Just Home - Extended Highs and Lows with photo overload - 3rd-9th March

[dypsy]

We are just home from a 6 night stay at DLP in HNY, from the 3rd to 9th March. It was brilliant, I dont think I could manage a full TR so extended highs and lows from our trip are here -

. The Weather - only one day of bad rain on Thursday where we got completly soaked and ended up back at hotel for the afternoon. Was glad of a bit of a rest by them though.

. HNY -2 Donald plushes were in room for children with balloons on arrival. During the week the 3 rooms we had booked on one booking all received balloons, keyring and Disney box of chocolates, although this may have been due to the incident detailed at the end.
We did have breakfast slots but dont think we made it once during our slot and it never mattered. Breakfast is OK.

. The parade - We watched it 3 times and twice had a brilliant front view at front of bandstand so watched it coming down Main St. We did wait for about an hour each time for a good spot though, once for some very rude people to push in between us.

. Rides - Last time we visited was 2011 and this visit we done many more rides, daughter had her first ride on BTM and loved it. She also went on Crush twice but wasnt so keen. We done
Small World - 6
Casys train - 1
storybook - 2
Dumbo - 1
Alice - 1
Tea cups - 2
Buzz - 8
BTM -6
Phantom manor - 1
Molly Brown - 1
Indiana jones - 1
Crush - 2
Aladdin - 1
Slinky Dog - 1
TOT - 1
Aerosmith - 1
caves and tree house - 1
Space Mountain - 1
Autopia - 1
We also done - Art of Animation, Stitch Live, Mickey Junior clubhouse.
There may be more but I cant remember!

. Meeting characters - We met Peter Pan and Wendy, Goofy, Mad Hatter, Eeyore, Minnie, Mickey, Buzz, Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Jack Sparrow
Peter Pan and Wendy were brilliant, While they were with my children, Jack Sparrow was on the other side of the bridge shouting at them. Mad Hatter walked up to m daughter while she was at the Rapunzel stage bit and took her hand and danced with her, he had just come out and no one else was around.
Buzz was brilliant with my son, He was dressed as Buzz so Buzz made him stand in his space and got the next two people in the queue to come up and meet my son, Big Buzz was pretending my son was the real Buzz. The real Buzz came beside me and was pretending to take photos of them. It was brilliant interaction and very much enjoyed by both DS and DD.
We only visited Princess Pavillion once as we had went to Auberge. We asked to meet Rapunzel as both DD and DS love her and we have never seen her. Luckly it was Rapunzel we got and they were so happy. My son had his prince costume on and Rapunzel said that she had seen him at the parade 2 nights before as Flynn had pointed my son out to her. At the time I had seen Flynn point him out to Rapunzel and they both waved. It was magical and they loved it.
We also had brilliant interaction through out the parade, Captain Hook came down some steps of the ship and stood in front of DS and pretended to mock him as he had the price costume on, it was very funny.
Cinderella in Auberge was amazing with both the children.

 

[dypsy]

. Knowledge - This forum has given me so many tips and things to look at that makes a trip so much easier.

. Dreams - Was good, watched it 3 times, once from away at the back behind bandstand as we had been in Cafe Mickey and super slow service meant DD and I ran into park at 7.58pm to catch a glimpse. Twice we got good spots and had a great view. Dreams is brilliant and so well worth watching but just not what I had expected but cant put my finger on what I did expect!!

. Cafe Mickey - We visited twice, food awful, seriously, 19.99 for a childrens meal that consists of 3 cherry tomatoes, 3 mozerella ball, postage size bit of lettuce, pizza that looks and tastes worse that a 1 pound one from Iceland and a fruit dessert that looked like baby food. It is good to meet the characters but both times a character was over while we were sitting down and in the confusion its hard to get to meet them properly. We were a party of 9 so it takes a while to get sorted, I wish the characters would wait till you got seated. Adults menu not much better than the childrens although fish and chips were nice.

. Auberge - We visited here 2 years and really enjoyed the food, this time I hated it. DD and DS loved meeting the princess and we had the excellent seat right at side of dance floor, so watched them dance twice while we were there. Think this sums up DDs feeling about the food.

I had quail, Tomato tart and the desert, H had the quail and I have forgotten what he had for main but at least he ate his. Mine was awful. I also asked for a glass of wine but didnt specify which one and when the bill came my tiny glass of wine was 9.99!!! Just glad I didnt have 2. My DS is under 3 but no food was offered to him, they said I could get him the childrens meal or just feed him ours. He just picked at ours but mostly ate the bread.
We also managed to leave our shareholders card in the bill folder and when we realised and went back 2 days later no one knew anything about it, no problem though as we were given a temp letter at City hall and the card expires in 6 weeks anyway.

. We also ate at -
Planet hollywood - OK
Cowboy Cookout - Nice food and nice setting
Casys corner - Brilliant hotdogs and not too badly priced in Disney terms.
Earl of Sandwich - These really do live up to everything everyone has said about them, they are amazing but even I got sick of them we ate so many.
We ate somewhere else, cant remember where but has the most revolting hot dog, I didnt even touch mine it looked so horrible.
As expected all week it was almost impossible to get any decent fruit or vegatables and am glad to get home for some much needed vitaimins.

. The Dragon was closed. but last time we visited the castle was getting refurbed so it was brilliant to see it properly this time.

. Minnie and Mickey in hotel lobby just as we were leaving, a lovely last memory or Disney.

. Glow cocktails - I havent had a cocktail in years but due to this forum I NEEDED to have one. I had one in HNY bar one night with DS while In-Laws babysat and it was beautiful, so I had to have one the next night! I did swop the apple liqure for malibu, amazing. DD really wanted a Tinkerbell one but HNY bar only had hook as the next night we went to Sportsbar and they had Tinkerbell, she was very happy.

. EMH - This was so busy, almost not worth going for with such a small selection of rides open and they all had queues, at least 30/40 mins and 60 for peter pan. Although space mountain was a walk on one day.

. Stars and cars - We didnt see this at all last visit so this was a first and although we only saw it once it was good, much quieter but children enjoyed it.

. Salon Mickey - We visited twice, it really is fun going it your own special door and the juice and cookies are good too.

. The worse bit of the holiday came one evening. We returned to our room around 8.30 to put children to bed and DD's beloved bear was missing. She has had it for years and loves her.I never allow her to take the bear out for the room or our house incase something happens to it out and about. We searched the rooms but no sign, major panic and tears from DD we realised that they had changed the sheets that day and it must have got taken away with the laundry. We visited reception, filled in a lost and found card and explained the situation. They did send someone to the room with a plush for DD, think its a dog from lady and tramp?
But its not the same, she was and still is so upset, they have said it may be reurned to the hotel this week in the laundry and they will post it to us. They were really helpful and I do understand how it happened but they really should be more careful. Apparently it happens a lot they said.
So everyone make sure NOTHING is left in your bed incase they change the sheets.

. Overall we had a lovely time, not sure what Disney does to you bit all sense of reality disappears and you enter a bubble world, one where spending 4 pound on a tiny portion of chips is normal or 3 pounds on a bottle juice but its brilliant!
We probably wont return until DS is older so we can all go on bigger rides together but you never know.......

 

[DLPdaft]

what a shame about your DD's toy - but apart from that - sounds like a magical trip .

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Love your photos and story (except the sad bear part ) and 2 really stand out for me

The one where your son is being Buzz and you've got the couple going along with it and that last one where your two are together looking towards the castle

 

[Jazzy B Bunny]

I love your children's outfits!

 

[dypsy]

Thanks, the couple in the buzz picture were lovely. We actually met them 2 nights later when my son was dressed as scully. The man came up to him and called him buzz, I was a bit confused as he was scully but then the man said buzz, photo. He was lovely and had obviously remembered my son as he brought his wife and family over to meet us again.
We had a brilliant trip and some very special memories. It was lovely as well to spend time with a lot of my husbands family.

 

[Jonjo]

Glad you had a nice trip. It's snowing here this morning

 

[Ware Bears]

Glad you had such a lovely time and thanks for sharing your photos. I do hope your DD's bear turns up. The exact same thing happened to my DD at WDW and luckily hers was returned (very nice and clean so he obviously had a 'bath' ) so I really hope your DD's is too.

 

[cherrymarzipan]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful trip and photos. Your children are so cute in their outfits. Those unexpected encounters with other nice guests always adds to the magic too. Hope the teddy is returned safely.

 

[tennisfan]

Welcome back, love the photos especially the Buzz one. Hope the bear turns up

 

[cinderslg]

Great pics, your sons little prince outfit is the cutest thing ever

 

[cherrymarzipan]

Great pics, your sons little prince outfit is the cutest thing ever

I know, bet he gets lots of attention and compliments. I'm a bit blasé about all the little princesses wandering about (although they are still lovely) but a little boy in such great costumes is really special. I never thought to dress my boys up when they were tiny and they are FAR too big now.

 

[Isila]

welcome back. I feel so sorry for your DD. I hope she gets her bear back. I do know about bears (had one, still have it...).
Love your photos and your son is just darling wonderful pictures, can't wait for TR.

 

[Disneyfanswicklow]

Love your not able for full trip report.....your highs & lows were just as detailed lol :-D. Fabulous time seems to have been had by all love your photos! So sorry to hear about dds bear.....fingers crossed it turns up x. Thanks for sharing!