finalising plans.... plaza gardens quest?

[scampbunny]

hiya all
well, into final planning now lol am trying to decide what to do on the day we arrive (sunday)
we get off eurotunnel at 10am, so am guessing 3 1/2 hrs driving, so arriving about 1.30pm.
now, heres the choices..... cud either book(or not book) to have a meal at the chuck wagon in the hotel, then rooms hud be ready after meal, drop in luggage, then go to the park for the rest of the afternoon etc
or, get to hotel, get passes and leave luggage in lock up (is there one at cheyanne???) and go into park, see a bit then have sumthin to eat in the park BEFORE the parade.....
the parade is 5pm, and we have the half board standard vouchers, so was thinking maybe plaza gardens.... but they have the tea party dont they?? so wud that mean we cudnt eat around 3pm in there (normal meal). if not, then i guess we are lookin at silver spur, so wud 3pm be enough time to eat and get to the parade route for a decent spot (best place advice pls as want a good spot for the boys' first ever view of the parade)??
just not sure which way to go - ideally i want to rush to the park, but need to think of the kids. also, it wud mean we have to get back to hotel reception after candleabration to get hotel room and move luggage if we go straight to the park when we arrive.... is that a bad thing??

any advice, or pointers appreciated (roll on 8th june!!!!!!!!!!!!)

nikki

 

[jillrobinson]

Yes there is a left luggage area at the Cheyenne.

The Plaza Gardens Buffet area is sectioned off from the Character Tea Party area, so you can eat there.

If you head for the castle stage area, children only are allowed in the first 2 rows of seating, head for the 3rd row and seat the children in front of you is an option, the Villains float stop is here. If you want to see the Prince/Princess stop I believe the best place is by Bella Notte restaurant, around by It's a Small World. With it being a Sunday I would expect it to be busy so maybe 1/2 hr, before the parade starts would get you a good space, it's hard to tell without seeing the crowds.

If you're planning to leave at park closure bear in mind so are thousands of others, the shuttle buses get extremely busy and there is a definate lack of manners ~ etiquette, an elderly couple explained to us on our first visit was to "grab your children and push".

 

[A Small World]

I think the Chuck Wagon is only open in the evening so that option is out.

You'll need to go to the hotel to collect park tickets and half board vouchers wont you anyhow.

We always eat in Anettes in the Village when we arrive before hitting the park so when we get in there we dont need to stop.

As Jill said the tea party bit is sectioned in Plaza Gardens so you can still eat the normal buffet there however there will be characters at the tea party bit and not in your bit right next to it (separated by a rope) so this could be disappointing to children if they see others getting hugs but they're not allowed