DREAMing, some MAGIC and a little bit of Paris! Trip report link!

[dizneeat]

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[MAGICFOR2]

HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!!!

 

[dizneeat]

Just wanted to let you all know that we are all packed and ready to go. It's going to be a long and exhausting travel day, but we will enjoy our full Saturday at DLP to the fullest.
Don't know about the internet conncetion as this is going to be a new hotel, but if I can I will check in.

See you all again next week!

And while we are gone, have a peek of what's to come! Remy experience

 

[KatMark]

Have a great time!

 

[Leshaface]

Hope you and Tom have an absolutely AMAZING time and can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[Kleese]

It's been a long time since I've been on here but I can't wait to catch up on your threads I hope all is well with you and your brother . I am so excited to to catch up, Your going to make my weekend!

 

[Teri1]

Have fun on your DLP trip!

 

[LuvEeyore]

Hope you are having a great time in DLP.

 

[englishrose47]

Just popping in to say Hi!!!

 

[dizneeat]

Yay for Disney Dollars!

While giving Calvin a bath a few nights ago, I was telling him about how you're going to be able to go to a preview for the mini-land and how fun that would be, he started talking about traveling to Europe in general and entertaining the idea of visiting DLP. This is huge progress! If I would have mentioned DLP to him 5 years ago, it would have been a HUGE no. There is too much too see over there than waste a day at DLP was his reasoning. But now he's considering it. Not sure when, but hopefully sooner than later.

Yeah! As long as you plant the idea of visiting Europe in his head and he responds well to it, I can see you come to my side of the pond and our version of the parks soon.
And you are right - there IS a lot to see here, so much history and so many countries that are so different, yet so close together.

Will you be able to eat at the new restaurant?

The restaurant was open and we were able to "peek in", but only through a window. We were able to secure a reservation on our second day at DLP later that summer though. Guess, that's not too bad, as by then they will have worked out all the kinks.

And you're so sweet to think of Calvin, but you really don't have to do that. I'm just super excited to see all your pictures and hear about your experience!

Unfortunately time was pretty short and I could not find what I really wanted for Calvin, but don't worry, we are going back in under 40 days and will stay for 11 days - so there will be lots of time to find something cute for cute little Calvin.

I have been thinking about DLP for a while, but now I REALLY want to go! I already have a huge travel wish list. I have no idea when or how I am going to manage to fit DLP in.

I can't wait to read your report on the new Ratatouille ride.

You would love it here too. It is different, yet, so similar, if that makes sense. And why not take a trip to Europe, get yourself on one of those Med cruises that DCL is offering (or even a Baltic ) visit some of the countries here (must see Austria ) and finish it all off with a trip to DLP. How do I do as a TA?

I hope to have the weekend trip report up by next week. I am FINALLY on vacation and have to catch up on everything, including my own TRs.

HAVE A GREAT TRIP!!!!

Thanks Tammie, we had a wonderful weekend and the new ride is just awesome!

 

[dizneeat]

Have a great time!

Thanks, Kathy!
It was a short, but fun trip.

Hope you and Tom have an absolutely AMAZING time and can't wait to hear all about it!

Thank you! We did have a great time, even though the weather did not cooperate.

It's been a long time since I've been on here but I can't wait to catch up on your threads I hope all is well with you and your brother . I am so excited to to catch up, Your going to make my weekend!

Welcome back!
Hope our adventures didn't disappoint. I had a bit of a stressful patch lately and haven't had time to update much, but that should change now that I am on vacation.
There are lots of planning updates for our Med cruise.

Have fun on your DLP trip!

Thanks Teresa!
It was such a fun trip, especially since it had come so unexpected.

 

[dizneeat]

Hope you are having a great time in DLP.

Thank you! We had a great time!

Just popping in to say Hi!!!

Hi Rosie!

 

[MEK]

Hey Karin -

Welcome Back! Hope you had a wonderful time in DLP. Can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[eandesmom]

Welcome back!

 

[Leshaface]

Welcome back! I was wondering the other day when we were going to hear from you

Well at least you got a reservation at the restaurant to make up for that 'peek' Which, BTW, very awesome that you're going again in 40 days! Very cool

I can't wait to hear about the ride and see your pictures!

 

[perfectmatch300]

You would love it here too. It is different, yet, so similar, if that makes sense. And why not take a trip to Europe, get yourself on one of those Med cruises that DCL is offering (or even a Baltic ) visit some of the countries here (must see Austria ) and finish it all off with a trip to DLP. How do I do as a TA?

I hope to have the weekend trip report up by next week. I am FINALLY on vacation and have to catch up on everything, including my own TRs.

Yes, Karin, you would make a great TA! Your trip reports alone are enough to have me sold. Unfortunately our bank account is not as big as my trip wish list.

I'm sure we would love DLRP. I get what you mean about mean about it being different, but at the same time so similar. That is exactly how we felt about going to Disneyland in CA as opposed to always being in WDW. One of our funniest moments was walking into Disneyland and realizing that we needed a park map! Here at WDW we have no need at all for a park map!

I am adding your proposed itinerary to my trip wish list because the whole trip does sound really good. Just remember the list is already quite long. I will llet you know when we decide to head your way.

 

[dizneeat]

Hey Karin -

Welcome Back! Hope you had a wonderful time in DLP. Can't wait to hear all about it!

Thank you, Mary Ellen! We had a really nice time at DLP. TR coming up VERY shortly.

Welcome back!

Thank you, Cynthia!

Welcome back! I was wondering the other day when we were going to hear from you

Thank you! I took me a few days to grasp the fact that I am on my blissful 9 week break. I am really enjoying it so far, especially NOT having to get up with an alarm clock!

Well at least you got a reservation at the restaurant to make up for that 'peek' Which, BTW, very awesome that you're going again in 40 days! Very cool

We cannot wait to try the new restaurant - menu looks interesting and the new French area is so neat.

I can't wait to hear about the ride and see your pictures!

I have a few fun pictures to share and a ride video too!

Yes, Karin, you would make a great TA! Your trip reports alone are enough to have me sold. Unfortunately our bank account is not as big as my trip wish list.

I think, that is a common problem - the bank account not being big enough for the travel wish list. I have the added problem that I don't have enough time to travel either.

I'm sure we would love DLRP. I get what you mean about mean about it being different, but at the same time so similar. That is exactly how we felt about going to Disneyland in CA as opposed to always being in WDW. One of our funniest moments was walking into Disneyland and realizing that we needed a park map! Here at WDW we have no need at all for a park map!

OMG how funny is it, that you needed a park map. My huge problem is that I want to go on attractions that are in a different park. Or I turn one direction and tell Tom that we are going to use this or that shortcut and he points out that we are on the wrong continent for that.

I am adding your proposed itinerary to my trip wish list because the whole trip does sound really good. Just remember the list is already quite long. I will llet you know when we decide to head your way.

If you should ever come to Europe, just let me know and I'll help you plan.

 

[perfectmatch300]

If you should ever come to Europe, just let me know and I'll help you plan.

I hope I can hold you to that promise sooner rather than later.

I can't wait to see your pictures and video.

 

[dizneeat]

I hope I can hold you to that promise sooner rather than later.

I can't wait to see your pictures and video.

You sure can!

Trip report is about to start!

 

[dizneeat]

Day 1, June 27
„Hurry up“ - Part 1

Now, there is a little story behind this trip report – one that led us on a few detours. But let’s start at the beginning……
On June 14th Tom got an email with an invitation to the pre-view of Remy, the adventure. It was in French, but we were able to figure out that we had to sign up on the 16th if we wanted to take part. Some bells went off in my head and I asked Tom if he wanted to go there. His answer was a wholehearted YES!! So we checked on flights, which we intended to pay for with air-miles, looked for a hotel and found one that was a “good neighbour” and contemplated IF we could pull it off to stay at a Disney hotel with a discount. Their booking office was already closed that day, so the next day I called and I did not like what I was told. The cast member on the phone told me that they only allowed ONE person to sign up per email. Well, we had only gotten one email, so it was only Tom who was going to be able to sign up. The prices for the hotels were insane and after some lengthy discussion we decided it was not to happen. Instead I wrote a long letter to guest services, expressing how disappointed we were and that I was sure we were not the only ones.
The next day, I tried the sign up site “just for fun” and with the hope that it would let me sign up more than one person. Well, this being Disney, when sign up opened, the site went down. It took them 10 hours to get it back up and then I played around an low and behold it lets me sign up Tom, BUT, the the confirmation I got showed that all my previously made choices of day and time had reverted back to the original settings on the site. Yippie! Tom was now signed up to visit on Sunday between 5 and 6pm. No chance we were going to be able to do that, fly home and be back in time to go to work the next day.
The next day I played around on the site a bit more to see if I could correct the mistake, but it went down again. So I let go of our hotel room and said goodbye to the idea of spending a weekend in Paris. In the afternoon of that same day I got the answer to the email I had sent them. They were apologizing profusely and told us that indeed we could both sign up, every Dream Annual Passholder would be welcome and if we were willing to travel, they would set us up. Yippie, nice, I jumped on the idea, wrote back and then remembered that now we didn’t have a room and I had not checked on flights again. Needless to say, the room I had cancelled was no longer available, so I grabbed the next best room on the “booking” site, only to find out lateron that it was quite a way away from everything. I checked for flights and the flight we had wanted to take, flying out at 6.10pm was no longer available. The only one available was one that left our home-town at 3pm and school ended at 1pm. (It’s a half hour drive to our house and then another 20 – 25 minutes drive to the airport IF there are no traffic jams.) Tom would have to start work two hours early to be able to leave in time, which made him get up at 3am in the morning. We talked it over and decided not to wait for the promised confirmation email from Disneyland Paris and just go ahead and book the flights. We were now all set, just the promised confirmation email from Disney was missing. We waited for it for the rest of the week, then I called them again and they confirmed that we were all signed up for Saturday, between 4 and 5pm.
In the following week I was even able to find an aparthotel, which we prefer to the regular hotels, right next to the huge shopping center we go to, close to our favourite bakery and only a 3 minute drive from Disneyland Paris. We were all set to go, even had everything packed the day before.



So, on Friday the 27th, Tom started work super early and did his best to be super fast on his round and he ended up being back by 1pm. I had asked our headmistress if I could start the last lesson a little early and she had agreed to it. So by 1pm I was in my car and driving to Tom’s place. I arrived shortly before half past 1 and Tom had prepared a sandwich, which was waiting for me on the table, and some Diet Coke. So after a few bites and some Coke we closed up shop and headed to the car. There is always a good chance of hitting a traffic jam on Fridays, but we were lucky. Only a few areas of slow bumper to bumper traffic, otherwise we were free to go. We made it to the airport at 10 past 2, parked in the short term spaces right at the entrance, took out our luggage and headed inside to check it in. There is a luggage drop off at the business class check in and no one ever uses it, so we were lucky and went right up to the counter, and soon our luggage was on its way. The two of us headed back to the car and drove it over to the regular parking lot, where we both breathed a sigh of relieve that we had made it in time. Back in the terminal we went through security and headed right over to our gate, where it did not take long until our gate opened and we were able to walk over to the plane. We found our seats, settled in and soon enough the doors were closed and we were heading towards the runway for take off.





This is only a 55 minute flight, so as soon as we had reached cruising altitude,



the flight attendants handed out





Nussini wafer bars, shortly followed by drinks,



water for me and a Diet Coke for Tom. After that we sat back and tried to relax, but we were soon descending onto Frankfurt airport.



About 20 minutes later we found ourselves on a shuttle bus to the terminal building. We only had 45 minutes until our connecting flight, so we were happy to find out that it was just a few gates down from where we had arrived. We walked there and found that they were delayed because the incoming plane had been late.
So we got in line anyway and finally got to board.



Once boarding had started they did their best to get us out of Frankfurt.





Soon board service began and we were handed a







Herbed curd and Cheddar Cheese sandwich, together with some drinks. Again, this is a very short flight



and just under an hour and before we knew it we landed in Paris.









Soon we were off and on our way to baggage claim. We could not believe our eyes, when the first few pieces arrived shortly after we had made our way there. And then we waited, and waited and waited some more. Every now and then there would be a few pieces of luggage and then it would stop again. After a while I sent Tom to the rental car booth while I waited for the luggage.
It still took quite a while until it arrived, but finally I was on my way out of the arrivals area. Tom had already finalized all the paperwork and we were heading up to the parking lot to find our car. Directions were to go to a special area and just press the key to find it. Well, that was exactly what we did. We found our car, walked round and noticed some minor damages,





but having been falsely accused of damaging a car before I made sure we took pics of everything and back I went to let them know about it. The girl at the counter looked at my pics and added a few crosses to the contract and then finally we were ready to leave. We followed the arrows on the floor and soon exited the parking structure and finally our GPS was able to connect and give us some news.
Tom has got a TomTom Live, which gives you live updates and offers a detour if necessary. This time it told us that we were in for a 50 minute delay on the motorway.



Yikes! But wait, it offered us an alternative route that was 48 minutes shorter. Much more up our street, so we quickly left the motorway and followed the country roads.





It was already 8pm and we still had a 45 minute drive ahead of us. But we really never hit the traffic jam and when we finally got back onto the motorway it was smooth sailing all the way to our hotel. We were lucky to be able to park right opposite the hotel, headed inside and were checked in in no time. They even had honoured our request of a higher floor and were on the top floor.


To be continued .....​