2 American's in Paris - a brief trip report

[kmadams]

Hi all!

This is from my daughter and boyfriend, who have been traveling around Europe this summer and were at DLP yesterday and today. I am so jealous! My daughter has been to WDW many times but this is her first experience at DLP. They stayed 2 nights at the Hotel l’Eysee so they could have access to extra magic hours. Here’s some brief highlights of what she told me in a phone call at 1:00 am last night:

On extra magic hours – she had major problems here. Since they arrived at the hotel later the night before, she planned on buying her ticket when she got to the park. They arrived slightly before the 8:00 am scheduled opening time but they didn’t actually get around to opening until 8:15 am. And when she inquired as to where she could buy a ticket, she was told the ticket booths didn’t open until 9:00 am!!! So they had to sit on a bench for an hour watching hords of people go in until they could finally purchase their tickets.

Disneyland Park - She thought the park itself was very pretty, when they finally got in they rode Space Mountain 3 times in a role. Big thumbs up from her, she thought the ride was better done then the one in Orlando. They also did Buzz Lightyear, which she also thought was better then WDW, as the targets did something different (but I didn’t quite get what she was telling me).

After this they got tickets for the Lion King show. This took more time to do then she expected as they had to stand in line just to get tickets for the show, then, of course, stand in line to get in. She did not like the show as much as she thought she would.

In the afternoon they headed over to the Disney Studios, and got to ride Rock and Roller Coaster three times in a row, with wait times of only 5 minutes or less!! She was disappointed that they don’t have the same pre-show as WDW, but the ride was basically the same. The new ride, Crush, was packed, they will try to get a fast pass for that today. They also took some sort of animation tour that shows movie clips from Disney movies, which made my daughter cry (Bambi, your mother can’t be with you anymore..), ha, my daughter is very sentimental! She also felt very packed in at the Studios, it was small and not a lot of room to move when it's busy, and there were long lines for the bathrooms. Today they will go back and see the Tarzan show. We loved Tarzan when it was at WDW, so she is excited to have a chance to see it again.

After the Studios, they went back to DLP and rode Big Thunder Mountain. This ride was her favorite of all the rides. She tells me it is better then WDW, located on it’s own island? (again, I’m not sure if I understood her correctly). It was also very popular, so they are hoping to hit it this morning during the EMH. Also, she said there was a huge line for Peter Pan, not sure why? They didn’t purchase any food at the parks, being poor college students, they brought their own meat in and made sandwiches, so I can’t report on that. They did stay until 11:00 and saw Candlebration, which in her opinion was only ok. Maybe it just needs the fireworks that come later this month?

I just wanted to say thanks for some very useful info I've gotten here on the boards, it's a great place to learn about a park I knew very little about. And to those of you heading that way, have a great time, and I wish I could be there!! (I'm consoling myself with a trip to WDW in November).

 

[poppyolivia]

Awwww excellent she sounds like shes enjoying herself Reading it though makes me wanna go NOW

 

[Ware Bears]

Reading it though makes me wanna go NOW

Me too!!!

I'm so glad they are having such a great time.

With Buzz at DLP the laserguns aren't fixed to the ride-vehicle and Big Thunder Mountain is indeed on an island ~ the train goes underwater to reach it! It's my favourite ride.

 

[Bexx]

Many thanks to you and your daughter for taking the time to tell us about the trip Glad to hear they are having a good time at DLP

 

[Mrs Stonfiesta]

wow, they do sound like they are having a great time! that 1 hour wait on a bench happend to me last time we were there, i thought the park opened at 8 and we were there at about 7.40 and couldn't get in until 9am but we had a nice hour soaking up that disney magic and it really just added to the excitment . I also agree that buzz is alot better in paris than WDW... my score is always so low in WDW, i have never managed to beat roy, whereas Paris there has been the odd occasion where i win

 

[dwheaton]

Excellent! We went in 2005, and I wish we'd had more than one day there. Big Thunder Mountain was a revelation and only behind Space Mountain as my favorite ride at DLP. Going underwater through the darkness and coming up on the island is a treat. Both coasters show much newer technology and really move, but aren't so crazy to make them unridable for most guests.

I hope they also get to enjoy Pirates and Phantom Manor, which are also major upgrades in technology from the originals.

 

[Cass]

Fun report, I'm glad they are having a good time!

 

[NIK]

Sounds as if they enjoyed the Art of Animation show in the Studios Park. I always find my bottom lip wobbling when they go through the clips of classic Disney films. Bambi's mother and Dumbo visting his mum always have me reaching for the hanky too.

 

[kmadams]

Sounds as if they enjoyed the Art of Animation show in the Studios Park. I always find my bottom lip wobbling when they go through the clips of classic Disney films. Bambi's mother and Dumbo visting his mum always have me reaching for the hanky too.

Thanks all for the nice/helpful comments! I'm waiting to hear how their second day went, but communication is not always good, so it shall have to wait until they can get to a phone or internet (they are staying at hostels and traveling quite a bit). And hopefully, she'll bring me a Disneyland Paris shirt home!!

NIK, she'll be glad to hear someone else besides her cried watching the movie clips! Don't watch "Old Yeller" with her, that one really gets her every time she sees it...

 

[kmadams]

Excellent! We went in 2005, and I wish we'd had more than one day there. Big Thunder Mountain was a revelation and only behind Space Mountain as my favorite ride at DLP. Going underwater through the darkness and coming up on the island is a treat. Both coasters show much newer technology and really move, but aren't so crazy to make them unridable for most guests.

I hope they also get to enjoy Pirates and Phantom Manor, which are also major upgrades in technology from the originals.

Wow, Big Thunder sounds sooo neat!!

She did go on Pirates, but she said she missed seeing the references to the movies that WDW has in their ride. I forgot to ask her about Phantom Manor, that'll have to wait until our next phone call. I'm so excited to see the pictures she took. She'll be home on July 26th, can't wait!!

 

[DisneyDudet]

OK.. my friend and I, from Texas in the US, are heading to Paris this December and will stay in the Latin Quarter, on Rue Muffetard.

I was wondering what the fastest and cheapest way to get to DLP? We're heading there for two out of our 6 or so days in Paris, so we want to utilize all the time we have, plus save some money (as we both just graduated college in December and are paying back loans and parents and such). So, that's question number one. I want to know EXACTLY how to get there. I heard that there is some station near Notre Dame, which is somewhat near us, if that helps...

Also, is there any way we can purchase tickets prior to arriving in Paris? We do this for WDW, and was wondering if people from the US can pre-purchase tickets? If not, I thought I read that you can buy them at some train station? I've never been to Paris, so I don't know anything. All I know is, I want to be able to have my ticket and walk into the park as early as possible to get all my time in.

Thanks in advance. You'll have to be very plain in talking to me. If there is a certain transportation system, you'll have to explain it to me, not just give me the name. I've been trying to read up on everything Paris, but since I haven't been there, I don't know much. So, please, explain everything as if I'm stupid!