First Timer to DLP!!!

[Leanne1977]

Hi everyone.

We are going to DLP for the first time on 31st Jan for 4 nights staying at the Sequoia Lodge.

Just wondered if anyone could give me any general info i might need to know. What is the weather like? Is it mega cold?

Any must dos with two boys aged 5 and 3?

We visited WDW for the first time last year and fell in love with the place, will DLP have the same effect do you think? Can't wait to try Space Mountain.

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[Cyrano]

I'd prepare for it to be cold but knowing European weather it is just as likely to be warm and sunny

Given the ages I think you'll spend most of your time in Fantasyland. So make sure you get an early FP for Peter Pan.

Main advice is get to the parks early. You'll have done most of the major rides before the park starts filling up by lunch-time

Have a look at the Tips and DLP secret threads also

 

[Leanne1977]

Thank you for your quick reply. Some good tips there.

I am really excited about going. My two boys don't know anything about it, its a secret. Shhh!!

We have booked a Good Morning Fantasyland breakfast so hopefully we will be able to get on Peter Pan straight away.

We have also booked a character tea party at Plaza Gardens. Does anyone know what characters are usually here or do they change them regularly?

Cheers again Reid.

 

[diberry]

Hi Leanne!!!! Lucky you going to DLP so soon. Don't expect WDW - it's not the same but wonderful in its own way and it has many of the same rides and attractions. We all love it. I'd prepare for extreme cold as it's miserable if you're freezing and not kitted out in lots of warm layers. If it's not that cold you can always peel off some layers!!
We had a character breakfast at Plaza Gardens in November and it was brilliant. We met Smee, Friar Tuck, Baloo, Pinocchio, Gideon, Tigger, Pluto and Minnie.
Have a wonderful time - I know you will!!

 

[Leanne1977]

Thanks Diberry!

I have prepared myself for the cold, got some good winter bargains in the sales! The boys certainly wont be cold with the amount of winter warmers i have bought.

I am really impressed with the amount of characters that you saw, my boys love the characters and they are certainly not shy.

Thank you for your help.

 

[diberry]

We were lucky as there were 4 characters about when we got there and then after a while they changed and 4 others appeared. Unless you are very quick - and there is a lot of food to keep you busy!!! - you should see quite a few too.

 

[crmscotland]

As well as warm outerwear, like fleeces I would definately take woolly hats, scarfs and especially gloves(from my own experience) - they don't take up a lot of room. Also pack kagools or something waterproof. Whatever the weather l'm sure you will have a great time. What a brilliant surprise for your children. Let us know how your trip goes.

 

[Bexx]

Welcome to the DIS Leanne!

I would just like to echo what Di said, about not going to DLP expecting another WDW. If you do, you'll probably be disappointed. It's obviously much smaller than WDW, but it really does have a charm of it's own. The Disneyland Park is probably the most beautiful Magic Kingdom of them all.

Oh yes - don't forget your thermals!!!

 

[Leanne1977]

Thanks all.

So lots of winter warmers going in the suitcase!

I wasnt really expecting it to match up to WDW, i don't think it would of been fair for me to expect that.

But at the end of the day its a couple of hours on the train and costs a whole lot less! I was just missing Disney so much i needed a Disney fix before Sept.

From what i have seen and heard it sounds and looks like a lovely place. Whats your opinions on the "magic"?

I really felt the magic in WDW, is there plenty of it at DLP?

Thanks for all your help.

 

[bonhoga]

Hi Leanne and welcome, I can only echo everything thats been said - and add that the Character tea party at the plaza gardens is also excellent and had lots of characters.

Kaye

 

[Father_and_Son]

Hey Leanne,

first of all the Disney magic is there all around, you just have to open your mind for it.

We are there the same time and out of my experience from last year it is a wonderful time to be there (especially in the SL), because of the very low crowds.

We also booked the character tea party at Plaza Gardens for the first of February and are looking really forward to it. Did you book the Buffalo Bill show?

Here are all the must do I can see, with Kids of that age:

- Animagique (Studios)
- Pirates of the Caribeen
- Pinochio
- Snowwhite (but it could be a bit scary for the youngest)
- Peter Pan
- Big Thunder Mountain (if you Kids have the right heights)
- Adventure Island
- The tree of the family Robinson
- The Parades in both Parks
- Dumbo
- Orbitron
- Carpets over Aggrabah (the last three rides are very much the same)
- Carousel of Lancelot
- Mickey Winterwonderland
- The Lion King Show

Must do for the adults are

- Rock´n Roller Coaster
- Space Mountain
- Phantom Manor (it is not more scary than snowwhite in my oppinion)
- Star Tours

Enjoy a magical Trip

 

[Cyrano]

TBut at the end of the day its a couple of hours on the train and costs a whole lot less! I was just missing Disney so much i needed a Disney fix before Sept.

With that attitude you'll have a wonderful time. The castle will blow you a way since Disney had to put in an extra effort given the number of beautiful castles and chateaus in Europe.
Since most of the Disney stories come from European fables they will take on an extra meeting.
Some of the characters will sign their name in French name so that makes a nice surprise

 

[diberry]

From what i have seen and heard it sounds and looks like a lovely place. Whats your opinions on the "magic"? I really felt the magic in WDW, is there plenty of it at DLP?

Absolutely - bursting at the seams with magic!!!! In fact I always think that, because it's smaller and more intimate than WDW, it's even more magical and at the end of January it will be quiet so you'll even get some characters all to yourself which can make it even more magical as they have so much more time to interact with you and your children.

 

[Leanne1977]

Thanks everyone, your comments make me want to go even more!!

Father and Son, thank you for your list of rides, that will be very helpful.

We have booked our character tea party for 2nd Feb, the day after you. We havent, unfortunately, booked the wild west show as we are on a budget with us saving for Sept.

But it does look really good.

 

[Cyrano]

We havent, unfortunately, booked the wild west show as we are on a budget with us saving for Sept.

But it does look really good.

Gives you another reason to go back again

 

[Father_and_Son]

I don´t want you to mess up your budget but Buffallo Bill is the LowCost Tip in the End of January. If you book it in advance you only pay 49€ per adult instead of 59€. And the best is instead of 39 € for the Kids they go in for 0€.
So for 98€ you get the Show, the meal, all drinks during the show and a cowboyhat for each person.
I am telling you this just because one dinner for a family of your size will be as expensive in a served restaurant. Eating and drinking in DLRP is really expensive.

 

[crmscotland]

The twice l have been to DLRP l have really loved it - lots of magic. Reminded me of the Magic Kingdom in Disney California, where l had been the year before, which is smaller than WDW Florida.

When l was at DLRP in Oct. 2001 l kept forgetting that l was in France, or any other country for that matter. I felt like l had been transported to another land, wonderful, out of this world.

I would say DLP is my favourite Magic Kindom - especially Fantasyland and Main St. USA - out of the 3 parks l have went to. Made me want to live in the Magic Kingdom at DLRP for ever.

 

[tialucy]

Any tips I would give you have already been given... people on here just can't wait to help, this is the best place for tips, help, advice. Our first time to DLP was one of the best out of 8 trips we've had there. You've chosen an excellent hotel and I'm sure everything will be magical.

 

[diberry]

The twice l have been to DLRP l have really loved it - lots of magic. Reminded me of the Magic Kingdom in Disney California, where l had been the year before, which is smaller than WDW Florida.

When l was at DLRP in Oct. 2001 l kept forgetting that l was in France, or any other country for that matter. I felt like l had been transported to another land, wonderful, out of this world.

I would say DLP is my favourite Magic Kindom - especially Fantasyland and Main St. USA - out of the 3 parks l have went to. Made me want to live in the Magic Kingdom at DLRP for ever.

What a fantastic post!!!!! It is a wonderful Magic Kingdom, isn't it?

 

[crmscotland]

Others may disagree, but l wouldn't suggest the Buffallo Bill show to take a 3 year old to unless they are good at sitting at a dinner type show for a couple of hours. Not recommended if your child has asthma due to dust from animals riding round in arena. Also from what l remember lighting was quite dark. Been to this show once in 1993 and then in 2001, first time l seem to remember food was very good, second time it was awful (sure menu was same both times), and my 5 year old didn't like any of it. Maybe it was just a bad night.

My 5 year old did love the Buffallo Bill show itself though. Perhaps others would recommend it for your boys (aged 3 & 5).

In 2001 we didn't have any problems finding eating places - some are cheaper than others though. Father and son is right, eating out at some places in DLRP isn't cheap. We tend to have a good breakfast at Hotel/Good Morning Fantasyland/Character Breakfast, light lunch (counter service) then a sit down dinner at night either at Hotel or somewhere like Planet Hollywood (take Simon Veness's Brit's Guide along and you get 20% off). There's quite a few other places as well. Check out www.dlpfoodguide.com