I've frequently read postings about travel locations, but never put in my two cents, until now. I just came back from seven days in France, three at
Disneyland and four in Paris. Disneyland, in particular Newport Bay Hotel, was quite a disappointment. The hotel was, as has been noted, unable to cope with the crush of people coming and going. Our room was 450 steps from reception--we counted to make the trip go quicker. It took 10 minutes easy at a brisk pace to make it from our room to the front door. The room was OK, but the shower tile grout was covered with mold--very gross. I kept wishing I had a bottle of bleach. You had very little choice for breakfast and had to select ahead of time or go without. I was really affected by jet lag this time and couldn't make it for the 8 a.m. one morning that we had been pretty much forced to take for lack of anything else. So we went hungry.
The park was mobbed Thursday and Friday and the pushy behavior of some guests left me mildly disturbed. The worst was Friday night when we came out of the Wild West Show to a downpour. Everyone was running from the show and the parks to the buses and it was a mad scramble to get on. The crowd literally pushed an old man on crutches to the side and nearly trampled him. He never made the first bus (nor did I, as I refused to act like an animal). When the second came, the doors opened right in front of me. I and another person waited to let the poor man on crutches go on and we were shoved and pushed violently for our efforts. I was embarrassed for humanity at that point.
If I had to do it again, although I doubt I would go to DLP ever again, I would stay in Paris and take the train for the day. Our hotel in Paris was fabulous, as were the people and it was such a pleasant experience.
I do want to point out that nearly everyone who worked at Newport Bay was kind and courteous, given the circumstances. I felt sorry for them at times because buses would arrive and disgorge dozens of people who thought nothing of pushing and shoving and carrying on, and they tried their darndest to accommodate them. When I needed a hairdryer they sent someone to the room to deliver it (he got quite a workout) and they were generally helpful with things, such as getting tickets to a show. But the whole atmosphere was unpleasant and did not give me a very relaxing feeling.