JacksGirlz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2007
- Messages
- 662
PREDAYS Ireland ABD Trip Report July 2 -9, 2013
This trip was the second half of our Adventures by Disney summer in Europe. DD and I had started in Germany (see my trip report on that here -http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3139359 )
We left Munich Airport and landed in Dublin at about 1pm local time. The line through passport control was pretty long. It took about 30-40 minutes to get through. While waiting in line we met a fellow tour member and his DD13. He recognized by Castaway Club backpack and Disney carryon luggage. They had just completed the Scotland ABD and were, like us, following one ABD with another. The Ireland ABD would make it the 8th ABD trip they had been on!! Finally got through customs and grabbed our luggage to exit. Our driver was holding a sign with our last name on it. Turns out he was also waiting for the other two fellow ABD guests. They had trouble with their luggage and had to report some of their bags missing.
Eventually we were all ready and in our van heading to the Westin Dublin hotel. It took about 25 minutes for us to get to the hotel. The hotel is very ideally situated right next to Trinity College and Temple Bar. We checked in at about 2:40pm and they did not have a room ready for us. We were invited up to the mezzanine level for a complimentary drink while a room was readied for us. What DD and I really wanted was a glass of ice water. The bartender was great and we got our glasses of ice water!! DD and I relaxed and played a Disney trivia game for about 30 minutes until our room was ready. They already had our luggage in the room by the time we got there.
We settled into our room, relaxed, unpacked a bit and then decided to get some dinner. We had not received a welcome letter upon checkin from our ABD guides like we had for our Germany ABD so we asked the hotel staff for restaurant suggestions. Gallagher's Boxty restaurant was one of the suggestions so we went there. It was very close to the hotel, just across the street and down Fleet Street a few blocks. Our waiter was very friendly and discussed the drinking age (which is 18 in Ireland) but said that if minors are with their families and their family members let them have a little beer it's not frowned upon. Eliana and I had some fresh, soft and yummy soda bread and shared cream of tomato soup. We also shared cottage pie with beef, peas and mashed potato crust and Irish stew with lamb, carrots and potatoes. Everything is delicious.
On our way back to our hotel we stopped at the supermarket that is across the street from the hotel. We got more water, found Crunchie bars and Polo mints. DD was so excited about the mints as they are mentioned in a One Direction lyric. We bought some extra Polo mints to take home to DD's friends who are One Direction fans too. DD sent this pic to her friends to show them the Polo mints. Who knew mints could cause this teenage frenzy.
PRE DAYS Part 2 link below...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=49004429#post49004429
This trip was the second half of our Adventures by Disney summer in Europe. DD and I had started in Germany (see my trip report on that here -http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3139359 )
We left Munich Airport and landed in Dublin at about 1pm local time. The line through passport control was pretty long. It took about 30-40 minutes to get through. While waiting in line we met a fellow tour member and his DD13. He recognized by Castaway Club backpack and Disney carryon luggage. They had just completed the Scotland ABD and were, like us, following one ABD with another. The Ireland ABD would make it the 8th ABD trip they had been on!! Finally got through customs and grabbed our luggage to exit. Our driver was holding a sign with our last name on it. Turns out he was also waiting for the other two fellow ABD guests. They had trouble with their luggage and had to report some of their bags missing.
Eventually we were all ready and in our van heading to the Westin Dublin hotel. It took about 25 minutes for us to get to the hotel. The hotel is very ideally situated right next to Trinity College and Temple Bar. We checked in at about 2:40pm and they did not have a room ready for us. We were invited up to the mezzanine level for a complimentary drink while a room was readied for us. What DD and I really wanted was a glass of ice water. The bartender was great and we got our glasses of ice water!! DD and I relaxed and played a Disney trivia game for about 30 minutes until our room was ready. They already had our luggage in the room by the time we got there.
We settled into our room, relaxed, unpacked a bit and then decided to get some dinner. We had not received a welcome letter upon checkin from our ABD guides like we had for our Germany ABD so we asked the hotel staff for restaurant suggestions. Gallagher's Boxty restaurant was one of the suggestions so we went there. It was very close to the hotel, just across the street and down Fleet Street a few blocks. Our waiter was very friendly and discussed the drinking age (which is 18 in Ireland) but said that if minors are with their families and their family members let them have a little beer it's not frowned upon. Eliana and I had some fresh, soft and yummy soda bread and shared cream of tomato soup. We also shared cottage pie with beef, peas and mashed potato crust and Irish stew with lamb, carrots and potatoes. Everything is delicious.
On our way back to our hotel we stopped at the supermarket that is across the street from the hotel. We got more water, found Crunchie bars and Polo mints. DD was so excited about the mints as they are mentioned in a One Direction lyric. We bought some extra Polo mints to take home to DD's friends who are One Direction fans too. DD sent this pic to her friends to show them the Polo mints. Who knew mints could cause this teenage frenzy.
PRE DAYS Part 2 link below...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=49004429#post49004429
I wish I had enough vacation to take back-to-back 
