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

[Mndisneygirl]

cont.

While I was recovering from that, the girls and Dave went and rode Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin. Yeah, with a name like that, I wasn’t going anywhere near it! It’s not that bad, but I sat out and took a bunch of pictures in the drizzle. The whole Toy Story Playland area is super cute! Love the theming in there. The other rides there are RC Racer, which is a thrill ride where the car goes up and down a curved track, and Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop, which is like a group of Frog Hopper rides – they go up, drop, up, drop, …you get the idea.
We made a stop to visit a very special friend, whose line was nice and short!

RC Racer

Gift shop

Isn't this cute?

I'm not sure where we encountered this little photo op! But it's cute!

When Sarah was 2, her favorite movie was Monsters, Inc. She had a Monsters cake, and all of her presents were Monsters stuff! She thinks she will go as Boo for the MNSSHP when we go to WDW in October.

The last thing in Toon Studio is the Art of Disney Animation. We did not go in there at this point in time, but it had a shop with all kinds of art gifts and a place where they do the drawing classes, where you can do some interactive things relating to animation. More on that later.

cont. in next post...

 

[Mndisneygirl]

cont.
We headed toward the front of the park next. I had wanted to catch the Disney’s Stars & Cars Parade. I suspected it would be similar to the one they used to do at MGM Studios. I liked that one, even though I probably saw it about twice! But, we decided to head toward the Production Courtyard and take the Studio Tram Tour. They had monitors on the tram and when it was in French, they had subtitles in English. But if you’ve been on the one in WDW, you pretty much knew most of what you were seeing. They have Catastrophe Canyon and a bunch of sets and props.

I think this was the French speaker

This guy spoke English - with a lovely British accent! Everyone recognize him?

OH NOOO!

These may have had something to do with the movie Pearl Harbor.

Interesting scene - aftermath of a bomb?

Saw plenty of these signs for real on this trip!


Somewhere in here we had lunch – I have no notes on what it was or where, but maybe there’s a picture. I remember one day we ate in the food court area in Studio 1, but I’m not sure if it was that day!

cont. in next post...

 

[Mndisneygirl]

We next headed to see Cinemagique! A show not to be confused with Animagique! This one was about the movies – a live performer ends up “in” the movies. It was pretty good! It reminded me of some great old movies that either I haven’t seen in a long time, or never seen that I wanted to see! Also in Production Courtyard was Playhouse Disney Live on Stage! We skipped that. Tower of Terror – walked right on by, thank you very much and Stitch Live! Which we gave a shot. It’s a LOT like Turtle Talk with Crush at Epcot. Kind of cute and funny if you like that sort of thing. I’m not a huge Stitch fan, so it was only mildly amusing to me.

Must have been around here that we ate lunch - at least that's the order the pictures showed up in! Anyway - here's the place: Restaurant en Coulisse it's in the Front Lot

Next update I'll finish up with this park. I've got lots more pictures of the park, shopping and the stunt show and my laptop battery is about to die off for the night.

 

[eandesmom]

Wow! Mega update!

Love love the Toystory play area and the Cars stuff! Disneyland hotel looks VERY pretty, would love to see it someday. Huge bummer that Versailles was so pricey. A tough call to be sure, one of those conundrums. Do you make the kids go so they can remember it someday even if they don't appreciate it now or do you save the money and spend it on stuff you know they will like.

I do hope it warms up...and dries up!

 

[jenseib]

Great updates. that Disneyland Hotel does look a lot like the GF inside. Very pretty. I'm really enjoying all your pictures.

 

[petals]

Yeah, the prices for the sit down places definitely were too high for us. We did not buy a meal plan (frankly it was confusing and just weird to me), so we ate counter service all the way. You have the benefit of stronger currency than we do. We just had to suck it up and spend our money. And it was pretty much all worth every penny!!

Just wait until you see all the pictures from the rest of the stores! You will be amazed at the stuff!!! I was okay that Paige picked Marie as the one she wanted because Marie is French, after all. But she has a small Marie at home. I thought it was silly to buy something we already had. Of course, her answer was, I need a big one from FRANCE, cuz she's FRENCH! She should go into marketing, that girl. She can sell it!

I think I'll prob eat at counter service and off childrens menu if I can because it's cheaper..

I'm looking at Duchess and Copper in the pics you posted before. I've never seen plushies of those. Copper may need to come home with me.

I like your DD's logic that Marie had to go home with you though because she's from France!

 

[MEK]

Ooh - Mega Update. Can't wait to read it later with pictures!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Wow lots of updates!!!

The Buzzlightyear ride looks cool! Too bad about no one being at the ice cream place. Your treats from the bakery look yummy though. And you got to see some of the parade from inside and stay nice and warm.

The Disneyland Hotel looks beautiful. It reminds me of the GF too.

Love the Walt Disney Studios pics. Looks a lot like my favorite DHS!! That one building with the Brown Derby and other stuff in it looks so neat. I don't really like the looks of the TOT though. It looks weird!! All of the Cars stuff looks really fun! And I'm glad the girls got to see Mickey with a short wait! The Catastrophe Canyon looks exactly the same as it does in DHS!

Thanks for sharing all the great pics!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Oh wow, awesome pictures Sheree! I feel like I was right there with you!! It looks like you all were having so much fun.

 

[MeMom]

I am doing my classroom in a Toy Story theme this year. I wish I would find big letter blocks. I love all of the decor in those pictures. The Slinky ride looks cool!

Your trip pictures are unique, because it is fun to see something that is Disney, yet different. I think we're going to feel the same way when we go to vero next summer. We'll love it because it is still Disney, but we'll see a lot of new things.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Wow! Mega update!

Love love the Toystory play area and the Cars stuff! Disneyland hotel looks VERY pretty, would love to see it someday. Huge bummer that Versailles was so pricey. A tough call to be sure, one of those conundrums. Do you make the kids go so they can remember it someday even if they don't appreciate it now or do you save the money and spend it on stuff you know they will like.

I do hope it warms up...and dries up!

Thanks - I can't believe how many pictures I took.

Great updates. that Disneyland Hotel does look a lot like the GF inside. Very pretty. I'm really enjoying all your pictures.

Thanks! It was pretty!! I have a lot more pictures to come!

I think I'll prob eat at counter service and off childrens menu if I can because it's cheaper..

I'm looking at Duchess and Copper in the pics you posted before. I've never seen plushies of those. Copper may need to come home with me.

I like your DD's logic that Marie had to go home with you though because she's from France!

I would too! We tried to share so we didn't waste food or money!
Isn't Copper so cute? I always think of the movie where he says, "I'm a hound dog!" I love how he says that!

Ooh - Mega Update. Can't wait to read it later with pictures!

Yeah, it was pretty picture intensive! The next one will be too! If I ever get to it...

Wow lots of updates!!!

The Buzzlightyear ride looks cool! Too bad about no one being at the ice cream place. Your treats from the bakery look yummy though. And you got to see some of the parade from inside and stay nice and warm.

The Disneyland Hotel looks beautiful. It reminds me of the GF too.

Love the Walt Disney Studios pics. Looks a lot like my favorite DHS!! That one building with the Brown Derby and other stuff in it looks so neat. I don't really like the looks of the TOT though. It looks weird!! All of the Cars stuff looks really fun! And I'm glad the girls got to see Mickey with a short wait! The Catastrophe Canyon looks exactly the same as it does in DHS!

Thanks for sharing all the great pics!

I was on a bit of a roll there. Poor Sarah, kept wanting ice cream...I much preferred to sit inside and watch the parade, even with an obstructed view.
I knew you'd like the Studios - a lot of your favorite places. I think they did a nice job with the Pixar stuff.

Oh wow, awesome pictures Sheree! I feel like I was right there with you!! It looks like you all were having so much fun.

Thanks Kelli! I did have a lot of fun - I still can hardly believe we were in Paris!

I am doing my classroom in a Toy Story theme this year. I wish I would find big letter blocks. I love all of the decor in those pictures. The Slinky ride looks cool!

Your trip pictures are unique, because it is fun to see something that is Disney, yet different. I think we're going to feel the same way when we go to vero next summer. We'll love it because it is still Disney, but we'll see a lot of new things.

Oh I wish my kids had a teacher like you! Or Anita, or Jackie, or anyone who can incorporate Disney into the classroom!! Not that I haven't loved our teachers, but that would be extra special!
We're contemplating Hilton Head for March, and it will be like that there too. Disney, but different.

I really had planned on updating over the weekend, but life got in the way. My neck has been getting better so I'm trying not to make it worse by sitting in a bad position with the laptop for too long a period. Plus there was just "stuff". You all know what I mean. The days go by so fast sometimes - all of a sudden it's the end of July and I thought summer was just getting going!
I found out last night that my boss is back in the hospital with another bowel obstruction and I'm waiting to hear whether she'll need another surgery. So if you would keep her in your prayers, I sure would appreciate it. It was just crazy today at work trying to reschedule a zillion things. I'm wiped out, so the update will have to wait again. I really do intend to finish this before I leave for the October trip!! Stay tuned! We still have the sights of the City of Lights to see!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh no, that's too bad about your boss. Glad to hear your neck is feeling better, though, Sheree. Hang in there!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Sheree..sorry to hear about your neck! And your boss!! Poor lady!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Oh no, that's too bad about your boss. Glad to hear your neck is feeling better, though, Sheree. Hang in there!

Thanks, she's doing better. My neck is too.

Sheree..sorry to hear about your neck! And your boss!! Poor lady!!

Thanks Shawna! She did not need surgery, and will be easing back into work on Monday.

So I'm sitting watching all this Olympic coverage, and seeing places I walked around!! It's so cool! If you watch the Today show, and saw them standing with the Tower Bridge behind them, stick around. I have a picture just like that of us!! Except there were no Olympic rings on it then!!
Anywho, it made me realize how slow this thing is moving and I've got to get some updates going. So I'm working on it!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Okay, let's finish this day up already!
Stunt show: I took a ton of pictures, so I'll try to pick out the good ones

BAD GUY!

Here's the High School Musical place that was closed:

Can you guess what they have here?

Yup - the umbrella photo op!

We saw a guy who put his feet up on the pole for a picture to look like he was jumping. Wish I'd gotten that picture!


Remy has a little photo op place - another restaurant here that we didn't attend

We headed back to the front of the park and shopped in the stores on the way out – virtual shopping anyone?

cont.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Did I show you Rock N Roller Coaster yet?

We headed back to the front of the park and shopped in the stores on the way out – virtual shopping anyone?

Kind of hard to make out that one!

I think Paige took that picture of the Marie mug!

more shopping ...
We didn’t buy anything in here either! We just scoped out what we were interested in maybe getting later on in the trip. We knew we’d be back and had plenty of time – love those park hopper tickets!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

shopping cont...

a little blurry, sorry!

super lover? Really? How European!

As you can guess, I could not decide what to buy.
We didn’t buy anything in here either! We just scoped out what we were interested in maybe getting later on in the trip. We knew we’d be back and had plenty of time – love those park hopper tickets!

We headed out of the park - a few more parting shots...

After we left WDS, we walked right on over to Disneyland! That is so great!! They were open until 8. We were going to try to watch the parade from the Main Street Train Station, since it was heading that way, but there were so many people up there in our way, we just hopped on the train and rode it over to Frontierland. Any guesses what we did next?

A view from the train station

little goofball!

That's better!

Any guesses what we did next? Rode BTMRR of course! Then went back on to Phantom Manor and Paige and DH rode BTMRR AGAIN!! – Front row! Totally different feel this time. This is when we actually figured out that the dark tunnels were the parts we went UNDER THE WATER!!! Crazy that we couldn’t grasp that concept right away.

We went over to Casey’s and got Sarah a hot dog and headed off to ride more rides. We went on IASW, Teacups, visited the castle dragon and went through some more shops on the way out.

Castle

Inside -shops

Aren't the teacups pretty at night?

Aaaah - they're spinning too fast!!!

Pretty castle - I don't think i can get enough pictures of it!

walking back behind the shops on Main Street there is this cute concourse - tables and stools to stop and eat too!

I finally got a sandwich – the Croque Monsieur at the Market Deli – I nibbled a bit, but we had some shopping to do, so I put it away while we walked through Disney Viillage. But it was REALLY good!!! Paige shared it with me. I hope the ones at the new Be Our Guest restaurant are like that – I’d recommend it!

A few more pictures to wrap up this day...

 

[Mndisneygirl]

cont...
So we wandered through the village, stopped by McDonalds to check the weather forecast and finally got back to the room and got the girls to bad at around 9 p.m.
I think these pictures were from a shop in the village...

Back to Hotel NY!

Tomorrow – our BIG DAY IN THE CITY OF LIGHTS!

 

[MEK]

OMG! I can't believe I never went back and saw the pictures from your last update. Ugh! I hate when that happens.

That Toy Story area is very cool, but the RC racer. Hmmmmm - that might be a bit much for me.

From this update - WOW -so much to look at. ToT looks pretty cool. Actually the whole park looks pretty amazing. Again - I enjoy seeing the similarities and the differences. I have to go back and look at the pics again.

So glad the girls got to go back and ride BTMRR again and the Phanton Manor. What a very full and very wonderful day.

 

[MEK]

Oh yeah - the teacups and the castle at night - spectacular.

The "it's a wrap" gate is too cute.