DWB pre trip report

dagobert · May 02, 2011, 02:15:11 PM

I'm glad to hear that you had a great time at DLRP, despite some lows.

Many people say that the German parks are already on the same level or have surpased DLRP in terms of quality. Maybe that's the reason why DLRP isn't advertised at all over here. Perhaps Disney fears the German competitors. According to friends the themed hotels at Europa Park, like the Colosseo or the Santa Isabel, are a lot better and nicer than the Disney hotels in Paris. In the past all themepar operators looked at Disney and now it seems that Disney can learn from them. If I'm not mistaken the CEO of ED SCA, Mr. Philippe Gas, visited Europa Park and MACK, the company that owns, operates the park and builds themepark rides. Maybe after that visit the management realized that they have to improve the quality.

davewasbaloo · May 02, 2011, 02:22:52 PM

Yes, I would say in many ways the Hotel Colloseo, Santa Isabel and Phantasialand's Ling Bao are better than any Disney hotel in Paris, California and possibly Florida (though AKL with real animals is hard to beat). They were increadible and I will share why in upcoming updates. The shows, gardens, maintance and food were largely better too. In fact both German parks reminded me in many ways of what is now missing from Disney and Knott's Berry Farm, the two places that started it all. They were not perfect, and there were other things that were not as good as Disney (e.g. the dark rides). But overall, I can totally understand why people think they are better than DLP. And my kids would agree with them. If they had Disney's budgets, they would definately be better.

However, a part of me wondered if it was so good because we were there only weeks after they opened for the season, do they still look as stunning at the end of the season? Anyway, for those that are interesting, we will continue.

And Dagobert, get yourself to Europa Park (and possibly Phantasialand). You will love it.

dagobert · May 02, 2011, 02:26:41 PM

Strasbourg looks amazing. Thanks for the pictures! Now I really regret that in school we went to Paris instead to Strasbourg. The cathedral is really beautiful.

Holiday Inn hotels are great. We stayed in Chicago in a Holiday Inn hotel and it was fine. Unfortunately in Europe Holiday Inn hotels are a lot more expensive than in the US.

dagobert · May 02, 2011, 02:30:27 PM

Quote from: "davewasbaloo"And Dagobert, get yourself to Europa Park (and possibly Phantasialand). You will love it.

I'm already trying to convince my girlfriend, but she likes Disneyland Paris so much. Maybe next year and since the park is on our route to Paris, we may stop there for two days.

davewasbaloo · May 02, 2011, 02:42:07 PM

Quote from: "dagobert"Strasbourg looks amazing. Thanks for the pictures! Now I really regret that in school we went to Paris instead to Strasbourg. The cathedral is really beautiful.

Holiday Inn hotels are great. We stayed in Chicago in a Holiday Inn hotel and it was fine. Unfortunately in Europe Holiday Inn hotels are a lot more expensive than in the US.

That is Metz, the Strasbourg Photos are not up yet. They are even more beautiful. I think it is one of my very favorite cities of the world now. Really amazing. I will get them up as soon as possible.

dagobert · May 02, 2011, 02:54:09 PM

Quote from: "davewasbaloo"
Quote from: "dagobert"Strasbourg looks amazing. Thanks for the pictures! Now I really regret that in school we went to Paris instead to Strasbourg. The cathedral is really beautiful.

Holiday Inn hotels are great. We stayed in Chicago in a Holiday Inn hotel and it was fine. Unfortunately in Europe Holiday Inn hotels are a lot more expensive than in the US.

That is Metz, the Strasbourg Photos are not up yet. They are even more beautiful. I think it is one of my very favorite cities of the world now. Really amazing. I will get them up as soon as possible.

I'm sorry. I don't know why I thought that's Strasbourg. Nevertheless Metz is indeed a very beautiful city and definately worth a visit.

davewasbaloo · May 02, 2011, 02:57:47 PM

Yep, and to me, Strasbourg is even more beautiful. Strasbourg, Trier and Brugges were our fav cities this trip. But seriously, you need to go to the German parks. If next year were not the 20th, we would skip DLP in favour of the German parks. I am really looking forward to De Efteling later this year. Legoland Windsor will have to hold us over in a couple of weeks though.

dagobert · May 02, 2011, 03:05:45 PM

Quote from: "davewasbaloo"Yep, and to me, Strasbourg is even more beautiful. Strasbourg, Trier and Brugges were our fav cities this trip. But seriously, you need to go to the German parks. If next year were not the 20th, we would skip DLP in favour of the German parks. I am really looking forward to De Efteling later this year. Legoland Windsor will have to hold us over in a couple of weeks though.

We plan to go to London this summer and maybe we will spend a day in Legoland Windosr. I have been to Legoland Windosr in 2001 and I didn't like the park very much, except for Miniland. I don't know if that's the right name, I mean the part where famous buildings are built of Lego bricks. Maybe I didn't like the park, because a year before I have been to DLRP and I always compared both parks.

We watched the Royal Wedding last Friday and there was a video about how Legoland Windsor incorporated the wedding into Miniland. If this is still there then my girlfriend wants to see it and we may go there.

davewasbaloo · May 02, 2011, 03:34:54 PM

Legoland depends on expectations. I worked their opening year, and the cleverness of the models are always what captured my imagination. It is not meant to be like DLP. It is a very different park, and I think it helps it is aimed at the age of my kids. But, I also find dragons made out of Lego, Pirates, Spiders, Story book tableau etc. to be cool. If you are going because you are a Lego fan, then it is great. If you are going expecting a DLP or thrill experience, do not do it. Thorpe Park is where to go for Thrills (though only thrills and no theming) and Chessington has some lovely themed and animal areas. But Legoland for me has a magic of it's own. I fell in love with it when there was an exhibition in 1984 making the Olympics out of Lego in California, I went to the original in Denmark and loved it when I was 14, and so when Windsor opened in 1996, I had to work there! It was great. Now as a parent I love it even more. As two adults though, it is difficult to recommend unless you are a mega lego fan (though I can spend hours in miniland looking for the hidden details - like when Gordon Brown became PM, they had Tony Blair and Cherie moving out while Gorden moved out. They once had hidden Batman characters, Dr Who and Star Wars. It is fun from that basis, on a sunny day.

We are going because that is where my son wants to celebrate his 8th birthday as he will be old enough to participate in the robotic lego workshop they have for 8 and ups.

dagobert · May 02, 2011, 04:05:36 PM

I know that Legoland is different compared to DLRP, but I was 16 years old back then and I was mainly interested in thrill rides. Today I still like thrill rides a lot, but I prefere themed parks. Cedar Point was amazing, but I rather go to Disney than to thrill ride parks. I like Lego, especially the buildings and figures created with the bricks. By the way have you seen the new Lego models in front of the new Lego Imagination Centre at Downtown Disney at WDW?

Dave, do you know if Legoland Windsor will receive the Star Wars Miniland as well, like Legoland in California? And is it possible to visit Windsor Castle. If I remember correctly, the castle was very close to the park?

davewasbaloo · May 02, 2011, 04:15:46 PM

Star Wars Miniland is currently only scheduled for California, Germany and Denmark. Not Windsor. Instead we are getting a submarine ride this year and a themed hotel next year.

You could do the castle in the same day, but they are both expensive attractions, and Legoland is at least a day and the castle is also a good half day. There is a bus between them and you can see the castle towers from Legoland.

There are loads of photos of Legoland in my Facebook photo albums. Have a look.

sven · May 02, 2011, 04:20:01 PM

This is getting OT, but the other european Legolands are way better. Germany has the advantage of a park built from scratch, but the best is the one in Denmark. Knowing the three I was pretty disappointed with Legoland Windsor. Everything except Miniland is missing the love for details imho.

dagobert · May 02, 2011, 04:26:03 PM

Your Facebook picture with the huge green hat is hilarious, but I can't access your photo albums.

davewasbaloo · May 02, 2011, 04:30:37 PM

I think each one has their charm. I prefer Windsor to the California park. And a little more than Denmark as well (but like I say, I have personal attachments. I have not yet been to the German one as it looked very similar to the California one. Also Sven, when was the last time you went to Windsor? It has changed a lot over the last 3 years.

hootie · May 02, 2011, 07:25:42 PM

Fantastic trip report davewasbaloo- You have a beautiful family and you all look to be having a fab time(even if there were some low points!)

It has also given me ideas for a city break me and hubbie are hoping to go on in the autumn. He has seen most of Europe at this stage, I can count on one hand how many times I've left Ireland!!