DP- are the cast members always this rude ?

[Ms Poppins]

In all our visits I don't think I've come across any of the CM's rude. A smile and a bonjour go a long way when starting a conversation. I always thank the CM's too for speaking in English to me. Although the French do have a reputation for being rude I actually think that it's the tone of the language that makes many people think that. I know that if i'm trying to speak in French....badly I might add....I don't actually know what the correct tone should be, so something jokey may come across as rude if not said in the way you'd expect. I think they do a fantastic job and having to constantly speak in English in their own country must start to grate on them after a while.

 

[Karin1984]

In all our visits I don't think I've come across any of the CM's rude. A smile and a bonjour go a long way when starting a conversation. I always thank the CM's too for speaking in English to me. Although the French do have a reputation for being rude I actually think that it's the tone of the language that makes many people think that. I know that if i'm trying to speak in French....badly I might add....I don't actually know what the correct tone should be, so something jokey may come across as rude if not said in the way you'd expect. I think they do a fantastic job and having to constantly speak in English in their own country must start to grate on them after a while.

They can be rude without being spoken to a few years ago in a shop we were waiting in line for our turn, we were second in line. A French person in front and behind us. Me and my friend spoke Dutch to each other while waiting. When it was our turn and my friends steps forward to pay, the CM ignored him and beckoned the person behind us to come over as next customer. My friend got upset, the CM spoke no other language, French only, we had to wait for the manager to come and translate and understand the complaint.

This was a few years ago, and it gets better, but it can still be hit or miss. I have sent in complaints and compliments last year.

Partially cultural differences due to France' history, the other part is "It is just a job" for the French. The CMs who come from other European countries and chose to move to France for DLP have a very different motivation.

 

[ninergrl6]

Here in Europe people just dont have the same emotional attachment to the Disney brand as Americans do. For example, you will rarely see people in Disneyland Paris in the summer dis bounding or wearing lanyards or full of pins. You will barely see any type of Disney merchandise being worn by park guests.

100% this! My friend was shocked at the lack of people wearing Disney gear within the parks. We even struggled to find ears to buy! I got the sense that Disney (or DLP at least) was considered a kids thing, not an all ages thing. There was very little adult clothing to purchase, and it was primarily generic Disney, not specific to France. DLP seemed more about Americana (lots of US flags on merch) than Disney IMO. It definitely had a different feel from the Disney parks in the US.

With that said, I can't recall having negative interactions with any cast members there. We met some very friendly people at photo ops, in stores, and in restaurants. We even took pictures with a few of them to commemorate our experiences.

For me the disappointment was in the facilities, not the people. On several occasions I saw paint peeling off the walls and the bathrooms were filthy. I don't see that at the Disney parks in the US. And SO MUCH WAS CLOSED. Restaurants, food carts, stores, rides in the middle of the day totally shut down! In summer! On my last visit in 2016 my friend and I started taking pictures of all of the closed signs/facilities because it became an absolute joke.

and interestingly, one of the most difficult cultural differences to work through is between the british and american employees who have to work together..
though we speak the same language, the differences can be pronounced, especially in the workplace...

As an American who only speaks English fluently with a few passing phrases in Spanish, Italian, and French, I had more trouble communicating with people in England than in Spain, Italy, France, Russia, Scotland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Mexico... every country I've been to! It baffled me that I had so much trouble, so I'm relieved to hear that I'm not alone in feeling the American/British communication difficulties.

 

[Dingdingding]

I have visited themeparks in the US (including WDW), the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Belgium. I find the American, Dutch and German ones to have the best and friendliest employees with WDW being the best among them. DLP would rank lowest although there have been some exceptions.

My problem with DLP is also in the guests, especially the French and Spanish ones; rude, pushy and trying to cut off the lines. I also find that those are my least favorite tourists to come across as both often don't try to speak another language than their own. Americans often also don't speak anything besides English but are much more understanding if you make an effort to speak English if it isn't your first language. Americans often don't expect you to speak English while many french tourists expect you to speak French. But I also can get annoyed by my fellow countymen, the Dutch, while on vacation somewhere else, as they often are rude and loud.

Anyway; I hate the fact that DLP is in France. If it would be in Germany or the UK I would go much more often, now I rather save up for a longer trip to WDW and I know of several other people who do the same for the same reasons.

 

[DerEchte]

I am a former WDW CM from the Germany pavilion, so it's not like I am an American who doesn't know better.

Disneyland Paris shocked me. I knew what to expect before I went... I still had a very good time. But it honestly almost disgusted me that everything that makes Disney magical, at least to me, was gone.

I don't even know where to start. I will keep this short, using bullet points, otherwise it will go on forever.

• Starting with the first thing you see: Security. They were third party and might as well could have been TSA.
• Merch: The selection of Merch is incredibly slim and there is almost nothing for adults. Compare that to WDW's merch that offers whole fashion lines, dresses, purses etc. for adults.
• The whole Studios Park is a mess. Too much to describe here. Just google it.
• Expect for Disneyland Hotel, the hotels were a joke compared to WDW.
• Disney village looks super dated, worn and has nothing special to offer. Disney Springs on the other hand is almost like a 5th park. I've spent so many wonderful nights there. Even after work I would often go there because I liked it there so much.
• The technology at DLP is like the 90's. You can't even book a table online, you have to call.
• SO MANY things close early or are running at a laughable capacity. In addition like half the snack stands don't open up at all.
• There are WAY FEWER CM's. Not a single PhotoPass CM in the park, barley any CM's outside who you can ask questions, etc. Everything seems understaffed compared to the US.
• The CM's while not rude certainly didn't have that magical touch. And don't tell me about cultural diffrences, I was a CM myself.
• The concept of going above and beyond doesn't seem to even exist there. This is backed up by the fact that they don't even have 'No Strings Attached' forms. At Disney US CM's can use these to give away free shirts if someone spilled themselves etc.
• The food is not totally awful but nothing compared to the US. Barely any table service restaurants and QS was almost the same everywhere.
• It's frikin more expensive than WDW, at least when staying on property for a couple of days.
• Fireworks are nice but don't compare.
• Beggars when walking from the park to the parking lot.

Sorry but this whole resort is one giant mess and I can advise anyone from going there unless you are in the area anyways. And it's sad because the Disneyland Park itself is beautiful, better than MK in my opinion, with many unique rides.

I will probably get some slack from DLP fans for this but it's my honest opinion. I lived and worked at WDW for a year, I know what makes Disney Disney.

 

[BadPinkTink]

@DerEchte
I am from Ireland and a regualr visitor to Disneyland California, in 2 weeks time it will be my 9th visit to the park. I have also been to Disneyland Paris 3 times.

While I agree with your comparisons, a little background knowlege might help you to understand WHY these differences occur.

Its mainly to do with MARKETING and CULTURAL PERCEPTIONS and BEHAVIOUR

What you seem to not understand is that America = Disney BUT Disney does not = America. What I mean is that just because it is a Disney park, it is very much Frenchified Disney, an American style theme park with the cultural and social and behavioural aspects of France and central Europe.

Yes you know what makes Disney Disney BUT what you know is how to make Disney Disney for the American market. Europe and European tastes are very very different. You say you worked in the German Pavillion, well guess what that was an American view of what Germany is like, for an American audience.

For example, in Europe,in regular real life day to day London, Paris, Munich, Dublin, Barcelona, Rome etc etc, the over the top American happy smiley have a nice day is NOT liked. It is seen as fake , over the top and Europeans do not like that style of customer service. Therefore in Disneyland Paris, where the majority of guests are European, they have a more European way of customer service, which to you as an American visitor is not the Disney way. Yes its not the Disney way, but it is the European way.

Disneyland Paris staffing issues can be traced back to the overall lack of money and huge debts that the park has incured since it opened in 1992. The reason for the money issues is that until recently, in the last 2 years, Disneyland Paris has not been fully owned by the Disney Company. This ment that the money and resources which the Disney company put into the American parks did not happen in Disneyland Paris. This impacted everything from staffing levels, to maintenance and upkeep of hotels, grounds, rides , attractions, Disney village, the food choices and so much more. When there is a lack of money it impacts EVERYTHING

Again, another point, the hotels. Again the hotels are for EUROPEAN guests and what they expect and are used to in hotels. Yes the hotels to an American who is used to RESORTS may seem like a joke, BUT in Europe we just dont have those types of hotels. The hotels in Disneyland Paris, for their price ranges would be very normal of hotels in London, Paris, Munich, Dublin, Barcelona, Rome.

Overall your post comes across as a whiney American, who wants everything the American way, and does not understand that Europeans and the way things are done in Europe is different.

 

[DerEchte]

I am German and I live in Germany. (The real one ) Should have clarified that. I just worked there for 1 year. All the CM's in the Epcot countries really are from that country. In fact I have never been to the US before I worked at WDW.

Also other theme parks in Europe manage to be much more Disney like. Especially Efteling comes to mind. So while I certainly don't expect the 'US experience' in Paris, they fail to deliver any special experience at all.

 

[dvcdisney]

Personally, I really appreciate all the information being posted. I understand that it's difficult to compare the different theme parks especially since they are all in different locations. Even DL Calif is different from WDW.

I think if people know what to expect, it's less of a "culture shock". I have been told by quite a few people that DLP doesn't live up to WDW. But I know this and I expect it to be different...otherwise, I wouldn't want to go.

My family have been going to WDW for a long time and, although many feel it has the friendliest CMs and guests, we've seen a significant drop in the quality since we began going. It's a matter of perspective. It used to be that you can spot a few rude guests, now it seems like they're overpowering. We've cut down on our visits to the WDW theme parks even though we are DVC members. We've turned mostly to other Disney places like Aulani, DL Cal and cruise with DCL to get our Disney "fix" since we really do still love Disney. When we stay at our DVC resort in WDW, we spent very little time in the parks. On our last trip, we went just in time to do our fast pass and then we left.

I guess what I'm saying is that WDW isn't an ideal place when it comes to behaviour or rudeness of CMs and guests...at least in our minds. So DLP will likely feel different, but we intent to experience it realistically.

 

[olafLover]

.

 

[A Small World]

Im from the UK and have visited DLP numerous times over the past few years. I had also visited WDW several times before I started going to DLP and have since been to DL Cali 3 times.
The parks are all very different and offer very different experiences. WDW and DL Cal are very very different and reading the DL boards a lot of people who first go there after visiting WDW hate the park as its so much smaller with a small castle and you can see the 'outside world' and a lot of people who go to WDW for the first time after DL hate it because its so big and you have to plan everything like a military operation.
You cant please everyone and its the same with DLP. Not everyone likes DLP and thats fine as it makes it less crowded for those who do like it and find it magical.

I dont normally reply to posts like these but felt there were somethings you said which weren't correct or came across as quite harsh

Also other theme parks in Europe manage to be much more Disney like. Especially Efteling comes to mind. So while I certainly don't expect the 'US experience' in Paris, they fail to deliver any special experience at all.

I've never been to any other theme park in UK which comes any where near Disney in terms of theming or customer experience. Ive never visited any in Germany so maybe it is totally different. But would disagree that they fail to deliver any special experience at all - The experience is what you make it and the magic is what you make yourself

I am a former WDW CM from the Germany pavilion, so it's not like I am an American who doesn't know better.

Disneyland Paris shocked me. I knew what to expect before I went... I still had a very good time. But it honestly almost disgusted me that everything that makes Disney magical, at least to me, was gone.

I don't even know where to start. I will keep this short, using bullet points, otherwise it will go on forever.

• Starting with the first thing you see: Security. They were third party and might as well could have been TSA. - Why does it matter if the security is third party? Going through the scanners is quick and easy which is the main thing. There have been security threats at DLP and so security was increased. The area between the parks and the station does not belong to DLP and as the station is an international entry point into France the security has to be higher than at other parks.
• Merch: The selection of Merch is incredibly slim and there is almost nothing for adults. Compare that to WDW's merch that offers whole fashion lines, dresses, purses etc. for adults. Most adult Europeans dont tend to wear heavily Disney themed clothing day to day so if the shops were full of adult clothing it probably wouldnt sell. There are adult tee shirts and hoodies available to buy. There is also a specialist shop in the village and one on main street which have a lot of adult clothing in which is more subtley Disney. You can buy anything in these shops from underwear to the purses and dresses you mention. Some people only go in the main World of Disney store and dont look in the smaller stores - and before anyone says they should be stocked in all stores people then complain that all the stores carry the same merchandise
• The whole Studios Park is a mess. Too much to describe here. Just google it. A lot of money is being poured into the studios in the next few years so watch this space - I agree there are areas where it is run down but Im not sure saying its a mess is quite accurate. The theming in the 2 newest areas - Toy Story land and the Ratatouille area - is amazing with so much attention to detail.
• Expect for Disneyland Hotel, the hotels were a joke compared to WDW. As is stressed time and time again the hotels at DLP are just hotels - they are not resorts like WDW. Im not sure where you went and where you stayed but each hotel is going through an extensive refurbishment programme. Again I think saying they are a joke is quite harsh.
• Disney village looks super dated, worn and has nothing special to offer. Disney Springs on the other hand is almost like a 5th park. I've spent so many wonderful nights there. Even after work I would often go there because I liked it there so much. Again money is being put into Disney Village in the next few years. Its not meant to be a carbon copy of Disney Springs which I have heard people saying they hate now compared to how it used to be years ago when it was first built in WDW - large and impersonal. Disney Village at DLP serves its purpose for eating and shopping for guests after the park closes
• The technology at DLP is like the 90's. You can't even book a table online, you have to call. Im sure Ive read they are trialling online booking - but to be honest its never bothered me - at least you dont have to decide where you want to eat 180 days in advance to be able to book anywhere. Ive never phoned to book in advance I just book on my first day in the parks. And for the record you cant book online at DL Cal either - you have to phone
• SO MANY things close early or are running at a laughable capacity. In addition like half the snack stands don't open up at all.Not sure what you mean by a laughable capacity. Some rides have to close early due to setting up the fireworks. Not all restaurants, counter service places or snack carts open every day and some are only open part of the day but this is supply and demand. They cannot afford to staff every place all day every day - as already explained the park has not had the money poured into it like the American parks have so why wast what they had keeping a restaurant open that doesnt need to be
• There are WAY FEWER CM's. Not a single PhotoPass CM in the park, barley any CM's outside who you can ask questions, etc. Everything seems understaffed compared to the US. Ive no idea whether there are fewer CMs or not but Ive always found someone if Ive needed to ask anything. Again this is all down to the money DLP has received. Photopass has only just been introduced to DLP and not in the same way as WDW. The park is also a locals park where a lot of the visitors are return visitors similar to DL Cal. Unlike WDW where most people go for a longer trip
• The CM's while not rude certainly didn't have that magical touch. And don't tell me about cultural diffrences, I was a CM myself. Working for WDW is a dream job for most CMs. People move to Orlando to work at WDW and are proud to work there. Most CMs that work at DLP and DL Cal are locals where it is a job - not a dream.
• The concept of going above and beyond doesn't seem to even exist there. This is backed up by the fact that they don't even have 'No Strings Attached' forms. At Disney US CM's can use these to give away free shirts if someone spilled themselves etc.
• The food is not totally awful but nothing compared to the US. Barely any table service restaurants and QS was almost the same everywhere.There are plenty of table service restaurants if you include the buffets and more than in DL Cal. And I totally disagree that the QS places are the same. Hakuna Matata serves African style food, Fuento del Oro serves Mexican food, Toad Hall serves English Fish and Chips, Cowboy cookout serves Chicken and Ribs - you can get croque monsiueur and sandwiches at Market house deli right up until the park closes
• It's frikin more expensive than WDW, at least when staying on property for a couple of days. Is it more expensive? Remember the price includes the park tickets as well. Ive read a post on here this week saying how cheap a day ticket is compared to the American parks. You also get a lot of good deals if you look including 2 nights free etc. And you dont have to book through your own country's site. Another country may have different offers
• Fireworks are nice but don't compare. The night time show is not a firework show. It just happens to include fireworks as part of it. Its a combination of fireworks, lights, fountains, lasers etc
• Beggars when walking from the park to the parking lot. As already said the area between the parks and station does not belong to Disney so they cannot control who is there

Sorry but this whole resort is one giant mess and I can advise anyone from going there unless you are in the area anyways. And it's sad because the Disneyland Park itself is beautiful, better than MK in my opinion, with many unique rides. I totally disagree that the whole resort is one giant mess. No its not perfect - it has its faults but so does WDW. You admit that the park is a beautiful park and it has so many hidden areas that make a trip there magical.

I will probably get some slack from DLP fans for this but it's my honest opinion. I lived and worked at WDW for a year, I know what makes Disney Disney.

See answers above to each point.
Sorry for the long rant but I wanted to try and put across that the whole resort is not a mess, a joke and not worth even considering.

 

[sabrecmc]

I've been to DLP four times since 1995 from the US, and yes, it is a very different experience. I still enjoy it quite a bit, and just try to have a positive attitude about it. I think the things that bug me are things that bug me about almost all of Europe, namely the smoking and lack of any sense of a need to stand in line or take turns. Not exactly deal breakers, but yeah, that whole mob the character thing was quite eye-opening the first time! On the other hand, when we were on the DCL Med cruise, it was the opposite b/c the character lines are STRICTLY enforced, and so many non-American passengers were disappointed. I think it really is just a cultural difference and not intended to be rude, though it comes across as rude to Americans b/c waiting in your place in line is SO much an ingrained part of our culture.

The food is pretty bad, lol. I'll agree with that. I like the hotels just fine, though. We've only stayed at Sequoia and the DLH, but they've been nice. Love the compact size of things. The Magic Kingdom is beautiful. Excited to go back in about a month!

 

[Dingdingding]

@DerEchte
I am from Ireland and a regualr visitor to Disneyland California, in 2 weeks time it will be my 9th visit to the park. I have also been to Disneyland Paris 3 times.

While I agree with your comparisons, a little background knowlege might help you to understand WHY these differences occur.

Its mainly to do with MARKETING and CULTURAL PERCEPTIONS and BEHAVIOUR

What you seem to not understand is that America = Disney BUT Disney does not = America. What I mean is that just because it is a Disney park, it is very much Frenchified Disney, an American style theme park with the cultural and social and behavioural aspects of France and central Europe.

Yes you know what makes Disney Disney BUT what you know is how to make Disney Disney for the American market. Europe and European tastes are very very different. You say you worked in the German Pavillion, well guess what that was an American view of what Germany is like, for an American audience.

For example, in Europe,in regular real life day to day London, Paris, Munich, Dublin, Barcelona, Rome etc etc, the over the top American happy smiley have a nice day is NOT liked. It is seen as fake , over the top and Europeans do not like that style of customer service. Therefore in Disneyland Paris, where the majority of guests are European, they have a more European way of customer service, which to you as an American visitor is not the Disney way. Yes its not the Disney way, but it is the European way.

Disneyland Paris staffing issues can be traced back to the overall lack of money and huge debts that the park has incured since it opened in 1992. The reason for the money issues is that until recently, in the last 2 years, Disneyland Paris has not been fully owned by the Disney Company. This ment that the money and resources which the Disney company put into the American parks did not happen in Disneyland Paris. This impacted everything from staffing levels, to maintenance and upkeep of hotels, grounds, rides , attractions, Disney village, the food choices and so much more. When there is a lack of money it impacts EVERYTHING

Again, another point, the hotels. Again the hotels are for EUROPEAN guests and what they expect and are used to in hotels. Yes the hotels to an American who is used to RESORTS may seem like a joke, BUT in Europe we just dont have those types of hotels. The hotels in Disneyland Paris, for their price ranges would be very normal of hotels in London, Paris, Munich, Dublin, Barcelona, Rome.

Overall your post comes across as a whiney American, who wants everything the American way, and does not understand that Europeans and the way things are done in Europe is different.

I don't agree. The reason for the lack of money is the fact that the park failed from the start. It was on the brink of closing in '92/'93 because there were so little people in the park. Even the last ten years; while Dutch, German, Danish, etc. parks grew massively in attendance, DLP stagnated. Yes, DLP still is the most visited park in Europe, but it is nothing to be joyous about with those high investments. The Studios Park is one of the few Disneyparks that isn't among the most visited parks in the region. And it isn't because "Europe isn't that into Disney or into Themeparks" as I've read elsewhere, but because France isn't. There were no successful French theme parks before the 1990's (contrary to the UK, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands). Where else would you have demonstrations against the arrival of a Disneypark like there were in France in the early nineties? In the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany you wouldn't have seen those.

And the hotels; I hated them. I visit a lot of European countries (about four every year) and am Dutch myself; you don't speak for all Europeans. Even the Eastern European countries have nicer hotels below that pricerange than the DLP hotels. Two electrical sockets in a hotel room in 2018?! Have you ever visited the hotels of the Efteling (Netherlands), Phantasialand (Germany) or Europapark (Germany). To compare them to the DLP hotels would be an insult. Don't believe me; check it yourself here:
https://www.europapark.de/en/all-hotels-camp-prices
https://www.phantasialand.de/nl/hotels/hotel-matamba/
https://www.phantasialand.de/nl/hotels/hotel-ling-bao/
https://www.efteling.com/en/overnight-stays/hotels-and-holiday-villages

DLP is one of the few Disneyparks that isn't leading the region in Themeparks, not in quality and barely in attendance. The only way DLP could raise it's quality, is to lower it's Frenchness. We have a saying in the Netherlands; "iets met de Franse slag doen"; "doing something the French way" which means half-assing something. That's what DLP does: in it's hotels, in it's maintance, in the quality of it's food and in the friendliness of it's staff. Please make the parks more American, that is the only way to make DLP an attractive resort again.

The next time I rather save up to go to WDW than go to DLP. (where I've been more than ten times in my youth and three times more since then)

 

[Moliphino]

We stayed in a renovated room at the Cheyenne last year and thought it was adorable. Plenty of electrical sockets, some with USB ports (very useful when coming from the US when you only have a couple plug converters). A little tight to squeeze four adults into one room, but the same can be said of the values/moderates at WDW, too.