Dimplenose
Stranger from the outside
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2002
- Messages
- 5,956
Santa Fe Trip 11-02-07 to 14-02-07
Those travelling
Me 45 in love with Mickey
DH 45 puts up with my Disney obsession
DS 16
DD - 13
Monday 12th February
Its rather funny that despite rigorous planning things just happen for the best. Id been very disappointed not to get a really early breakfast slot for today but after our early start yesterday we slept until 8:30 am this morning. After dressing and taking our valuables to the safe at reception it was time to leave to walk to the parks.
On our way we stopped at the tourist information office to find out about travelling into Paris the next day. The people in the office were very friendly and spoke English. In fact I was amazed that 99% of the time we would be spoken to in English without us even opening our mouths first there must be a definite English look!
We had to pass through a very quick bag check before reaching the park entrance. There was quite a lot of work going on and hoardings outside part of the Disneyland Hotel with signs apologizing saying that the work is for the 15 year celebrations.
As we entered the park everyone was being let in but there were ropes preventing them from getting into any of the lands. We had to push our way to the front of the crowd where a CM (with the same name as my son) let us through to breakfast. We took a few photos before heading to the restaurant. It was now 9:45am so we thought wed chance it and try to get to breakfast early. We were let in without any wait and once wed found a table were able to choose from a selection of bread and pastries, fruit salad and yoghurt. DD was a little disappointed that there werent any normal cereals as all the ones on offer were honey or chocolate coated.
After breakfast my main aim was to get an early ride on Big Thunder Mountain Rail Road. When we got there it wasnt running why I didnt then grab a fast pass for later I dont know! We wandered on to the Phantom Manor. Now I hate the Haunted Mansion at WDW as things jump up from behind the grave stones, but I really enjoy Phantom Manor and was not disappointed this time. The ride did stop briefly just as we entered the graveyard but carried on very soon after. (I can only assume it was to allow a disabled guest to ride.)
We went over to discovery land as the other 3 wanted to ride Space Mountain. It was now 11am and would have been an ideal opportunity for me to queue for Lion King tickets but I had been outvoted and no one else wanted to see the show. Were only in the parks for 2 days so we wouldnt have time to do everything anyway. I did go and get Buzz Lightyear fastpasses and took some photos. Its very cloudy today but bright and Im having trouble getting my new digital camera taking outside pictures without turning them into silhouettes. We meet up again and its too early for Buzz. So we go to Star Tours which is a bit wierd being the same as in WDW but in French.
The children need feeding so we head off to Caseys Corner. Hot Dogs and fries for the kids and Coca Light for everyone. We walk through the café to find a seat and end up sitting in the Liberty Arcade behind the shops. It was such a good idea to build these arcades as shelter from the weather. From where I was sitting I could see Mickey doing his meet and greet session. At one point Mickey and minder walked away but he must have sensed the disappointment in the queue because in a few seconds he was back again!
I want to show DH and DS the Dragon so we go to the castle. After visiting the dragon we go upstairs and look around the castle itslef.
We still had a little time before Buzz so we wandered back to get a fast pass for BTMRR. These now were for 4 and half hours later at 5:35 so we decided not to take one as that would prevent us getting any other fast passes until that time. We went to get a fastpass for Indiana Jones instead. This had a queue time of 10 minutes so the others decided that they would have time to ride it and still get back to Buzz before the fast pass window closed. They were actually gone for 20 minutes. This gave us less than 10 to get back to Buzz. We walked very quickly and were very thankful that the distances involved are less than at WDW. We made it on time and were let into the fastpass queue. We still had a 10 minute wait once we were in the queue. In front of us is a boy in a wheelchair with (I assume) his mum. He was allowed into the fastpass line and then through a door for special wheelchair access. Im not sure what was going on as they were speaking French but hed got as far as being helped out of his chair to get onto the ride when another CM spoke to his mum I think they were saying hed need two helpers to support him on the ride and he was taken back to his wheelchair. I felt very uncomfortable at this. I do hope he manages to get a ride.
We then had a late lunch at the Chalet au Marionettes (where wed had breakfast earlier on). When we came out it was raining steadily. We headed off to the Pirates of the Caribbean which 4 years ago Id had to bribe DD to ride. Since her Johnny Depp fascination I had no such trouble. We then walked over to the castle to watch the parade. We didnt have a good view but then we didnt wait long either. We saw 3 floats go past and now it was beginning to sleet and wasnt worth getting colder watching the others so we headed into Fantasy Land. None of the rides here really appealed to our kids but as there is no equivalent in WDW they agreed to ride Pinocchio.
We were quite tired now and thought that a rest while watching the Winter Wonderland show would be a good idea (and it was undercover too which would be a bonus.) Walking very quickly we arrived just before the doors were shut and found a seat not too far back. The show was the same as Id remembered from 4 years ago but it was really nice to spend some time watching traditional Disney characters.
After the show we walked over to BTMRR where the wait time was only 25minutes. As I think this is the best ride in either park we joined the queue. I noticed it was 5:35 so it would have been worth taking the fast passes earlier. While we were riding I was amused by two boys brandishing toy guns while they rode. (In hindsight Im surprised they were allowed to take them on as if theyd dropped them they could have caused all sorts of problems.)
We were now very tired so we walked slowly through the shops. It was a little disappointing that all the shops seemed to carry the same merchandise. We then walked alongside the canal to Hotel Cheyenne. We decided to have dinner here before heading back to our room.
The buffet at Hotel Cheyenne had a western theme and cost 22 each (our kids are considered adults)and included as many visits to the buffet as we wanted and a can of soft drink each. (We could have bought more drinks if wed wanted to.) Well fed we returned to our room. DH collected our portable DVD player from the safe and we watched DVDs before baths (very, very short bath I do like to stretch out in the tub after a day on my feet at a theme park and I couldnt) and bed. (Alarm set very early as were off to Paris for the day tomorrow).
Libby
Those travelling
Me 45 in love with Mickey
DH 45 puts up with my Disney obsession
DS 16
DD - 13
Monday 12th February
Its rather funny that despite rigorous planning things just happen for the best. Id been very disappointed not to get a really early breakfast slot for today but after our early start yesterday we slept until 8:30 am this morning. After dressing and taking our valuables to the safe at reception it was time to leave to walk to the parks.
On our way we stopped at the tourist information office to find out about travelling into Paris the next day. The people in the office were very friendly and spoke English. In fact I was amazed that 99% of the time we would be spoken to in English without us even opening our mouths first there must be a definite English look!
We had to pass through a very quick bag check before reaching the park entrance. There was quite a lot of work going on and hoardings outside part of the Disneyland Hotel with signs apologizing saying that the work is for the 15 year celebrations.
As we entered the park everyone was being let in but there were ropes preventing them from getting into any of the lands. We had to push our way to the front of the crowd where a CM (with the same name as my son) let us through to breakfast. We took a few photos before heading to the restaurant. It was now 9:45am so we thought wed chance it and try to get to breakfast early. We were let in without any wait and once wed found a table were able to choose from a selection of bread and pastries, fruit salad and yoghurt. DD was a little disappointed that there werent any normal cereals as all the ones on offer were honey or chocolate coated.
After breakfast my main aim was to get an early ride on Big Thunder Mountain Rail Road. When we got there it wasnt running why I didnt then grab a fast pass for later I dont know! We wandered on to the Phantom Manor. Now I hate the Haunted Mansion at WDW as things jump up from behind the grave stones, but I really enjoy Phantom Manor and was not disappointed this time. The ride did stop briefly just as we entered the graveyard but carried on very soon after. (I can only assume it was to allow a disabled guest to ride.)
We went over to discovery land as the other 3 wanted to ride Space Mountain. It was now 11am and would have been an ideal opportunity for me to queue for Lion King tickets but I had been outvoted and no one else wanted to see the show. Were only in the parks for 2 days so we wouldnt have time to do everything anyway. I did go and get Buzz Lightyear fastpasses and took some photos. Its very cloudy today but bright and Im having trouble getting my new digital camera taking outside pictures without turning them into silhouettes. We meet up again and its too early for Buzz. So we go to Star Tours which is a bit wierd being the same as in WDW but in French.
The children need feeding so we head off to Caseys Corner. Hot Dogs and fries for the kids and Coca Light for everyone. We walk through the café to find a seat and end up sitting in the Liberty Arcade behind the shops. It was such a good idea to build these arcades as shelter from the weather. From where I was sitting I could see Mickey doing his meet and greet session. At one point Mickey and minder walked away but he must have sensed the disappointment in the queue because in a few seconds he was back again!
I want to show DH and DS the Dragon so we go to the castle. After visiting the dragon we go upstairs and look around the castle itslef.
We still had a little time before Buzz so we wandered back to get a fast pass for BTMRR. These now were for 4 and half hours later at 5:35 so we decided not to take one as that would prevent us getting any other fast passes until that time. We went to get a fastpass for Indiana Jones instead. This had a queue time of 10 minutes so the others decided that they would have time to ride it and still get back to Buzz before the fast pass window closed. They were actually gone for 20 minutes. This gave us less than 10 to get back to Buzz. We walked very quickly and were very thankful that the distances involved are less than at WDW. We made it on time and were let into the fastpass queue. We still had a 10 minute wait once we were in the queue. In front of us is a boy in a wheelchair with (I assume) his mum. He was allowed into the fastpass line and then through a door for special wheelchair access. Im not sure what was going on as they were speaking French but hed got as far as being helped out of his chair to get onto the ride when another CM spoke to his mum I think they were saying hed need two helpers to support him on the ride and he was taken back to his wheelchair. I felt very uncomfortable at this. I do hope he manages to get a ride.
We then had a late lunch at the Chalet au Marionettes (where wed had breakfast earlier on). When we came out it was raining steadily. We headed off to the Pirates of the Caribbean which 4 years ago Id had to bribe DD to ride. Since her Johnny Depp fascination I had no such trouble. We then walked over to the castle to watch the parade. We didnt have a good view but then we didnt wait long either. We saw 3 floats go past and now it was beginning to sleet and wasnt worth getting colder watching the others so we headed into Fantasy Land. None of the rides here really appealed to our kids but as there is no equivalent in WDW they agreed to ride Pinocchio.
We were quite tired now and thought that a rest while watching the Winter Wonderland show would be a good idea (and it was undercover too which would be a bonus.) Walking very quickly we arrived just before the doors were shut and found a seat not too far back. The show was the same as Id remembered from 4 years ago but it was really nice to spend some time watching traditional Disney characters.
After the show we walked over to BTMRR where the wait time was only 25minutes. As I think this is the best ride in either park we joined the queue. I noticed it was 5:35 so it would have been worth taking the fast passes earlier. While we were riding I was amused by two boys brandishing toy guns while they rode. (In hindsight Im surprised they were allowed to take them on as if theyd dropped them they could have caused all sorts of problems.)
We were now very tired so we walked slowly through the shops. It was a little disappointing that all the shops seemed to carry the same merchandise. We then walked alongside the canal to Hotel Cheyenne. We decided to have dinner here before heading back to our room.
The buffet at Hotel Cheyenne had a western theme and cost 22 each (our kids are considered adults)and included as many visits to the buffet as we wanted and a can of soft drink each. (We could have bought more drinks if wed wanted to.) Well fed we returned to our room. DH collected our portable DVD player from the safe and we watched DVDs before baths (very, very short bath I do like to stretch out in the tub after a day on my feet at a theme park and I couldnt) and bed. (Alarm set very early as were off to Paris for the day tomorrow).
Libby
i love paris so im looking forward to your next report
