WDW1974 does DLP ... it begins ...

[WDW1974]

Where do you begin a trip report to the most beautiful Magic Kingdom of them all? I guess at the beginning.

So here goes ... I'm writing this in a stream of consciousness fashion because that's how I feel people can get a true read on what I experienced and observed.

As with my WDW and DL observation threads, I don't hold anything back. I'll give the good, bad and the ugly and why I feel the way I do.

First off, let me put on the official MiceChat record that I advise any true Disney fan to get to Paris. Even if it means throwing change in a jar for a few years ... or skipping a meal a week (who couldn't stand to lose a few pounds anyway in the USA) ... or pushing up that minimum payment on Visa. You could always sell your least fave child too! But you owe it to yourself to see a shining example of what WDI can produce when money isn't the top priority, but creativity is.

When I think about the best part of the Michael Eisner/Frank Wells Legacy ... DLP is always at the top of the list. Just an amazing accomplishment regardless of some of the financial difficulties that have plagued the resort.

Onward ... when last I visited DLP in June of 2006, work was just starting on many areas of bringing the resort back from basically 14 years of neglect to get ready for the 15th celebration. Scaffolding was on almost all the resorts and the Emporium and other parts of Main Street were under tarps.

So how did things look 11 months later? Better. Much better.

From my first steps toward the DLH, which literally had places with bare wood as all the paint had rotted odd, you could tell that work had been done. The DLH shined like it was brand new ... like a giant, pink, Victorian, gingerbread palace. The lobby had actually just had new carpeting put in days before we arrived as you could tell by the 'shedding' going on.

Paris weather can be ... well, like weather anywhere else. Very unpredictable. But for much of the week I was there (two days at DLP), it was sunny with temps in the mid-upper 70s. Beautiful weather for exploring Naploeon's tomb, Notre Dame, Sacre Coer, taking a cruise on the Seine or having a picnic under the Eiffel Tower (hmm...sounds like other thing I did!) ... or even taking a boat cruise with AA Pirates.

I should point out, however, that unlike DL's top-to-bottom amazing makeover for its 50th, DLP's 15th makeover was deceiving. Sure the DLH looked brand new. For $500-plus a night, one would expect that. Main Street also looked like it had just opened ... but beyond the obvious, it was a very deceptive rehab. More like 'make sure we take care of the big things and hope no one notices all the VERY many little ones.'
Again, I know I've done my share of exec bashing before, but this is the calling card of DLP's top two execs (Karl Holz and George Kalogridis). They are known as guys who will come in and clean house on the surface and make the bottom line look very good ... for a while. By the time you notice all the problems, they've been promoted, demoted or just moved elsewhere in the company.

Examples of things that still need MAJOR attention: there remain HUGE potholes in the pavement and walkways around DLP, some that could potentially cause someone to take a very nasty spill. While much of Main Street looks brand new, apparently someone thought no one can see the third floors of some buildings and the paint work stopped ... that can be a problem when you're having dinner on the second floor and can look right across the street and see areas that haven't been touched. Anyway, before I bore you too much by complaining, let's get started with Day 1.

Both of my days at DLP were weekdays (Thursday and Friday) and weren't in any way crowded. There weren't any serious waits (longer than say 15 minutes) except for Big Thunder (which in my experience is the most popular attraction in the park) and Peter Pan. Both are by far the best versions produced in a Disney theme park, so it's understandable.

After a late arrival due to a switch in hotels (I stayed in Paris and opted for the extremely convenient RER after having a nightmarish experience staying on property last year that still is awaiting proper resolution), I met one of my friends who I was traveling with just before noon. After a quick meal at Disney Village's McDonald's (amazing how much better McD's is in Europe) it was off to the park.

There are no biometrics (yet) or anything like that. You simply put your AP (or other media) into the machine and you walk in. No confused backups like in Orlando because a tourist can't figure out how to give Disney the finger. Walking under first the Hotel, then the Main Street Station is almost like an extra layer that transports you into Disney's magical realms.

Main Street is amazingly detailed. If DL's version is a 10, then this is a 14. The MK's would be about a 4 now (shot No. 1 at the MK for those keeping score at home). From the facades to the Main Street vehicles and period advertising (like a coffee billboard that periodically releases smoke from a cup) to the amazing (and very useful) Discovery and Liberty Arcades, which run the length of Main Street on each side, there's no doubt that you're in Main Street USA of the early 1900s. There are no closed shops with blacked out windows, no empty spaces, no attractions that have been turned into failed retail ... no outlet mall gone bad vibe like you get in O-Town (shot No. 2).

Unlike Orlando where Main Street serves as only a walkway to the other lands, a place to watch the parade or grab a cheap Grumpy tee on the way out, in Paris you could easily spend a few hours soaking up the ambiance. If you have time, which I didn't.

Lining Main Street are banners for the 15th, which feature Lumiere -- who's basically the official leading character of the celeb (a wise choice IMHO) -- and kewl fiber optics that light up at night.

The castle makeover is a thing of beauty. I think it's the best one I've seen. The pics are all over online so I won't go into any long description, but it has various golden versions of the characters holding candles (which again light up at night or so I'm told because DLP never stays open past 8 p.m. in May ... more on this later). It just looks classy. A bit toned down from DL's. And without something huge being hung on the castle that serves no purpose (MK shot No. 3 or is that 4?).

Grabbed FastPasses for Big Thunder as I've noted in the past that typically the wait time will say something like 20 minutes and turn out to be 50. Then it was off to Phantom Manor. I know some folks don't like the western take on Mansion, but this attraction really wows me. The effects and showmanship are all 21st century quality. There is no Ghost Host. Most geeks know Vincent Price did one in English that lasted all of about six months before it was replaced by strictly music. Although you can still hear Price's demonic laugh in the stretch room. It works. As did all the effects unlike Orlando (MK shot No. 5).

Because of the limited time, I knew what I wanted to do before ever taking the flight across the pond (thanks to my good friends at Continental for the free tix and the wonderful flights). This wouldn't be a slow, meandering visit. It also wouldn't be a 'just hit the E-tix' either.

After PM, we headed over to PoC. The only version that has yet to be Deppitized yet. It's such an amazing version of the attraction. I still think I love DL's slightly more, but this one makes more sense in that you start with the pirates alive and sacking the town (and I just love the going uphill into the battle scene) and ending with the pirates all dead amongst their ill-begotten loot. Just amazing all around. And it does make me sad for all the folks who have only experienced WDW's incredibly inferior 1973 version (shot No. 6) and worse for the few HKDL regulars who apparently won't get an even more incredible version that has just been killed in favor of parades and cheap marketing campaigns.

From PoC, it is a quick and easy transition to Fantasyland and that's where we headed to experience a totally unique to DLP attraction (although in many ways, the two E-Tickets above are pretty unique in their own rights) in Alice's Labyrinth Maze. While not exciting ... and likely it would never be popular in the US parks as it requires exploration ... it's a fun diversion and blends perfectly with the storybook village look of the area.

A side note here ... Fantasyland at DLP even puts DL's medieval village to shame. The one feature that separates it from all others is waterways that flow thru the land and give it a more dynamic, kinetic vibe.

Hit Small World next. Another E-Ticket that was plussed greatly for Paris and features many, many unique show scenes as well as a nice postshow (DLP seems to not have trouble keeping sponsors unlike WDW).
There is a huge North America/USA section near the end ... the one weird thing is it features the WTC towers (much like the American Adventure) and I kind of think it's time to remove them.

We then spent a good 30 minutes exploring the castle and the dungeon, which features a ??? Yes ... a donkey (no wait, I've got Shrek on the brain) ... really a dragon. The stained glass in the castle is just spectacular. The place was designed like a real fairy tale castle and I know this may shock you WDW regulars, but there's no character dining in it, the shops aren't dedicated to princess merchandise and there isn't a Jon-Benet Boutique on the horizon. (how many WDW shots are we at now? lost count)

By this point, we wanted to head over to the least impressive park (and I use that word lightly) in the Disney empire, the DSP, to check out a few things there ... we'll pick up there ...

Hope you're enjoying ... actually, I just hope you're reading ;-)

[DLRP_bopazot]

nice report !!! i like the way to named the Cheap Studios Park .

[davewasbaloo]

Great report as always!

[pussnboots]

Originally Posted by WDW1974

(...) and there isn't a Jon-Benet Boutique on the horizon.

Haha! I mean of course it's terrible what happened to that girl, but still, that pretty much says it all doesn't it.

[JCSkipr79]

hey WDW1974? How are the Phantom Manor CMs? I hear they are hyper and realy over the top!

[WDW1974]

Originally Posted by JCSkipr79

hey WDW1974? How are the Phantom Manor CMs? I hear they are hyper and realy over the top!

They are GREAT!

They get into character and, the best thing in my opinion, shut everyone up in the stretch room so that the 'show' isn't ruined as it often is in O-Town and Anaheim.

I love all the Mansions, even the MK's decrepit version. But PM is truly a 21st century techological version with a different storyline and sense of place. Just a wonderful attraction.

[figment1986]

amazing, DLP having pot holes, and yet the ones around my house are filled in faster?

sounds like its still a pleasant place to visit, esp with a quiet stretching room.

great "WDW1974 News Report" so far.