Girls Only Trip to DLRP - Pictures added 17th Sept 06

[ely3857]

Trip report up but am having massive problems with loading pictures. Will try and sort it asap and add them later.

Right. Where do I start? This ‘Girl’s Only Trip’ has been in the planning since around February time. Gavin & I were out with friends and the conversation steered towards our wedding plans. It had long since been decided that we were, in effect eloping while in Orlando this October. Whilst talking about this our friends convinced us that we simple ‘had to have’ a Hen & Stag do. Gavin & I didn’t jump for joy at this, far too traditional for us but a lot of our friends and family, mainly my Mother were very vocal in their disappointment at our wedding plans and the thought of playing some part in the event certainly eased the grief for them and the earache for me.

After the decision to have a ’hen do’ had been made myself and Dominique, the friend who suggested the idea began researching what, when and where. We ordered a few brochures for Spa weekends etc and at one point Alton Towers for the weekend was a front runner but when the figures were calculated it was ridiculously expensive so Dominique suggested DLRP. She is well aware of my Disney-itus and after crunching the numbers it came out at £195pp for a party of 4 not including food, drink & souvenirs.

The price breaks down as follows;

Return flights from Leeds & Bradford to CDG with Jet2.com = £80pp
Motel Formule1, 2 rooms for 3 nights = £30pp
Car hire, Easycar for 4 days = £23pp
Tickets, 2 day hopper passed = £57pp
Car parking = £5pp

At the start it seemed more than 4 people may be going. Myself, Dominique and my Mum were always onboard and my Mum asked if she could take her friend Julie which was fine. The 4 of us were all paid up within weeks and I got our flights booked straight away. Other people did enquire about the our plans but small children and work commitment’s etc prevented the group from becoming larger.

Between booking and going I tried to get the other 3 into the Disney spirit as much as possible. I ordered them the DLRP brochure with the DVD and sent them postcards every couple of months from Mickey, Donald and Pluto! This not only ensured they were looking forward to the weekend but cemented any previous belief they had that perhaps I wasn’t playing with a full deck.



Jodie

 

[ely3857]

Thursday 07th September 2006

Up at my normal time of 06.10 and followed my normal morning routine of yelling at Gavin to get-up at 06.25. Left the house at 06.30 to collect Dominique. Gavin was dropping us all of at Leeds and Bradford airport on his way to work. It isn’t actually on his way to work but never mind. Dominique was outside her house at the pre-arranged time of 07.00 so straight to my Mum’s without any delay. Arrived at my Mum’s 5 mins early so I had time to nip to the loo before setting off to Julie’s. Ever notice a fully loaded car moves slower?. Arrived at LBA around 08.45, would have been earlier but morning traffic around that area is a nightmare. Gavin took a quick photo of us all before setting off to work and of course to begin 4 days of missing me.

Things started to go a bit bonkers here. When my Mum got in the car none of us had noticed her bag was smaller than a child’s lunchbox. After we had creased ourselves laughing at the minute bag which couldn’t possibly have fitted more than 2 pairs of underwear in it my Mum bragged about all the stuff she had managed to get in, socks, underwear, nighty, t-shirt, jeans, shoes and a towel. Erm, Mum haven’t you got any shower gel or toothpaste? Yes dear, it’s here in my hand luggage. Apparently my Mum doesn’t watch the news. After unpacking my Mum’s hand luggage into the spare space Dominique had thoughtfully left in her case we were ready to check in but first Dominique and I had to wait for the first 5 of many, many minutes spent waiting while my Mum and Julie had one last cigarette. It was here we discovered they had around 12 lighters between them. Another round of re-packing took place before we were finally ready to check in 30 mins after arriving at LBA.

We wondered over to the Jet2.com checking in hall and joined the queue. After around 10mins we were done and ready to go through to the departure lounge but once again my Mum and Julie saw only another cigarette opportunity. While waiting for them Dominique and I did, well nothing but wait. My nerve’s were now on edge. It has never taken me so long to get from the entrance to the departure lounge. When my Mum and Julie returned my Mum showed us the vest top she was wearing that she had bought from the Disney store and mentioned she was also wearing the matching knickers. Oh, Lord my Mum was wearing Eeyore Pyjama’s. Dominique, Julie and myself could not stop laughing, having a crazy Mum certainly make’s the day more interesting.

Once past security, which turned out to be a bit of a joke as Julie had gotten a few of her many lighter’s through we went for breakfast. I had a cup of tea and a sausage bap, very nice and at £5.39 it didn’t seem too bad for airport prices. Dominique had beans on toast and a cappuccino, £4.84. She had to wait age’s because the girl serving burnt her toast twice. The other 2 both had a Full English and coffee at £6.84 each. I was served first and my Mum and Julie got caught for a while behind Dominique and her burnt toast. They used these few minutes to quiz Dominique about Gavin. Dominique and her boyfriend Dan have known Gavin for 15 years and my Mum and Julie wasted no time in gaining any information Dominique may have that I haven’t freely given.

This grilling annoyed me no end, I am fully aware a parent’s aim is to protect their child but I am 28 years old and any parental interference my Mum attempts to impose is far too late. She was far too busy to pay me much attention as a child so now I have no time for stuff like this, I also very much feel she does this sort of stuff because she believes it what is required of her as a parent, probably a recent storyline on Eastenders, and not because she feels any need to. All about keeping up appearances of been a good Mother. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for the food & warm bed but in reality that’s were it ended. The only issue’s I have with this are when attempt’s are made to be ‘Motherly’ now it is no longer a legal requirement.

Breakfast was over around 10.30 so we wondered over to the gate. We didn’t know which gate it would be but they were only a couple and they were very close so we couldn’t be far wrong wherever we stood. And look, there’s a designated smoking area. I have never seen 2 grown women move so fast. My Mum and Julie made a lot of friends over the next half an hour, the were the only one’s to get a lighter through security. Of course they were also the only 2 that had tried.

The flight was called at 11.00 and it was just a few hundred yards walk to the plane were my Mum broke down. My Mum is scared of heights, not of flying as such and despite having flown many times she chose today to have ‘a moment’. As she has flown a lot since the first time 14 years ago I had forgotten about her fears and skipped ahead to the plane and sat down. After a few minutes we wondered were my Mum had gone and discovered she was at the back of the plane were we had boarded, holding everyone else up behind her while been comforted by a flight attendant who was trying to discover if she was flying with anyone else. Once I realised what the problem was I went to collect her and had to literally drag her to her seat and strap her into it.

The flight was away with no problems on time at 11.15 and the good weather meant rather than the scheduled 1hr and 25mins we would be there in 1hr 6mins which pleased my Mum no end, With the flight been so short we barely had time to drink the cup of tea we bought for £1.60 before the approach to Charles De Gaulle. I would have no hesitation’s in using Jet2.com again. The plane was clean and tidy and the staff very friendly in both direction’s with the outgoing crew been very nice to my Mum and her tears.

After landing in Terminal 3 at 13.20 local time we headed over to Terminal 1 to collect the car. This was far easier said than done. First luggage claim which was very quick then we needed another cigarette break. Once the addict’s had been satisfied we set off following the sign’s for T1. I had thought there would be a bus to take us but nothing seemed obvious so we walked and after following the T1 sign’s we eventually ended up at some sort of bus/train terminus. I convinced Dominique to ask a bus driver if he was going to T1 and luck was on our side. About 15mins later we were dropped of outside T1 and what a dump it was. This has to be the most ugly, dirty airport I have ever been to, and we had just come from LBA so our standards weren’t high. After a lot of confusion and wondering we found an information desk and discovered car hire was the 2mins walk anti-clockwise around the big circle.

The car hire area made me even more confused. I had booked with Easycar who told me my car was with Alamo, so far so good, In actual fact Alamo had sold it to National. I am curious as to how many companies got paid when I hired this car and how much it would have been had I booked with National directly? I will never know the answer as I have no intention of using this company ever again, The lady who served me was beyond rude. She took 3 phone call’s while filling in my paperwork and the company was no better. I got my receipt back at 14.27, and the car keys at 15.15. The reason for this was ‘we have no car’s today’ excuse me? I booked and paid for this car in February and now your telling me partly in French partly in English you have no car’s available??? A disgusted glare is a universal language after 30mins of waiting the previously rude lady got her co-worker to call upstairs to the car park/valet area to see if it was ready yet. Once we had the key’s a further 15mins later we now had the task of finding the car. When the lady at National gave me my receipt she also gave me instruction’s to get to the car park, initially I had thought she was telling me to go there and then to collect the key’s but after a few gestures and diagrams I realised she was saying that a man would come from the car park to give me the keys and bay number then I was to go find this spot on my own. Good system. By now my Mum and Julie had smoked around 8 cigarette’s and were too giddy to follow simple instructions so I went ahead and Dominique took up the rear to ensure nobody went missing. Once the car park was located it was easy enough o find the car, I just kept pressing the remote central locking while wondering up and don the row’s until one responded. The bay number I had been given turned out to be correct if you ignored the numbered car parking spaces and looked only at the numbers on the wall.

So now we are all in the car, luggage in the boot everyone has seatbelt’s on. Let’s go. Gavin had printed me instructions on how to get from the airport to Collegien where the Motel was. I have stayed here 3 times before but it isn’t always easy to find. Once again luck was on out side. After driving through the airport I was taken straight onto the right motorway in the right direction. It took around 20mins to get to the Motel and check in using the automated machine.

When we had gotten to our rooms I gave everyone a goody bag. This bag contained Disney related stuff for them. 3 T-Shirts I had made from design’s done for me from the DISigners, Mickey pen, Minnie plush, DLRP pin, Chocolate from ebay with ‘Girls only trip to DLRP 7-10th Sept’ on the wrapper, Thornton’s chocolate and a Mickey magnet. Everyone loved their stuff and even though they knew about the T-Shirt’s they hadn’t seen them and the other stuff was a surprise. Dominique had bought me some gifts as well which I was allowed to open 1 on a morning and 1 on a night. Some chocolates, a keyring, candles and a pink inflatable radio!

After 30mins to freshen up we were on our way to Val D’Europe. I have never been here before and it seemed as good a place as any when My Mum and Julie requested some shopping time. I despise shopping but we had nothing else to do this afternoon so it was as good a time as any. A big shopping centre like this is my idea of hell. My already frayed nerves were further tried when Julie complained I had parked too far away from the entrance, I had done this as it was now very apparent neither Julie nor my Mum could go 30 seconds without a cigarette and this way they could smoke and walk and Dominique and I could pretend we were weren’t waiting around for them.

We didn’t do much at all in the shopping centre. The few shop’s we did see appeared to be designer and expensive. We did go to the massive supermarket. Three of us bought sweet’s to take to work and my mum bought a bigger bag to take her stuff back home in for 5euros. Despite this been the bargain of the year, 5euros for a small suitcase with wheels that in reality she was only going to use once as she had a small suitcase with wheels as home that she didn’t use today (I told you, crazy) my Mum insisted on looking at every suitcase with wheel’s to ensure the one she got was the most suitable. She bought the first one seen for 5euros.

After wasting 10mins deciding on a suitcase with wheels my Mum announced she needed some cat biscuits. She doesn’t have a cat. It turns out she had noticed a cat in the Motel car park and decided it was a stray and it was her mission to feed it. I disagreed with this on so many level’s. I have cat’s and am a pet lover but adopting stray animals in foreign counties are not my idea of a good idea. Flea’s is just the beginning of the many problems this type of thing could raise. However she would not be swayed and bought the cat biscuits.

Into the car and back at the Motel around 18.00. We had already decided to eat tea at the Pizza/Pasta place a few yards from the Motel and as it didn’t open until 18.30 I jumped in the shower before sitting outside with the other’s for a while watching my Mum wonder around the car park rattling a box of cat biscuit’s. Is crazy hereditary?

Del’Arte Pizza & Pasta opened at 18.30 and at 19.00 we decided we were hungry enough for tea. Dominique and I were actually starving but it appears smoking curb’s your appetite. We were the first in and were delighted to discover the menu was translated into several languages. None of the starters appealed so we all went straight for the main course. Margerita Pizza for me and Dominique, Chicken Pizza for Julie and Spaghetti Bolognaise for my Mum. Large beers for everyone expect my Mum who wanted Vodka and Lemonade. This confused the waitress as the only Vodka advertised came in a cocktail but she managed to sort my Mum out with what appeared to be a triple and a small bottle of 7up.

The food was lovely, our Pizza’s came in a heart shape which delighted us all and was very nice. Everyone expect my Mum got a desert. Julie and I got profieteroles , I wanted Lemon Meringue but they didn’t have any and Dominique decided on Banana pizza , she was most disgusted when she was presented with a Banana pizza. I was a normal pizza base with chopped banana on top and was horrid. My profitless were gorgeous. After another round of drinks we asked for the bill, 91euros plus tip so we left 100euros and wondered back to the Motel for an early night around 21.00

Jodie

 

[ely3857]

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

 

[ely3857]

Saturday 09th September

Dominique was up at some daft hour again and showered and dressed before I was even awake. Same story as yesterday morning. When we went downstairs my Mum and Julie were smoking, drinking coffee and feeding the cat. This morning the main difference was the lack of enthusiasm. I was aching a little but had done this many times before, the other 3 were suffering a little bit more then I was. Yesterday we had zig-zagged our was across the park and it had paid off in terms of queuing times but left us with a few aches and pains today.

Got to the car park at 09.14 and ended up on the 4th row. Outside Disney Studio’s at 09.40 and straight into studio 1 where we weren’t allowed into the park but were allowed to shop. I bought 2 more Pin’s one Nemo and one Figaro for 6euros each at 09.51. Dominique talked my Mum out of buying me a hideous Minnie in a wedding outfit ornament at 09.52. At 09.53 Julie made sure we were coming back to this shop as she wanted to buy more sweets for friends & family but didn’t want to carry them around.

In the park at 10.00 and straight to Rock and Roller coaster.

Dominique walked through with me and straight out of the chicken exit! I didn’t mind. I don’t mind queuing alone if it’s a walk on but I don’t think Dominique wanted to be left alone with Crazy 1 and Crazy 2 while they smoked. After this we all went on Armageddon,

the wait was 10mins and the whole time my Mum and Julie commented that the wait times were horribly inaccurate. I couldn't quite figure out how they had come to this conclusion and yesterday everything had been a walk on and the advertised times had been 5mins, Star Tours had said 5mins but as soon as they went through was amended to 25mins so I can see a bit of gripe there but the only time they stopped complaining about the inaccurate queuing times was when Julie demanded a sausage sandwich as she wasn’t prepared to eat a Tuna sandwich for breakfast again. Where the heck am I supposed to find a Full English in Disneyland? After Armageddon which was very accurate at 10mins waiting time we saw Mickey and a very small queue so got our picture taken.

We then headed to the Backlot Tour but I deemed this unworthy of the 30mins queuing time. We were all hungry anyway so back to Studio 1 to Restaurant En Coulisse for breakfast, Julie would have to make do with hotdog. I got a cheeseburger meal with coke for 9euros 95cents.

My burger was oily and horrible so I filled up on the chips. The vegetarian options were non-existent so Dominique just had chips and a coke for 5euros 10cents.

After finishing our food (and another cigarette) at 11.00 we got our photo taken with Mr Incredible. 3 group character pictures, not bad going.

There was nothing else to do at the Studios. This is my 3rd half day here and it now bores me. I doubt I will be back for a while. I thought that when the Tower of Terror is open I would rush back but Gavin won’t ride RnR or ToT so there’s very little point going until there is more here.

We decided to go back to Disneyland but first Julie needed to buy some sweets and take them back to the car. Why when you have already decided what you want to buy does it take 40mins to buy it? Dominique and I sat outside the shop for the last 20mins of this and waited and waited and waited. Eventually we came to the conclusion that they had gone far too long between cigarette’s and they must be outside by now. We were right. The pair of them we outside smoking, they also claimed to have been looking for us for the last 10mins, As both of them had almost finished their cigarette’s I deemed this to be untrue. We walked, or rather I stomped back to the car to leave the shopping in the boot and then over to Disneyland.

Once in Disneyland we went straight to Buzz. O.M.G there is a 75mins queue and fast passes are for 19.00!!! This was the trend all over the park. Over the next few hours all we did was queue for tickets to see The Legend of the Lion king and get an ice-cream and watch my Mum and Julie smoke. We walked through a submarine type attraction near Space Mountain, I cant be bothered to look up the name of it, it was so bad.

We had tickets for the 16.30 showing of LOLK and as this was the only thing we would be doing to show for our 5 hours already spent in Disneyland we wanted it to be good. It was ok. Completely different from The LK show at AK. This was a show about a show, Timon was putting on a show for Simba about his life. It was about 30mins long and entertaining enough but if I thought the ride queues would be lower while it was in I would give it a miss. We actually spent longer queuing for tickets then we did watching the performance.

We left Disneyland at 18.30, it was only getting busier once Disney studios had shut and in some places you could barely move. I have been 3 times at this exact time of year and it has always been like yesterday, a complete walk on. I have never seen any theme park as busy as this and if MK is worse than this at Christmas than I am never going at that time! I can only assume the unseasonably hot weather was dragging locals out of their homes and into the parks.

On the way back to the car Dominique and I were once again left standing while the other’s went to buy more cigarettes. Neither of us could figure out why my Mum and Julie hadn’t either brought enough to last the weekend or bought more than they had when they found the shop yesterday.

Back at the Motel I showered before joining the others outside. We wondered the few yards to Del’Arte for more Pizza around 19.30. We ate almost exactly the same except our pizza’s weren’t heart shaped and Dominique had apple tarte for pudding. We did however have much more to drink, around 5 beers or vodka’s each. We had over the course of the evening been served by all but 1 of the waiters (perhaps they had heard about the 9euro tip we had left on Thursday night which only worked out at 10% but the waitress had seemed delighted. The many servers had led to confusion over the bill, when it was finally presented to us it was for 85euros. Now anybody following closely will realise that despite the extra 12 drinks this bill was 6euros less than our last visit. We again left 100euros and gave a further 10euros to the waiter who brought the bill. Nobody thought to keep the receipt so we have no idea where the mistake was made.

Dominique and myself went straight to bed but my Mum and Julie sat up smoking and drinking coffee while making friends with a Danish fella.



Jodie

 

[ely3857]

Sunday 10th September

Our return flight was for 14.20 but I didn’t want to hang around the Motel so we left at 08.30 once Crazy 1 had satisfied herself that the stray cat knew where the pile of cat biscuits had been left. I took only 20mins to get to the airport, a further 10 to drive straight out the other side and another 15 to turn around and get back. Once back on airport soil I mention if anyone had seen a sign for T1 could they please speak up. Julie mentioned she had seen several. I really need anger management I almost bit my tongue in two not using up my entire repertoire of swear words. Eventually we found our way into the car park, parked up and took the keys back to the National desk.

While I spent 30seconds giving the keys back my Mum and Julie decided they hadn’t smoked since the one they had after leaving the car so went outside for another. Here they decided it would be easier and less stressful to get a taxi to T3. In theory Dominique and I agreed. The taxi driver was beyond unimpressed we only wanted to go from T1 to T3 although once I tell you the price you will wonder why, it seems very much like a good fare for him to me. Ever seen the Horlicks advert where the taxi driver takes the foreign lass on a tour of London when she needs 3 streets down? Well, we went from T1 to T3 via the Metro system . Once eventually there we could hardly believe the advertised fare of 15euros 10cents then the taxi driver got out his calculator rounded it up to 17euros 40cents! We gave him exactly that and not a cent more. Sad really as we had every intention of giving him 5euros each which would have been 20euros.

Despite the detour in the car earlier and the dodgy taxi driver we were still 3 hours early for our flight and the check in desk didn’t open for another hour so we sat and people watched , drank coffee, ate crisps and Crazy 1 and Crazy 2 smoked.

Once the check in desk opened we were third in the queue and were done in a few minutes. Went straight through to departures for breakfast which was a Tuna baguette, crisps and a coke for me at 9euros 70cents. There were no vegetarian options so Dominique had a coke. Once most of us were fed we browsed duty free. I had loads of euros left and every intention of spending them so despite the perfume actually converting to been more expensive than home I bought some Jean Paul Gautier Classique and Burberry Touch for 113euros 40cents then spent the rest on chocolate for Gavin, My mum and Julie were devastated to learn that within the EU cigarettes weren’t actually duty free but you paid the tax for whichever country you were in. It did make them cheaper than at home but when people leaving the EU were getting them for almost half the price it right in front of their nose it hurt.

The flight gate was advertised early so after spending up me & Dominique went and waited there while my Mum and Julie debated how many non duty free cigs to buy. At 14.10 we were called to board and after passport control got on a bus to take us to the plane. We waited on this bus packing like sardines for 15mins before we went to the plane. To add insult to injury the driver moved forward a few yards to let another bus in behind but of course we all thought we were off!

The plane left 30mins behind schedule but it was just an 1hr and 6mins flying time again so we were back at the advertised time of 14.45 local time. Bags of asap again and then out to meet Gavin who was dropping everyone off again. Julie first then my Mum. After these two had gone me and Dominique proceeded to tell Gavin just how crazy my Mum is and Dominique was most kind when she said I was not anything like her.

Overall we all enjoyed ourselves, Friday was fantastic but Saturday was a nightmare from the start due to been tired and the excessive crowds. I continuously had to keep my temper in check as I cannot bear my Mum ‘mothering’ me and at one point she licked her thumb to wipe a smudge from my face I thought I was going to have a melt down. Dominique and I both became very bored with waiting for them to finish smoking and couldn’t believe just how many times a day they needed to do this.

Been with my Mum for any length of time is trying for me. This weekend was for the most part to prevent further ear bashing about my choice of wedding and it seems to have served it’s purpose. Dominique and I had a great time. Mainly bonding over the joint craziness that my Mother and Julie were presenting us with and didn’t have a cross word between us although she has said she is refusing to speak to me for at least 3 weeks but I have to return her suitcase soon so she has speak to me!

When Gavin & I return to DLRP we will do it our usual way of Car & Ferry, Flying down didn’t really save us much more than a couple of hours door to door and CDG airport is horrid and I would certainly never go here by choice again.



Jodie

 

[ely3857]

Pictures added!



Jodie

 

[wils]

Great photos but why none of the cat?

The T-shirts are great