No Cookie for Shareholders Daughter - trip report March 2011 all 5 days complete

[DLPdaft]

The Cast - me, DLP daft, still 40-something, still loving the Magic
DD apprentice DLP daft, 9 nearly 10
Dniece, just as DLP daft given half a chance, 10 nearly 11

Dates 17th to 21st March 2011.

Lots of firsts this trip (although its our 9th visit).

Day One - St Patricks Day, 17th March

We were up at 5.30 this morning in our Travel Lodge at Luton, ready for our 8am flight. Everything travel-wise went smoothly, short car drive, plane, TGV and shuttle bus to the Santa Fe. We arrived there at 11.15, and met a fairly big queue at check-in. We eventually got our park tickets etc, were asked to come back later for our room key, so got ourselves organised for our day in the parks. It was very cold and a bit gusty, so I made everyone wrap up in layers and take gloves etc.

Unfortunately I realised when we were on the shuttle to the parks that I'd mislaid our luggage store receipts - so we had to head right back to the Santa Fe (me in a total panic that someone else would find our receipts and swipe all our luggage ) to get new receipts from the very understanding CM there. The girls were not very amused at my antics (daft is a good description for me at times as I get older ) but by 12.30 we were in the main park.

I quickly picked up the days programme at City Hall and noticed we were just in time for the Irish Dancers with Chip n Dale on the Castle Stage -

Once that was over, we went off to get our first of many fastpasses for DD's favourite ride, Big Thunder Mountain. We had time before we rode it to have lunch at the Last Chance Cafe, chicken strips meals and soft drinks (not cheap at 8 euros just for each portion of food, but they were very tasty). We also had a ride on the Mark Twain, which DN had never been on before. DN's firsts continued with BTM next, which we all loved but DN was a bit concerned about the noise inside the tunnels and kept her fingers firmly in her ears for the rest of our BTM rides .

We wandered around Boot Hill reading the gravestones, then went over to Adventureland, where Buzz looked busy and the queue didn't seem to be moving at all, so we went through the Castle into Fantasyland, and picked up fastpass for Peter Pan. There were queues at Its a Small World, so the girls went through the Labyrinth while I had a coffee and a rest nearby.

They were soon out, it was about 3.30 now and the girls were hungry, so they split a bolognese pot from the March Hare stand (this plus a soft drink was a deal for 8 euros, very filling and tasty, and perfect on a cold day). We then left Fantasyland and followed a couple of red leprechauns and a random wizard-type blokey down Main St -

The girls dragged me into a few of the stores on Main St until 4pm when we took our spots for the St Patricks Day pre-parade.

By the time this passed us at around 4.30 we were all hungry so we went for our main meal at the Plaza Gardens (I had reserved this for 6pm but we just couldn't wait that long and the restaurant wasn't busy at all at 4.30 so we got a table straight away). The food was okay, it was all hot and there was a fair bit of choice (I had salmon for my main). The girls were on their dessert (chocolate tart and chocolate mousse) when they realised there was a huge bowl of snails on the buffet - and this promptly put them off eating anything else !

 

[DLPdaft]

Day One St Patricks Day continued ....

Suitably stuffed from the Plaza Garden buffet, we made it to Peter Pan for our fastpass time at 5.15, then managed Its a Small World, Casey Jnr and the Storyboats in quick succession (Casey Jnr and Storyboats were open from 11am to 7pm every day on our trip ).
The park was still fairly busy, I suspected most like us were determined to stay until the fireworks at the end of the evening at 8pm. The girls climbed the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse, then we did the Aladdin walkthrough. In Disoveryland Buzz was still at 20 minutes queue time, so the girls went on Orbitron while I took some photos -

My photos really don't do Discoveryland at dusk/night justice, I love the vibrant colours everywhere.

Orbitron clearly has a very deceptive queue line, because the girls waited around 20 minutes to get to ride. Eventually they were off though, it was after 7.15pm now but Buzz was still busy and BTM had a technical fault. We window-shopped on Main St, then at about 7.55 we found a spot near the Frontierland entrance to watch the Castle and fireworks. These were great, they only lasted around 7 minutes or so, but the emerald green glow around the Castle at the end was very striking.

We left the park with the masses, got the shuttle back to the Santa Fe with no problem, picked up our room key (block 27, room 14), luggage, and headed off to relax and unpack. We found chocolate coins, bottles of water and a kettle in our room, which were a nice welcoming touch . In October last year we were also at the Santa Fe, looks like the Cars refurb is complete now as we had this print in our room this time -

DD took a photo of the cuddlies the girls had adopted that day -

then it was time for hot baths/showers and bed (setting the alarm for early next morning of course ).

 

[Mum to Belle]

Is it just me, or did the girls spend most of day one eating??!

Great that you had Casey Jnr & Storybook open on your trip!

Looking forward to day two...

 

[Isila]

how wonderful

your first day was our last day at DLP

 

[Kazzabelle]

it's lovely to hear that even after your 9th trip you are still finding new things you have not done yet. Looking forward to reading more

 

[DLPdaft]

Is it just me, or did the girls spend most of day one eating??!

no its not just you - my niece eats like a horse, she definitely has hollow legs

how wonderful

your first day was our last day at DLP

You picked the best of the weather for the week Isila - we were freezing!

 

[DLPdaft]

it's lovely to hear that even after your 9th trip you are still finding new things you have not done yet. Looking forward to reading more

thanks, the St Patricks Day fireworks were our first ever Disney fireworks . Oh and we went into Harringtons for the first time ever too (lovely shop, spent ages browsing in here).

 

[davewasbaloo]

Wow, all those trips and you had never been to Harrington's before. You would have loved it before they dumbed the place down. It's one of the few shops I bother setting foot in now.

 

[DLPdaft]

Wow, all those trips and you had never been to Harrington's before. You would have loved it before they dumbed the place down. It's one of the few shops I bother setting foot in now.

Shopping is never one of my favourite pastimes, but this trip I had 2 pre-teen girls in tow, so a lot of window shopping had to be endured .

 

[davewasbaloo]

lol, though I find every shop is worth looking at at least once to see what the imagineers did - party line telephones, invading giraffes, wooden camels, frontier scenes, pirates treasure, mickey and the gang climbing a bean stalk, snow white's cottage, the three fairies flying (though they no longer do) etc.

 

[jothp]

what a great start to your trip. I can't wait to hear more. I think my children have hollow legs too sometimes, they eat so much more than I do

 

[DLPdaft]

Day 2 Friday 18th March

We did well this morning (although it was another cold and misty one) - we were up and on the shuttle bus by just before 8am, and rode Dumbo, Peter Pan twice, teacups and Carousel by just after 9am. Buzz wasn't open in the first hour of EMH this morning for some unknown reason, and all the time we were there this trip neither Pinocchio nor Snow White were open in EMH either . We had breakfast in the park at the Chalet au Marionette at 9.15, the girls loved this, and ate a hearty breakfast at a decent hour .

We were a bit later than I had planned at leaving breakfast, and we headed straight for the Studios, arriving there just a minute or so after 10am. Already Parachute Drop was a 25-minute wait, Crush wasn't running at all, but RC Racer was practically a walk-on, so the girls went on, and loved it (I just can't deal with that motion , like the swinging pirate ships at theme parks here in the UK). Leaving RC Racer we saw the Parachute Drop line was now up at 50 minutes, and it didn't go below this any time we were in the Studios in the main part of the park day. Another first for us next, Art of Animation. I had no idea the end room here existed, and once we found it, we were back in here several times .

My girls were wearing birthday sashes today (this trip was an early birthday pressie for both of them) and the lovely CM in the Gallery shop commented on them, then made a phone call and passed her phone to my DN and then my DD - she'd called Mickey for him to wish them happy birthday .

When we came out of Art of Animation, there were queues for all the nearby rides, but we saw Buzz out near Crush coaster, and went to see if we could get an autograph. Unfortunately this was our vicious scrum encounter, and after experiencing one particular child digging his elbows into any neighbouring flesh and poking people with his pen in an attempt to get the competition out of the way, we gave it up and went off to the Blockbuster cafe for lunch.

We were glad we did - it was quiet (just after noon), we had hot croque monsieur and Mickey pizza, and met Mickey and Minnie with no problems whatsoever -

By 12.30 we were fed and watered, and DN thought she'd try Rock n Rollercoaster. We had agreed beforehand (as DD doesn't like coasters in the dark) that if my DN wanted to do any ride, we'd go with her all the way through the queue, until the last minute and then we'd wait for her at the exit. This was the plan for RnR, but as we got to the room where the coaster loads, she changed her mind - so we were let out the chicken exit (but it was great to see the queue area on this ride - very cool ).

The only ride in the Studios at this point which didn't have a big queue was Flying Carpets, so we waited around 10 minutes - then it had a technical fault just as we were about to get on a carpet. So we left the line and tested out the Scream machines. The girls were taking pics of each other at Boo's door when Sully appeared behind DN - and nearly frightened the life out of her . She recovered for a photo (and I had a lovely big hug from him too) -

Stitch Live was next for us, we enjoyed this as always. Then it was time for our first, but not our last, Stars n Cars parade - cue lots of autographs and photos -

 

[DLPdaft]

Day 2 Friday 18th March continued .....

We left the Studios after Cars n Stars and were back in the main park by 3.30 - Buzz and BTM were showing queues of around 30 minutes each, and neither had any fastpass left. We walked to Critter Corral and found Woodys Roundup closed (I still have not made it into Minnie's House there, looks like I may never get to now ). The girls ran about a deserted Critter Corral for 15 minutes or so, then on our way back into the rest of Frontierland we found 4 or 5 characters outside Cowboy Cookout -

We went to take a spot on Main St for the OUAD parade, and had a ringside seat for a very entertaining bout of "Bin Wars" lol. Basically, we were sitting on the kerb next to a litter bin, and a lady was standing next to us, behind the bin. About 10 minutes before the CMs would start moving people off Main St and making sure their feet etc were on the pavement and not in the street, a young couple came over and attempted to sit in front of the bin, (ie their bums were perching on about 3 inches of pavement). Every minute or so, the young perchers would try to push the bin further back on the pavement, and as soon as they tried it, the lady leaning on the bin would push the bin back again. This went on the whole time, until the CM came along, and as the young couple couldn't step onto the pavement in front of the bin (they hadn't managed to budge it far enough back) they had to move away altogether. It was hilarious to watch - no words were exchanged between the young couple and lady leaning on the bin - but it was a real battle of wills!

Anyhoo, the OUAD parade came along, and back again (and it started raining in the meantime) -

Now its miserable with rain, so we went to Pinocchio, nice warm indoor ride - and got stuck at the end just as we were heading into Gepetto's workshop. Luckily the music loop went off when the ride broke, otherwise I think the music may have driven me a bit crazy . We were stuck for around 10 minutes, then the ride started up again. Peter Pan next, with a 20 minute line, then BTM in the dusk and the rain with only a 10-minute line. Buzz at last with only a 10-minute wait (whats going on - first ride on Buzz and we've been in the parks nearly 2 days already ?) We had a look in Constellations, then left the park for the evening in the pouring rain.

 

[davewasbaloo]

I am afraid dlp ddaft, they took the other dark rides out of rotation last summer

 

[DLPdaft]

Day 2 Friday 18th March continued some more .....

No trip to DLP is complete for me without a trip to Cafe Mickey, and tonight was our night . We were seated upstairs overlooking the lake a little earlier than our reservation at 8.20pm. We ordered a couple of pizzas to share, and some soft drinks, which arrived quickly and were tasty and filling.

On to the characters (Mr Smee and Sheriff of Nottingham were around too, but we didn't manage to stay long enough to meet them)

all the characters were great, lots of antics going on, Captain Hook sat down with us and Gepetto wouldn't leave us until he had hugged everyone and ruffled all our hair lol.

I had arranged a birthday cake here - and it was brilliant, my DN had no idea and she was over the moon when Mickey, Tigger and Eeyore got her and DD up to dance with them for ages -

I have to mention the Cafe Gourmand I had here - it was just up my street, a little biscotti, chocolate crisp, and the most amazing mini creme brulee with a coffee of my choice. Much better, in my opinion, than the one I had a Walts later in the trip. I polished off the lot!

We brought our entire birthday cake back to the hotel when we left Cafe Mickey, still pouring rain when we left there at 10pm. In bed nice and warm (having sorted out another breakfast in the park for tomorrow at Santa Fe reception) by 11pm, and lights out very shortly afterwards.

 

[stargatebarbie]

loving reading this there is nothing I like more than a girly trip

 

[kizzabel]

Im dreaming of Cafe Mickey right now
Great TR. Cant wait to read more
On the scrum topic, its a hard one. Manners are a universal thing, cultural differences aside. I would be ashamed if my children acted this way but it looks like there were alot of charactors to be seen on your trip so at least that makes up for awkward scrums.

 

[Kazzabelle]

This TR is getting me so excited for our girly trip in July.
lol at Sulley making your DN jump.
Looking forward to hearing more

 

[Mum to Belle]

Another great day - you can really see how much the girls are enjoying themselves in Cafe Mickey!

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

Excellent stuff so far!
Baloo, Capt Hook and Tigger on your Cafe Mickey trip? Jealous!!

I have to say, even though I know she'll be dressed in that pink kimono type thing, I'm always disappointed that Mulan is dressed as a girl.