A Small World
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- Joined
- Feb 22, 2007
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Part 2a (Saturday)
Cast:
Me (21 + lot more)
DH (21 + lot more)
DD - Charys (7)
Gladys Invaluable Sat Nav to keep us on the right track
Plans for today were to leave our campsite early. Drive the 2 hours to DLP, Enter the parks briefly, Get our annual passes, perhaps do 1 ride then have lunch and leave the car at DLP and get the RER to our next campsite the other side of Paris. We then planned to return to DLP on Monday where we had a room booked at Holiday Inn.
(However plans can change cant they!!!!!!)
We got up really early no one else was about and packed the last few things into the car including our bedding and other bits and bobs we needed for our next 2 nights.
I forgot to say in part 1 that the journey to the Loire was made in torrential rain but as soon as we arrived at the site it stopped and we had glorious sun for 5 days until that morning as we were leaving the rain started again.
The drive to DLP was easy (again Gladys kept us on the right track). We passed the hotels at Bussy St George that we have seen mentioned on here and both joked about forgetting about going to the campsite and staying there instead. We arrived about 9.45 and parked in the Village car park. We knew we wouldnt be able to get in til 10.00 and didnt want to be pushing in with the crowds so didnt rush. It was still raining so we put on our macs and wandered into the Village to use the toilets there. As soon as we came out of the toilets the rain stopped. (That is the only rain we have EVER seen at DLP- we have always been so lucky with the weather)
We remembered we had left the sponsorship form in the car so DH went back to get it while DD and I wandered towards the park entrance.
We went through bag check and into the park. (We had bought day tickets last time we were there so could get in without having to queue for tickets or try to get the annual pass at the gates). We had decided to go for some breakfast first on main street. As we strolled up main street with the castle ahead of us it felt like coming home.
DH went to Frontierland to get FPs for BTM while DD and I went to buy breakfast at Cable Car Restaurant -Pains au Chocolats and Hot chocolate.
We munched these then it was almost time for BTM so we wandered over to that area taking in the scenery on route. We were determined this holiday not to exhaust ourselves like last time and spend more time taking in the atmosphere in a leisurely way. We had also decided we werent going to queue for hours for rides.
We arrived at BTM to find the queue had stopped and no one was being allowed in. We walked to the FP entrance and were told there was a technical problem
(this happened a few times) but our FPs would be valid for the whole day so we could return any time later in the day to use them.
We decided we might as well wander over to the AP office and sort those out. We were really impressed with how organised it was A CM met us when we walked in and ascertained what we wanted then gave us a number. There were 2 DVDs on for children to watch one of them being DDs favourite- Beauty and the Beast so she was happy to sit and watch that. We didnt have to wait long and our number was called. The process was really easy- we were refunded the cost of our day tickets, given our 10% sponsorship discount (Thanks to Poohchan for the sponsorship), forms were completed, photos taken and we are now holders of dream APs (which means we will be going again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
By now the magic had got to us and we were seriously thinking about forgetting about going to the Paris campsite and trying to get accommodation closer by so we decided to go to City Hall to see what was available (DH popping into Discoveryland on route to grab FPs for Buzz).
We got to City Hall and were surprised they werent able to check on computer for availability but instead needed to phone somewhere to enquire. We had said we wanted a room for 2 nights but didnt mind if it was in different hotels. Unfortunately all onsite rooms were booked up- they then tried DCR but again booked up. Every single room in the resort occupied!!! We began to feel disappointed as although we hadnt originally planned to stay once we got the idea into our heads we really really wanted to. We then realised that when they said all rooms were booked up that didnt include the hotels nearby (Explorers, Holiday Inn etc) so we asked them to try those. Again we were surprised that they didnt have a central database to be able to check or even the telephone numbers handy. They needed to phone somewhere to get each individual number. They tried Explorers first but the line was busy so then got through to Holiday Inn and yes rooms were available Hurray. The rate quoted was good (only slightly more than we had paid for the other nights) and included breakfast. The phone was then handed to me to give all our details and make the reservation. I asked if we could have the room without breakfast so the rate was reduced. We figured we would save a significant amount by not having to get the Paris Visite RER tickets and the worry of leaving the car overnight at DLP. (We had been warned by one or 2 of you before we went that we might not be able to do this so were a bit wary but were going to ask anyhow as we would have had to drive round the peripherique to the campsite and back again and once per holiday is enough for DH we realised too late it was a mistake to book that campsite we should have stuck to Berny Riviere which we know and love)
We were staying for 2 extra nights!!!!
It was time for our FP slot on Buzz so we returned to Discoveryland. I got the highest score Ive ever got (still low compared to DH and others on this board but very good for me). DD asked if she could do Nautilus so strolled through there and found ourselves close to Honey I shrunk the audience so decided to do this as well both things we did last year but didnt get chance to do at Easter. It amused me again that during the preshow for HISTA they put a quick message on the screens about entering through the headphone doors if you need translation but the announcement they made about this was in French only. In other words if you miss the flash notice on the screen you need to be able to understand French to know this.
We then decided to see if BTM was working again so strolled over to Frontierland via Fantasyland and just had to ride Small World on route.
BTM was up and running again so we entered (no problem that FP time had now expired) and more or less walked on. Im not a lover of Roller Coasters but usually manage to do BTM once per trip and thats my limit however this time I actually enjoyed it.
Wow it was getting better and better not only were we staying extra nights but it was also the holiday where I learned to like BTM and not just suffer it.
By now it was about 1.30 so we decided to go to Annettes for lunch as we were starving.
(part 2b to follow...)
Cast:
Me (21 + lot more)
DH (21 + lot more)
DD - Charys (7)
Gladys Invaluable Sat Nav to keep us on the right track
Plans for today were to leave our campsite early. Drive the 2 hours to DLP, Enter the parks briefly, Get our annual passes, perhaps do 1 ride then have lunch and leave the car at DLP and get the RER to our next campsite the other side of Paris. We then planned to return to DLP on Monday where we had a room booked at Holiday Inn.
(However plans can change cant they!!!!!!)
We got up really early no one else was about and packed the last few things into the car including our bedding and other bits and bobs we needed for our next 2 nights.
I forgot to say in part 1 that the journey to the Loire was made in torrential rain but as soon as we arrived at the site it stopped and we had glorious sun for 5 days until that morning as we were leaving the rain started again.
The drive to DLP was easy (again Gladys kept us on the right track). We passed the hotels at Bussy St George that we have seen mentioned on here and both joked about forgetting about going to the campsite and staying there instead. We arrived about 9.45 and parked in the Village car park. We knew we wouldnt be able to get in til 10.00 and didnt want to be pushing in with the crowds so didnt rush. It was still raining so we put on our macs and wandered into the Village to use the toilets there. As soon as we came out of the toilets the rain stopped. (That is the only rain we have EVER seen at DLP- we have always been so lucky with the weather)
We remembered we had left the sponsorship form in the car so DH went back to get it while DD and I wandered towards the park entrance.
We went through bag check and into the park. (We had bought day tickets last time we were there so could get in without having to queue for tickets or try to get the annual pass at the gates). We had decided to go for some breakfast first on main street. As we strolled up main street with the castle ahead of us it felt like coming home.
DH went to Frontierland to get FPs for BTM while DD and I went to buy breakfast at Cable Car Restaurant -Pains au Chocolats and Hot chocolate.
We munched these then it was almost time for BTM so we wandered over to that area taking in the scenery on route. We were determined this holiday not to exhaust ourselves like last time and spend more time taking in the atmosphere in a leisurely way. We had also decided we werent going to queue for hours for rides.
We arrived at BTM to find the queue had stopped and no one was being allowed in. We walked to the FP entrance and were told there was a technical problem
(this happened a few times) but our FPs would be valid for the whole day so we could return any time later in the day to use them.We decided we might as well wander over to the AP office and sort those out. We were really impressed with how organised it was A CM met us when we walked in and ascertained what we wanted then gave us a number. There were 2 DVDs on for children to watch one of them being DDs favourite- Beauty and the Beast so she was happy to sit and watch that. We didnt have to wait long and our number was called. The process was really easy- we were refunded the cost of our day tickets, given our 10% sponsorship discount (Thanks to Poohchan for the sponsorship), forms were completed, photos taken and we are now holders of dream APs (which means we will be going again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
By now the magic had got to us and we were seriously thinking about forgetting about going to the Paris campsite and trying to get accommodation closer by so we decided to go to City Hall to see what was available (DH popping into Discoveryland on route to grab FPs for Buzz).
We got to City Hall and were surprised they werent able to check on computer for availability but instead needed to phone somewhere to enquire. We had said we wanted a room for 2 nights but didnt mind if it was in different hotels. Unfortunately all onsite rooms were booked up- they then tried DCR but again booked up. Every single room in the resort occupied!!! We began to feel disappointed as although we hadnt originally planned to stay once we got the idea into our heads we really really wanted to. We then realised that when they said all rooms were booked up that didnt include the hotels nearby (Explorers, Holiday Inn etc) so we asked them to try those. Again we were surprised that they didnt have a central database to be able to check or even the telephone numbers handy. They needed to phone somewhere to get each individual number. They tried Explorers first but the line was busy so then got through to Holiday Inn and yes rooms were available Hurray. The rate quoted was good (only slightly more than we had paid for the other nights) and included breakfast. The phone was then handed to me to give all our details and make the reservation. I asked if we could have the room without breakfast so the rate was reduced. We figured we would save a significant amount by not having to get the Paris Visite RER tickets and the worry of leaving the car overnight at DLP. (We had been warned by one or 2 of you before we went that we might not be able to do this so were a bit wary but were going to ask anyhow as we would have had to drive round the peripherique to the campsite and back again and once per holiday is enough for DH we realised too late it was a mistake to book that campsite we should have stuck to Berny Riviere which we know and love)
We were staying for 2 extra nights!!!!
It was time for our FP slot on Buzz so we returned to Discoveryland. I got the highest score Ive ever got (still low compared to DH and others on this board but very good for me). DD asked if she could do Nautilus so strolled through there and found ourselves close to Honey I shrunk the audience so decided to do this as well both things we did last year but didnt get chance to do at Easter. It amused me again that during the preshow for HISTA they put a quick message on the screens about entering through the headphone doors if you need translation but the announcement they made about this was in French only. In other words if you miss the flash notice on the screen you need to be able to understand French to know this.
We then decided to see if BTM was working again so strolled over to Frontierland via Fantasyland and just had to ride Small World on route.
BTM was up and running again so we entered (no problem that FP time had now expired) and more or less walked on. Im not a lover of Roller Coasters but usually manage to do BTM once per trip and thats my limit however this time I actually enjoyed it.
Wow it was getting better and better not only were we staying extra nights but it was also the holiday where I learned to like BTM and not just suffer it.
By now it was about 1.30 so we decided to go to Annettes for lunch as we were starving.
(part 2b to follow...)
extra nights at DLP 
