Back From 10 Magical Days In Disney!

[Dianetigger]

Arrived back last night around half past eleven, happy but exhasted!
Had ten fabulous days in Disneyland, the parks were the busiest I've ever seen them, yesterday the queue was around 30 minutes just to walk around Alices Labyrinth! Never saw Crush's Coaster under 75 minutes, it was quite comical watching the sprint to this! Weather was hot (too hot at times) apart from two thunderstorms on Thursday, although they did help clear the air.
The whole experience was just magical, will try to do a condensed trip report later with some photographs (we took just over 1,500!) Highlights included Tower of Terror, the Once Upon A Dream Parade (the aroma from the floats is wonderful) and the Enchanted fireworks. We had a shop around La Vallee and Val D'Europe and also spent the day in Paris on Sunday (via the Cityrama tour), money well spent, would highly recommend them.

The only downside of the whole holiday was trying to come home from the hotel (Newport Bay Club) last night with VEA, (the journey to the hotel was wonderful with only around 10 of us onboard, picked up within 5 minutes of grabbing our luggage at CDG, we'd left Manchester Airport just after 7am and with the hour difference we were in the park at 11:15am). Our flight check in was 7:15, due to my son panicking we decided to catch the 5:20pm bus, after waiting from just before 5 and loading our luggage onboard it was decided they couldn't fit anymore on (is there a reason why they don't let those with pre-booked tickets on first?) and we were to wait for the next one at 6:05 - still no panic we knew we had plenty of time til our flight at 9:15pm, it is almost always delayed and last night was no exception. The hotel did offer to get us a taxi which they then said we could claim the cost back from VEA, but at 80 euros we decided that would be a last resort. A lot of irate people in the line behind but we were first in the queue and we weren't moving! lols - finally at 6:35 a bus turns up, room for 7 only - more mayhem until another bus pulled up behind. We checked in around 7:25pm and the rest of the journey home was uneventful.

 

[Cyrano]

shame about the bus, but sounds like you had a great time

 

[hildasmuriel]

Sounds like a fantastic time, apart from the journey from the hotel to airport.

Did the queues die down much as the evenings progressed? I've never been in summer and I'm a bit anxious about the crowds.

 

[cookie334]

Sounds like a good trip. You are so lucky going for 10 days.

 

[Dianetigger]

Whilst we were there we didn't feel the queues did die down very much at all (just asked my daughter and she agrees), we only managed Big Thunder Mountain once late on in the evening (Sunday) the rest of the time the queues were anything from 40 - 60 minutes. POTC did only have a 5 minute wait for a couple of nights.
I've never been before in August so can't comment overall, but I did feel that the lovely weather may have played a large part in the parks being so busy but maybe someone else who has been at this time of year may think differently.
I'd say have a good plan for what you most want to do and then if the queues die down you'll get a bonus.

 

[tennisfan]

Welcome back. Shame about the bus but at least you made your flight

 

[kevankiki]

Welcome back!

Sorry to read you had such a torrid time with the bus, makes me all the more relieved that I've booked a shared shuttle for our trip in October, particularly as the cost was not much more than the VEA (and less than the train!)

 

[cap'njack.]

WOW! Never thought there would be such ling wait times. Even during August, glad we didn't go in August now!

Shame about the bus, although it does almost seem to be a recurring theme with the VEA nowadays.

Lucky going for 10 days, think on my next trip we will probably go for 7 instead of 5.

 

[stargatebarbie]

HI diane gald you got back ok ,and it was so nice to meet you all how hot was it on wednesday!!! We got lucky with BTM rode it twice a day and 3 times one day as we got a ticket stuck in the fast pass machine and when the CM came it gave out 7 fast passes and the CM just smiled and gave us them all

 

[Dianetigger]

Welcome back!

Sorry to read you had such a torrid time with the bus, makes me all the more relieved that I've booked a shared shuttle for our trip in October, particularly as the cost was not much more than the VEA (and less than the train!)

This is what we are going to do for next time, it was our first negative experience with VEA but to be honest felt it wasn't worth the extra stress at the end of a wonderful holiday.
With the parks being so busy I'm so glad we booked 10 days as it meant we didn't have to rush around trying to fit everything in we wanted to, it was nice and leisurely and meant we had more time to relax at the hotel swimming pool and in the bar (very important!)

 

[kevankiki]

This is what we are going to do for next time, it was our first negative experience with VEA but to be honest felt it wasn't worth the extra stress at the end of a wonderful holiday.

For the sake of saving €20, no it isn't

I am looking forward to our 6 night stay in October, we've always just done 2 or 3 nights previously, it will be nice to pace ourselves more. I hope to get into Paris one day, Val D'Europe another day, so there will be time for these too!

 

[A Small World]

Sounds like a fantastic time, apart from the journey from the hotel to airport.

Did the queues die down much as the evenings progressed? I've never been in summer and I'm a bit anxious about the crowds.

When we were there end of July we did feel the queues died down. Doing EMH gave us a head start - even if you get there for the end of EMH you can position yourselves in the right place to get to other rides quickly which I know you have done in the past. We then found ourselves having a more leisurely time during the main part of the day - less popular rides/shows etc and then did things like BTM and POC in the evenings - the queue for BTM had usually gone down by 10 ish so we could then ride it a few times in a row.

A lot of people also seem to head out of the park after OUADP presumably to get something to eat before Fantillusion so again time your meal times right and you should get some breathing space then as well- one reason why we like to eat a main meal at lunch time even if its at 3ish


And welcome back Dianetigger- glad you had a great time

 

[Tillybud]

wow sounds like you had a great trip inspite of the bus trip back to the airport. Looking forward to seeing some photos and I totally agree about the aroma from the floats, some of them were just yummy !