Disney Paris- The Runt of the Pack?

[chou4555]

Hi everyone. I live in Englans and therefore my closest Disney location is Gay Paree. The trouble is everyone of my Disney-phobe friends tell me that it's the worst of all Disney locations. A combination of the poor weather... Gaelic attitude and second-rate rides.

Trouble is I have nothing to compare it to, never having been to the more exotic Disney locations.

I guess if I and my kids are content we will return there time and time again. But it is beginning to worm on the back of my brain that it may be the runt of the pack, the poor relation, and not get as much attention as the other resorts...

 

[Lynne M]

As this board is for discussion of the hotels at Walt Disney World in Orlando, I'm going to move this thread over to the Disneyland Paris board.

 

[lcj19]

My family recently returned from a trip to DLP (Aug. 26 - 28). First let me say I had heard many horrible things about the parks before we went "dirty", "rude", and "not worth the money". I disagree. I was disappointed with the Disney Studios Park. Not that it was dirty or anything...it just didn't feel Disney to me. I really enjoyed the Disneyland Park!!! Some of the rides could use a little TLC, but it was fun, clean, and we didn't come across a single rude person. This coming from WDW fan.
I hope this was helpful at all and if you have any questions...

 

[figment_jii]

You might have more luck with this over on the Disneyland Paris board or even the theme park board, but it is currently on the Disney Resort (i.e., hotel) board.

That being said, I've been to DLP once. I had a lot of fun and I would go back. It's not nearly as big as WDW and seemed more in line with DLR. As with DLR, I liked the fact you can walk between the two parks easily.

Some of the rides were close enough, yet different enough, to feel like a new experience (e.g., Small World). I really liked DLP's Phantom Manor. I like DLR's and WDW's HM as well. I didn't really experience any negative attitudes from the CM...the weather was a little less cooperative, but nothing like getting caught in a WDW downpour (I was in DLP in September, so some drizzle).

 

[HFJohnson]

Before we went for the first time this year I was a bit half hearted about going and wondered if we should just wait until we could go and see the "real thing" in America. However, we had a fantastic time and never really experienced any of the negatives I'd heard about beforehand (although we did go out of season). If the Paris is the runt then the other parks must be absolutely amazing!!

I've never been to another Disney park so can't compare it to those, but I've been to Legoland, Chessington etc and Disneyland Paris outshines those by a long way. Yes, the weather isn't guaranteed but we had no problems with the cast members and thought all the rides were brilliant.

 

[DLPdaft]

Hi everyone. I live in Englans and therefore my closest Disney location is Gay Paree. The trouble is everyone of my Disney-phobe friends tell me that it's the worst of all Disney locations. A combination of the poor weather... Gaelic attitude and second-rate rides.

Trouble is I have nothing to compare it to, never having been to the more exotic Disney locations.

I guess if I and my kids are content we will return there time and time again. But it is beginning to worm on the back of my brain that it may be the runt of the pack, the poor relation, and not get as much attention as the other resorts...

Hi chou4555 - I'm a bit confused by your post (it doesn't take much ) - you've been to DLP before, haven't you? What did you think? Did you want to return, or not so much (some people don't enjoy it enough to return, and thats okay .)

 

[Happy Tappy]

Its certainly no runt.

The paris verions of space mountain, pirates and thunder mountain are probably the best in any disney park.

The main park is probably the prettiest magic kingdom type park. Theres far more detail than the american versions.

The theming in the studios isnt great but theres still a lot of good attractions including cinemagique, tower of terror and crush's coaster.

The weather isn't great but thats true of all disney parks apart from California.

 

[Morveryn]

I love Thunder Mountain & Phantom Manor (& many more of DLP's rides). I agree that some of these are better than their counterparts. But really, who cares what anyone else thinks of DLP? If you and your children enjoyed it thats all that matters. I have a friend who probably would never go to DLP but we all have our likes & dislikes, but I for one, will keep visiting DLP.

 

[microsan]

The weather isn't great but thats true of all disney parks apart from California.

I'm afraid but you can't say that (I'm not angry don't worry)

Today's weather : 23°C (ca. approx. 74°F) around 12 noon. Later in the afternoon : 27°C (ca. approx 81°F)

The weather forecast is saying that there should be at least 7 days of sun & hot.

I'm of course not affirming that there is a similar weather as in California, but when the sun is shining, it is shining. Of course, being surrounded by plains, the weather is not always nice but it is great sometimes.

Unless you have a different meaning of what a "great weather" is ?

 

[Florida2012]

When I read your post, I wanted to have a go at you!!

I can understand how people in England may complain about certain parts of the experience (it is pricey, some guests CAN but rude, it needs some investment) however my wife and I are going to our 5th visit in 5 years this December and I can say that the ONLY place that beats it is WDW!!

- It may seem pricey at the minute, but that is mainly due to the £ doing rubbish compared to the €. When we went 5 years ago we were saying how cheap everything was!

- Yes some guests CAN be rude, but sorry to say it but this is Europe and is more to do with the fact that when some English people go over there, they refuse to speak anything but the Native!! (how many times have we been annoyed when people come over here and not "speak the lingo")

- Yes, it needs some extra features, however, I'd imagine this is due to it not being a direct part of Disney (could people clarify this?) however, it is more "up to date" than DL, DLT, etc and (as people say) is the most picturesque!!! Plus the rides take the Europan climate into effect (lots of in-door entertainemt should the weather fail you!)

As someone who didn't really "understand" the Disney thing until I went, I couldn't recommend DLRP highly enough! The CM's really try to make your experience special (ever been to to Alton Towers/Thorpe Park/Etc?) the rides ARE the best in Europe (and Pirates is the best in the world) and lastly, the fact it is only a 4 hour car journey away, it truly is our number one short break location (or we could take a journey to Edinburgh!! Lol)

Whoever is telling you this rubbish, really needs to go for their Xmas parade and THEN come back and say the same!!!

Wouldn't happen!! FACT!!

Hope this helps?
Matt

 

[DLPdaft]

I think one persons lovely experience can be another persons nightmare. Some folk will never want to go to a Disney park, some may go to DLP once and not enjoy it enough to want to return, some may return again and again. We are all entitled to our opinions of DLP, lets keep it friendly, and respect each others points of view .

 

[microsan]

The more I read this board the more one thing seems odd to me. I understand that this might be a cultural reason but :

DLP is Europe's first touristic destination. Therefore we are welcoming a lot of different guests originated from a lot of different countries. Thus explains why DLP is recruiting so much CM issued from these same countries.

I totally understand that guests are just trying to be nice with most of CM and you like to try to speak in french (which I think is very lovely), but for those of you who can't or don't want, no worries : for CM working in hotels or in the parks or in general those in contact with guests, an average english speaking level is required.
Of course, additional languages are also pursued.

 

[microsan]

- Yes, it needs some extra features, however, I'd imagine this is due to it not being a direct part of Disney (could people clarify this?) however, it is more "up to date" than DL, DLT, etc and (as people say) is the most picturesque!!! Plus the rides take the Europan climate into effect (lots of in-door entertainemt should the weather fail you!)

"soon asked soon explained" :

EURO DISNEY SCA is held by :

39.8 % The Walt Disney Company
10.0 % Prince Alwaleed
50.2 % other shareholders

Investors shareholders are expected to manage or control the companies they hold shares, stocks or bonds, at the "Annual general shareholders meeting" (Assemblée Générale) where the rules were strictly codified. This notion is a transposition of the way the political organization but within commercial corporations.

As per the common will of the shareholders expressed during this annual meeting, the President of the company manages the company with the help of the 'Conseil d'administration' (board of Directors and/or Executive Team)

 

[Michael623]

As an American my opinion on DLP usually gets beaten down pretty quickly by the masses but I will answer your questions. First off I've been to DLP twice which I'm assuming is more than 99.99% of any other American on this board.

The Disneyland Park itself is the biggest of all of the Magic Kingdoms worldwide so to call it a runt is not necessarily the right word. The park is absolutely beautiful and has many top notch attractions however it has fewer attractions in that bigger space. The Castle is absolutely awesome. Here's where it takes a turn: Multiple rides are seasonal combined with constant refurbs means it is rare to find (unless you travel exclusively during the busiest times of the year) any more than 80% of the attractions open on a single day. Since my first visit in 2004 they have added exactly 1 ride (unless i;m missing something) to this park (Buzz) and it was at the expense of another (Timekeeper). I don't feel that Captain EO counts since you can watch that steaming pile on Youtube any time you want plus it isn't a new attraction by any stretch.

The Studios Park just never seemed to get it's wheels going. TOT and Crush's coaster were nice additions but the the park still remains a half-day park and honestly if I didn't have hopper passes when I visited I would never waste a full day pass on this park. The most recent additions to this park is the Toy Story land which had a distinct "lipstick on a pig" feel. Uninspired, cheap carnival rides, appealing only to children in my opinion. It is unfortunate that they are dumping money into this park to make it a full-day park at the expense of adding anything new at Disneyland.

Just a few more of my personal observations based on other people's complaints:

Smoking-Yes, it seems that people don't respect the smoking sections but I'm a non-smoker and it honestly never bothered me, seemed like anywhere in else in Europe to me. As long as people smoke outdoors and don't blow it in my face I really don't care

Rude guests-This is my #1 complaint about DLP but just about all (continental) Europeans and most people from the UK don't seem to think this is a problem. Americans are just used to courteousness where Europeans and Brits don't seem to care or at least have a different standard of courteousness. This seems to be a cultural thing, I'm not bashing.

Character scrums- Not a big character family, never encountered this.

Short park hours- I'll confess, this seems to be a complaint that only bothers me. I think Disney parks come alive at night. My last visit in June of 2010 DL closed at 20:00 while it stayed light until 22:00.

To sum it all up:
I enjoy DLP and we're actually in the process of planning another trip for Fall of 2012 (last year before our son starts school). If I lived in the UK where flights to France can be dirt cheap I'm sure I'd have an AP. The truth is that DLP does not get the capital expenditure that the American Parks get and the management (to me) seem to be far worse penny-pinchers that their American counterparts (which seem to get worse all the time). Again in my opinion, there is a catch-22 going on at DLP that needs strong management to overcome: The park attendance isn't strong enough to warrant major capital expenditures but attendance won't pick up until some cash is spent to update/add rides/attractions.

Final piece of advice:
If you can afford it go to the US parks, you will not be disappointed. If you're on a tight budget and need a Disney fix then DLP will do the trick but it is no American Disney park.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Rude guests-This is my #1 complaint about DLP but just about all (continental) Europeans and most people from the UK don't seem to think this is a problem. Americans are just used to courteousness where Europeans and Brits don't seem to care or at least have a different standard of courteousness. This seems to be a cultural thing, I'm not bashing.

Not sure I agree with some of that, I am from England and I did think that the rudeness was a problem.

Most "Brits" are respectful and show courtesy. I do think generally the behaviour of guests at the US parks is better, however I have been pushed and shoved many times at WDW too.
You get rude people everywhere.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi everyone. I live in Englans and therefore my closest Disney location is Gay Paree. The trouble is everyone of my Disney-phobe friends tell me that it's the worst of all Disney locations. A combination of the poor weather... Gaelic attitude and second-rate rides.

Trouble is I have nothing to compare it to, never having been to the more exotic Disney locations.

I guess if I and my kids are content we will return there time and time again. But it is beginning to worm on the back of my brain that it may be the runt of the pack, the poor relation, and not get as much attention as the other resorts...

We have been to Florida 12 times and DLRP just the once.

The Paris theme parks compare very favourably with the WDW one's, there are rides that are better, rides that they do not have in the US, and some where the WDW version is better also.
It's a mixed bag, but the Disneyland Park in my opinion is just as good as the Magic Kingdom.
I don't think the "second rate rides" comment is true, not on what we saw.
Just differences that's all.

The studios we never really had at the top of our list at WDW, so it's difficult to compare the DLRP one, both are "ok".

The weather is naturally better over in the Sunshine State, however that can depend on when you go as having walked around many times in 90 degree heat we found we were able to stay at the Paris parks longer as it was cooler, though being the summer still warm.

There are cultural differences, we personally find the visitors to the Florida parks generally have a happier attitude than we witnessed at the Paris one.
That said the CMs, hotel staff, shop assistants and more were extremely friendly and helpful. Did we come across some rude people? yes, did we come across some nice people? yes. If you get too wrapped up in this you won't go anywhere, after all you can see bad manners
everywhere, even at your local UK supermarket! I don't think it is that big a problem to stop us going.

We have a disabled son who is autistic and non verbal, he loved DLRP , aside from having a private pool at a rented villa probably more so than Florida, partly because we don't have long flights to endure and partly because he wasn't inconvenienced by the heat as much. That's why we are going again next year, staying at the Disneyland Hotel.

Another big advantage at DLRP is everything is so close together, even the shopping malls and Paris itself are easily reached.

Most who have visited more then one disney resort like them for different reasons, I am not actually that 'wrapped up' in all things disney, I like Florida for so many reasons but it's a long haul destination where you would normally go for at least 2 weeks, DLRP is a 4 or 5 day 'disney fix break', both have advantages over the other.

 

[Ware Bears]

I love both WDW and DLP and there are aspects of each destination that I prefer over the other but I don't feel DLP is the poor relation and I certainly don't look at it as a second-rate alternative to the US parks. I've yet to visit DL but am hoping to do so in a couple of years and I'm sure there'll be things I like and things I don't.

I guess if I and my kids are content we will return there time and time again. But it is beginning to worm on the back of my brain that it may be the runt of the pack, the poor relation, and not get as much attention as the other resorts...

chou4555 - I think your last paragraph says it all. If you and your family are enjoying return visits to DLP than that's fine. Don't take any notice of other people - my SIL and BIL go to Butlins every year - my idea of hell but I'd never be so rude as to say this to her and luckily she doesn't read these boards. However if you're starting to feel curious about a visit to one of the US parks then why not look into planning a visit to WDW?

 

[MaleDisneyBeliever]

I love both WDW in Orlando, and DLP. I haven't experienced the other parks. I am slightly biased though, being a lover of pretty much all things Disney (except the movie Chicken Little which was appaling ).

DLP is obviously in a different continent, has different clientele and is much smaller. If you go to DLP, as a first time visitor and you go there with a frame of mind that says - "I'm comparing this to previous experiences at WDW" then you're more likely to be disappointed. Im not saying you will, but you'll be more likely to. My advice? Dont compare. Treat is as the seperate entity that is and embrace it. You'll fall in love with it - Im sure of it!

For me though - JohnnySharp2 summed it up perfectly.

Ryan