Disneyland Paris

[Matt 236]

So, I went back to the Parisian Disney Resort. 
 

Almost 6 years since my last visit, some things have changed whilst others have remained the same. 
 

Both parks were very lively (but not necessarily super busy) during half term week and seemed to feature a lovely atmosphere throughout. On both days Studios closed at 21:00 and the main park at 22:00, making for some excellent opening hours.

 

Besides some refurbishments around the entrance/Disney hotel, (asbestos filled) Small World and other patches around, the park looked great. Maybe better kept than Magic Kingdom (if I’m honest). The 30th celebration show was a delight and I adore the logo, which is a masterpiece! The parade seemed the same as before as did the main nighttime show, which has grown on me from last time, but I still consider dreams better. 
 

As much as WDW is the better resort, Paris generally has the best classics, whether it be the tragic mysterious Phantom Manor, the grander arrangement of POTC or the more magnificent Big Thunder ride variant. Space Mountain needs to lose the Star Wars overlay now IMO. 
 

Studios is a strange one as some of the park feels the same, but others unrecognisable. The changes to TOT make the ride feel more unique, but still can’t decide whether I like them. Avengers Campus looks more refreshed from the former mish-mash before but feels hit and miss. I liked the Avengers coaster more than I was expecting but still miss RNRC. Webslingers is perhaps the blandest attraction done by Disney, even if the shooting element is fun. Cars Road trip was alright, but feels weird how out of the way it feels from the rest of the park. 
 

The new nighttime show was largely enjoyable eventhough I’m not the biggest superhero fan and it meant basically closing half the park an hour beforehand. 

 

In contrary to the parks feeling more alive, the Disney Village felt dead and lifeless with no atmosphere at all. The former buildings of Planet Hollywood, Ludwig’s, Cafe Mickey and more all closed and derelict. No atmosphere at all even with the remaining open units. Crowded House’s  Don’t dream It’s Over playing whilst passing really summed up the sorry state of this area, which is literally being ripped away from what it once was. 
 

As much as I prefer WDW, I can’t help but have a soft spot for this resort, even after all this time. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. I have a soft spot even now for DLRP because it started a whole revolution of park visiting and trips back on my first visit. 
 

 

[MattyB]

Disney Electrical Sky Parade - World Premiere - Disneyland Paris

[Inferno]

Back from DLP last week - my first ever visit there.

A few little things that stood out to me!

• What an incredible place overall.  I'm lucky enough to have been to WDW a few times, and I must admit I did wonder if DLP would be inferior... But really, it holds its own, and honestly I much prefer Disneyland Park over Magic Kingdom.
• Big Thunder Mountain (and Frontierland as a whole) is fantastic - probably better than the one in Orlando. The sections under the lake are fantastic.
• Disneyland Park feels 'complete', and there aren't really many areas that lack theming or look unpolished. This can't be said for Magic Kingdom, which is unpleasant in places.
• Disney Village was very disappointing - run down , small and messy - fortunately they are in the process of refurbing it. I was expecting it to be a little more like Disney Springs, but really it's a far cry from that.
• Hyperspace Mountain is hysterically badly done. Far worse than I thought it would be. The Star Wars overlay is sloppy and abysmally sparse, and the queue is truly dreadful - just a dark tunnel with a couple of posters on the wall? Come on now. The coaster however is very good, and I'd have love to have seen the ride as it was intended. A very poor show really.
• Disneyland Park is truly stunning and I can absolutely see why this is known as the most beautiful Disney park.
• The Studios Park is very much under construction and is covered in temporary fences, which is to be expected, but still offers a good part day at the least with some truly brilliant attractions.
• Avengers Flight Force is a standout - the coaster feels fast and quite forceful, with some good theming in the queue and screens throughout the ride which work well I think. The restraints aren't great, but overall a very good ride I thought. Doesn't deserve the criticism I've read!
• Tower of Terror is excellent. I wasn't expecting it to be so creepy, and so different to Orlando.
• Ratatouille and the surrounding area are beautifully done and is a good sign of things to come at the Studios park.
• Something that surprised me was how horrible some of the queues are at DLP - Many of them are very sparsely themed, and incredibly cramped cattlepens. Big Thunder for example was not a good experience for us, with many of the French smoking in that undercover section where the queue inexplicably splits for a while then re-merges again (which was causing some tension among some people in front of us). Weird.

 

I'm really looking forward to going back already. You can really see the change in quality from where Disney have taken the reigns, so I think really it's on the up!