Back from our Xmas Trip

[Iain Chapman]

Hey All,

We are back from our trip to DLRP. We were there from Monday 15th to Friday 19th December 2008.

I don't really know why - but althought we had a good time (...I've a feeling you know where I'm going based on other threads...), I can't say that it was wonderful - there was something missing, which I just couldn't put my finger on.

I'm sadly not planning a trip report - the 5ish days we were there blended into 1 - I keep asking my oldest whether he stole Wedneday and Thursday!.

If you read my SDD thread (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2029297) you'll know that ours kids didn't know we were going, and as they didn't know they were going, they didn't know my parents were also coming. As I explained in the SDD thread, the ultimate goal was that the kids wouldn't discover my parents until we were just about to get the BS Transports van.... amazingly we did it!.

Even although we all left from Bristol Airport, were on the same bus from Airport Terminal to the Plane, were on the same plane, were in the luggage collection area at the same time - the first my kids knew that my parents were coming was when my parents strolled up behind the kids (just after we'd found the BS Transports Driver) and asked "Mind if we share this taxi". All my oldest could do (11yrs) was repeat that this was all to much for him!.

So that really was the highest point of the trip.

Negatives / Disappointments of the trip:
Lack of Christmas Decorations
We've been going for the last couple of years during the Christmas Season since 2004, there just didn't seem (based on memory) to the level of Christmas decorations (or more). For example (and these could have been missing last year) - the large snow globes that were present around the Hub - no longer there.

Sequioa Lodge
As said in another thread - there were no (lake side) lights. I remember a few years ago there was lights all over the roofing area above the resturants areas - but these didn't appear to be in place. Likewise the large trees - although you could see there were lights in place, they weren't switched on.

Breakfast
No real problems - but the coffee vending machines (which we used for Coffe or Hot Chocolate) were horrible. Similar machines in the main parks were fine.

Cafe Mickey
Oh what have they done.....

A new menu since our last visit (Nov 2007) which didn't seem to have the range of choice available previously.

Lack of Characters - my memory was that you'd have 4-5 characters available for a period of time, they'd then go away, and a little later a different 4-5 would appear for a period - they'd then go away, and a little later then original set would appear etc. This time the characters were limited to 2 at a time, and I think in total there only 6.

Overall, I didn't find Cafe Mickey to be the experience it had been previously - and it's not somewhere that I'd be in a rush (unlike previously) to go back to.

Studio Tram Tour
Again, what have they done. OK - STT was never the greatest of attractions, but was fairly OK. This time there appeared to be various parts of the video missing leaving 'large' gaps where they is nothing to see or watch (other than blue fences).

Parades
Large gaps seem to be present in both OUADP and Fantulisson. I don't think any floats where missing, but it seemed that the dance/walking cast members had been cut down on. For example when we saw OUADP last year they were cast members in stilts, and those spring jumper things - but nothing like this, this time.

Belle's Christmas Village
What a waste of time!. Yes, I knew from previous visits that this really was just a nice to look at set of 'shops'! - but I never saw any of them open during our 5 days!.

Disney Village Christmas Market
When I first experienced this 2 years ago, the 'huts' were laid out like a little village, and I'm fairly sure that the huts were like little houses. This time, there were just 'sheds', in a row.

Conclusion.
OK - so that makes it sound all bad, and it really wasn't. Major postives were:

Stitch Live!
Tower of Terror - I 'braved' it and survived - really good.
Santa's Christmas Village - this was very well decorated, and looks great at night.
Lake Disney - one morning it was ice over in parts, and you could see the birds walking/sitting across it.

The parks weren't overly busy. Yes, they were more busy than on previous visits, but most attractions where still a walk-on. Friday (19th) was the busiest day of the week. Weather wise it was cold, and slighty wet - not enough to spoil the visit.

Whilst we had a good time, it didn't feel like the Disney experience of previous. We only tend to visit once a year - on previous visits I've come away wanting more - but this time - I'm slightly worried that I've become bored of the DLRP experience. I'm don't have a desire to return in a hurry, which I've had previouly.


Iain

 

[Cyrano]

Welcome home Iain

Shame that the trip did not live up to your expectations

Sounds like you kept the surprise elements of the trip

 

[giuly09]

Hi there,
i am sorry it was not the best Disney trip ever for you and your family.
I am somehow astonished to read things have changed so much since Halloween as my family and me were there Oct 29th Nov 1st, did STT and the video was ok with no lack of images and i can't remember any gaps in OUAD Parade nor in Fantaillusion. I wonder what happened, as someone else suggested could it be the Parks being very busy and a momentary lack of CM's???????????
Hope you had some good moments to remember anyway

 

[Iain Chapman]

....as someone else suggested could it be the Parks being very busy and a momentary lack of CM's???????????

No - I don't think this was the case. Neither park seemed overly busy - the vast majority of attractions were walk ons (Pirates, Tower of Terror etc). Yes, the queue for the popular attractions like Crush (30mins), Buzz (20mins) and Big Thunder (20mins) were 'long' but very manageable - and I know these times wouldn't even be considered as long for these attractions.

Iain

 

[Ware Bears]

Welcome back Iain

I'm sorry you've come away feeling like this. You're not the first one to say they were disappointed with the Christmas decorations. That's a terrible shame as when we went 3 years ago they were outstanding and yes, the Christmas Market in the Village was little wooden houses, I can still taste those delicious chocolate strawberries .......... mmmmmm.

On a happier note, well done for keeping it secret from your kids right to the moment at the BS car! A memory to definitely treasure!

 

[ema74]

I'm sadly not planning a trip report - the 5ish days we were there blended into 1 - I keep asking my oldest whether he stole Wedneday and Thursday!.

If you read my SDD thread (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2029297) you'll know that ours kids didn't know we were going, and as they didn't know they were going, they didn't know my parents were also coming. As I explained in the SDD thread, the ultimate goal was that the kids wouldn't discover my parents until we were just about to get the BS Transports van.... amazingly we did it!.

Negatives / Disappointments of the trip:
Lack of Christmas Decorations
We've been going for the last couple of years during the Christmas Season since 2004, there just didn't seem (based on memory) to the level of Christmas decorations (or more). For example (and these could have been missing last year) - the large snow globes that were present around the Hub - no longer there. Not that many, it certainly didn't feel THAT Christmassy... But the snow on Main St made it all worth while...

Sequioa Lodge
As said in another thread - there were no (lake side) lights. I remember a few years ago there was lights all over the roofing area above the resturants areas - but these didn't appear to be in place. Likewise the large trees - although you could see there were lights in place, they weren't switched on. Yes, that was bad!!!

Breakfast
No real problems - but the coffee vending machines (which we used for Coffe or Hot Chocolate) were horrible. Similar machines in the main parks were fine. Strange... The machines worked ok for us

Cafe Mickey
Oh what have they done.....

A new menu since our last visit (Nov 2007) which didn't seem to have the range of choice available previously. The menu I found to be ok. I had Chicken Caesar Salad and really really liked it!

Lack of Characters - my memory was that you'd have 4-5 characters available for a period of time, they'd then go away, and a little later a different 4-5 would appear for a period - they'd then go away, and a little later then original set would appear etc. This time the characters were limited to 2 at a time, and I think in total there only 6.

Overall, I didn't find Cafe Mickey to be the experience it had been previously - and it's not somewhere that I'd be in a rush (unlike previously) to go back to.

Cannot believe this!!! We had exactly the same experience!!! The place was half full so not crowded, the waitress was running around like headless chicken but not doing much, grumpy face, and the characters didn't feel like spending any time with us. Just hello and good bye. Shame as it always used to be the highlight of our trip. Mia was desperate for Minnie to come and say hello, well she did but didn't feel like signing into Mia's book. The same with all the other characters

Studio Tram Tour
Again, what have they done. OK - STT was never the greatest of attractions, but was fairly OK. This time there appeared to be various parts of the video missing leaving 'large' gaps where they is nothing to see or watch (other than blue fences). Didn't go there, the girls preferred Stitch and the carpent, Minnie and Daisy in the studios

Parades
Large gaps seem to be present in both OUADP and Fantulisson. I don't think any floats where missing, but it seemed that the dance/walking cast members had been cut down on. For example when we saw OUADP last year they were cast members in stilts, and those spring jumper things - but nothing like this, this time. There were no floats missing and honestly I didn't notice any large gaps. Maybe I was just too to see the both parades.

Belle's Christmas Village
What a waste of time!. Yes, I knew from previous visits that this really was just a nice to look at set of 'shops'! - but I never saw any of them open during our 5 days!. We went there at Xmas time in 2006 and Belle's Village was great! This time, there were hardly any decorations, most of the little shops were shut. we had to walk to the castle to buy popcorn or a brioche

Disney Village Christmas Market
When I first experienced this 2 years ago, the 'huts' were laid out like a little village, and I'm fairly sure that the huts were like little houses. This time, there were just 'sheds', in a row. I have to say, I quite liked it. It was nice to have a quiet walk there and be away from the park for a few mins
The parks weren't overly busy. Yes, they were more busy than on previous visits, but most attractions where still a walk-on. Friday (19th) was the busiest day of the week. Weather wise it was cold, and slighty wet - not enough to spoil the visit.

Whilst we had a good time, it didn't feel like the Disney experience of previous. We only tend to visit once a year - on previous visits I've come away wanting more - but this time - I'm slightly worried that I've become bored of the DLRP experience. I'm don't have a desire to return in a hurry, which I've had previouly. I'm with you on this one... Maybe we expected too much and got disappointed but can't be the same with everyone even first timers... Feel sad that I didn't enjoy as much as before so maybe it's time for us to start saving for Florida (just for the experience)

And... Welcome back and well done keeping it a secret

 

[scampbunny]

hi & welcome back!!

sorry again u didnt have such a magical time, but yaaaaaaaaaaaay on the surprise - how excellent!!!

as for cafe mickey, we had a similar number of characters to when we went in the summer, and they spent a good bit of time with us - chip especially, and prince john as excellent as always, but goofy wasnt as good. we had a total of 6 diff characters, compared to 7 in the summer, so not much difference......

we did get extra interaction as it was boys birthday too, and the characters (well, apart from mickey) hung around after for a while, with prince john again being superb (trying to steal the cake). i was very pleased with it, and found the menu better than in june - for the kids especially!!! it was always very busy while we were there, all tables inside were full, and quite full in the 'conservatory' bit too.

so strange how ppl r gettin diff things.....

and about belles village - hugely disappointed with it - as it nothing special, and of course no belle meet n greet, but as we know the meet and greet had stopped, we didnt really bother with it, so it was no loss to us!

 

[tennisfan]

Welcome back Well done keeping it a surprise from your children up until the last moment

 

[DLPdaft]

When did they stop the Belle and Beast meet and greet at Belles Christmas Village? Thats such a shame , it was a lovely setting for them, and usually not mega crowded either.

 

[scampbunny]

When did they stop the Belle and Beast meet and greet at Belles Christmas Village? Thats such a shame , it was a lovely setting for them, and usually not mega crowded either.

elaine - pretty sure it was begining dec, as when we went on 8th it had stopped, and it has no longer been mentioned on the programme (then again, theres a meet n greet for minnie & donald that isnt down lmao)

i was gutted as wanted to meet the beast!!!!!!!!!

 

[Melodyuk]

Im home today too...

Had a wonderful time and will hopefully try and do my first trip report soon....

We went to Cafe Mickey on Friday night and was very happy to meet 6 characters in the time we were there, there was 3/4 out at once, took a while for them to come to our table as we were at in the middle and not round the outsides, so we were just giving up hope and then loads came round, so we stayed longer than planned.... They also all stopped and danced to "THINK" it was a great atmosphere.

I agree with Belles Village... didnt understand that as it was all closed??

The christmas decs looked lovely to me, so pretty, the same as last year it seemed, so perhaps they were better previous years to 2007??

I thought Sequioa lodge felt very cosy too infact felt nicer than at Parkside Diner (HNY) where we stayed before.. and we also ate there for one night this time too...

 

[Iain Chapman]

We went to Cafe Mickey on Friday night and was very happy to meet 6 characters in the time we were there

I think maybe in my original post I didn't really come over very well.

It's not that I wasn't happy to have met the 6 or so characters - it was really just a comment that, based on previous experience, there seemed to be reduction in the number of characters, and in how they were 'released'.

 

[jillrobinson]

Welcome back both

Iain how wonderful that you were able to keep your secret for so long

Christmas this year definately seems to have been a mixed bag

 

[Rachie B]

awww how fab that you managed to keep it a secret ! i had tears reading that bit!

sorry that you didnt have a magical time either

xx

 

[mummyal]

Yayy!! Well done for keeping the secret so well... unlike me, who let the cat out of the bag just 2 days before we were due to go

Negatives / Disappointments of the trip:
Lack of Christmas Decorations
We've been going for the last couple of years during the Christmas Season since 2004, there just didn't seem (based on memory) to the level of Christmas decorations (or more). For example (and these could have been missing last year) - the large snow globes that were present around the Hub - no longer there. This was our 1st Christmas trip and I was rather disappointed too. I know I've seen the pics on here before I went but I still couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed when we actually arrived there.

Studio Tram Tour
Again, what have they done. OK - STT was never the greatest of attractions, but was fairly OK. This time there appeared to be various parts of the video missing leaving 'large' gaps where they is nothing to see or watch (other than blue fences). We went on this on Sunday and didn't actually look at the video

Parades
Large gaps seem to be present in both OUADP and Fantulisson. I don't think any floats where missing, but it seemed that the dance/walking cast members had been cut down on. For example when we saw OUADP last year they were cast members in stilts, and those spring jumper things - but nothing like this, this time. I completely agree. I'm sure there were more 'green soldiers' when we saw it in April. Also, those colourful dancing ladies (can't remember which float it was now).. there were only 3 this time. I'm sure there were more before. And Lion King - don't remember seeing any ostrich or birds this time either. I don't know about Fantillusion as I've never seen it before this and I wasn't in a good spot, so couldn't see the 'street level performers' lol.

Belle's Christmas Village
What a waste of time!. Yes, I knew from previous visits that this really was just a nice to look at set of 'shops'! - but I never saw any of them open during our 5 days!. Yeppp, same here.

Disney Village Christmas Market
When I first experienced this 2 years ago, the 'huts' were laid out like a little village, and I'm fairly sure that the huts were like little houses. This time, there were just 'sheds', in a row. And they were SOOOOOO expensive! 4 euros for a stick of 5 candied strawberries. We didn't buy it but the price caught my attention and one stall was selling hats/bobble hats for 20 euros

Whilst we had a good time, it didn't feel like the Disney experience of previous. We only tend to visit once a year - on previous visits I've come away wanting more - but this time - I'm slightly worried that I've become bored of the DLRP experience. I'm don't have a desire to return in a hurry, which I've had previouly. I think I'm gonna have to agree with you on this one as well. When we came back in April, I really wanted to go back. This time round, even though we had a nice time overall, like you, I don't have that burning desire to return so soon. Maybe doing it twice in one year was a bit of an overkill for me