A Bird's Eye View of London and Paris March 2012 TR NEW! The END 1/12 p35

[MeMom]

Then we stopped in a patisserie and bought some treats, and of course, a baguette!! (Marie! The baguettes!)

First thing that comes to mind for me, too - "Marie, the baguettes!"

Cute pictures of you guys being silly!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Sheree, I am all caught up again!

I love that blue and white coffee mug in the upper left corner in the first of the souvenir pics. That would have had to come home with me.

How fun that you were able to take a boat ride down the Seine AND you were able to see Notre Dame!

I adore your striped shirts and beret shots -- those are great!!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

First thing that comes to mind for me, too - "Marie, the baguettes!"

Cute pictures of you guys being silly!

Thanks, it was fun to be silly!

Sheree, I am all caught up again!

I love that blue and white coffee mug in the upper left corner in the first of the souvenir pics. That would have had to come home with me.

How fun that you were able to take a boat ride down the Seine AND you were able to see Notre Dame!

I adore your striped shirts and beret shots -- those are great!!!

Well, now that you're caught up, I'll post another update!
I saw too many things I liked - the good part of being indecisive, is that I ended up not buying that much stuff - I just couldn't decide!! I'm getting better, but I did remember that I had to get everything home somehow too! That stopped me from over buying.
Even in the rain - the boat ride was cool. I just wish I could remember al the things they said about the buildings and history.

That striped shirt is one of my favorites - even when I'm not in France! HA!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

This morning we went down to breakfast and got to eat in the Parkside Diner, the other restaurant at the hotel. It was all the same food, so we filled up on our usual!
French Stacy

Would you look at that? The sun is out today!!

On the ground they had these markers that showed all the Disney parks and dates of opening. I thought it was cool. Sarah just wanted me to take a picture of the horse.

The original

I thought I got them all, maybe not!
We decided to head back over to Disneyland today and experience the park in the sunshine – LOTS of pictures today!

I think that was the actual time!

I didn't see any names I recognized. Go figure.

Town Square

Just in case...Ou es toilette? Right here!

Main Street

Still hard to read the windows.
But I found some amusing ones!

I think this was off to the side of Main Street and on the right it looks like a tunnel - that's the "arcade" where you can walk along behind the shops. There's bathrooms back there too if I recall.

This was opposite of the arcade

Cont. in next post...

 

[Mndisneygirl]

cont.
Here's a better shot of the "Discovery Arcade". I guess it leads toward Discoveryland! Duh.

I love these clever signs!

Continuing on down Main Street - AH - the pretty castle!!!

Not 100% sure what the "sweets for ladies" are...

Cute little area to eat off to the side of Main Street.

Window shopping

This is where we got the fabulous croque monsieur sandwich!

You can also call it a self portrait! HA - I was just pausing and snapping pictures of EVERYTHING as we walked down Main Street!

Would Sarah be able to get ice cream here EVER?

It's not looking so good.

Too early for Casey's I guess!

Fun trolley!

Sarah would just want to ride the horse!

It would be such a great picture without those green walls...

Off to the right there's an information board.
What should we do first?

This is to the right of the board - kind of like where the Plaza and the Tomorrowland Terrace are at WDW.

I think more castle pictures are a good idea!

Sarah, maybe you could move a little closer?

That's better!!

These type of signs were all around the green walls. I don't know what they were doing in there- but I'm guessing it was prep for the 20th anniversary celebration coming up!

I like this one!

More castle pictures coming up...

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Gosh, I hope you guys like castle pictures! I think I'll post a bunch! We walked around to the right of the castle toward Discoveryland and saw this area with a stage and all kinds of neat photo ops!

The castle from a different angle

Then if you turn around, you're facing the entry to Discoveryland.
They had a cool fountain - the ducks seemed to like it!

Let's go to Discoveryland!

Anyone want to fight Zurg?

Not feeling like waiting that long. Let's get FPs!

Are the FP machines at WDW that cool? It's been so long - I forget! I am so glad I'm going back in 5 weeks!!!!

Exit - one French word we learned while there!

We decided while we were waiting for our FP time, we'd go back to ride Casey Jr and Storybook boats.
On the way - some more photos!

A view of the moat

I'm wishing...

I wonder if Giselle is down there...

I just LOVE THIS CASTLE!!!

Isn't this cute? It's on the way around the castle to the right, where you'd come out near the teacups and IASW. I think sometimes they have gelato there.

and pizza

cont.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I am on a roll this morning - more pictures!!!

Caught a few characters making their way backstage!

Oh, here's the gelato place!

Can you tell that I'm just going by the pictures as they show up in photo bucket? I'm hoping they are sort of in order of as we walked through the park!

IASW? Not right now, thanks.

My girls wanted to ride the Circus Train - the monkeys that they are!

Gosh, could they look any happier? I love it!

Looks like we were near the back of this train!

Then we went right next door to ride the Storybook Boats. I'll try not to post all the same ones as before - but some of these are better with it being sunny and all.

Hi Dopey!

OOH, nasty old hag!

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!

Do you think this will be what our new addition to Fantasyland looks like?

That girl is so peculiar...

maybe this will be part of new Fantasyland too!

After our storybook ride, we went back and rode Casey Jr. AGAIN! The girls are currently sitting with me as I post this, and Sarah just started singing, "Casey Jr.'s back, Casey Jr.'s back..."
It's a very catchy tune!

More construction...

Our time for FPs for Buzz wasn’t ready yet, so we wandered over to get FPs for BTMRR and took some pictures
Dumbo

And I had to grab some of this guy for my friends who remember Mr. Toad (he was gone from WDW before I ever went there)
Here in Paris he has a dining hall rather than a ride.

Okay - I'm going to have to take a break now.
Next - we get FPs for BTMRR - ride Buzz, and where will we eat lunch???

 

[MEK]

We decided to head back over to Disneyland today and experience the park in the sunshine – LOTS of pictures today!

I REALLY want to stay there. It's so gorgeous!

Yeah for finally getting some sunshine! Everything looks sooooooo beautiful. I love, love, LOVE all your pictures! I can't believe the sun FINALLY came out. I feel like you I am actually seeing what the park really looks like for the first time.

Is is just me or does the French Stacy Look really young? Like teenager young?

That castle is so stunning.

No, the FPs machine at WDW (and Buzz) do not look nearly that cool. Sorry.

But Yeah for 5 weeks!

 

[Lil'Mermaid75]

Look at that sunshine! Love the smiles on the girls' faces - pure joy! Great pictures of the castle - it's just beautiful!

 

[eandesmom]

Gorgeous gorgeous pictures! Looks like it was still cold but YAY for the sun!!!

I agree, French Stacy looks tres young.

 

[dato63]

I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying following along on your vacation. Love seeing your DDs light up.

I'm curious - do you have an opinion on how many days you need at DLP to do it justice? I'm working on our vacation plan and trying to figure out how many days in London, how many in Paris & how many for DLP.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I REALLY want to stay there. It's so gorgeous!

Yeah for finally getting some sunshine! Everything looks sooooooo beautiful. I love, love, LOVE all your pictures! I can't believe the sun FINALLY came out. I feel like you I am actually seeing what the park really looks like for the first time.

Is is just me or does the French Stacy Look really young? Like teenager young?

That castle is so stunning.

No, the FPs machine at WDW (and Buzz) do not look nearly that cool. Sorry.

But Yeah for 5 weeks!

Yeah, I was wishing I was staying at Disneyland Hotel too. But the financial responsibility angel on my shoulder won out.
The sun did make everything better and more enjoyable!
Stacy seems like a teenager to me!
Good to know about the FP machines - thought I might have missed something or was losing my mind!
I'm getting so excited for October - I hope I can wrap this up! But there's a lot of London left - I may have to be judicious with my photo selection. Wouldn't want to bore anyone!

Look at that sunshine! Love the smiles on the girls' faces - pure joy! Great pictures of the castle - it's just beautiful!

Oh yeah- they sure looked happy! Like I say - I love that castle!!!

Gorgeous gorgeous pictures! Looks like it was still cold but YAY for the sun!!!

I agree, French Stacy looks tres young.

Thanks! It was still chilly - but much more pleasant.

I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying following along on your vacation. Love seeing your DDs light up.

I'm curious - do you have an opinion on how many days you need at DLP to do it justice? I'm working on our vacation plan and trying to figure out how many days in London, how many in Paris & how many for DLP.

Thanks! The girls just loved everything about this trip - I think they were the perfect age!

I would say 3 or 4 depending on when you are going. If things are open, (some things were not in March) you might want more time. We did not do some of the big thrill rides, so we didn't need time for that. If it's summer - it will be more crowded and you will have longer lines. But the parks are small and very easy to cover all of it in a few days. I hope that helps. I'd want at least 2-3 in the city, and well London - depending on what you want to do - 4-5 for sure. I would have enjoyed another day in Paris for sure if we could have managed it.
Keep in mind we left DLP on 3/9 and still had 5 more days in London!

 

[dato63]

Thanks! The girls just loved everything about this trip - I think they were the perfect age!

I would say 3 or 4 depending on when you are going. If things are open, (some things were not in March) you might want more time. We did not do some of the big thrill rides, so we didn't need time for that. If it's summer - it will be more crowded and you will have longer lines. But the parks are small and very easy to cover all of it in a few days. I hope that helps. I'd want at least 2-3 in the city, and well London - depending on what you want to do - 4-5 for sure. I would have enjoyed another day in Paris for sure if we could have managed it.
Keep in mind we left DLP on 3/9 and still had 5 more days in London![/FONT]

Thank you that does help. We would be going during the summer - and will have 2 weeks. So I will look at 3 - 4 days for DLP, and then break the rest up between Paris and London. I have guide books, but it is still hard for me to imagine as I've never been to Europe at all.

I do enjoy seeing what your DDs are enjoying, not just because they are so darn cute - but it helps me imagine what mine may enjoy too.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Thank you that does help. We would be going during the summer - and will have 2 weeks. So I will look at 3 - 4 days for DLP, and then break the rest up between Paris and London. I have guide books, but it is still hard for me to imagine as I've never been to Europe at all.

I do enjoy seeing what your DDs are enjoying, not just because they are so darn cute - but it helps me imagine what mine may enjoy too.

You're too kind - thank you! My girls are definitely not daredevils, so that dictated our ride selection. But stay tuned for the highlights of London and see what they liked best there.
I know how you feel - you can read all the books, watch videos etc., and you just don't know what it will feel like! Both cities are pretty tourist friendly though, so that's a good first trip to Europe if you ask me!

 

[petals]

Luvin all the updates and pics. I'm really hoping those storybook boats are open in November there's alot of rumour they might not be

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Luvin all the updates and pics. I'm really hoping those storybook boats are open in November there's alot of rumour they might not be

Thanks!
I hope you get to ride them - they are just so cute and the detail on the displays is pretty incredible!! I think you have to ride them a few times to catch all of it!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Love all the Disneyland Paris pictures -- of course, I would really, really, really like to eat at Toad Hall Restaurant!!! How great is that???

I love how excited and happy the girls look!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Great pictures!! And I was beginning to wonder if the sun ever shone over there!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Beautiful pictures! That really is a gorgeous castle.

 

[ClaireW]

Glad to see the sun was shining for you at last!
And doesn't that castle look pretty?

You got lots of pictures into this update - but when DLP is so small you certainly get time to pick up on all the little details. It's a shame there were a few things not open when you were there but looks like the girls founds lots they liked anyway!