A Disneyholic introduces her retired parent to Disney - pre trip report

[Danauk]

OK, so the title might change, but it was all I could think of for now to sum up the trip!

The cast: Me, Karen, 32 and a total Disney nut - 5th trip to DLRP and 3rd Disney trip this year!
DH, Pete, 33, puts up with my Disney obsession, loves our trips but not a Disneyholic like me!

Mum, my mum (62), never been to a Disney park before!
Dad, my dad, (65), also never been to a Disney park before!
(OK the only picture I could find on my computer of my parents was taken 5 years ago, they still look the same, DH and I on the other hand do not!)

The reason behind the trip: My parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last month and as their gift we are treating them to a trip to Disneyland Paris. I figured they might like to see what I love!

The plan: We are staying at the Disneyland hotel for 3 nights. We are driving across using the tunnel. I will drive to the tunnel and Pete will drive on the French side.

Sunday 26th October - My parents drive down from Leeds to stay over night (well until 2am!) at our house. We will spend the evening watching Disney DVD's, especially Nightmare Before Christmas as my parents won't have a clue who the Halloween characters are!

Monday 27th October - Leave our house at 2am eek: ) and drive the 3 hours to the tunnel. We were booked on the 6:20am crossing but I think this might change to 6:05am due to the fire. If we haven't heard from the tunnel a week before we go I'll phone to check. Hopefully we will arrive at DLRP between 11:00 - 11:30, then drop off our bags (I guess our room won't be ready yet) and head off into the parks. We have lunch booked at Walts at 1pm.

Tuesday 28th October - Make use of EMH, mid morning break at Salon Mickey (so I can use my shareholders card!) dinner booked at California Grill at 7pm followed by Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party.

Wednesday 29th October - Make use of EMH again, over to the studios for opening so we (meaning DH and I, possibly my dad if he liked BTMRR!!) can ride Crush. Dinner booked at Inventions.

Thursday 30th October - EMH again, then later check out of the hotel. Lunch at 12pm at the Lucky Nugget. Then mid afternoon drive back to the tunnel to go home.

I don't want to plan each day in too much detail, as my parents have never been before we kind of want to go with the flow. Pete and I have already been to Disneyland Paris and Disneyland this year so we have done our commando style trip for the year! However some must do's:
For me: To see the Lion King show.
For Pete: Ride RnRC and Space Mountain, he loves those rides.
Dad: He want to try "That runaway mine train thing." I love coasters and dad has never ridden one but he really wants to go on this.
Mum: Want to see the stunt car show and the show type attractions.

I am know the parks will be busy, but we will have the extra fastpass per day from the Disneyland hotel, plus we have the extra non expiring fast passes we got off ebay. I figured we have been to Disney parks enough times we know how to get ahead of the crowds and make the best guesses as to the order to do thing in. The other thing I really want to do it take lots of photographs. After our April trip and all the lovely comments I recieved about my photography I upgraded to a DSLR camera and am now really into photography. I want to take lots of nice pictures, especially pictures of the park in the dark as I have never been to DLRP when the park was open in the dark before.

So that is our plan. I'm usually really excited about our Disney trips, but this one I am finding it hard to get excited about. Maybe because I am trying not to plan as much!!

Apologies about the size of the pictures, I tried to resize them but it wouldn't let me!

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Great start hun!

How many badges have you got on that first pic lol.

 

[A Small World]

Brilliant start - Im sure you'll get more excited as it gets closer

 

[Danauk]

Great start hun!

How many badges have you got on that first pic lol.

Only 1, the other 2 are on the camera bag, Pete refused to put holes in his clothes but would carry the bag if they were on it! But I had just given the camera to the CM to take the photo so I had hold of the bag. We had to take the picture quickly as the train was about to pull out of the station and we wanted a picture by the caridge we had just ridden in (you can only ride in that carridge if you have a CM escort so not many people get to ride in it.)

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Only 1, the other 2 are on the camera bag, Pete refused to put holes in his clothes but would carry the bag if they were on it! But I had just given the camera to the CM to take the photo so I had hold of the bag. We had to take the picture quickly as the train was about to pull out of the station and we wanted a picture by the caridge we had just ridden in (you can only ride in that carridge if you have a CM escort so not many people get to ride in it.)

Thats really cool, how comes your only able to ride if a CM escorts you?

 

[Danauk]

Thats really cool, how comes your only able to ride if a CM escorts you?

Because the car is called the Lilly Belle (named after Lillian Disney) and is based on a design of the VIP car Walt wanted to use to transport his guests and VIP's around the park. The car contains some Disney memorabilia such as photos of Walt and Lillian, a replica of Walts jacket, antique furniture etc so you are only allowed on with a CM escort in case anyone pinches stuff! As we had a CM with us on our VIP tour we were allowed to ride in it.

 

[hildasmuriel]

Well I'm excited for you. We'll be there for the same days as you and in the same hotel and at MNSSHP.

I hope your mum and dad enjoy it too.

Good choices for your meals.

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Because the car is called the Lilly Belle (named after Lillian Disney) and is based on a design of the VIP car Walt wanted to use to transport his guests and VIP's around the park. The car contains some Disney memorabilia such as photos of Walt and Lillian, a replica of Walts jacket, antique furniture etc so you are only allowed on with a CM escort in case anyone pinches stuff! As we had a CM with us on our VIP tour we were allowed to ride in it.

Wow, i bet it was amazing.

 

[Cyrano]

Sounds like you have a great trip planned Karen

 

[Danauk]

Well I'm excited for you. We'll be there for the same days as you and in the same hotel and at MNSSHP.

I hope your mum and dad enjoy it too.

Good choices for your meals.

See you there!! I wonder if we will get in oneanothers photos again! lol At least this time we will know who one another is so we can say hi!

 

[Danauk]

Well I just spoke to my parents, my dad wanted to know if he needed to pack a suit and tie for evening dinner "in that posh hotel we are staying in!" I told him it wasn't necessary as we are going back into the park after dinner for the evening, just to wear something smart casual. I think they are getting quite excited about our trip! My mum wanted to know if we would meet Mickey and Minnie at any point! I haven't told them that 2 of our meals are character meals yet!!

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Well I just spoke to my parents, my dad wanted to know if he needed to pack a suit and tie for evening dinner "in that posh hotel we are staying in!" I told him it wasn't necessary as we are going back into the park after dinner for the evening, just to wear something smart casual. I think they are getting quite excited about our trip! My mum wanted to know if we would meet Mickey and Minnie at any point! I haven't told them that 2 of our meals are character meals yet!!

I'm so glad they are excited!

Are you going to tell them about the character meals before you get there or just take them and not say a word till the characters arrive? If that makes sense

 

[Danauk]

They'll find out when we get there. They have no pre concieved ideas about the park or experience so they will go with the flow!

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

They'll find out when we get there. They have no pre concieved ideas about the park or experience so they will go with the flow!

Your all going to have such a lovely time

 

[tennisfan]

Sounds like you are all going to have a great time Karen

 

[joolz1910]

This looks so exciting. Can I come with you? lol. What a lovely idea for your parents' wedding anniversary.

 

[Danauk]

I think I am finally getting excited about our trip. My parents phoned back this evening to ask a few more questions which is great. My mum, bless her, wanted to know if she needed to wear anything special if we were going to watch a show in the park! I told her it didn't matter and to pack comfy and warm clothes for the day!

 

[Ware Bears]

as I have never been to DLRP when the park was open in the dark before.

Make sure you ride BTM in the dark ~ it is great seeing everything lit up, the CMs really act their part up and I swear the train is much faster!!

My mum wanted to know if we would meet Mickey and Minnie at any point! I haven't told them that 2 of our meals are character meals yet!!

Oh bless, they are going to have such a lovely time!!

 

[Danauk]

Along with the Lion King, riding BTMRR is top of my to do list! I love riding coasters in the dark. I plan on riding both front and back seat in the dark for different experiences!!

 

[Rosie]

Your trip sounds fantastic!
I hope you all really enjoy it - I'm sure you will. I will look out for you as we will be there that week, staying at the Cheyenne.
I've read your trippies from California (we are going next August so I have been trying to pick up planning tips) and the trip on the Lilly Belle sounds really wonderful.
Have you thought about doing a guided tour of the park with your parents? I did it on my trip last may and it was really good, plus you get vip seats for the parade which in a busy week could be a big bonus.