myself for the cold, got some good winter bargains in the sales! The boys certainly wont be cold with the amount of winter warmers i have bought. :teeth:

I am really impressed with the amount of characters that you saw, my boys love the characters and they are certainly not shy.

Thank you for your help. ;)

[diberry]

We were lucky as there were 4 characters about when we got there and then after a while they changed and 4 others appeared. Unless you are very quick - and there is a lot of food to keep you busy!!! - you should see quite a few too.

[crmscotland]

:earsboy: As well as warm outerwear, like fleeces I would definately take woolly hats, scarfs and especially gloves(from my own experience) - they don't take up a lot of room. Also pack kagools or something waterproof. Whatever the weather l'm sure you will have a great time. What a brilliant surprise for your children. Let us know how your trip goes. :earsgirl:

[Bexx]

Welcome to the DIS Leanne! :wave2:

I would just like to echo what Di said, about not going to DLP expecting another WDW. If you do, you'll probably be disappointed. It's obviously much smaller than WDW, but it really does have a charm of it's own. The Disneyland Park is probably the most beautiful Magic Kingdom of them all. :goodvibes

Oh yes - don't forget your thermals!!!

[Leanne1977]

Thanks all. ;)

So lots of winter warmers going in the suitcase!

I wasnt really expecting it to match up to WDW, i don't think it would of been fair for me to expect that.

But at the end of the day its a couple of hours on the train and costs a whole lot less! :teeth: I was just missing Disney so much i needed a Disney fix before Sept.

From what i have seen and heard it sounds and looks like a lovely place. Whats your opinions on the "magic"?

I really felt the magic in WDW, is there plenty of it at DLP? ::MickeyMo

Thanks for all your help. :goodvibes

[bonhoga]

Hi Leanne and welcome, I can only echo everything thats been said - and add that the Character tea party at the plaza gardens is also excellent and had lots of characters.

Kaye :goodvibes

[Father_and_Son]

Hey Leanne,

first of all the Disney magic is there all around, you just have to open your mind for it.

We are there the same time and out of my experience from last year it is a wonderful time to be there (especially in the SL), because of the very low crowds.

We also booked the character tea party at Plaza Gardens for the first of February and are looking really forward to it. Did you book the Buffalo Bill show?

Here are all the must do I can see, with Kids of that age:

- Animagique (Studios)
- Pirates of the Caribeen
- Pinochio
- Snowwhite (but it could be a bit scary for the youngest)
- Peter Pan
- Big Thunder Mountain (if you Kids have the right heights)
- Adventure Island
- The tree of the family Robinson
- The Parades in both Parks
- Dumbo
- Orbitron
- Carpets over Aggrabah (the last three rides are very much the same)
- Carousel of Lancelot
- Mickey Winterwonderland
- The Lion King Show

Must do for the adults are

- Rock´n Roller Coaster
- Space Mountain
- Phantom Manor (it is not more scary than snowwhite in my oppinion)
- Star Tours

Enjoy a magical Trip

[Cyrano]

TBut at the end of the day its a couple of hours on the train and costs a whole lot less! :teeth: I was just missing Disney so much i needed a Disney fix before Sept.
With that attitude you'll have a wonderful time. The castle will blow you a way since Disney had to put in an extra effort given the number of beautiful castles and chateaus in Europe.
Since most of the Disney stories come from European fables they will take on an extra meeting.
Some of the characters will sign their name in French name so that makes a nice surprise :)

[diberry]

From what i have seen and heard it sounds and looks like a lovely place. Whats your opinions on the "magic"? I really felt the magic in WDW, is there plenty of it at DLP? ::MickeyMo Absolutely - bursting at the seams with magic!!!! In fact I always think that, because it's smaller and more intimate than WDW, it's even more magical and at the end of January it will be quiet so you'll even get some characters all to yourself which can make it even more magical as they have so much more time to interact with you and your children.

[Leanne1977]

Thanks everyone, your comments make me want to go even more!!

Father and Son, thank you for your list of rides, that will be very helpful. ::yes::

We have booked our character tea party for 2nd Feb, the day after you. We havent, unfortunately, booked the wild west show as we are on a budget with us saving for Sept.

But it does look really good. :banana:

[Cyrano]

We havent, unfortunately, booked the wild west show as we are on a budget with us saving for Sept.

But it does look really good. :banana:
Gives you another reason to go back again :goodvibes

[Father_and_Son]

I don´t want you to mess up your budget but Buffallo Bill is the LowCost Tip in the End of January. If you book it in advance you only pay 49€ per adult instead of 59€. And the best is instead of 39 € for the Kids they go in for 0€.
So for 98€ you get the Show, the meal, all drinks during the show and a cowboyhat for each person.
I am telling you this just because one dinner for a family of your size will be as expensive in a served restaurant. Eating and drinking in DLRP is really expensive.

[crmscotland]

::MickeyMo ::MinnieMo The twice l have been to DLRP l have really loved it - lots of magic. Reminded me of the Magic Kingdom in Disney California, where l had been the year before, which is smaller than WDW Florida.

When l was at DLRP in Oct. 2001 l kept forgetting that l was in France, or any other country for that matter. I felt like l had been transported to another land, wonderful, out of this world.

I would say DLP is my favourite Magic Kindom - especially Fantasyland and Main St. USA - out of the 3 parks l have went to. Made me want to live in the Magic Kingdom at DLRP for ever. ::MickeyMo ::MinnieMo

[tialucy]

Any tips I would give you have already been given... people on here just can't wait to help, this is the best place for tips, help, advice. Our first time to DLP was one of the best out of 8 trips we've had there. You've chosen an excellent hotel and I'm sure everything will be magical. :goodvibes

[diberry]

::MickeyMo ::MinnieMo The twice l have been to DLRP l have really loved it - lots of magic. Reminded me of the Magic Kingdom in Disney California, where l had been the year before, which is smaller than WDW Florida.

When l was at DLRP in Oct. 2001 l kept forgetting that l was in France, or any other country for that matter. I felt like l had been transported to another land, wonderful, out of this world.

I would say DLP is my favourite Magic Kindom - especially Fantasyland and Main St. USA - out of the 3 parks l have went to. Made me want to live in the Magic Kingdom at DLRP for ever. ::MickeyMo ::MinnieMoWhat a fantastic post!!!!! It is a wonderful Magic Kingdom, isn't it?

[crmscotland]

::MinnieMo Others may disagree, but l wouldn't suggest the Buffallo Bill show to take a 3 year old to unless they are good at sitting at a dinner type show for a couple of hours. Not recommended if your child has asthma due to dust from animals riding round in arena. Also from what l remember lighting was quite dark. Been to this show once in 1993 and then in 2001, first time l seem to remember food was very good, second time it was awful (sure menu was same both times), and my 5 year old didn't like any of it. Maybe it was just a bad night.

My 5 year old did love the Buffallo Bill show itself though. Perhaps others would recommend it for your boys (aged 3 & 5).

In 2001 we didn't have any problems finding eating places - some are cheaper than others though. Father and son is right, eating out at some places in DLRP isn't cheap. We tend to have a good breakfast at Hotel/Good Morning Fantasyland/Character Breakfast, light lunch (counter service) then a sit down dinner at night either at Hotel or somewhere like Planet Hollywood (take Simon Veness's Brit's Guide along and you get 20% off). There's quite a few other places as well. Check out www.dlpfoodguide.com ::MinnieMo

[Leanne1977]

Wow!! :Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc

So much help for my first post. I am very impressed. :goodvibes

Thanks for all your hints and tips. I will have a better look at the show and decide from there. My 3 year old isn't very good at sitting still but my 5 year old would really enjoy it.

I am very grateful for your help. :flower3:

[Rosie]

Hello Leanne and welcome to the DLP board!:flower:

I am going to SL for 3 nights from 20th - 23rd January, so if you have any last minute questions or if there is any specific info you want let me know. Oops I've just noticed that I should be on the way to pick up DS andDD by now!
Bye for now.

[Cyrano]

Hope you got DS and DD okay Rosie ;)

[Leanne1977]

Hi Rosie. :flower:

Thats very kind of you. If you could maybe just let me know what you thought of the hotel that would be great. It would also be useful to me if you could let me know if the pool was busy when you go.

Thanks for the help. :goodvibes

[Rosie]

Hope you got DS and DD okay Rosie ;)

Yes I did thanks Reid, they're always amongst the last to come out. Usually they are both too busy chatting even to greet me!

Leanne, I will certainly be checking out the pool. My DD is very excited about the water slide and as all four of us (me DH DD and DS) will be crammed into one room, an early morning swim or two might be necessary!

[andy6326]

We sound a bit like you -

We were not that interested in Disney, but thought if we were going to do it, we'd do it in it's 'proper' home ie Florida. After visiting WDW last year thought it was great and decided to go to DLRP as an interim trip before going back to WDW.

However, from all we've read now it seems like a different but equally great place, and this forum is really helpful - all the contributors are very friendly and have a wealth of experience to share. Can't wait to be at DLRP in April and hopefully WDW in 07.

[Father_and_Son]

Hey Leanne,
it´s me again. Never been to the Buffallo Bill Show before and really have to admit that I don´t know from which age it is good.

Was in the SL last January and it was great. I think it is the best "Winterhotel" in the whole Resort. It has a really big Fireplace (Disney Promotion say: "The biggest in Europe". And is theamed like a mountainhotel in the USA.

We´ve been to the Pool just once in the morning and it was really empty but also quite cold.

[Ware Bears]

I really felt the magic in WDW, is there plenty of it at DLP? ::MickeyMo

Hi Leanne :wave:
This had been my biggest worry too. Don't worry, it is every bit as magical as WDW! :wizard: As others have said, so long as you don't expect WDW, you will have a fantastic time and will love it for itself. :love: We have been to DLRP twice now and all of us prefer the DLRP castle and Disneyland Park to WDW's Magic Kingdom (and that is really saying something coming from me who thought I had died and gone to heaven when I saw WDW 's castle for the first time! :cloud9: )

[Ware Bears]

::MinnieMo Others may disagree, but l wouldn't suggest the Buffallo Bill show to take a 3 year old to unless they are good at sitting at a dinner type show for a couple of hours. Not recommended if your child has asthma due to dust from animals riding round in arena. Also from what l remember lighting was quite dark. Been to this show once in 1993 and then in 2001, first time l seem to remember food was very good, second time it was awful (sure menu was same both times), and my 5 year old didn't like any of it. Maybe it was just a bad night.

We went to the show on Boxing Night. We were seated second row from the back. I was a bit worried as I had read previous reports that people seated near the back were served cold food but ours was piping hot and we had to wait for it to cool before we could eat it. The food was OK - hot, edible and plenty of it but why they can't serve chicken strips instead of a chicken leg is beyond me. I know it is supposed to be authentic cowboy food but as you said the lighting is so dark you don't know what you are eating! :magnify: :rotfl:
Don't know what it is like in the summer months when allergies are worse but we didn't see too much dust getting kicked up and both DH and my eldest DD who suffer from hay fever on farms were fine. We had taken antihystamines with us but they did not need to use them.
Regarding the age of children...... mine are a lot older but there were lots of young children there. Guess it depends on each individual child whether they could sit through it - my 3 year old nephew would never be able to sit through it unless we superglued his bottom to his chair! :rotfl2: