Ideas for DLP trip

[mikerodda]

Hi there, this is my first post on the DIS so I'm a bit nervous...

My family - that's me, my DW, DS(9) and DD(7) - are heading off to SL on 5th August for 4 nights. We're flying from Exeter and the flight times mean that we can spend most of our arrival and departure days in the the parks.

This holiday means a lot to us. In 2005, we were forced to cancel a 3 week trip to Florida just before the departure date due to a big hiccup with our finances. Needless to say, the kids were devastated and we've been saving hard ever since to make it up to them (and us of course)!

I'm sure we'll have loads of questions and here's my first:

What little extras can you think of that don't add too much to the cost of the holiday but will help to make the trip that little bit more special for the kids? As an example I've read that you can get autograph books that the characters sign for the kids.

Thanks in anticipation of lots of good ideas!

Mike

 

[Cyrano]

What little extras can you think of that don't add too much to the cost of the holiday but will help to make the trip that little bit more special for the kids? As an example I've read that you can get autograph books that the characters sign for the kids.

Thanks in anticipation of lots of good ideas!

Mike

Good idea to ask this question seperately as I'm sure you'll get more answers

You can take your own photographs at the character meet n greet points as well or instead of taking the official photographs, so saving money

Have a childs meal at the Disney Village restaurants and you get to keep a plastic cup of the restaurant, so getting a free gift.

 

[isma]

There is a thread here (tried to find it, but didn`t work, maybe someone else can help ) with secrets of the park, for example that you can here the dentist working at Main Street or the phone at the Photo shop. It`s not spectacular but fun to find those details!

 

[Cyrano]

There is a thread here (tried to find it, but didn`t work, maybe someone else can help ) with secrets of the park, for example that you can here the dentist working at Main Street or the phone at the Photo shop. It`s not spectacular but fun to find those details!

I think you mean this one
It is also linked in the Very Useful Info sticky so that it does not get lost

 

[SandraVB79]

Do a Good Morning Fantasyland Breakfast
Do the "ride-pictures-for-cheapos" trick when you don't buy the ride pictures (i.e. take a picture with your camera from the screen where you can preview them, flash turned off for best results!)

 

[A Small World]

As already suggested GMF breakfast is good option if you are staying in Dis hotel and gives you a good start on the crowds and although not a character breakfast is nice to have brekkie in the park.

Character meal - Although we've not done it ourselves yet the character tea looks good value for money and good fun

Collect free souvenirs- maps, serviettes, bags etc to make scrap book

Get someone to send a postcard to your children - see separate link



Bumping this to try and get other suggestions

 

[A Small World]

Also forgot to say we also have DD (7) who is really into Princesses. We allowed her to wear her Belle dress around the park (bought before we went as much cheaper)

Lots of children were wearing these or pirates costumes.

It can sometimes help to get special response from Princesses etc at Parades or Meet and Greets

 

[mikerodda]

Thanks for all the great ideas! They've all been added to my little black book of things to remember.

We haven't told the kids where we're going yet - just the odd comment like "anyone fancy going to France this summer?". We want to leave it until the very last moment to tell them but I'm not sure if we'll be able to contain ourselves that long

Please keep the ideas coming.

Mike

 

[crim1978]

Don't forget the all important Hidden Mickeys

 

[BONITATIME]

Not free but very reasonable is the Character tea in the Plaza Gardens. If you look at the thread for this restaurant there are several reviews.

 

[Hollytigs]

The freebies are good, our daughter was given a cup in Rainforest Cafe, a Pooh bear straw and colouring book in Hyperion Cafe and another colouring book in BBQ Cookout.
We also found that meeting the characters was better either at the Cafe Mickey character breakfast, at the hotel or in the Studios rather than queueing up for an hour in the Disneyland park!
Also, try and get picked (or get the children picked) for the street entertainment in the Studios - that is always a good memory to have!
Don't forget to visit the Dragon under the castle!

 

[scoobysnax]

Also forgot to say we also have DD (7) who is really into Princesses. We allowed her to wear her Belle dress around the park (bought before we went as much cheaper)

Lots of children were wearing these or pirates costumes.

It can sometimes help to get special response from Princesses etc at Parades or Meet and Greets

In August? I'd do that in the evening, those dresses aren't made of breathable materials <sweat>

 

[A Small World]

In August? I'd do that in the evening, those dresses aren't made of breathable materials <sweat>

There is no guarantee August will be hot. This is Europe remember- unpredictable.
It was really really hot at Easter and DD couldnt have worn the dress all day but she kept putting it on at key times such as meeting characters and to watch the parade. Im sure even in August this could be possible

 

[Ware Bears]

When we went in August 2005 it was very hot and my DD only wore her dress in the evening although I saw lots of children wearing them all day. Last August the weather wasn't so kind to us, my DD wore a Tshirt under her Cinderella dress to keep a bit warmer and then a hoodie on top in the evening!

 

[mikerodda]

My DD would absolutely love dressing up in the parks. She's really into Princess Jasmine at the moment. We tried to find Jasmine dress for her at the Disney Store in Bristol recently but were told that they didn't have any in stock. Does anyone know where I can get hold of one for her?

 

[miffy7]

Regarding dressing up in hot weather, I bought a few metres of cotton/tencel mix fabric which was wonderful at easter in the hot weather. my daughter had Belle and Cinderella outfits. the only thing she took off was her cape as that was a bit warm, but she wore it in Disney studios and got picked to hold bats over a Vampire because of it!
You can buy costumes cheaply on Ebay if you don't mind synthetics.

Other things to save money - packed lunch/snacks. we brought a carved rotisserie chicken, some mayonnaise, some boxed bonduelle salads and japanese rice crackers - all from auchan in val d'europe. apart from anything else it was nice not losing time queueing for food. lots of bottles of water too.
inside disneyland it's a pound for a mars bar - really! but in cafe hyperion the salads are good value and you can watch the lion king show while you eat.
auchan is open till 10pm and has slides and things just outside the till area so your kids don't get bored.

buying annual passes saved lots of money - thanks to dumbodeb for sponsoring us!

we brought our own autograph books and pens - poundland has mickey and pluto notebooks.

we loved the shows like Tarzan and Moteur action, and they helped keep the kdis entertained while we sat down.

we used fastpass lots to save time in queues - they do run out early on busy days though.

the kids peferred to do rides with short queues again and again than wait for ages for a particular ride just for the novelty.

the character tea was worth spending money on - there was more savoury food than i'd been led to believe. we got lovely pictures with the characters. speaking french helped.

I'm glad to know we weren't the only ones taking pictures of our pictures on the rides!!