Christmas comes early PTR

[tinkertaylor05]

Another cheeky PTR for me, still not finished off the last trippie but need to get the magic going.

The cast as always:

Me (30) unlikely Disney lover

Mum (63) Disney super gran(dma) ... she woud kill me for calling her gran!

DD (6) my very own Disney princess

After a fantastic February trip we decided that would be it until next year as we were getting a new puppy in June. Puppy arrived and life as we know it got turned upside down.

As seems to be the way I can't quite remember how this trip came about except one day in July I came home from work and announced to mum we'd be going to DLP for a Christmas trip if it killed me

I started pricing up trips and worked out it would be cheaper for us to travel on Eurostar, which I was secretly pleased about as I've never tried it before. I must tell you now that I am the most stubborn person ever and a typical taurean (for those that follow star signs ).

On our last trip whilst walking under DLH I delcared, next time we come we'll be staying here .... believing it would be Oct 2012. Once this memory came into my mind, there was no question about it, not only were we having a Christmas trip we would be staying at DLH ..... let the overtime commence

 

[Sarah28]

Wow i would love to stay at the DLH one day We've been a few times near christmas and we love it, especially when they make it snow Have a great time and look forward to reading about it when you're back

 

[Laura678]

Fun-ness!!!

DLP+DLH+Christmas has to equal MAGICAL!!!

 

[Mum to Belle]

Christmas at DLH

Happy planning!

 

[megarasweet]

Christmas at DLH is wonderful, have an amazing trip.

 

[River<3Mickey]

Exciting times.

How are your preparations going?

 

[tinkertaylor05]

Exciting times.

How are your preparations going?

I'm really excited but have been so busy with work I've not had time to do my usual crazy planning every second ... I do however have a rough idea

We'll be heading to London on the 29th November to stay 2 nights before catching the direct Eurostar to DLP on 1st December.

Things I'm worried about are bad weather, Eurostar, train times coming home. Also even though I really wanted DLH for dd I'm having doubts over it, I think I must be the only person to have ever been dreading staying there

How about you, started a pre trip report yet?

 

[wmoon]

Hi

You will love the DLH. Especially if it's cold, there is nothing better than coming out the park when it's freezing and being inside 2 seconds later...

I have enjoyed all 3 hotels we have stayed at but in the cold DLH is the best for me.

All planned? We are not, still haven't told DS, hoping to keep it secret till next Sunday?

Wendy x

 

[tinkertaylor05]

Hi

You will love the DLH. Especially if it's cold, there is nothing better than coming out the park when it's freezing and being inside 2 seconds later...

I have enjoyed all 3 hotels we have stayed at but in the cold DLH is the best for me.

All planned? We are not, still haven't told DS, hoping to keep it secret till next Sunday?

Wendy x

Thanks Wendy, I don't know why I can't fully let myself go and get excited about this trip I'm worried about DLH being more busy than HNY, we've always had a real feeling of freedom there and it seems alot more people pop into DLH which makes it busier. I am however glad of the ease to be able to nip back and warm up

I feel better now that I've decided to stop over in London for the night of our return, worked out cheaper than booking an open return on the train in the end too!!

I have a few plans and have made some reservations I'll probably change it about a little except for Sunday Brunch at Invention, I'm really looking forward to that.

Well done on keeping the surprise so far, I bet your ds won't believe you when you tell him

 

[wmoon]

You will be fine at DLH. Never noticed it busier than the the HNY. The lobby I suppose can get people popping in. We stayed over a weekend on our last trip and it still didnt seem too bad.

Joe loves running along the HNY corridors but DLH is pretty much the same just decorated different.

Never had to queue for breakfast at the DLH as we have done before at HNY especially if there are conferences on and you don't get time slots.

Great for doing emh then going back or breakfast at 10, which we did at HNY as well but seems better when you are right at the door.

Found last December when it was -5 that it was worth the extra pennies to be so close, as you come out the park there are buildings on either side, although you need to swipe your key to get in the one on the right hand side as you come out(took a while for me to figure that out).

Know what you mean about being concerned about the weather we had a couple of traumas last year with that and I swore I would never go in the winter again... But........ And no snow forecast so far ( fingers crossed)!

 

[tinkertaylor05]

Found last December when it was -5 that it was worth the extra pennies to be so close, as you come out the park there are buildings on either side, although you need to swipe your key to get in the one on the right hand side as you come out(took a while for me to figure that out).

Know what you mean about being concerned about the weather we had a couple of traumas last year with that and I swore I would never go in the winter again... But........ And no snow forecast so far ( fingers crossed)!

Oooh that's good to know, I'd probably be there rattling the doors!

Last I checked the forecast was rain everyday for us

 

[wmoon]

Yep, weather looks no too great for us as well. Ponchos and wellies a must then....

Hate the rain but better thn the trauma snow might cause. The only snow I want to see if the fake stuff on main street....

 

[tinkertaylor05]

The only snow I want to see if the fake stuff on main street....

Agreed!

Well to continue the PTR I managed to book after a little stumbling block when they increased deposits to 35% thankfully this was short lived and a couple of weeks later they dropped back down to 10%

Eurostar service was exceptional, I spoke to several representatives on the phone who worked really hard to help us find the right booking, in the end a really helpful guy reserved our booking for 2 weeks which made it all possible.

Our original plan was to travel to London on 30th Nov ready for our morning Eurostar on the 1st. When the potential strike action was announced I thought is best to travel the day before, even though trains shouldn't be affected I wasn't taking any chances.

I didn't want to plan this trip as intensely as our last but I'm too much of a control freak

Once we were all booked up I told dd, after the initial excitement I sat her down with me and asked her to read the booking confirmation. That beautifully bright DLP letter is one of the best sights ever so just seeing that she was hyper, as she read it through she paused for a long time. I asked her casually what does it say about the hotel? where are we staying? Dd just broke out in the biggest smile ever, I hope I remember the look on her face for the rest of my life, that was worth every penny

 

[tinks_1989]

9 days to go so excited for you! x

 

[IsobelJackmummy]

Dd just broke out in the biggest smile ever, I hope I remember the look on her face for the rest of my life, that was worth every penny

It's moments like that that make these trips worth every penny isn't it?

I hope you all have a lovely trip!

 

[tinkertaylor05]

Thanks guys

Over the past couple of months I've changed my mind about our plans countless times and now have tied myself in knots

I had planned to go into Paris on Thursday night, Cafe Mickey Friday, Blue Lagoon Saturday and Inventions Sunday Brunch but now that's all changed .... just not sure what to yet

There's just so much to do with all the Christmas parades I'm thinking our main meals will be earlier on in the day and am now thinking Inventions is not a good choice for us, the more I look at it the more I realise we won't eat that much ..... soooooo back to the drawing board

 

[wmoon]

Hi

Inventions Sunday brunch was good, it was a bit less fishy than night time.

We enjoyed blue lagoon this time as well.

Think we will be doing bigger meals in the afternoon, I have a sort of plan
Monday night - Rainforrest cafe
Cowboy cookout and Agrabah for lunch Tuesday and Wednesday and prob just Caseys or the like or a snack in between Christmas parade things.....

Sent your pm.

Happy planning

Wendy x