Originally Posted By Bolna Since both of the American parks have queue threads at the moment, I thought Disneyland Paris should not be left out. And by Disneyland Paris I mean the whole resort consisting of Walt Disney Studios and Disneyland Park. My overall favourite unfortunately no longer exists. It's the original Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune queue. I liked the fact that you got a glimpse of the ride from the queue, but it also set the mood for your journey from the earth to the moon with wonderful music, a rather unnerving safety video (at least for me in 1995 when I was going to go on my first ever coaster which would go upside down) and outside again into the festively decorated entrance hall where you would enter the rocket which was going to be sent off to the moon with the huge Columbiad canon. It really prepared you for taking part in that great adventure! The queue is still there, but it feels like they killed off the atmosphere of the queue (as well as of the ride itself) with Space Mountain: Mission 2. I found a pretty good video of the queue (and the ride): <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzkJ4oXPP0s&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...youtu.be</a> And a totally different queue which I like is the one for Le Pays des Contes de Fées - the storybook canal boats. Nothing special happening there, but if you can walk through it and don't have to wait, it feels like walking through a maze on winding paths to get to your destination.
Originally Posted By u k fan It's probably POTC and BTM for me - both are very atmospheric and set the mood for the attraction. In WDSP, I quite like the queue for Cars - it's pretty basic, but has some fun Radiator Springs touches. TOT is good as is PM, but too much is outdoors for me and with TOT in particular I think it's hard to set the mood when you can see so much going on elsewhere!!!
Originally Posted By irishfan For me definitely Pirates, but I also love Phantom Manor just for the views.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Oh, this one is hard, especially as I think DLP has some of the nicest queues of all the parks (save DAK, I think Animal Kingdom has consistently the best). My gut reaction is to say Pirates of the Caribbean. The set up of Skull Rock and the Pirateship with the Spanish Fort across the water, entering amongst the volcanic rock found in the real Caribbean under the sail canvas, then into the fort with the Canons, torture chamber, peeks into the attraction then through the turret and into the large open room with the huge ships' prow and palm trees. This I think could be Disney's finest queue, easily plussing WDW's and Indiana Jones in DL. I love it, and all the great music too. Star Tours rivals it as you advance past the droids, with everyone speaking different languages, it feels even more like a Space port than the American parks where most people are speaking english. the international vibe of DLP helps add to the feeling. The other one I adore is Phantom Manor. The smell of ribs, rivers, and trees. As you enter past the butler or maid. They have the best costumes, one of the real outstanding features of DLP - although I complain about the cold, I think it is because of that the costumes for PM, Big Thunder, PotC etc. feel so much better quality than the US parks. It is too hot in Florida or California to wear wool cloaks or in the case of PotC, gaberdine dresses with corsettes. But I digress. As we enter the queue you have that eary wind sound of the Grim Grinning Ghosts instrumental and the abandoned gazebo tea party. Past the decrepit fountain and the "dying" trees onto the Mansion patio. All the while with the overlook of the river and her water craft, the main visual feature of Big Thunder splashing into the river, and the sound of the Mark Twain/Molly Brown and train whistles (shame the geyser eruptions are not there anymore). And then in. Pure magic, and my feel good place when at DLP. I agree with you Bolna about the old Space Mountain. That queue, like the attraction, was much better before. I feel like it was really pilliged and plundered when mission 2 launched. Although I like the light spiral and the supernova, overall I feel we lost much more than we gained. It is so sad. I also really like the queue for Indiana Jones at night (especially when the fire cauldrons are working). In the day time it is ok, but at night, when the lighting is on, it looks like the scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark before they open the Ark. It really is understated and under valued I think. The whole encampment with the tents, jeeps and the 1930's lights!!! Very cool. I also like Snow White's queue, with the queen's dungeon, that is very cool. And Bolna, I agree, if the queues are short, both the attractions of Storybookland are nice, with Beast's castle in the distance, the canal boats and Casey Jr. moving past. Shame the area is not open all year. Honourable mention to Buzz, once you get inside that is (same with Crush Coaster, but only the inside part). I love Tower of Terror's queue, since we use Fastpass only for it, It is really fab. I also like Rock n Roller Coaster's queue. Not as much as the queue in Florida, but still cool (though I love the music at RNRC). And I agree with Kiz, the queue for Cars is very cute, rivalling ToT in the Studios. And although I hate Toy story Playland, the one thing I think they did really well on is theming the queues (shame most of the theming has been removed or worn off in less than 2 years since opening). So, after listing the nominees, who is the over all winner????? It is so hard. Hmmmm. and the winner for me is..... .......Pirates of the Caribbean.
Originally Posted By EmmaJayne Pirates definitely- I was overwhelmed by it.. Nit that it takes much to make me teary at s Disney park! Also loved inside Crush with the seagulls and such- after 3 months away from home and no return ticket back it made me homesick but happy ..
Originally Posted By Bolna <<It's probably POTC and BTM for me - both are very atmospheric and set the mood for the attraction. >> POTC is great, but I never understood the appeal of the BTM queue, isn't ist just rustic switchbacks? <<In WDSP, I quite like the queue for Cars - it's pretty basic, but has some fun Radiator Springs touches. >> Oh yes!! I meant to include that in my original post and forgot. I love all the Radiator Springs touches like the map and the Piston Cup. And surprisingly the ride is a lot of fun, too. <<TOT is good as is PM, but too much is outdoors for me and with TOT in particular I think it's hard to set the mood when you can see so much going on elsewhere!!!> I don't mind being outdoors, but the TOT outdoor queue is just boring, especially compared to the one at WDW. However, I think the boiler room in Paris has more decorations.
Originally Posted By Bolna <<For me definitely Pirates, but I also love Phantom Manor just for the views.>> The views from Phantom Manor are great, but I also love the approach. When I was there in March all the trees had pink blossoms and it was a wonderful contrast to the old house.
Originally Posted By Bolna <<Oh, this one is hard, especially as I think DLP has some of the nicest queues of all the parks (save DAK, I think Animal Kingdom has consistently the best).>> Wow, Dave, your post is kind of the ultimate guide to DLP queues! ;-) I think the good thing about queues at DLP is that they have the right balance. At DAK it sometimes feels like there was too much emphasis put on the elaborate queue and then ride does not really deliver - like Kali River Rapids. Or even Everest now that the Yeti doesn't work anymore. That also seems to be the new trend with the interactive queues. So, I think DLP has the best overall queue package: enhancing the experience without overshadowing it. <<My gut reaction is to say Pirates of the Caribbean. >> I like the point you make about Pirates: the queue does not start at the entrance, but everything before already leads up to it. Pirates was closed in March (I was very sad!), so I haven't been there since 2007 and my memories are not so good. So thanks for the wonderful walk-through in your post! <<Star Tours rivals it as you advance past the droids, with everyone speaking different languages, it feels even more like a Space port than the American parks where most people are speaking english. the international vibe of DLP helps add to the feeling.>> I had thought about Star Tours for my post as well, I really like the little droid speaking French. Never thought about that international vibe, but your are right, there it really adds reality. <<They have the best costumes, one of the real outstanding features of DLP - although I complain about the cold, I think it is because of that the costumes for PM, Big Thunder, PotC etc. feel so much better quality than the US parks. It is too hot in Florida or California to wear wool cloaks or in the case of PotC, gaberdine dresses with corsettes. >> Agreed on the costumes. But if you ever return to WDW, try to go in January. I had some pretty cold mornings on each trip and then you see the HM Butlers in coats as well. <<I also really like the queue for Indiana Jones at night (especially when the fire cauldrons are working). In the day time it is ok, but at night, when the lighting is on, it looks like the scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark before they open the Ark. It really is understated and under valued I think. The whole encampment with the tents, jeeps and the 1930's lights!!! Very cool.>> Ok, I added Indiana Jones coaster at night to my must do list for the next DLP visit! I have only seen it during the day. I actually think the queue has some really nice elements as well with the large snake heads at the bottom of the stairs and the fact that you can see the train going through the loop through the round window. <<I also like Snow White's queue, with the queen's dungeon, that is very cool.>> Another thing for the must do list - haven't been on that ride since 97... <<I love Tower of Terror's queue, since we use Fastpass only for it, It is really fab.>> Yes, that fits with what I wrote before: outdoor part is a let down. So with FP you go immediately inside. <<And although I hate Toy story Playland, the one thing I think they did really well on is theming the queues (shame most of the theming has been removed or worn off in less than 2 years since opening).>> Didn't go on any of the rides there, they just did not appeal to us at all. So that's another example of how a queue can be good as it wants, it matters what the attraction is like.
Originally Posted By Bolna <<Pirates definitely- I was overwhelmed by it.. Nit that it takes much to make me teary at s Disney park! Also loved inside Crush with the seagulls and such- after 3 months away from home and no return ticket back it made me homesick but happy ..>> All this talk about Pirates makes me even more sad that it was closed in March when I was there. Crush inside is indeed very nice. But I think the best thing about Crush is that it is a line that moves constantly. But then the worst thing about it is that it is always so long! So, does it really look like Australia in there? I never thought about that, I just thought it was just any generic seaside location. But then I have never been to Australia.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Glad to see we are on the same page. If TSPL left tomorrow, I would be very happy.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo The trick to Crush is to take a gamble it won't break down and get in line 5 minutes before the park closes, then it is a 20-25 minute wait rather than 90-120.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 The queues at DLP, like the entire park, were designed with much more thought and budget than earlier MKs. I don't rate them and Dave's thesis above is quite detailed ... but I do feel that PoC and PM are among the best anywhere at setting the mood. But I can't think of a bad one ...
Originally Posted By Bolna <<The queues at DLP, like the entire park, were designed with much more thought and budget than earlier MKs.>> Yes, but they still did keep their focus on the rides and the overall atmosphere, just as it should be. <<But I can't think of a bad one ...>> I can: Peter Pan. Not because there used to be the awful wall of graffiti, but still because of that wall. Even when it is clean it is a very narrow passageway which can cause a rather claustrophobic feeling.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "POTC is great, but I never understood the appeal of the BTM queue, isn't ist just rustic switchbacks?" It is, but surroundings are very immersive and atmospheric. I love how at one point you have a close up view of the trains as they come rushing up out of the tunnel. "Star Tours rivals it as you advance past the droids, with everyone speaking different languages, it feels even more like a Space port than the American parks where most people are speaking english. the international vibe of DLP helps add to the feeling." If anything Star Tours at DLP may have once had the best EXIT of any Disney attraction. I loved the interactive video games hosted by the original sponsor. The spaceport baggage claim look of the place is brilliant.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Agreed, Astroport used to be wonderful, now it is a rubbish video arcade. But at least they fixed Roxn this year (she was 101 for over a year). But for exits, again I think PM wins again, boot hill is masterpiece full of great Adult jokes, the beating heart in the tomb, and great views of the AA cayote on the Arch rock. Also when the geysers used to erupt, it was sublime. Also PotC is great at night, as the fire in the lighthouse erupts!
Originally Posted By u k fan As the good Dr above me said, the BTM queue is pretty much just rustic switchbacks, but it's very immersive and the little touches like the tools, flickering lamps and workers signs really make me feel like I'm stepping back in time. I agree that Peter Pan is the worst queue - even when clean it just feels like when you see milk bottles on a conveyor belt - single file and restrictive!!!
Originally Posted By Bolna Thanks Dr Reinhardt and ukfan for the explanation about BTMR. I think on the DL thread someone talked about all the atmospheric influences at the PoC queue there and I understand you are making the same point for BTM in Paris.
