Is it loosing the magic

[Trevski220]

I agree with the OP, I think the magic is gone, I stayed for 3 nights last week at the hotel new York, after 2 days I was genuinely counting the hours till coming home, the atmosphere isn't right and we'd done all the attractions we wanted too.

I don't thoik I'd ever noticed the pushing in barging smoking and general unpleasantness of a lot of the other guests as much as I had this time!

I've been many times before and this is the first time I've felt this way, only redeeming factor is dreams end of night show, which really is special.

It'll be sometime before I'm back at DLP

 

[barrington]

i dont go until beginning of oct so hopefully it will be a bit quieter then with less people to get involved in the mentioned scrums etc

 

[Jonjo]

DW and I go to DLP biannually. We have thought of going every year but think that every other year is enough for us to see enough changes in the parks and experiance new things to still keep it fresh for us.

We have also now started to go at different times of the year. Our first few trips were always between May and June, in the quite off season when the weather is good.

Our last trip was during a Christmas season and it was so different for us to see the park decorated for Christmas, to see the Christmas shows, IASW decorated and to see the Fantillusion parade and to feel real snow under your feet it truly was a magical trip for us.

Our next trip is booked for next March so we can attend the St. Davids Welsh festival and we have already decided that the next trip after that will be a Halloween trip.

In between our trips Toy Story Playland was build at WDS, so that was fun to walk around and try out the rides. And between then and our next trip EoS has opend and World of Disney store in the village would have opend too and Dreams will be showing.

So going every other year and staying in different on-site hotels DLP is still keeping its magic for us

 

[RoseBug]

To all the first timers worrying about the loss of magic, I wouldn't. The majority of posters who have said it has lost its magic have been many many, and I guess this must have a part to play in the opinion as I get sick of going to the same places multiple times, no matter how much I love the place. And when changes happen, for the worse, if you are used to seeing it before hand it must seem much worse than to someone who is experiencing it for the first time.

The magic is still there, how could it not be, but magic is subjective and it will differ from person to another, for us the magic is seeing Rosebug's face, and I can't imagine she will notice anything that is bad, wrong, not as good etc.

 

[princessjodiebo]

I was worrying about going back to DLRP adter WDW last year

Would the kids enjoy it as much ?

Would the negative posts mean i was looking for bad things while i was away rather than enjoying it ?

But do you know what ? you could close every restaurant and have an empty souvenier shop and yet the moment I step on main street see that castle and we all get giddy with excitement makes every penny i have saved and every night out i have missed worth it

For me Disney gives me something more than souveniers or pictures or autographs it gives me memories that will last forever !

And this is coming from a particularly sad individual who cried when Dh got the same deodrant he got for our Orlando holiday and i cried because it reminded me of our holiday - for me if a smell can do that its not a waste of money

 

[tinks_1989]

I'm sorry to say that DLP cannot really be compared to other Disney Parks in the world. I've been to DLP, DL and WDW this year and certanly in Paris there are many things that Walt would never approve:
- not as clean as Disney standard
- half or restaurants closed
- low character interaction (I really don't care, but for many it's so important)
- not enought reburbs (rusty handrails in need of a painting? In a Disney Park?)
- CM don't make you feel special, even someone rude at time (for me at Agraba's Cafe this year)

None of the above point is really terrible by itself, but if you compare to Disneyland (Walt's park) it is embarassing.

However...

This park was part of my life for the last 20 years. I can remember the first time I saw the Fantasia Gardens or the fireworks, my first parade, my first stay in every Hotel, my first trip with my dearest friends, the trip with them I had to cancel because I discovered I had leucemia and the happiness next trip with my whole family when I recovered.
Those memories are part of me and every time I go to DLP my heart rejoice.
It's not really the park that is magic, but we make it special with our feelings and memories and people we love that accompany us.
So, even if nothing there is perfect, Disneyland Paris has not lost any bit of magic for me.

I agree that Walt wouldn't have it that way especially when you see a cowboy
Walking along main street! I remember watching a documentary of the opening of Disneyland California and Roy Disney said Walt was crushed when he saw CMs in the wrong area an it ruined his dream! Happens every day at DLP


But for us Disneyland Paris has never been more magical but we now have DD who may or may not have been Disney brain washed lol! The interaction with characters are brilliant!

I have been reading on the US side of the forum and people seem to be complaining about WDW even losing some magic! Some one had a good point too many people go expecting magic instead of just enjoying being there with your family and having a good time the magic will find you!

 

[MinnieVanMom]

We went to DLP after extensive research and I had read not to compare it to WDW or even DL. Perhaps it was the night in Brussels the night before, perhaps it was being at the end of two weeks travel. Perhaps it was because I know great customer service from Disney.

But DLP fell short on many levels. I took a long time to figure it out and it was the CM's and lack of interaction with the guests that makes it lack the magic. They didn't smile, they were not happy and they just did their job, no more. We were told there is an issue with work at DLP and if they don't want to show up they don't so maybe your favorite character is just not out because something better came along. I didn't see the CM's do anything for little children while we were there. There need to be lines for characters and that comes again from CM's doing their job the right way.

Even in restaurants service was horrible. I couldn't even get a cup of coffee. The waiters excuse, he was busy with the Spanish people who were running him ragged.

The castle is amazing, the attention to detail is wonderful. I love the grotto! The park is pretty and there are different rides I had never been on.

We will return to bring our son and show him what will now be his Disney for 2 years, until we return back home and back to WDW.

 

[Bexx]

I'm getting a little worried now after reading this thread, go to DLP for the first time beginning Oct with the other half and girls aged 7 & 3 and was hoping for a magical time with lots of character interaction and after reading this i dont think its going to happen

Please don't worry. As it's your girls' first time to DLP they don't have previous visits to compare with. There will still be some characters to meet, parades and Dreams to watch and two great parks to explore and enjoy. I've no doubt they will have wonderful time.

Some one had a good point too many people go expecting magic instead of just enjoying being there with your family and having a good time the magic will find you!

Although Disney gives you a great head start in this department, this is so true

 

[barrington]

thanks bexx, dont know if we will be ever able to afford to go again in the near future so want it to be soooo special for the little ones

 

[scampbunny]

thanks bexx, dont know if we will be ever able to afford to go again in the near future so want it to be soooo special for the little ones

pls dont worry...... magic comes from within - we had loads of magic this time, and thats without loads of characters, not many rides and with it raining (worst weather out of all our trips!!) but the magic was there.... WE made it, we looked, and enjoyed and just experienced it....

its true - dont expect the magic, but just go to see disneyland paris... and ur first glimpse of the castle will be the start of ur magic

 

[lilacgems23]

Has DLP losts it magic? I don't think that for a second. Walking down Main Street itself and seeing the castle is enough magic for me. Where else in the world can you go and not be transported to a fantasy world?

I love being able to spend quality family time with my daughter, the magic has never gone for us and we go every year. For us there is something new to discover on every trip.

I'm really looking forward to our next trip.

For those worried about characters that roam around the park. There are out there you just need to be in the right place at the right time. Face Characters are out for 30mins at a time and the others probably less. You can usually find characters from Alice in Wonderland around by the teacups and maze, Peter Pan, Wendy and Hook have set times for being out around Adventure Land along with Captain Jack. The Stepsisters and Lady Tremaine sometimes appear outside the Auberge.

Also Thurs-Sun at 5pm you can catch a whole batch of characters at the Disneyland Hotel.

Hope this helps.

Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and Max is all we saw in the hotel last week. Have never saw Stepsisters and Lady Tremaine sometimes appear outside the Auberge

 

[Tink1987]

I personally think that if you have visited one of other Disney Parks, including HK and Tokyo, as long as you don't go with the hopes that it will be as amazing as one of those parks you will be OK.

And then if DLP is your first Disney parks experience and then you go to one of the other Disney parks, you can't help but compare.

Paris will never ever be on the same scale as Anaheim or WDW. But it's not meant to be. They don't have the space to be like that. And I always think that service is superior in the US to here in the UK anywhere you go.......

Just my HO.

 

[**Clare**]

pls dont worry...... magic comes from within - we had loads of magic this time, and thats without loads of characters, not many rides and with it raining (worst weather out of all our trips!!) but the magic was there.... WE made it, we looked, and enjoyed and just experienced it....

its true - dont expect the magic, but just go to see disneyland paris... and ur first glimpse of the castle will be the start of ur magic

Totally agree with this, spot on . We are just home and had another great trip. My kids (and us!) had an absolute ball and we had plenty of magic and great memories

 

[Ware Bears]

pls dont worry...... magic comes from within - we had loads of magic this time, and thats without loads of characters, not many rides and with it raining (worst weather out of all our trips!!) but the magic was there.... WE made it, we looked, and enjoyed and just experienced it....

its true - dont expect the magic, but just go to see disneyland paris... and ur first glimpse of the castle will be the start of ur magic

Totally agree with this, spot on . We are just home and had another great trip. My kids (and us!) had an absolute ball and we had plenty of magic and great memories