Big thankyou - back from DLRP!

[britchic4]

I just wanted to say thankyou to everyone on here who helped me with advice on planning our trip - we had the most wonderful time.
I'm very sorry that I am swamped with work (I'm freelance) and can't write a big trip report now, but here's a quick summary.

Me (Cathy) - been to DLRP, WDW and Tokyo a few times
DH (Elliot) - been to DLRP
DS (Dylan, 6) - been to DLRP but he was only 2
DD (Freya, nearly 3) - never been

We went via Eurotunnel (thanks to Mr Tesco), and despite the sat nav trying to take us via Brussels arrived at DCR at about 3.30pm after a journey where everything went wrong. I was happy enough with our cabin and my DS was ecstatic to see it had BUNK BEDS! I can't emphasise enough how exciting this was.
We had a character tea booked at Plaza Gardens for 5 pm so toddled off to that, where DD refused to have her picture with any characters but we saw Geppeto, the Sheriff of Nottingham, Prince John, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto and Friar Tuck. http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=1428403427[IMG]
We went back to DCR after that as we'd had such an early start.
On Tuesday we took advantage of EMH and went straight to Fantasyland and a big queue for Dumbo which DD hated (the queue, not the ride). Did various other rides then headed to Frontierland for our lunch at the Lucky Nugget where we saw some of the same characters plus Daisy Duck. DD was particularly taken with her pink shoes.
[IMG]http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=1428376615[IMG]
Spent the afternoon in Frontierland and DD was happiest in Pocahontas Indian Village while DH & DD tried out Phantom Manor. Ate at the Steakhouse in the Village that evening and had fillet steak but while the rest of the meal was very nice neither of us felt the steak was particularly good.
On Wednesday EMH again so we started in Discoveryland where DD spent the whole queue and ride protesting she didn't like Buzz Lightyear and then wanting to go on it again as soon as we got off. Sadly we stood in the queue again for 15 mins and then it broke down. We headed back to Fantasyland after that, saw lots of Alice characters around and got the children changed for the princess lunch at Auberge de cendrillon. Dylan was a knight and Freya wore a Sleeping Beauty dress and cloak.
[IMG]http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=1428483846[IMG]
The food was wonderful and they have changed the menu - I'm afraid I didn't take a pic but we both had a very generous portion of lamb and there was a scallops in orange sauce dish on the mains too. We didn't realise the price included wine which made it much more reasonable and we felt it was worth the 2 HB vouchers we paid. Although I do think the children's choice is a bit mad and they must think so too as they were doing a survey outside on this as we left.
We saw Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Snow White plus of course Suzy and Perla, and they spent plenty of time at each table giving Freya lots of attention since a 2 yr old in a princess dress looks quite cute! She LOVED this.
[IMG]http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=1428605829[IMG]
Freya was given a wand and Dylan a helmet.
We spent the afternoon in Adventureland where DD freaked out in POTC. DH & DS went on again and while we waited outside Freya and I saw Captain Jack!
[IMG]http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=1428595666[IMG]
Since we had lunch booked in the Blue Lagoon the next day this changed our plans a bit since DD refused to set foot in there again. We changed our booking to Cafe Mickey easily, and spent the afternoon in the studios where we saw loads more characters.
[IMG]http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=1428604953[IMG]
In the evening we ate in Annettes and had the full works with roller-skating singing waiters and waitresses. It was very busy but we only waited 5 mins at 6.15.
Back to the bunk beds exhausted.
We had a wonderful time but Dh decided we shouldn't get the Annual Passes, since we weren't even supposed to be having this holiday this year. I'm definitely going to be getting the shares though and I think we'll get an annual pass in a couple of years. There were lots of rides which were restricted by DD's fears (and height!) so in a couple of years she'll get more out of it. Instead we pushed the boat out with eating, and we found the HB system very flexible. We used one token for Lucky Nugget, 2 for Auberge and 1 in Annettes, but we didn't eat off the restricted menu we ate what we liked and then the waiter took off the amount they are worth (22 euros?) from the bill. It was a good way of prepaying some money and then you could choose whether you wanted to splash out a bit more.
The drive back was much better when we decided to ignore the sat nav (which still wanted to take us back via Brussels!) and follow the Michelin instructions I'd printed from a link on this forum.
We didn't have time to do everything and missed the Lion King show in the end which was a real shame, but we'll definitely be back.

 

[britchic4]

I do have some photos I could add now (including a dishy Captain Jack) but I can't actually figure out how to do it!

 

[tennisfan]

Welcome back sounds like you enjoyed yourselves.

To post photos, try & upload them on a site like photobucket & then copy/paste the links here. The photos should then appear.

 

[britchic4]

Thankyou, I'll do that.

 

[mulan1]

thanks glad you had a good time, would be great to see pics!

 

[meeko cat]

Sounds like you had fun

funny we were debating a sat nav but didnt get round to it....glad we didnt

now

Interesting what you said about Steakhouse.....

we had planned on eating there on the Weds but after reading the half board

menu we decided not to bother as the kids didnt like any of the options.

 

[Ware Bears]

Welcome back glad you had a great time.

It was encouraging to hear that they were conducting a survey at Auberge de Cendrillon as lots have complained about the choices on the child's menu.

 

[Cyrano]

Shame about the SatNav as our TomTom took us right to the door of DCR Mind you I had set up an itinery and pre- run it just to be sure. I even had a POI for Auchan downloaded just in case we couldn't find it

Sounds like you had a great time and had some lovely meals

I'd agree with going back. We have saw our troops have different experiences each year we have went back. Till we now have a mixture of thrill seekers and one who is still not sure about POTC

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Welcome back
Great report

 

[britchic4]

It was encouraging to hear that they were conducting a survey at Auberge de Cendrillon as lots have complained about the choices on the child's menu.

They were indeed rubbish choices. The tomato and mozzarella starters were untouched (well, by the children, DH stole the mozzarella), DS's tortellini was 'contaminated' by strips of vegetables and too many 'green bits'. The desserts looked beautiful but there was way too much for any but the biggest child (or the one who hasn't eaten any of the other courses!). I would say the average age of the children in there was about 5 or 6, and children of that age mostly just want quite plain food - and not plain slices of tomato!

 

[britchic4]

Shame about the SatNav as our TomTom took us right to the door of DCR Mind you I had set up an itinery and pre- run it just to be sure. I even had a POI for Auchan downloaded just in case we couldn't find it

Sounds like you had a great time and had some lovely meals

I'd agree with going back. We have saw our troops have different experiences each year we have went back. Till we now have a mixture of thrill seekers and one who is still not sure about POTC

Unfortunately our sat nav programming consisted of hurriedly inputting it on the Eurotunnel in the moment between being allowed to turn your engine on and having to drive off! Which is why I didn't spot the 8 1/2 hour drive at the time. Luckily I did spot it not too much later.