Missing Disneyland Paris

[ashley0139]

I was in DLP May 10 - 13. It rained every single day. For most of the day. I got a huge blister on the ball my foot from walking around in wet socks and shoes and could barely walk. It was disgusting. It felt like half the park was closed.

And yet, I had a great time. Is it a US Disney park? No. But I appreciated it so much for what it is. I loved it.

When I walked in for the first time, it was pouring rain and I walked from the ticket gate to see the train station covered by what looked like a white sheet. Not the best way to start my Disney trip. But the lines were non-existent, the rides that were open were awesome, and Dreams was amazing. I hope I get to go back one day when everything is open.

 

[Ware Bears]

So glad you had a great time.

When I walked in for the first time, it was pouring rain and I walked from the ticket gate to see the train station covered by what looked like a white sheet.

Brings back memories of our first trip ..... except replace the white sheet with yellow ponchos as we walked in to a mass exodus of people in yellow ponchos leaving the park!

I hope if you ever get back that not only is everything open but also that the shines for you.

 

[DLPDreams]

Ah thanks for coming back and posting what you thought . Although the park is smaller than WDW, there is still a lot of ground to cover and blisters and sore feet are the downside!

I am sooo pleased you enjoyed it for the park it is. Yes, you didn't get to see it at it's best - a sunny day when all is lovely and everything is working and open!, but I'm pleased you made time to go.

So, I'm genuinely interested in what you liked / disliked if you are happy to share? Dreams is amazing isn't it - where did you stand? I've stood in many different places and my favourite is still up front at the rope, right in front of the castle - I know some people say it's too close, but I love it! It's just such an immersive show. The first time I watched it, it was still really new and so many people were in tears and in awe - fabulous!

Did you manage to visit Maleficent's dragon in the lair - super fun?

Did you get on Ratatouille? What did you think?

Sorry, for all the questions...

And yes, hopefully if you manage to go back, next time you'll get sunshine - and a trip on BTM which is a super ride at DLRP!

 

[cherrymarzipan]

So pleased you were able to see past the closures and poor weather to appreciate some of the special things DLP has to offer and profit from the low crowd levels. I echo the other posts in hoping you get to revisit in the sunshine once the refurbs are complete.

 

[@MinnieFan2016]

Awwww glad you enjoyed your trip even with rain the parks brilliant xx

 

[cdsmiler81]

Brilliant! Glad you loved it! One benefit of the rain - it keeps people away so the queues are better!! xxx

 

[magical_dreamer]

Glad you had fun! Although it's not as big as WDW it has it's own magic! DLP was my home for 4 months while I was on exchange in Paris. Every time I needed a little magic I would spend the day in the parks (so about once a week).

Hope you get back soon when everything was open!

 

[ashley0139]

Ah thanks for coming back and posting what you thought . Although the park is smaller than WDW, there is still a lot of ground to cover and blisters and sore feet are the downside!

I am sooo pleased you enjoyed it for the park it is. Yes, you didn't get to see it at it's best - a sunny day when all is lovely and everything is working and open!, but I'm pleased you made time to go.

So, I'm genuinely interested in what you liked / disliked if you are happy to share? Dreams is amazing isn't it - where did you stand? I've stood in many different places and my favourite is still up front at the rope, right in front of the castle - I know some people say it's too close, but I love it! It's just such an immersive show. The first time I watched it, it was still really new and so many people were in tears and in awe - fabulous!

Did you manage to visit Maleficent's dragon in the lair - super fun?

Did you get on Ratatouille? What did you think?

Sorry, for all the questions...

And yes, hopefully if you manage to go back, next time you'll get sunshine - and a trip on BTM which is a super ride at DLRP!

I think my feet would have been fine, if not for the humongous blister that popped right below my big and second toes.

I saw Dreams twice. The first time I stood right toward the front of the hub where the statue is, slightly to the left. Perfect view. The second time I saw it more from the back of that same area, as I got there right when it was starting. I loved the mix of English and French that they do. Although I don't understand much French, I could tell that they were saying the same thing in each language without actually repeating the line for those who could understand both. Very cool.

I did visit Maleficent. That is awesome.

I rode Ratatouille about 5 times in the single rider line (absolutely no wait any time). It was absolutely awesome. So well done. My last time on Ratatouille we actually got evacuated and walked off the ride, which was cool as well.

My personal favorite ride was Crush's Coaster. Omg. That ride is so smooth and fun.

I especially thought all the fantasyland dark rides were really well done. I think the Paris Small World is the best one. And Snow White is really creepy! I loved seeing the differences with the rides. I really enjoyed Indiana Jones as well. Hated Mission Space - it was very rough and painful. I liked everything I did in WDS as well, although I fell asleep in Cinemagique. Whoops.

Crush's Coaster though. Man I wish we had that in the US.

 

[DLPDreams]

Thanks for the update Ashley - funny enough I thought you'd find that with the rides you mentioned. Ratatouille is just amazing - reminds me of the tech they use at Universal Orlando for the likes of Spiderman/Transformers etc - which I loved, despite not being bothered by the theme, the rides were so clever.

We've only ridden Crush once out of all our trips as the queues are always horrific and as we have young girls I wouldn't let them ride on their own in single ride (plus DD2 was only just tall enough last trip!). We were lucky as last trip EMH was in WDS which is unusual so we went in for opening and rode so many rides very quickly - was fantastic. Having ridden Crush now I know my girls would love to ride again but the little on in particular is too young to do single rider so not sure we'll manage it!

Glad you enjoyed Dreams. It is very clever. Of course, WDW has the little Wishes pre show on the Castle now which has similarities with Dreams, but Wishes itself left us cold I'm afraid.

We haven't done Cinemagique for years but will do it next visit as it's great - I've fallen asleep in Animagique before (now gone), think it's the mixture of sitting down and just feeling tired with the dark lighting!

Indie was better when it had the inverted loops - such a shame they changed it. It's still great though, but I think it was better before.

Well, glad you enjoyed (read your post about gluten free - nightmare at DLRP with allergies/intolerances but you can get by!).

 

[ashley0139]

Thanks for the update Ashley - funny enough I thought you'd find that with the rides you mentioned. Ratatouille is just amazing - reminds me of the tech they use at Universal Orlando for the likes of Spiderman/Transformers etc - which I loved, despite not being bothered by the theme, the rides were so clever.

We've only ridden Crush once out of all our trips as the queues are always horrific and as we have young girls I wouldn't let them ride on their own in single ride (plus DD2 was only just tall enough last trip!). We were lucky as last trip EMH was in WDS which is unusual so we went in for opening and rode so many rides very quickly - was fantastic. Having ridden Crush now I know my girls would love to ride again but the little on in particular is too young to do single rider so not sure we'll manage it!

Glad you enjoyed Dreams. It is very clever. Of course, WDW has the little Wishes pre show on the Castle now which has similarities with Dreams, but Wishes itself left us cold I'm afraid.

We haven't done Cinemagique for years but will do it next visit as it's great - I've fallen asleep in Animagique before (now gone), think it's the mixture of sitting down and just feeling tired with the dark lighting!

Indie was better when it had the inverted loops - such a shame they changed it. It's still great though, but I think it was better before.

Well, glad you enjoyed (read your post about gluten free - nightmare at DLRP with allergies/intolerances but you can get by!).

I totally agree about Ratatouille. Definitely reminded me of those Universal rides. Loved it.

There were no lines for anything, but the Crush line was crazy! Upwards of 40 minutes. Even the single rider line was 25 minutes sometimes. Ratatouille had a shorter line.

I absolutely love Wishes, but that was my first Disney night time show that I watched, maybe ever, or at least since I was a kid. I listened to that music over and over. I live in LA now so I go to Disneyland often. Their night parade and fireworks show right now is AMAZING.

I didn't know they had changed Indy. They had one inverted loop in it, I didn't realize there used to be more.

My dream would be to get to go back next year during the 25th Anniversary when everything is open (and hopefully sunny!) but it took me 28 years to get there the first time, so I don't see it happening. And I forgot to mention that I LOVED Phantom Manor. So creepy and weird.

And yes, it is a nightmare to have allergies there! Thank god for Earl of Sandwich. I honestly don't know what I would have done without it.

 

[DLPDreams]

I get your point about Wishes as they do tend to be special when they hold a special place in your heart. I actually really liked the Frozen fireworks at WDS - we had the VIP package (two girls you see!), and did the dessert party which was amazing. I also really loved Fantasmic but only got to see it once in the end as we just didn't get time to revisit for it. Illuminations blew us away too - really lovely story. Not sure what it was about Wishes - we watched it from the private viewing gallery at CG (the side you often don't get to go on as the CM let us on as a treat), we watched it up close on Main St (loved the pre show at this), then watched it from a boat as we did a private boat cruise from GC Hotel, but it just didn't do it for any of us sadly! Wishing we'd done an Illuminations cruise instead lol.

Lucky you being so close to DL - I can only wish! It would be so great to live so close. Universal is amazing too - in fact we preferred US to WDW in Orlando which we didn't expect at all.

Indy used to go backwards actually for a good stretch but hasn't for years - sorry, I think that's what I mean't not the inversion - doh!

My DDs love Phantom Manor and loved Haunted Mansion - mainly because it was in English lol! But PM has a creepiness about it that the French do very well - same with ToT in my opinion. We rode it on Halloween night and it was super creepy as the CMs went all out for us! Did you manage to find the back story to Frontierland and PM? It's fantastic and really amazing that they went to so much trouble to bring the place 'alive'. We've never seen Melanie Ravenswood appear at the top window (apparently she's meant to when it's dark!), but we love strolling about the cemetery and listening out for the ghosts etc! I love Frontierland at DLRP as a result of the whole story. BTM is probably our favourite family ride at DLRP - in fact, it IS our favourite. We once managed to ride 14 times in one day with the help of Shareholder VIP FPs - ha ha!

I hope you do get back to see it in it's glory as it's a stunning park. But I'm biased as DLRP really is our 'home' Disney. Thinking of a Cali trip in two years, or perhaps a Tokyo one, partly to do DLs there but also to see other things. If I may, if we ever manage DL - I'd love to call upon you for tips!

 

[dogdangling]

I prefer the Paris pirates to the Orlando one, Haven't done the DL version

 

[ashley0139]

I get your point about Wishes as they do tend to be special when they hold a special place in your heart. I actually really liked the Frozen fireworks at WDS - we had the VIP package (two girls you see!), and did the dessert party which was amazing. I also really loved Fantasmic but only got to see it once in the end as we just didn't get time to revisit for it. Illuminations blew us away too - really lovely story. Not sure what it was about Wishes - we watched it from the private viewing gallery at CG (the side you often don't get to go on as the CM let us on as a treat), we watched it up close on Main St (loved the pre show at this), then watched it from a boat as we did a private boat cruise from GC Hotel, but it just didn't do it for any of us sadly! Wishing we'd done an Illuminations cruise instead lol.

Lucky you being so close to DL - I can only wish! It would be so great to live so close. Universal is amazing too - in fact we preferred US to WDW in Orlando which we didn't expect at all.

Indy used to go backwards actually for a good stretch but hasn't for years - sorry, I think that's what I mean't not the inversion - doh!

My DDs love Phantom Manor and loved Haunted Mansion - mainly because it was in English lol! But PM has a creepiness about it that the French do very well - same with ToT in my opinion. We rode it on Halloween night and it was super creepy as the CMs went all out for us! Did you manage to find the back story to Frontierland and PM? It's fantastic and really amazing that they went to so much trouble to bring the place 'alive'. We've never seen Melanie Ravenswood appear at the top window (apparently she's meant to when it's dark!), but we love strolling about the cemetery and listening out for the ghosts etc! I love Frontierland at DLRP as a result of the whole story. BTM is probably our favourite family ride at DLRP - in fact, it IS our favourite. We once managed to ride 14 times in one day with the help of Shareholder VIP FPs - ha ha!

I hope you do get back to see it in it's glory as it's a stunning park. But I'm biased as DLRP really is our 'home' Disney. Thinking of a Cali trip in two years, or perhaps a Tokyo one, partly to do DLs there but also to see other things. If I may, if we ever manage DL - I'd love to call upon you for tips!

One thing I noticed about a lot of the rides is that they up the creepy factor a lot in Paris. They did it on Snow White as well with the skeletons hanging from the ceiling. I don't know anything about the backstory with Frontierland. I wish I had been able to get on BTM. I was very sad that was closed.

Feel free to ask me any questions about DLR or LA in general! It's a lot of fun.

I prefer the Paris pirates to the Orlando one, Haven't done the DL version

I think the one at DLR is best. The Paris one seemed to be lacking some attention to detail in my opinion, but it was fun.

 

[DLPDreams]

Thank you Ashley - we may do a California trip in two years if we can fund it!

I have nothing to compare POTC to as it was closed at WDW last year when we visited! I have head DLRP's isn't as good and have heard lots of mention of Jack Sparrow not being in it!