cherrymarzipan
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2010
- Messages
- 1,340
Slightly late but here goes -
Lows:
Missing our Ratatouille restaurant meal. We had booked for 16.30 which was the earliest my daughter could meet us for and knew it would be tight as we had to leave the park to catch the 19.00 TGV (picking up the suitcase from baggage storage first). We presented ourselves in plenty of time but by 16.45 had still not been called to our table so I had to cancel the booking. There was no point rushing this experience so we went off to Starbucks for salads and wraps instead which wasn't quite the same!
Duffy is no longer doing meet and greets in the park and DS loves him.
Weather very showery – not cold which was a good thing but a bit of a pain constantly taking ponchos on and off (and carrying them around all wet when the weather was dry).
Highs:
Santa Fe – not stayed here since the refurbishment and really impressed. Small room was a bit of a shock at first but perfectly adequate actually especially as there were only two of us in it. Theming is lovely and everything was clean and working. Pleased to find a kettle and hairdryer in the room. We had a ground floor room in block 49 which was right opposite the boutique and breakfast so very convenient but quiet too as we had a rear corner room. A lovely breakfast CM called Patricia looked out for us each morning and found us a table where I could leave my disabled son and go up for food and drinks, where he could still see me (and I could keep an eye on him). We have Disney hotel breakfasts sorted now by taking our own cereals in (don’t like their sugary offerings) and using the hotel milk and bowls. Really pleased to find fresh fruit salad though – it used to be canned – and ate loads each morning.
Some great character interaction. We met Rabbit & Piglet, Aladdin & Jasmine and Mushu in the Studios (there were other characters out but there was not time for all of them to get round the circle before they had to go again). In the main park we met Alice & Mad Hatter together and then a little later Queen of Hearts, Dum & Dee and White Rabbit all together – these were great fun. We also met Minnie, Mickey and Rapunzel in their spots and DS had lots of fun with the many pirates we encountered.
Salon Mickey. After our last trip when we hardly ever even got in there (too full) or when we did being offered nothing more than a cookie, this time there was space and lots on offer: lemon, blueberry or chocolate muffins, croissants or cookies. So nice to bypass the crowds queuing up to enter the park too as we never arrive early enough!
A funny little extra thing before the parade one day with Mickey and Minnie in a car first and lots people with coloured balloons – not quite sure what it was all about but it made a change.
Saturday and Sunday were actually less busy than the weekdays, at least it seemed that way to me.
Met Rapunzel this time. Her meet and greet spot has been camouflaged behind a sort of conifer maze which has reduced the queues to a slightly more manageable level! First visitors, look carefully and you will just spot her purple sun/rain shade over the top of the greenery.
Hanging baskets along Main Street at blooming best – why are my own looking jaded by this time of year despite feeding and watering?
Overall a lovely impromptu trip and a happy and beautifully behaved DS after a period of extremely challenging behaviour at home. I think we need to move to Disneyland.
Lows:
Missing our Ratatouille restaurant meal. We had booked for 16.30 which was the earliest my daughter could meet us for and knew it would be tight as we had to leave the park to catch the 19.00 TGV (picking up the suitcase from baggage storage first). We presented ourselves in plenty of time but by 16.45 had still not been called to our table so I had to cancel the booking. There was no point rushing this experience so we went off to Starbucks for salads and wraps instead which wasn't quite the same!
Duffy is no longer doing meet and greets in the park and DS loves him.
Weather very showery – not cold which was a good thing but a bit of a pain constantly taking ponchos on and off (and carrying them around all wet when the weather was dry).
Highs:
Santa Fe – not stayed here since the refurbishment and really impressed. Small room was a bit of a shock at first but perfectly adequate actually especially as there were only two of us in it. Theming is lovely and everything was clean and working. Pleased to find a kettle and hairdryer in the room. We had a ground floor room in block 49 which was right opposite the boutique and breakfast so very convenient but quiet too as we had a rear corner room. A lovely breakfast CM called Patricia looked out for us each morning and found us a table where I could leave my disabled son and go up for food and drinks, where he could still see me (and I could keep an eye on him). We have Disney hotel breakfasts sorted now by taking our own cereals in (don’t like their sugary offerings) and using the hotel milk and bowls. Really pleased to find fresh fruit salad though – it used to be canned – and ate loads each morning.
Some great character interaction. We met Rabbit & Piglet, Aladdin & Jasmine and Mushu in the Studios (there were other characters out but there was not time for all of them to get round the circle before they had to go again). In the main park we met Alice & Mad Hatter together and then a little later Queen of Hearts, Dum & Dee and White Rabbit all together – these were great fun. We also met Minnie, Mickey and Rapunzel in their spots and DS had lots of fun with the many pirates we encountered.
Salon Mickey. After our last trip when we hardly ever even got in there (too full) or when we did being offered nothing more than a cookie, this time there was space and lots on offer: lemon, blueberry or chocolate muffins, croissants or cookies. So nice to bypass the crowds queuing up to enter the park too as we never arrive early enough!
A funny little extra thing before the parade one day with Mickey and Minnie in a car first and lots people with coloured balloons – not quite sure what it was all about but it made a change.
Saturday and Sunday were actually less busy than the weekdays, at least it seemed that way to me.
Met Rapunzel this time. Her meet and greet spot has been camouflaged behind a sort of conifer maze which has reduced the queues to a slightly more manageable level! First visitors, look carefully and you will just spot her purple sun/rain shade over the top of the greenery.
Hanging baskets along Main Street at blooming best – why are my own looking jaded by this time of year despite feeding and watering?
Overall a lovely impromptu trip and a happy and beautifully behaved DS after a period of extremely challenging behaviour at home. I think we need to move to Disneyland.
There are CMs around there to direct you to the end of the queue. Don't expect to see Rapunzel until you actually meet her.
