bubblefactory
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2003
My DW has got sick of waiting for me to do it so here is her version !!
DLP May 03 ~ Day 1
We had an uneventful drive from Manchester to Kent yesterday, traffic free thank goodness. We rigged the laptop up so the girls could watch DVDs all the way which helped us keep moving. 4 ½ hours later we checked into The Ashford International Hotel, our usual stop over ready for the early morning shuttle.
Day 1 12/5/03
We left the hotel at 9.00 for our 10.10 shuttle crossing, the next one available when we arrived early was boarding in 10 minutes, so we took the early one no problem. I love the shuttle ~ much better than ferries IMHO!
25 minutes later, we arrive in France YIPPPEEEE!! Its dull, but who cares, weve packed the ponchos! Another 3 hours later and here we are. Whenever we start to see the Disneyland Paris signs, the kids want to play next one to spot a sign gets a pound we explain we use Euros now, so one Euro per sign ~ that saves us a bit of cash!
Okay, finally we follow the signs to our hotel The Disneyland and pull up to the barrier, show our res. No. and in we go. Every time we pull round the drive way and under the canopy, I get the butterflies. Its the best feeling in the world ~ WERE HERE! The guys quickly come round and open the door. Good morning MR & MRS .Kenyon we tell them . Ah Mr. Kenyon we have been expecting you . We are promptly given a ticket for the car, we tip the driver and leaving the car doors wide open and fully loaded we are taken past the usual reception desk in the lift, up to the second floor almost opposite the shop, where there is a little alcove discreetly marked Castle Club. The guy accompanying us picks up the little antique looking phone (I thought it was a prop!) and calls for them to send the lift down for us. WOW! We feel really special
)) The doors ping open and in we get to be taken to the secret floors. The 3rd floor is where the concierge desk is located. Alec is sat down to be told the details while the children and I are taken to the Castle Club lounge for a drink. OMG the view from there is amazing. Straight down Main St. we can see the castle beckoning us
..
Al returns to the CCL for a drink and when hes finished we are to return to the desk to be shown to our room. (We would have just gone but dont know the number!) Our room is on the 4th floor where the BIG suites are, but ours is a standard CC room ~ DOH! Standard is far above average here though. Waiting for us are: 2 souvenir glasses full of sweets with 2 Dumbos sat next to them. Presumably for the kids! For Mummy and Daddy: A crystal vase full of fresh pink roses and ..a bottle of Taittinger on ice with flutes WOW Im already trying to schedule a trip for later in the year by now))
Off to the park not too busy, straight on the rides. Its about 5.00pm by now weather dry but dull, fine by us. We use our VIP fast pass (got those at the CC concierge desk) on Peter Pan as this was the only ride with a wait which was about 20 mins. If the FP queue is closed as the tickets have been distributed, you go up the exit ramp and they load you there. A few glaring stares from the people waiting, but hey, Ill survive hehe. The VIP FP means you dont have to keep getting FPs you use the same card all the time which has an expiry date til you leave. Few more rides are done with no wait. Our 2 yr old DD LOVES POTC we all skip back to the hotel singing .Yo Ho Yo Ho a pirates life for me
Time for dinner, were all tired, so after a quick shower/bath session we head up to Disney Village tonight. Rain Forest Café it is ..we always eat here once for the kids, they love the storms and the monkeys! I had the Asian beef? Beef in orange spicy sauce with rice And Al had mojo bones ( ribs ) The 2 girls had hot dogs and it cost 100 euros with drinks and deserts. Food was good, service okay, but they were very busy.
Take the short walk back to the hotel and collapse exhausted.
DLP May 03 ~ Day 1
We had an uneventful drive from Manchester to Kent yesterday, traffic free thank goodness. We rigged the laptop up so the girls could watch DVDs all the way which helped us keep moving. 4 ½ hours later we checked into The Ashford International Hotel, our usual stop over ready for the early morning shuttle.
Day 1 12/5/03
We left the hotel at 9.00 for our 10.10 shuttle crossing, the next one available when we arrived early was boarding in 10 minutes, so we took the early one no problem. I love the shuttle ~ much better than ferries IMHO!
25 minutes later, we arrive in France YIPPPEEEE!! Its dull, but who cares, weve packed the ponchos! Another 3 hours later and here we are. Whenever we start to see the Disneyland Paris signs, the kids want to play next one to spot a sign gets a pound we explain we use Euros now, so one Euro per sign ~ that saves us a bit of cash!
Okay, finally we follow the signs to our hotel The Disneyland and pull up to the barrier, show our res. No. and in we go. Every time we pull round the drive way and under the canopy, I get the butterflies. Its the best feeling in the world ~ WERE HERE! The guys quickly come round and open the door. Good morning MR & MRS .Kenyon we tell them . Ah Mr. Kenyon we have been expecting you . We are promptly given a ticket for the car, we tip the driver and leaving the car doors wide open and fully loaded we are taken past the usual reception desk in the lift, up to the second floor almost opposite the shop, where there is a little alcove discreetly marked Castle Club. The guy accompanying us picks up the little antique looking phone (I thought it was a prop!) and calls for them to send the lift down for us. WOW! We feel really special
)) The doors ping open and in we get to be taken to the secret floors. The 3rd floor is where the concierge desk is located. Alec is sat down to be told the details while the children and I are taken to the Castle Club lounge for a drink. OMG the view from there is amazing. Straight down Main St. we can see the castle beckoning us
..Al returns to the CCL for a drink and when hes finished we are to return to the desk to be shown to our room. (We would have just gone but dont know the number!) Our room is on the 4th floor where the BIG suites are, but ours is a standard CC room ~ DOH! Standard is far above average here though. Waiting for us are: 2 souvenir glasses full of sweets with 2 Dumbos sat next to them. Presumably for the kids! For Mummy and Daddy: A crystal vase full of fresh pink roses and ..a bottle of Taittinger on ice with flutes WOW Im already trying to schedule a trip for later in the year by now
))Off to the park not too busy, straight on the rides. Its about 5.00pm by now weather dry but dull, fine by us. We use our VIP fast pass (got those at the CC concierge desk) on Peter Pan as this was the only ride with a wait which was about 20 mins. If the FP queue is closed as the tickets have been distributed, you go up the exit ramp and they load you there. A few glaring stares from the people waiting, but hey, Ill survive hehe. The VIP FP means you dont have to keep getting FPs you use the same card all the time which has an expiry date til you leave. Few more rides are done with no wait. Our 2 yr old DD LOVES POTC we all skip back to the hotel singing .Yo Ho Yo Ho a pirates life for me
Time for dinner, were all tired, so after a quick shower/bath session we head up to Disney Village tonight. Rain Forest Café it is ..we always eat here once for the kids, they love the storms and the monkeys! I had the Asian beef? Beef in orange spicy sauce with rice And Al had mojo bones ( ribs ) The 2 girls had hot dogs and it cost 100 euros with drinks and deserts. Food was good, service okay, but they were very busy.
Take the short walk back to the hotel and collapse exhausted.
