Disney in our camper van

[Brummig]

Just back from another amazing trip. This was our first trip to Disney in our camper van. I'll try and give you the highlights.

Thursday
We set off from Yorkshire at 4pm and drove down to Folkstone. We stayed overnight in the early arrivals area, £5 charge paid on the mobile. Woke at 5am and got the 6.20am tunnel, ds still in pjs. DH had a bit of a kip on tunnel as he then drove rest of way. Got to Disney at about 12.00am. I bought a Fantasy pass last time we were there so we can park the van for free. We were directed to the camper parking area, lots of space, toilet block and water point - nothing flashy but everything you need with a van. We were at the park by 12.30pm. After a very long discussion with guest relations we sorted out tickets. DS has autism so entitled to free carer but you only get this if you buy a ticket for the day. In the end we bought 2 basic annual passes with the discount because I already had one (€178), be warned though that you cannot use annual passes for the next 2 days after buying them. This was okay for us as we had 2 days in Disney, the went off to the south, then came back 6 days later for another 2 days. For day 2 (when we couldn't use the pass we got ds a ticket for the main park only and a free carer - cost €41). Then we went to City Hall to get an annual easy pass for ds.
We went first to BTM (ds favourite!), then Pirates, Peter Pan, saw the New Gen show which, after inititally saying he didn't want to, DS really liked.
It was a very hot day so we enjoyed some ice cream for the Gibson Girl. Back to BTM, then Buzz and Pirates again.
We left the park just before 7.00pm and went back to the van for tea and an early night.

 

[Brummig]

Day 2
Thanks to previous campers tips on the board we parked well away from the walkways so the music wasn't too annoying, and in a group so we weren't too bothered by the sweeper. After a fine full english we were in the park by 9.10am. We bought a ticket just for the main park, and headed in. Straight to BTM for the boys while I got fast passes for later, then to Pirates where we took the normal route and pretty much walked straight through. We went on Peter Pan where the queue was already getting big. We nipped over to Buzz Lightyear and used the Easy Pass to get a time slot for later, before going back to use the fast passes on BTM. We then went to book an Easy Pass slot for later, but were offered one for 20 minutes time, so went to Woody's round-up village to the playgroup for a while, then back to BTM. DS would stay on all day if he could!
Then it was time for Buzz which we all enjoy. DS was getting a bit stuck in a loop of just doing the same 4 rides so we broke the cycle by going on Pinnochio, then Snow White and It's a Small World (those dolls still freak me out!) before heading back to the van for lunch, and some warmer clothes as the beautiful sunshine of the morning had gone and it was getting quite cool.
After an hours R&R it was back to the park. DS decided he wanted a goofy toy which he had seen in the Esso garage the night before so we had a look through several shops in vain. Then we watched the spectacular with DS getting bolder about waving at the characters, and joining in the songs (bit tricky them telling is to scream when we spend a lot of time telling ds not to use that loud voice! Then we used the Easy Pass for Star Wars as DS is totally freaked by the robots. We passed a load of characters by entrance to Fantasy land, ds was a bit freaked, but we managed to get him to wave and touch eeyores fur. Another go on Pirates, and Peter Pan, then to BTM. It was 6.30 by this time but the park was still very busy and we didn't have a pass time, but the clock said 30 minutes so we gave it a go. After 45 minutes we were nearly at the top of the stairs, when the ride broke down. They told us to wait in the ride, but after 15 minutes there was no news so we left. DS was very cross, but we calmed him down a bit by promising it would be the first ride we went on when we came back, and then we took the Santa Fe bus and went to the Esso garage where we bought Goofy for DS, along with a few snacks. Then we walked a very tired DS back to the van, quick sandwich for tea and then bed for him, and Prison Break for us, before we too settled for an early night.

 

[Brummig]

After 6 days in the south of France we came home via Disney again. This was the first time we had gone to France and gone anywhere other than Disney. Much as we love Disney it was lovely to have a break between the days in the park - maybe we are just getting old but we couldn't do the 13 hour days we have done before as we were too tired and footsore! The trip back to Paris was a bit of a marathon and we didn't get to DLP til about 9.30pm and the park was closed, so we pulled up in the late arrivals area by the entrance. There were about 15 vans staying there so it felt very safe, although we didn't leave the windows open even though it was a very hot night.
The gates to the park opened before 8.00am, so we all headed into the camping car area, got set up and had some breakfast. It was already hot so lots of suncream and hats, the into the park again by just after 9.00am, this time using all the Annual Passes. Straight to BTM as we'd promised DS, then prirates and Peter Pan. R had his new t-shirt on for signing, so we were on the look out for characters. As it was so hot we stopped for a slush puppy on the way by the Plaza Gardens. As we were heading into Discovery Land we passed Cinderella and Prince Charming. DS was a bit uncertain at first but then decided he would go and speak to them. He waited very patiently (no queue here, just a crowd). Prince Charming spoke to him first, then Cinderella (he said 'I like your dress. It's very pretty' - not original I know but a huge step for him.) who he asked to sign his t-shirt. They were both lovely, and spoke to each child for a couple of minutes to make them feel special as well as signing books. We were so proud of R!
Then it was back to BTM to use the fastpasses I'd got earlier. Now the really dumb confession - despite the fact that the boys went on BTM so many times and we all know how fast it is, we totally forgot to get DS to take his hat off this time, so somewhere in BTM it might still be! It was only a cheap one from Tesco so could have been worse, but it did cause a bit of an incident as when the ride ended the CM's wouldn't let anyone off saying they had seen someone standing up and someone had to admit to it before they'd let anyone off! DH was near the back and they said no-one thought anyone had stood up (no sure how you could!) but it could have been DS hat they saw! After all that they thought it better not to ask about getting his hat back - DS would be inconsolable if they banned him from BTM!
Then off to Woody's round up where this time we met Woody himself who signed R's t-shirt, R was much happier with this as Woody is a hero! Here again no queue, just a crowd we were waiting patiently when a women and her teenage daughter pushed through to get their photo taken. While we were still being very British and tutting but not actually saying anything, a south african guy next to us commented to the cast member that it was a very bad example for an adult to behave like that in front of children who were waiting so politely. The woman said she didn't think she needed to wait because she only wanted a picture with Woody, not a signature - possibly acceptable if she had just grabbed a picture near him, but she had grabbed him and hugged, and then got daughter to do same!
Then we went on the Railroad - which is always fun, especially when you go past the Pirates bit. The Pirates ride again, and then back to the van for some lunch and a siesta as it was so hot! By this time the park was packed, I don't think we've ever seen it that busy!
In the afternoon we went into the studios. As we went in Minnie was standing by the car, but just as we joined the queue she walked off. The photographer said she would be coming back so we waited for 10 minutes, and then there she was. So R got his t-shirt signed (after the CM initially saying it wasn't allowed to sign t-shirts, as parents had complained in the past. We showed the ones we already had, and said we would sign a dislaimer if necessary, so she relented and explained clearly for Minnie and other parents that this was an exception) and we got a lovely picture. The boys went on Crush (yes, I am a total coward!), then we all queued for Cars. We seemed to see more arguments about queues than usual, I don't know if I was just more aware of it, but when we got on one family were seemed to be without a car. I don't know if the CM had miscounted or what, but the mother stood by the cars refusing to move for a couple of minutes. Eventually they went back into the waiting area. It was a lot quieter in the studios, although we arrived just as the Cars and Stars Parade was about to start and the a lot of people went to Motors, Cars, Action. We met Sully by Boo's door. Although DS loves him ( we have a very battered Sully whose arm is about to drop off from our first visit!) he was still a bit scared as he is so big, but we got a photo with him.

Then we went over to Animagique, which we had seen on our previous visit. DS absolutely loved it, and it was wonderful for us to see him so engaged - he sang along to all the songs, clapped with everything, and commented on all the things going on around us - this is a huge step for him. Then we went on the Studio tour, which I always remember as being longer than it is. We go a bit of a peak at the new Toy Story Playland rides- looks cool.
We met Buzz - where the CM told us very bluntly that signing t-shirts was not allowed. We had planned to have tea in the studios but were surprised to find that most of the food outlets had already stopped serving by just after 6.00 even though the studios were open til 7.00pm, so after look round the other bits, including a play with the umbrella we headed out to the Village for tea. After checking out all the options we got take out from Annette's. We decided not to go back into the main park as we were all tired, so headed back to the van, stopping in the station for a couple of supplies on the way. End of another lovely day.

 

[A Small World]

sounds as though you had a great time and really interesting to hear about staying in the camping van area.
We've seen a few people left without cars on the cars ride before - I think the main problem is the CMs count the number of people and assume they will share a car but sometimes people split up and get seperate cars (they hold 4 - 2 adults 2 children but Ive seen families of 4 get 2 cars and then have to share it with strangers as the CMs put someone else in the back with them). Ive always felt it would be better if they numbered them and directed you to a particular car or something to avoid this

 

[Brummig]

I agree! One day there will be 'ride rage' incident!

 

[Mum to Belle]

Sounds like a GREAT trip!! The story of the hat incident did make me laugh!!! At least it wasn't a fantastically expensive DLP hat...

Sounds like your DS had a fantastic time - we loved the New Generation Show too, and I know what you mean about the screaming!

 

[Brummig]

Yes Mum to Belle - we had a great time! We never tire of the Disney experience.

 

[scampbunny]

interesting to hear bout camping!! sounds like u had it planned real well!

well done to ur ds on the characters, know how hard it is for them (my ds also has autism, last trip he was fab with characters, but with a large gap between visits not sure how he will react).

lol @ the hat incident - thats the sort of thing i wud forget too!! (usually with sunglasses lol)

thanks for sharing

 

[Brummig]

Yes, everyone at school laughed about the hat too! Could have been a lot worse - could have been keys or something important!

I try not to plan our days too much as we have to go with the flow of DS on any particular day, but I do spend a lot of time on sites like this learning the tips, and we learn more everytime we go.

When do you go back Scampbunny?

 

[scampbunny]

hiya
due to be back for october - our 1st halloween and cant wait!
boys dont know bout it as am managing to keep it a surprise! we are also flying for first time!
really cant wait!

we dont plan either, i have a rough guide, and always know which characters where, as when ds get fixated by a character, we need to find them!! atm its sulley, so hopefully not too bad to find!! and of course mickey mouse!!

 

[Ware Bears]

Glad you had a great time ~ had to laugh at the hat incident!