Does Disney have the worst site for DLP?
OK, I may have an unnecessary bee in my bonnet about this but, from doing a lot of online research into DLP recently, I can honestly say no-one has a worse, more confusing or - what is even more surprising - out of date website about the resort than Disney themselves.
There are various fan sites for the big Paris resort, and several are highly sophisticated these days, with masses of user-friendly info, even if they don’t have the high-gloss look and the clever interactive features.
Trying to find your way round this site is purely and simply a nightmare. It is hopelessly cluttered, has too many features, is not at all obvious from a navigation point of view, and (my real bugbear), is months out of date.
Not only does the Interactive map of the Studios parks still list Animation Courtyard as one of the 4 ‘lands,’ it also shows the TV Studios as an existing attraction, La Terrasse as a restaurant option and CyberSpace Mountain as somewhere to visit. Even more amazingly, there is no sign of Crush’s Coaster or Cars Race Rally.
It’s probably churlish to add that when you click on one of the “4 cinemagical lots” it brings up the attractions for the whole park.
Head into other areas of the site and you find that Crush’s Coaster and Cars Race Rally is “opening on June 9th 2007″; that the Rehabs and Closures list gives you everything that is closed - in June; and there is a really useful (not) 2-day “itinerary” for visiting the parks that gives you a full day at the Studios with - gasp! - three whole attractions to see! Did NO-ONE review this section before uploading such rubbish?
It is also so graphic-heavy that some pages take ages to load and the vital new feature of Extra Magic Hours is hidden away under the vast outpouring of solicitations for the 15th anniversary.
Does nobody at Disney look at their own website, realise parts of it are seriously out of date and compare it with the more user-friendly sites out there?
If they did, I’m sure it would look drastically different to what we currently see. Or am I just being too harsh?
August 28th, 2007 at 4:07 am
More likely than not, it’s the EuroDisney SCA folks who are primarily responsible for information upkeep on this.
August 28th, 2007 at 6:14 am
Have you send an e-mail to inform them?
August 28th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Well….It’s a lot better than it was. EuroDisney SCA were quite proud of their new web site with it getting special mention at the shareholders meeting this year as a powerful marketing tool. I guess some parts are not getting the loving maintainance that it deserves. Not sure I agree with your comments on the navigation. I can’t recall having a problem with it. I do miss being able to turn the music off. My wife can always tell when I’m feeding my Disney addiction.
On that subject thanks for the blog…It’s part of my Disney routine that gives me the fix I need in between visits
August 28th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
oh forgot to say. If we are talking about websites their Disneyland 15th Blog is worth a mention. Lots of interesting stuff including video interviews with imagineers.
http://en.blog.disneyland15.com/
August 29th, 2007 at 10:48 am
I agree wholeheartedly the site is pathetic and not worthy of Disney, however this is just symptomatic of the whole approach of DLRP to the public in general. I am visiting for halloween and, because I am not buying a package from Disney for accomodation (great hotels but too expensive!) I cannot obtain tickets until the middle of September and I cannot find out the times of shows or parades at the moment.Disney, we plan our trips months in advance and the very least you could do is provide us with the information we need.Too much to hope for if past experience is anything to go by!
Thank goodness for the fan sites,at least they keep us up to date with current events!
August 29th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
http://www.dlrpmagic.com/ is one of the best sites about any Disney park, high-gloss and all. Congrats and well done to everyone involved.
September 1st, 2007 at 3:30 pm
I share your frustration, Simon. Disneyland’s website should be the last word on what’s new, what’s there, what’s exciting and wonderful about two of the greatest theme parks in the world. Instead, it’s filled with useless information, IF you can even find what you’re looking for. And when you do find what you need, you can’t trust that it’s up to date. Truly maddening!
Click on the ‘Good To Know’ tab (if for no other reason than to find out what that meaningless statement refers to; and don’t forget to click it twice, since it never works on the first click) and you have a menu of random items Disney must think are ‘good to know’. Just for fun, click on Parades and Shows for Disneyland. Now…sit there wondering why you haven’t been taken to a new page and there’s no ‘Go’ button. Then, click on Click Here, situated oddly above the menu. Do you get information about the parades and shows for Disneyland? Nope…you get Private Functions. By this time, my private functions are on full boil.
Want hours for December? Good luck. It’s September and they still haven’t been posted on the calendar. Don’t believe me? Look here: http://news.disneylandparis.co.uk/calendar/index.xhtml
Want to know what the newest attractions are? How about ‘Buzz Lightyear Lazer Blast’, opening April 8?
What’s that? You say you don’t believe 2-year old info could be the response you get? Look here: http://www.disneylandparis.com/uk/news/index_int.htm
Sure, the correct information MAY be there, depending on how convoluted a route you take to get to any of it. Your results vary depending on which page you’re on when you click on any given link. Infuriating!
But as hair-pulling as it may be trying to find information, the worst part is, most of what you find is pointless. Do you really know what the beautiful Cinemagique attraction is about when you read: This is one big screen adventure that will draw you INTO the movies. This reel is real! Your eyes are not playing tricks! The movies have come to life!
Does anyone who matters even LOOK at this stuff? And who are they writing for? Not the end user, that much is for certain. Just truly, truly appalling.
September 18th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
I have to agree, I’m trying to research a trip there and the site certainly doesn’t help.