Di & Rhiannon's trip day 4

diberry

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May 5, 2004
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Wednesday 9th November

Today we had booked a character breakfast at the Plaza Gardens restaurant on Main Street. We had never eaten there before and loved all the pretty décor. There was a very good choice of food of all types and we were lucky that we caught the end of one set of characters and the beginning of the next so we met 8 altogether – Smee, Friar Tuck, Baloo, Pinocchio, Gideon, Tigger, Pluto & Minnie of course - and had our photos taken with them all which we love to do. These are 4 of them:
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I love the one of Rhiannon and Baloo dancing – such a happy picture!!!
After that we went across to the studios where we met Father Christmas who had a broad American accent and was very friendly and chatty. Yet more retail therapy in the Studios Store and afterwards bumped into Donald and got yet another character photo. We then went into Studio 1 where there was loads of entertainment including a group of singers dressed in santa suits who sang lovely Christmas songs and a brass band who also played Christmas tunes. We wanted to find some of the “secrets” and found a machine with which you could change the lights on the Hollywood & Vine building as well as one which lets you make a Coke advert light up and also created the sound of thunder – very exciting!!!
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After that Rhiannon made the acquaintance of Elasti-girl and then we went to watch Animagique which, for some unknown reason, Rhiannon really loves but, like IASW, the tune drives you mad for hours afterwards - especially when it’s sung incessantly by a certain someone!!!! We had a go on the Flying Carpets ride and then went on the Tram Tour which we always enjoy. As we came off that the Cinema Parade was just passing by so we stood and watched that before finding another “secret” – the motorbike outside the Café des Cascadeurs which makes appropriate motorbike noises when you sit on it! We had lunch in the Restaurant en Coulisse and had a look round the Legends of Hollywood Store before going out again to meet Mickey at his caravan and nearby Mr Incredible!!!
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We then went to see Cinemagique which is always good entertainment and then spotted Minnie and Daisy Duck. Rhiannon was standing between them and I was just about to take their picture when a little girl wandered up and stood in front of them. Instead of leading her to the side to wait her turn her father just stood there smiling indulgently and eventually Minnie took her away but didn’t come back so we just got a shot with Daisy!
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Then Rhiannon spotted that naughty Stitch and ran after him until he stopped to have his photo taken with her. I had to take it really quickly before anyone got in the shot but it turned out really nicely.
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We then went back across to the main park. There’s a security tent at the entrance to the parks now but not one to the Village like there used to be. We went to Fantasyland to Belle’s Village and watched her Musical Medley show.
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We were just about to go on IASW when Rhiannon spotted the Panoramagique balloon in the distance – the first time we’d seen it up since we’d been there so we quickly walked over to the Village, stopping briefly to watch the carol singers in Town Square.
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We queued to go up in the balloon. Rhiannon was undecided as she doesn’t like things like that but decided to be brave. This photo was taken as it was coming down from the previous flight.
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I hadn’t realised that the viewing platform consists of a ring with a big hole in the middle, which makes it look even more precarious!! We had a great view of the parks, the hotels and the Village – well at least I did as Rhiannon was holding on with both hands and refused to look down!!! This is the ice-rink outside the Hotel New York.
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Then back to the main park to watch the Enchanted Fairytale Ceremony again – it really is magical!! Then we had a couple of (hot, not alcoholic) drinks (!) in the Pizzeria Bella Notte before watching Fantillusion – that’s a great place to watch it from. Then a quick go on IASW where we were the only people in sight! Walked across to BTM and then it was 8 o’clock and the park was closing. We walked down Main Street admiring all the beautiful chandeliers and the castle all lit up with thousands of fairy lights. Mickey was on the station platform waving “goodbye” to everyone.
We had a couple of drinks in Billy Bob’s in the Village and then went up to the top floor for our traditional last night all-you-can-eat TexMex buffet which was delicious as always. Then, after an incredibly busy but thoroughly enjoyable day, went back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep!!
 
Di, The best day yet - even carol singers!!!! And that photo of the ice rink - wow! I think I would be like Rhiannon though, holding on with both hands and not looking down :goodvibes

K

Thanks again

PS Isn't Plaza Gardens really great?
 
It sounds like the perfect DLP day. :goodvibes I agree with you about the picture of Rhiannon with Baloo, it's a bit like the one of Amy with Sully - they're both such happy photos. You wouldn't believe there is twenty years difference in their ages!! :teeth:

Love the picture of my fave hotel too!! ;)
 
yay! you sound like you guys had a fab time! ohhh.... i'm getting all excited now! i wanna go NOW!!!
 

Sounds wonderful.

I agree the picture of Rhiannon and Baloo is lovely, she looks so natural. I always look stiff and awkward posing with a character.

I thought Daisy looked lovely too! I've never seen her in her Christmas clothes before.
 
Oh this was my favourite installment yet! Fantastic photos, Di... it sounds like you had SO much fun! I really love the photo of Rhiannon with Stitch, and the one with Daisy is so lovely and colourful! I am now really really desperate to go but I'll live through you vicariously! :)

I'm determined to meet at least *one* character next time I go!
 
Brilliant day and some more stunning photos. I am getting very excited about my Christmas trip.....
 
diberry said:
.... Rhiannon spotted the Panoramagique balloon in the distance – the first time we’d seen it up since we’d been there
We queued to go up in the balloon. Rhiannon was undecided as she doesn’t like things like that but decided to be brave. This photo was taken as it was coming down from the previous flight.
DLPNov2005088.jpg

I hadn’t realised that the viewing platform consists of a ring with a big hole in the middle, which makes it look even more precarious!! We had a great view of the parks, the hotels and the Village – well at least I did as Rhiannon was holding on with both hands and refused to look down!!! This is the ice-rink outside the Hotel New York.
DLPNov2005090.jpg



Diana, your report is a... Christmas gift !!!
So beautiful pics !!!! So nice "stories" !!!!!! :Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc
And I love those "secrets" !!!!!!!!!!!!
To me it's ... like I was there with you two !!!!
Thank you so much !!!!!! :love2:

I'm curious about that BALOON : where do you "board" it ? how long is the flight ? do you buy a ticket ... or have to book in advance ?
Is it VERY frightening ?

(I don't like Space mountains and such things !!!)

THANK YOU AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao, Laura :love:
 
I'm really enjoying reading your trip reports Di, and the photos are all beautiful! :)

You've helped convince me to start planning a trip for myself next November too, which is no bad thing! :teeth:
 
MICKEY'S DREAMERS said:
Diana, your report is a... Christmas gift !!!
So beautiful pics !!!! So nice "stories" !!!!!! :Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc
And I love those "secrets" !!!!!!!!!!!!
To me it's ... like I was there with you two !!!!
Thank you so much !!!!!! :love2:

I'm curious about that BALOON : where do you "board" it ? how long is the flight ? do you buy a ticket ... or have to book in advance ?
Is it VERY frightening ?

(I don't like Space mountains and such things !!!)

THANK YOU AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!Ciao, Laura :love:
Thank you for your always enthusiastic posts Laura!!! You get on the balloon by the lake in Disney Village - it costs 12 euros each. I didn't find it scary at all - you just go up in the air and back down again. It's tethered so you can't float away!!! I think the "flight" lasts about 6 minutes and you can book it just before you want to ride. You do get an unusual view of Disneyland and the surrounding countryside.
 
Di and Rhiannon, I'm just curious-Is there anything different about X-mas at DLP from last year? Any changes good or bad or is everything just about the same? For example, were the shop windows decorated as nicely as last year; anything you noticed? Interested to hear what you think! Also, have the vehicles on Main Street USA been removed?
 
Bexx said:
You wouldn't believe there is twenty years difference in their ages!! :teeth:

I've decided to take that as a compliment! :teeth:
 
The chandeliers are new of course and are a big improvement. They're so pretty in the day and don't obstruct your view of the castle and are also extremely pretty at night when they're lit up. The castle when it's lit up at night is white this year rather than purple which is more snow-like. The Main Street vehicles are still there and running frequently. The shops and shop windows are absolutely beautiful and really a work of art in their own right. There are differences in the Enchanted Fairytale Ceremony which I mentioned on my day 2 post and I do think they're improvements too. Rhiannon may be able to think of other things but personally I thought everything was just perfect!!!
 
nicola said:
Di and Rhiannon, I'm just curious-Is there anything different about X-mas at DLP from last year? Any changes good or bad or is everything just about the same? For example, were the shop windows decorated as nicely as last year; anything you noticed? Interested to hear what you think! Also, have the vehicles on Main Street USA been removed?

Hi Nicola!

The character trees are no longer in Town Square, although there are trees with silver lights which look beautiful lit up. Santa's Sleigh is now in Town Square (in the gazebo type thing) whereas last year it was at the top of the Liberty Arcade.

Enchanted Fairytale Ceremony now has an extra bit on the beginning with Mickey, Minnie etc as well as the same bits as last year with the princesses so it's a good 5 minutes longer. The winter arches are gone and replaced by chandeliers. I know you wanted to see the arches but although they were beautiful lit up, they didn't look good in the day. The chandeliers look much better in the day and most importantly don't block the view of the castle! They look very pretty lit up too!

I can't think of anything else that's different but maybe more will occur to us later!
 
Diana, That was just the reply I wanted to hear!!! Thanks and glad you both had such a great trip!! Oops. Forgot I was logged in under Santa's name :blush:
 
diberry said:
You get on the balloon by the lake in Disney Village - it costs 12 euros each. I didn't find it scary at all - you just go up in the air and back down again. It's tethered so you can't float away!!! I think the "flight" lasts about 6 minutes and you can book it just before you want to ride. You do get an unusual view of Disneyland and the surrounding countryside.


THANKS , Diana !!! I'm learning a lot from your trip reports !!!
;) I have to try this one on my next trip !!!!

:banana: :banana: :banana:

Laura :wave2:
 
DisneyRGB said:
Hi Nicola!

The character trees are no longer in Town Square, although there are trees with silver lights which look beautiful lit up. Santa's Sleigh is now in Town Square (in the gazebo type thing) whereas last year it was at the top of the Liberty Arcade.

Enchanted Fairytale Ceremony now has an extra bit on the beginning with Mickey, Minnie etc as well as the same bits as last year with the princesses so it's a good 5 minutes longer. The winter arches are gone and replaced by chandeliers. I know you wanted to see the arches but although they were beautiful lit up, they didn't look good in the day. The chandeliers look much better in the day and most importantly don't block the view of the castle! They look very pretty lit up too!

I can't think of anything else that's different but maybe more will occur to us later!

Thanks Rhiannon :sunny: I did want to see the arches but now that I can see how lovely the chandliers are I am very relieved!! I have taken note of your drink recommendations and am going to try some of them. Only another 10 days :Pinkbounc :banana: :cheer2:
 





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