We made it there & back again

[Rosabelle]

We went on the 9th till 12th December
The parks were as jonjos photos depict, beautiful in the snow. However they didn't grit very well and didn't clear until late Friday evening. I was told the paths are heated which makes the ice melt but it meant the place was full of icy slush . Nobody could walk properly. Pushing dd in her w/chair was a total nignhtmare as it must have been for parents with buggies. When they did clear the frozen snow they pushed it in piles into the w/chair spots for the parades .

We couldn't push her at all at the Cheyenne and the puddles everywhere when it melted were sooo deep!

The motorways when we arrived were closed and we almost had no transfer.
Overall the weather and dlp's lack of preparation to deal with it put a massive dampener on our trip and I will never go in December again! It just wasn't worth the amount of hassle we went through trying to just get around..

However the new room in Billy the kid was gorgeous, the food was great and meeting Santa was fab

Defo summer trips only from now on

 

[Jonjo]

Glad to read you got there and back OK. It realy was snowy wasn't it. While we were there we saw many abandoned rental pushchairs around the park as it was just too slushy to make them practical to use.

We had heared that the Airport transfer buses had stopped as the motorways around Paris were closed but were told the trains to the airports were still running.

DLP looked lovey dressed up for Christmas and when the blizzard hit on Wednesday afternoon covering the parks in snow it just looked magical. But on a practical level I think our next trip will be in the Spring / Summer.

 

[paulinefc]

I`ll never come in December again either, but glad I got to see it at christmas. flights from here to Dublin cancelled tonight, really hope its ok for tomorrow. We have 3 out 5 kids down with a tummy bug just hoping the rest of us can avoid it and we get hom tomorrow!

 

[Disneyfanswicklow]

Glad you are home safe and sound! Hope you get home too paulinefc! Sounds like you had some magical moments despite the weather! Looking forward to a trip report1

 

[PrettyP]

So sad that so many people have been put off travelling to Disney at Christmas. This was my 8th trip and my 7th at Christmas and this was the first time I ever had trouble with the weather. Yes it was awful, yes we were stranded for 24 hours but I figure that could have happened earlier in the year with the ash cloud and the air traffic control strikes. Having said that I would not belittle anyone's experience or decision not to go again at Christmas.

So sorry to hear so many people never got their trip started at all and so sorry to hear about anyone who got stuck getting home. When it happened to us 2 weeks ago we were extremely stressed and close to tears. Every night when I look at the snow on the news I think of all the poor people who are stranded. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I also threw up for two days after getting home so it does seem that there is some sort of tummy bug going around amongst travellers!

 

[Woolly]

My little boy had sickness when we were there last week, but it passed very quickly and he didn't seem to mind too much. My Daughter, Wife and I had it on Saturday and Sunday, the day after returning from DLP. I don't think it was picked up out there though. My daughter's school has been affected also family and friends over here have it too. It is the winter sickness bug and it is just everywhere.

Back to the OP, I'm not sure if we will go at Christmas time again. We had a great time and the travel and hotel and parks were fine. The thing is we were very lucky with the weather and that is the number one factor for me. It could have easily gone wrong but we were very lucky to get in and out in a week long window between 2 difficult periods. If the transportation infrastructure could be improved here (on the roads) and on Eurostar when harsher weather comes in then maybe I would reconsider. At the end of the day there is only so much that companies and transport departments can do to alleviate the bad conditions and that includes Disney themselves. Sometimes you have to take personal responsibility for actions and bookings taken over this period and if you are unlucky then you have to deal with it and if you are lucky then enjoy the moment. I think sometime we expect too much sometimes and don't appreciate that companies don't have bottomless pits of money to ensure that everything is how we want it when the unpredictable weather happens.

 

[Ware Bears]

Welcome back all and I hope that you got home safely, paulinefc.

for everyone whose holiday has been affected ~ 2010 has certainly not been an easy year for travel.

 

[sherbetdibdab]

Glad you are back safe and sound. I'd agree with you - although I am glad I went once to see the gorgeous Christmas dressing in the parks, I'm never going in the winter again!

Too cold and as you say, a seeming lack of ability to cope all that well on the part of the parks (the drainage is awful - I killed a pair of rather nice leather boots so anyone planning a trip soon, take wellies or moonboots - waterproofing essential!).

I really feel for those stuck and delayed .

 

[wmoon]

Don't think we would travel at Christmas again.

After first scheduled trip cancelled on 29th Nov, we were lucky that we got to go on 14th December. Disney was more magical at Christmas I think.

Our flight home on Friday was cancelled although no snow in Paris or Edinburgh in the afternoon. We decided quickly to pay to get on an airfrance flight, got the last 3 seats. So glad as Easyjet didn't fly Paris to Edinburgh again till Tuesday so thankfully we didn't stay and try to transfer.

Feel heart sorry for anybody being cancelled or stranded.

Wendy