"Its oh so quiet ...." trip report, all 4 days finished

[DLPdaft]

Sunday 29th November to Wednesday 2nd December 2009

Cast - me and DD(8), my DLP companion, 7th trip to The Magic

Day One, Sunday.

This was a surprise trip for DD, I'd organised it all in secret. So Sunday morning, when we woke up, I asked her what she fancied doing today. She asked me the same question, and I said "I fancy going to Disneyland". DD said "Mum you always say that" then I said "yes but shall we just go - today??" Cue the biggest grin I've seen on my DD's face for ages, followed by 10 minutes of her jumping around the bedroom, stopping once in a while to hug me and ask "are you tricking me???". It was a brill way to start a trip, and worth all the planning (and stress with Expedia) to surprise her .

So, we left the house mid-morning with our hand luggage (filled with hats, gloves, scarves and thermals), and after driving, flying, a TGV and a train, we arrived at the Etap hotel at Val d'Europe, which was to be our home just for tonight. By 7.30pm, we'd checked in, got our gloves and scarves on, and taken the train back to the gates of DLP. First stop was Bureau Donald, which I'd never been in before, where a lovely CM sorted out my new Fantasy AP in no time flat. We were the only folk in there, apart from the CMs. There was Christmas music playing softly in the background, and I was starting to get a lump in my throat already - and I wasn't even in the park yet !

We stepped through the turnstiles into the park, under the railway arches, and gazed at the beauty of Main St, all lit up at this time in the evening.

The castle all lit up always gives me goose bumps .

We were pretty hungry, so we had a chicken nuggets meal between us at Caseys, which wasn't that great, but it filled a gap. We wandered down to near Main St station to wait for Fantillusion, which we've never been lucky enough to see before. It was a perfect evening for it too, clear skies and no breeze to speak of. Fantillusion started at the bottom of the park tonight (ie it finished in Fantasyland) so we got to see it twice - as after it passed us at Main St station, we walked up through the arcade and saw it all again at the turrets into Fantasyland.

Once in Fantasyland, we went on IASW (of course ) - I loved all the Christmas overlay on this, and the music too.

We then raced around Pirates, Peter Pan, rode Dumbo in the dark, and then walked through the Castle to the park closing announcement.

But wait! Halfway down Main St, I heard the tinkly music that sends the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end - and then the snow started falling . I had to get DD to pinch me - I couldn't believe I was here seeing this again .

Tradition states that DD has to get her plush on the first day of our trip, so she can spend the rest of the trip sleeping with it - so off we went to the big store in The Village. She chose Pluto this time round. From there, we jumped on a train to the Etap. We were in bed by 10.45ish, with the alarm set for early next morning, to check out and head for the Santa Fe .

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Great start Elaine

 

[cbmstephanie]

What a wonderful surprise...can't wait to read more!

 

[Dianetigger]

A fabulous start, lovely pictures and I can't wait to read more.

 

[Disneyfanswicklow]

Wow well done you on a fab surprise! Fantastic start to your trip report with lovely photos - really setting the scene! cant wait for the next part!

 

[DLPdaft]

Day 2, Monday

I'd set the alarm on my phone to get us up and out early, so we could check in at the Santa Fe and use some EMH time. I was really tired this morning, as I kept waking up during the night, really feeling the cold. Never mind, we were still checked in at the Santa Fe by 8am, collected our easypass, dumped our bags there, and on the shuttle to the parks by 8.15. It wasn't full daylight yet -

We did Buzz twice, Peter Pan, Dumbo and teacups all by 9.05, then had a hot drink and a cookie at Salon Mickey for breakfast. We had time before rope-drop at 10 to pop into City Hall and make our dinner reservations for the next couple of days too.

We took some more photos of the decorations outside the Emporium on our way up Main St -

and then went to POTC for our first ride of the day on that (its still one of DD's favourite rides - and its nice and warm on a cold day ).

We had intended going to the first Mickeys Winter Wonderland show of the day, but it was cancelled due to technical difficulties, so we posted our Santa letters, then saw lots of characters around the back of the Cowboy Cookout - including these 2 -

We walked over to Fantasyland to ride Casey Jnr, then bumped into Belle herself on the way back -

We just had to go on IASW as it was so near, and when we came out there were a load more characters opposite the Bella Notte, there must have been about a dozen there, DD got autographs and pics with Stitch, Pluto and White Rabbit. We would have spent more time here, but we wanted to get a seat for the Snow White show. Unfortunately, this show was also cancelled, as they couldn't get the music to work through the speakers. But! Instead of the show, Snow White, her Prince, and all the dwarves spent about half an hour having fun with those of us who stayed behind, signing autographs, having pictures taken etc - DD got the lot (well, except for Grumpy, who was definitely in character - even when he was getting told off by Doc ) -

Every time I look at this particular pic of Sleepy, I yawn my head off - look at the bags under his eyes -

I have no idea how much fun the actual Snow White show is, because we never saw it - but we cheered ourselves hoarse, and laughed ourselves silly, with the dwarves .

 

[DLPdaft]

Day 2 - Monday, continued

I took DD over to the studios then, where we found the Minnie bauble -

and we had lunch in the Blockbuster Cafe. The queue wasn't very big, but the cashier was having real trouble with some vouchers from the ladies in front of us, so we did have to wait a few minutes to pay and get seated. My croque monsieur was still lovely though . DD wouldn't let me sit in the Pirates bit of the cafe, so I had to make do with sitting in the HSM bit and drooling at Captain Jack from afar as DD sang HSM songs to me .

Once we'd finished lunch, we were in time to get front stage places for Cars n Stars. While this was great for getting autographs after the show, I missed the backstage stuff you see when you're around the sides of the stage. I took this pic after Cars n Stars had finished (so around 2.15 I guess) - quiet, huh??

We ran into a Stitch show which was just beginning, and DD got picked as Stitch's friend . She was really chuffed. We then did Cars and Flying Carpets, which were both walk-ons (in fact, Flying Carpets was so quiet the whole time we were there that they didn't even use the regular queue line, just the fastpass entrance). Cinemagique next, which took us to 3.30, then on our way out of the studios, we met Goofy and Pluto in the front lot - I love Goofy's snowsuit -

Back in the main park, we had time for POTC again, then Pinocchio and IASW again before getting our favourite spot opposite Bella Notte for the Once Upon a Dream Parade. Even though this doesn't stop while the extra Christmas bit is in it, I still thought it was lovely, and got a lump in my throat seeing the toy soldiers, hearing Santa, and singing along to Chante c'est Noel -

 

[Disneyfanswicklow]

That sounds like a super day! I too am going with just my DD next trip and really looking forward to it.

 

[DLPdaft]

Day 2, Monday - continued some more

After the OUAD parade had passed, we grabbed a hot drink from the Bella Notte and had 10 minutes sit-down to recharge our batteries, then headed off for some more rides in Fantasyland, including teacups in the dark - so pretty with the lanterns lit up overhead -

Its now about 6pm, and tipping it down with rain, so we dashed off to POTC (warm and dry ). The rain was already easing off by the time we came out of there, and we parked our tired bods on a bench near the entrance to Frontierland, where we could see the hub stage and the castle, for the castle-lighting ceremony and Mickeys Magical Party time. I got another huge lump in my throat watching the lights on the castle, and the colours too. We stayed for Fantillusion tonight too, it started at 7.10pm, but came from Fantasyland this evening.

Weary, we left the park with the last of the guests, and intended going to Annettes, but we were in the queue there to be seated for about 20 minutes, and I didn't see anyone get seated at all . So we hopped on the shuttle to the Santa Fe, to get our room key and have dinner there instead.

This is where we got the big surprise of the trip . I went to reception to get our room key, and the CM pulled out all the stops - first of all he gave me my key, and directions to the room. Then he produced a full quota of free meals vouchers (I had booked room only with Expedia, and had loads of trouble with them to honour the free meals I'd booked, but eventually it had been resolved by way of a refund from Expedia, just before we set off for DLP). I told him I wasn't expecting vouchers, but he explained that he knew the trouble I'd had with Expedia, and so Disney wanted to make it up to me, and make our visit as good as it could possibly be. So we got our free meals vouchers, then the CM gave DD a slip to take to the gift shop, so she could have her pick of a pin there. He also printed me off another hotel easypass, which gave us VIP breakfast, any time we liked, for the 2 mornings we were staying for. Then we got to our room, to find 2 Stitch plushes on the beds, and a kettle and coffee etc making stuff, plus 2 bottles of water . Poor DD was quite worried when we walked into the room that someone else was staying there, seeing those plushes on the beds .

We dropped our bags in our room, freshened up a bit, then went over to La Cantina for dinner at about 8.45pm. It was very good, lots of choice, all hot, and we had no trouble getting our food, or getting a table. We were both just about asleep on our feet by the time we had finished dinner, so just time to have baths (I had a nice long soak in mine ) and flop into bed.

As the parks were so quiet, I decided we wouldn't push ourselves to get up at silly o'clock for the rest of our stay, so no more alarms set for us .

 

[Cyrano]

Elaine I had a lump in my throat at how you broke the news to your DD

Excellent report and well done Disney for making up for the problems with Expedia.

Your report reminded how wonder my favourite parade of Fantillusion is and Christmas time at DLP is the best

 

[mommy2ash]

what a great report. im so glad disney went the extra mile for you after all the trouble you had. cant wait for more

 

[buttercup1982]

Just read your report, I think the way you told your DD about your trip was fantastic! I'm sat here thinking that's exactly how I want to tell my two next time we go!!
I also think it's great to hear how Disney have gone out of their way to make your stay unforgetable. I was beginning to think it had lost some of it's magic due to the problems I encountered with my hotel and some other peoples TR's lately. It's lovely to see someone with a positive experience

 

[AnotherKindOfBelle]

This is lovely! Can't wait to hear more. I love Disneyland Paris at Christmas, there's an extra bit of magic there!!

 

[Disneyfanswicklow]

WOW well done to DLP for acknowledging the problems you had had with Expedia and even though not thier fault giving you those lovely surprises It is nice to see some of the old magic still about. Graet reporting and I love your photos - your little girl looks completely wacked out in her bed!

 

[Ms Poppins]

What a fabulous report!!! Lovely to hear that you were treated like a VIP - always nice to get a surprise

The castle looks stunning lit up - I so want to go at Christmas - but I'm such a weather wuss....it all looks beautiful

 

[DLPdaft]

Thanks everyone, I'm really enjoying writing this trippie

I love your photos - your little girl looks completely wacked out in her bed!

She was - I don't think she moved from that position all night! Mind you, the Santa Fe beds were soooo comfy it was easy to get straight off to sleep.

 

[DLPdaft]

Day 3 - Tuesday

No alarm this morning, but I still woke up around 7.30. DD was sound asleep for at least another hour, but eventually we were both up, washed and dressed. We walked over to La Cantina for breakfast at about 9.30, no queue at the buffet to speak of, but the seating area was busy. Still, we found a spot, and enjoyed our cereal, croissants, bread rolls, juice and coffee. I noticed you could pick up teabags of various types in the buffet bit, to add to hot water from the drinks machines.

We jumped on the shuttle to the parks at about 10am, and first stop was BTM, to pick up some fastpass. The regular queue was only showing 5 minutes wait though, so we rode it there and then. Then we wandered into Mickeys Winter Wonderland - I love this show, and now theres no Lion King or Tarzan, this has to be the best in DLP -

We used our FPs for BTM on the way back from the Chaparral theatre, then walked up to POTC and rode that. Teacups and IASW next, then saw lots of characters in Fantasyland again, and more coming off the Minnies Party train.

Here is where I saw a real Disney Magic Kodak moment - Tigger bounced off the train, over to where he would be signing autographs etc. He put his hands up to keep everyone back a little, turned around and knelt down with his arms out wide, and a little boy of about 3 came running right into his arms . His mum was running behind him with her camcorder, she was almost in tears - and so was I ! Little lad had a right old cuddle with Tigger, his mum kept saying "oh thank you, thank you Tigger" - guess thats a dream come true for him .

DD got another load of photos and autographs around the hub, apart from Minnie, there really wasn't much scrumming going on at all -

We walked onto Buzz for a ride then (our scores were pretty woeful every time this trip), then back into Fantasyland for lunch. Chalet au Marionette wasn't too busy, even at 1.30pm, and we had the bonus of a brass quintet playing Christmas carols by the fireplace while we ate -

By around 2.15pm we were set up again, so we rode Pinocchio then browsed the shops for an hour or so. We were just in time at 3pm in the Emporium to get our souvenirs sent back to the hotel for us to pick up later (lovely CM there said usually its best to have this done by 2.45pm, but she'd make sure it was done for us). At the top of one of the arcades, just hanging around, we found Pooh bear -

At 3.30pm the tam tams were playing at the Videopolis, so we made our way there (and then I queued for about 20 minutes just for some mini muffins and a hot drink - I was losing the will to live ). But the show was great, really glad we saw it.

DD wanted to go on BTM again (she seems to have changed her allegiance from POTC this trip ) so off we went, only waited around 5 minutes. We picked up FPs for later too. Then to POTC, and then we intended watching the OUAD parade, but we didn't really want to be far from the hub area, so we could nip back and do BTM with our FPs after it finished. We couldn't really get a good spot to see (not surprising, it was 5 minutes to parade time by now ) so we went straight back to BTM - and the CMs let us all ride 3 times in a row !! It was fab - twilight the first time we rode, full dark and all the lights twinkling across the parks by the time we got off.

Then we wandered through Santas village - just soooo pretty in the dark, millions of lights everywhere -

 

[kizzabel]

great TR so far
can wait to read more
that was a lovely gesture from disney
aaaw your DD looks spent, bless

 

[mommy2ash]

another great day elaine. thats so cute about tigger and that little boy!! you managed to fit quite a bit in today. cant wait for more

 

[Zeebs]

We are going early Feb, I am hoping it is nice and quite. Enjoying the report, thanks for taking the time to write it.

Kirsten