- Joined
- Jul 15, 2004
- Messages
- 26,359
Day one: 09.04.2007
Travelling: Myself (Nikki a.k.a Aunty Disney), 25 years old
Sister, Steph, 28 years old
BIL, Dave, 28 years old
Niece, 20 month old Abi.
My sister has always said when she had her baby I would have to take my niece to Disney, knowing how much I love going. We were going to go when she turned 2 but as my sister is a teacher we were limited to school breaks. She suggested Easter time so I got a good deal and booked it. The purpose of the holiday was to meet the characters and see the parade/shows rather then trying to go on all the rides. We stayed in the Sequoia Lodge for 2 nights/3days. I chose to drive, as it would be cheaper and more practical with a toddler as we could then stop when we wanted.
My sister, BIL and niece came down on the Sunday and stayed the night at my parent’s house so we could get an early start the next day.
My dad got us up early on the Monday to help load the car and to put the Sat Nav in my car. Eventually after it was all loaded and everyone in, we were of to Dover to catch the 8.15am ferry. We arrived in Dover in good time and once we checked in I drove to the lane to wait, after nearly hitting a child of about 3 years, whose parents let them run around the cars whilst they sat in the car waiting, the look the woman gave me was something else. Luckily and accident was avoided as I was going very slow and could swerve out of the way. After about 10 minutes we were then loaded on to the ferry. We went and got some breakfast, my niece finally ate something as for the past few days she wouldn’t eat anything and would only drink milk. After breakfast we went out on deck for a little while and my niece went to play in the soft play centre.
At 10.30am we had arrived in Calais to a nice sunny and warm day, we hoped it would stay that way for our trip. We drove off the ferry and were on our way. As it was a bank holiday in France the roads were relatively quiet which made it even easier to drive. After travelling for about 100 miles we stopped off at the service station we always do as it is a lovely big place, we got out stretched our legs and had some food and drinks we had packed. After about 15-20 minutes we were on our way again. Half distance and we were making good time. I had planned on being at Disney by 2.30pm. We made it to Disney by 2.15pm pulled up in the Sequoia Lodge and parked the car. Fortunately Abi had slept for most of the journey and was just starting to kick off as we got nearer to Disney.
My sister & niece
We walked to the reception and checked in, we were told the room wasn’t ready but that wasn’t a problem, we arranged to have a cot put in the room for Abi as we didn’t bring her travel cot. Also we could have breakfast in the park but we declined this time, as we weren’t sure how Abi would react to the parks yet. We arranged to have breakfast at 7.30am, as that is the normal time Abi gets up. By the time we walked back to the car, got our luggage and walked back to the hotel it was nearing 3pm so I went to get our room keys were ready, we were lucky we were allocated a room in the main building just 1 floor above reception. We loaded the lift up and went in search for our room. We were near the lifts so not far to walk to the room each time. When we opened up the door the cot had arrived with all new bedding still sealed in their bags. The room was very clean and tidy. They had obviously renovated very recently as we had a brand new bathroom suite put in as well. The only problem was my bed squeaked everytime you moved on it! We unpacked our bags I had a shower and changed, as it was very hot by this time.
Feeling refreshed by the shower it was getting on for about 4.30pm so we decided to head for the Studios to slowly ease my niece into the atmosphere and to great the characters without the crowds, we walked along by the lake on a lovely day, Abi was fascinated by the ducks and my BIL loved the massive Carp they had in the lake. We took a slow walk through the Village where Abi was taking it all in and loved the shops, we eventually arrive at the Studios we walk in and there were the characters, Goofy was lounging on the bench having pictures taken with a big crowd, we spotted Pluto so we went over to him with Abi to see how she would react after being a bit wary she relaxed once I shook he hand, my sister, niece and I had our picture taken. I then spotted Stitch, one of my favourite characters in the corner, he was playing with a couple of people who were taller the him so he tried to climb the wall to be taller, Abi had spotted him too and tried to run over to him as she got closer she got a bit scared so Stitch crouched right down for her and waited for her to relax before he tickled her, my sister and I also got on the floor for the picture with him. We went to walk away but Abi wanted to stay with him by now she had started to relax and enjoy it. My BIL said that she wouldn’t appreciate it but after the Stitch thing he was slowly changing his point of view.
We had a walk round the studios which was quite empty, we saw the construction for the Tower of Terror ride which has certainly come on since I was last out there. We walked round to the Aerosmith ride where I got a photo of my sister, BIL and niece next to the bus.
We were walking back round when we spotted Mickey at his trailer but by the time we walked over he had gone, time was getting on so we decided to have dinner in McDonalds for quickness, also if Abi started to get irritable it wouldn’t be so bad then if we were having to wait for a meal in a restaurant. She ate some of our meals and then she had an ice cream, we were lucky to get a table outside. It was quite packed but we got served very quickly.
My niece enjoying her ice cream
We looked in a couple more shops before deciding to head back to the hotel as we were getting tired now. Once back at the hotel I went to get some ice from the bar, as the machines were not working. I then decided to go find the shop, so my sister, niece and I went off in search for it. We found it very easily. I managed to get the 15th anniversary wine as a present for my dad, whilst my niece amused herself with the magnets they were selling, she loves magnets and is always playing with them. On the way back up to the room Abi spotted the play area so we allowed her to play for 10 minutes before bed.
The room was very warm so we kept the window open all the time we were in there, the only problem with that was we backed on to the service area of the hotel, so lorries were coming and going through the night and the staff sat outside on the breaks during the night too, although they weren’t too noisy. After we put Abi down we watched a bit of TV and read as the TV was poor really and my I left the battery to my laptop at home, and the lead wasn’t long enough to run off the mains so I couldn’t watch and dvds from that unless I wanted to sit by the door! At about 10.30pm we went to sleep!
(I hope this hasn't bored you with being too long)
Travelling: Myself (Nikki a.k.a Aunty Disney), 25 years old
Sister, Steph, 28 years old
BIL, Dave, 28 years old
Niece, 20 month old Abi.
My sister has always said when she had her baby I would have to take my niece to Disney, knowing how much I love going. We were going to go when she turned 2 but as my sister is a teacher we were limited to school breaks. She suggested Easter time so I got a good deal and booked it. The purpose of the holiday was to meet the characters and see the parade/shows rather then trying to go on all the rides. We stayed in the Sequoia Lodge for 2 nights/3days. I chose to drive, as it would be cheaper and more practical with a toddler as we could then stop when we wanted.
My sister, BIL and niece came down on the Sunday and stayed the night at my parent’s house so we could get an early start the next day.
My dad got us up early on the Monday to help load the car and to put the Sat Nav in my car. Eventually after it was all loaded and everyone in, we were of to Dover to catch the 8.15am ferry. We arrived in Dover in good time and once we checked in I drove to the lane to wait, after nearly hitting a child of about 3 years, whose parents let them run around the cars whilst they sat in the car waiting, the look the woman gave me was something else. Luckily and accident was avoided as I was going very slow and could swerve out of the way. After about 10 minutes we were then loaded on to the ferry. We went and got some breakfast, my niece finally ate something as for the past few days she wouldn’t eat anything and would only drink milk. After breakfast we went out on deck for a little while and my niece went to play in the soft play centre.
At 10.30am we had arrived in Calais to a nice sunny and warm day, we hoped it would stay that way for our trip. We drove off the ferry and were on our way. As it was a bank holiday in France the roads were relatively quiet which made it even easier to drive. After travelling for about 100 miles we stopped off at the service station we always do as it is a lovely big place, we got out stretched our legs and had some food and drinks we had packed. After about 15-20 minutes we were on our way again. Half distance and we were making good time. I had planned on being at Disney by 2.30pm. We made it to Disney by 2.15pm pulled up in the Sequoia Lodge and parked the car. Fortunately Abi had slept for most of the journey and was just starting to kick off as we got nearer to Disney.
My sister & niece
We walked to the reception and checked in, we were told the room wasn’t ready but that wasn’t a problem, we arranged to have a cot put in the room for Abi as we didn’t bring her travel cot. Also we could have breakfast in the park but we declined this time, as we weren’t sure how Abi would react to the parks yet. We arranged to have breakfast at 7.30am, as that is the normal time Abi gets up. By the time we walked back to the car, got our luggage and walked back to the hotel it was nearing 3pm so I went to get our room keys were ready, we were lucky we were allocated a room in the main building just 1 floor above reception. We loaded the lift up and went in search for our room. We were near the lifts so not far to walk to the room each time. When we opened up the door the cot had arrived with all new bedding still sealed in their bags. The room was very clean and tidy. They had obviously renovated very recently as we had a brand new bathroom suite put in as well. The only problem was my bed squeaked everytime you moved on it! We unpacked our bags I had a shower and changed, as it was very hot by this time.
Feeling refreshed by the shower it was getting on for about 4.30pm so we decided to head for the Studios to slowly ease my niece into the atmosphere and to great the characters without the crowds, we walked along by the lake on a lovely day, Abi was fascinated by the ducks and my BIL loved the massive Carp they had in the lake. We took a slow walk through the Village where Abi was taking it all in and loved the shops, we eventually arrive at the Studios we walk in and there were the characters, Goofy was lounging on the bench having pictures taken with a big crowd, we spotted Pluto so we went over to him with Abi to see how she would react after being a bit wary she relaxed once I shook he hand, my sister, niece and I had our picture taken. I then spotted Stitch, one of my favourite characters in the corner, he was playing with a couple of people who were taller the him so he tried to climb the wall to be taller, Abi had spotted him too and tried to run over to him as she got closer she got a bit scared so Stitch crouched right down for her and waited for her to relax before he tickled her, my sister and I also got on the floor for the picture with him. We went to walk away but Abi wanted to stay with him by now she had started to relax and enjoy it. My BIL said that she wouldn’t appreciate it but after the Stitch thing he was slowly changing his point of view.
We had a walk round the studios which was quite empty, we saw the construction for the Tower of Terror ride which has certainly come on since I was last out there. We walked round to the Aerosmith ride where I got a photo of my sister, BIL and niece next to the bus.
We were walking back round when we spotted Mickey at his trailer but by the time we walked over he had gone, time was getting on so we decided to have dinner in McDonalds for quickness, also if Abi started to get irritable it wouldn’t be so bad then if we were having to wait for a meal in a restaurant. She ate some of our meals and then she had an ice cream, we were lucky to get a table outside. It was quite packed but we got served very quickly.
My niece enjoying her ice cream
We looked in a couple more shops before deciding to head back to the hotel as we were getting tired now. Once back at the hotel I went to get some ice from the bar, as the machines were not working. I then decided to go find the shop, so my sister, niece and I went off in search for it. We found it very easily. I managed to get the 15th anniversary wine as a present for my dad, whilst my niece amused herself with the magnets they were selling, she loves magnets and is always playing with them. On the way back up to the room Abi spotted the play area so we allowed her to play for 10 minutes before bed.
The room was very warm so we kept the window open all the time we were in there, the only problem with that was we backed on to the service area of the hotel, so lorries were coming and going through the night and the staff sat outside on the breaks during the night too, although they weren’t too noisy. After we put Abi down we watched a bit of TV and read as the TV was poor really and my I left the battery to my laptop at home, and the lead wasn’t long enough to run off the mains so I couldn’t watch and dvds from that unless I wanted to sit by the door! At about 10.30pm we went to sleep!
(I hope this hasn't bored you with being too long)
