Is it loosing the magic

[zavandor]

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.

 

[cherrymarzipan]

So, even if nothing there is perfect, Disneyland Paris has not lost any bit of magic for me.

Really glad to hear it and particularly pleased to hear that you are recovered.

As to the Agrabah, what is it with that place? It always used to be right up in my favourites list but last time we went (earlier this month) the staff were, as you say, rude. It really spoilt it for us and next time,for the first time in many a trip, we will walk by and eat elsewhere. Sort of glad it wasn't just us, in that they didn't just take a dislike to us personally, but sorry for you too!

 

[sammie1884]

For me the magic is still there as seeing my family's face light up is what does it for me. BUT I do agree that the 20th celebrations do not feel as magical as I expected.
I dislike the lack of characters atm and if I went to WDW and didnt see any that would totally ruin it for me

 

[kizzabel]

We were only having this conversation. After January I think that will be our last trip for a while (well another year and 5 months anyhow). DD is promised a trip for her communion but I think we may just forego our biannual trip for a sun holiday instead.

I know we are relatively new to DLP (2 years - 5 trips) but I do see the random character meets dwindling. Its not so common to just stumble upon 5 or 6 characters who are there just to give hugs and autographs to the masses and to be honest I cannot be dealing with queueing two hours to meet one princess. As said in another post why dont they bring back the Mary Poppins/Tiana style meets in the bandstand or something similar. Woody's round up was also an excellent relaxed way to meet characters.

We will see what January holds but for us, the character meets was such an important part. You all see how a wave from a favourite character lights up the kids faces and I know my two loved getting that little bit closer and having a big squeezy hug.
And you cant count on the character meals (see my (not properly finished *groan) November TR and the horrendous meal that was Cafe Mickey).

I hope January makes me feel the magic more and thats not saying that we didn't completely love all our time at DLP but the standard of magic seen in 2010 is not evident now

 

[scampbunny]

well, having had to go up to my sobbing ds1 earlier this evening who said he missed disney, wanted to go back, and was worried hed never go back, i think, as long as the magic is there for the kids, then its there for me....

saying that, im a big kid anyhow, and i will always love disney..... that first moment as i c dlh, walking under main st station and getting that first view of the castle.......... thats my magic tingling right from there!!

as for characters, yes, they are important, but surely, as long as the main ones r there, thats the most recognisable ones... we all have faves from films etc that we get excited bout when we c them..... the only thing i wud say is, a parade shud have as many as possible in it and a good representation - i am sad that the parade is missing a good few that shud be there and arent.....

but - i want to go back, and wud love it to b cheaper so we can go more often.....

 

[I_Heart_MK]

I think for dh and I, the magic is still strong - he Proposed there and we've just booked another trip for our first anniversary! We're definately looking forward to Dreams too.

Having said that, we have noticed several things over the past couple of years that are frustrating, such as the big problem with vermin, which I just can't understand why they don't sort out (mice running under people's feet in the queue for crush's coaster, rats running around dv etc). We also think the prices are getting ridiculous - it was always expensive, but it seems outrageous recently. We went to wdw for our honeymoon last sept and the standard at dlrp is simply inferior, and considering the prices I don't understand why this has to be the case. On our last trip to SF, our bathroom was in an awful state (including a used sanitary items left in the corner) which was hard to overlook, no matter how much you'd like to. I have also heard stories about mice being IN THE HOTEL rooms which would definately freak me out. As I say, though, dlrp is a special place for dh and I, where we can (and do!) act like kids, get excited about silly things, and most importantly get away from the real world! I would just love it if they sorted these things out though!

Last trip we also found the sheer volume of business people there for conventions too much, as they are not there for the magic, and people in suits filling the bars at both SL and NBC meant we could not get a seat, and they were all crowded outside the hotels smoking and being rowdy all evening. But c'est la vie, I expect they bring good income.
Xxx

 

[MummyMinnie]

Its interesting reading different peoples opinions.

But for us yes definitely the magic is still there. It's not about the paintwork, queues, rude people/smoking its all about being a family and spending precious time together and 'escaping' from the real world for a short time.

We've just had our tenth visit and it doesn't matter to us if we can't see the characters - we've almost seen them all and more than once. We do still like to do the character meets though but do agree the scrums are a nightmare. We still manage to do some 'firsts' each trip - this time it was my 'almost teenage' sons first trip where he's been on some of the rides solo, made life a little easier and he enjoyed the independence - and I enjoyed watching his face! I would still love to do the guided tour of the parks as I'm sure there's lots of little secrets we still have not yet discovered.

I do believe you make the magic yourself though with the help of a little pixie dust whilst you're there!.

We go on average once a year and are happy to see the new things and also revisit the old, think we've done all the seasons now as well.

Hope the Disney magic comes back for those of you who have lost it

 

[edengarden123]

I felt after our March trip very let down, we went away and I just had enough, i left feeling that i hadn't got value for money. The food is so expensive and awful quality and the breakfast at the hotel are a joke.

I had decided that i would leave it for a couple of years but I'm back planning again for our 2013 trip. I think the place brainwashes me. I feel the magic has gone a bit for me but it has just started with for the toddler.... he just turned 2 on our last trip and he was amazed and for few month afterwards he talked ever day about DLP.

 

[ShrumpUK]

Oh No! I hope none of the magic has gone!
I have only been once before. I went with 2 of my daughters and my granddaughter, who celebrated her 4th Birthday there. (4 yrs ago) She is now almost 8 and we are taking her and her 4 yr old sister in September.
I had been to DW Florida in 2005 and, while it was amazing, I enjoyed Paris more, because Amber loved it so much. I'll be bereft if the magic isn't there for her little sister, Ella.
I cried when I first saw the Castle, again when I saw Amber's face when she kissed Minnie, but the look on her face when she first spotted the Princesses in the Parade is one that I still well up at, just thinking about it.
I sooooo want all that for Ella, too.
We did queue to see the Princesses last time, but it was soooo worth it! Amber saw Belle and Ariel and was over the moon.I understand the format has changed now but I'm hoping Ella will get character interaction too. Her big sister has been building it up for weeks, it would be awful if it's not all she hopes when we get there.

 

[Hipster Meg]

.
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.

This is exactly how I feel about DLP. For me the magic doesn't come from the rides or the cast members or the restsurants. It comes from the look of pure joy my little boy has when he's there. I'll never forget when he met Mickey on his first trip, he had only just turned two at the time and the way he went over to him, so trusting and so absolutely convinced that he was meeting the real Mickey was so lovely that I have to admit that I almost cried. For me it's the memories we create that make the parks magic, everything else is just window dressing.

 

[ShrumpUK]

I waited sooo long to see Disneyworld and then DLRP that I wouldn't have noticed if it was made of cardboard!!
I was 47 and then 50 on my trips and to share that with a daughter of 11 and then daughters of 15 and 26 and granddaughters of 4 was amazing.
I admit that I cried A LOT as i went round the park. My Mum was a huge Disney fan and I have seen every film made and I sooo wish she could have shared the magic with us.
Honestly, when I'm there Mickey and his friends ARE real to me, it sounds mad, but i suspend real life and just fall into this wonderful world of magic and fun and kindness and it's wonderful.
I really work at getting the children to see the magic in it too and all my best memories are of them seeing and believing!

 

[PumpkinPastie]

Thank you so much for posting this. I am trying to book my first trip to DLP and I was sat reading this wishing I hadnt. I have been to WDW three times and I guess thats the standard I expect. However, hearing people say its not what they once knew was really upsetting. I dont have small children to get overly excited at everything. I have a teenager and a nearly teenager to try and impress.

I am also going to think about someone who isnt here and who I am sure would love it.

I waited sooo long to see Disneyworld and then DLRP that I wouldn't have noticed if it was made of cardboard!!
I was 47 and then 50 on my trips and to share that with a daughter of 11 and then daughters of 15 and 26 and granddaughters of 4 was amazing.
I admit that I cried A LOT as i went round the park. My Mum was a huge Disney fan and I have seen every film made and I sooo wish she could have shared the magic with us.
Honestly, when I'm there Mickey and his friends ARE real to me, it sounds mad, but i suspend real life and just fall into this wonderful world of magic and fun and kindness and it's wonderful.
I really work at getting the children to see the magic in it too and all my best memories are of them seeing and believing!

 

[MazdaUK]

We're going very soon for what may be our last "family" holiday, as DS(18) will be away to Uni in September (grades permitting) and so probably won't want to come with old parents agin

We're not "every year" people, so when we go it is very special as we don't have so many comparisons. I'm looking forward to it, and just deciding which meals we must do!

 

[gemma85]

I haven't gone to any Disney holidays yet but think with any place if you go a lot then sometimes it can be to much of a good thing, for ppl that said its lost magic maybe because you've had so many good trips that now u have high expectations and that it should be like your very first visit every time. Working and living in a leisure resort I know that every place has its bad moments. I'm sure even 5 star places are a disappointment sometimes. Easy thing to do is go elsewhere for next holiday if u go dlp every year and then return again following year. If its still a disappointment then move on to somewhere else

 

[Ware Bears]

I waited sooo long to see Disneyworld and then DLRP that I wouldn't have noticed if it was made of cardboard!!

I love your post

I was an older initiate to the parks too - I was 43 on our first visit to WDW but I'm trying my best to make up for all those lost years!

I am also going to think about someone who isnt here and who I am sure would love it.

 

[MrsSDW]

I'm so pleased at the way this thread has turned out. I have to admit that my heart has been sinking recently reading the threads about restaurant closures, rude CMs, no magic, no characters - it all had me very worried that I'd be making an expensive mistake in going there! It's lovely to hear that magic can still be found. Like the recent posters, I'm sure that my DLP magic will come from seeing the enjoyment on my 4-year old DD's face. She gets excited by the chair swings at the wee fairground that visits our village in the summertime (bless her!), so all the rides and the shows and the shops at DLP will be superduper wonderful for her. And if she's happy, then so am I.

 

[gemma85]

I'm so pleased at the way this thread has turned out. I have to admit that my heart has been sinking recently reading the threads about restaurant closures, rude CMs, no magic, no characters - it all had me very worried that I'd be making an expensive mistake in going there! It's lovely to hear that magic can still be found. Like the recent posters, I'm sure that my DLP magic will come from seeing the enjoyment on my 4-year old DD's face. She gets excited by the chair swings at the wee fairground that visits our village in the summertime (bless her!), so all the rides and the shows and the shops at DLP will be superduper wonderful for her. And if she's happy, then so am I.

My 4 year olds getting so excited. It's 8 months until both of ours first ever visit and each morning he asks if it's Disneyland yet. Just looked at ticker and it's 7 months, 3 weeks and 2days

 

[barrington]

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

 

[DLPaddict]

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.

 

[DLPdaft]

Honestly, when I'm there Mickey and his friends ARE real to me, it sounds mad, but i suspend real life and just fall into this wonderful world of magic and fun and kindness and it's wonderful.
I really work at getting the children to see the magic in it too and all my best memories are of them seeing and believing!

yes, exactly how I feel too - and I'm 40teen .