tfortracey
DLP2 the return march 9th...
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2008
- Messages
- 44
me (32)
dh (36)
ds jack (8) (has mild aspergers)
dd catherine (6) ( daredevil, thrill seeker, invincible... you get the idea)
zipedee doo dah! we are off, booked in the premier inn at folkestone ( despite operation stack flouling up the M20 we found it easily thru the signed diversion) for the night before our chunnel and away we go. the brickfeilds pub had a que of about an hour to get food and by now the kids were fractious so we ditched that and went for a burger king instead LOL.
up at 6 for a 7.20 check in and 7.50 crossing and it was easy peasy to waltz thru customs etc, just drove right thru - dh had a burger at the burger van in the que, made appreciative noises LOL.
crossing smooth as silk you wouldnt have known it was moving, took 35 mins and there we are in france.
still cant find DLP on my sat nav, so we followed the www.viamichelin.com directions and they were spot on ( even down to the location of the speed trap
) took about 3 hours 20 mins and we stopped off to get a sarnie for lunch. various loo stops on the way ( look for "aire de..." they are everywhere!)
arrived at davy crockett ranch just after 1pm ( french time) and in the car park were greeted by goofy
kids got all excited and we did the photos and autographs bit. they let us in the cabin early ( not supposed to be able to get in till 3) and it was HUGE! having stayed in the sequoia previously, where you are all under each others feet all week, it was lovely to be able to plonk the kids in their rooms at night with a dvd and go off to the lounge for a beer ( we took our laptop to watch dvd's on as the telly provided had nothing of interest, at all!)
2pm, unpacked and ready to go to the parks we set off, DCR is on exit 13, dlp is exit 14
so just one stop. we made the mistake of parking in the parking- disneyland village as we are at the DCR we get free parking but - we found out - not there! so we moved the car to parking - parcs disneyland and as you show your pass to enter, parking is free, also they give you a receipt ( which i found really handy to write the lane number of the parking bay on )
then on to the moving walkways to the park. beware it is about a mile to the front door from the nearest place in the parking bays.
but hey who cares, we are at disneyland!
went into the park and sauntered about until it was time for the parade, just like we dreamed it replaced last years dancing a catchy rhythem and apart from a few annoying people smoking in the throng at the side of the road waiting for it to go by, it was lovely, energetic and wonderful!
dd desperate to go on big thunder mountain (BTM) so we went by there and the queue was an hour
we grabbed a fast pass and went for some tea at the cowboy cookout YUM, ribs and beer cool! then off to BTM for dd to squeal her heart out 
( and me to try not to hurl cos i hate that ride) and a few other rides before it was time to give up for the day and go back to DCR.
full day 1...
breakfast at the DCR is very civilised LOL, you go out and each "trail" of cabins has a brekkie hut, you go there with your magic ticket and they give you half a french stick per adult, 4 milk rolls, 4 croisants, 4 OJ, coffe, tea, hot choc, jam, honey, nuttella, butter (frozen) and a litre of milk! you take it back to cabin and chow down.
into the park early, extra magic hours worked really well, you go thru bag check and then round the side of the main enterance and show your magic hotel pass and you punch your ticket and away you go we had rides all day, shattered by 5, we left for a leisurly stroll to the village for our evening entertainment...
Buffalo bill wild west show, wow the beer in the waiting area is expensive! but when you get inside it is free and readily available, there was more food this year as well, the kids had plenty and we all whooped and cheered and waved our cowboy hats to the show.
back along the long mile as it became known ( tee hee) to the car park, and away to the DCR ( literally about a 2 min drive)
full day 2...
decided that as last year when we came to DLP it was raining the one half day we did the studios, we'd give it a fair go this time and marched in for a great day... oh dear
videopolis was having technical faults, crushs coaster was not working, nor was cars... hmmm not changing my dismal opinion of the parks! the kids wanted to go on flying carpets over agreba so we did that, the studio tram tour was shut for the week ( but i knew that before hand anyway) and the tower of terror, didnt float my boat ( im not really a scary coasters kind of girl) we went in the art of animation tho and it was fabulous! the kids loved it and so we decided to leave the studios and go off for some lunch in the village ( mcdonalds, ahhh the old favourite LOL)
then afternoon in the park, again with the BTM, i swear we rode it 15 times i that one week *shudder* managed to get my 8yo ds on to pirates of the carribean tho, he refused point blank last year so that was nice, we could ride it all together.
full day 3...
mooched about today and posted off the post cards, i got a souvenir mug with the 15 logo and bits on it, ahhh also my camera broke today while i was filming the lion king show so i m not a happy bunny 
changed the card and it takes photos but wont do video. will have to get that looked at.
did walts for lunch and it was very plush, kids menus bit samey samey with all the restauants actually we were a bit disappointed. they do games and colouring and bits for them to play with but the food itself is a bit uninspiring. we had steak, and it was a bit ropey, given that the bill was just short of 150 i was a bit disappointed but the setting was lovely and the staff very helpfull
went to the tavern at DCR for tea, 22 all you can eat for adults and 10 for kids, still pricey but better than trying to cook on the 2 ring hob. minnie popped in to see us all eating as well
full day 4....
feet officially on strike now, walked - slowly - to the parks today, weather was foul so bought the kids those plastic ponchos 6 each! and they lasted all of 5 mins before they tore at the edges, note to self bring bin bags next time! rode rides again all day. beat dh on the lazer quest by about a million points LOL saw honey i shrank the audience, kids loved it
full day 5, last full day...
tried the studios again today, it was still rainy and murkey but at least cars was working ( dont get too excited by that BTW, its just about 12 car shaped tea cup ride things. round and round and round - yawn) and crushs coaster, amazing! its gentle in that i didnt feel like i had been in a car crash when i got off it ( like rock and rollercoaster, *gulp* ) but the effects were amazing, we rode it three times in a row and as there was no queue didnt even have to get out the 2nd time much better impression of the studios now. missed the parade but cought the lights moteurs action show again and it was as thrilling ( tip, take a carrier bag to sit on tho) the concrete is cold when its wet!) the stunts were made all the more amazing because of the rain, went into the park for a train ride round the whole place then a few rides, did star tours, again ds refused to go near it so we played air hockey in the exit lounge of star tours till they came back, i let him win a couple of times
had tea booked at the blue lagoon at 5.45 arrived about 10 mins early and got table by the water.
they have changed the kids menu tho
also dont do the jigsaw pudding anymore. last year you could get a jig saw made of chocolate and food colouring and paint brushes to paint the jig saw with and then you ate it the kids love it and were really looking forward to it again, got stuck with ice cream wooo hooo dh and i had swordfiush and were both ill the next day over all not a great meal, which is such a shame cos we were really looking forward to that! 110. family of 4.
last day *sob*... well up and both feeling grotty today, got the cabin all packed up and into the car again ( heaven only knows how tho) and had brekkie, then off to the parks, check out is easy - you post your key in the box at the exit barrier and away you go
had from 11 to about 1 to play in the parks and we all chose one ride we really wanted to do one last time, dd was BTM of course - i swear it went that little bit faster just cos it knew she was leaving, ds did haunted mansion, he likes to sing along to the tune LOL
i chose pirates of the carribean and dh wanted one last go at buzz lightyears lazer quest ( foolish mortal thought he could out rank me, i whooped him again)
around 1 we got dd her baloon ( she asked for one and i promised, just before we left id get her it) and took the long walk. back in the car and travelling home. sat nav still had no idea where DLP was and on the way home it told us to take a u turn, across three lanes of motorway
needless to say it got turned off and we headed back to calais with the paper maps. made calais early and got an earlier train and ended up in ashford abotu 6pm. traffic at a standstill so we stopped for pizza ( dh used to work in ashford so knew where it was) and then after refuelling, the two hour drive back to southampton.
got home about 9ish, but on french time about 10 so kids were shattered, altho refused to sleep. thank goodness we had yesterday to get back into sorts before school this morning LOL. will post piccys as and when i can because im on dial up atm, as my BB is broken
dh (36)
ds jack (8) (has mild aspergers)
dd catherine (6) ( daredevil, thrill seeker, invincible... you get the idea)
zipedee doo dah! we are off, booked in the premier inn at folkestone ( despite operation stack flouling up the M20 we found it easily thru the signed diversion) for the night before our chunnel and away we go. the brickfeilds pub had a que of about an hour to get food and by now the kids were fractious so we ditched that and went for a burger king instead LOL.
up at 6 for a 7.20 check in and 7.50 crossing and it was easy peasy to waltz thru customs etc, just drove right thru - dh had a burger at the burger van in the que, made appreciative noises LOL.
crossing smooth as silk you wouldnt have known it was moving, took 35 mins and there we are in france.
still cant find DLP on my sat nav, so we followed the www.viamichelin.com directions and they were spot on ( even down to the location of the speed trap
) took about 3 hours 20 mins and we stopped off to get a sarnie for lunch. various loo stops on the way ( look for "aire de..." they are everywhere!) arrived at davy crockett ranch just after 1pm ( french time) and in the car park were greeted by goofy
kids got all excited and we did the photos and autographs bit. they let us in the cabin early ( not supposed to be able to get in till 3) and it was HUGE! having stayed in the sequoia previously, where you are all under each others feet all week, it was lovely to be able to plonk the kids in their rooms at night with a dvd and go off to the lounge for a beer ( we took our laptop to watch dvd's on as the telly provided had nothing of interest, at all!) 2pm, unpacked and ready to go to the parks we set off, DCR is on exit 13, dlp is exit 14
so just one stop. we made the mistake of parking in the parking- disneyland village as we are at the DCR we get free parking but - we found out - not there! so we moved the car to parking - parcs disneyland and as you show your pass to enter, parking is free, also they give you a receipt ( which i found really handy to write the lane number of the parking bay on )then on to the moving walkways to the park. beware it is about a mile to the front door from the nearest place in the parking bays.
but hey who cares, we are at disneyland! went into the park and sauntered about until it was time for the parade, just like we dreamed it replaced last years dancing a catchy rhythem and apart from a few annoying people smoking in the throng at the side of the road waiting for it to go by, it was lovely, energetic and wonderful!
dd desperate to go on big thunder mountain (BTM) so we went by there and the queue was an hour
we grabbed a fast pass and went for some tea at the cowboy cookout YUM, ribs and beer cool! then off to BTM for dd to squeal her heart out ( and me to try not to hurl cos i hate that ride) and a few other rides before it was time to give up for the day and go back to DCR.full day 1...
breakfast at the DCR is very civilised LOL, you go out and each "trail" of cabins has a brekkie hut, you go there with your magic ticket and they give you half a french stick per adult, 4 milk rolls, 4 croisants, 4 OJ, coffe, tea, hot choc, jam, honey, nuttella, butter (frozen) and a litre of milk! you take it back to cabin and chow down.
into the park early, extra magic hours worked really well, you go thru bag check and then round the side of the main enterance and show your magic hotel pass and you punch your ticket and away you go
we had rides all day, shattered by 5, we left for a leisurly stroll to the village for our evening entertainment... Buffalo bill wild west show, wow the beer in the waiting area is expensive! but when you get inside it is free and readily available, there was more food this year as well, the kids had plenty and we all whooped and cheered and waved our cowboy hats to the show.
back along the long mile as it became known ( tee hee) to the car park, and away to the DCR ( literally about a 2 min drive)
full day 2...
decided that as last year when we came to DLP it was raining the one half day we did the studios, we'd give it a fair go this time and marched in for a great day... oh dear
videopolis was having technical faults, crushs coaster was not working, nor was cars... hmmm not changing my dismal opinion of the parks! the kids wanted to go on flying carpets over agreba so we did that, the studio tram tour was shut for the week ( but i knew that before hand anyway) and the tower of terror, didnt float my boat ( im not really a scary coasters kind of girl) we went in the art of animation tho and it was fabulous! the kids loved it and so we decided to leave the studios and go off for some lunch in the village ( mcdonalds, ahhh the old favourite LOL) then afternoon in the park, again with the BTM, i swear we rode it 15 times i that one week *shudder* managed to get my 8yo ds on to pirates of the carribean tho, he refused point blank last year so that was nice, we could ride it all together.
full day 3...
mooched about today and posted off the post cards, i got a souvenir mug with the 15 logo and bits on it, ahhh
also my camera broke today while i was filming the lion king show so i m not a happy bunny changed the card and it takes photos but wont do video. will have to get that looked at. did walts for lunch and it was very plush, kids menus bit samey samey with all the restauants actually we were a bit disappointed. they do games and colouring and bits for them to play with but the food itself is a bit uninspiring. we had steak, and it was a bit ropey, given that the bill was just short of 150 i was a bit disappointed but the setting was lovely and the staff very helpfull
went to the tavern at DCR for tea, 22 all you can eat for adults and 10 for kids, still pricey but better than trying to cook on the 2 ring hob. minnie popped in to see us all eating as well
full day 4....
feet officially on strike now, walked - slowly - to the parks today, weather was foul so bought the kids those plastic ponchos 6 each! and they lasted all of 5 mins before they tore at the edges, note to self bring bin bags next time! rode rides again all day. beat dh on the lazer quest by about a million points LOL saw honey i shrank the audience, kids loved it
full day 5, last full day...
tried the studios again today, it was still rainy and murkey but at least cars was working ( dont get too excited by that BTW, its just about 12 car shaped tea cup ride things. round and round and round - yawn) and crushs coaster, amazing! its gentle in that i didnt feel like i had been in a car crash when i got off it ( like rock and rollercoaster, *gulp* ) but the effects were amazing, we rode it three times in a row and as there was no queue didnt even have to get out the 2nd time much better impression of the studios now. missed the parade but cought the lights moteurs action show again and it was as thrilling ( tip, take a carrier bag to sit on tho) the concrete is cold when its wet!) the stunts were made all the more amazing because of the rain, went into the park for a train ride round the whole place then a few rides, did star tours, again ds refused to go near it so we played air hockey in the exit lounge of star tours till they came back, i let him win a couple of times
had tea booked at the blue lagoon at 5.45 arrived about 10 mins early and got table by the water.
they have changed the kids menu tho
also dont do the jigsaw pudding anymore. last year you could get a jig saw made of chocolate and food colouring and paint brushes to paint the jig saw with and then you ate it the kids love it and were really looking forward to it again, got stuck with ice cream wooo hooo dh and i had swordfiush and were both ill the next day over all not a great meal, which is such a shame cos we were really looking forward to that! 110. family of 4.last day *sob*... well up and both feeling grotty today, got the cabin all packed up and into the car again ( heaven only knows how tho) and had brekkie, then off to the parks, check out is easy - you post your key in the box at the exit barrier and away you go
had from 11 to about 1 to play in the parks and we all chose one ride we really wanted to do one last time, dd was BTM of course - i swear it went that little bit faster just cos it knew she was leaving, ds did haunted mansion, he likes to sing along to the tune LOL
i chose pirates of the carribean and dh wanted one last go at buzz lightyears lazer quest ( foolish mortal thought he could out rank me, i whooped him again) around 1 we got dd her baloon ( she asked for one and i promised, just before we left id get her it) and took the long walk. back in the car and travelling home. sat nav still had no idea where DLP was and on the way home it told us to take a u turn, across three lanes of motorway
needless to say it got turned off and we headed back to calais with the paper maps. made calais early and got an earlier train and ended up in ashford abotu 6pm. traffic at a standstill so we stopped for pizza ( dh used to work in ashford so knew where it was) and then after refuelling, the two hour drive back to southampton. got home about 9ish, but on french time about 10 so kids were shattered, altho refused to sleep. thank goodness we had yesterday to get back into sorts before school this morning LOL. will post piccys as and when i can because im on dial up atm, as my BB is broken
