It's CHRIIISTMAAAS...............Day 3

[hildasmuriel]

Monday 22 December

We were up and out early once again, shared the bus with the Britchics once again.

Our hope that the Park may be a little quieter was soon dispelled - EMH was very busy. We went twice on Buzz and Dtr did Space Mountain before we went to see how Fantasyland was doing - it seemed really busy so we decided to catch a Fire Engine down Main Street instead of going on any rides.

We had a pastry and drink each in Salon Mickey (our breakfast) and then went back in the Park.

Once again the Park was fully open, even though it was before 10 o’clock, so we went into Frontierland to get Fps for BTM then went onto POTC and then to Indiana Jones for Dtr to ride. As we cut back through Colonel Hathis we saw Minnie in her safari suit and Big Al - there was hardly anybody about at all!

We went to have a stroll round Father Christmas Village to have a look,

then back to BTM as it was FP time. Again - no queue for the FP lane at all. It is hard to put up with the resentful looks of the people in the ordinary queue, but we just about managed it. I took a picture of Dtr waving at me from the train - you can just about make out a little arm waving out of the back carriage.

We wanted a go on Casey but the queue looked very long so we decided to leave and have our lunch now. As we walked down Main Street the Character Express was coming along and it started to snow.

The queue to buy tickets outside was ENORMOUS.

We had lunch at the Rainforest Café which proved quite cheap as they had a special 9.90 deal on children’s meals. We also shared a cocktail and bought the souvenir sparkling glass it came in.

Then we spilt up for a while to do some ‘secret’ shopping. I had some Christmas money that people had given me so I had to buy a few presents for myself (such a hardship) and I wanted to get Dtr a t-shirt to go with her Christmas presents. I bought her a glittery diamante Eeyore t-shirt - in adult size XS. I think it would have to be a VERY small adult who could wear this! I bought myself a notebook and glittery pen set and a white DLRP t-shirt……. And still had a bit left that I had to spend. Oh no - more shopping to do later.

I met up with Dtr and we went back to the hotel for our afternoon ‘not-sleep’.

More to follow......

 

[hildasmuriel]

We went back to the Park and managed to work our way up Discovery Arcade and round by the entrance to Discoveryland so that we were not far from Pizzeria Belle Notte as the end of the Parade went by. We just about managed to see Father Christmas but decided that tomorrow we would see the whole thing.

Then we decided we wanted to go to Casey Jr and made to walk past IASW. So did everyone else in the Park. The crowd was NOT moving, just packed in solid, covering the whole of the road and pavement. It really needed a CM with the flashy torches, because nobody could move at all. I am not worried by crowds, but I can imagine if I had very young children this would have been a very alarming experience.

It was about 5 minutes before a slow movement began and finally the crowd started to move again. That was definitely the worst crowd of the holiday and potentially dangerous, I would think.

Anyway, we went for our ride on Casey Jr and then onto Le Pays des Contes des Fees. We had decided we wanted a good spot for watching Enchanted Candleabration, so we went in between Central Plaza and the Castle just as they were putting up the ropes. We clung onto the rope and just stayed there until it was time for all the characters to come out.

Dtr had her hand shaken by Minnie and Daisy as all the characters came , out.

It was raining a drizzly rain by now and Donald found the one puddle that had gathered and had great fun jumping in it over and over again while waiting for his turn to go up on the stage. We watched as the Castle became awash with beautiful, sparkly lights and we sang along (eyes filled up, of course) as Chante c’est Noel was played.

We were also determined to get a good spot for Fantillusion, so we went over to get some pasta from Pizzeria Belle Notte (not very hot and only okay - but it just about hit the spot) and then went back to Central Plaza to stake out our space for the parade. We had a fantastic spot, but that’s because we waited from quite early on. Of course people tried to muscle in but we stood our ground and wouldn’t be pushed out of the way and as a result had a great view for Maleficent’s transformation.

After the parade we went onto POTC and were able to ride round twice. We wanted a ride poster, but were told it would take about 10 minutes to prepare, so we went off to ride Pinocchio then went back to pick it up. It was now 8 minutes to 10 - did we have time to squeeze another ride in? Yes, of course - we went on IASW.

We got to Town Square to find there were a few characters about, which surprised us, as it was gone ten and we thought they would have wanted us out.

We decided that such a good day should be celebrated with a cocktail in Café Fantasia. They were 18 Euros but really tasty and it is such a nice feeling to lounge around there and listen to the the man tinkling on his ivories.

We had a little nosey around the shop in the DLH and took a few pictures of the lobby before going to catch the shuttle back to the Holiday Inn.

I had a very short go on t’internet in the lobby of the Holiday Inn and then we headed for bed.

 

[joolz1910]

Another great day.

 

[angel girl]

Sounds like you had another great day-you packed so much into it again! really enjoying reading your trippie

 

[tennisfan]

Another great & busy day. Fab photos

 

[gemmybear83]

Great day I have never seen Minnie in her safari outfit!

 

[Ware Bears]

What a lovely day ~ and yes, I could just make out DD waving on BTM!