Good morning Snowbirds!
TWO WEEKS from today I'll be at DLP!
Hey, maybe I should do some planning?
I don't know what's wrong with me--if it were a WDW trip I'd be on the 87th version of my spreadsheet. Since I'm not doing a PTR, do y'all mind if I post some random thoughts here to help myself get my mind organized? I know I have some questions to post on the DLP section of the DISboard, but right now I'm not even sure what I need to ask.
OK, we're going to be there three days, Fri-Sun March 26-28. Should be about 2.5 hours drive, but I don't know what traffic around Paris might be like at that time of day. (DIS probably won't be much help with this, since most folks there are from the UK and take the train) Were on a package, so well have to check in to our hotel to get our park tickets before we can hit a park. Both parks open at 10am, but the main
Disneyland park has extra magic hours starting at 8am. When I told DH and the boys all this, they debated leaving early enough to be there for the start of EMH! (Meghan, were like your familydont want to miss a minute of park time!) When I pointed out that that would mean leaving home at 4:30-5:00
, they decided maybe we should shoot for arriving for the opening of the Studios park at 10. We havent been to the Studios beforeweve only been to DLP once, in 2001, before that park was open. DLP is set up kind of like Disneyland, with the two parks and the Village all in the same place.
I think the main planning I need to do is for meals. We booked during the
Free Dining promotion, first time its been offered at DLP. Breakfast is always included at your hotel, but the free dining gets us one counter service and one table service meal per night booked. So we have most meals covered, but well be there for at least one extra meal. The dining plan works a little bit differently than at WDW, because at DLP the restaurants at which you can use your vouchers varies based on which hotel youre staying at. Were staying at Davy Crockett Ranch (which is cabins, sort of like Ft. Wilderness), which is in the lowest (cheapest) category. So we can use our table service meal vouchers at a limited number of (cheaper) restaurants, OR at face value toward a meal anywhere else. There are two higher categories of meal vouchers that can be used at a wider variety of the more expensive restaurants. Does that make sense? I think its actually a pretty logical way to set it up. I think we will stick to the restaurants covered by our vouchers instead of moving up. So heres what Im tentatively thinking
Leave home 6:30-7:00 Friday morning
Check in at DCR, go to Studios park
Lunch--??? This is the one Im least sure about, complicated by the fact that we dont eat meat on Fridays during lent. Might just bring PB&J from home.
Afternoon, probably more of the Studios. Not sure how long well want to stay here.
Dinner, probably counter serviceToad Hall at the Disneyland park is reported by the DIS Brits to have good fish n chips.
Studios closes at 6pm today, main park at 7pm. Well probably stay till closing and head to DCR to settle in to our cabin and get to bed early.
Saturday morning, breakfast in cabin (they provide croissants, French bread, jam/butter/nutella, juice, milk, tea, coffee, etc. to take to your cabin)
EMH at Disneyland Park!
8am
Early-ish counter service lunchhave to check menus to see where we might want to eat. I want to try a croque monsieur (sp?), which sounds like a sort of French grilled ham and cheese sandwich and seems to be a DIS favorite.
Early afternoon at Disneyland Park, then back to DCR to (hopefully) nap (DD is a reluctant napper; I, on the other hand, would love to nap every day!). DCR has a VERY cool indoor pool that the boys will want to hit, but apparently it doesnt open until 3pm.
Dinner, I think Im going to try for an early reservation at the buffet restaurant at DCR; not sure what time they start serving.
After nap, swimming, and dinner, back to main park until closing at 10pm. Yes, my kids are night owls, but they can get up early if its for a good cause like Disney!
Sunday morning breakfast in cabin; pack up and check out.
Well decide the night before if we want to hit EMH at the main park again, or be at the Studios when they open at 10.
Im thinking to do one of the in-park buffet restaurants at lunch time for our main meal of the dayleaning toward Plaza Gardens on Main Street.
Stay at either or both parks until about 5:30, when well need to head out.
So
I need to call to make reservations for dinner Saturday and lunch Sunday (Im a little intimidated about calling France, even though I know they have English-speaking operators; I booked the trip online).
Need to email a request for cabin location at DCR; hoping for a free upgrade to a 2-bedroom cabin but not holding my breath.
Need to determine our park touring strategyat WDW we tend to tour Unofficial Guide style, at least in the morning.
Whew! Sorry to ramble on so long. It really was helpful to me to write it all out
hope I didnt bore you too much with my one-post PTR!
It's not as warm as it was yesterday but, heck for WI...48 is down right perfect for March! We'll get one or two big snow storms here too before the winter is over. My luck it will be while my parents are in Vegas (march 17 - 22) and I don't use the snow blower....so I'll be stuck in my house 
.
today--had to do outside stuff yesterday it was sooo pretty. We did math and that was about it! Of course, it's been 2 days and I have mountains of 
to do again....so I hope you all are having a great week--or Spring Break if your school is having one. DO NOT FORGET to set those clocks up Saturday night....it's Spring Forward!!!!! Which, I don't like...I LOVE Fall Backward!
