What I love about DLP...

[HappyPanda]

I think we can all feel that there is a very negative air about DLP at the moment. Especially with the disappointing news about the Halloween schedule. But, DLP for me is still my magical place and one that I love to visit and that's the same for most of us!

So, I thought this thread could be a way of us sharing what we love about Disney and why.

It could be the little things, like the smell in DLH or meeting your favourite character. Or bigger things like Dreams etc..

I'll start:

The thing I love most about DLP is that feeling you get when you are entering through the entrance gates for the first time. The anticipation you feel as you go under the station and then, you see it, the gorgeous castle in the distance.

The excitement builds as you walk down main street, the hullabaloo of others all sharing in the same excitement.

I also love how easy it is for me to get there from my home, within a few hours I can get from my home to DLP and that really adds to the magic for me.

There's so much more I could add, but I'll let some others share their ideas first!

 

[DLPdaft]

DLP is still my happy place, after 6 years and over a dozen visits . In the near future I may not get to visit as often as I have in the past, but I know I'll be back there, and I know I'll love being there.

I think I should mention that I totally get where certain posters opinions are coming from - especially if you're a very regular visitor, you will see and experience things that frustrate and disappoint you where once or twice-a-year guests generally will not.

 

[HappyPanda]

I think I should mention that I totally get where certain posters opinions are coming from - especially if you're a very regular visitor, you will see and experience things that frustrate and disappoint you where once or twice-a-year guests generally will not.

I wasn't having a dig at those that feel that way, i myself have expressed my own frustrations. but if regular visitors continue to visit despite its short comings then there must be something making them go. It's those sorts of things I was trying to get people to share, just to bring a bit of happiness back to the forum.

Sorry if that's not how it came across.

 

[kizzabel]

Great thread - I was only thinking on this this morning and I'd decided to overlook the negatives and just concentrate on the amazing time we can look forward to spending at DLP in 70something sleeps.
Its also still a magic place for me.
My favourite bits are the wonder and belief that this is a magical place I see written across my kids faces.
The other things I love is the attention to detail on Main St and when that fear and excitement and oh here we go feeling build just before BTM sets off.
I do hope DLP improves but I'm looking forward to visiting for a long time to come to see all the changes.

 

[disneymotts]

What a lovely idea for a thread!


My favourite things about DLP are

My children's reaction to it. At 2 & 5 they really get the magic.

How close it is, makes it more doable and affordable when sticking to school holidays.

How close the parks are - we spent EMH in Disneyland park, hopped to the studios then back to Disneyland park.

I'm excited for the future of DLP, new rides and also looking forward to riding current rides that my children are too young for.

And Dreams!

 

[chmurf]

Sorry if that's not how it came across.

That's not the way I took it anyway (and I'm among those who are negative)

what do I like about DLP and what keeps me coming back despite the fact that I criticise a lot ?

First of all we have the most beautiful park in the world.
I'm not talking about the rides, or entertainement itself, but only about the setting, the general theming, and the global layout of the park.
It's also the largest "MK" type park of all

Long story short, it's the park with the most potential.

It's got exclusive rides, such as Crush (which is unfortunately a ride with a ridiculously low per hour capacity)

I keep on coming back because I can't always hop across the pond. I already do that twice a year to Disneyworld. I spend 30 days in the parks in Orlando and roughly the same number of days in Disneyland Paris (yes I consider myself lucky) and live less than one hour away from DLP
I need my Disney fix.
And that's why I keep returning, always with the hope it gets better.

This park has the potential to be the best disney park again (it used to be 20 years ago) and that's what I like about it. (and that's also why I'm so angry and frustrated at what they do with OUR park)

I love DLP because it's OUR park. It's like a member of the family, and you don't like it when something bad happens to a family member.

 

[adr2.8i]

From a person who hates flying, the closeness of paris to the uk is the biggest draw for me personally. I have flown to Orlando twice and absolutley dreaded both trips. I wasted 3 days of my last holiday there worrying too much about flying home :-( im such a pathetic excuse for a man.

As a parent though , i love the look on my childrens faces when they arrive at the DLP. Now to them, Paris is disneyland! Its magical and wonderful. Its where mickey and minnie live. Buzz lightyear and Woody play in the park when its dark and when we are all in beds in our hotels. Cinderella really does live in the castle and beauty and the beast live under it in a secret bedroom guarded by the dragon (who doesnt bite anyone or shoot out flames coz hes Pete the Friendly dragon) .....And phantom manor is in fact ladies and gentlemen, the Scooby Doo house. i bet you dint know that?!

THAT is why i love DLP and all things Disney in fact.
As a grumpy old dad, i spend all year moaning about how skint we are and how expensive disney is, but seeing their faces makes it all worthwhile.

 

[tinks_1989]

DLP holds so many memories for me. From when i was a child and my parents and grand parents took me to being a parent and taking my own little princess.

DLP at Christmas is amazing and I can't wait till the day comes and we can return there for Christmas. I just don't think any of the other parks could ever hold the same sentimental value at Christmas as DLP does for me. I know it's cold and normally wet but its meant to be its winter. X

 

[cherrymarzipan]

I love that DLP is so accessible by car and I’m comforted by the familiarity. I love the seasonal variations. I like hearing the French language and meeting cast members from all over Europe.

I too love just entering the park for the first time each trip (always by the west entrance) and always get caught up in the excitement as I hear the music. I like hearing the steam train at the station. I love the pretty square before Main Street where the trees look lovely in different ways all year round and there are big bunches of Mickey and Minnie balloons. The details along Main Street and the window dressing is delightful. The castle and dragon underneath, the lake area in Frontierland, the lushness of Adventureland…. Friendly CMs and characters. And most of all DS’s sheer delight and enthusiasm the whole time we are there.

 

[elstoleno]

DLP is home. Its my happy place.

For the last few weeks i've been feeling i'd happily trade in my California trip to go back to DLP this year :|

 

[Jules1212]

DLP is home. Its my happy place.

For the last few weeks i've been feeling i'd happily trade in my California trip to go back to DLP this year :|

On a similar note, I have been to WDW Florida and I actually prefer DLRP! Maybe because we are in our 40's and the kids are 15 and 12. I don't need all the in your face almost 'forced' happiness. I find enough happiness in DLRP. It is indedd my 'happy place'.

I too love that it is near enough to go at least twice a year. That walk through the entrance and up Main St, I still get butterflies! We all know that Paris has the most beautiful of all Castles. Dreams, well!............... I can also say that in four visits I have never had a rude CM and we have had many go over and above the call of duty.

BTM is the best! Love it by day - love it even more by night! POTC is fab too. Crushes coaster, Rock n Roller coaster and TOT are a BIG hit with us too.

Seasons. Because you do actually get all four seasons in DLRP, Christmas does actually feel like Christmas and not a manufactured event. Same with other times of the year.

I love the DLH! I love it's faded glory. It is how it is supposed to be - it's not dated! No other park has a hotel in such a fab location either.

I am a Francophile so I love the touches in French, the chance to speak the language and feel like I have been somewhere different. I just did not feel that in Florida. You are also just a short train ride from one of the most beautiful capital cities in the world.

In short.......... WE LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Danauk]

I love that some of the rides are IMHO better than the American versions; BTMRR going under the lake onto its own island, Space Mountain is a 'real' rollercoaster. I love that it has some rides from Disneyland that WDW does not have and that it has a great coaster (Crush) that neither US parks have. I also love the castle; the fact you can go up it and under it unlike in the US parks.

Having been to all the US parks, the Disneyland Park at Paris is still my favourite.

 

[addverbaan]

Great thread - just what a lot of us need at the moment

The list of things I love about DLP would almost make a whole book, but here are just a random few.
The DLH; we have had great trips staying in the other hotels, especially Sequioa Lodge, but always look longingly at DLH when walking past if we are not staying there. This year we are lucky enough to be staying in the Castle Club for my birthday in October - just this fact has ramped up my excitement and anticipation for the trip by around 100x!

BTM in the Dark - just amazing

The fact that even though we have been on POTC 100+ times, me, DH and DS still always skip through the line singing "yo ho ho its a pirates life for me"

The moments during character meet and greets when the CM goes above and beyond - Smee taking my DS and dancing all the way around Cafe Mickey with him. Chip taking DS by the hand and leading him away from the crowds and playing with him (first trip when DS was just 4 - this moment and my DS reaction to it is what signed and sealed our love of DLP.

Other CM's - my son tripped over in May and the lovely CM working on the popcorn car, ran over to us, helped DH carry him to a bench, fussed over him to see if he was ok. He went back to his Popcorn cart and returned 2 mins later, with a free popcorn and drink for my DS

Dreams

I'll stop now, could go on though lol

 

[torsie24]

Having it so accessible is the best thing. I'm lucky in that I can get a direct train to St Pancras easily in 30 minutes or I can drive to Ebbsfleet in 30. And Eurostar is my favourite form of transport. It's also lovely to get off the train and be right in the magic.

The pink Castle. Jack proposed to me here during EMH (my next point) so it's a special place for us.

EMH - in the States people bother to get up. In France it would seem people like a lie in! Meaning we've had the park pretty much to ourselves a few times.

DLH. Beautiful hotel, perfect location.

BTM. Defintely the best of the 3 I've ridden.

 

[Mum to Belle]

I love the magical feeling you get just from being there and it was even more magical at Christmas time.

I love eating wonderful food in beautiful settings, I'm thinking about Walts, Inventons and Blue Lagoon right now....

I love riding BTM 4 times in a row with DD at night because there are no queues and seeing the park lit up, the Christmas tree lit up & the Castle twinkling away.

I love that my DD gets to meet all her favourite characters in one place.

I love park hopping and afternoon rests back at the hotel.

I love the short flight with only 40 minutes to drive to the airport and John to meet us at the other end.

I love being a Shareholder and visiting Salon Mickey.

 

[bonhoga]

Nice thread

I love everything, but especially POTC, Walts, Main Street with it's music and smell, the DLH and Hotel Cheyenne Oooooh just thinking about them makes me want to be there

 

[Ms Poppins]

It's our 'home' park too. We've never made it to the US and for our kids DLP is Disney!

I love the memories we've made there over the years. My kids have grown up there and every time we've been they've found something new or grown into rides they'd never noticed before.

I love the entire resort and being able to wander from our hotel to both parks, or stroll round the lake.

I love that it's not too big. I feel we all know our way around really well.

I love the detail of Fantasayland and how I feel obliged to take a photo of the castle every single time I go past it

I love the teacups lit up at night.

I also love the Studios! I'm not overly bothered about the layout etc, but as a family our kids are very animation orientated and we spend hours in art of animation, watching cinemagique/animagique/ and could spend an entire day there without a problem.

I love just being there and the music in Main St. The change in atmosphere as you wander between lands is fantastic too.

In short, I'm happy to go there every year. As a visitor who stays on site and loves that Disney Bubble feeling, I suppose it is different to those who just go for a day trip or two. We make it an actual holiday, with at least 4 days to relax and enjoy the pool to chill between park times.

And, I love that we're going there tomorrow

 

[markpsych]

And, I love that we're going there tomorrow

So envious!

have a fantastic time

 

[bonhoga]

Tomorrow!!!!!!!
Wow, have a great time, wish I was going with you K

 

[jillrobinson]

Julie, I missed your sdd. Have a fantastic trip

My children have grown up with dlp too and we have some fabulous memories. Im lucky that I get the best of both worlds, last year I got to go with my niece and nephew, so had a wonderful kiddie holiday, character chasing, riding Dumbo etc. This last trip was very adult orientated apart from at cafe mickey i only took one character photograph ,couldnt resist ToT Goofy ! We played pool and bowling at the nex arcade, stayed up late at the red garter saloon and slept in most mornings. I love that i can have 2 different experiences from 1 place and both be terrific.