joolz1910
<font color=green>I would have gone down to recept
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2008
Day 1 Sunday - Minor disappointment and a little surprise.
Despite an uneventful journey to CDG, I couldn't relax until we were on the VEA. The driver put on a promotional DVD and I heard the familiar song, 'Just Like We Dreamed It'. I must confess to staring very hard at the window and concentrating on not blubbing like an over-emotional lunatic. I'd told the girls to look out for a pink hotel and the anticipation really built as we were the last guests to be dropped off!
As the VEA pulled up outside the hotel, I felt like we were on a film set - the doormen in their uniforms buzzing about made it seem slightly surreal. We stepped into the lobby and I immediately felt at 'home'. I had feared it would be stuffy and that I would feel out of place - I need not have worried. Our luggage was whisked away and in no time at all, I had collected our park tickets and we were ready for the adventure to really begin.
The girls were adamant that they wanted to go to the Studios first. I resisted the urge to overrule them and with a bit of a twinge, we set off for the Studios. Our first stop was Crush's Coaster. Jessica was desperate to go on but the queue was 90 minutes and I distracted her with the Flying Carpet ride. Olivia had wanted to go on RNR first, so we headed over there and Olivia and Kev used the DLH Fastpasses to get on. She was jumping all over the place when she got off as she thought it was excellent. I am not a fan of this sort of ride, preferring old school coasters, so I was quite happy to get an umbrella photo opportunity. I told Jess that if she pressed the handle, the umbrella would rain on her. She was there for ages.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3473/3200185786_2bd1c3897d.jpg
The girls were a little hungry by now, so we went to the food place opposite RNR. We bought Olivia and Jessica a Mickey pizza each. They were so tiny - I'm sure they were bigger before! Each one would have fitted onto a tea plate. I had a hot chocolate and Kev had a coffee - both basically vending machine drinks and the bill for this feast? Just over 14 euros.
I will try not to go on about how much stuff costs, but really
Looming over our heads was TOT. Olivia was hopping from one foot to another, so we went on. I loved the whole concept of this ride and it became a firm favourite. I really liked the lobby with the abandoned luggage and umbrella, plus the way the lights dimmed with the power surges as you approached the service elevator. The CM's were particularly good on this ride, adding to the weird atmosphere with their austere looks. On the way up I was holding Olivia's hand really tightly as we were sitting right at the front. When the lift doors opened I nearly wet myself. The drop made me lift up out of my seat and we both screamed ourselves hoarse. As soon as we got off, Olivia took her Dad's hand and dragged him on too.
It was getting close to 3pm and I knew our room would be ready. We headed back to the hotel and got our room. We were in the East Wing, room 1206, overlooking the entrance. I was sooooo happy with the room. The steam train went past every now and then and I felt that we had a nice view over the entrance. I examined all of the little details, marvelling at the wallpaper and phone in the loo. I was pleased to see my robe and slippers waiting for me!
We freshened up and headed for the Park. Jessica had been hanging around in the Studios, so we promised we would 'do' Fantasyland. As we passed City Hall, I remembered to pop in and request our reservation slip for Walt's. I had booked Walt's for 5, hoping to get a window table and watch the parade from there. I was really looking forward to this and absolutely starving. The CM's checked and double checked and then informed me that Walt's was closed. I said that there must be a mistake as I had made a booking. The CM phoned Walt's and confirmed that the restaurant was closed. I was gutted. We were all hungry so I headed to Walt's to see what could be done. They had a couple of us who had been booked incorrectly. I decided to make a booking for the following day at 2pm. The CM booked us a table at The Steakhouse for 6pm that night. I was unhappy because we would be away from the Park when it was open until 8.
We had an hour to kill, so headed to the Castle. Jessica thought it was amazing. She hadn't realised it was real.
We explored the Castle and visited the dragon. We did Peter Pan - I love that ride - Scary Snow White ride and Pinocchio. We went on IASW and Emilia squealed with delight as soon as she saw the ice skating dolls. She loved this ride so much. We left the Park and went to The Steakhouse.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/3200185760_75b9310d2c.jpg
I would love one of these boats in my house. This is my favourite aspect of the ride.
I will write a review of The Steakhouse at a later date. The waitress who greeted us was miserable, rude and unhelpful, and I immediately thought this would be a bad choice. As it turned out, the food was very nice and our waiter was pleasant and courteous. We all had a drink included with our meal with the hb vouchers, which I hadn't expected. I did see the rude waitress tell an English family that premium vouchers were not accepted there. I wanted to say something but didn't want to interfere. I was so sure they could use them at face value, but she just dismissed this family. Anyway, it was 7.20 by the time we had finished eating. I left Kev to sort Emilia out and I ran back to the Park with Jess and Olivia to catch at least a couple of rides.
Thank you Disers! I suddenly remembered the advice to ride BTM in the dark. We did it three times in a row!!! It was so exhilarating, zooming through the cold night air in complete darkness. Jessica had officially fallen in love with this ride and I think she would have stayed on it all night. We walked back through the Park, stopping to admire the Castle lit up like a shimmering jewel. We could not believe how pretty it was. We got back to the hotel and the children got ready for bed.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3465/3200185766_66ff224e28.jpg
I'm sorry but I take terrible night-time photos.
We had an enormous travel cot, which Jess slept in because Emilia wouldn't, but it meant we had an extra 'bed' in a sense. I had really enjoyed having the hotel on the doorstep of the Park and felt happy and relaxed after our first day, having queued for between 5-15 minutes for most rides. Once the children were asleep, I decided to take a quick peek out of the window, and I got a lovely little surprise. There, in the distance, through a gap in the trees, I could see something twinkling. Yes, I had got a partial view of Sleeping Beauty's Castle.
Despite an uneventful journey to CDG, I couldn't relax until we were on the VEA. The driver put on a promotional DVD and I heard the familiar song, 'Just Like We Dreamed It'. I must confess to staring very hard at the window and concentrating on not blubbing like an over-emotional lunatic. I'd told the girls to look out for a pink hotel and the anticipation really built as we were the last guests to be dropped off!
As the VEA pulled up outside the hotel, I felt like we were on a film set - the doormen in their uniforms buzzing about made it seem slightly surreal. We stepped into the lobby and I immediately felt at 'home'. I had feared it would be stuffy and that I would feel out of place - I need not have worried. Our luggage was whisked away and in no time at all, I had collected our park tickets and we were ready for the adventure to really begin.
The girls were adamant that they wanted to go to the Studios first. I resisted the urge to overrule them and with a bit of a twinge, we set off for the Studios. Our first stop was Crush's Coaster. Jessica was desperate to go on but the queue was 90 minutes and I distracted her with the Flying Carpet ride. Olivia had wanted to go on RNR first, so we headed over there and Olivia and Kev used the DLH Fastpasses to get on. She was jumping all over the place when she got off as she thought it was excellent. I am not a fan of this sort of ride, preferring old school coasters, so I was quite happy to get an umbrella photo opportunity. I told Jess that if she pressed the handle, the umbrella would rain on her. She was there for ages.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3473/3200185786_2bd1c3897d.jpg
The girls were a little hungry by now, so we went to the food place opposite RNR. We bought Olivia and Jessica a Mickey pizza each. They were so tiny - I'm sure they were bigger before! Each one would have fitted onto a tea plate. I had a hot chocolate and Kev had a coffee - both basically vending machine drinks and the bill for this feast? Just over 14 euros.
I will try not to go on about how much stuff costs, but really Looming over our heads was TOT. Olivia was hopping from one foot to another, so we went on. I loved the whole concept of this ride and it became a firm favourite. I really liked the lobby with the abandoned luggage and umbrella, plus the way the lights dimmed with the power surges as you approached the service elevator. The CM's were particularly good on this ride, adding to the weird atmosphere with their austere looks. On the way up I was holding Olivia's hand really tightly as we were sitting right at the front. When the lift doors opened I nearly wet myself. The drop made me lift up out of my seat and we both screamed ourselves hoarse. As soon as we got off, Olivia took her Dad's hand and dragged him on too.
It was getting close to 3pm and I knew our room would be ready. We headed back to the hotel and got our room. We were in the East Wing, room 1206, overlooking the entrance. I was sooooo happy with the room. The steam train went past every now and then and I felt that we had a nice view over the entrance. I examined all of the little details, marvelling at the wallpaper and phone in the loo. I was pleased to see my robe and slippers waiting for me!
We freshened up and headed for the Park. Jessica had been hanging around in the Studios, so we promised we would 'do' Fantasyland. As we passed City Hall, I remembered to pop in and request our reservation slip for Walt's. I had booked Walt's for 5, hoping to get a window table and watch the parade from there. I was really looking forward to this and absolutely starving. The CM's checked and double checked and then informed me that Walt's was closed. I said that there must be a mistake as I had made a booking. The CM phoned Walt's and confirmed that the restaurant was closed. I was gutted. We were all hungry so I headed to Walt's to see what could be done. They had a couple of us who had been booked incorrectly. I decided to make a booking for the following day at 2pm. The CM booked us a table at The Steakhouse for 6pm that night. I was unhappy because we would be away from the Park when it was open until 8.
We had an hour to kill, so headed to the Castle. Jessica thought it was amazing. She hadn't realised it was real.
We explored the Castle and visited the dragon. We did Peter Pan - I love that ride - Scary Snow White ride and Pinocchio. We went on IASW and Emilia squealed with delight as soon as she saw the ice skating dolls. She loved this ride so much. We left the Park and went to The Steakhouse.http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/3200185760_75b9310d2c.jpg
I would love one of these boats in my house. This is my favourite aspect of the ride.
I will write a review of The Steakhouse at a later date. The waitress who greeted us was miserable, rude and unhelpful, and I immediately thought this would be a bad choice. As it turned out, the food was very nice and our waiter was pleasant and courteous. We all had a drink included with our meal with the hb vouchers, which I hadn't expected. I did see the rude waitress tell an English family that premium vouchers were not accepted there. I wanted to say something but didn't want to interfere. I was so sure they could use them at face value, but she just dismissed this family. Anyway, it was 7.20 by the time we had finished eating. I left Kev to sort Emilia out and I ran back to the Park with Jess and Olivia to catch at least a couple of rides.
Thank you Disers! I suddenly remembered the advice to ride BTM in the dark. We did it three times in a row!!! It was so exhilarating, zooming through the cold night air in complete darkness. Jessica had officially fallen in love with this ride and I think she would have stayed on it all night. We walked back through the Park, stopping to admire the Castle lit up like a shimmering jewel. We could not believe how pretty it was. We got back to the hotel and the children got ready for bed.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3465/3200185766_66ff224e28.jpg
I'm sorry but I take terrible night-time photos.
We had an enormous travel cot, which Jess slept in because Emilia wouldn't, but it meant we had an extra 'bed' in a sense. I had really enjoyed having the hotel on the doorstep of the Park and felt happy and relaxed after our first day, having queued for between 5-15 minutes for most rides. Once the children were asleep, I decided to take a quick peek out of the window, and I got a lovely little surprise. There, in the distance, through a gap in the trees, I could see something twinkling. Yes, I had got a partial view of Sleeping Beauty's Castle.
