knitting nancy
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2006
- Messages
- 34
Managed to be downstairs and in the lobby at 8.30 this morning to meet Mickey Mouse and get our autograph book off to a flying start. The children were quite overcome. We then went off to breakfast which was in the conference part of the hotel. We were only the second family in so the impact of the plates piled high with all manner of goodies not yet touched was quite something. The boys eyes were on stalks and my good intentions of being in the park for rope drop evaporated as we spent a whole hour in the breakfast room with them going up over and over again to refill their plates and top up with more hot chocolate. I don't know where they put it all. Still, I did pretty well for myself too and DD who is made to at breakfast under duress at home, managed a croissant, 3 yoghurts and a big bowl of fruit salad.
We managed to leave in the end, collected our coats and bags and then found Minnie in the lobby so queued to meet her as well which meant it was about 10.30 before we started heading through Disney Village. I was appalled when I saw the enormous crowds flocking from the train station - I'd read that it was busier at the weekends but really wasn't expecting anything on quite such a scale.
Despite my forward planning I managed to mess up the morning a bit by joining a queue for Snow White under the mistaken impression that we were queueing for Peter Pan. I'd looked for the Fastpass machine without success, asked a CM who just said 'no fastpass', and somehow didn't twig that we were in the wrong place until I saw the Snow White mural on the wall a good while later. What an idiot!! I thought it was excellent however although the children all had their eyes shut from the moment the witch appeared which didn't bode very well for Phantom Manor which DS1 and DD had been quite keen to do. By the time we got to Peter Pan the fastpass tickets were running for 1.30 - 2.00 and we needed to be back at the hotel then to prepare for the Ball so there was nothing for it but to stand in line for about 45 minutes feeling cross and frustrated. Once we were in our ship that was all forgotten though and I was again carried away by the magic of it all.
When we returned to earth there was even a queue to get into Alice's curious labyrinth so we headed over to Adventureland with a view to having lunch before the restaurants got too busy even though we were all still full up from breakfast. I'd planned on going to Colonel Hathi's because I thought that the theming would somewhat make up for the disappointment of DS1 at not being able to eat at his beloved Rainforest Cafe because our meal vouchers hadn't covered it. Having poked our head round the door and found it completely empty I thought we could risk waiting another 1/2 hour so we went into the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse which we all loved. The theming is so brilliant that we really felt we were climbing up a real tree, though DS2 pointed out that with so much wood fron the shipwreck at their disposal why hadn't the family built another ship and sailed away! Again there were so many people up there that you moreorless had to keep walking (bit like looking at the Crown Jewels) and it would have been nice to have taken more time there.
Back to Colonel Hathi's where we admired the tree canopy and DS2 and myself picked at our pasta (good job it was free) while DS1 and DD recovered their appetites at the sight of their Mickey shaped pizza. Then we walked back to Central Plaza through Frontierland which again was just amazing. We felt like we were in a cowboy town and that was the thing which I just couldn't get over. Every single detail in the whole resort is absolutely perfect but not in a contrived way. You are just magically transported to a different place without even thinking about. I can't put it into words really but I suppose that is the Disney magic. Toyed with the idea of getting fastpasses for BTM for later that afternoon but DS2 started whining that he didn't want to do it and then when I pointed out Phantom Manor up ahead (again, what I was saying just now - it looks exactly like a haunted house should look) he started crying and saying he didn't want to do that either so I issued him an ultimatum of having to choose one ride from BTM, PM or POC which he wasn't too happy about.
Anyway we returned to the hotel and as we got nearer there were children coming out who had been at the previous workshops all transformed into princesses and we were so excited. We had to assemble in the conference area again where 2 of the mice from Cinderella were doing a meet n' greet so I had to do a quick dash back to the hotel room to get the autograph book which I'd left in my coat pocket. We were then ushered into the conference room which had been transformed. We entered through archways of blue helium balloons (1st tears are welling up here just thinking about it) and all round the walls were more arches of balloons. Along one side of the room were about 20 tables and mirrors with lights round for the makeovers and hairdressing and a makeup artist or hairdresser at each, along the other were racks of blue net skirts more tables loaded with accessories for the costumes and a team of 'seamstresses', and at one end was a dance floor for the childrens ballroom dancing lesson, and although I knew that this was all going to happen I hadn't expected it to happen in quite such a perfect fairytale way. Then 4 ladies came out dressed out in long pink crinoline dresses adorned with roses with immaculate hair and makeup, looking for all the world as if they had stepped off the screen of a disney film and were joined by 4 men dressed as princes - and they were giving the dancing lesson! I was completely overcome with emotion at this point and for the 2 hours that we were in that room I felt so lucky and so privileged to be part of it and as I kept reminding DD, in between telling her how grateful we were to her for giving us the chance to be there, we will never ever do anything like that again.
Our group was first for the 'makeover' which I had been a little worried about as I'm not a fan of small children in makeup and had visions of her being turned into a little American pageant Queen. In fact it was just really pretty face painting but it's not everyday you have your face painted at a mirror with lights round, and she looked so lovely that I had more tears! The boys weren't left out and had curly moustaches and little beards. While we were waiting our turn we were next to the dance floor so watched the 1st group having their dancing lesson which they did in a big ring rather than in couples and then afterwards while the rest of the group finished off there were tables laid out with pictures of Disney princesses to colour in. Oh and i've just remembered that there was a big table running down the middle of the room with plates of cakes and pastries, urns of coffee and hot chocolate and big ice buckets full of cans of drink. Funny how hungry we felt all of a sudden!
Next stop was hairdressing. DD has very straight hair in a shortish bob with a growing out fringe so I wasn't sure what they would be able to do for her. She had it curled with tongs however which she was absolutely delighted with and all the girls were given a gold sequinny tiara.
Next it was the dancing lesson which was my favourite bit. They learned a polka. Me being a pushy parent had instructed DD to position herself next to a 'princess' for better photographic opportunities and if I felt as emotional as I did I can't imagine how it must have felt to a 5 year old holding hands and dancing with such a beautiful lady. Perhaps she just took it all in her stride, but without doubt it's going to be something she remembers forever.
Finally it was our groups turn for being fitted with costume and unfortunately at this point the magic did start to wear a little thin because we found ourselves at the back of the queue and DSs having eaten as much chocolate cake as they possibly could were getting bored and rolling about the floor fighting while I came off my cloud and went into nagging mother mode! Eventually they were taken off to be fitted with big feathered princely hats and velvet cloaks and then DD received her long blue puffy net ballgown skirt and stood obligingly while a lady tweaked it into a bustle at the back and transformed it in a way that I have not been able to replicate at home, and the transformation was complete.
On returning to the hotel room the boys immediately removed all theirs so we could hit the Park again but DD was so hairsprayed and tied up in hers that she put a coat on over the top and went out like that, and I must confess to a sense of smug satisfaction at all the looks she got because it was obvious that we were involved in something special.
It was 4.30 by now and we had 2 hours of Park time left. Rembering the crowds of the morning I decided to see if the Studio's were any quieter and it was a very good move. We walked straight onto a studio tram tour which was just about to start and all but DS2 ("such a sensitive child" she says through gritted teeth!) enjoyed that. Then we headed to Cinemagique to catch the final show of the day which I thought was absolutely incredible and I have no idea how they did it. Faced my demons by agreeing to go on the flying carpet ride when we came out and was Ok with that because it was much slower -wasn't so keen on the tilting movement mind you- and in fact we were able to run straight round and get on again for the very last ride before the park closed. We went to change into our posh togs, amazed that we'd done so much in such a short time.
We were given a map to help us get to the destination of the Ball which involved going through Fantasyland, showing our special passes to go through the gates which the Disney parade disappears into and thence to a building in Discoveryland. As we passed C3PO I presume it was Star Tours. We went through a set of doors into the cloakroom area and then through another set of doors into the 'Ballroom'. I don't know where to begin really. As we entered there were waiters and waitresses on either side holding trays of champagne and orange juice and a red carpet running down the middle of the room. A little further on was a courtier with powdered wig holding a scroll and announcing the guests as they entered (made up regal sounding names!) just like at a proper Ball. There were giant stars hanging from the ceiling and nets of lights hung round the walls. In the middle of the room was a fountain with water that changed colour and the red carpet continued down to the far end of the room where there was a stage with 2 thrones on and a pedestal with a spotlit glass slipper. On each side were big round tables which seated 12 with big centrepieces of pink rosebuds and pink rose petals scattered on the cloth and "look mummy, 2 knives and forks!" It was so perfect I could hardly speak. Each table had a nationality card on it because people had been invited from across Europe, and we found the UK ones down by the stage. I found out by eavesdropping in the buffet queue that most people there had been invited and only some of the guests were competition winners so I felt really honoured that we'd had the chance to take part in something that we would never normally be able to do.
At 8 o clock the bewigged courtier took to the stage and announced the arrival of Mickey and Minnie so everyone jumped up and lined the red carpet and the advantageous view that we thought we'd get by being near the front turned out not to be so great because of all the people in front so we had to get up and join them. They were dressed as king and queen and looked great. The buffet was declared open but just as we sat down with our dinner a procession of the Disney Princesses and their Princes was announced so we got up again to watch that - Snow White and all the dwarves plus Prince, Aurora and Prince Philip, Belle and the Beast accompanied by Cogsworth and Lumiere, Ariel, Prince Eric and Sebastien and finally Cinderella and Prince Charming accompanied by the 2 mice we'd seen earlier. In between each of their arrivals the dancers from earlier, in new costumes danced round the fountain and it really was like being in a dream.
When the Princes and Princesses had all taken their places on the stage the dancers performed a waltz from Sleeping Beauty and then led the children in some more dances. DSs went back to their food at this point but DD gamely joined in and I watched her and ate after.
A bit later there was the opportunity for a meet 'n' greet which as you might imagine was a free for all. DSs were again left to their own devices while I waited patiently with DD. Unfortunately the poor child was one of the smallest there and kept getting overlooked and pushed out of the way so in the end I had to lift her up so that she was more noticeable. We managed to get Cinderella's, Aurora's and Ariel's though which wasn't bad going.
The Grand Finale was another magical moment. Cinderella and Prince Charming were dancing by the fountain when suddenly the clock started striking 12. Looking suitably alarmed, Cinderella ran off up the carpet towards the exit. Prince Charming bent down to pick something off the floor and then held up the glass slipper! Words can't do it justice. And when we left (with roses from the table decoration to press as a souvenir) I felt as if I was walking on air.
It would have been too much of an anticlimax to go straight back to bed so we stopped off at the Disney Store for some souvenirs. Having issued a 'no more cuddly toys to leave lying on your bedroom floor' ultimatum DS1 produces an adorable King Louie which he infoms me would just love to join his monkey collection at home and DS2 shows me an equally adorable Pluto and they both tell me that it's their money which they've saved up and I relent because I'm in such a good mood. But I did draw the line at a tiger of indeterminate film origin that DD liked and steered her in the direction of the Disney Princess items instead. She was rather taken with the musical figures but wanted to get one just before we go home tomorrow in case it got broken.
And so ended day 2
Sorry that's another epic. I'm not very good at being short and concise
We managed to leave in the end, collected our coats and bags and then found Minnie in the lobby so queued to meet her as well which meant it was about 10.30 before we started heading through Disney Village. I was appalled when I saw the enormous crowds flocking from the train station - I'd read that it was busier at the weekends but really wasn't expecting anything on quite such a scale.
Despite my forward planning I managed to mess up the morning a bit by joining a queue for Snow White under the mistaken impression that we were queueing for Peter Pan. I'd looked for the Fastpass machine without success, asked a CM who just said 'no fastpass', and somehow didn't twig that we were in the wrong place until I saw the Snow White mural on the wall a good while later. What an idiot!! I thought it was excellent however although the children all had their eyes shut from the moment the witch appeared which didn't bode very well for Phantom Manor which DS1 and DD had been quite keen to do. By the time we got to Peter Pan the fastpass tickets were running for 1.30 - 2.00 and we needed to be back at the hotel then to prepare for the Ball so there was nothing for it but to stand in line for about 45 minutes feeling cross and frustrated. Once we were in our ship that was all forgotten though and I was again carried away by the magic of it all.
When we returned to earth there was even a queue to get into Alice's curious labyrinth so we headed over to Adventureland with a view to having lunch before the restaurants got too busy even though we were all still full up from breakfast. I'd planned on going to Colonel Hathi's because I thought that the theming would somewhat make up for the disappointment of DS1 at not being able to eat at his beloved Rainforest Cafe because our meal vouchers hadn't covered it. Having poked our head round the door and found it completely empty I thought we could risk waiting another 1/2 hour so we went into the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse which we all loved. The theming is so brilliant that we really felt we were climbing up a real tree, though DS2 pointed out that with so much wood fron the shipwreck at their disposal why hadn't the family built another ship and sailed away! Again there were so many people up there that you moreorless had to keep walking (bit like looking at the Crown Jewels) and it would have been nice to have taken more time there.
Back to Colonel Hathi's where we admired the tree canopy and DS2 and myself picked at our pasta (good job it was free) while DS1 and DD recovered their appetites at the sight of their Mickey shaped pizza. Then we walked back to Central Plaza through Frontierland which again was just amazing. We felt like we were in a cowboy town and that was the thing which I just couldn't get over. Every single detail in the whole resort is absolutely perfect but not in a contrived way. You are just magically transported to a different place without even thinking about. I can't put it into words really but I suppose that is the Disney magic. Toyed with the idea of getting fastpasses for BTM for later that afternoon but DS2 started whining that he didn't want to do it and then when I pointed out Phantom Manor up ahead (again, what I was saying just now - it looks exactly like a haunted house should look) he started crying and saying he didn't want to do that either so I issued him an ultimatum of having to choose one ride from BTM, PM or POC which he wasn't too happy about.
Anyway we returned to the hotel and as we got nearer there were children coming out who had been at the previous workshops all transformed into princesses and we were so excited. We had to assemble in the conference area again where 2 of the mice from Cinderella were doing a meet n' greet so I had to do a quick dash back to the hotel room to get the autograph book which I'd left in my coat pocket. We were then ushered into the conference room which had been transformed. We entered through archways of blue helium balloons (1st tears are welling up here just thinking about it) and all round the walls were more arches of balloons. Along one side of the room were about 20 tables and mirrors with lights round for the makeovers and hairdressing and a makeup artist or hairdresser at each, along the other were racks of blue net skirts more tables loaded with accessories for the costumes and a team of 'seamstresses', and at one end was a dance floor for the childrens ballroom dancing lesson, and although I knew that this was all going to happen I hadn't expected it to happen in quite such a perfect fairytale way. Then 4 ladies came out dressed out in long pink crinoline dresses adorned with roses with immaculate hair and makeup, looking for all the world as if they had stepped off the screen of a disney film and were joined by 4 men dressed as princes - and they were giving the dancing lesson! I was completely overcome with emotion at this point and for the 2 hours that we were in that room I felt so lucky and so privileged to be part of it and as I kept reminding DD, in between telling her how grateful we were to her for giving us the chance to be there, we will never ever do anything like that again.
Our group was first for the 'makeover' which I had been a little worried about as I'm not a fan of small children in makeup and had visions of her being turned into a little American pageant Queen. In fact it was just really pretty face painting but it's not everyday you have your face painted at a mirror with lights round, and she looked so lovely that I had more tears! The boys weren't left out and had curly moustaches and little beards. While we were waiting our turn we were next to the dance floor so watched the 1st group having their dancing lesson which they did in a big ring rather than in couples and then afterwards while the rest of the group finished off there were tables laid out with pictures of Disney princesses to colour in. Oh and i've just remembered that there was a big table running down the middle of the room with plates of cakes and pastries, urns of coffee and hot chocolate and big ice buckets full of cans of drink. Funny how hungry we felt all of a sudden!
Next stop was hairdressing. DD has very straight hair in a shortish bob with a growing out fringe so I wasn't sure what they would be able to do for her. She had it curled with tongs however which she was absolutely delighted with and all the girls were given a gold sequinny tiara.
Next it was the dancing lesson which was my favourite bit. They learned a polka. Me being a pushy parent had instructed DD to position herself next to a 'princess' for better photographic opportunities and if I felt as emotional as I did I can't imagine how it must have felt to a 5 year old holding hands and dancing with such a beautiful lady. Perhaps she just took it all in her stride, but without doubt it's going to be something she remembers forever.
Finally it was our groups turn for being fitted with costume and unfortunately at this point the magic did start to wear a little thin because we found ourselves at the back of the queue and DSs having eaten as much chocolate cake as they possibly could were getting bored and rolling about the floor fighting while I came off my cloud and went into nagging mother mode! Eventually they were taken off to be fitted with big feathered princely hats and velvet cloaks and then DD received her long blue puffy net ballgown skirt and stood obligingly while a lady tweaked it into a bustle at the back and transformed it in a way that I have not been able to replicate at home, and the transformation was complete.
On returning to the hotel room the boys immediately removed all theirs so we could hit the Park again but DD was so hairsprayed and tied up in hers that she put a coat on over the top and went out like that, and I must confess to a sense of smug satisfaction at all the looks she got because it was obvious that we were involved in something special.
It was 4.30 by now and we had 2 hours of Park time left. Rembering the crowds of the morning I decided to see if the Studio's were any quieter and it was a very good move. We walked straight onto a studio tram tour which was just about to start and all but DS2 ("such a sensitive child" she says through gritted teeth!) enjoyed that. Then we headed to Cinemagique to catch the final show of the day which I thought was absolutely incredible and I have no idea how they did it. Faced my demons by agreeing to go on the flying carpet ride when we came out and was Ok with that because it was much slower -wasn't so keen on the tilting movement mind you- and in fact we were able to run straight round and get on again for the very last ride before the park closed. We went to change into our posh togs, amazed that we'd done so much in such a short time.
We were given a map to help us get to the destination of the Ball which involved going through Fantasyland, showing our special passes to go through the gates which the Disney parade disappears into and thence to a building in Discoveryland. As we passed C3PO I presume it was Star Tours. We went through a set of doors into the cloakroom area and then through another set of doors into the 'Ballroom'. I don't know where to begin really. As we entered there were waiters and waitresses on either side holding trays of champagne and orange juice and a red carpet running down the middle of the room. A little further on was a courtier with powdered wig holding a scroll and announcing the guests as they entered (made up regal sounding names!) just like at a proper Ball. There were giant stars hanging from the ceiling and nets of lights hung round the walls. In the middle of the room was a fountain with water that changed colour and the red carpet continued down to the far end of the room where there was a stage with 2 thrones on and a pedestal with a spotlit glass slipper. On each side were big round tables which seated 12 with big centrepieces of pink rosebuds and pink rose petals scattered on the cloth and "look mummy, 2 knives and forks!" It was so perfect I could hardly speak. Each table had a nationality card on it because people had been invited from across Europe, and we found the UK ones down by the stage. I found out by eavesdropping in the buffet queue that most people there had been invited and only some of the guests were competition winners so I felt really honoured that we'd had the chance to take part in something that we would never normally be able to do.
At 8 o clock the bewigged courtier took to the stage and announced the arrival of Mickey and Minnie so everyone jumped up and lined the red carpet and the advantageous view that we thought we'd get by being near the front turned out not to be so great because of all the people in front so we had to get up and join them. They were dressed as king and queen and looked great. The buffet was declared open but just as we sat down with our dinner a procession of the Disney Princesses and their Princes was announced so we got up again to watch that - Snow White and all the dwarves plus Prince, Aurora and Prince Philip, Belle and the Beast accompanied by Cogsworth and Lumiere, Ariel, Prince Eric and Sebastien and finally Cinderella and Prince Charming accompanied by the 2 mice we'd seen earlier. In between each of their arrivals the dancers from earlier, in new costumes danced round the fountain and it really was like being in a dream.
When the Princes and Princesses had all taken their places on the stage the dancers performed a waltz from Sleeping Beauty and then led the children in some more dances. DSs went back to their food at this point but DD gamely joined in and I watched her and ate after.
A bit later there was the opportunity for a meet 'n' greet which as you might imagine was a free for all. DSs were again left to their own devices while I waited patiently with DD. Unfortunately the poor child was one of the smallest there and kept getting overlooked and pushed out of the way so in the end I had to lift her up so that she was more noticeable. We managed to get Cinderella's, Aurora's and Ariel's though which wasn't bad going.
The Grand Finale was another magical moment. Cinderella and Prince Charming were dancing by the fountain when suddenly the clock started striking 12. Looking suitably alarmed, Cinderella ran off up the carpet towards the exit. Prince Charming bent down to pick something off the floor and then held up the glass slipper! Words can't do it justice. And when we left (with roses from the table decoration to press as a souvenir) I felt as if I was walking on air.
It would have been too much of an anticlimax to go straight back to bed so we stopped off at the Disney Store for some souvenirs. Having issued a 'no more cuddly toys to leave lying on your bedroom floor' ultimatum DS1 produces an adorable King Louie which he infoms me would just love to join his monkey collection at home and DS2 shows me an equally adorable Pluto and they both tell me that it's their money which they've saved up and I relent because I'm in such a good mood. But I did draw the line at a tiger of indeterminate film origin that DD liked and steered her in the direction of the Disney Princess items instead. She was rather taken with the musical figures but wanted to get one just before we go home tomorrow in case it got broken.
And so ended day 2
Sorry that's another epic. I'm not very good at being short and concise
Thank you for taking the time to tell us all about it, and in such wonderful detail too!! 
I was welling up just reading!! 
writing it was more interesting than the housework that I should have been doing
