Just back - Highs and Lows

[markpsych]

Highs:

• We easily managed all of the rides that were open over the few days we were there (we only spent about 2 days in the parks)
• 1st time on Ratatouille....fantastic ride and beautiful theming throughout
• Ratatouille single rider lane basically allowed us to walk straight on to the ride, even with a 70 minute main line queue (although we did have to queue the 1st time for an hour because the single rider queue was closed?)
  
• The Studio is really coming into it's own now with the new attractions. Preferred being there over the Park this year.
• I've always loved Adventure Land after dark, but now looks even more stunning with the addition of some new blue lighting
• The tree lighting ceremony was lovely, and the main street 'snow' that followed was very magical

Lows:

• Still can't adjust to the new DCR cabins lol....compared to the original ones that were really designed to make you feel like you were in a cabin, the new ones are cramped and sterile. Worst of all is the loss of the real sofa (bed) and 2 arm chairs which have simply been replaced with a really uncomfortable pub style bench seat
• The DCR pool is lovely, but no Christmas music playing this year, and the waterfall etc. was never switched on. They even shut the slide for no obvious reason when people had just started using it. Too many lifeguards more interested in chatting/messing around on their walkie talkies than guest experience.
• No Christmas tree at the DCR and general lack of atmosphere. With the Villages Nature work going on next door, the entrance to the DCR resembles a building site. I'm amazed they've allowed it really!
• To be expected with all the ride maintenance going on, but it's really impacting on the park atmosphere and bumping up the queues for the remaining rides. No Christmas theming in Frontierland Land this year didn't help either.
• As per usual the shops are so generic!

 

[micksn]

Glad you enjoyed the Studios and Christmas atmosphere in the Disneyland Park. Shame about DCR - I agree about the building works at the entrance, it felt like driving into a prison last year, but was fine when we got in! We haven't been at Christmas, but I'm surprised that they didn't have many decorations - what a shame! We've had really good deals when we went to DCR and it suited our party size, but I admit I prefer the onsite hotels! Nothing beats being able to walk to the parks around lake disney.

 

[tennisfan]

Welcome back, glad to see the Studios coming into their own, Disney were right to invest heavily into the Studios for the past few years.

Shame about the DCR, although have never stayed there it a shame that they weren't decorated for Christmas as the onsite hotels usually do

 

[Ware Bears]

Welcome back - lovely to hear about all the highs but what a shame about the lows at DCR. Did you enjoy Vaux-le-Vicomte?

 

[markpsych]

Thank you both.

We did have a lovely time, and have some Fantasty APs now so definitely aiming for a visit next Christmas as well.

The rides that have been refurbished look stunning, so 1017 is definitely going to be a great year to visit!

Vaux-le-Vicomte was a little disappointing this year Elaine....plastic ribbons adorned the trees and Chateau, and the rooms were very sparse compared to previous years, no carousal, etc. I guess most places are experiencing cut backs at the moment.

 

[Ware Bears]

Vaux-le-Vicomte was a little disappointing this year Elaine....plastic ribbons adorned the trees and Chateau, and the rooms were very sparse compared to previous years, no carousal, etc. I guess most places are experiencing cut backs at the moment.

 

[Ms Poppins]

Lovely to read your highs and lows. I agree about Studios, we spend a lot of time there too and thank goodness for the Ratatouille single rider queue!