My Trip Report from July

[Martin]

Right...

I've never ever done a trip report before but thought i'd have a go because you all share your memories and experiences on this board. The last time I visited DLRP was in July and it was my second visit. I have been to WDW twice in 1997 and 2000 and my first visit to DLRP was in August 2004 (and I had to go back!).

We used the "National Holidays" coach operator and stayed at the onsite Kyriad hotel. We crossed the channel by ferry and the whole journey took nearly 18 hours.

DAY ONE Disneyland Park

We arrived at Disneyland Park for 8.30am and explored Main Street. You really can't beat that feeling of walking under the train station and seeing the castle and hearing the Main Street Music.

No matter how many times you take a picture, it never does justice to the castle!

After the park officially opened we went straight for Space Mountain: Mission 2. I thought it was brilliant, the extra effects made it stand out from the WDW version by miles. I prefered the old music though as it fitted with the original Discoveryland theme more than the new modern one.

While in Discoveryland we went on Star Tours and Honey I Shrunk the Audience. Both were as great as ever, however how annoying is that Kodak "story" at the beginning of HISTA!!!!!

Next we headed to Frontierland and Big Thunder Mountain. I decided to get a Fast Pass instead of waiting in the queue. When I got to the booth the Fast Pass ticket got stuck in the machine and I couldn't get it out. There was a CM standing by and I told her about this and she asked what time I would like the Fast Pass for, so instead of waiting 1/2 hour for the original window to open up I asked for three for 9.30 (the actual time). We then went and got straight on the ride via Fast Pass!!!!!

After BTM we went on Phantom Manor which again was miles better than the WDW version, the music is really good too.

I then decided to get tickets for Legend of the Lion King at the Discoveryland so waited there until 11.00am for tickets to be distributed. We had dinner in Fantasyland at Au Chalet de la Marionnette, the chicken was the nicest I have tasted anywhere in the world!

After dinner we went on Pirates or the Caribbean which was great as usual, apart from the backlog of boats that kept smacking into each other! We also went on Indianna Jones and the Tempil of Peril. I rode this last year when it was "Backwards" and I think I preffered it that way. The ride is the rougest ride I have EVER been on, but the view is great.

We then went to see the Legend of the Lion King Show which was very good!

We decided to get a good spot to watch the Wonderful World of Disney Parade as I wanted some good pictures to use in some of my literacy lessons at school. We found a great place in the Central Plaza, however I heard a few snide comments from a british woman behind us about how adults should not be sitting on the pavement. I decided to stand up nearer to the start of the parade and let a child sit on the pavement while I stood up to take photos, I also tried to let people smaller than me stand in front of me so I don't block their view. Before the parade had even begun I had been shuved and pushed to the back of the crowd . This did ruin the mood for parade for me a bit, but I did get some really good photos (well I think they are good anyway lol).

After the parade we had a wander around the park and when night fell found a space for Disney's Fantillusion Parade and Wishes. While we were waiting I took this picture of the castle with a rather angry sky!

I decided to film Fantillusion rather than take photos, so I managed to take some screen captures of the video.

Fantillusion is brilliant, I prefer it to SpectroMagic and the MSEP.

Wishes was good, the projections were brilliant and I loved the music. The fireworks let it down a bit though.

I had a great day and I'll post a trip report of day two soon.

Hope you enjoyed my trip report and pictures, let me know what you think.

Martin

 

[Bonnie]

What a lovely trip report Martin, and fabulous photos too. It sounds like you had a fantastic time! I will have to make sure I see Fantillusion at some point as it looks great.

Looking forward to the next installment!

 

[Bexx]

Thank you for your report Martin - and your wonderful pictures!! I particularly love the one of Main Street.

 

[Verity Chambers]

Love your photo of the grey clouds behind the castle.

 

[diberry]

Thank for that very detailed and interesting trip report Martin. Your photos are really good especially the castle and the parade. It was kind of you to let the children go in front of you but that woman was rude to make comments and it's a shame people have to push and shove. Nevertheless you obviously had a great day. Looking forward to reading the next part!

 

[Cyrano]

Great report and photographs.
Looking forward to more and what you thought of staying off-site

Reid

 

[Martin]

I will have to make sure I see Fantillusion at some point as it looks great.

Yes it is brilliant! The best part of the trip, the music and parade stops set it apart from the rest. I have some videos if you want to see them I can e-mail them to you or you could wait and see it in dlrp .

It was kind of you to let the children go in front of you but that woman was rude to make comments and it's a shame people have to push and shove.

Yes, she just wouldn't let it rest and it was getting quite annoying, then I got pushed to the back which was the icing on the cake. The parade was still great though .

Looking forward to more and what you thought of staying off-site

I've never really classed the Kyriad "off-site" as it is within the resort and has shuttle buses running. In 2004 we did stay off-site near Paris and that was a pain having to drive on the tour bus into DLRP on the mornings and be out of the parks by a certain time, meaning I could only see Fantillusion from Town Square (and only one parade stop ). This year the on-site Kyriad was very nice, it's a relatively new hotel but of course lacked the Disney magic which the Disney hotels would have. I've never stayed a Disney hotel at DLRP but stayed in Disney's All Stars Sport and Disney's All Stars Movies Resorts in WDW.

If you're on a tight budget the "off-site" hotels can be affordable however you'd have to purchase your own theme park tickets if you are booking with them direct (or if you have an AP ). Next visit I plan to stay in a Disney hotel and fly into Charles De Gaulle instead of going on a coach tour and staying "off-site".


Glad you like the report,
Martin

 

[bonhoga]

Fantastic pictures - really great report


Thanks very much!!

Kaye

 

[ely3857]

Lovley day and excellent photo's



Jodie

 

[IlluminationsUK]

Wow, what incredible photo's! The one of the castle with the clouds is incredible, you are very talented. Looking forwards to reading more.

 

[jillrobinson]

Beautiful photos and trip report especially like the castle and the stormy looking sky - Fantillusion is the most wonderful parade and my favourite - I can't believe they're stopping it in January I was so looking forward to seeing it again.
Some people can be so rude, we queued early to get a good spot once and then a rather large lady came and stook right in front of us, naturally she had to step backwards to get onto the pavement and in the process knocked over my 5 year old. A rather heated discussion took place between us (she was English) and she did move on but I was amazed at the audacity of her - I would never dream of purposely standing in front of someone, let alone in front of children.

 

[Martin]

Thanks for the comments on the photos

I can't believe what that woman done Jill, it was totally appalling behaviour, the cheek of some people!!!!

It's really bad that Fantillusion is not showing through January to March, I was really disappointed when I heard about it because it is the best night-time parade in the world (not that I'm biased ).

I hope to put some of the other pictures I took from Walt Disney Studios and Buffallo Bills online soon, with a trip report. But I start back at University tommorow, so the next few days will be a bit hectic .

Thanks again for the kind comments .

Martin

 

[Miffy2003]

Lovely report and photos Martin - thank you

I agree that it was very rude for people to push you out of the way at the parade Some people should learn their manners!!

I am never sure which I prefer out of Fantillusion, MSEP & Spectromagic. I think Fantillusion may just pip the others at the post, but it's a tough call

 

[Ware Bears]

Lovely report Martin, and what fantastic photos!

Such a shame about the horrible woman I can never understand how people can be so rude. We usually wait for an hour so we can be at the very front to watch a parade, it makes me so mad that people will just stroll up as it is starting and expect to get a front-row seat.

 

[DisneyRGB]

it makes me so mad that people will just stroll up as it is starting and expect to get a front-row seat.

Me too! Same happened to us watching Enchanted Fairytale Ceremony in December - waited 45 minutes in the FREEZING cold on very sore feet to get a good view only for a woman to push not just her child but also herself (and large video camera) in front of everybody!

Great report Martin and brilliant photos! Look forward to reading more when you have time.

 

[Cyrano]

Me too! Same happened to us watching Enchanted Fairytale Ceremony in December - waited 45 minutes in the FREEZING cold on very sore feet to get a good view only for a woman to push not just her child but also herself (and large video camera) in front of everybody!

Great report Martin and brilliant photos! Look forward to reading more when you have time.

Have to say I refuse to budge on these occasions and have no difficulty in voicing my displeasure

Reid

 

[DisneyRGB]

Have to say I refuse to budge on these occasions and have no difficulty in voicing my displeasure

Reid

This woman was French and I can't argue in French! But I used international signs of disapproval such as tutting and venomous looks!!! And in the end just pushing her arm and video camera away from in front of my face!!!