A minor Disneyland miracle

[WonkaKid]

Folks, I don't have a lot of pics from the park this week. As many of you know, last Sunday DL opened at 9:00 (we hate any opening later than 8:00 ;-)). In any case, I got a later start than planned that morning and shortly after I left, I realized I'd forgotten my phone and had to return home for it.

Needless to say, I was running late. It didn't help that when I arrived at the parking structure, traffic inside was virtually gridlocked. After passing the structure kiosk, cars scarcely moved for several minutes, making me more late than I already was. Long story short, I jumped on the tram around 8:50 and all hope of being the first in the park had long since been abandoned. And Peter Pan? It looked like I'd have to give it a pass. We always say "Do Peter Pan early/at rope drop or not at all."

I was at the park gates at 8:56. I truly thought that my park plan of attack would have to be scrapped. Maybe I'd simply head over to Buzz Lightyear and get in a few games while my friends logged four or five attractions in Fantasyland. However, the line I was in moved more swiftly than expected and I passed through the turnstile at 8:58. Despite all of the setbacks and challenges of the morning, a miracle happened and I was able to weave through the throng of guests on Main Street to meet several friends at the rope. Approximately ten seconds after I arrived, guests were allowed into the park and I was the first person on PP. I'm still in shock about that one.

The scoring on Buzz Lightyear is still messed up... and almost certainly always will be. Out of about a dozen rides, only three of my scores came through and I got credit for precisely zero of my scores greater than 1.5M. It seems to us that it's at its worst just after the park opens -- we concluded after four consecutive rides with no scores -- and gets marginally better sometime after 10:00. I've long since given up hope that it'll ever be fixed. I've raised the issue countless time with DL CMs, Guest Relations at City Hall and I even wrote a letter to the park president, all to virtually no avail. For some reason, they can't or won't fix it.

Despite being late and the near constant infuriation from Buzz (It'll be A) Lightyear (Before you get Your Scores), it was still a great day. I'd intended to snap a pic of the Christmas decorations I mentioned in my post last week that seemed to have been overlooked outside of the NOS train station. But between the previous Sunday and last, they'd been taken down. I wonder if Disney folks scan this board for things like that...

EDIT: These are the only good pics I got on Sunday.

 

[Eve & Wall-e]

I just noticed at the bottom of your post that you've been to ALL of the Disney parks in the world. How cool is that?!?!?!

And DLR is still the best, right?

 

[WonkaKid]

I just noticed at the bottom of your post that you've been to ALL of the Disney parks in the world. How cool is that?!?!?!

Thanks!

And DLR is still the best, right?

Yup. Absolutely!

 

[azdisneylover]

Love the photos!

 

[tarheelalum]

Yup. Absolutely!

If you had to pick one to return to between Shanghai and Paris, which one would you go to and why?

 

[WonkaKid]

If you had to pick one to return to between Shanghai and Paris, which one would you go to and why?

Prior to my Shanghai visit, Paris was my least favorite park. But Shanghai claimed that (dis)honor last March. It's a large park with a lot of empty/unused space. Moreover, Shanghai is one of the largest cities in the world in terms of population. As you might imagine, that has a direct effect on park crowds and line wait-times. Also, the park is only 2.5 years old. It feels too new to me; there's no sense of history as there is at the original park. I found the castle to be slightly garish and, lastly, getting through the security check took 45 minutes. That meant that everyone was pinned should-to-shoulder, front to back for virtually the entire time as we shuffled to the checkpoint. It was not a pleasurable experience. On the day that I was there, I made the observation that I wouldn't return to the Shanghai park even for free. So Paris would have to be my choice. My second favorite park, incidentally, is Tokyo DL.

 

[tarheelalum]

Prior to my Shanghai visit, Paris was my least favorite park. But Shanghai claimed that (dis)honor last March. It's a large park with a lot of empty/unused space. Moreover, Shanghai is one of the largest cities in the world in terms of population. As you might imagine, that has a direct effect on park crowds and line wait-times. Also, the park is only 2.5 years old. It feels too new to me; there's no sense of history as there is at the original park. I found the castle to be slightly garish and, lastly, getting through the security check took 45 minutes. That meant that everyone was pinned should-to-shoulder, front to back for virtually the entire time as we shuffled to the checkpoint. It was not a pleasurable experience. On the day that I was there, I made the observation that I wouldn't return to the Shanghai park even for free. So Paris would have to be my choice. My second favorite park, incidentally, is Tokyo DL.

How much better is Tokyo over Paris? Do many people speak english at Tokyo Disneyland? And last, I promise, was the food at Tokyo Disneyland traditional Disneyland food or more traditional Japanese food?

Sorry for all the questions!!

 

[twodogs]

Also is smoking allowed in the parks in Tokyo? I thought I remembered one of the other things that put Shanghai right to the bottom of your list was all of the smoking (which would bother me too), but now I'm trying to remember if I have the park correct?

 

[EyeOnDisnsey]

Just thought it would be nice if the OP could post why Paris is so low on his list?

DLP is my local park (1hr drive!) and although there are definitely things that can be improved I would like to point out

- Sleeping Beauty castle is one of the most stunning castles in any Disney park
- BTM is the most intricate version of the ride (Frontierland in general is excellently designed)
- DLP entertainment is up there with the best (c.f Mickey and The Magician / Forest of Enchantment)
- Space Mountain is unique (goes upside down!)


Yes the snacks aren’t as fancy as other parks and some guests may smoke in the park despite it not being allowed but there’s lots of great stuff to see and do here (oh and did I mention it’s beside Paris?)

The OP is well entitled to not like it but I feel DLP is unfairly treated on forums so needed to add my 2 cents

/fanbopost

 

[tarheelalum]

Just thought it would be nice if the OP could post why Paris is so low on his list?

DLP is my local park (1hr drive!) and although there are definitely things that can be improved I would like to point out

- Sleeping Beauty castle is one of the most stunning castles in any Disney park
- BTM is the most intricate version of the ride (Frontierland in general is excellently designed)
- DLP entertainment is up there with the best (c.f Mickey and The Magician / Forest of Enchantment)
- Space Mountain is unique (goes upside down!)


Yes the snacks aren’t as fancy as other parks and some guests may smoke in the park despite it not being allowed but there’s lots of great stuff to see and do here (oh and did I mention it’s beside Paris?)

The OP is well entitled to not like it but I feel DLP is unfairly treated on forums so needed to add my 2 cents

/fanbopost

I think some of its problems are due to it not being owned and operated by Disney for so long.

 

[Princess Katelet]

I want your job. And I am job hunting. Soooo...

 

[EyeOnDisnsey]

I think some of its problems are due to it not being owned and operated by Disney for so long.

TWDC has always been a shareholder of EuroDisney SCA just as they are in TDL SDL and HKDL.

The financial struggles of the resort are well known and yes there were dark times (particularly circa 2010-2014) but ever since Project Sparkle (our very own Project Stardust) things are absolutely on the up.

 

[WonkaKid]

How much better is Tokyo over Paris?

I liked it a lot more. Part of that, I think, was because it had more of a Disney feel than Paris. Generally, I simply didn't get a strong vibe from Paris DL. Oh, and one of the few vegetarian options I could find was pretty bland and definitely unsatisfying.

Do many people speak english at Tokyo Disneyland?

Surprisingly not. Indeed, even very few CMs did. I took a few years of Japanese in college, which helped. I was able to find one at Guest Relations. I'm a longtime vegetarian and needed help locating options. There was only one :-(.

And last, I promise, was the food at Tokyo Disneyland traditional Disneyland food or more traditional Japanese food?

The only thing I had there was a vegetarian option and I don't recall it being especially Japanese. The thing that's was most popular was curry popcorn. Lines for it were often super long. In fact, I met two Japanese girls at the park recently and that's exactly what they were looking for. I laughed and asked if it's because of Tokyo DL. They laughed and said it was.

 

[WonkaKid]

Also is smoking allowed in the parks in Tokyo? I thought I remembered one of the other things that put Shanghai right to the bottom of your list was all of the smoking (which would bother me too), but now I'm trying to remember if I have the park correct?

I don't recall smoking being as issue at the Tokyo park. I just reviewed a map and I only found two smoking areas. But yes -- Shanghai has ten designated smoking areas and despite that, people seem to smoke whenever and wherever they like.

 

[Winnowill]

I'm heading to DLP this summer. Since I will never go to Asia, this will be my one-and-only opportunity to visit a foreign Disney park. I'm trying to read up on it.

 

[mom2rtk]

Those are some crazy rope dropping skills.

 

[EyeOnDisnsey]

I'm heading to DLP this summer. Since I will never go to Asia, this will be my one-and-only opportunity to visit a foreign Disney park. I'm trying to read up on it.

Hit me up if I can help!