Back from Newport Bay

[isanda]

We arrived home safe and sound.

Highlights:

1) Staying in a Suite at Newport Bay and all the little extras like VIP Fastpass
2) Fantillusion
3) Bufallo Bills
4) Space Mountain....I still love it
5) The castle with thh Christmas Lighting
6) Salon Mickey

Downers:

1) Smoking, smoking everywhere!!! Yuck!!!
2) Disney Village...looking very tired
3) Lack of control over access to characters
4) Studios.......really think it is a poor excuse for a park
5) The sparkle seems to have gone...the CM's in general look very miserable...with a few exceptions
6) Pin trading very poor...gone way downhill

Overall a great trip and a lovely way to celebrate my 40th birthday...but I doubt we will go again for a very long time.

The place is feeling very tired and run down...the standard of the food has slipped....just not as magical as it used to be and could be

 

[Cyrano]

Ian thanks for sharing your highs and lows

 

[smileyk8]

I really hope they find the sparkle before our trip, that's how you feel the magic of disney. Has anyone else felt like this recently? It's about 10 years since went to DLP (stayed at the SL), last few years we've been to WDW and I'm really hoping that DLP won't be a dissappointment. I don't mean to offend anyone if any readers are french but I do remember quite a difference in cast member attitudes at the 2 locations but i was hoping that might have changed.

Thanks for the info though, BTW how has space mountain changed?

 

[Ware Bears]

The place is feeling very tired and run down...the standard of the food has slipped....just not as magical as it used to be and could be

I am sorry you feel this way Ian, especially as you were celebrating a milestone birthday. I hope you still really enjoyed yourself. I have only been to DLRP twice and both times in the last year so cannot compare it with in the past but we find it has all the Disney magic for us. Perhaps it was because we were half-expecting it to be terrible when we first went but we absolutely love it for itself. We also found the food just as superb as when we went in the summer, as I am probably about to find when I weigh myself this weekend!

 

[bonhoga]

Ian, really sorry to hear that your trip was missing some of that Disney magic!! I wonder how much the cold impacts on the staff and the resort - I know I would find it very hard working and staying cheery when its sub zero. Although we didn't have a negative experience last february, we found the cold unbearable and said we would never go when its that cold again.

I think the cold could freeze the sparkle out of Walt himself! Anyway glad you still had some high points and Newport bay sounds lovely!

Kaye

 

[Bexx]

I realise it's not much of an excuse, because everyone who visits DLP should expect a magical time - but do you think that maybe the lack of CM sparkle had anything to do with the aftermath of a very busy Christmas and New Year season?

I'm very glad you still had some good highlights.

 

[bonhoga]

Becky, I'd like to say great minds - but i think that at exactly 12:02am its probably more like fools seldom differ!!!!!!!

Kaye

 

[Father_and_Son]

... - but do you think that maybe the lack of CM sparkle had anything to do with the aftermath of a very busy Christmas and New Year season?

I am really sorry to say it, but it can also have to do with getting paid bad and getting no Christmas gratification while the managment did.

 

[tialucy]

Hi Ian, I'm sort of glad that other people are noticing the bad points. I thought it was just me!! I've been to DLP 8 times and the first 7 were just Magic and perfect. This last trip 2 weeks ago I noticed so many things that I didn't like especially the smoking everywhere. I suppose during peak season, with sooooooo many people, you are bound to get some unsavoury characters. Never again peak season!! I will definately be going back soon, the good points far outweigh the bad and I know the magic is still there.

I know what you mean about the studios, sometimes they feel a bit like a ghost town, but I still love it there!! Tower of Terror will make a huge difference though, you wait and see.

 

[Bexx]

I am really sorry to say it, but it can also have to do with getting paid bad and getting no Christmas gratification while the managment did.

That is certainly not going to help.

Becky, I'd like to say great minds - but i think that at exactly 12:02am its probably more like fools seldom differ!!!!!!!

Surely not Kaye!!!

 

[TotallyAngelic]

I know I would find it very hard working and staying cheery when its sub zero. Although we didn't have a negative experience last february, we found the cold unbearable and said we would never go when its that cold again.

I think the cold could freeze the sparkle out of Walt himself!
Kaye

Sorry to hear that you thought it had lost some of the magic for you this time.....but I have to agree that the cold must make a difference! I know that I feel a lot less bubbly and sparkly in the winter and it's not so cold here...surely day after day in those temperatures must take it's toll on the poor old CMs I don't envy the ones who have to stay outside all day and try and keep a smile on their faces.

We were there on what must have been the busiest weekend in living history and it was still magical, though I enjoyed our Halloween trip more (probably because it was a lot warmer!!)

 

[nicola]

The smoking really annoys me too but I have to say that we have loved each and every time we have been sooo much. FOr me DLP has more magic than WDW, especially during Christmas season.

 

[DisneyRGB]

I have to agree the cold weather must have a massive impact. We had a fair few times when we visited in December 2004 where it was so unbearably cold as to make us a bit miserable, and that's when we were on holiday, imagine what it must be like being outside all day working!

And yes I know we always say that it's Disney, so they should be smiley no matter what, but the pay isn't great (especially with the lack of Christmas bonuses for all staff except the top bosses) and there must be some uncertainty about jobs when the cast members see the park is quite empty a lot of the time, I don't know how many of us could put up with this and still be smiley all day - the fact that the majority of cast members manage it is pretty amazing! Plus there are a lot of jobs at DLP which must be pretty monotonous. I have a sense of humour failure a lot at work and I don't have to work in the cold or with customers!