Groteslurf Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 Since the opening of DLP back in 1992, I've been almost every year at least once at DLP. Over the years we have stayed in all 6 Disney hotels they have in Paris. The last 5 times we slept in the Disneyland Hotel. Last year we didn't go to Disney so we had some extra bucks to spend this year and decided to book a room in the Castle Club, the exclusive part of the Disneyland Hotel. The Castle Club rooms are on the 3rd and 4th floor right above the park entrance. Here some brief info from wikipedia. The Disneyland Hotel is a hotel at Disneyland Resort Paris, by which it is marketed as its most prestigious and priced accordingly. With its clapboard and trim styled in a palette of creams and pinks, octagonal and Mansard roofs with dormers, a Mickey Mouse clock tower, wraparound porches and goldleaf finishes, it is designed to loosely recreate opulent Victorian hotels which emerged in the United States around the end of the 19th century, mainly its Queen Anne and Second Empire varieties. The hotel is located over the entrance of the Disneyland Park and thus provides many rooms and public areas with a view of the park. Its ground floor contains the park's 42 ticket booths and turnstiles as well as private lifts which provide entry to guests of the Castle Club; the wing of the hotel that houses its most expensive rooms and suites. I have some 300 pics to post so I will post them in several parts. (Next parts will be uploaded during the weekend as I'm going to Toverland tomorrow). Apart from the pics I shot in the hotel, I paid much attention to the theming in the parks this year, so I have a lot of theming pictures this time. Well on to the pics. Hope you enjoy reading and I'm curious to see your reactions. End of part 1. The lobby is great. Every day at 4 pm there is a short Disney celabration in the hotel lobby. Something new this year was the 'Princess for a day' shop. For 60 upto 160 euro, your kids ('girls' sounded a bit weird for some reason) was transformed into a princess. Disneyland Hotel shopping windows. it's teatime. In the Castle Lounge we could get free soda's the whole day. At 4 pm however it was time for tea, snacks and cakes. Almost 4 pm so .... Our hotel. Big Momie's house. ... somebody call the plumber. My house is flooded. Oh shit .... McDonaldski Disney village theming. Random theming My oldest daughter and I on the front row. Note the sweater I'm wearing Without a flash, the pictures are maybe not that sharp, but they better reflect the atmosphere. Tower time. Photo point. Castle drake. This must sell well I guess. I saw such guys at 3 different shops in the resort, while there used be only one. Castle theming. The castle is beautiful. Frontierland theming. More BTM theming. Baby BTM We love to wander around in the shops. Adventureland Peter Pan theming. Good castle. People mover. Overview over Fantasyland. It's a small world also doesn't have a fastpass lane but at least it has a super capacity. Unfortunately Autopia doesn't have a fastpass lane and as we didn't want to queue for an hour, this is the most my daughters got from Autopia. First attraction of the day : Buzz Lightyear. When you stay in the Castle Club, you get a vip fastpass which we could use as much as we wanted to. One for Hanno. Random theming. So Dlp opened in 1992 but they are still celebrating 15 years. 2 years ago my youngest daugther was still afraid of the characters. We were glad she enjoyed it this time. A lot of Disney characters in the hotel. Random painting on the wall. Centre part of the hotel with on our floor the Castle Lounge and on ground floor on the pic (actually being the 2nd floor) the Inventions and Californian Grill restaurants, serving breakfast to the other Disneyland Hotel guests. After mentioning my name, the valetparking guy took our suitcases out of the car and guided us to the seperate CastleClub reception. As it was still breakfast time, they asked us whether we wanted to eat and drink something before going into the parks, something we gladly accepted and 10 minutes after our arrival, we were already sitting in the Castle Lounge having a great breakfast with the above view. After a 3.5 hour drive, we arrived at the Disneyland Hotel parking at about 9 am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansrubens Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 I just love all those details in Disneyland. Great TR and thanks to showing us not only the rides. How did you rate Crush coaster and the tower? ---Hans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beeja Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 Great TR so far, can't wait to see the rest! So Castle Club is worth the money? I'm considering to book a room there next time so I'd like to know if it's well spent money! Btw, I just love your oldest daughter in the Autopia car, she's all "Yeah, I'm a bad a$$ driver!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groteslurf Posted August 22, 2008 Author Share Posted August 22, 2008 ^^ ToT is better then I expected. I don't understand they didn't put in the Orlando 5th (or is it 6th ? I don't remember) dimension part. Crush Coaster is ok, very well themed but not worth the 60 minutes we had to wait before riding it. ^ It's worth it ! You have to see it this way : a standard room in the Disneyland Hotel is already quite expensive. Compared to those rates, the CC rooms are in fact only a 'bit' more expensive. The problem is, once you have stayed in a CC room, you'll probably don't want to book in any other hotel than the CC. Thanks for the compliments. Tomorrow I'll be uploading the next part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Thriller Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 I love Disneyland Paris. I was there in 98' and again in 07' and can truly see a huge improvment. What does that hotel offer? We are planning a trip there sometime next year and I really want to know what you get for your money. I already know that you can stay later in the park. (I remember that from Hotel Santa Fe). But do you get hotel meals free, what are in the rooms...etc.. I can't wait for the next part. --James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 I've always wanted to stay in the concierge level of the Disneyland Paris hotel just for the unlimited Fast Pass. I really hope they do that at WDW some day! As for the 'once you go up, you'll never go back' thing. Well, it's hard but possible. We stayed in an amazing Garden Villa Suite at the Boardwalk for our Wedding and haven't stayed in one since. It's been hard going down to the Moderates, but it's doable. Afterall, you're still on vacation at Disney! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 Thanks for showing so much of the inside of the DisneyParis Hotel. I enjoy seeing what Disney does even to it's accomodations, some of which a few of us would/will never get to see, lol. Love a lot of the random shots too. Enjoyed 'seeing' your stay there. "Baby BTM." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groteslurf Posted August 23, 2008 Author Share Posted August 23, 2008 What does that hotel offer? We are planning a trip there sometime next year and I really want to know what you get for your money. I already know that you can stay later in the park. (I remember that from Hotel Santa Fe). But do you get hotel meals free, what are in the rooms...etc.. --James This year hotel guests (of all Disney hotels that is) could enter the park as from 8 am while the park officially only opened at 10 am. Only most attractions in Fantasyland are open and seeing the amount of people going into the park before 10 am, Fantasyland must have been really packed. As we stayed till 11 pm in the park each day, we didn't bother getting up early so we only entered the park after 10 am. The rooms in all hotels are standard rooms which you can find in most hotels. Santa Fe & Cheyenne have the smallest rooms without airco nor swimming pool. Sequoia Lodge and New Port Bay are moderate hotels but still at 15 minutes walking to the entrance of the parks. If you're lazy free shuttle busses are available. Hotel New York is right next to Disney Village and at 10 minutes walking from the entrances. It's a nice hotel but of all Disney hotels this is my least favorite. The theme isn't just my cup of tea I guess. The Disneyland Hotel is the hotel right above the entrance we stayed in. Especially with smaller children this is the hotel you have to book. When going from the one park to the other, you can always make a quick stop at the room. edit : breakfast is always included if you don't book 'room only'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groteslurf Posted August 23, 2008 Author Share Posted August 23, 2008 Part 2. Time to go to sleep and end of part 2. More to come (probably) tomorrow This year's fireworks was MUCH better than the one we saw 2 years ago. Time for the fireworks. I love Fantillusion Darkastle. Time to go to see Fantillusion and the fireworks. No +30 minutes queueing in the park for a meet and greet with the characters for us. And several characters are passing by your table. The buffet is just great. Time for dinner. We always eat at the Inventions restaurant in the Disneyland Hotel. More random theming. Each parade truck spreaded a different smell. Luckily it were all nice scents. 'Calling Ninjas for help : I see at least 3 potential serial killers on this pic and they are very close to my daughters.' Where is that bloody parade ? I almost don't see you. As we had VIP passes, I arranged for some Ninja bodyguards to take care of security during the parade. Getting ready for the parade. And back into the park See ? My daughters found it funny to be in these pictures. Goofy will be finished growing in a few years. Let's quickly check where the valet guy parked my car. I hope they are not going to rent my car to somebody else. And now you're not. Now you are in the park ... At the ticket booths, we had to take the private elevator to the Castle Club floors. Home. Some more random theming. We knew so in a few minutes we were again at the entrance of Disneyland. Did you know you can walk from the front plaza at the entrance, through the left arcade and through corridors like this, via Frontierland and Adventureland directly to Fantasyland ? I see that girl thinking 'who the hell is that guy taking a picture of me'. Glad those are back. Phantom Manor BTM again. Indiana Jones theming Adventureland Dumbo. Lovely attraction but I don't understand people waiting with their kids for more than 1 hour to have a ride on it. Tea cups Random theming SBNO. I only remember that mill ferris wheel in operation one visit long time ago. 'Keep you hands off my ass, little boy !' 'Hey you, big nose' (cfr. Life of Brian) Way to go Don (or Dan) ! One of the -py's. Star Tours Space Mountain : Mission 2. Boy that ride has become really bad. Orbitron Autopia Discoveryland theming Hooray for vip fast passes. One of the 2 arcades which are great in case of rainy weather. Hat shop. I remember that this shop really only sold hats back in the first years after opening. Now they sell all the standard Disney stuff. Dental school. I love the sounds coming out of this building. Disney's city hall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansrubens Posted August 23, 2008 Share Posted August 23, 2008 Did you know you can walk from the front plaza at the entrance, through the left arcade and through corridors like this, via Frontierland and Adventureland directly to Fantasyland ? So now you told everybody about that shortcut. I use it also all the times and I always seem to be the only one. Great pictures thanks for sharing. ---Hans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groteslurf Posted August 24, 2008 Author Share Posted August 24, 2008 3rd part. One more part to follow. Mini theming Parade time again. This is in fact the less crowded spot in the park to watch the parade. It's between the castle and the Italian restaurant. That's safer. In Belgium they put you in jail for making this sign. Time for the nazi parade. Time for the daily character celebration at the hotellobby Alright, Jack Sparrow ! Sexy trackswitch Disney is handing out too many fast passes. Making a tour Our vip fast passes. But first a stopover at the Castle Lounge for a free soda. Back to the main park. Et voila ! Us on the backrow Who ? Amazingly themed coaster. More ToT theming This went up to 120 minutes during the day. My youngest daughter and I The flying carpets. Today we started our day at the Studios. Hotel bar Our balcony Now you do. Some small Disney magic. Now you don't see it. Breakfast with the characters in the hotel. Ticket control. In the morning I went outside for a sigarette and Disney hotel guests were already entering the park for the morning ERT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groteslurf Posted August 25, 2008 Author Share Posted August 25, 2008 Final part. Time to go home as my daughter was already growing Mickey hands. Thanks for watching and reading. Time for another 'Castle Hug-n-song party' The ninjas also have their statue in the hotel lobby. Time for tea at the hotel. We got another ride on Buzz. I thought we were in France This it the spot where the fireworks start. I even like the public toilets in the hotel. So this is where they buy those awards. My youngest one like it though. HSM : I don't really like it. Control room. Fast pass machines for Rock'n'rollercoaster. On to the studios. Window shopping. In no time we were at the loading platform however. Let's use our fast passes again for BTM. I have no picture of that but in the morning the waiting line to get a fast pass was at least 15 minutes. Time to buy some presents. Note the price of that piece. Busy day again. Some more meet & greets. The last morning the weather was fine again. Leave me alone. I'm hungry. Our usual spot to have dinner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dino Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Great TR. I liked the pics from the park, but my favorites were the ones of the hotel. Castle Club seems like a beautiful place to stay. It looks like they really do alot for their guests. I gotta say though, this is my favorite pic... Looks like the scene straight out of TOT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuschSchoe Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Love the photos! I've always wanted to go to Disneyland Paris, seems like the best international Disney resort to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COOOOLkid Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Love the photos!I've always wanted to go to Disneyland Paris, seems like the best international Disney resort to me. Then you haven't been to TDR! But I'm loving the pictures!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSintra Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 Hi! Does anyone know were i can find information and statistics about theme parks in Europe? kind of number of visitors... the area of the park, number of attractions of each park...etc thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groteslurf Posted October 27, 2008 Author Share Posted October 27, 2008 Hi, you didn't really put your question in the correct thread but since you bumped my DLP TR by putting your question in this thread, I'll try to answer Worldwide attendance figures 2007 : take a look at this thread. For information about the parks, I recommend to take a look at the park index on the TPR front page. For detailed information about the coasters, you should check www.rcdb.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts