First time back to DL in years! Report

[Always Dream]

Had a great trip at the Paradise Pier Nov 5-8th. Thanks for all the great tips and advice on this board!

I hadn’t been to DL since a 1.5 day trip about 10 yrs ago, but have been to WDW several times. Here are some of my thoughts:

Paradise Pier Hotel
Fantastic place! Good service, convenient, really comfortable beds. I only wished it was directly connected to Downtown Disney or a little closer to the parks and that character wake up calls were available. The Mickey waffles are a new favourite!!

Disneyland
Wonderful. It gave me the same feeling as my first real trip to Disney. On my first night I watched RDCT in front of the castle and saw Fantasmic! from the dessert viewing – both were spectacular. I couldn’t believe how much better the viewing area is for Fantasmic! in this park – it takes the experience up more than a few notches.

Fantasyland: The smaller set up makes Fantasyland in this park more intimate. I loved Peter Pan, the Matterhorn and Alice in Wonderland. I really missed Mickey’s Phillharmagic.

Tomorrowland: Space Mountain is a much much smoother ride here! I also enjoyed Buzz and wished they had the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. Unfortunately I was really underwhelmed by the Nemo submarines – I found the colors dull and the ride too long.

New Orleans square is just beautiful! I was really lucky and scored a reservation for the Blue Bayou for lunch on my second last day. After arriving early, I got a table on the water. It was wonderfully peaceful for a few minutes before other diners arrived – I would highly recommend doing the first reservation of the day to anyone. The soup (can’t remember the name) and beef were both really good.

I also really enjoyed the different beginning to Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion holiday - I wonder why they don’t do this at WDW- and I thought the “chili in a bread bowl” at the Hillbilly show was outstanding as far as fast foods go.

DCA
I think this park has potential, and really fantastic shows, but…

The Good:
I loved Soarin, and ToT (two of my favourites from WDW), enjoyed GRR (although it was much tamer than expected), and did Screamin’ once (it turned my stomach!). The Disney Animation building was also really great – sitting in the “lobby” watching all the classics is really fun, and the Monsters Inc ride was very enjoyable too. Aladdin was also really fantastic.

The Not as Good:
-Toy Story Mania does not have Fastpass even though it is so busy all the time. I never did make it on this ride, and walking out to the pier to find out the wait was 45 min (or more) grew tiresome.

-So many of the rides are just the typical types you see everywhere

-WOC. I was really looking forward to the show, booked preferred dining and arrived early. I think the show itself is amazing, I really really enjoyed what I got to see……….until a father in front of me decided to put his ~6 year old on his shoulders. After that I could see about 50-60%, which was actually lucky - the poor woman beside me couldn’t see anything.

I was absolutely dumbfounded when, after the show (I complained), a CM told me that it is allowed “because the kids can’t see” – I said but then everyone behind them can’t see, to which he just kept repeating “we can’t tell them not to because the kids can’t see”. I can’t even begin to express how outraged I am that Disney would have such an obviously unfair policy. I mean really, what if I brought a step-stool and stood on that, making me ten feet tall, would that be OK? Cause then I could see! Or how about I sit on my boyfriends shoulders, is that OK?

The experience left me with a pretty sour impression of DCA – and I will never camp out waiting for a Disney show again unless this policy is changed.

 

[Raindown]

I'm glad you had a good time. It is always nice to hear pleasant experiences from DLR.

I was absolutely dumbfounded when, after the show (I complained), a CM told me that it is allowed “because the kids can’t see” – I said but then everyone behind them can’t see, to which he just kept repeating “we can’t tell them not to because the kids can’t see”. I can’t even begin to express how outraged I am that Disney would have such an obviously unfair policy. I mean really, what if I brought a step-stool and stood on that, making me ten feet tall, would that be OK? Cause then I could see! Or how about I sit on my boyfriends shoulders, is that OK?

I totally understand. It really comes down to courtesy. I've seen a number of parents get pushy with their children and that is totally not ok or fair to others in the audience.

 

[ttig34]

I'm glad you had a good time. It is always nice to hear pleasant experiences from DLR.




I totally understand. It really comes down to courtesy. I've seen a number of parents get pushy with their children and that is totally not ok or fair to others in the audience.

Yeah, I do not think it is right when parents put their kids on their shoulders. I understand the kids wanting to see-so just hold your kid so he or she is the same height as you- not 3 or 4 feet taller.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Sounds like all in all a great time! I too agree with you about WOC ~ hey parents, put your kid on your back so they watch the show over your shoulder. They don't need to be a torso and head taller than you!! We've seen the show 3 times and had great views all 3 - most recently *late last month* we watched it from the bridge near Ariel's and we had a great view!