We are back after a great trip

[marcus.ka]

Pros and Cons

We are back from a very great trip. (7th September – 11th September). And as we had such a great time I just want to give you a short summary.

I will start with the lows to end on a positive note.

Lows (not many, but they have to be mentioned)
- Dirty toilets. The gents toilets in Saloon Mickey and at HNY (4 out of 5) were dirty. The rest of the park toilets was OK.
- Glowing Mickey ears. Almost no one bought them, and even the ones that are worn throughout the show don’t add to the atmosphere as you don’t look on other guests heads during Dreams. You only pay attention to the fireworks and projections in the sky.
- Not one show at the whole resort. That is very disappointing.
- On Sunday we wanted to have breakfast in the park (Sandwich on Mainstreet) but all open spots didn’t had any sandwiches. They only arrived at 9:45! This is poor service in my eyes. The park is open from 8 and they don’t offer sandwiches until 9:45. On previous visits sandwiches were available at park-opening.
- Many effects were not working (Crush, PM, PotC, BTM and many more)
- BTM was also broken every evening. We sooo wanted to ride BTM in the darkness but we couldn’t.
- And the last thing to mention: There are no German menus at the restaurants anymore. Last year in June they were still available. But now they only have them in French and English. I know this is not a big deal for you lovely people from the UK, but for us it is. Although my English is not bad, it is very hard for me to read an English Menu. And in the previous 20 years they always had the menus in many other languages.

Highs (we had many)
- The parks looked really good. (I was a little bit concerned after all the discussions that are going on in the moment) Many refurbishments are going on right now. And the already finished parts looked good to us.
- We had 3 amazing meals at Walt’s, Blue Lagoon and Cape Cod. The food has really improved compared to our last trip in June 2012.
- We loved the new World of Disney store and also the area around it with the new entrance. And it was also very handy to have the security check next to the Hotel New York (where we parked every day) and not at the entrance with all the other guests.
- We also loved the current merchandise. I could have bought almost everything. They have such great stuff currently. Just great.
- And the coolest thing was to see H2O Aquatics products in the hotel shops. I love H2O Aquatics from our WDW Beach Club stay, and I never could understand why you can’t buy it anywhere in Europe. But now I can!
- The Magic Circus Hotel was also very nice. We liked the theme and the cozy room.
- We also had very nice CMs. Almost as good as in WDW. (Blue Lagoon, Walt’s, ToT, Magic Circus …)
- Salon Mickey was another improvement. After the change with the minimum share requirement the Salon is less crowded and the quality of the sweets they offer has improved.
- On both days when we did the Studios first thing in the morning Crush was open and rolling at 9:40. On both days we had finished Crush at 9:50 and so we could go to another attraction for park opening.

All in all we had a very good trip. After our last trip in June 2012 it was time for a bigger break but now (at least for me) the Disney magic at DLP is back.

I think I will not do a trip report but I will definitely post some pictures later.

 

[ILOVEDLP]

Glad you had a great time not that many lows.
With all the bad press DLP getting at he minute I'm happy to see your highs.
X

 

[kizzabel]

Wow great highs. Sounds like you have had a great trip. I'm delighted to read that the Park is in good order and that you found the magic to be back

 

[DLPdaft]

sounds like a wonderful trip Marcus - yes please to photos .

 

[cherrymarzipan]

Welcome back, lovely to hear that you had such a good time.

I think you have highlighted a very good point about the glowing Mickey ears, you are right, you don't look at the crowd do you? I suppose if everyone was wearing them and you were further back the effect would be there, but no, it is hard to see how this will take off.

What is H2O Aquatics please?

And the last thing to mention: There are no German menus at the restaurants anymore. Last year in June they were still available. But now they only have them in French and English. I know this is not a big deal for you lovely people from the UK, but for us it is. Although my English is not bad, it is very hard for me to read an English Menu. And in the previous 20 years they always had the menus in many other languages.

Here I think that Germans are victims of their own success! You all speak English so fluently that translation seems redundant now.

So pleased you found the magic was there and thanks for sharing.

 

[marcus.ka]

Danke for the compliment regarding our English skills.

And you are right regarding the ears. It would make a difference if they would use them for shows like Fantasmic at WDW. If you have a seat in the upper rows this must look pretty good. But not if you are standing in front of the castle for a fireworks show.

 

[Ware Bears]

Welcome back, Marcus, glad to hear the magic is back for you!

What is H2O Aquatics please?

It's a toiletry range, here, it's seriously nice, especially the body butter.

And the coolest thing was to see H2O Aquatics products in the hotel shops. I love H2O Aquatics from our WDW Beach Club stay, and I never could understand why you can’t buy it anywhere in Europe. But now I can!

Yay for Disneyland Paris now having this! If ever there was a good reason to stay onsite .....

I buy it from Marks and Spencers (unfortunately without the Disney logo) but I believe it's only available online - do they ship to Germany? Alternatively do you have TK Maxx? I often find it in there, again without the Disney name, but you've got to be vigilant as it doesn't hang around for long!

 

[BabyAriel]

Sounds like you had a fantastic time!

And it was also very handy to have the security check next to the Hotel New York (where we parked every day) and not at the entrance with all the other guests.

Can anyone park at the onsite hotels? Would be really handy for early morning character meets!

 

[marcus.ka]

No not anyone can park at the Hotels. Only if you are a member of the Shareholder Club than you can park for free at the HNY.

 

[cazspence]

No not anyone can park at the Hotels. Only if you are a member of the Shareholder Club than you can park for free at the HNY.

I didn't know this and been a shareholder for over 3 years now

 

[marcus.ka]

But you also have to be in the shareholder club! Once you are in the club you only need to show your club card at the entrance of the parking lot and then you can park at HNY (and only there) for free.

 

[cazspence]

But you also have to be in the shareholder club! Once you are in the club you only need to show your club card at the entrance of the parking lot and then you can park at HNY (and only there) for free.

Yes been in the club for same length of time. I'm a regular at salon mickey. Lol. It's not in any information I have. What other things am I missing out on???

 

[lilacgems23]

We were at the magic circus the same time as you

 

[tennisfan]

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip Marcus