"Don't anger the dolls"-A France and DLP Trip, June '18-COMPLETED (4/22-ride comparisons)

Part 15 Swiss Family Treehouse

And over to explore La Cabane des Robinson (Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse). I think this one was pretty much the same as WDW and DLR (pre-Tarzan)

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I next checked out Hakuna Matata QS place – again so detailed (but I didn’t like food options so I didn’t bother to schedule a meal there)

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And I headed back out of Adventureland.

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Where I visited the Dragon again!

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I made my way to the Merlin shop upstairs, where I got to watch some people make custom wands. There is a whole wand ceremony, which is pretty cool! You can also buy pre-made ones that are specially designed (like Cinderella or Snow White). I think they have Halloween and Christmas versions during those holidays.

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Part 16 Parade, Round 2

I think at that point I realized it was almost time for the parade. Even though I had already seen it, I wanted to catch it again, because it was Guest Star Tuesday! Before the parade, every Tuesday, DLP has a special character (often rare) do a procession up the parade route. So I was looking forward to seeing who I would get.

I ended up finding a rope spot right by Small World (which is the start of the parade route). I was hoping to sit, but the kids on either side of me decided they had to stand and totally press against the rope (despite CMs asking them to stay back), but that totally blocked my view and they were also starting to push in front of me, so I got stuck standing after all. I did let a little girl take my rope spot though so she could see.

What my front row view turned into…

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So, who was my guest star? Beauty and the Beast… yomp, yomp… Yeah, a bit underwhelming since she’s in the parade normally (just with the Beast in human form). Recently they’ve had characters like Merlin or Talespin & King Louie (in his Talespin outfit), or Mulan dressed as Ping. Oh well!

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Some parade pics (I stood on the opposite side of the street this day)

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I think Chip and Dale were making fun of the next dancers coming up!

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One of the ladies behind me was confused why the dragon didn’t breathe fire until I told her about WDW’s incident and even pulled up a photo on my phone!

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The frozen float was being refurbed, so they had Anna and Elsa ride a carriage.

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And they brought out the Princess float from Princess vs Pirates, so it ended on a good note. (looking at these photos I realized Crush was also missing, but I don’t remember if I just didn’t take photos or if he was being refurbed too).

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Coming up: Discoveryland, Dinner, Princess Waltz​
 
The Lion King restaurant looked amazing!!

One of the reasons I want to visit DLP is for the dragon, honestly!
 
Adventure Isle is so amazing; I've barely scratched the surface on walking and exploring those trails. I don't think I've been in the caves, yet, but they look pretty awesome. I'll have to check them out next time.

Wow, your "rare character" was kind of a letdown. Two people who are already in the parade? Ah well....
 


I love them too! They were the ones hardest to put back! I think sometimes they meet at Tokyo, so fingers crossed!
I will cross my fingers that you get to meet Bernard and Bianca!!! THAT would be amazing!

Oh, I LOVE this!!

This is really awesome!!! I love wandering at WDW, but boy, DLP's wandering is seriously next level!! Awesome that you took the time to really explore these pathways and areas to enjoy all the little details that I bet a lot of people miss.

Talespin & King Louie (in his Talespin outfit),
Um, yes, Beauty and the Beast are ridiculous when they could have been from Talespin!!!!!! Ugh. Such disappointment.
 
I've been reading your TR from the beginning over the past week or so, and I'm finally all caught up! Can I just say what an amazing TR this is! Wonderful details and gorgeous pictures! I'm going to Paris and DLP in May, and I took so many notes from your TR! I will definitely have to check out some of your other trips when I get a chance!

Way too many things to comment on at this point, but one comment about your most recent update. I found it odd that they kept Belle and (human) Beast in the parade in their carriage when they were the special guests at the beginning of the parade. Ummmmm... how can they be in two places at once, DLP?? ;-)
 


I've been reading your TR from the beginning over the past week or so, and I'm finally all caught up! Can I just say what an amazing TR this is! Wonderful details and gorgeous pictures! I'm going to Paris and DLP in May, and I took so many notes from your TR! I will definitely have to check out some of your other trips when I get a chance!

Way too many things to comment on at this point, but one comment about your most recent update. I found it odd that they kept Belle and (human) Beast in the parade in their carriage when they were the special guests at the beginning of the parade. Ummmmm... how can they be in two places at once, DLP?? ;-)
Thanks for reading along!

I think they could get away with it because Belle/Beast started at front of the park and made their way to the back, then the parade started from back and made its way to the front (so the guest stars totally finish their route before the parade even starts). I think it was the same "friend of Belle" as the guest star and in the parade - I tried comparing photos side by side and they were similar enough it probably was the same girl. But yeah, I wish it had been a truly unique character! Though I guess Beast doesn't usually show up at DLP, so for them, that was unique?
 
I have a question going way back in your TR. I am planning my day at Versailles right now, I will be there on a musical fountains day in May. Where did you find the schedule of which fountains will go off at what times? I can’t find that level of detail anywhere on the Versailles website.
 
:wave: Found your TR a couple of weeks ago and have been reading when I could, finally caught up now, I have really enjoyed reading the Paris parts and now the DLP parts, too. I am planning a trip in early November to stay at DLP for a few days and we have tickets to a concert in Paris (a-ha :love::music: the main reason for the trip, but picked the Paris show so I could get my Disney fix, too... :earsboy: ) We plan to take the train into Paris on Saturday, the day of the concert and explore the city, go to the concert and then back to DLP after the concert. Hopefully that works out, I have heard the train runs pretty late (I don't expect the concert to be over too late, maybe 10 or 11) and it will be Saturday night so I would think if any day it would run late, it would be that day. Too many things to comment on at this point but the early parts of your TR have helped me plan a couple things to do that day. We might possibly go back another day too if there is a lot we missed. Looking forward to the rest of your report. :thumbsup2
 
Wow, Adventure Land looks amazing there! I'm trying to just skim the pics so I will be surprised a bit still when I get there though!
 
The Lion King restaurant looked amazing!!

One of the reasons I want to visit DLP is for the dragon, honestly!
That dragon is awesome! I wanted to visit her every day but didn't end up doing it twice (I literally was at the airport on my last day and realized I hadn't said goodbye... for a moment I considered hopping a train back since my ticket was still good but I realized by the time I did that, the entry would be closed for the fireworks and I would have wasted $$)!

Adventure Isle is so amazing; I've barely scratched the surface on walking and exploring those trails. I don't think I've been in the caves, yet, but they look pretty awesome. I'll have to check them out next time.

Wow, your "rare character" was kind of a letdown. Two people who are already in the parade? Ah well....
Watch out for Evie and Landon! They could get lost down there!

I will cross my fingers that you get to meet Bernard and Bianca!!! THAT would be amazing!


Oh, I LOVE this!!


This is really awesome!!! I love wandering at WDW, but boy, DLP's wandering is seriously next level!! Awesome that you took the time to really explore these pathways and areas to enjoy all the little details that I bet a lot of people miss.


Um, yes, Beauty and the Beast are ridiculous when they could have been from Talespin!!!!!! Ugh. Such disappointment.
Yeah I loved just wandering and letting myself get lost! I think I need to spend more time on DL and WDW's Tom Sawyer Island now!

Great pics! Especially of the parade, even though you didn't get a rare character in the beginning!!
Thanks!

Wow, Adventure Land looks amazing there! I'm trying to just skim the pics so I will be surprised a bit still when I get there though!
I know! I hope you don't get too spoiled!
 
I have a question going way back in your TR. I am planning my day at Versailles right now, I will be there on a musical fountains day in May. Where did you find the schedule of which fountains will go off at what times? I can’t find that level of detail anywhere on the Versailles website.
I don't quite remember where - I know I read a lot of sites and tips beforehand! When I was there, it basically went the fountains in the very center went off morning and afternoon. The ones on the south side went off just in the morning. Plus the 3 largest ones went off intermittently all day long. The ones on the north side went off just in the afternoon. The afternoon was 1.5 hrs, while the morning was just 1 hr, but some of the fountains only went from :15-:45. I think the afternoon session actually ended up starting 1 hr earlier than I though it was going to (online the guides say 3:30-5, but it actually went 2:30-4). They did have large signs that day, and I don't know if that was just because it was in the beginning of the season or what? They also have a map of the fountains that gives more detailed info about which ones are going off at which times. It's certainly a lot to juggle schedule wise and I wish I could have spent even more time there!
:wave: Found your TR a couple of weeks ago and have been reading when I could, finally caught up now, I have really enjoyed reading the Paris parts and now the DLP parts, too. I am planning a trip in early November to stay at DLP for a few days and we have tickets to a concert in Paris (a-ha :love::music: the main reason for the trip, but picked the Paris show so I could get my Disney fix, too... :earsboy: ) We plan to take the train into Paris on Saturday, the day of the concert and explore the city, go to the concert and then back to DLP after the concert. Hopefully that works out, I have heard the train runs pretty late (I don't expect the concert to be over too late, maybe 10 or 11) and it will be Saturday night so I would think if any day it would run late, it would be that day. Too many things to comment on at this point but the early parts of your TR have helped me plan a couple things to do that day. We might possibly go back another day too if there is a lot we missed. Looking forward to the rest of your report. :thumbsup2
Welcome to the TR! I don't know how late the trains run. In the summer people did give advice that people wouldn't have time to watch the fireworks (at 11) and make the last train, though I'm looking online and it seems the RER runs pretty late. I don't know if anything changes in the fall so I guess I would probably check closer to your dates? Sorry I'm not so much of a help in that regard!
 
(just a disclaimer - there were some negative things that happened this evening that frustrated me a bit, but I don't think it changed my overall opinion of the park)

Part 17 Bella Notte and Discoverland

After the parade, I stepped in the Bella Notte restaurant (I was standing nearby) to check out the details (and a good thing I did because I forgot it was closed the rest of my trip; and I actually walked in while it was cleaning up for the day). Very cute and again, awesome detailing (though I think the food is pretty generic theme park that you can find at other locations in the park).

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More Fantasyland bathroom signs!

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And now, time for Discoveryland exploring! Yes… I did a lot of exploring this day!

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The main shop in Discoveryland: Constellations.

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I ended up buying this shirt. And maybe another one (I did end up with 2 shirts I just don’t know if I got them both here or one somewhere else…). This design was one of the rare ones that also appeared to be in a size that would fit me. And I actually wear it fairly often, plus it will be making an appearance in my February TR (when I ever get around to writing it).
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Part 18 A Disappointing Dinner

Café Hyperion and Videopolis. It is HUGE inside! Really get the feeling of an aircraft hanger, and I had no idea so I was a bit awed when I went in!

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They were playing an episode of Star Wars Rebels on the tv screens.

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I still had plenty of time before my dinner reservation, so I ended up heading to the top of Fantasyland and taking another whirl on Casey Jr! I think I initially wanted to ride the Storybook Canal Boats, but those had a longer line.

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I think this was one of the great CM interactions I witnessed. There was a little kid (probably age 2) at the front of the line who was just over it. So she laid down on the ground. The CM laid down next to her and started chatting. Which made her happy again and she got up willingly. It was pretty adorable!

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Finally it was time for dinner, which was going to be at Plaza Gardens Restaurant. It’s basically their version of Plaza Inn, only it’s a buffet. Unfortunately this was not a very good experience.

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The meal didn’t start out on the right foot, first with a CM who was just rude. He basically ripped my Magic card out of my hand when I was starting to hand it over to pay (you pay in advance). And then he didn’t scan it right, so I tried to show him what to do and he got all annoyed and didn’t listen so pulled over a supervisor – who did exactly what I was telling him! Ugh!

The bad vibes continued when I was seated in the most awkward table. Rather than being further out of the way (which I tend to like to do when I’m eating alone), he pulled out a 2-top to what felt like the center of the walkway (the carpet was even slightly different which I know is meant to be an aisle). So people had to constantly walk around me. The restaurant itself was also very chaotic and noisy and just full of unruly children.
Not my cup of tea.

They also do weird things with birthdays at DLP. I know it happened at Plaza Gardens and also Inventions (though not as often as Inventions). When it's someones birthday they literally change the music in the entire restaurant and it goes on this long loop of "It's your birthday, Happy Birthday", over and over and over again. Some CMs come out and give the people a cake (I'm pretty sure its one you have to pay for in advance). At first it was cute, but this literally happened every 5 minutes. It's hard to enjoy your meal when you have this annoying song coming over the speakers all the time!

It also took forever for someone to come take my drink order (it’s included in this buffet), and it felt even worse because the waiters were just constantly walking past me, seeing an empty table and me staring at them, and ignoring me!

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Then during the buffet I’d be in line to get something, and suddenly would see a hand, reach under me and grab tongs to pull out something. Like a triangle was made with my arm, body, and the tray – they would pull items through the center of that. It just really was ridiculous!

I ended up feeling so out-of-it I didn’t even end up taking buffet photos! It was pretty basic stuff. I think I liked the ravioli pursettes. And I think most of the meats were seasoned weirdly (like currys) so I didn’t partake. Though I guess I did get some version of stew.

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Oh and I lied, I took photos of the desserts. Though none of it was that great. It was pretty much worse than the worst WDW dessert party…

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So, yeah, I don’t really recommend Plaza Gardens. I think other people do like it, but just not for me! I would have rather saved money and done QS or something like that.

While I was at dinner I realized how exhausted I really was. Being in France for 2.5 weeks will do that to you! I had originally hoped to stay for Illuminations again, but ended up cancelling those plans and was going to head back relatively early.

 
Part 19 Princess Starlight Waltz and the worst guests

After dinner the Princess Starlight Waltz show was setting up at the Castle Stage, so I stopped to watch that.

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I got a front row spot (off-center though), but, of course, curse of the horrible park guest. As the show is going on (and I’m sitting on the ground), a woman lifts her kid OVER me and puts them on the ground in front of me! In the area beyond the rope/tape/ground markers! It was truly ridiculous. She did the same thing for her 2 other kids and I actually turned back and yelled at her, but she just motioned for them to stay there. And of course the kids ended up turning back and giving me a dirty look! I was sooo pissed off and just over it! At least I could see above their heads, the little girl next to me who had been waiting patiently the whole time now had these bigger kids sitting right in front of her, so she had to stand up to see over them! ARGH!!!! I actually ran into her mom in one of the Main Street shops later that evening and we both sympathized with each other!

My view, pre-kids

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And with kids…

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Ok, anyways, back, to the show. The basic premise is there are 2 storytellers and one doesn’t know anything about the princesses. So he tries to match up the stories to the princess and fails miserably. (You can see he gives fans to each of the princesses, but gives the one with a magic lamp to Cinderella and the red apple to Belle, etc). But they get it all worked out and do a dance and its very pretty. And they are joined by their princes. The fountains also go off.

(please excuse the backlit photos)

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A video of the show:


It was actually very lovely and I'd recommend stopping to see it (though maybe don't try to get a front row spot...)

I decided it was time to call it quits. And yes, the sun is shining brightly but it was getting later! Remember sunset wasn’t until after 10pm!

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I walked down Main Street and stopped into a bunch of the stores (darn scrim for ruining my view down Main Street)

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Their ice cream parlor actually serves Ben and Jerrys! I never stopped in though

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Some store browsing

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The breakable store – i.e. the place I wouldn’t buy anything from despite wanting it all!

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I considered the attractions poster but decided not to get it in the end.

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Some cool displays for each of the rail stations

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Part 20 More Main Street

In the little alleyway along Main Street I ran into a custodial CM who complimented me on my shirt (it was all Disney emojis). We chatted a bit and I said how gorgeous everything is. He pointed out the window displays, including one with 2/3 of the Aristocats. Apparently the 3rd one was stolen in broad daylight by a guest who just walked in and took it out! I asked him how he can deal with all these horrible guests. His answer: “Yoga”!

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The motor store (really apparel, but cool props, minus one Aristocat)

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So, they are limited in the actual shirts they have, but a whole display of boxer/briefs…

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The candy store is super adorable and looks like a circus/carnival inside. The columns are full of candy!

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The Emporium. I like the throwbacks to Anaheim and Orlando versions! The years are just off by a century!

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I did make a fun purchase, pet bowls! The cat one for my cats and the small dog one for the dog. Though the small one was really too small for her, so the cats use that one too! Well, we always say my cat is part dog (seriously, he is needy like a dog and acts so similarly it’s scary).

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(I think I also bought a couple more special DLP tsums)

Checking out the barbershop, though it was closed at that time.

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And I really liked this window display.

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In all the windows that have merchandise they have little cards at the bottom which gives the name and price for the items! Very helpful!

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More main street; yes, the coffee is steaming!

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Part 21 Disney Village

On my way through Disney Village I stopped in World of Disney. Looking up it was just so gorgeous.

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I loved all the movies representing areas around the world!

Europe: Peter Pan and Ratatouille/Aristocats/Hunchback of Notre Dame

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Asia: Tarzan/Jungle Book and Mulan

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Americas: Cars/Toy Story & Up/Three Caballeros

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Africa: Lion King & Aladdin

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Pacific: Finding Nemo & Lilo and Stitch

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(Also, I’m sure I looked pretty goofy as I did 2 laps around the store – which isn’t that large – taking photos of the ceiling!)

Back through Disney Village. Some of the lights were showing up, but not totally.

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(The reality is, since I had delayed so much, I really should have gone back into the park and seen Illuminations again; it wasn't too far away. But, can’t change anything now!)

I stopped in The Disney Store, which wasn’t nearly as cute as World of Disney. Though they had props for each DLP land.

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They had a fun Rathtar plush (from the Last Jedi)

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And back to resort and sleep (may have stopped to get some water/drinks from lounge; may also have stopped in gift shop). Sorry lots of days, starting to run together!

Coming up – my last full day at DLP and an awesome dismeet!

 
Your meal at Plaza Gardens sounds awful! The horrid waiter, uncomfortable placement, and none of the food even looks appealing! And then that awful lady at the show! I just don’t understand people like that.
 
Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience at Plaza Gardens. That really sounds like the absolute worst. I guess the one positive seems to be that they had those awesome gummy sharks. Always a small positive above anything. But like... is it a Plaza Inn without characters? What a waste.

All my UK friends on twitter and insta always rave about the waltz and it really does look so pretty. That stage they have by the castle just looks like such a cool use of space, I'd just be curious to see it without a show.

I'm really shocked that a guest just walked in and walked out with an Aristocrat statuette... like what? That's so wild. Paris, you lawless land.

Happy to hear after a rough day, you got an early night in. Looking forward to see how your last full day in DLP ends up being. :)
 

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