My first oversees trip, and I spent 6 days in Paris (2 at Disneyland Paris). Initially I had planned to spend 2 days at the parks, then after some preliminary planning I decided there was too much I wanted to see in Paris so I narrowed it down to one, but then after a day which included a strike at the Musée d'Orsay and getting on the wrong RER C train to Versailles, I ended up doing a second day after all.
Overall, I felt that it was missing "something" (and I hate to use the term "Disney Magic"). Neither park felt very "Disney" to me. As I think on it, I think the minimal amount of guests who were wearing Disney paraphernalia, the lack of Disney music piped into the parks (what was piped in was pretty soft), and the lack of the obscene branding on display you see in the domestic parks may have been why. The Studios park has little-to-know themeing, so it's no mystery why that park felt un-Disney like. But here are some random thoughts:
1. It was a pretty easy commute on the RER A line, about 45 minutes (and 1 hour from the origin point). It's interesting how the foreign Disney parks are easily accessible by public transportation whereas the domestic parks are not.
2. I don't like the park entrance under the hotel. I just don't think it works aesthetically as a park entrance, and at the end of the night it gets congested with everyone have to walk around that pond in front of the hotel.
3. I loved some of the architectural differences on Main Street, and thought the naming of a restaurant for Walt and a shop after Lilly was a nice touch.
4. I like how it is spread-out enough for them to have some wonderful landscaping; but at the same time the spacial differences made the park seem a bit, "off", which brings me back to the un-Disneylike aspect I mention above.
5. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that the Fantasyland dark rides are based off the Disneyland versions (Peter Pan, Snow White); Small World was closed, as was the train.
6. I like the different order of the show scenes in Pirates, it was a refreshing change (with the scenes more closely resembling Disneyland's version).
7. I didn't see the big deal about Phantom Manor. It was a more "tame version of the Haunted Mansion with an actual back story, but it felt HM-light. However I like how the mansion actually looks run down and haunted from the exterior, and the graveyard scenes are absolutely worth the experience.
8. Space Mountain to me wasn't too different than RNR as far as ride experience, and the launch is pretty weak (slowing at the top). I did like the ride's themeing though and physical sets.
9. The Nautilus was a nice little diversion, as was the Dragon under the castle, and I like the caves in Adventureland.
10. I went on a Sunday because that Monday the Indiana Jones ride was going to be closed for the rest of the week. So I had to endure large crowds (which were non-existent when I revisited a few days later). The only thing that ties this ride to Indiana Jones is the name. It could've been a ride in any other park (Six Flags, Universal, Cedar Fair). And while it was fun, I know now that I could have done without it.
11. The fairytale boat cruise and Casey Junior are inspired by Disneyland, but also felt un-Disney-like. I liked that the boats didn't feel like they could tip over at any moment (unlike at DLR) but they play classical music throughout, and it definitely wasn't completely Disney. Casey Junior felt very much like a corporate cash-infused version of a quaint ride, so it felt very "clinical".
12. The Studios was really awful. And while I did enjoy a few rides there, I felt even Six Flags would have done a better job themeing the place. It was embarrassingly bad.
Overall, I felt that it was missing "something" (and I hate to use the term "Disney Magic"). Neither park felt very "Disney" to me. As I think on it, I think the minimal amount of guests who were wearing Disney paraphernalia, the lack of Disney music piped into the parks (what was piped in was pretty soft), and the lack of the obscene branding on display you see in the domestic parks may have been why. The Studios park has little-to-know themeing, so it's no mystery why that park felt un-Disney like. But here are some random thoughts:
1. It was a pretty easy commute on the RER A line, about 45 minutes (and 1 hour from the origin point). It's interesting how the foreign Disney parks are easily accessible by public transportation whereas the domestic parks are not.
2. I don't like the park entrance under the hotel. I just don't think it works aesthetically as a park entrance, and at the end of the night it gets congested with everyone have to walk around that pond in front of the hotel.
3. I loved some of the architectural differences on Main Street, and thought the naming of a restaurant for Walt and a shop after Lilly was a nice touch.
4. I like how it is spread-out enough for them to have some wonderful landscaping; but at the same time the spacial differences made the park seem a bit, "off", which brings me back to the un-Disneylike aspect I mention above.
5. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that the Fantasyland dark rides are based off the Disneyland versions (Peter Pan, Snow White); Small World was closed, as was the train.
6. I like the different order of the show scenes in Pirates, it was a refreshing change (with the scenes more closely resembling Disneyland's version).
7. I didn't see the big deal about Phantom Manor. It was a more "tame version of the Haunted Mansion with an actual back story, but it felt HM-light. However I like how the mansion actually looks run down and haunted from the exterior, and the graveyard scenes are absolutely worth the experience.
8. Space Mountain to me wasn't too different than RNR as far as ride experience, and the launch is pretty weak (slowing at the top). I did like the ride's themeing though and physical sets.
9. The Nautilus was a nice little diversion, as was the Dragon under the castle, and I like the caves in Adventureland.
10. I went on a Sunday because that Monday the Indiana Jones ride was going to be closed for the rest of the week. So I had to endure large crowds (which were non-existent when I revisited a few days later). The only thing that ties this ride to Indiana Jones is the name. It could've been a ride in any other park (Six Flags, Universal, Cedar Fair). And while it was fun, I know now that I could have done without it.
11. The fairytale boat cruise and Casey Junior are inspired by Disneyland, but also felt un-Disney-like. I liked that the boats didn't feel like they could tip over at any moment (unlike at DLR) but they play classical music throughout, and it definitely wasn't completely Disney. Casey Junior felt very much like a corporate cash-infused version of a quaint ride, so it felt very "clinical".
12. The Studios was really awful. And while I did enjoy a few rides there, I felt even Six Flags would have done a better job themeing the place. It was embarrassingly bad.
