Brit Guide update time!

[joolz1910]

Such as?



Profits? We get profits.....???? Our publisher always told us we got paid in books......

We're all waiting for the PM that says, 'Hi, I've been looking for an assistant and after reading your well-informed and witty posts, I'd like to offer you the position, Regards, Simon V.'

 

[SimonV]

LOL, joolz! We could certainly have used an assistant to do some of the walking we did on our update trip last week!! Trying to tour all 6 Disney hotels in one go is definitely not a good idea (for our feet, anyway), while we also tried to fit in far too many restaurant visits in the space of 5 days - the suffering we have to go through for our readers (Actually, Susan always says she'd love to have someone who could finish her meals for her, as she's usually had enough before she even gets half-way through! ).

 

[joolz1910]

LOL, joolz! We could certainly have used an assistant to do some of the walking we did on our update trip last week!! Trying to tour all 6 Disney hotels in one go is definitely not a good idea (for our feet, anyway), while we also tried to fit in far too many restaurant visits in the space of 5 days - the suffering we have to go through for our readers (Actually, Susan always says she'd love to have someone who could finish her meals for her, as she's usually had enough before she even gets half-way through! ).

I excel in both walking and eating. Let me ease some of your 'suffering'

 

[scampbunny]

I excel in both walking and eating. Let me ease some of your 'suffering'

lol joolz!!!

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

I excel in both walking and eating. Let me ease some of your 'suffering'

 

[A Small World]

Im quite happy to be chief cocktail taster if you need anyone and to be chief sleeper to test how comfy the beds are in each hotel

 

[SimonV]

OK, in the absence of a chief cocktail taster or meal-eater, we are now at the final stage of the update for next year. So, if there are any other suggestions, tips, advice or requests, now is the time to make them

 

[dlpSteve]

Probably a bit late to make too much impact but I do agree about reducing the 'Paris' section, purely from a selfish point of view from someone who never ventures out of the resort!

A section fully detailing shareholding and annual passports would go down well if this forum is any indication of information people want to know. That may already be in there but I haven't read any of my copies for a couple of years, what with no holiday since Oct 2007 - feeling sorry for me yet? ;

As someone going with a 2 year old for the first time in May I'm keen to see as much toddler information as possible - I'm pretty sure there is probably a lot I'd that already, but the 'family with young childeen' demographic is probably the one that needs to be the most prepared.

The half board information would be good, it's something I've never even looked at but I'd it was all detailed in the book then I would read up on it for sure.

Top 10 rides/attractions for various age groups and family types, as voted for by visitors within those visitor types - would be particularly useful for first time visitors and visitors with different circumstances to their previous visit.

Apologies for mentioning stuff already in the book, not sure what the timeline fo including stuff here is so I just typed away in case, for example, you will have to finish it all off tomorrow! As an aside, I feel sure that whatever you decide to include will be a worthy addition and make what is the greatest guidebook I've ever encountered, even better.

 

[Jonjo]

OK, in the absence of a chief cocktail taster or meal-eater, we are now at the final stage of the update for next year. So, if there are any other suggestions, tips, advice or requests, now is the time to make them

More details with regards to the meal plans would be handy. Which resturants the vouchers can be used in ect.

 

[anna42hmr]

i agree about more info on the HB vouchers (perhaps a table with the different resturants and what vouchers they accept and also indicating which resturants have specific voucher menus, vs their normmal menu etc) ,

and info reference the annual passes

 

[lilacgems23]

I agree drop the paris section or cut down as ive never used this and dont know anyone who has

when will it be out to buy>?

 

[lilacgems23]

How about a fair link to other Disney fan sites that are more open when people ask advice or share views.

I think this site is by far the best. if i didnt like it I wouldnt use it as opposed to post things like this

 

[AmyMoose]

I hate to admit this but I've not actually read the books, but have used your competitor's 'Unofficial Guide...' to WDW. Some of the things that I think is really good about that is the ratings of attractions by age-group (so toddlers, primary school, teens, young adults, adults, seniors, etc). I think they did that by surveying people so possibly not a possibility for this one (and I'm not sure what the deal is with borrowing ideas like that) but might be something to think about if possible?

They also have floor plans which might be quite good for families planning inparticular. Like the Santa Fe might seem light a good deal for a family of four, but the beds seem so much closer together compared to some of the more expensive resorts so would give people an accurate way of weighing up their options (as the photos don't always give away quite how large/small rooms are).

I think you might be alright taking out a Paris section - Amazon often have the 'buy one get this book for x price' deals so if there's any way of wangling that with a regular Paris guidebook (I have no idea how much say publishers have over this... which I shouldn't admit, working in the industry :S) then that could work quite well! As if you're in Paris you want a small map and guidebook you can whip out without carrying your whole Paris guidebook around!

As I said, I don't actually know what your book has in it (though am considering buying it before I go... honest!) but do you have sections for 'Disney with young children/ teenagers/ Disney for adults' etc. I'm going with my boyfriend and - having only been as a kid before - I'd really like to see a section on what there might be after park hours for us in the village/ hotel bars or just nearby that isn't Paris itself . I don't know how feasible that is space-wise though (and you've probably already got it in there anyway!).

Anyways, good luck with the book! And add my name to the list of potential food/ hotels/ cocktail tasters

 

[MichelinMan]

Richard,

I bought your book, but to be honest with you, there wasn't much in there I hadn't already found out easily from the internet. I was hoping for something more like the Unofficial Guide to WDW.

Suggestions on how it could be improved include:

- remove stuff on Paris : if you are interested in that, get a Paris guidebook. The section on the mall wasn't any interest either. Limit the book to just Disney parks, hotels, and how to get there.

- tips on where the best places to watch parades are, including parade stops

- more on half board dining

- more on the benefits/perks of upgraded rooms in hotels (for example, it was difficult to find out what the difference between Fastpass, VIP Fastpass, and Disneyland Hotel Fastpass was).

- suggested hotels near St Pancras for people travelling by Eurostar. More info on how Eurostar, and in particular Disney Express, works would be useful (including times of trains).

- hotel rooms that have views of the fireworks

- suggested itineraries for people travelling by Eurostar. The itineraries suggested in the book didn't fit at all. I would also suggest that most people don't travel by coach, so don't bias the book towards them too much (although I suspect you may be getting a nice little backhander from Ledger! .

- more detailed info on rides, especially important when you have a wussy toddler so you can work out which rides to go on. More photos from inside the rides would be good too.

- something on future plans (for example, could mention Toy Story land at WDS which might be there next year - could influence choice of dates for some people).

- Any chance of some discount vouchers for Disney restaurants or shops?

 

[davewasbaloo]

Richard,
- remove stuff on Paris : if you are interested in that, get a Paris guidebook. The section on the mall wasn't any interest either. Limit the book to just Disney parks, hotels, and how to get there.

I am afraid I would totally disagree with this one. Not everyone going has everyone in their party that just want to do DLP. Showing the other options can help those families out. And I would argue that people just going to the parks are missing out on so much. Provins is a real gem and is about 30 mins away from DLP. Compiegne, Provins and Chantilly to the North offer some amazing sights, many of which inspired Walt Disney's team when designing the look for the movie Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Personally, I would include more of what is outside of the resort to make it worth while.

Then I would have itineraries for those with little ones, those with teens, those with older adults. Treats for romantic breaks. And of course write ups on all the special occassions.

 

[davewasbaloo]

I think this site is by far the best. if i didnt like it I wouldnt use it as opposed to post things like this

Discussions often disappear from this board, or posts. There are other excellent DLP sites as well such as:

http://www.photosmagiques.com/forum/index.php

as well as:

http://www.mousekingdom.de/

And to a lesser degree www.laughingplace.com

I come on here to help a lot of the newbies out when I have time, but to be fair, I get my Disney news from other sources including French sites.

 

[Suzanne1979]

Hello Simon, I don't know if your deadline has passed yet, but I'll have a go in tips etc. anyway .

- the Paris etc. section: I didn't use it (as many here didn't apparently), but then again: it's only 16 pages (in the 2008/2009 section), and I know that most ppl from the Netherlands who travel to DLRP, "do" a day of Paris. I don't know how many Dutch readers you have, obviously... but I'd say: leave the section as it is

- I brought my old (1999!) Dutch guide to DLRP on our visit this summer because it has great foldable maps on the covers: of the park, of park + hotels and of the Marne la Vallee area, I really missed that in your guide (there are no maps on scale whatsoever)

- as mentioned by many, an "eating there" section would be a welcome addition, as the info is a bit "shattered" now, and hard to compare

Other than these tiny comments, I LOVE the Brit Guide. I'm a compulsive planner, and the guide soothed all my needs, thank you !!

 

[mum'o'3]

I don't know if it's a bit late but telling people to make themselves aware of ride opening/closing times is really important. Even though the park was open until 11 being the middle of summer, by 7pm an awful lot of rides and attractions are already closed and we didn't realise this until we ended up walking for hours looking for something to do only to get their and find it was closed.

 

[lilacgems23]

maybe some more money off vouchers too would be good as there was onyl 2 in the last guide?

you could mention the disney village meal card / voucher which gives you 15% off before 6pm, eg where it can be used, where and how to get the voucher

 

[Aine3]

This is out the end of Feb. I've just pre-ordered from Amazon if anyone is interested!