Sweet Pea UK
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2007
- Messages
- 963
This is my first attempt at a trip report so please bear with me
.
Cast
Me 33 and been visiting Orlando since 1982 with trips every other year since 1992. Absolute Disneyholic and managed to turn DH and DD into them too! Planning next big WDW trip in 2010 but needed a quick Disney fix before then so opted for 5 days at Sequoia Lodge to celebrate DDs 7th Birthday. Id been to DLRP in 1997 and wasnt overly impressed, there wasnt all that much there then but I bought the Brits Guide, did loads of research on this Forum and decided to give it another go.
DH 33 made first trip to Orlando in 2003 and luckily is now hooked! He likes thrill rides.
DD 6 when we left and 7 when we got home. Is an absolute Disney Princess. Although I am biased she is amazing a real little character. The Disney Characters adored her and wouldnt leave her alone at the Character meals. She had something different to say to each one and they kept coming back for more!!!
Basics over on with the trip!
Tuesday 26th August 2008
The alarm went off at 3.45am!!! DH and I ambled out of bed (wed loaded the car the night before) washed and dressed and then carried our sleeping princess into the Car in her pyjamas desperately hoping she wouldnt wake up and would sleep the 3 hour journey to Folkestone!
The trip down was good. DD slept for about 2 hours and when she woke up we put the Disney CD on to get us in the mood. We arrived at Folkestone just before 7 and were able to book ourselves onto the 7:52 shuttle. We were supposed to be on the 8:20am so this was good news. We went into the Departure lounge and I got DD dressed and brushed her teeth. I have to say the toilets here were spotlessly clean and had a lovely little toilet and sink for children. We all got some breakfast and then got back in the car so we could board. The crossing was really quick and simple. DD had never been in the tunnel before and was quite mesmerised by it. Once in France we began the journey to DLRP!
I must be honest I was surprised by how long it took. A friend of mine who had recently been said it took them 2 hours to drive. I dont think thats possible. We had lovely clear roads and DH certainly doesnt drive slow! The weather was really cloudy and I was beginning to panic we would be rained out the entire trip! You will notice that I do like to overdramatise and panic unnecessarily!!! We arrived at Sequoia Lodge at about 12:30 and were most impressed. A Security Guard directed us to the car park and showed us how to get to Reception. We left all the cases in the car and decided to go and check in and see the room before we worried about brining everything in. I found the staff to be extremely helpful. There was no queue at Check In and we were assigned our Montana Room (standard). We were also given our vouchers for the Lucky Nugget Saloon, Plaza Gardens Birthday Party and the cake. I was advised to go and inform the Concierge were I would like the Birthday Cake.
We went up to our room which was on the 2nd floor. The room was perfectly adequate. If I had to criticise I could say that it needed a bit of a decorate but that would be all. The size was fine and it had everything in it we needed. As long as the beds were clean that was all we were worried about. We didnt intend to spend much time in there!
We went down to the car and unloaded had a quick freshen up and made our way over to the Disneyland Park.
We left via the front of the hotel and walked around Lake Disney. The sun started to come out and everywhere looked lovely.
We walked into Main Street and immediately got the Disney feeling. I tried to explain to DD that today was going to be a look round to get our bearings and we would be back first thing in the morning to start the rides. She didnt much like this idea but being mid afternoon the queues were extremely long fastpasses had run out.
We stopped off in Caseys Corner and all had a hot dog.
We then made our way left into Frontierland. We noticed that the queue for Phantom Manor was only 30 minutes so to stop the grizzling we went on that. Although difficult to understand we knew the concept from the Magic Kingdom and enjoyed this ride. We then walked around the entire Park checking everything out. We found Auberge de Cendrillon where we would be going for dinner the next evening and Mariette ???? where we would be going from Breakfast on Friday.
We then decided to go back to the hotel, unpack properly, get changed and come back out again so we could see the parade.
We stopped in the ice cream parlour on main street on the way to get an ice cream and while DH was getting them the Character Express came past so DD and I had a little dance to that. Very catchy tune!
Once we got back to the room I went down to the Concierge and booked the cake for Café Mickeys on my daughters birthday. Once we were all ready we went down and had a drink in the Redwood Bar. I had a bellini which was lovely.
We then walked back to the Park. It was still extremely busy when we got inside. Although an hour to go people had already staked out their seats on the curb for the Parade. We werent used to this as when we go to WDW it is usually in November and not very crowded. It was mobbed here! We managed to get a spot in Fantasyland which although wasnt brilliant we knew we would get the chance to see the parade again and would arrive earlier next time!
The parade began at 7 and lasted about 30 minutes. It was very good. We had hoped to eat in Annettes Diner but upon looking at the masses of people now trying to leave the park decided that we would get in the first restaurant we saw that didnt have much of a queue. DH put DD up on his shoulders as we were worried she would get squashed! I have to say I do think that 7pm is a rather silly time to have the parade. Its too early to eat beforehand as you really need to be getting a place to watch around about 6.15pm and when you come out everybody is obviously trying to find somewhere to eat as well. Mid-afternoon is a much better time.
Anyway we arrived in the Disney Village and noticed that there was hardly a queue for Planet Hollywood and went in there. We were seated within about 15 minutes. As we were all so tired form the extremely early start we decided just to have one course and go back to bed so we could make the early magic hours in the morning. I had the chicken fajitas, DH had the ribs and DD had the pasta with tomato sauce. Somebody came round and took our photo which was nice so we bought it its not very often on holiday you can get them with you all together.
We made our way back to the hotel and went straight to bed. DD was out like a light!
Cast
Me 33 and been visiting Orlando since 1982 with trips every other year since 1992. Absolute Disneyholic and managed to turn DH and DD into them too! Planning next big WDW trip in 2010 but needed a quick Disney fix before then so opted for 5 days at Sequoia Lodge to celebrate DDs 7th Birthday. Id been to DLRP in 1997 and wasnt overly impressed, there wasnt all that much there then but I bought the Brits Guide, did loads of research on this Forum and decided to give it another go. DH 33 made first trip to Orlando in 2003 and luckily is now hooked! He likes thrill rides. DD 6 when we left and 7 when we got home. Is an absolute Disney Princess. Although I am biased she is amazing a real little character. The Disney Characters adored her and wouldnt leave her alone at the Character meals. She had something different to say to each one and they kept coming back for more!!!Basics over on with the trip!
Tuesday 26th August 2008
The alarm went off at 3.45am!!! DH and I ambled out of bed (wed loaded the car the night before) washed and dressed and then carried our sleeping princess into the Car in her pyjamas desperately hoping she wouldnt wake up and would sleep the 3 hour journey to Folkestone!
The trip down was good. DD slept for about 2 hours and when she woke up we put the Disney CD on to get us in the mood. We arrived at Folkestone just before 7 and were able to book ourselves onto the 7:52 shuttle. We were supposed to be on the 8:20am so this was good news. We went into the Departure lounge and I got DD dressed and brushed her teeth. I have to say the toilets here were spotlessly clean and had a lovely little toilet and sink for children. We all got some breakfast and then got back in the car so we could board. The crossing was really quick and simple. DD had never been in the tunnel before and was quite mesmerised by it. Once in France we began the journey to DLRP!
I must be honest I was surprised by how long it took. A friend of mine who had recently been said it took them 2 hours to drive. I dont think thats possible. We had lovely clear roads and DH certainly doesnt drive slow! The weather was really cloudy and I was beginning to panic we would be rained out the entire trip! You will notice that I do like to overdramatise and panic unnecessarily!!! We arrived at Sequoia Lodge at about 12:30 and were most impressed. A Security Guard directed us to the car park and showed us how to get to Reception. We left all the cases in the car and decided to go and check in and see the room before we worried about brining everything in. I found the staff to be extremely helpful. There was no queue at Check In and we were assigned our Montana Room (standard). We were also given our vouchers for the Lucky Nugget Saloon, Plaza Gardens Birthday Party and the cake. I was advised to go and inform the Concierge were I would like the Birthday Cake.
We went up to our room which was on the 2nd floor. The room was perfectly adequate. If I had to criticise I could say that it needed a bit of a decorate but that would be all. The size was fine and it had everything in it we needed. As long as the beds were clean that was all we were worried about. We didnt intend to spend much time in there!
We went down to the car and unloaded had a quick freshen up and made our way over to the Disneyland Park.
We left via the front of the hotel and walked around Lake Disney. The sun started to come out and everywhere looked lovely.
We walked into Main Street and immediately got the Disney feeling. I tried to explain to DD that today was going to be a look round to get our bearings and we would be back first thing in the morning to start the rides. She didnt much like this idea but being mid afternoon the queues were extremely long fastpasses had run out.
We stopped off in Caseys Corner and all had a hot dog.
We then made our way left into Frontierland. We noticed that the queue for Phantom Manor was only 30 minutes so to stop the grizzling we went on that. Although difficult to understand we knew the concept from the Magic Kingdom and enjoyed this ride. We then walked around the entire Park checking everything out. We found Auberge de Cendrillon where we would be going for dinner the next evening and Mariette ???? where we would be going from Breakfast on Friday.
We then decided to go back to the hotel, unpack properly, get changed and come back out again so we could see the parade.
We stopped in the ice cream parlour on main street on the way to get an ice cream and while DH was getting them the Character Express came past so DD and I had a little dance to that. Very catchy tune!
Once we got back to the room I went down to the Concierge and booked the cake for Café Mickeys on my daughters birthday. Once we were all ready we went down and had a drink in the Redwood Bar. I had a bellini which was lovely.
We then walked back to the Park. It was still extremely busy when we got inside. Although an hour to go people had already staked out their seats on the curb for the Parade. We werent used to this as when we go to WDW it is usually in November and not very crowded. It was mobbed here! We managed to get a spot in Fantasyland which although wasnt brilliant we knew we would get the chance to see the parade again and would arrive earlier next time!
The parade began at 7 and lasted about 30 minutes. It was very good. We had hoped to eat in Annettes Diner but upon looking at the masses of people now trying to leave the park decided that we would get in the first restaurant we saw that didnt have much of a queue. DH put DD up on his shoulders as we were worried she would get squashed! I have to say I do think that 7pm is a rather silly time to have the parade. Its too early to eat beforehand as you really need to be getting a place to watch around about 6.15pm and when you come out everybody is obviously trying to find somewhere to eat as well. Mid-afternoon is a much better time.
Anyway we arrived in the Disney Village and noticed that there was hardly a queue for Planet Hollywood and went in there. We were seated within about 15 minutes. As we were all so tired form the extremely early start we decided just to have one course and go back to bed so we could make the early magic hours in the morning. I had the chicken fajitas, DH had the ribs and DD had the pasta with tomato sauce. Somebody came round and took our photo which was nice so we bought it its not very often on holiday you can get them with you all together.
We made our way back to the hotel and went straight to bed. DD was out like a light!
