Highs and lows July 12 – 17

[cherrymarzipan]

Although we visit at all times of year, we always consider this one our main DLP trip, including the 14th July celebrations which just happens to be our wedding anniversary too! Before it all blurs into a dream here are our highs and lows:

Highs:

Dreams – of course! I have watched this so many times now but it never fails to delight us even though now in high summer it is a long wait. I can also reassure those who fear more wet weather to come, that even in constant rain the projections are crystal clear and the raindrops had an extra sparkle to the laser lights!

Fantillusion, lovely to watch this again.

14th July celebrations. This could have been a low actually. We were in the disabled area for parades/Dreams which is very central for viewing but of course on this day absolutely packed out. Two CMs were trying their hardest to get everyone who could to sit down as, for once, it was dry. We sat down which is no mean feat as DS cannot get up or down on his own and is taller than me! People kept standing up again though and by the time Fantillusion started we were the only ones still sitting. I felt so sorry for the CMs who were really trying their best. We could only see the very tops of the parade vehicles by now but half way through the parade the CMs gave up their struggle with the crowd. Then without us saying anything, they pushed through a space right at the front by the fence and indicated for us to move there. They then helped me get DS up and sat down again in this prime position. It was so kind of them to notice and reward our patience. Nearly everyone there could have sat down and then we would all have seen. Anyway, we had a beautiful view for Dreams and the following fireworks for the 14th. Not sure if it was just me but I was left a little flat by these this year. There didn’t seem as many fireworks although the time was padded out with pretty twinkly lights on the castle but for me there was no obvious climax to the event.

Tarzan, la rencontre – fabulous as ever. As a bonus we missed what must have been a massive shower whilst in one showing!

Lots of other friendly CMs including one who noticed us patiently waiting to see a character from the Disney Express train and being pushed in front of constantly, who sent the character over to us at the end, a couple of CMs who separately just gave DS pins. (I had forgotten to pack our lanyards this trip so after being given these pins I had to start collecting again on my bag strap!) There are some lovely CMs too on POTC, BTM, the Molly Brown and the Railroad stations who all make our visit very special.

Using our two-for-one Dream pass photo offer – thank you Carrie for posting that!

The Cheyenne. We have stayed twice this year in the NBC but had wanted bunks this time so chose the Cheyenne. I didn’t have great hopes but it was fine. Our room was very clean and in Billy the Kid which I like for being quiet as well as near both restaurant and park path. It thought it would seem very cramped but it was fine, we had a kettle, the shower head had great pressure and toiletries were replenished each day. My only gripe was the poor quality of the breakfast (see below) although we never had to queue at any time.

Our mini-fridge. This was its first outing and it did not let us down. It fitted nicely on the bathroom counter and from there we could not hear its motor running at night. We had fresh milk at all times for DS as well as space for his medicines and extras such as yoghurt.

Lows:

Well I suppose the rain does deserve a mention but with my stylish (at least I think so!) new clogs-come-wellies that I had just bought in Sweden and my trusty 20th anniversary umbrella I was well equipped as were DH and DS with their Gore-Tex. Anyway, after the first couple of days the weather improved progressively.

My only real gripe is breakfast food quality, why is it so poor? Where is the famous French love of fine food? No muesli just sugary cereals, no seeds, fruit, nuts etc to add, only cheap sliced white for bread, horrible cheap croissants, no herbal teas and I am sure the orange juice is watered down – I could go on. We really just used breakfast for the milk and bowls etc. We bought some cereal and took it in with us and kept fruit in the room to which we added natural yoghurt kept in our mini-fridge.

Missing a fellow Dis-Boarder's message through being too mean to pay for Ethernet connection in the hotel!

Panoramagique – or lack of it. I understand that there have been safety issues and so was not surprised to see it tethered down low but on our last day it was looking active and I went to the bureau only to be told that it would not be running that day as it was too windy. Bit of a disappointment as we have not been up in it yet this year for one reason or another.

As you can see the highs far outweighed the lows.

 

[bonhoga]

Oh I feel for you on Bastille day , we too tried to see the display and people were sooooooooo badly behaved. We tried to stand at the side of casey's corner....it wasn't the best view, but it was OK!!!! And people just pushed and pushed in fornt of us....it was quite frightening the aggression shown by some

Tarzan was amazing, wasn't it? And we ended up going to the Cheyenne a lot, how lovely is it?

Kaye

 

[Vala]

I was in the disabled area that night too and while I agree that it was appalling I'd like to add two things.

First, the CMs were actually telling people in the front to crouch down, not to sit down. That made no sense at all. I am still at a loss how that was supposed to do any good. The really bad thing was that they even insisted that those who had the disability passes themselves and couldn't due to their conditions had to "crouch". A woman next to me with a bad hip and one with bad knees ended up sitting on the ground along with me. But I agree, we were some of the few that did do something.

Second, we tried to tell them that sitting would be fine if they could maybe clear some space. There was none because people were pushing forward so bad. At least in the part of the area where I was there simply was no room that everyone could have sat down. Also in our area the first row was mostly wheelchairs and anyone sitting close behind them (at least if you are talking my size) did not have a chance to see anything. I can attest for that as I did sit down. I saw half of the Aladdin float transformation and that only because I severely twisted my body. I paid dearly for that later that night. If there had been any chance to go I would have left, but there was no chance. Friends of ours were stuck in Discoveryland for over an hour and were finally escorted out backstage.

They should have closed at least the handicapped area way earlier and possibly closed the whole park too because it had clearly reached maximum occupancy. One of my friends that got stuck was physically attacked by a woman in the crowd.

When I complained at City Hall the next day they simply told me we should have arrived earlier. My group was there over an hour earlier because I knew it would be crowded. When I told them that they insisted the CMs only told the handlers to crouch which is absolutely not the truth.

They actually cut the fireworks short because of the overcrowding, at least this is what two CMs told me the next day.

 

[cherrymarzipan]

They actually cut the fireworks short because of the overcrowding, at least this is what two CMs told me the next day.

That is interesting. I wish I knew what the answer to the problem was. Perhaps a separate area for wheelchairs at the front and helpers standing behind? It is certainly not right to expect people whose disability prevents them from comfortably sitting or crouching to do so. It was the large number of accompanying people I was referring to. My DH also has a disabled pass due to his severe osteoarthritis throughout his body and there was no way he could get down onto the ground so he stood right at the back leaning on a fence away from us. As I said, DS cannot get up and down on his own and it is a struggle for me to lift him into position but I think those who were prepared to be at a lower level should have been able to be closer to the front. Where we were there were actually few wheelchairs and plenty of people who would sit down when told but then get up again quickly.

One other thing that did distress me there was the people smoking in the area. I know it is outdoors but we were in very close proximity to each other.

 

[Vala]

I got that info from the person I complained with at City Hall and then again from another CM at a store who asked me what I thought about the fireworks after I told him pretty much the same you did post. I take it with the usual grain of salt, but seeing it came from two completely different sources (and the music and light effects went on for a bit after the fireworks ended) it does sound somewhat believable.

That's what we were thinking too, at least direct the wheelchairs in one part of the area and have the others (with the exception of the helpers of the wheelchairs) sit down elsewhere. It's not the best solution, but it's way better to try what they did as late as they did it - I mean, when they reached us the first parade float was already in front of us.

When we went in they told people that they could only take one helper with them. When the area got so crowded I was wondering where all those people came from. You are right, here seemed way more assistants/helpers than card holders.

My friends were really miffed because they actually let a disabled boy in a wheelchair go in front of us. His mom stayed with him which of course was totally okay with us. But then she called the dad over and the parents were the first ones to stand up as soon as the CM looked away. That was extremely rude. But looks like we were lucky with the smoking that night. The issue was bad pretty much everywhere else, but not in that area that night.

 

[Ware Bears]

Welcome back cherry glad you had a good time in spite of the issues with the disabled viewing area. And a belated Happy Anniversary to you!

 

[Aurynn]

Looks like you guys had a wonderful trip. Having great CM's is so awesome.
Big hug and congratulations for your Anniversary!

 

[cherrymarzipan]

Thank you, Elaine and Aurynn!

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Using our two-for-one Dream pass photo offer – thank you Carrie for posting that!

I'm glad you got to use it

My only real gripe is breakfast food quality, why is it so poor? Where is the famous French love of fine food? No muesli just sugary cereals, no seeds, fruit, nuts etc to add, only cheap sliced white for bread, horrible cheap croissants, no herbal teas and I am sure the orange juice is watered down – I could go on. We really just used breakfast for the milk and bowls etc. We bought some cereal and took it in with us and kept fruit in the room to which we added natural yoghurt kept in our mini-fridge.

This is a cunning plan to stop people taking food away them I think

Saying that I don't know anybody here who eats museli and only children eat cereal (generally the chocolat sort with chocolat milk)

Croissants and pain au chocs are weekend treats.

It's coffee or tea, a slice of pain complet or some biscottes with a smidge of butter and occasionally a yogurt.

If you've got a decent bakers and time you might get a tartine but it's more and more a weekend/holiday thing too




Panoramagique – or lack of it. I understand that there have been safety issues and so was not surprised to see it tethered down low but on our last day it was looking active and I went to the bureau only to be told that it would not be running that day as it was too windy. Bit of a disappointment as we have not been up in it yet this year for one reason or another.

As you can see the highs far outweighed the lows.

I don't know if will be up again for a while, there are even rumours that it will go for good

I'm glad to read that you had again a great time and look forward to your next visit

 

[janiebubble]

Panormagique or however you spell it was flying this week, we saw it on Wednesday or Thursday

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Panormagique or however you spell it was flying this week, we saw it on Wednesday or Thursday

Ooh that's interesting ! I wonder if it was testing or if they have got the ok again Will have to re ask next week

 

[cherrymarzipan]

Panormagique or however you spell it was flying this week, we saw it on Wednesday or Thursday

Good news.

Carrie, I think you are right about the cunning plan to stop people wanting to take food out! Actually, its not so much the variety of food offered but the quality - or lack of it. I do like a good breakfast before hitting the parks (well any day actually!) but am happy to have whatever is offered if it is good quality. Why can't we have a nice pain complet? Where are the biscottes? The nice yoghurts? And why does the cheese have to be those horrible cubes of orange and yellow rubbery stuff when France has so many delicious cheeses? I've stayed in cheaper hotels that have served far nicer breakfasts.