Highs and Lows from 1st Trip (5/15-5/16)

[Ware Bears]

I feel if I go in with expectations a bit lower, I will likely not be disappointed. Also, since DLRP is not our main tourist destination, it will be a pleasant stop on our itinerary.

Hope you have a wonderful trip and please come back and tell us your thoughts afterwards.

 

[mommy2ash]

This is exactly what I meant.

I'm talking about the people who aren't DISers - believe it or not we're a rare breed.

Like the man I saw walking past Art of Animation saying to his son "Nah, we aint going in there, it's just about films, it's boring"

Or the people running through Aladdin's Enchanted Passage shouting "where's the ride?'

Or the woman standing by Tower of Terror on her phone telling the person at the other end "I'm by the Tower of Death, you know, the Hollywood Hotel of Fear" (Jack and I quoted that one all holiday, amazing.)

They're the same people who when any of us say "We're going back to Disney" roll their eyes and just don't get it.

i know exactly what you mean torsie. most people i know who go to disney are just like that. there is nothing wrong with it either but they are more casual visitors than those of us who notice when a menu changes or when a doll on iasw stops moving lol.

it isn't a secret that americans are more into disney than people in europe are. that is where the company started and for a lot of families they will have very long standing memories of the parks. its somewhat newer over here and people are generally more reserved. i do feel the disney magic in dlp but i can see how someone who is used to the wdw way of doing things might not.

op its a shame that the two days you went to dlp were the ones during the cm's strike. worses than the strike was the lack of information to visitors and i can see how that would be very disappointing.

 

[A Small World]

We had been to WDW 4 times before going to DLP - We just couldnt see how Europe could possibly run a Disney park - to me Disney was for America, France was a totally different holiday altogether.

However we decided to take the plunge one year and visit for a day as we were at a campsite nearby - that day turned into 2 days as we decided to book a hotel overnight - when we got there we didnt want to leave and ended up staying that 2nd night as well in an offsite hotel so we could stay really late (they were trialling evening EMH and so the park was open til 11pm)

I did spend a lot of that first trip comparing it - it was the little things that seemed to have been missed and remember searching for popcorn late one evening and commenting that WDW would have every stand open til every guest left but these were only little things.

As you can see by my ticker we loved it so much and returned time and time again - finding more and more magic each time.

Ive not been back to WDW since or to DLP for a few years but have now discovered DL and have enjoyed seeing where it all started but also seen differences there as well.

I spend quite a bit of time on the DL board and there are continuous threads there comparing WDW and DL. People who are hardcore WDW fans visit DL for the first time and are unhappy about certain things

Each park is different, Each park has its advantages and Each park has its disadvantages. However I think there is magic in each park but sometimes you need to help to make that magic yourself

 

[ShrumpUK]

I have been to WDW as well as Paris and I love them both, but for different reasons.
I did WDW with my youngest (she was 10 at the time) and 4 years ago I went to paris with my eldest, my youngest and my 2 granddaughters and found it just as magical. I think it's because i see it "through their eyes".
Also, my late Mum was a Disney fanatic and it makes me sad she never got to see Disneyland. I can't look at that castle without welling up.
The big difference for me is the guests.
I never met an impolite or unpleasant person in my 3 weeks in Florida but a LOT of the people I met in DLRP were awful. The CMs were brilliant, in fact I think they deal amazingly well with some of the guests, much better than I ever could. I found myself getting quite angry a couple of times when witnessing really bad behaviour, but I couldn't fault the park or the people working there.
I realise that a lot of Europeans do things differently than Brits, and things I found rude or disruptive, probably aren't to them, but give me WDW every time for the general atmosphere as you walk around the parks.
I love DLRP and wish I could visit more. The magic is there for me, definitely!

 

[A Small World]

The big difference for me is the guests.
I never met an impolite or unpleasant person in my 3 weeks in Florida but a LOT of the people I met in DLRP were awful. The CMs were brilliant, in fact I think they deal amazingly well with some of the guests, much better than I ever could. I found myself getting quite angry a couple of times when witnessing really bad behaviour, but I couldn't fault the park or the people working there.
I realise that a lot of Europeans do things differently than Brits, and things I found rude or disruptive, probably aren't to them, but give me WDW every time for the general atmosphere as you walk around the parks.
I love DLRP and wish I could visit more. The magic is there for me, definitely!

See I have encountered rude guests in WDW as well - I remember a large group of Mexicans pushing their way everywhere, one pushing past me while queuing for the monorail to join his family (one person) only to be joined by another 6 and then literally pushing people out of the way to get on the tram at the end of the day.
We also had someone drive into our car (not on Disney property )and again was very rude. Their report was given to the Police in Spanish and the Police spoke to him in Spanish so we have no idea what he said but we had a fine to pay.

I also remember meet and greets which were not organised lines where it was as much free for all as people now complain about in DLP

 

[ShrumpUK]

I guess it's the same the world over. There is good and bad everywhere and it's all down to timing as to whether or not we see it.

 

[kmg148]

I think WDW will always be compared to any Disney park. I have gone to WDW for years and have been there hundreds of times and went to Disneyland in CA for the first time 2 years ago. I found myself comparing a lot of things, but put myself in the mindset to enjoy it for what it was. If things were the same everywhere, we wouldn't have a reason to travel and see all of these places! I hope to one day go back to DL. I'm very excited to see DLP!