Reservations for Buffalo Bill's Wild West?

[Richfield Autopia]

It seemed like a good idea...

I wanted to make reservations for Buffalo Bill's Wild West dinner show. I called 011 (+33 1) 60 30 60 81, which is the USA number in the Disneyland Paris brochure.

Over the course of almost a half hour, I spoke to three people. Each time, I asked, "Parlez-vous anglais?" The first person spoke English, but could only handle room reservations. So I was transfered to someone else.

After some time on hold, the second person, who also spoke English, asked me the date and the number the people, but made a point of asking if I was staying at a Disney resort. (We're staying at the Marriott Vacation Club at Golf Disneyland, but that doesn't count as on-site.) He put me on hold.

After a while, a third person answered. Again, I asked, "Parlez-vous anglais?" She answered, "Non." In English, I asked for someone who could help me. This time I was on hold a long, long time, listening to really annoying music. I finally gave up and hung up.

I don't think I want to go through this again.

How far ahead does Buffalo Bill sell out for a Saturday evening show? How are seats assigned? Can I just go to the venue a week early and take care of it then? Or will I then get bad seats (or no seats)?

Any guidance would be very appreciated.

[soundtracker]

Hi Richfield,

Welcome to the wonderful world of DLRPs backstage burocracy! That was a particularly fine example you gave there - I promise it isn't always as bad as that, but it's a fairly common occurence. Anyway, speaking from personal experience, you shouldn't have any trouble booking tickets a week in advance. You won't be given crappy seats or anything, as they are assigned on the night, and nearly all have a good view. You're given acoloured hat when you enter, which determines which section of the seating you'll be in. Then it's just a question of pushing and shoving for the best spots, so try and be somewhere towards the font of the queue when the pre-show finishes.
You'll have a great time though. I've never failed to enjoy Buffalo Bill!

[Richfield Autopia]

Anyway, speaking from personal experience, you shouldn't have any trouble booking tickets a week in advance. You won't be given crappy seats or anything, as they are assigned on the night, and nearly all have a good view. You're given acoloured hat when you enter, which determines which section of the seating you'll be in. Then it's just a question of pushing and shoving for the best spots, so try and be somewhere towards the font of the queue when the pre-show finishes.

Here's my follow-up report:

On the Saturday night before Easter, we bought our tickets at the Buffalo Bill box office for the 9:30 p.m. dinner show for the following Friday. No problem.

Then, on Friday, when the Disneyland Paris theme park closed at 8:00 p.m., we went straight to the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show venue (although we knew the doors would not open until 8:30 p.m.) When we arrived at the interior doors, there was only one family ahead of us. A few minutes later some German tour guides arrived, followed by their 500-person tour group.

When we entered a a little after 8:30 p.m., we were given hats with green bands and tickets for a specific table in the green section, but not for specific seats at the table. There was entertainment and a cash bar while we waited for the doors to the arena to open. Those doors opened at 9:10 p.m. Our table was in the front row of the "end zone" facing the curtain in the other "end zone." The seats were great.

The American food exceeded my expectations. My beer glass was filled 3 times. I probably could have requested more refills when the servers came by to bring or to clear food, but 3 was plenty.

The show itself was a lot of fun. With apologies to the talented cast of performers, I have to admit that, for us, the highlights were the times when the longhorn cattle and the buffalo were in the arena. They didn't jump through flaming hoops or do anything else but stand around and look impressive.

The next day my wife admitted that she really enjoyed the show. (Before the show she told me she couldn't understand why I would want to go to an American Wild West show while we were in France. She didn't think it would be worth the time and money.)

It was worth the 53 euros per person. I'm glad we got to the venue early. And I'm glad I didn't allow my wife to talk me out of it.

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

It's amazing how different the service is when you speak French.

I dont know if they just dont have that many people who speak English or if they put American and British at the bottom of the list and pick up all the other calls on hold first? Maybe they figure they can get through 4 calls in French or try to manage one English call that may not even end up with a booking?

Ca c'est la France.