Hello everyone,
I wanted to ask you guys a question. I have read some case studies on DLP, mostly used in academic contexts. All of them talk about the rocky start DLP had. It caught my attention to read that in the beginning, Cast Members were charging confused guests extra money to ride the rides and that some characters would be mean to the kids and refuse to hug them or interact with them. I had never heard of this, so I wanted to ask you, if any of you visited in DLP back in the day, did you experience any of these issues first hand?
Cheers!
Hi, no I never experienced anything close to that.
But have to say that I experienced rude Cast Members.
I don't know about 1992 as our first visit was in 1993 and from then to now we never experienced any negativity. Cast members and characters always went out their way to be helpful, courteous, playful and generous of their time.
Hi, nope never experienced anything like that just the long queues for rides in 1992 when they kept breaking down, BTM in particular so no change really throughout the 24 years then haha
For those who visiited back in the day, could you also share your good experiences :) ? I have also read the place went overboard with the magic back in the day, with details down to the plastic spoons being shaped as characters. It must have been so nice to see it all brand new and sparkling !
Quote from: Mtlchuck on April 15, 2016, 10:01:43 AM
For those who visiited back in the day, could you also share your good experiences :) ? I have also read the place went overboard with the magic back in the day, with details down to the plastic spoons being shaped as characters. It must have been so nice to see it all brand new and sparkling !
We collected the cutlery to begin with, they were cool. There was a feeling of more magic in the park personally & this was without having any kids with me, parades 3 times a day then Main Street Electrical Parade in the evening. Hearing the 'dum dum' of the start of 'Dancin a catchy rhythm' & the excitement would build. Little food kiosks around the park, my favourite was in Adventure Land where they served kebab type snacks. Characters appearing from out of nowhere, through bushes etc. It was a fun time.
So much better in the early years.If you visit Disneyland Paris treasures and view the hotel room video you will see just how much was done to make the stay at dlp really special.
Our first year in DLP was in 2002 and I noticed big changes when we went again this year! There were more character meets in the studios back then and more costumes it was winter when we went and I have pics with Mickey in his ski gear!!!
Less restaurants in the park and much much cheaper!
I agree with what someone else mentioned it was definitely more magical but maybe that was this year when we went the front was having repairs so you couldnt see the big mickey face in the grass and the train wasnt working either which for me really gives the magical feel.
There were two parades one in the evening which was really magical as they made it snow down main street, there were also more shows and more characters walking around so you really felt you were in the middle of the magic. Dont get me wrong we loved it this year too especially as we took our girls with us but unfortunately you loose some of the magic walking from the studios to main park as both are now so big!
I dont think Disney will ever loose its appeal i just wish it was more accessible for us and cheaper so we could go more often, flights etc from Spain are really expensive!
But i love Disney now and then ;)
I personally think that the parks have gradually got worse in terms of character interaction and rude CMs. The only good thing is that the CMs seem to speak more languages these days which helps with guest flow.
Quote from: rebecca20 on April 15, 2016, 01:04:57 PM
I personally think that the parks have gradually got worse in terms of character interaction and rude CMs. The only good thing is that the CMs seem to speak more languages these days which helps with guest flow.
I haven't experienced unnaceptably rude CM's at DLP. I have just had some unhelpful ones in restaurants. Actually, last summer I encountered rudeness in Disneyland California. Many teenagers were cutting in line by jumping through the ropes for the Matterhorn and when I reported it to a CM, she replied "I'm not taking care of that".
https://www.designingdisney.com/content/corporate-design-euro-disney-resort-%E2%80%93-part-1
(https://www.designingdisney.com/content/corporate-design-euro-disney-resort-%E2%80%93-part-1)
Great article about the early corporate design of Euro Disney ;)
When we first went we thought yes it was expensive but nothing compared to now. We noticed a big change in prices when they went from francs to euros plus quality in some of the clothing. I bought a T-shirt in 1992 & it was far better quality than the t-shirts now. I only got rid of it in 2004 after I had my daughter. I still have my Minnie Mouse from 1992 that cost me about 70francs (10francs to the pound)
My hubby said he thought DLP was far better in the early years. More characters, cheap food because he finds the food extortionate now, he can remember getting a menu Donald for about £5-6 & that was expensive then but comapred to €14 now. He feels there was better ride maintenance before, whereas now it seems to take a long time to reopen rides.
Even though it's more expensive etc I will always love going to DLP it has such a special place in my heart & I always feel relaxed when I get there.
Someone told me back in the 90s. Mickey had beef with guests.
He snatched an autograph book from a guest to sign.
Mickey had attitude!
I've been visiting since 1992 and agree that some of the magic has disappeared. there was far more theming in the earlier days such as the character shaped cutlery, mickey shaped pizzas etc. There were far more characters appearing unplanned at various points of the park usually appropriate for the land they were in such as Baloo in Adventureland - not seen him for years!!
The main thing I miss though is the Main Street Electrical Parade which was fab.
I'd heard that there were problems paying contractors while DLP was being built, and also paying cast members for a while after it opened, but have never heard anything negative about treatment of guests etc.
We still have some of the character shaped plastic cutlery! Our first visit was in 1997, so it was there then.
Wish the memorabilia site would reopen, we have so much stuff to upload.
There was a better 'buzz' about the place in the earlier years.
Far more characters and entertainment. The first time I went there was a California themed event and I remember loads of dancers and music and an amazing atmosphere.
I still love DLP now, its just a bit different somehow.
Quote from: 15stitch on April 18, 2016, 12:24:50 PM
There was a better 'buzz' about the place in the earlier years.
Far more characters and entertainment. The first time I went there was a California themed event and I remember loads of dancers and music and an amazing atmosphere.
I still love DLP now, its just a bit different somehow.
Do you think it was because it was more "American" then, but has now been subdued to match European tastes?
Or is it just financial cuts?
I remember lots more characters around. Kids meals came in cute boxes with mickey cutlery.Everything was a lot brighter looking. There were passenger boats and pedaloes on Lake Disney. Actual tea and coffee making facilities in the bedrooms. The gorgeous electrical parade. The main parade seemed to run a few times a day. You could get a shuttle bus to Davy Crockett Ranch. Mickey shaped balloons in all colours. Barber shop quartets and brass bands regularly played and entertained guests. Disney village had a nightclub called hurricanes.
There is quite a lot that's changed. But a lot has changed for the better too. We have lots of new attractions now and the Studios park. I agree that the language barrier is easier now too.
Quote from: A&S&O on April 18, 2016, 12:35:26 PM
Quote from: 15stitch on April 18, 2016, 12:24:50 PM
There was a better 'buzz' about the place in the earlier years.
Far more characters and entertainment. The first time I went there was a California themed event and I remember loads of dancers and music and an amazing atmosphere.
I still love DLP now, its just a bit different somehow.
Do you think it was because it was more "American" then, but has now been subdued to match European tastes?
Or is it just financial cuts?
It's difficult to say but I would suspect its ultimately due to financial cuts.
Thanks everyone for the replies!
Sadly this loss of magic doesnt originate in Paris, but rather in the USA. I have such fond memories of WDW in the 90s and early 2000s. I visited last time in 2012 and I was so disappointed. Merchandise has been reduced to the same pretty much everywhere (Jack Skellington at Pirates, same mugs everywhere...) and the change of cutlery and napkins not even to a generic WDW motif, but a generic DISNEY PARKS MOTIF.
I disagree with what the majority are saying here we went in Christmas in 1996 or 1997 for the first time (it was during the 5 year celebration).
I was 15/16 my two cousins were young kids like 6 and 8 and the trip was the worst we ever had.
I remember the food being terrible like I didn't want to eat it.
The service in general wasn't good and I noticed that as a teenager!!
I saw characters get pissy at people, snatch autograph books and refuse to sign stuff but we personally didn't have those problems.
We had to wait for hours and hours for our photo with Mickey.
We had one guy in a ghostly type costume outside haunted manor chase my youngest cousin away from the ride and keep pestering her even though she was crying and shaking. I had to threaten him slap to get him to go away. We weren't even that close to the ride.
I also had a few negative experiences with cast members braking character to hit on me but most of them backed off when I scowled and got annoyed with them.
I have really bad memories of Gideon and Pluto however they really couldn't take a hint and were both very handsy.
At the time I didn't tell anyone I brushed it off it wasn't the first time people in costumes had been weird with me. Pudsey bear had been way more inappropriate and lets not even go there with the blackpool beaver. I just put it down to boys being a bit over keen.
But this was Disney it was supposed to be different and I left feeling bitterly disappointed. The food was terrible it and the whole park lacked that magic feeling,
Admittedly I think I was particularly unlucky on my trip. I didn't return to the park for 10 years that's how bad an experience it was for me.
I love Disney and I love theme parks but my hubby had to talk me into going back when our kids were small (we couldn't afford florida) and I'm so glad he did.
We had the most amazing holiday everything was well done and on point. We have been back loads since we have had annual passes a few times and never had a bad trip since.
Does anyone remember being met off of the eurostar by characters? I'm so sure this happened! It was the most magical arrival ever :D
I went on the opening day and the following year too. I was about 9 at the time so memories are foggy. I still have some of the cutlery and napkins as I did a scrapbook.
The characters just wandered about, Captain Hook sneaked up on me at skull rock and was chasing Peter pan.
I remember the brass band too. And there was a show which had loads of characters singing and dancing (think it was called 'feel the magic'.
That show was amazing! It was at the Fantasyland Stage which had a load of benches in front of it (now mickeys house) and you could also view from tables at Toad Hall. They themed the show around the parks and rides and characters. Some of the bits I remember (possibly only because we caught some of if on home video):
The phantom from the manor appearing between mirrors with dry ice making the stage look eerie.
Toon town dancing with Scrooge mcduck, Launchpad and Bonkers.
Mickey and Minnie in Italian carnival dress up, dancing and then riding a gondola with a song/overture saying Amour, Love.
Chip and Dale in spacesuits and hooked up to wires which made them fly - they sang a faster funky mix up of its a small world and you can fly.
Dancers in blue costumes did a section with the characters and it included songs like I've got no strings with pinocchio.
The finale had everyone on stage - all the characters and dancers. They launched tons of confetti over everything and there was a special song where they sang the lyrics "Euro disneyland" and something like "where dreams come true". Though i do not remember the lyrics exactly the tune is still in my head and I remember really connecting with this and thinking that this really is a magical amazing place.
Thanks for reminding me of this. Been lovely to think back.
Quote from: disneymagic006 on June 18, 2016, 06:33:05 AM
That show was amazing! It was at the Fantasyland Stage which had a load of benches in front of it (now mickeys house) and you could also view from tables at Toad Hall. They themed the show around the parks and rides and characters. Some of the bits I remember (possibly only because we caught some of if on home video):
The phantom from the manor appearing between mirrors with dry ice making the stage look eerie.
Toon town dancing with Scrooge mcduck, Launchpad and Bonkers.
Mickey and Minnie in Italian carnival dress up, dancing and then riding a gondola with a song/overture saying Amour, Love.
Chip and Dale in spacesuits and hooked up to wires which made them fly - they sang a faster funky mix up of its a small world and you can fly.
Dancers in blue costumes did a section with the characters and it included songs like I've got no strings with pinocchio.
The finale had everyone on stage - all the characters and dancers. They launched tons of confetti over everything and there was a special song where they sang the lyrics "Euro disneyland" and something like "where dreams come true". Though i do not remember the lyrics exactly the tune is still in my head and I remember really connecting with this and thinking that this really is a magical amazing place.
Thanks for reminding me of this. Been lovely to think back.
That show was called en scene si,l vous plait,great show.
You can see the whole show if you just type in the shows name
The first time we went was in 2010, so not that long ago, and we had a Mickey burger in the Studios - the bun and patty shaped like a Mickey head - and I just thought it was the coolest thing ever, I was at Disneyland woot! ;D Then we went back in 2011 and the Mickey burgers were gone, just plain burgers. We were so bummed. It's silly and trivial, it's only a hamburger, but it added to the overall experience. You know? Sometimes the magic is in the details. It's a shame they have to sacrifice some of it for budget cuts.
something from our first visit (1996-ish, I have bad memory) that we miss somewhat was the good morning main street parade...nit that we would be able to get up early enough to see it nowadays, but it was somewhat cute to see all the people pass by and greet the visitors