Bastille Day 2013 - How busy?

[katiesam]

Hi everyone

We're currently considering a trip from 9th - 14th July.

Will Bastille Day mean that it is very busy at DLP on July 14th?

Do they do anything special at the park on this day?

Thanks in advance

 

[Vala]

Yes, the parks are very busy.

I've been last year and especially for Dreams and the fireworks (they have special Bastille Day fireworks) it got really bad. Friends of mine ended up being evacuated backstage from Discoveryland because the congestion there was so bad. I was even told they cut short the fireworks because of that - I can confirm they ended quite abrupt and the music kept on playing for ages after it, but the above is what I was told by CMs.

They had Mickey, Minnie and Duffy appearing in special outfits in DLH too.

 

[Jonjo]

I've never seen the park so busy when I was there for Bastille Day a few years ago, to say the parks were crowded was an understatement. By 1pm I was seeing wait times of 90 mins for the big rides like BTM. If your staying at an on-site hotel make full use of Extra Magic Hours that day.

It was a great atmosphere when the crowd begins to sing 'La Marseillaise' the French National Anthem during the fireworks, and afterwards Main Street looked like a sceen from the storming of Bastille it self with everyone making their way out.

There is also a big mlitary parade held in Paris down the Champs-Élysées which is worth seeing if your going into Paris that day.

As Vala says they will have special Bastille Day fireworks before Dreams! this year.

 

[Lisa_C]

This and New Years Eve are probably the main days to miss if you can! As it will be the last day of your holiday, I'd either stsy one day later or leave one day earlier - especially anyone with children as I was scared for my 3year old in her pushchair :-(

 

[bonhoga]

hi, My trip report from Bastille day 2012 is here http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2962089&highlight=disaster , if that helps?
It was very busy, my son was pickpocketed and never realised just with the sheer numbers of people bumping into you. We used the time to go on lake disney and the fireworks were good :] . In fact we still had a lovely day K

 

[jillrobinson]

We're planning on not being in the park on Bastille Day, we will either be spending a second day in Paris or visiting the Cat Reserve.
We may return for the evening fireworks at DLP, I have been advised not to stay in Paris itself for their fireworks as it's even more horrendous there and will be almost impossible to get a train back to DLP.

Mind you I think Paris is going to pretty busy too that weekend, tickets for the Eiffel Tower on 13th went on sale online yesterday, I logged on to the website at about 4.00 oclock to find that there was only the 3.30 time slot left.

 

[Vala]

We may return for the evening fireworks at DLP, I have been advised not to stay in Paris itself for their fireworks as it's even more horrendous there and will be almost impossible to get a train back to DLP.

Don't. Seriously, don't. I have a disabled pass and arrived at the area over an hour before the start of Fantillusion. We were two people with a Pass and one companion. They first refused to let our companion join because at that point the disabled area was already overcrowded.

I don't think we even got as far as the crowd singing. I'm not afraid easy, but then even I was on the verge of panic.

It looks like I may actually be around this year if the summer pin event happens again. But now even my friends agreed to just do a character meal or hang out in the hotel bar that night. We are not taking this risk again. It was mental.

 

[katiesam]

Thanks for all your replies everyone, it doesn't sound like a very pleasant experience.

What a shame. Why do they let so many people into the park if it's dangerous with the crowds? I remember reading a couple of tweets a while back that one of the parks in America had temporarily stopped letting people in because it was already full.

I was looking at Eurostar prices over the weekend and think it was cheapest to come back to the UK on Sunday 14th July rather than the Monday (but I've looked at so many dates and times that I've lost track of the prices now anyway!).

Then I learned it was Bastille Day and thought it might be nice to stay and see if anything special was going on.

But now I'm having second thoughts!

We'd be 3 adults so wouldn't have children to worry about but the crowds sound quite frightening and we're always quite wary of trying to keep our bags etc safe anyway so that sounds like a nightmare.

Back to the drawing board I think!

 

[jillrobinson]

I've experienced dlp's version of crowd control at the 15th anniversary press event and it was scary, i remember holding onto my boys hands for dear life as the cm's herded thousands of people into main street. I wouldnt want to experience anything like that again

 

[bonhoga]

Hi , can I just say we got the cheapest ever trip to DLP over Bastille day, not realising what it was ??? We still really enjoyed it! If you want a trip for a budget amount, this is the way to go....plus you get extraordinary fireworks thrown in. But you need to be prepared for the crowds and the demand for everything :]

Please don't write it off completely as there are plusses as well as minuses but if you're major bug bear is crowds don't even contemplate it???

Kx

 

[katiesam]

Hi , can I just say we got the cheapest ever trip to DLP over Bastille day, not realising what it was ??? We still really enjoyed it! If you want a trip for a budget amount, this is the way to go....plus you get extraordinary fireworks thrown in. But you need to be prepared for the crowds and the demand for everything :]

Please don't write it off completely as there are plusses as well as minuses but if you're major bug bear is crowds don't even contemplate it???

Kx

Thanks for that - it's good to hear differing opinions

I read your trip report and it certainly sounded like you had lots of fun, although I have to say, I don't think I'd have taken the discovery of my new phone being stolen as well as your son did!

There are just so many options to consider!

 

[jillrobinson]

Hi , can I just say we got the cheapest ever trip to DLP over Bastille day, not realising what it was ??? We still really enjoyed it! If you want a trip for a budget amount, this is the way to go....plus you get extraordinary fireworks thrown in. But you need to be prepared for the crowds and the demand for everything :]

Please don't write it off completely as there are plusses as well as minuses but if you're major bug bear is crowds don't even contemplate it???

Kx

Well it's certainly not the cheapest trip we've ever done, I still can't believe how much it's cost ! but it is the longest, so we can afford to be choosy, I did read your trippie before we booked , just to get a feel for the park on that day.
In all fairness, we've 2 tall teenagers who aren't going to be too bothered by the crowds and I would like to see the fireworks although the rest of the family aren't worried either way.
Guess we'll play it be ear

 

[markpsych]

Hi , can I just say we got the cheapest ever trip to DLP over Bastille day, not realising what it was ??? We still really enjoyed it!

Likewise, it was a few years ago now, but we were there (unplanned) with 4 children.

It was very busy, but nothing awful happened and the atmosphere was fantastic

 

[bonhoga]

oh Jill, that's a shame. If I had paid a lot for the holiday I think I would have been a bit put out, as it was very busy. I think because we got such a bargain, we just wanted to make the most of it. If you were the type of DLPers who are really into the rides it's probably not the best time to go with the queues, but if like us you just love the whole atmosphere then hopefully there will be some bargains again this year........it was 50% flash sale for us last year, what's the chances of another one soon

Ps My other tip for Bastille day is to book Walts. You can see the parade and avoid all the crowds at the same time