Halloween at the DLH - Pre-trip

[Ms Poppins]

Monday 11 October for 3 nights at the Disneyland Hotel

The Cast:

Me - 35
DH - 39
DS1 - Mark, 16
DD - Abbey, 13
DS2 - Lewis, 6

Here are the kids at Cafe Mickey last summer

One of my lasting memories of DLP after our vist last year, was sitting in the DLH foyer passing some time, waiting to go home on the Eurostar. It was a boiling hot day (it had been the whole time we'd been there), we were exhausted but happy and had just had a lovely meal in Walts. DH turned to me and said 'Let's make sure we stay here the next time' followed by 'It might be nice to come at halloween when it's not so hot, and if we stayed here we'd get much more done'

Well.....he did not need to say it twice!

I waited and hoped and crossed all my fingers and toes that the 40% discount would be offered again this year. After many nights of number crunching and almost booking HNY, my wish came true and we booked a family room for 5 at the DLH! This is the first time I've known the larger family rooms to be included in any discounts and am so thankful for it. Without it we could never have managed to stay here.

We are travelling by Eurostar. Originally we had planned to drive to Ashford, stay overnight in the Travelodge, and be on the Eurostar the next day. We've done this many times in the past and it always works well. Our hotel was booked using the fantastic offer of £9 per room - however we will need to cancel this now are we have changed our plans slightly.

We are still travelling by Eurostar, but this time from London. My very kind uncle has offered us his flat in London to use for the weekend before our trip. DS1 and DD are thrilled about this as have always fancied doing the tourist thing in London. So we will travel by train from Glasgow to London on Friday, stay in London over the weekend and get the Eurostar from St Pancras on Monday morning.

We were really slowed down by the heat last year, so this time we're looking forward to seeing much more. Some things we want to do are:

Toy Story Playland - Can't wait for this! We are all huge fans of Toy Story and even if the rides aren't up to much, I know we will love the theming.

The Studios - we all really love the studios, the kids love drawing and we spend ages in the Animation Courtyard. Also want to see Cinemagique again, Animagique and Stich that we missed last time. Lewis is also desperate to see the Stunt Show and Playhouse Disney.

Big Thunder Mountain - we all love this (all except Lewis, but we're working on him!)

Dapper Dan's - Mark fancies having a 'real' shave in here.

Buffalo Bills - Have never done this before and think it looks great.

The parade - we watched this from Walts last time, and whilst it was great, we were busy eating, taking photos etc and just did not get the same effect - so I will be hunting out the best place to watch this from.

Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen - Lewis loves this movie, so really wants to meet Prince Naveen.

Halloween - I've read countless trip reports during October and I love the look of the park - trying to get Lewis interested in Nightmare before Christmas so he recognises Jack and Sally!

Food - not got this completely planned yet - depends on park closing times, but would like to include Annettes, Walts, Cafe Mickey and Pizza Planet (for Lewis). We also enjoyed the buffet at Hotel New York last time, and would quite like that again.

We've had a really busy summer and the time has flown by. I'm starting to get really excited now about our trip and can't wait for it!

I just want to be there; even if I never go on a ride, I could sit in Main St all day long doing nothing - bliss...

 

[scampbunny]

sounds like sum good plans!!

guess i need to start my ptr as we will arrive the day u leave!! am lookin forward to halloween too - it looks brilliant!

 

[Ms Poppins]

I've been reading restaurant reviews all day and we all had a good Disney discussion over dinner tonight. I think we've sorted out our favourites:

Monday - Annettes
Tuesday - Buffalo Bills
Wednesday - Cafe Mickey
Thursday - Walts or the Remy buffet in the Studios

We might change one of these for the buffet at Hotel New York, as the kids are still talking about how good it was.

We plan on doing EMH, then back to hotel for a late breakfast, 10:30ish. Will pop into Salon Mickey at some point (if I ever get my shareholders card!) and try just to have a small snack in the afternoon to try and avoid two costly meals per day.

I'm a bit annoyed that the French website with the BBWWS doesn't seem to work for 18:30 shows. The later one will be too late for Lewis, but I think we'll just book this when we get there with the shareholders discount (again if I ever get my card.....)

The time has really flown by, only 4 weeks to go! I'm back in planning mode

 

[bonhoga]

wow, that all sounds wonderful and made me realise .....its really not long now We arrive on the wednesday......I have no idea what to expect from the DLH.......where was your room last time? Is there anywhere you would recommend in the hotel, or does it really not matter?
I would always choose Walts.....but maybe you're youngest would enjoy the buffet better, is that where the interactive Remy is?

Have a lovely trip
PS my Dh has always fancied Dapper dan's too

Kaye

 

[Ms Poppins]

wow, that all sounds wonderful and made me realise .....its really not long now We arrive on the wednesday......I have no idea what to expect from the DLH.......where was your room last time? Is there anywhere you would recommend in the hotel, or does it really not matter?
I would always choose Walts.....but maybe you're youngest would enjoy the buffet better, is that where the interactive Remy is?

Have a lovely trip
PS my Dh has always fancied Dapper dan's too

Kaye

It was years ago the last time we stayed at DLH, and we were near the swimming pool. The best part about the location was the door into and out of the hotel. As you exit the park, the door to our part of the hotel was immediately to the right - so it was so easy to nip back and forward - although the down side meant you were on the opposite side to the restaurants. However, the hotel is so beautiful, I could wander the corridors all day....lots of lovely photographs/pictures to look at throughout.

We ate at Walts last time and loved it - we might go again, so many places to choose! The buffet is really to try and cut costs, and make the kids choose something to eat other than a burger! (They had burgers at Walts last time!) Yes, we fancy seeing interactive Remy too - so that's another reason. We all really enjoy our time at the Studios anyway, so would make sense to eat there at some point.

Dapper Dans sounds great - it's my eldest Mark who fancies this.

Hope you have a great time too - keeping all our fingers crossed for dry weather - although we are no strangers to the rain here

 

[bonhoga]

Oh yes fingers crossed that it doesn't rain Actually a friend of mine also said their room was near the pool and she thought that was the best area, they had a nice little table and chairs on a patio...did you have that?

Buffets are great for kids aren't they?At least you are guaranteed that there will be something they wil like, and we've generally found the selection very good.

Kaye

 

[Ware Bears]

Sounds fantastic and what a lovely family you have.

 

[Ms Poppins]

Only a week to go now

We head off to London a week today, and I think our plans are set.

Saturday - Morning being complete tourists and going for a wander round Buckingham Palace/Tower Bridge etc then off to see Billy Elliot, where Abbey's friend is playing the lead role

Sunday - Morning at Sherlock Holmes Museum (DH is a huge fan) and then off to Madame Tussauds - booked the tickets today.

Monday - DLP

Finally managed to get the French website to work for 6.30 show of BBWWS and I am delighted!!

Had a very panicked day though...no ink for my printer, searched a million shops to get some, then stupid pc playing up and had to install google translator bar/various other things...finally got through the booking process and stupid printer gave a very poor printout of tickets

I've got the confirmation email and will hopefully manage to print these at work next week - hope they take black and white tickets...

I've had horrendous migranes now for weeks I've got packing lists/ticket dates etc, etc rolling over in my head constantly - I just cannot wait to get there

 

[stitcher3000]

Why is it when you have waited for so long and then a week out it seems to scoot along at 10 times the usual speed Enjoy your stay at the DLH we did and am looking forward to the trip report.

 

[bonhoga]

Why is it when you have waited for so long and then a week out it seems to scoot along at 10 times the usual speed Enjoy your stay at the DLH we did and am looking forward to the trip report.

Oh if only that were true I would love this next week to just vanish

Hope the migraines have cleared up so you can enjoy your trip to London and DLRP

Kaye