BabyAriel
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2011
- Messages
- 474
Hi all.
We got back very late on Sunday (actually 1am Monday) having left the parks at 5pm and experiencing delays on the Eurotunnel. Had a fantastic time and now I'm looking through all my photos and listening to the parade music I'm feeling sad it's all over
There was me, DH, DD1 (just 9) and DD2 (5), and my in-laws who had only been to DLP pre-WDS! So newbies really. We spent 3 nights at the Sequoia Lodge, booked on the French site with 35% off and kids under 12 free, then I bought an AP and added myself to the room for €1.10 per night. Yippee!
LOWS
Sequoia Lodge buffet - a poor selection, and FIL found a hair in his food! We were not impressed for the price; can't believe this was more expensive than Plaza Gardens.
Not getting interconnecting rooms at the Sequoia Lodge despite requesting them. DH was going to ask about moving rooms the next morning but forgot, and by the evening it didn't seem worth it.
Seeing children climb on the presents at the bottom of the Christmas tree to get a good view of the parade
Princess Pavilion queue - DH queued outside alone but once he got to the door of the PP we thought we'd better join him. It was terribly slow-moving, everyone was sitting on the floor and with winter coats and bags everywhere it looked a mess.
Falling on the storybook boat ride. I slipped as I stepped down into the boat and cracked my nose on DD2's knee. The CMs were great though and offered me first aid, and asked how I was when I got off. I didn't know how to say 'bruised, shaken and a bit embarrassed' in French
I wonder if I'll appear on You've Been Framed in a few years, it was pretty spectacular!
DD1 being sick in the night, all over her favourite Pluto toy and the bed. Thumbs up to housekeeping though. They came with new bedding within 5 minutes I reckon!
BTM breakdowns - although one happened when we were going to miss our fastpass slot so it meant we could use the ticket later on
Aurora failed meet - she was alternating with Snow White near Casey Junior. When we queued for her the first time, the CMs came down the queue to tell us we would be seeing Snow White as they were due to swap. Fine. The second time, no mention of her leaving so we thought we would be okay, but no, she disappeared when we got to the front. The CM got the girls' books signed for us behind the scenes - could she really not have taken 2 seconds for a photo? DD2 had her Aurora dress on too. I wasn't impressed with the attitude of the CM
Smoking - what's new?
Now on to the HIGHS!
Christmas Parade - loved it, especially when it was dark! Great interaction in the main parade, and with the Frozen princesses in the pre-parade. Elsa blew a kiss to DD2.
Lots of character meets: Gepetto, Pluto, Darth Vader, Snow White and Minnie were unscheduled ones, and then Mickey, Minnie and Woody in the Studios; Pluto & Goofy in EMH (by the way, they literally ran for it when the music for the main park opening started - I wonder if they came back as there were loads of people waiting
), Merida, Jack Skellington/Sandy Claws and of course Anna and Elsa. These last 4 were absolutely fantastic.
Weather - some rain but lots of winter sun!
Crowd levels - pleasantly surprised, quietest on Sunday.
Catching the fountain show from inside the castle.
Riding Molly Brown for the first time, and Phantom Manor for the first time since our visit pre-marriage and children!
Lucky Nugget Saloon and Plaza Gardens - lovely meals. There was a band playing at the Lucky Nugget this time too. It's becoming one of my favourite places to eat, it's good value and quick.
And finally, the stunning decorations, the general ambience, music and the castle. Wow!!!
Other:
Sequoia Lodge
It's a nice hotel but I was underwhelmed to be honest. The hot breakfast was very welcome and I wasn't expecting it. Bacon, scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausages plus the usual continental offerings too. Our room was a good size in Yellowstone Lodge. We had 2 double beds, in-laws just one double (or possibly a king). But there were scuff-marks on the wall and one of the mirrors was dirty, and it all felt like it needed a spruce-up. The best thing was being so close to the park. Great
I'm not sure we'd stay there again if it was just the 4 of us going. We could spend the money saved by staying at the Cheyenne or offsite on meals or souvenirs! Plus not getting an interconnecting room was a disappointment, and although the beds were made daily, our clothes and toys were just dumped in a pile on top! Not really a big deal but the little things add up, and with no characters at breakfast, there was a lack of magic.
Disney Dreams of Christmas
There's something missing, it's disjointed and isn't a patch on the normal Dreams! The newbies and girls thought it was amazing though, and hearing my little girl singing Let It Go in my ear brought a tear to my eye. I noticed there were no cheers between scenes whereas there always is in our experience of seeing Dreams in summer.
I might add some photos to this post later on as I'm not planning on doing a TR. I still haven't finished my August one
Thanks for reading and for all the advice prior to our trip x
We got back very late on Sunday (actually 1am Monday) having left the parks at 5pm and experiencing delays on the Eurotunnel. Had a fantastic time and now I'm looking through all my photos and listening to the parade music I'm feeling sad it's all over
There was me, DH, DD1 (just 9) and DD2 (5), and my in-laws who had only been to DLP pre-WDS! So newbies really. We spent 3 nights at the Sequoia Lodge, booked on the French site with 35% off and kids under 12 free, then I bought an AP and added myself to the room for €1.10 per night. Yippee!
LOWS
Sequoia Lodge buffet - a poor selection, and FIL found a hair in his food! We were not impressed for the price; can't believe this was more expensive than Plaza Gardens.
Not getting interconnecting rooms at the Sequoia Lodge despite requesting them. DH was going to ask about moving rooms the next morning but forgot, and by the evening it didn't seem worth it.
Seeing children climb on the presents at the bottom of the Christmas tree to get a good view of the parade
Princess Pavilion queue - DH queued outside alone but once he got to the door of the PP we thought we'd better join him. It was terribly slow-moving, everyone was sitting on the floor and with winter coats and bags everywhere it looked a mess.
Falling on the storybook boat ride. I slipped as I stepped down into the boat and cracked my nose on DD2's knee. The CMs were great though and offered me first aid, and asked how I was when I got off. I didn't know how to say 'bruised, shaken and a bit embarrassed' in French
I wonder if I'll appear on You've Been Framed in a few years, it was pretty spectacular!DD1 being sick in the night, all over her favourite Pluto toy and the bed. Thumbs up to housekeeping though. They came with new bedding within 5 minutes I reckon!
BTM breakdowns - although one happened when we were going to miss our fastpass slot so it meant we could use the ticket later on
Aurora failed meet - she was alternating with Snow White near Casey Junior. When we queued for her the first time, the CMs came down the queue to tell us we would be seeing Snow White as they were due to swap. Fine. The second time, no mention of her leaving so we thought we would be okay, but no, she disappeared when we got to the front. The CM got the girls' books signed for us behind the scenes - could she really not have taken 2 seconds for a photo? DD2 had her Aurora dress on too. I wasn't impressed with the attitude of the CM
Smoking - what's new?
Now on to the HIGHS!
Christmas Parade - loved it, especially when it was dark! Great interaction in the main parade, and with the Frozen princesses in the pre-parade. Elsa blew a kiss to DD2.
Lots of character meets: Gepetto, Pluto, Darth Vader, Snow White and Minnie were unscheduled ones, and then Mickey, Minnie and Woody in the Studios; Pluto & Goofy in EMH (by the way, they literally ran for it when the music for the main park opening started - I wonder if they came back as there were loads of people waiting
), Merida, Jack Skellington/Sandy Claws and of course Anna and Elsa. These last 4 were absolutely fantastic.Weather - some rain but lots of winter sun!
Crowd levels - pleasantly surprised, quietest on Sunday.
Catching the fountain show from inside the castle.
Riding Molly Brown for the first time, and Phantom Manor for the first time since our visit pre-marriage and children!
Lucky Nugget Saloon and Plaza Gardens - lovely meals. There was a band playing at the Lucky Nugget this time too. It's becoming one of my favourite places to eat, it's good value and quick.
And finally, the stunning decorations, the general ambience, music and the castle. Wow!!!
Other:
Sequoia Lodge
It's a nice hotel but I was underwhelmed to be honest. The hot breakfast was very welcome and I wasn't expecting it. Bacon, scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausages plus the usual continental offerings too. Our room was a good size in Yellowstone Lodge. We had 2 double beds, in-laws just one double (or possibly a king). But there were scuff-marks on the wall and one of the mirrors was dirty, and it all felt like it needed a spruce-up. The best thing was being so close to the park. Great
I'm not sure we'd stay there again if it was just the 4 of us going. We could spend the money saved by staying at the Cheyenne or offsite on meals or souvenirs! Plus not getting an interconnecting room was a disappointment, and although the beds were made daily, our clothes and toys were just dumped in a pile on top! Not really a big deal but the little things add up, and with no characters at breakfast, there was a lack of magic.
Disney Dreams of Christmas
There's something missing, it's disjointed and isn't a patch on the normal Dreams! The newbies and girls thought it was amazing though, and hearing my little girl singing Let It Go in my ear brought a tear to my eye. I noticed there were no cheers between scenes whereas there always is in our experience of seeing Dreams in summer.
I might add some photos to this post later on as I'm not planning on doing a TR. I still haven't finished my August one
Thanks for reading and for all the advice prior to our trip x
