just back - few thoughts/trip report

[**Laura**]

We went for the weekend saturday morning until sunday night, first ever trip to DLP so I thought I'd post my thoughts.

We got up at 3.30 and headed for prestwick airport for a ryan air flight to Beauvais, we were told we had to be there 2 hrs early due to the security restrictions otherwise I'd have had another hr in bed! The flight was slightly late but nothing drastic and we arrived in Beauvais ready to collect our car.
We went with Budget car hire and after a few language barrier problems we were on our way. Thinking we would manage we left the sat nav at home and I will definately be taking it next time as we missed a turn and ended up in the middle of Paris! After a few arguments over the directions we were back on track and arrived at the Holiday Inn half an hr later than expected. We couldnt check in until 3pm so we dropped the car off and went straight to the bus for the parks.

On first impression I was quite pleased, I had been worried that having been to Orlando it wouldnt quite be the same but it still looked and felt "Disney" Walking down mainstreet I noticed how clean it seemed, this was fairly short lived though. We collected fast passes for Space mountain and got in the queue for Buzz. First queue, first very rude person trying to skip us and another 2 in front blowing smoke in our face despite several signs asking them not to smoke in the queue.

The queue skipping, smoking and chewing gum did get to me a bit.

We were stood in the queue later on for the haunted mansion and the family infront of us (French) let their son stand on the wall at the side of the path and urinate right in front of me. My chin nearly hit the floor I was literally speechless. There were children in the queue playing with the small stones right where he had gone to the toilet! yuk!

Despite all this we had a great day and stayed for the fireworks even though there was extremely heavy rain! dbf and I were soaked to the skin, neither of us had a coat and I'd forgotten the ponchos!

The holiday inn was lovely and we were upgraded to an executive suite which was huge. I wish we had been staying more than one night!

On sunday morning we headed to the studios for opening and managed to ride rock'n'roller coaster before the queues! There isn't a huge amount to see but it was fun all the same! ToT is deffinately coming on! After watching the parade we went to do some shopping before heading to Rainforest Cafe for dinner.

One of the staff members at the Holiday Inn printed us directions to Beauvais which was very nice but we didnt realise that they were in french until we had left! somehow I manage to navigate us back in French without any problems! Maybe I should use french directions more often lol. We stopped for petrol before returning the car but the garage was shut so it was cards only, 6 credit cards none of them worked! why does that always happen in France?! Thankfully some nice French man filled our car for us and took the cash.

Beauvais airport is like a shed, I couldnt believe how unorganised it was! First the said gate B so there was a huge crowd of people stood ready to go when they called the flight. Then they changed it to gate A and it was like a stampede of people to try and get there first so they could sit together on the plane! definately not good if you have small children! we took off on time and thanks to a tail wind landed half an hr early!

Overall we had a great trip, I am slightly disappointed about the chewing gum stuck to the floor which you dnt see in orlando or california. I also think they should have designated smoking areas as its appauling having smoke blown in your face when you dont smoke, especially with so many young children around. The queue skipping/urinating is shocking there were a few rude people who felt my elbow in their ribs over the weekend, if ive waited my turn in the queue so can they! If I'm honest the above kind of took away the disney feel slightly for me it was a bit like being in alton towers or something.

I would definately go back and we no doubt will at some point but I deffinately wont be missing out on an orlando trip to go!


Thanks to everyone on the board who helped to answer my questions before we left!

 

[Cyrano]

Shame about the smoking It does seem to be a frequent subject which I'd suggest to everyone draw the CM's attention or City Hall to the problem.

Phantom manor... well There is a toilet down to the left of the enterance for crying out ..........

Glad your overall impression was good. Thanks for sharing

 

[TotallyAngelic]

I can't believe that about the urinating!!!! OMG!!!!

 

[Ware Bears]

I can't believe that about the urinating!!!! OMG!!!!

Nor me, isn't it awful. Like Reid said, there are toilets just before PM ~ I mean there are toilets all over the park, you are never very far from any.

Glad you had a good time overall Laura, thanks for sharing.

 

[tennisfan]

In regards to queue jumping, it goes on quite a bit but when my cousin & I went someone jumped in the queue so we spoke to a CM who asked the people to leave they igorned her so security turned up & they soon moved.

Another example of queue jumping was when we were on the train in Main Street some guys jumped over the barrier once it was closed, so security come along and chucked them out of the park.

Whilst it is annoying my experience is that the CMs will do something about it if it is bought to their attention.

Glad to hear you had a mainly good trip though

 

[**Laura**]

thanks for the replies everyone. I must admit the CM's were good but I was just shocked at how rude some people are, you just dont see that in orlando everyone seems to have respect for each other rather than skipping at every opportunity!

The urinating was just wrong, if I hadnt been so completely gobbed smacked I'd have said something to the woman but I was just in a state of shock. I watched him climbing on all the railings on the way up the queue and found myself not touching anything knowing where his hands had been!

 

[Bexx]

The urinating was just wrong, if I hadnt been so completely gobbed smacked I'd have said something to the woman but I was just in a state of shock. I watched him climbing on all the railings on the way up the queue and found myself not touching anything knowing where his hands had been!

Ewwwwwww I'll still be very cautious with the railings when I go in two months time!!!!! How can any parent let their child do something like that?

Apart from the other few ( but unfortunately very common) downsides, I'm glad that you enjoyed your trip on the whole.

 

[Aran Lady]

I was really interested in this post, as when we went a few weeks back we found exactly the same thing - totally bad mannered people. I felt completely invisible at times with folk shoving in queues.

We are supposed to be going back for a big family holiday in a couple of years, and I decided my kids (and grandkids) needed lessons in bad manners before we go (only kidding!)

 

[NIK]

That's appalling! Allowing a child to pee in front of folks like that is just plain unhygienic! How disgusting. There are so many toilets in the park too.

 

[pigby]

thanks for the replies everyone. I must admit the CM's were good but I was just shocked at how rude some people are, you just dont see that in orlando everyone seems to have respect for each other rather than skipping at every opportunity!

The urinating was just wrong, if I hadnt been so completely gobbed smacked I'd have said something to the woman but I was just in a state of shock. I watched him climbing on all the railings on the way up the queue and found myself not touching anything knowing where his hands had been!

In fact there was a post on the US WDW boards in the last few months or so about someone urinating in the bushes at Epcot - and I think it was an adult and not a child - there are some 'funny' people there as well sometimes - they're usually not from the US either.