Friday 08th September
I had told everyone to be ready to leave for Disneyland at 08.45. This would give us plenty of time to be right at the front for park opening at 10.00. Dominique doesn’t ever sleep past 07.00 and the excitement of going to Disney had her up and dressed and waiting at 06.20! I slept until 08.00 as the park didn’t open until 10.00 there was nothing to be gained by been up earlier. Once we were both ready we wondered downstairs where my Mum and Julie were sat outside smoking with a coffee and feeding the stray cat. While waiting to leave I mentioned my Mum’s handbag seemed very full and did she really need all the stuff in it as it would become heavier as the day went on. In short the answer was no, who needs an international adapter and mobile phone charger whilst touring the parks? (Dominique had now nick-named my Mum and Julie Crazy 1 and Crazy 2 - my Mum is a bit unusual and Julie got Crazy 2 for not finding her weird at all) Everyone was ready to leave bang on time. Punctuality make’s me happy so I reckon today’s going to be a good day.
It is only 15mins or so drive to Disneyland from here but nobody else was paying attention to the road signs and didn’t realise we were there until they saw the massive Disneyland sign above the car parking booths. They all got very excited when they realised we were there. 8euros later I bagged a front row spot in the car park and we began the long trek to the park entrance.
Once under the Disneyland Hotel we were held until 09.30 before been allowed into Main Street USA where, after a few Castle photos and a loo stop we headed for Discoveryland.
We were almost at the front for Discoveryland and the plan was Buzzlightyear for everyone then Space Mountain for me and Dominique while my Mum and Julie got Fastpasses for Buzzlightyear and had a cigarette but once we were let in the CM at Buzz said it didn’t open to 11.00. This really hacked me off, Big Thunder Mountain, the most popular park attraction was closed and then other rides weren’t open at park opening to swallow some of the guest’s. A quick re-think meant we went straight onto Space Mountain and left Mum and Julie to get fast passes for Buzz, the fast passes were Julies task, There is no way my Mum was getting her hand’s on out park ticket’s. Crazy Mum cant be trusted not to wear pyjama’s out of the house. She wasn’t been allowed to handle anything important this weekend.
Space Mountain was still a walk on and while walking to the carriage Dominique decided to tell me she doesn’t like roller coasters! She went on with me but hated every second. I was grateful of the company but I am used to going on coaster’s alone as Gavin doesn’t like them so I wouldn’t have been upset had she not ridden.
We found the other’s right were we had left them (which was a bonus) with fast passes in hand for Buzz at 11.35. We decided we were hungry for breakfast now so wondered over to the Cable Car Bake Shop were we all got sandwiches, crisps and a drink. Mine was Cheese salad and coke with plain crisps and came to 8euros 70cents. The only vegetarian option’s available other than pastries was the Cheese salad baguette which Dominique also had.
After this and the obligatory cigarette we wondered over to City Hall to book and pay for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show for 21.30 that evening,. BBWWS was 59euros each. After this was done we went back to Buzz and walked on then went round again with the fast passes Julie had collected earlier.
At WDW I only did this ride once and thought it slightly childish but I was soooooo wrong. It was ace! over the course of the day we went on 6 times, 3 times using fast pass and 3 times In the regular queue which was always low. The lowest score was my Mum’s at 700 and the highest was mine at 513000 (or there abouts, it got me onto L5) We all got better each time and a couple of times it stopped moving and me and Dominique were always in a great position near a high points target. I bought one of the ride photos in a Buzz frame for 15euros and the concentration on our faces is hilarious!
After the first 2 rides on Buzz my Mum and Julie went for a cigarette while Dominique and I wondered around the Buzz gift shop. My Mum and Julie loved the fact the smokers weren’t treated like second class citizens in Disneyland and could smoke almost wherever they wished. In the Buzz gift shop I bought a Buzz Lanyard and some Pins, a Buzz one and a Chicken Little one and also a Buzz snow Globe, this came to 31euros 80cents. When we met back up again Buzz was out for pictures so we joined the queue and waited around 10mins for a group picture with him, I gave him a kiss and my Mum pinched his bottom.
At 12.50 we went for a break at Fantasia Gelati where I had a large coke for 2euros 60cents.
This isn’t the best place for a break. It’s a Small World has a clock on the outside that act’s like a cuckoo type clock and a moving sun that ticks constantly. It’s enough to drive any sane person mad. After our break we took the bull by the horns and went on It’s a Small World despite the headache we all had from the ticking sun and cuckoo clock.
The ride was a walk on and for some bizarre reason the CM loading the ride put the 4 of us in the smaller back row but split a family with 2 parents and 3 kids into the 2 bigger middle rows. We could hardly breath all crammed in and I gave Dominique a nice bruise when I trapped her arm while stretching trying to shuffle my numb leg around.
Once released from the boat we grabbed fast passes For Peter Pan before we rode Pinocchio then wondered over to the Castle and via Merlin’s shop went to look at the Dragon, I had never done this before and thought the Dragon was good.
We then went over to Phantom Manor with a slight detour to by a couple more pins. I got Buffalo Bills Wild West one and Mickey 2005 one at 6euros each. It was hours before Julie asked why I had bought a 2005 pin in 2006, this bugged me. I hadn’t realised at all but why where they selling the 2005 ones? My Mum had bought a Pooh starter Lanyard to use as a pass holder for her security pass at work so I traded it for one of her duplicates! Phantom Manor was a walk on but it broke down 3 times whilst we were on it, it may have been loading some disable passenger’s but it took ages, far longer than when Buzz stopped but everyone still enjoyed it.
Back to Fantasia Gelati as despite to annoying noise’s from It’s a Small World they sold appealing snacks,
I had a coke and a Waffle with chocolate sauce with whipped cream 5euros 50cents. Gorgeous. Dominique got a Crepe with chocolate sauce and a coke, the other’s got a coffee and had another cigarette. We realised were in a primo spot for the Princess Parade at 16.00, we all really enjoyed this an took ton’s of pictures
After this we went to Pirates of the Caribbean. A great ride and we all enjoyed it especially as we got 2 rows to the 4 of us! I bought this ride photo as well. In the queue for this was our first major example of how rude some people can be. I was second in the queue and when the man in front had been served I stepped up to the cashier, while doing this another man tried to cut in, I wasn’t about to let him push in so practically glued myself to the counter. The CM had no intention of serving him next anyway and glared at him before she began serving me. This man was unimpressed and started muttering, Dominique who was behind me mentioned there was a queue. His argument was he was in the queue earlier but had moved to look at some t-shirts. Dominique pointed out that this meant he wasn’t in the queue. It was a very loud exchange and me and Dominique were miffed about it but became even more so when my Mum and Julie said that we were out of order! I keep mentioning my nerves were frayed but now I was having great difficulty keeping my temper in check. I could hardly believe the woman who places good manners above all else was having a go at me and my friend for standing our ground against a rude man!
After this we used our Fastpasses for Peter Pan then went back for another 2 of our 6 rides on Buzz then sent my Mum and Julie onto Star Tours.
I hate simulators so had no intention of riding, Dominique and myself wondered around a couple of gift shops and I got a fridge magnet, one of the 3 eyed toys from the toy grapping game on Buzz (I have no idea what they are called) 3euros. Once Star Tours was done we did a lap and a bit Of the park on the train. Getting on at Discoveryland and off at Main Street USA. Back to Buzz for our final 2 goes and then the park closed.
It was 20.00 now and we were supposed to be at BBWWS an hour before but first we had to change our t-shirts. Dominique and myself went back to the car to get them and my Mum and Julie went in search of somewhere that sold cigarettes. At 20.35 we all met up outside BBWWS and my Mum and Julie changed their t-shirts, we had already done ours in the loo’s near the car park. Into BBWWS at 20.45. When we got in Dominique asked for a vegetarian meal and I was delighted to see a pork free option as I don’t like ribs and am fussy about sausages.
It was mayhem in the pre-show area. We found a relatively quiet spot and waited to be let into the arena. This didn’t happen until around 21.20, we were all very tired and very hot by then and just wanted to sit down. About 10mins before been allowed into the arena there was a mini show, someone messing with guns & a band played a couple of County & Western songs. We had been told to get there an hour before as seating was first come first served but I cant see it would matter that much. The seating was in blocks of about 14 or 15 and 6 rows back all around the arena. There wasn’t a bad seat to be had and the pre-show area s very uncomfortable, not many seats and very hot.
BBWWS was fantastic. We all really enjoyed it and participated fully in all the noise making and cheering but despite our efforts one of the other teams won. The food was above average. Chilli to start, Dominique got vegetable soup. Then Chicken, ribs, sausage, potatoes and veg for my Mum and Julie and instead of ribs & sausages I got double chicken. Dominique got vegetarian ravioli. Desert was Apple crumble and ice-cream then Coffee to finish. There was also bread on the table when you first sat down.
The show was an hour and a half long so it was about midnight when we arrived home to find we were locked out.
The Motel’s reception wasn’t manned when we arrived yesterday so we used the automated check in service. I had done this before and the following day Gavin went to reception to confirm our stay. I hadn’t done that this morning and hadn’t realised that when I checked in even thought it said on my receipt 2 rooms for 3 nights it had only charged me for 1 night. I had to ring Gavin at home to log onto my emails and tell me my reservation number so I could check in again via the automated system. I had taken these details with me but of course they were in the room which I was locked out of. Gavin came through in a few minutes and we were back in our rooms fast asleep at 00.20.
Jodie
DAY 3 HERE
I had told everyone to be ready to leave for Disneyland at 08.45. This would give us plenty of time to be right at the front for park opening at 10.00. Dominique doesn’t ever sleep past 07.00 and the excitement of going to Disney had her up and dressed and waiting at 06.20! I slept until 08.00 as the park didn’t open until 10.00 there was nothing to be gained by been up earlier. Once we were both ready we wondered downstairs where my Mum and Julie were sat outside smoking with a coffee and feeding the stray cat. While waiting to leave I mentioned my Mum’s handbag seemed very full and did she really need all the stuff in it as it would become heavier as the day went on. In short the answer was no, who needs an international adapter and mobile phone charger whilst touring the parks? (Dominique had now nick-named my Mum and Julie Crazy 1 and Crazy 2 - my Mum is a bit unusual and Julie got Crazy 2 for not finding her weird at all) Everyone was ready to leave bang on time. Punctuality make’s me happy so I reckon today’s going to be a good day.
It is only 15mins or so drive to Disneyland from here but nobody else was paying attention to the road signs and didn’t realise we were there until they saw the massive Disneyland sign above the car parking booths. They all got very excited when they realised we were there. 8euros later I bagged a front row spot in the car park and we began the long trek to the park entrance.
Once under the Disneyland Hotel we were held until 09.30 before been allowed into Main Street USA where, after a few Castle photos and a loo stop we headed for Discoveryland.
We were almost at the front for Discoveryland and the plan was Buzzlightyear for everyone then Space Mountain for me and Dominique while my Mum and Julie got Fastpasses for Buzzlightyear and had a cigarette but once we were let in the CM at Buzz said it didn’t open to 11.00. This really hacked me off, Big Thunder Mountain, the most popular park attraction was closed and then other rides weren’t open at park opening to swallow some of the guest’s. A quick re-think meant we went straight onto Space Mountain and left Mum and Julie to get fast passes for Buzz, the fast passes were Julies task, There is no way my Mum was getting her hand’s on out park ticket’s. Crazy Mum cant be trusted not to wear pyjama’s out of the house. She wasn’t been allowed to handle anything important this weekend.
Space Mountain was still a walk on and while walking to the carriage Dominique decided to tell me she doesn’t like roller coasters! She went on with me but hated every second. I was grateful of the company but I am used to going on coaster’s alone as Gavin doesn’t like them so I wouldn’t have been upset had she not ridden.
We found the other’s right were we had left them (which was a bonus) with fast passes in hand for Buzz at 11.35. We decided we were hungry for breakfast now so wondered over to the Cable Car Bake Shop were we all got sandwiches, crisps and a drink. Mine was Cheese salad and coke with plain crisps and came to 8euros 70cents. The only vegetarian option’s available other than pastries was the Cheese salad baguette which Dominique also had.
After this and the obligatory cigarette we wondered over to City Hall to book and pay for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show for 21.30 that evening,. BBWWS was 59euros each. After this was done we went back to Buzz and walked on then went round again with the fast passes Julie had collected earlier.
At WDW I only did this ride once and thought it slightly childish but I was soooooo wrong. It was ace! over the course of the day we went on 6 times, 3 times using fast pass and 3 times In the regular queue which was always low. The lowest score was my Mum’s at 700 and the highest was mine at 513000 (or there abouts, it got me onto L5) We all got better each time and a couple of times it stopped moving and me and Dominique were always in a great position near a high points target. I bought one of the ride photos in a Buzz frame for 15euros and the concentration on our faces is hilarious!
After the first 2 rides on Buzz my Mum and Julie went for a cigarette while Dominique and I wondered around the Buzz gift shop. My Mum and Julie loved the fact the smokers weren’t treated like second class citizens in Disneyland and could smoke almost wherever they wished. In the Buzz gift shop I bought a Buzz Lanyard and some Pins, a Buzz one and a Chicken Little one and also a Buzz snow Globe, this came to 31euros 80cents. When we met back up again Buzz was out for pictures so we joined the queue and waited around 10mins for a group picture with him, I gave him a kiss and my Mum pinched his bottom.
At 12.50 we went for a break at Fantasia Gelati where I had a large coke for 2euros 60cents.
This isn’t the best place for a break. It’s a Small World has a clock on the outside that act’s like a cuckoo type clock and a moving sun that ticks constantly. It’s enough to drive any sane person mad. After our break we took the bull by the horns and went on It’s a Small World despite the headache we all had from the ticking sun and cuckoo clock.
The ride was a walk on and for some bizarre reason the CM loading the ride put the 4 of us in the smaller back row but split a family with 2 parents and 3 kids into the 2 bigger middle rows. We could hardly breath all crammed in and I gave Dominique a nice bruise when I trapped her arm while stretching trying to shuffle my numb leg around.
Once released from the boat we grabbed fast passes For Peter Pan before we rode Pinocchio then wondered over to the Castle and via Merlin’s shop went to look at the Dragon, I had never done this before and thought the Dragon was good.
We then went over to Phantom Manor with a slight detour to by a couple more pins. I got Buffalo Bills Wild West one and Mickey 2005 one at 6euros each. It was hours before Julie asked why I had bought a 2005 pin in 2006, this bugged me. I hadn’t realised at all but why where they selling the 2005 ones? My Mum had bought a Pooh starter Lanyard to use as a pass holder for her security pass at work so I traded it for one of her duplicates! Phantom Manor was a walk on but it broke down 3 times whilst we were on it, it may have been loading some disable passenger’s but it took ages, far longer than when Buzz stopped but everyone still enjoyed it.
Back to Fantasia Gelati as despite to annoying noise’s from It’s a Small World they sold appealing snacks,
I had a coke and a Waffle with chocolate sauce with whipped cream 5euros 50cents. Gorgeous. Dominique got a Crepe with chocolate sauce and a coke, the other’s got a coffee and had another cigarette. We realised were in a primo spot for the Princess Parade at 16.00, we all really enjoyed this an took ton’s of pictures
After this we went to Pirates of the Caribbean. A great ride and we all enjoyed it especially as we got 2 rows to the 4 of us! I bought this ride photo as well. In the queue for this was our first major example of how rude some people can be. I was second in the queue and when the man in front had been served I stepped up to the cashier, while doing this another man tried to cut in, I wasn’t about to let him push in so practically glued myself to the counter. The CM had no intention of serving him next anyway and glared at him before she began serving me. This man was unimpressed and started muttering, Dominique who was behind me mentioned there was a queue. His argument was he was in the queue earlier but had moved to look at some t-shirts. Dominique pointed out that this meant he wasn’t in the queue. It was a very loud exchange and me and Dominique were miffed about it but became even more so when my Mum and Julie said that we were out of order! I keep mentioning my nerves were frayed but now I was having great difficulty keeping my temper in check. I could hardly believe the woman who places good manners above all else was having a go at me and my friend for standing our ground against a rude man!
After this we used our Fastpasses for Peter Pan then went back for another 2 of our 6 rides on Buzz then sent my Mum and Julie onto Star Tours.
I hate simulators so had no intention of riding, Dominique and myself wondered around a couple of gift shops and I got a fridge magnet, one of the 3 eyed toys from the toy grapping game on Buzz (I have no idea what they are called) 3euros. Once Star Tours was done we did a lap and a bit Of the park on the train. Getting on at Discoveryland and off at Main Street USA. Back to Buzz for our final 2 goes and then the park closed.
It was 20.00 now and we were supposed to be at BBWWS an hour before but first we had to change our t-shirts. Dominique and myself went back to the car to get them and my Mum and Julie went in search of somewhere that sold cigarettes. At 20.35 we all met up outside BBWWS and my Mum and Julie changed their t-shirts, we had already done ours in the loo’s near the car park. Into BBWWS at 20.45. When we got in Dominique asked for a vegetarian meal and I was delighted to see a pork free option as I don’t like ribs and am fussy about sausages.
It was mayhem in the pre-show area. We found a relatively quiet spot and waited to be let into the arena. This didn’t happen until around 21.20, we were all very tired and very hot by then and just wanted to sit down. About 10mins before been allowed into the arena there was a mini show, someone messing with guns & a band played a couple of County & Western songs. We had been told to get there an hour before as seating was first come first served but I cant see it would matter that much. The seating was in blocks of about 14 or 15 and 6 rows back all around the arena. There wasn’t a bad seat to be had and the pre-show area s very uncomfortable, not many seats and very hot.
BBWWS was fantastic. We all really enjoyed it and participated fully in all the noise making and cheering but despite our efforts one of the other teams won. The food was above average. Chilli to start, Dominique got vegetable soup. Then Chicken, ribs, sausage, potatoes and veg for my Mum and Julie and instead of ribs & sausages I got double chicken. Dominique got vegetarian ravioli. Desert was Apple crumble and ice-cream then Coffee to finish. There was also bread on the table when you first sat down.
The show was an hour and a half long so it was about midnight when we arrived home to find we were locked out.
The Motel’s reception wasn’t manned when we arrived yesterday so we used the automated check in service. I had done this before and the following day Gavin went to reception to confirm our stay. I hadn’t done that this morning and hadn’t realised that when I checked in even thought it said on my receipt 2 rooms for 3 nights it had only charged me for 1 night. I had to ring Gavin at home to log onto my emails and tell me my reservation number so I could check in again via the automated system. I had taken these details with me but of course they were in the room which I was locked out of. Gavin came through in a few minutes and we were back in our rooms fast asleep at 00.20.
Jodie
DAY 3 HERE
did you have to wake gavin up 
