Are things really that bad?

[Sgt. Tibs]

Originally Posted by ICHAPMAN

I just wonder if 'we' are all a little harsh on Team DLRP who are perhaps making the best of bad situation, with little Disney guidance from TWDC?

this is a really interesting idea actually and not one i have thought of before, but the attitude of all the CM's there makes it hard not to believe that that attitude goes all the way to the top.

my positivity is this:
the entire resort is amazing(physically), the rides are awesome, and i really do like WDS.
the once upon a dream parade is very good.
the quality of the food is very good.

negativity:
CM's. period.
opening hours.
lack of evening entertainment.
the price of everything.

[nathan detroit]

Originally Posted by Sgt. Tibs

negativity:
CM's. period.
opening hours.
lack of evening entertainment.
the price of everything.

Bang on the money Sarj. And surely these points are not difficult to sort out and will hardly break the bank.

[Zarniwoop]

Originally Posted by nathan detroit

Strolling up Main Street on a sunny day while eating a freshly baked cookie - possibly my favourite DLP experience.

Ah, that's it. A lack of magic comes partly from bad weather. It rains 180 days at Paris and the rest is more or less gray. So when you visit DLP on a sunny day you could also try your luck on lottery. :-P

[heffalumpy]

Hi all my post might seem a little odd (especially if your name is "netjack")...but are the opening hours(or lack of) at DLRP anything to do with European working regulations you know? The gap between ending one shift and starting another/not working more than a certain number of hours a week...or is it just to do with money(either a lack of or just meanness)?

[davewasbaloo]

It's a money issue. DLP in summer is open from 10am until 11pm (with 2 hours of EMH in the morning). And party nights, the park is often open until 1 am.

When DLP opened, they used to have the same hours as Disneyland in California for the high season, 9am to midnight (with a version of EMH from 7). Those days are long gone.

DLP has spent 15 years of slashing budgets, there is not much more they can slash. It is getting to the point where a part of me would prefer for it to close than slash any more.

[heffalumpy]

Originally Posted by davewasbaloo

It's a money issue. DLP in summer is open from 10am until 11pm (with 2 hours of EMH in the morning). And party nights, the park is often open until 1 am.

When DLP opened, they used to have the same hours as Disneyland in California for the high season, 9am to midnight (with a version of EMH from 7). Those days are long gone.

DLP has spent 15 years of slashing budgets, there is not much more they can slash. It is getting to the point where a part of me would prefer for it to close than slash any more.

Wow if you'd not told me I'd never have believed it.
I guess they really are just "that bad"...its quite obvious they put the fact they are a "business" first in the habit of making money rather than or as well as magic...shame they don't do seasonal prices then as well to reflect their lack of opening hours.

[nathan detroit]

Originally Posted by heffalumpy

Wow if you'd not told me I'd never have believed it.
I guess they really are just "that bad"...its quite obvious they put the fact they are a "business" first in the habit of making money rather than or as well as magic...shame they don't do seasonal prices then as well to reflect their lack of opening hours.

Well, actually theey kinda do. The opening hours tend to be reflected in the pricing.
However this should still not be the case - particularly when there is little else to do on the resort of an evening. (Has anyone here actually attended Hurricane's?

[heffalumpy]

Is Hurricane's that club in Downtown Disney??? Well the Paris Downtown Disney...what is it called, Disney Village???

[nathan detroit]

Originally Posted by heffalumpy

Is Hurricane's that club in Downtown Disney??? Well the Paris Downtown Disney...what is it called, Disney Village???

Oui

[Tommie]

Originally Posted by nathan detroit

Has anyone here actually attended Hurricane's?

I have asked myself the same question, every time I have visited DLP since 1992. I have not yet visited it once.....

But back on topic. My first visit to DLP was in august 1992. After years of anticipation (this was before the internet you know, so information was not as easily available as it is know) I visited the park for two days from Paris. The thing I remember the most; it was true perfection. Especially compared to the theme-parks I had visited in Europe till then. Everything looked perfect. Even little things like plastic bags, napkins and your plastic knife/fork/spoon were well themed and of good quality. I still have the special spaghetti fork you got at the pasta place in Fantasyland, somewhere down in my closet are also some beautiful plastic bags.

IMO, the first few years (till '97 or so...) things remained pretty much the same like those first years. New attractions and shows came (some better than others), stimulating you to visit the park over and over. But at one point, things started to decline. No real new attractions anymore, lack of maintenance etc.

In recent years, some things got better (maintenance, new attractions at WDS), but some things got worse (mainly; no new attractions at DLP itself for years now).

I still like DLP and WDS. DLP is in general still the most beautiful theme-park in Europe and maybe even in the world (at least top 3). But here is still so much to be done, to get it back at a level somewhere resembling the 1992-level. I often daydream; what if I was Arabian prince, with money to spare.....; close DLP for a month and refurb everything, speed built Splash Mountain, replace ST and HISTA....

WDS improved a lot over the last years. I must say that I really like Crush, Cars, ToT, Playhouse etc. But it is still to fragmented.

Anette's is great by the way. This september was my first visit there in 17 years. And I wondered; why didn't I eat here before?

Id did visit DL and WDW in 2000/2001, but unfortunately do not have the means and opportunity to visit them again soon. DLP for me is also the only opportunity to experience the Disney magic. Aand despite all its flaws, I still am greatful to have such a beautiful park nearby!

BTW: In all my years of visiting, I have only experience rain once (last september one day). All the other visits (mostly in the spring/summer/early autumn) mostly great weather with blue skies a lot of the days! So I think I can count myself lucky!