Surprise Swing into Spring Highs and Lows

[tinks_1989]

We got back late last night after 3 days 2 nights onsite (1 offsite). We had an incredible time. We surprised DD with the trip after watching Disney on Ice in Cardiff on Saturday.

Ah there are so many highs.

High's

Inventions Brunch - I have always wanted to do this but we normally avoid the weekends so we always miss it. The theme was Snow White and the 7 dwarves. We saw Prince Mickey, Snow White, Doc, Grumpy, Bashful, Sneezy, Dopey and Pluto. Unfortunately Sleepy and Happy never made it to our room.

The decent on the stairs at Disneyland Hotel - I am really disappointed that they are stopping this Elsie loved it and was a great way to see a lot of characters quickly. As they were coming down the stairs she was screaming with excitement like a little groupie!

Characters - Duffy was AMAZING. Elsie loves Duffy she ran at him and he picked her up and cuddled her. She loved it. Spider-Man was great with her. The wait was long but so worth it.

Getting everything on our must do list except Animagique, Dumbo and Autopia.

Disneyland Hotel - We have been totally spoilt staying her now. I can't go back to any the other hotels. Never having to go through bag search at the end of the night just walking to our room (ground floor, 4 doors in) was so quick and easy I was disappointed we didn't have much of a view but the convenience of the room outweighed that, the breakfast, just EVERYTHING.

Buffalo Bills - Elsie loved it cheering and screaming along it was just incredible to see her enjoying herself so much.

Swing in to Spring - The theming the show/parades. My earliest memories of Disney are the shows, parades and character meets so I just love watching Elsie enjoy them as they are becoming quite rare in all the Disney parks now.

Low's

Nothing to do with Disney but our off site hotel was sooooo noisy we got no sleep the night before.

Crowds It was crazy busy yesterday and meant we actually left 5 hours early because we just couldn't cope with it any longer.

Smoking, Pushing in - I know its their culture before anyone tells me but it was a low of our trip. I don't like it and unfortunately because it isn't going to change I don't think we will return to DLP any time soon. Which does upset me as I do love the place but I don't like worrying about someone almost burning my daughter with their cigarette in a queue to meet a character.

People not staying at their tables at character meals. We did 3 character meals Inventions Brunch, Cafe Mickey and Auberge de Cendrillon. At Cafe Mickey there was a woman and her daughter. The woman spent the entire time on her phone not once did she put it down to interact with her child. The little girl just followed all the characters around. She is in most of our photos. After a while I actually told her no and pointed back at her table. Rabbit patted me on the back and gave me the thumbs up. This happened at all the meals but Cafe Mickey was the worst she came back with the next character as well.

 

[tennisfan]

Welcome back, thanks for sharing you Highs & Lows. Sounds like you enjoyed most of your trip

 

[ILOVEDLP]

Great highs sorry about the lows why would you take your child for a meal at cafe Mickey and spend all your time on your your phone seems strange to me.
Will you be doing a TR ?

 

[tinks_1989]

Thank you. We enjoyed all of it just Elsie is 3 and a bit scatty at the best of times and doesn't always looks where she is going. Especially if she can see a character lol. People holding their cigarettes at waist height is Elsie's hair/face height. So many times I had to pull her back out of some ones way. During dreams it was horrible as it was sooo busy. I am hoping to do a TR have sorted threw all my photos now. trying to crop edit other peoples children out lol. I don't know why any one would do something like that. I don't want to miss a second of Elsie with characters or any where else. X

 

[dhidra]

Welcone back! Glad you liked the DLH.

 

[DLPdaft]

welcome back . I'm sooo going to look for a good deal for the DLH for our next trip, even if its only for a couple of nights!

Where did you experience scrums and pushing in for the characters? I thought they'd changed to all organised queues now?

 

[tinks_1989]

We loved it People are still pushing in the queues that are there. Yesterday when we were meeting Mary Poppins even Mary was telling people there was a queue and where the back of it was the CM had her hands full dealing with the other people pushing in. Waiting for dreams was a real scrum as well. People would literally take every spare inch of space. I had one woman lean on me and use me as a tripod during most of it.

I should add that yesterday was heaving everything had a. 40+ wait even at. 9.30 dumbo, Peter Pan, tea cups were all 45 minutes.

 

[Dobbycog]

Great highs, glad brunch and dlh were great. We're going for both in September and I have everything crossed descent continues!!

 

[tinks_1989]

Great highs, glad brunch and dlh were great. We're going for both in September and I have everything crossed descent continues!!

I think it is November it is due to stop so you should be fine in September

 

[Ware Bears]

Welcome back, glad you had a fantastic time.

Rabbit patted me on the back and gave me the thumbs up.

Yay for Rabbit! Some people just don't deserve to be parents.

I'm sooo going to look for a good deal for the DLH for our next trip, even if its only for a couple of nights!

Elaine, you must I'm a firm believer that everyone should stay there at least the once.

 

[CassieReynart]

Is it school holidays there at the moment? We are going next Saturday for a week, I hope it's not so busy! It's our first time going in the -er- nicer weather, usually go october and january!!
On our last trip at Cafe Mickey one evening, there were two different families nearby, they sat down and literally only had a drink, no food, the waiter was getting quite annoyed with them but they must have said they were still deciding, they were getting grumpy because the characters weren't coming around so fast, and when they saw us (3 adults) having fun with the characters before they got to their table, they told their kids to get in our photos and ruin them, so nearly every pic we have has these annoying kids in the background making faces! The adults were so rude and pointing and laughing at us. The staff wouldn't do anything about it! We love cafe mickey but sometimes its worth paying more for inventions!

 

[DLPDreams]

Welcome back

Glad to hear you loved the DLH - have to say we've been spoilt staying there on trips and not sure I'd want to stay anywhere else (other than Sequoia Lodge which appeals to me if we ever decide to go back). I'm going to find it difficult having to travel around on buses at WDW next year - getting back to OKW will seem like a lifetime compared to waltzing back into the DLH at the end of the day!!

Last visit at DLP we didn't do Cafe Mickey and didn't miss it tbh. I don't think I'd bother again - the food is so poor and the staff just don't seem bothered!! Such a shame as it could be really great!

Sounds like you managed to do a fair bit though . Glad Elsie enjoyed herself .

 

[DLPdaft]

Is it school holidays there at the moment?

It was a public holiday in France yesterday, and its still French school holidays up until 12th May.

 

[cherrymarzipan]

Great to hear such good highs, agree Spring Fever is amazing! Also sadly have to agree with you about amount of inconsiderate smokers around park. So looking forward to doing the DLH one day, glad you really enjoyed it.

 

[jothp]

Great to read about a trip with so many highs. We had a child from another family who managed to get into all our photos at the character tea party a few years ago. I never could understand why you would take your child somewhere like that and then spend all your time ignoring them.