Croissants, Characters & Culture - Paris & Disney 2007 - Day 4 - Studios & Shopping

[Mike Jones]

Day 4 – Thursday 31st May 2007

(Weather: mostly sunny and fine, if a little breezy.)

Amanda and I woke before 6am, and we’ve been missing our normal, early walks with our dog, so we dress and creep out of the cabin, leaving the kids asleep. We stroll out of the ‘loop’ and up the main, wooded drive towards the Village area. It’s a beautiful dawn, calm and clear skies, with the promise of a better day ahead. (Guess who forgot to take his camera?)

The Village is peaceful and there’s not a soul about. We walk through Davy’s Farm (petting zoo and stables) and look at the animals… an escapee rabbit eludes our half-hearted efforts to return him or her to a pen!

We wander back to the cabin at 7.00am and wake the kids. Even Adam is reluctant to rise this morning, after the long day yesterday, and Beth almost needs a cattle prod! They should acquire a caffeine habit! Adam finally appears, and the three of us walk to the breakfast hut. There’s a different CM on duty today, a rather stern, older lady, who berates us for forgetting our Guest Pass, and tuts and blows a bit while she highlights our cabin on her list, to ensure we don’t come back for seconds!

Breakfast is enjoyed before frog-marching Beth into the shower and tidying up. The morning ritual is much the same as on previous days, and we are driving away from the cabin at 9.10.

The weather’s gone off a bit now, sadly… still pleasant, but gathering clouds – I hope it doesn’t rain again.

We land at the car park at 920 and arrive at the Village by 9.30.

The parks don’t open until 10.00, so we walk through the Village and around Lake Disney, taking a look at the nearest, resort hotels:

The weather can’t make its mind up, but the sun keeps peeping through and it’s not cold.

It takes about twenty minutes to circle the lake (odd, as it’s more of a rectangle!) and it’s 9.50 as we enter the Disney Studios park.

 

[Mike Jones]

Our plan today is to complete the other shows we missed on Tuesday.

We are admitted as far as Studio 1 (you remember? The shopping and café area masquerading as a film set!) where we bypass most of the crowd by edging through the left hand stores to within a few yards of the doors into the park proper. There’s a jolly-sounding, opening ceremony, but we can’t see much from our limited vantage point. As soon as they drop the rope (or simply open the doors, we can’t honestly see) we walk briskly to the left, towards Rock n’ Roller Coaster (avec Aerosmith!) to squeeze an adrenalin fix in before the theatre shows start. There’s no line of any sort, but they don’t actually admit anyone for 5 minutes or so, and then, inside, we catch a bit more of the pre-show.

I must admit this is a bit pointless – the Florida version has the band just departing after a recording session, and while here, in Paris, the setting is similar, the storyline has them playing with a model roller coaster, as though they are consultants on the ride! Odd! Anyway, the ride is brilliant, do it! Oh, and we get the soundtrack again this time, thankfully!

We exit at 10.20 to broken clouds and collect my patient, feet-firmly-on-the-ground son. The next show on the list is Animagique, and we enter the waiting area at 10.30. Sully is busy scaring little kids!

What can we say about the show? Hmm… well, it’s very professionally done, but sadly it’s a bit too ‘kiddie’ for us, although the under-5’s in the theatre loved it! Something was niggling, during the performance, and Amanda put her finger on it- (Editor’s note: Blasphemy warning! Any dyed in the wool Disneyphiles should look away now, and skip the next few lines!) – The Mickey Master of Ceremonies in the show looks like Michael Jackson! Wacko Jacko! I know! How can this be? Sorry folks, please forgive us, he just came across very strongly as an MJ clone!

Right, out we go. It’s 11.10.We feel like we’d endured something a bit uncomfortable, and we are hoping for something closer to our tastes at the next venue, Cinemagique (not worked desperately hard with the names here, have they?) but first we break to take on some cholesterol. Adam has a Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Ice Cream, and the rest of us choose Cholocolate Waffles from a trailer outlet. Delicious!

Over to Cinemagique at 11.30. We are soon seated in a similar theatre to the first show, but, once it starts, we are much happier. It’s brilliant! I won’t spoil the plot for anyone yet to see this, but I recommend it wholeheartedly.

It’s 12.15, and the Moteurs Action show is in full swing, so we take advantage of the lack of people to have another quick thrash on RnRC, before crossing the ‘street’ at 12.25 to do ‘Armageddon – Les Effets Speciaux’

Although there’s a few dozen people waiting, they let us in en masse into a pre-show, before experiencing the space station effects at the end. It’s well done, as you’d expect, although once the surprise element is gone, I’m not sure it would be too rewarding on re-visits.

Out at 12.45. It’s quieter than I expected, as the stunt show will have kicked out by now, but it’s likely that they’ve all gone for lunch. We head back to the opposite side of the park (when Tower of Terror is finished you’ll be able to do a full circuit, but at present the way is blocked. Our next attraction is the Backlot Tour, and the way there leads us past the new Crush’s Coaster – due to open soon – and a variety of kiddie, toon-themed attractions.

 

[Mike Jones]

We are boarded without waiting – the tours are continuous, spaced a few minutes apart. The Backlot Tour is similar to the one we have done in Florida, namely a slow, tram ride through a variety of film sets and props from Disney films,

…culminating in Catastrophe Canyon, a huge, hillside set that simulates an earthquake, with gas explosions and fires, and ends with a deluge as thousands of litres of water are sent pouring down onto the tram – you won’t get more than mildly splashed, but if you want to play safe, sit on the right side of the ride vehicle!

There’s an unexpected extra at the end of the tour, as you progress through a London ‘crash –site’ complete with underground train, red bus and authentic looking buildings.

It’s 1.20pm as we exit the ride, and we’ve ticked most of our boxes here today. We walk out of the park and, using a tip from Simon V’s excellent guide, we head across the plaza to the Marne le Vallee RER station for lunch,

…selecting sub rolls and drinks of a better quality and at much less cost than in the Disney Village or parks. Sitting on a low wall opposite the station, we enjoy the food and the welcome sunshine.

1.40pm. We walk back to our car….. guess what? The travelators are working now, but only in the ‘arrivals’ direction, and they’re empty! Go figure! The kids take advantage of this rare novelty, however, by running the wrong way along them!

I drive to the Val de Europe Shopping Complex, about 5 minutes away, and we park at the ‘right-hand’ side, close to the La Vallee Outlet Village, through which we enter the complex.

 

[Mike Jones]

It’s an attractive collection of discount, designer boutiques, (a bit like Cheshire Oaks, for any north-west English readers), selling mainly clothing from last season’s ranges at significant reductions on original prices.

For some reason they don’t want you to take photographs here, but I manage to grab a couple before a polite security guard asks me to stop!

Oh, and there’s one of these too…

We’re not big shoppers, but we drift through the famous name stores and unfold a variety of garments to give the bored-looking assistants something to do. This is very tiring work, though, so we repair to Starbucks for a caffeine fix…. Adam wants the ‘same drink as in Paris’ ( a tea-based iced-fruit beverage) so we oblige, even though he’d reject it if he knew there was tea in there!

It’s warm and sunny and we spend a pleasant half-hour outside watching the world go by. Duty calls, however, and we resume our unfolding duties until we reach the gates adjacent to the main shopping malls, and Les Terrasses, a huge, iron and glass annexe.

This area comprises a conservatory style food court, laid out in an appealing way and hosting a wide variety of decent quality eateries from several countries’ cuisines. Sadly, most of the ones Amanda and I would choose are ruled out due to a lack of veggie options for Beth. The most promising is a large, Italian restaurant opening onto a huge, circular plaza at one side.

We proceed onwards, into the main shopping mall at about 3.30. This is familiar territory, it could be a Bluewater or Trafford Centre. All the normal names are there, plus the huge Auchan Hypermarket & Food Store we visited a couple of days ago.

Adam spends a few of his euros on a pair of cycling gloves from a sports shop, and the ladies mooch the shoe shops and fashion outlets. While they do a detailed inspection of the H & M stock for Beth,. Adam and I sit and listen to a jazz pianist entertaining weary shoppers in the centre of the mall.

Beth appears triumphant with some dangly earrings. There’s nothing else we need, and we make our way back towards Les Terrasses, and out into the plaza (Place de Toscano). The Italian restaurant we spotted earlier is called Prego (one of a chain, I think?), and, as it’s only 4.45, the place is virtually empty. We are made very welcome, however, and seated just inside open doors with a view out into the plaza.

Amanda and I have a small glass of wine and share a large bottle of water, the kids select coke and orange. They don’t want starters, but DW and I have Bresaola (raw beef, thinly sliced, with rocket and parmesan) and bread before enjoying a variety of pizzas with Beth. Adam has tagliatelle carbonara.

The food is lovely. The portions were generous, and no one can manage dessert. The bill comes to 90 euros or so, and we add a modest tip before leaving at 6pm. Amanda steers us purposefully back through the outlet area, where she buys some Miss Sixty wedgies she spotted earlier – they cost approximately 60% of the amount she paid for a similar, strapless pair in the UK last year, now in need of replacement.

Sat Nav returns us efficiently to Davy Crocket Ranch at 6.30pm. Still warm and sunny, we decide to visit the village area for a soak in the spa. Beth declines, as expected, and stays at the ranch, reading one of my recently finished books, Gordon Ramsey’s autobiography (the language is a bit rich at times, but it’s a cracking read!)

The pool complex is very busy. There are lines for the waterslide, and the spas are full. We squeeze in, and enjoy the hot water for a while, until the over-boisterous behaviour of some of the kids starts to naff us off. Getting dressed is a bit of a pain, too, as all the changing booths are full.

We leave at 8pm… to heavy rain! What? We didn’t order this! Send it back! Ah well, we could always wait in the pub opposite for a while, to see if it eases off! (The car park is a couple of hundred yards away)

The interior of the bar is attractive, in natural wood and beams, and there’s a large veranda outside under which we sit with a couple of 1664s, chatting to an elderly couple from London. They are on their first Disney trip with their son and grandchildren, and they are well and truly knackered! They are going to take a holiday when they get home tomorrow, so they can have a rest!

Adam finishes his diet coke and visits the store to spend a few more cents on gifts for everyone at home – he always does this – one of my most treasured knick-knacks is a mini, Epcot ball snow globe he bought me in Florida, that sits on my desk at work and gets a wee shake every day! Beth, on the other hand, hangs onto as much of her money as she can, and rarely buys anyone in the family anything.

Live music commences as we leave, at 850pm (an Eric Clapton-a-like) and we dash back to the car through deep puddles and lashing rain. The car park is completely full, and a hundred-plus cars are abandoned on the verges and access road, making manoeuvring difficult. I said it on arrival, and I’ll repeat – they need to triple the parking provision here, it is terrible!

We sit in the cabin, chatting, enjoying a glass of wine and feeling cosy with the rain drumming gently down on the roof. Unsure of the weather, we decide to leave creating tomorrow’s agenda until the morning. There is one thing we definitely want to do, though, and I call guest services to make an ADR for the Blue Lagoon for tomorrow evening.

Bed beckons, and we are snuggled up just after 10.30. Goodnight.

Mike & Amanda.


Tomorrow: you’ll have to wait and see, as we’ve not decided yet! Are you not paying attention?

 

[Cyrano]

A very full day

We've never made Val d'Europe but your description has sold it to everyone else, so we've make a better effort to get their in the summer. Can't understand the no photographs rule however

 

[BRobson]

Another fantastic day!

 

[Dianetigger]

Another fantastic report and pictures. We've never made it to the outlet village or surrounding areas either, something to mark down for the next visit, especially as it has a Starbucks!

 

[BONITATIME]

We have somehow missed the food court in there but I will certainly think about it for next trip.

 

[crmscotland]

Thanks for part 4. We went to Cinemagique for the first time on our recent trip and really like it too.

Gosh, you certainly manage to do a lot in one day (l guess when your children are age 13/14 rather than 4 it's a lot easier to do more, l hope so!)

 

[Mike Jones]

Thanks for part 4. We went to Cinemagique for the first time on our recent trip and really like it too.

Gosh, you certainly manage to do a lot in one day (l guess when your children are age 13/14 rather than 4 it's a lot easier to do more, l hope so!)

.. hmm.. not sure... they whinge just the same! We're itching to get back to Paris on our own, then we will cover some ground! (have a look at our Barcelona or New York reports. )

 

[Ware Bears]

Really enjoying your reports......

 

[tink too]

Enjoying your reports and pics.

Ahh - Animagique! DD was totally enthralled by that show back in 2002 (she was 15 months old at the time) we were seated front and centre and everyone around us was watching her instead of the show! Her enthusiasm and expressions were priceless! Can understand why teens would be a bit underwhelmed, even though the show is nicely done!

Now, Cinemagique - that is a fantastic show for all ages!

 

[TotallyAngelic]

We have never made it to that shopping outlet but I must admit from your photos and description it looks really nice - we should have scheduled in an extra day to pay a visit there - especially as there is a Starbucks! Those shoes are really great, and even better at 60% discount! I love your fantastic photos of the hotels and lake area. I am really enjoying your reports!

 

[Minniespal]

Excellent Mike

 

[tennisfan]

You fit loads into your days . Great photos again. I have never been to the outlet, will have to try to visit next time.