Originally Posted By TDLFAN I had the pleasure of visiting DLP on december 16th and enjoyed some of the festivities for the holidays at DLP. First up, it was a most difficult day to navigate the parks, for the simple reasons that it was extremely busy at the resort and also a very rainy day.. one of those days when the rain simple does not stop and comes down steadily. Therefore, it was difficult to see and do everything. I had to make some sacrificies...like skipping the "Mickey's Winter Wonderland" show in Frontierland. Also, the restaurants and gift shops were packed to the gills with guests trying to escape the rainy weather. It could have been snow if it wasn't because the temperature was around the low 40s instead. Kinda of warm for what I am used to in Paris this time of the year. Still... HUGE KUDOS to DLP for pulling what no other park would attempt: they performed the Xmas parade and Lighting ceremony in their entirety IN THE RAIN! Other parks would have cancelled the entertainment (like they so often do at TDR during inclement weather). There were no disappointed guests i am telling you. Inspite of the rain, I had a most enjoyable time. The Xmas parade (Parade de Noel) is enchanting, with one of the most enjoyable parade songs ever, a cast that looked regal in their xmas outfits, and a beautiful (faux) snowfall over Main Street as the show progressed. Later, the magnificent Castle Lighting ceremony capped the night with the most magical sight: Tinkerbell sprinkling the castle with pixie dust for the holidays.. It's one of the most beautiful xmas lighting ceremonies of any of the Disney Parks and I highly recommend it if you visit during xmastime. The chandeliere display along Main Street is equally gorgeous and electrifies the area at Night. KUDOS again. However... there were some little things I could not help but noticing.. mildew on the castle for one.. NOT a good show in the daytime. While most areas of the park seem somewhat improved in look..such as the stunning job they did on the DLP Hotel and BTMRR refurbishings.. others still yet require a bit more tender loving care. To name just one...I wonder why the lights on the DLP Hotel were off at the time I left the park...Hmm... Also... something of a recurrent problem when this park is full: not good follow up on cleanliness, especially at restaurants and restrooms (les toilets pour vouz les francais), messy store displays and the worst offending problem at DLP for a foreigner who has severe allergies like myself: Constant attck of cigarette smoke from guests. What is it from the european communities who can't live without that stick of death hanging from their mouths, puffing away killer 2nd hand smoke in virtually every area of DLP??? This happens in queues, walking around the parks, in restrooms, and even in restaurants!!! Hate it hate it! They need a tough anti-smoking policy in this park and more restrictions by law all over the european community. Sorry, but that is how I feel, especially since every time I visit DLP, I get back to the hotel with horrible migranes due to the constant assault I endure from smokers around me. As for Disney Village, I barely went into that area of the resort, and briefly went into the Walt Disney Studios park to check out progress of some of their new offerings coming in 2007. See it all on this photo album, but beware, due to the cloudy and rainy conditions, these photos turned out darker than I had hoped. Still, I hope you enjoy! <a href="http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/Albu...5571&f=0&vt=mp" target="_blank">http://albums.photo.epson.com/ j/Albu...5571&f=0&vt=mp</a>
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Corrected link: <a href="http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4334673&a=32405571&f=0&vt=mp" target="_blank">http://albums.photo.epson.com/ j/AlbumIndex?u=4334673&a=32405571&f=0&vt=mp</a>
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I have added 21 more nightime shots from Main Street USA to the album. Check link above.
Originally Posted By ChampDisney Great photos. Not so happy about the mildew but castles always seem to be re-painted once in a while, once Disneyland Paris spots the mildew then they should get right to work. Toon Studios looks great can't wait until its complete & Tower of Terror. Well I know its going to look like the other orginals not like Tokyo DisneySea's because that is a beautiful building with a great storyline so I'm not too amazed because this Tower of Terror would be like the rest of them. Great photos.
Originally Posted By irishfan Great pictures, thanks for posting! I would hope the castle will get some much needed TLC for the 15th, it should never have got this bad in the first place. I really do love how DLP celebrate the christmas season, very classy, especially compared the( IMHO) awful Halloween celebration.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Yes, the Halloween season brings about a badly done Halloween makeover for this park. But the euros love it. I think. As far as I know, the castle will go down for major rehab and preparation for the 15th anniversary overlay. If I amnot mistaken... this castle has not gotten a new coat of paint since 1998. Not sure I am correct on that but I believe I read that on another site.
Originally Posted By irishfan Yes 1998 was the last time, once the 5th anniversary Festival of Fools overlay was removed.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I would count on the castle getting much needed work very soon. It was literally rotting away in places earlier this year when I was there. But it will get fixed because the 15th is coming and, rest assured, Karl Holz will take credit for it. He must really be trying hard to save his behind because he had a story planted in a major UK publication 4-5 days ago where he tried so hard to convince folks that he's been a Disney guy since he saw Bambi as a kid on a base in Germany. The PR team must have worked overtime creating that drivel.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I love the DLP Christmas Ceremonies - they totally blow the MK out of the water. Thanks for sharing TDLFAN. As for the smoking, my worst experience was when there were a bunch of girls smoking IN the IASW showbuilding while on the boat. After telling them off in English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, and Portugeuse they still looked blankly at me, and the cast members did nothing. That's where DLP really falls down.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN ^^Majorly. >>I love the DLP Christmas Ceremonies - they totally blow the MK out of the water.<< There is no Xmas ceremonies at the MK..just FYI...
Originally Posted By TDLFAN You know... I was just at the MK today with my parents and G-Fan, and the MK was pretty packed (waited 1 hr 15 mins to ride POTC). My parents like the Bear Jamboree... and also had a huge line. Haunted Mansion was like 45 mins wait, and IASW had a similarly long line. G-Fan and I kept telling each other.. how sad that TDL is offering the holiday versions of Bear Jamboree, IASW and Nightmare Mansion... and her are these atttractions packed to the gills and in not so great shape (yes! even the newly refurbished Small World is already showing signs of lacking maintenance.) We waited 45 mins to watch the parade and my mom's comments afterwards.. "It's the same old parade from 3 yrs ago!" I corrected her. "20 yrs ago my dear!"
