RoyalCanadian
A Proud DVC Member @ SSR
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2004
- Messages
- 2,703
Friends & Folks,
Just a brief trip report on our vacation to Disneyland Paris as a day-trip away from our England & Paris vacation.
(NB: Moderators -- please don't move to the DLP section, as I would like to encourage my DVC comrades to consider DLP as a destination.)
First off -- we visited on Sept. 15. It was a Wednesday -- the park was virtually empty. Imagine walking on to every ride (save for the necessary waits for Dumbo, the Carousel and Casey Jr.) and then imagine having a FastPass which basically allows you to run right past the other very quickly moving lines. What a great day. The rides had to post 5-10 minute waits on their signs because they didn't seem to have the ability to post 0 minute waits.
DW and I took DD 4.5 along for the fun. We baby-swapped on Indiana Jones and Space Mountain, so I'll comment on those rides first of all.
Indiana Jones : this ride is an amazing entirely backwards rollercoaster. With good advice from DW (who went first while I waited with DD), I tried to keep my head as far back as possible. It is an incredibly "violent" ride -- almost impossible to keep my head from knocking back and forth. Very disorienting.
Space Mountain : actually our first attempt at the baby-swap and we were pleasantly surprised that DD was all for waiting with Mommy while Daddy took a ride and then waiting with Daddy while Mommy took a ride. I think the exciting part for DD was being able to watch Daddy get back from his ride and then watching Mommy leave on her ride. This version of SM makes the one at WDW look very tame in comparison. A shot up the ramp, instead of the usual clanking of the chain is an incredible way to start the ride and the darkness, black light and glowing objects make the disorienting loops, twists and turns all the more enjoyable and exciting. Love the Jules Verne theming through the entire ride. In fact, DLP theming is outstanding -- the Imagineers have outdone themselves.
Star Tours -- same as WDW, although some French language. Very interesting to hear C3P0 speaking French with a British accent. Interactive game area at the exit, although many of the consoles were inoperative on the day of our visit.
Lion King @ Videopolis -- it was only after visiting DLP and being very disappointed with the seating arrangements that I found out there are tickets available for this retelling of the Lion King story. We stood in the restaurant area of the auditorium and DD saw most of the show, except the audio booth did obscure much of our view of stage left. Still the characters interacted with the audience at the end and the Zebra came up to shake DD's hand.
Disney Princess Parade -- someone else has already noted that kids really don't count at DLP when it comes to parade space (and greeting characters, I might add). True enough -- we originally placed ourselves right behind an entirely empty handicapped viewing area and DD would have had a perfect view, except that some perfectly able bodied adults decided this was a perfect place for them to watch the parade. We moved around and DD was given a spot right at the rope with a great view of the parade starting area. I have now realized that Disney Princesses aren't just for little girls and have fallen deeply in love with Ariel -- or, at least, the face character at DLP. What an outfit. Apparently the word
WOW
needs no translation at all, because Ariel was looking right at me from her place on high and saw me mouth that word and gave me the biggest smile in the world. Oh yes -- I think my daughter enjoyed the parade too.
Carousel -- it's a carousel.
Dumbo -- it's 3 minutes of riding Dumbo.
Snow White -- entirely in French, but the story is universal. DD found it somewhat scarey
, but has the same reaction to the movie.
Pinocchio -- I can't remember if this is at WDW. Please help my very poor memory from 7 years ago. Same effect on DD as Snow White.
Peter Pan -- I just love flying above London in a Pirate Ship -- very nice to point out the places in London that we were going to visit very soon. Much flashier than I remember the WDW version.
Tea Cups -- the "Crystal Palace" roof is a nice touch and DD enjoyed the mad, spinning cup of tea.
Alice in Wonderland Maze -- this was DD's deepest desire for the entire day and she thoroughly enjoyed walking through the maze and underneath the dancing spouts of water.
Fairy Tale Boats -- can you remember all of the Disney fairy tales from your youth? This is a good test with story dioramas presented in miniature as you ride in a boat on a fixed course. If you wonder why Cinderella's Castle is placed up so high, then take Casey Jr.
Casey Jr. -- I didn't even remember this character, but here is an entire ride dedicated to this circus train engine. The music is pumped right into the cars on this great rollercoaster ride -- perfect for children of all ages, plus you get a great view of the Cinderella Castle diorama from the Fairy Tale Boats ride and a great view of just how complete the theming is on the back sides of those dioaramas below.
Pirates of the Caribbean : I'm tempted to say that this ride is the exact same as WDW, except it seemed to be done in reverse + I don't recall the waterfall drops being as significant at WDW. We didn't eat at the adjoining restaurant, but I've read good reviews of it and the theming looked great -- what fun it must be to eat as you watch people in boats float on by as they ride into a pirate battle. Have you ever dreamed of walking into a ride and wondering if the ride was even open because there wasn't a single other guest there? That was our experience with POTC at DLP. The ride line was completely EMPTY. This was an E-Ticket dream come true, yet done in the middle of the day without FastPass, trickery, or any slight of hand.
Phantom Mansion -- I've been told that the intro room at WDW stretches one way while the room at DL stretches the other. The room at DLP does both. We walked right on to this ride not once, but twice. DD loved it -- I have a great pic of DD and DW cowering in fear in the ghostly sentry box at the front gates. A great change for the ghost going home with you!!
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad -- what a ride!!! It starts in one place, goes under the water and the ride continues in a different place. Loved it! We used the FastPass on this ride and ran through the line -- so very satisfying!!
Tarzan -- no need to check the times for English or French language. It's bilingual -- trilingual -- perhaps even quadrilingual. This is the show in which you see just what can be accomplished if you actually could do something with those gymnastics moves your Phys-Ed teacher tried to teach you back in elementary school. We all know the story. If you have children along for the trip, consider sitting close to the front as there is an audience participation component in the "Breaking Up the Camp" scene.
FOOD - we all know how we mortgage the house to feed ourselves and our families if we are going to eat at WDW. My fears were set to rest at DLP -- the prices were quite in line with what we had grown accustomed to paying in the City of Paris "proper". That is to say -- we weren't gouged at DLP any worse than we were being gouged on the Champs Elysees.
That's about all for now fellow DVCers. Disneyland Paris Magic Kingdom is a great place to visit. While we weren't able to visit everything and some attractions were closed for refurbishment, I think we certainly got our money's worth from our passes. There is no need to buy the combined park admission/RER train passes as we learned from the RER staff (too late) that children under 12 travel free on the Metro and Rail systems in Paris. If you can't afford the DLP hotel prices, the resort is a 30 minute train ride from Gare de Lyon station and there are many affordable hotels in the Parisian neighbourhoods. I would be happy to recommend the Ibis chain of hotels as comfortable, clean if somewhat compact -- but quite nice.
Just a brief trip report on our vacation to Disneyland Paris as a day-trip away from our England & Paris vacation.
(NB: Moderators -- please don't move to the DLP section, as I would like to encourage my DVC comrades to consider DLP as a destination.)
First off -- we visited on Sept. 15. It was a Wednesday -- the park was virtually empty. Imagine walking on to every ride (save for the necessary waits for Dumbo, the Carousel and Casey Jr.) and then imagine having a FastPass which basically allows you to run right past the other very quickly moving lines. What a great day. The rides had to post 5-10 minute waits on their signs because they didn't seem to have the ability to post 0 minute waits.
DW and I took DD 4.5 along for the fun. We baby-swapped on Indiana Jones and Space Mountain, so I'll comment on those rides first of all.
Indiana Jones : this ride is an amazing entirely backwards rollercoaster. With good advice from DW (who went first while I waited with DD), I tried to keep my head as far back as possible. It is an incredibly "violent" ride -- almost impossible to keep my head from knocking back and forth. Very disorienting.
Space Mountain : actually our first attempt at the baby-swap and we were pleasantly surprised that DD was all for waiting with Mommy while Daddy took a ride and then waiting with Daddy while Mommy took a ride. I think the exciting part for DD was being able to watch Daddy get back from his ride and then watching Mommy leave on her ride. This version of SM makes the one at WDW look very tame in comparison. A shot up the ramp, instead of the usual clanking of the chain is an incredible way to start the ride and the darkness, black light and glowing objects make the disorienting loops, twists and turns all the more enjoyable and exciting. Love the Jules Verne theming through the entire ride. In fact, DLP theming is outstanding -- the Imagineers have outdone themselves.
Star Tours -- same as WDW, although some French language. Very interesting to hear C3P0 speaking French with a British accent. Interactive game area at the exit, although many of the consoles were inoperative on the day of our visit.
Lion King @ Videopolis -- it was only after visiting DLP and being very disappointed with the seating arrangements that I found out there are tickets available for this retelling of the Lion King story. We stood in the restaurant area of the auditorium and DD saw most of the show, except the audio booth did obscure much of our view of stage left. Still the characters interacted with the audience at the end and the Zebra came up to shake DD's hand.
Disney Princess Parade -- someone else has already noted that kids really don't count at DLP when it comes to parade space (and greeting characters, I might add). True enough -- we originally placed ourselves right behind an entirely empty handicapped viewing area and DD would have had a perfect view, except that some perfectly able bodied adults decided this was a perfect place for them to watch the parade. We moved around and DD was given a spot right at the rope with a great view of the parade starting area. I have now realized that Disney Princesses aren't just for little girls and have fallen deeply in love with Ariel -- or, at least, the face character at DLP. What an outfit. Apparently the word
WOW
needs no translation at all, because Ariel was looking right at me from her place on high and saw me mouth that word and gave me the biggest smile in the world. Oh yes -- I think my daughter enjoyed the parade too.Carousel -- it's a carousel.
Dumbo -- it's 3 minutes of riding Dumbo.
Snow White -- entirely in French, but the story is universal. DD found it somewhat scarey
, but has the same reaction to the movie.Pinocchio -- I can't remember if this is at WDW. Please help my very poor memory from 7 years ago. Same effect on DD as Snow White.
Peter Pan -- I just love flying above London in a Pirate Ship -- very nice to point out the places in London that we were going to visit very soon. Much flashier than I remember the WDW version.
Tea Cups -- the "Crystal Palace" roof is a nice touch and DD enjoyed the mad, spinning cup of tea.
Alice in Wonderland Maze -- this was DD's deepest desire for the entire day and she thoroughly enjoyed walking through the maze and underneath the dancing spouts of water.
Fairy Tale Boats -- can you remember all of the Disney fairy tales from your youth? This is a good test with story dioramas presented in miniature as you ride in a boat on a fixed course. If you wonder why Cinderella's Castle is placed up so high, then take Casey Jr.
Casey Jr. -- I didn't even remember this character, but here is an entire ride dedicated to this circus train engine. The music is pumped right into the cars on this great rollercoaster ride -- perfect for children of all ages, plus you get a great view of the Cinderella Castle diorama from the Fairy Tale Boats ride and a great view of just how complete the theming is on the back sides of those dioaramas below.
Pirates of the Caribbean : I'm tempted to say that this ride is the exact same as WDW, except it seemed to be done in reverse + I don't recall the waterfall drops being as significant at WDW. We didn't eat at the adjoining restaurant, but I've read good reviews of it and the theming looked great -- what fun it must be to eat as you watch people in boats float on by as they ride into a pirate battle. Have you ever dreamed of walking into a ride and wondering if the ride was even open because there wasn't a single other guest there? That was our experience with POTC at DLP. The ride line was completely EMPTY. This was an E-Ticket dream come true, yet done in the middle of the day without FastPass, trickery, or any slight of hand.
Phantom Mansion -- I've been told that the intro room at WDW stretches one way while the room at DL stretches the other. The room at DLP does both. We walked right on to this ride not once, but twice. DD loved it -- I have a great pic of DD and DW cowering in fear in the ghostly sentry box at the front gates. A great change for the ghost going home with you!!
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad -- what a ride!!! It starts in one place, goes under the water and the ride continues in a different place. Loved it! We used the FastPass on this ride and ran through the line -- so very satisfying!!
Tarzan -- no need to check the times for English or French language. It's bilingual -- trilingual -- perhaps even quadrilingual. This is the show in which you see just what can be accomplished if you actually could do something with those gymnastics moves your Phys-Ed teacher tried to teach you back in elementary school. We all know the story. If you have children along for the trip, consider sitting close to the front as there is an audience participation component in the "Breaking Up the Camp" scene.
FOOD - we all know how we mortgage the house to feed ourselves and our families if we are going to eat at WDW. My fears were set to rest at DLP -- the prices were quite in line with what we had grown accustomed to paying in the City of Paris "proper". That is to say -- we weren't gouged at DLP any worse than we were being gouged on the Champs Elysees.
That's about all for now fellow DVCers. Disneyland Paris Magic Kingdom is a great place to visit. While we weren't able to visit everything and some attractions were closed for refurbishment, I think we certainly got our money's worth from our passes. There is no need to buy the combined park admission/RER train passes as we learned from the RER staff (too late) that children under 12 travel free on the Metro and Rail systems in Paris. If you can't afford the DLP hotel prices, the resort is a 30 minute train ride from Gare de Lyon station and there are many affordable hotels in the Parisian neighbourhoods. I would be happy to recommend the Ibis chain of hotels as comfortable, clean if somewhat compact -- but quite nice.
