elisebutt
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2001
The Cast
Me, my mother, Zachary just 8 and Danny 2½
Day 1 - March 9
We travelled down to my mums the day before so that my dad could get us all to Birmingham airport in time for the flight (even though I only live 30 mins away there are no trains early on a Sunday morning)
Got to the airport really, really early 08.30, as I had to exchange Zachs ticket. The nice lady at the Air France desk let us check our bags even though the flight wasnt open, so we didnt have to trawl them all over with us. Then we headed straight through to departure for a loooong wait. Waited in the Starbucks area as they had an enclose child area so we could let the kids get on and kill each other without upsetting other passengers.
Our flight was supposed to leave at 11.40 so they were really sensible and didnt call it until 11.25!! There followed a mad rush for the gate, all the while being urged on by the airport staff to hurry No!! we dont care about hanging around mindlessly for 2-3 hours then being told 15 mins before were due to leave to hurry!!!
Flight was fairly uneventful with a little excitement at the end when Zach decided to go off on one and started chanting Were all going to crash Were all going to die over and over as we landed only muffled slightly by my hand over his mouth.
Found the bus stop for the Disney bus - its upstairs if anyone would like to know there were a lot of brits that we collected on way up as they were waiting downstairs and I saw their tickets and thought Id be helpful.
About 3 buses turned up and wouldnt let us on, but eventually after about an hour one turned up for us not very trusting lot Locked the doors and then loaded our luggage, opened up and let us all on one at a time to take our money (14 adult, 11.5 child 3-11) or tickets. 45 mins later we got to the Hotel New York where our luggage was whisked away by a very helpful bellboy. We checked in ok, Zach bouncing up and down on the kids check-in trying for a badge but no luck, and then seemed to trudge for miles to our room, which was on the ground floor. It was only 2 mins from reception, by the athletics club, but the bellboy took us the long way round. He then proceeded to be helpful and explain everything about the hotel etc for at least 10 mins until I scrambled for my purse in frantic surrender. We then unpacked no matter what I always have to unpack first, it appears I inherited this trait from my mother.
Finally about 16.00 we headed off to the Parks woohoo!! Unfortunately halfway through the Village, Zach seemed to have a fainting spell and collapsed on the pavement. Mum diagnosed this on the spot as low blood sugar so we stopped off at Annettes Diner for a spot of takeout Blech!! Never again!! 9.5 per hot dog plus a kids meal to share, 1 tea and 1 coffee - 36(nearly £28) The hot dogs were stone cold and they forgot Dannys brownie!! which I swiftly remedied. Anyway Zach perked up after the coke and fries, we packed up the rest of the nuggets and the precious brownie and proceeded to the DP. We took the undercover route through the mall etc to avoid the crowds and headed straight to Fantasyland, where we found Peter Pan, Casey Jr and the fairytale boat ride were closed bum! Zach and I decided to get lost in the labyrinth whilst mum and Danny just took in the views of the queues. Halfway round I needed the loo so tried to get out oh dear wheres the way out?? Eventually got out and headed through the castle in search of a loo. Then we spotted Baloo, King Louie and a whole host of others performing at central plaza so got stuck in watching that. By now it was starting to get dark so Mum and Danny headed back to the hotel, yawning all the way, whilst Zach and I decided to stick around and just check everything out. As it came to 18.30 we staked out our spot just down from the Central plaza, near the coffee truck. I topped up with lovely French coffee hotdogs only 4.5 here, and we got comfy for about 2 mins as we got pushed, shoved, stepped on, etc for the next hour as other people (FRENCH!!) tried to snaffle our places. The Electrical Parade was brilliant I cant see why they are stopping it.
Afterwards Zach and I made our way back to the hotel, only stopping off briefly to watch the ice skaters.
And so to bed.
Me, my mother, Zachary just 8 and Danny 2½
Day 1 - March 9
We travelled down to my mums the day before so that my dad could get us all to Birmingham airport in time for the flight (even though I only live 30 mins away there are no trains early on a Sunday morning)
Got to the airport really, really early 08.30, as I had to exchange Zachs ticket. The nice lady at the Air France desk let us check our bags even though the flight wasnt open, so we didnt have to trawl them all over with us. Then we headed straight through to departure for a loooong wait. Waited in the Starbucks area as they had an enclose child area so we could let the kids get on and kill each other without upsetting other passengers.
Our flight was supposed to leave at 11.40 so they were really sensible and didnt call it until 11.25!! There followed a mad rush for the gate, all the while being urged on by the airport staff to hurry No!! we dont care about hanging around mindlessly for 2-3 hours then being told 15 mins before were due to leave to hurry!!!
Flight was fairly uneventful with a little excitement at the end when Zach decided to go off on one and started chanting Were all going to crash Were all going to die over and over as we landed only muffled slightly by my hand over his mouth.
Found the bus stop for the Disney bus - its upstairs if anyone would like to know there were a lot of brits that we collected on way up as they were waiting downstairs and I saw their tickets and thought Id be helpful.
About 3 buses turned up and wouldnt let us on, but eventually after about an hour one turned up for us not very trusting lot Locked the doors and then loaded our luggage, opened up and let us all on one at a time to take our money (14 adult, 11.5 child 3-11) or tickets. 45 mins later we got to the Hotel New York where our luggage was whisked away by a very helpful bellboy. We checked in ok, Zach bouncing up and down on the kids check-in trying for a badge but no luck, and then seemed to trudge for miles to our room, which was on the ground floor. It was only 2 mins from reception, by the athletics club, but the bellboy took us the long way round. He then proceeded to be helpful and explain everything about the hotel etc for at least 10 mins until I scrambled for my purse in frantic surrender. We then unpacked no matter what I always have to unpack first, it appears I inherited this trait from my mother.
Finally about 16.00 we headed off to the Parks woohoo!! Unfortunately halfway through the Village, Zach seemed to have a fainting spell and collapsed on the pavement. Mum diagnosed this on the spot as low blood sugar so we stopped off at Annettes Diner for a spot of takeout Blech!! Never again!! 9.5 per hot dog plus a kids meal to share, 1 tea and 1 coffee - 36(nearly £28) The hot dogs were stone cold and they forgot Dannys brownie!! which I swiftly remedied. Anyway Zach perked up after the coke and fries, we packed up the rest of the nuggets and the precious brownie and proceeded to the DP. We took the undercover route through the mall etc to avoid the crowds and headed straight to Fantasyland, where we found Peter Pan, Casey Jr and the fairytale boat ride were closed bum! Zach and I decided to get lost in the labyrinth whilst mum and Danny just took in the views of the queues. Halfway round I needed the loo so tried to get out oh dear wheres the way out?? Eventually got out and headed through the castle in search of a loo. Then we spotted Baloo, King Louie and a whole host of others performing at central plaza so got stuck in watching that. By now it was starting to get dark so Mum and Danny headed back to the hotel, yawning all the way, whilst Zach and I decided to stick around and just check everything out. As it came to 18.30 we staked out our spot just down from the Central plaza, near the coffee truck. I topped up with lovely French coffee hotdogs only 4.5 here, and we got comfy for about 2 mins as we got pushed, shoved, stepped on, etc for the next hour as other people (FRENCH!!) tried to snaffle our places. The Electrical Parade was brilliant I cant see why they are stopping it.
Afterwards Zach and I made our way back to the hotel, only stopping off briefly to watch the ice skaters.
And so to bed.