ynwa19
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2007
- Messages
- 124
It has been a long time since I last posted on these forums. I started a TR after I came back from DLRP in July 08, but a few weeks after getting back, I split up with my wife for a number of different reasons. As fate would have it though, about 2 months later, I met the woman of my dreams and one that has made me happier than I ever thought I could be. We married in November 2009 after I came back from Afghanistan and I became a step-dad to three amazing children who I now class as my own.
2 days after getting married, me, Hayley and the kids all moved house down to where I am based now and we have been living there since. Once Christmas 09 (which was amazing) was over, we decided that the kids deserved a week away with us at DLRP for all of the change and upheval in their lives over the past few months.
So we decided that March 2010 was as good a time as any and we booked everything. We decided not to tell the kids that we were going and to keep everything as a suprise that would be revealed to them bit by bit.....
The cast:
Hayley (30)
Me (26)
Jamie (12)
Daniel (6)
Emily (4)
All ages are how old we were at the time
PTR - Sunday 28 February 2009.
We woke up early and got the kids out of bed telling them that we going to be heading out for the day. The weather that day was awful which actually made our plans a bit easier to execute as we needed an excuse to stay in a hotel overnight.
We loaded the kids into the car and set off towards Kent. I have an estate car with one of those parcel shelves that you pull back, so the kids didnt notice all of the suitcases hidden in the boot. We told the kids that we were going somewhere that we think they would enjoy and left it at that. They had brought their DSs with them as we told them that we could be in the car sometime.
We pulled in at one of the biggest indoor play areas in the UK and needless to say, the kids were well excited. Well, Dan and Emily were, Jamie was wondering why we had brought him to a kids play area! 10 minutes later however and he was running round with Emily and enjoying himself just as much
After a few hours of them running round and burning off energy, we went to KFC just down the road and had something to eat. Whilst there, Hayley and I made a big thing of not being able to drive back due to all of the road closures around the area because of flooding. I asked Hayley (loud enough so the kids could hear) if she fancied staying in a hotel for the night and the kids all shouted that they wanted to as well I went and checked in and the kids and Hayley followed. We told the kids that we would have to be up early the next morning as we had a long drive home 
After the day of running around Dan an Emily were asleep within seconds and Jamie wasnt too far behind. Hayley and I followed suit, looking forward to the week ahead.
Day 1 - Monday 01 March 2010.
Hayley and I woke the kids up about 5am. They were none to happy as (in their minds), they were going back home and off to school We left the hotel, but they were all slightly to sleepy to notice me follow signs towards the Eurotunnel rather than London. As we pulled into the drive-through check in area of the Eurotunnel, the kids woke up a bit, struggling to figure out where we were. We went into the terminal and Jamie asked what we were doing. I told him that as we were so close to the Eurotunnel, we may as well go to France for the day and they could have a bonus day off of school. They were all very excited by this and lots of shouting and screaming later and we were boarding the train. We drove off the other side into sunshine and made our way towards Paris. Hayley told the kids that we could be in the car for a while, so they could sleep or play their DSs if they wanted. They were so engrossed with their DSs, that all of them failed to notice the big Disneyland signs as we approached CDG airport and the outskirts of Paris.
We pulled into the Davy Crockett Ranch and I went into reception in order to check in. The kids didnt know where we were and didnt knwo why I had stopped. At check-in, I was informed that we had been upgraded into one of the premium bungalows right next to the hub of the Ranch. We were not heading there just yet though, we had a Disney Park to explore. Jamie worked out where we were, but said nothing to Dan and Emily. These two found out when we drove towards the entrance and the HUGE Disneyland Paris sign sprawled over the entrance gates. Lots of screaming and shouting with excitement later and we were parked up and walking towards the Magic Kingdom.
We went through the gates and my family got their first taste of the Disney magic as the Character Express was travelling along Main St. Emily was stood still, awestruck at the pinkness of the castle. We had to hold on to her so as not to lose her straight away
We walked down Main St with the Disney music and atmosphere ringing around us and then Emily screamed with excitement. I turned around and saw her excitedley pointing towards a mouse with a bow between her ears. Minnie therefore was Emilys first character hug of the trip and a few kisses and photos later and we were moving towards the castle. The bridge over the moat was closed which meant that we got to see the dragon under the castle. The boys loved this. Emily was distracted by trying to get into the castle as quick as possible
We had a walk through fantasy land and me and Hayley came to the decision that we would spend the day meeting characters and letting the kids look at the amazing scenery. A ride on IASW was always going to be a stop though and the rest of the trip was spent whistling and humming that tune
As darkness fell over the park, Emily gave me a massive hug and said that she was really tired and hungry. We made our way to Annettes and after some amazing food (I love the Rock and Roll burger), we took a leisurely walk back towards the car. The kids were a bit disappointed that they hadnt been on many rides or met as many characters as they would have liked to, but at this point, they still didnt know that we would be here for a few days.
We drove over to the Davy Crockett ranch and (in her innocence), Emily asked me if we were here because we had to give our tickets back that we had used to get into the park. Me and Hayley smiled and drove through the barrier leading to the cabins. The kids we all looking confused as we pulled into the driveway of our cabin and I turned the engine off. Jamie said what are we doing. I told him that I didnt think that just one day at Disneyland would be enough, so did they want to stay for a few more days? Lots of screaming and hugs from Emily and Daniel later, we moved in and allocated rooms. The cabin was lovely and had everything that we needed. The kids all managed to go into one room and me and Hayley moved into ours. Emily and Daniel gave me and Hayley a big hug and told me they couldnt wait for tomorrow. As they were so tired, they went to bed and fell asleep almost immediatley. Jamie wasnt far behind and Hayley and I followed suit in order to get a good nights sleep before the next days excitement.
2 days after getting married, me, Hayley and the kids all moved house down to where I am based now and we have been living there since. Once Christmas 09 (which was amazing) was over, we decided that the kids deserved a week away with us at DLRP for all of the change and upheval in their lives over the past few months.
So we decided that March 2010 was as good a time as any and we booked everything. We decided not to tell the kids that we were going and to keep everything as a suprise that would be revealed to them bit by bit.....
The cast:
Hayley (30)
Me (26)
Jamie (12)
Daniel (6)
Emily (4)
All ages are how old we were at the time
PTR - Sunday 28 February 2009.
We woke up early and got the kids out of bed telling them that we going to be heading out for the day. The weather that day was awful which actually made our plans a bit easier to execute as we needed an excuse to stay in a hotel overnight.
We loaded the kids into the car and set off towards Kent. I have an estate car with one of those parcel shelves that you pull back, so the kids didnt notice all of the suitcases hidden in the boot. We told the kids that we were going somewhere that we think they would enjoy and left it at that. They had brought their DSs with them as we told them that we could be in the car sometime.
We pulled in at one of the biggest indoor play areas in the UK and needless to say, the kids were well excited. Well, Dan and Emily were, Jamie was wondering why we had brought him to a kids play area! 10 minutes later however and he was running round with Emily and enjoying himself just as much
After a few hours of them running round and burning off energy, we went to KFC just down the road and had something to eat. Whilst there, Hayley and I made a big thing of not being able to drive back due to all of the road closures around the area because of flooding. I asked Hayley (loud enough so the kids could hear) if she fancied staying in a hotel for the night and the kids all shouted that they wanted to as well
I went and checked in and the kids and Hayley followed. We told the kids that we would have to be up early the next morning as we had a long drive home After the day of running around Dan an Emily were asleep within seconds and Jamie wasnt too far behind. Hayley and I followed suit, looking forward to the week ahead.Day 1 - Monday 01 March 2010.
Hayley and I woke the kids up about 5am. They were none to happy as (in their minds), they were going back home and off to school
We left the hotel, but they were all slightly to sleepy to notice me follow signs towards the Eurotunnel rather than London. As we pulled into the drive-through check in area of the Eurotunnel, the kids woke up a bit, struggling to figure out where we were. We went into the terminal and Jamie asked what we were doing. I told him that as we were so close to the Eurotunnel, we may as well go to France for the day and they could have a bonus day off of school. They were all very excited by this and lots of shouting and screaming later and we were boarding the train. We drove off the other side into sunshine and made our way towards Paris. Hayley told the kids that we could be in the car for a while, so they could sleep or play their DSs if they wanted. They were so engrossed with their DSs, that all of them failed to notice the big Disneyland signs as we approached CDG airport and the outskirts of Paris. We pulled into the Davy Crockett Ranch and I went into reception in order to check in. The kids didnt know where we were and didnt knwo why I had stopped. At check-in, I was informed that we had been upgraded into one of the premium bungalows right next to the hub of the Ranch. We were not heading there just yet though, we had a Disney Park to explore. Jamie worked out where we were, but said nothing to Dan and Emily. These two found out when we drove towards the entrance and the HUGE Disneyland Paris sign sprawled over the entrance gates. Lots of screaming and shouting with excitement later and we were parked up and walking towards the Magic Kingdom.
We went through the gates and my family got their first taste of the Disney magic as the Character Express was travelling along Main St. Emily was stood still, awestruck at the pinkness of the castle. We had to hold on to her so as not to lose her straight away
We walked down Main St with the Disney music and atmosphere ringing around us and then Emily screamed with excitement. I turned around and saw her excitedley pointing towards a mouse with a bow between her ears. Minnie therefore was Emilys first character hug of the trip and a few kisses and photos later and we were moving towards the castle. The bridge over the moat was closed which meant that we got to see the dragon under the castle. The boys loved this. Emily was distracted by trying to get into the castle as quick as possible
We had a walk through fantasy land and me and Hayley came to the decision that we would spend the day meeting characters and letting the kids look at the amazing scenery. A ride on IASW was always going to be a stop though and the rest of the trip was spent whistling and humming that tune
As darkness fell over the park, Emily gave me a massive hug and said that she was really tired and hungry. We made our way to Annettes and after some amazing food (I love the Rock and Roll burger), we took a leisurely walk back towards the car. The kids were a bit disappointed that they hadnt been on many rides or met as many characters as they would have liked to, but at this point, they still didnt know that we would be here for a few days.
We drove over to the Davy Crockett ranch and (in her innocence), Emily asked me if we were here because we had to give our tickets back that we had used to get into the park. Me and Hayley smiled and drove through the barrier leading to the cabins. The kids we all looking confused as we pulled into the driveway of our cabin and I turned the engine off. Jamie said what are we doing. I told him that I didnt think that just one day at Disneyland would be enough, so did they want to stay for a few more days? Lots of screaming and hugs from Emily and Daniel later, we moved in and allocated rooms. The cabin was lovely and had everything that we needed. The kids all managed to go into one room and me and Hayley moved into ours. Emily and Daniel gave me and Hayley a big hug and told me they couldnt wait for tomorrow. As they were so tired, they went to bed and fell asleep almost immediatley. Jamie wasnt far behind and Hayley and I followed suit in order to get a good nights sleep before the next days excitement.
and a belated congratulations on your wedding. 
