Day 1: December 10, 2006 Im going with the love of my life to that other love of my life!
Actually, I still have to tell you something about D-Day 1. On Saturday night, my mom, oldest brother, DBF and me went to a Lions Club fundraising dinner that is held each year during the Christmas market. After the dinner DBF and I wandered around on the market, and it was already quite late when he dropped me off at home. And at that point, I still had to pack. I can only pack when Im under time pressure. Like, way under time pressure, lol!
OK, Sunday morning is there, and at 5.45 am, my alarm clocks wakes me up, and by the time its 6.10, my mom has already called me about 10 times and Im finally out of my bed, in the shower and getting dressed. I had told my dad, who would drive me and my suitcase to the underground station, that I wanted to leave by 7 am. It was about 7.10 when I was finally ready, which is not too bad. Im a last minute girl, and I always need way more time than I thought. But I hate being late. Which means that I know the concept of stress
I was lucky and didnt have to wait to long for a train, and about 15 minutes later, I was in Brussels South station, where Thalys, TGV, Eurostar, ICE etc arrive and depart. I arrived a couple of minutes before DBF, who came with the regular train from his town.
Now, as long as I havent eaten breakfast, I dont feel human, so first stop was Panos, where DBF got chocolate rolls (I think) and I got THE calory bomb: Swiss rolls (they consist of about 110% sugar) (I love them, and without those, I cant start a Disney trip!)
After buying those, we went up to the platform, boarded the train, and by the time we were seated, the train left right on time (I think it was 7.57 am or so).
During the 1 hour and 27 minutes that the train ride takes, we ate our breakfast (and I felt human again, I am human again, lalalalalalaaaaaaaaa Dont you love that song out of Beauty and the Beast??), DBF slept a little (hes not a morning person) and I watched the French countryside out of the window.
And then came the BIG moment: we arrived at
DISNEYLAND RESORT PARIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Out the train, up the elevator, out the station, walk to the bus stop and wait
wait
wait
wait
and wait even longer. We saw multiple busses for about every hotel/destination possible, but not for the Hotel New York. And since I didnt know how far it was if you take the regular road, and didnt want to go through bag check when you go through the Village, I didnt want to walk. Finally a bus arrived, we boarded and then we waited and waited and waited even longer. For chrissake, dont you Disney-people understand that the mouse is waiting for us?????????? Dont make me wait this long!!!!!! In the end, the bus departed, and about 20 seconds later
we arrived at the Hotel New York, with only one other couple to check in.
Check in went easy (I let DBF be in charge of everything
it was difficult to let go the control over my Disney-vacation, but I managed to do it.
), the room wasnt ready yet, so we handed over our suitcases and HERE WE GOOOOOO! Yeah, I know, at DLP, Peter Pan says something in French, but I cant remember what he says
After a short walk through the Village (OMG, so many people at the Village at this time of the day?? Whats happening) and a quick view on the Walt Disney Studios (OMG, you must be kidding me! There are huge lines to get into the Studios???? And they have been open for an hour already or so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) we arrive at the Disneyland Park entrance and
I almost
The lines are
humongous (sp?). TG for Le Salon Mickey, where we enjoyed a cup of tea/ coffee and I ate another pain au chocolat. Oh please, Disney-calories are magical, they disappear when you leave the park, right? RIGHT????? Never mind. By the time we finished our breakfast and after I was in awe for the beautiful ladies room (DBF: you didnt take a picture of a restroom, did you???? No, I didnt. For the simple reason that I didnt have my camera with me
Next time, I WILL take a picture of it!), our park passes were validated, and we went through the secret door right into the park. DBF comment: That shareholders club card is worth it, just for not having to wait in that humongous line o enter the park. Of course DBF, why did you think that I thought of using the darn thing, even if you were not hungry or thirsty??? Instead of waiting in line to enter, we enjoyed the peace and quiet of an exclusive salon. Sorry, I didnt take pictures. I know
But I was too busy being in love and being happy, that I didnt think of taking pictures.
Once we were in the park, my impression was confirmed: this was not a good day to visit Disneyland. I have never seen so many people in the park, not even two Christmasses ago, when the park was extremely crowded. This time, it was insane. By the end of the day, I was insane.
To give you an idea: BTM: 110 minutes wait (and about a 30-minute wait to get a Fastpass. The line in front of those machines was
. Never seen before!). POTC: 85 minutes wait. IASW: 60 minutes wait. Space Mountain: 90 minutes wait. Im sorry, but Im not waiting that long for a ride. What did we do that first day?
We first went to Phantom Manor (only 20 minutes wait), and after that, we cruised on the Mark Twain (the boat was packed
. First time I see THAT happening!). By the time we were back on land, DBF was hungry, and wanted a hamburger and we decided (OK, I decided) to go to the Village House. Oh, thats true, its called Le Chalet de la Marionette in this park. Sorry, Im still a little in Disneyland mode, havent switched to the Disneyland Paris mode.
This is the first time ever that I notice that this restaurant has an Adventureland side. Its also the first time that I notice that there is a HUGE line for Peter Pan. No, not the regular entrance, the Fastpass entrance. I estimate you had about a 30 minute wait if you had a Fastpass.
We enter the restaurant and
wait for 55 minutes before we can order our food. By the time we were almost at the cashier where you order, I left DBF in charge of the food, and I went into the restaurant to find two free seats. After some gunfights and a little bit of wrestling, I find two free seats, and send a text message to DBF with a description of where he can find me. He ate a bacon cheeseburger and fries, I had the tomato soup and a dining review with pictures will follow! Good DBF for not being too embarrassed about me taking pictures of food. I think Im gonna keep him.
After our time in the restaurant, we wander a little, decide that we dont want to wait an hour for its a small world, but that a five-minute wait to see the clock isnt that bad. You know what? The dolls didnt parade, and the clock was an hour off! Disney, youre losing points here. Big time!
By that time, we walk to Discoveryland, and go on Honey, I shrunk the Audience. We saw the Christmas parade and Fantillusion (it was a fight for your right to have enough space to put your feet.)
At some point during the day, we also went to City Hall and made reservations for the Manhattan restaurant that evening (9.30 pm). You know, Im not too sure anymore about the order we did things, because by this time, I have stopped making notes. I remember we saw somewhere during the day also the Mickeys Winter Wonderland show. I love this show! And we took the train from Frontierland to Main Street.
Anyway, by the time we had seen Fantillusion and had done some shopping, we had had it, and went to the hotel.
We went to the reception to pick up the room key, and you know what??????? The CM told us she didnt have king-size bed rooms anymore! WHAT??? But we had asked for that!!!!!!! Yes, but is never guaranteed. WHAT??? But I want a nice big bed for the first trip DBF and I make. I will see what I can do, but the hotel is full and
CM disappears in the back. I have no idea what they have over there in the back. I guess it must be some pixie dust distribution machine, because oh miracle, she comes back and says she has a king-size bed room for us! Thank you CM Urzula (I think that was her name). She hands us over the room key, tells us how to get there and says she will send someone up with our suitcases. Oh, nice difference from the Santa Fe where you have to wrestle yourself with your suitcase! We find our room, take of our shoes, fall down on the bed
and then they knock on the door. I give DBf the I-dont-want-to-get-up-to-open-the-door-so-you-will-have-to-do-it look, and being the good DBF he is, he opens the door and lets in the suitcases. Great. We are all set now. We have quite some time to spare before our dinner reservation and after laying on the bed a little and after and endless discussion about who gets to shower first (I went first) we are ready to go for dinner. Thats a good thing, because Im about to starve.
Oh, did I already tell you about the view we had? We had a view of: on the far left the Sequoia Lodge, frontal view on the beautiful NPBC and on the right side of the ice skating ring, Panoramagique and the Village. Waaw! It was
amazing. And I felt so happy and special. Really.
Enough of this, its time to eat, and Im starved! We go down to the Manhattan restaurant, tell the host we have reservations, and then they make us wait an eternity. An eternity of 10 minutes, but to me thats long. When Im hungry. And I dont understand this. We have a reservation, your restaurant is half-empty, why do you make us wait then? And why do you put us at this teeny tiny table, and all the other couples at decent-sized tables. I dont get it, its not that we are dressed differently then the others. I even did put make-up on!
Oh well. DBF orders a Pineau de Charrentes and I a Kir (it was a very good one) and when we look at the menu, I see it has changed drastically since the last time we were there. I will post the changes on the Manhattan restaurant thread, and all the details with pictures of what we ate on the separate dining review thread.
But I had the scallops as appetizer, and DBF the salmon (I think). I had then veal as entrée, and DBF had lamb. Btw, when you really want to know what you order, you have to compare the menus in different languages. Its not always translated very well! I had the flambéed crepes as dessert and DBF just had coffee.
After dinner, I was almost asleep, so we went up the room, in the bed, and enjoyed the nice bed and each other.
), in August I was once again with my mom at the Disneyland Resort in California, to enjoy the 50th celebrations once again during five days. Youd think after all those Disney-visits in such a short period of time, I would have enough Mickey Mouse for the rest of the decade. Wrong! You never can have enough Mickey Mouse, duh-uh! And I just LOVE the Christmas season at Disneyland Resort Paris. And I just love my new DBF. And I wanted to combine those two. 
Let the planning begin! Euhm
ok, there arise the first problems
I am in the middle of changing jobs, and I dont know if my current employer will be willing to allow my vacation days. So, I first have to tell them that Im going to quit (not before I signed my contract at my new employer, thank you very much! 
). We have also some restrictions regarding dates. For some reason, there are not that many free rooms anymore
OMG, whats happening???
)
ixiedust: was all around!
