Trip Report Tales of the Unexpected TR, 14-19 February 2013.

[DLPdaft]

The trip where pretty much all my planning went out the window !

The Cast -

me, DLP daft - still 40teen and staying that way
DD, age 11, going on 30

Day One, 14th February

The plan was - get home from work and school, get changed, get in the car, get to the airport and get on the plane. Due to arrive at CDG at 8.45pm, so intending being at the Santa Fe by 9.30pm.

We got changed, got in the car, drove to the airport and checked in. 2 hours after the plane was due to depart, it was cancelled ! So instead of the Santa Fe, we were in the Thistle hotel on the airport tonight -

It took ages to process us at the airport and get us all booked on next mornings flights, but eventually we were in bed, to get a few hours sleep. Ah well, onwards and upwards!

 

[Jasmine2013]

Oh I feel really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really sorry that your plane was cancelled.

 

[DLPdaft]

Day Two, 15th February

This morning, the flight left on time, and we arrived on time at CDG at 9.30am. I had booked in advance with rs transports for a shuttle transfer to pick us up on the evening before's flight, they were absolutely brilliant keeping in touch with me all through the delays etc, and happily agreed to change my booking to a shared shuttle price for when our flight landed this morning instead. Once again, we didn't share with anyone for the journey to the Santa Fe. The journey only took 30 minutes too .

We checked in, left our luggage, and were in the main park by 11.30am. We collected a fastpass for BTM, had a wander around for 20 minutes or so until our FP timeslot, by which time BTM had halted temporarily (a theme for this trip, BTM was very temperamental on all of our days). So we took ourselves off to the Lucky Nugget for lunch (which was actually part of my pre-plan, so well done us for getting one planned thing done ). The queue to order food and pay was ridiculously slow, but once we were seated the drinks and food came quickly, and it was good value for money. There was a band playing when we went in too - lovely atmosphere -

After lunch we rode Snow White, Phantom Manor, and went back to BTM to use our fastpass from earlier. We also spent a while down in the dungeon meeting up with the dragon, she was in fine form -

We also, on our wander, came across one of our favourite props - go find it and have a play -

On the way out of the park we stopped by the Kodak store for a browse, and found some new hats to try on -

By 2.45pm we were in the Studios, where we did Cars ride, and saw Cinemagique and Animagique. My DD noticed that they no longer have the little child giving the instructions to the audience to not use flash photography or video inside the theatre, they use adults now. Its not the same without that cute little voice telling you its "not scary dark" .

 

[DLPdaft]

Day Two, 15th February, continued

We noticed Tower of Terror had only a 25 minute line, so we decided to be brave and go for it, for the first time ever!

I love love love the theming inside this ride, its amazing! I screamed my head off on the ride itself, but loved it - and its now my favourite ride of all time . We found some great headgear in the Tower of Terror shop too -

The toilets near the gift shop were always clean and not busy either - I didn't even know there were toilets here .

We had time to have a look around (and play around) in the end room of the Art of Animation building -

before heading back to the main park for around 5.45pm. We had dinner at Hakuna Matata (hey, that was on my pre-plan ) - the food was good, but oh my goodness the service was sooooo slow - I ordered and paid quickly and then waited 15 minutes at the serving area to get my food . They were closing up shortly after 6pm, but there were still quite a few customers inside, so we didn't feel rushed to leave. As Fantasyland was closing at 6.45pm tonight for Dreams, we went off to Discoveryland and rode Star Tours, then had a look in the shops before finding a seat outside Victorias, to wait for Dreams. With 5 minutes to go until showtime, we walked down to the area in front of the castle, behind the flower beds. Standing in the road, we didn't have anyone immediately in front of us, so we had a pretty good view of Dreams, including all the water effects. I cried (again, its pretty much guaranteed that I cry while watching Dreams), then we left the park with the crowds, got on the first Santa Fe shuttle to arrive, and to our home for the next 4 days.

We had room 15, block 26 - newly refurbished, quiet, ground floor room - lovely.

Waiting for us was also a welcome letter from the manager, a soft toy Bolt (or Volt as he is at DLP), bottles of water, and a tea basket -

.

We unpacked, had hot showers, and climbed into those super-comfy beds for a good nights sleep .

 

[Jasmine2013]

Can tell what store where the ears hats sold.

 

[DLPdaft]

Can tell what store where the ears hats sold.

We found them in the Kodak shop, on the corner of Main St USA in the main park.

 

[Disneyfanswicklow]

Fabulous start! Love the tower of terror shop hats hope they will be available in June! Your room looks great!

Can't wait to read more

 

[wiigirl]

Great TR start.....love the pics!

 

[DLPdaft]

Day Three, 16th February - Saturday

We started off this morning with a bit of a plan - which again we had deviated from by around 9.15 .

Plan was to be at the Studios for 9.30am, get through the turnstiles, and see how early the rides started before 10am. However, we arrived there at 9.15, and decided to have a pastry and hot drink in Salon Mickey for breakfast first. We were back in the Studios by 9.45am, saw Crush was up and running, and joined the fairly large queue. Where we stood without moving for 20 minutes . Eventually I managed to stop a passing CM and ask what was happening - technical problems she says, don't know how long it will take to start up again. There was no CM in the line telling anyone this, and you couldn't see the ride entrance from where we were, so we could have been there for hours and not have had a clue what was going on.

We left the line and got some FPs for Tower of Terror (the regular line was already 50 minutes at 10.10am). We rode Slinky (the only ride this morning with a wait line of less than 30 minutes) then watched Cinemagique, then went on our Tower of Terror ride, before heading out into the Village and lunch at the Earl of Sandwich.

When we arrived at Earl of Sandwich at 11.45am the restaurant was quiet, by 12 noon it was packed and there were queues at every pay/order/collection station. The food was lovely, definitely recommended .

We then hit the shops in the Village - we browsed in the clothes shop and then visited World of Disney for the first time -

Like others, I was disappointed in the lack of variety of merchandise in this store compared to others in the parks, but the style and detail in the store itself I love - they have a big padded seating area too, great for resting your weary legs .

By 2pm we were back in the Studios, where we found large queues for everything - ie no FP left for Tower of Terror and a regular line of 50 minutes, RC racer 60 mins, Crush 120 mins etc etc. We got a drink (me) and an ice cream (DD) then people-watched for a bit before heading to the Guest Information office, as we had booked in advance for the Studios guided tour at 3pm today. The CM had a very surprised look on his face when I said what we were there for - as it had been cancelled and no-one had told us . However, he was very good - he asked us when we were available to take the tour in the following days, booked us in for Monday afternoon instead, and then gave us drinks vouchers and exit passes for any 4 rides in both parks, for use today (Saturday). We chose Crush, Tower of Terror (of course ), Big Thunder Mountain, and Buzz lazer blast.

We used our exit pass for Tower of Terror straightaway, we got to go in the fastpass line so we could do the library part of the ride. Then we went to Crush, where we joined a fairly large queue of people in the exit line. It took around 30 minutes to ride Crush, even from the exit line, today (but the regular line was 120 minutes almost all day so far). This was my first time on Crush - and I won't be devastated if its the last ! Its not for me .

 

[DLPdaft]

Day Three 16th February continued -

We left the Studios and went to the main park at around 4.30pm - walked under the arches and found Marie from the Aristocats doing meet n greets at the bandstand !

Randomly she was doing meet n greets with Mary Poppins and one of her penguins . We didn't wait long at all to meet Marie, each character took their turn to come around to each roped area of the bandstand, much less of a scrum compared to the random meets in the parks I thought.

We walked over to the exit pass area for BTM but it was very busy to we gave up on that, and had a good old nosey around Skull Rock and walked the wobbly bridges, before heading for Colonel Hathis for something to eat. We noticed quite a lot of school groups from various countries with us this trip, there were 4 kids chilling out in the next booth to us while we ate - we did too, we spent about an hour in there. Even on Saturday, this restaurant was quiet .

When we came out of Colonel Hathis, BTM was down due to technical difficulties, to we walked around to Buzz and used our exit pass there - and again had to wait around 30 minutes before going on the ride. But the main queue line was 90 minutes, and this was at 6.30pm . Even scarier, when we got off Buzz and came out 15 minutes later, we saw that the AP office line was snaking all the way back to the Buzz shop entrance - wow! BTM was still down at 7pm, so we decided not to hang around in the park any longer as it was still very busy. I popped into City Hall to get our BTM exit pass changed to tomorrow, then we headed for the Casino shop inside the train station for some snacks for our room. We got on a very quiet shuttle back to the Santa Fe, picked up our shopping from the gift shop there, and then we had a nice relaxing evening after showers etc, in our pjs, DD with Disney Channel and my e-reader, me with my book (trying to shut out the Disney Channel ). The coffee and shortbread biscuits from my complimentary tea basket went down very well this evening .

 

[Christieand]

Sounds like you had a really good day despite the huge queues! I completely agree re. Crush...never again...!

 

[DLPdaft]

Day Four, 17th February, Sunday

We didn't get up and out before 9am today, and DD was hungry, so we ate in the Santa Fe restaurant for breakfast. At this time of morning, there were no queues and we found a table fine . We had finished, jumped on a shuttle bus, and were in the main park by 10.15. BTM hadn't started up yet, nor had its fastpass machines, so we visited Phantom Manor.

When we got out of PM, BTM was running, so we dashed off to get fastpass for it, then went to the exit line to use our exit passes from yesterday. These worked very well for us as there are only 2 of us, and once we'd shown our passes to the CM at the exit, he gave us a card with a US state name on it, and no sooner had we got it than he called our state name along with a party of 4, so off we went .

DD wanted to shop for her friends so before our BTM FP time thats what we did - strangely though DD was sure none of her 12-year old peers would particularly want any of these -

Clearly they have no idea how cute these cuddlies all are - I wanted them all .

We rode BTM again, then headed off to the Studios at around 11.45, where we got some FP for Tower of Terror, then went to Blockbuster Cafe for lunch. It was very busy! The food was good though, and you do get a lot for your money if you buy a meal deal here. We were done by around 1.10pm, so just in time to see Cinemagique again. Cars n Stars were just passing by as we came out, so we watched a bit of that from the stage. There was a real biting chill in the breeze today, so we decided to do the whole of Art of Animation next, to keep warm!

By the time we were done in there, it was Tower of Terror time, our FP was timed from 3.30pm. We left the parks then, as it really was cold and busy, so we had a couple of hours down time in our very cosy room .

Before heading back out again for the evening, we had dinner at the Santa Fe. We went into the restaurant shortly after it opened at 6pm, it was very quiet, with a CM seating us, and no lines anywhere at the buffet etc. The food was lovely too - lots of choice of salads, soup, pasta, various things in breadcrumbs, fajitas, rice, roasted veg, potatoes au gratin, ratatouille, chicken wings, ribs, oh loads more. It was all fresh and hot, a very good experience indeed.

By the time we got back into the main park at 8pm, it was a completely different experience to earlier in the day - much much quieter. Fantasyland was almost empty, so we had time to do IASW and Pinocchio before that land closed at 8.45pm. We strolled through Adventureland in the dark to BTM - which was down - again . Phantom Manor was a walk-on though - so we did. Discoveryland was still busy at 9.20pm - Buzz queue at 30 minutes etc. So we found a table inside Victorias,

and a hot drink and a warm-up for half an hour before Dreams at 10pm. We found a great spot to watch it tonight - right against the railings at the flower beds in front of the Castle, I stood behind DD and we both had just about a perfect view .

Even though the park was busy and we were leaving with everyone else when Dreams ended, the Santa Fe bus wasn't busy, so we were straight home and into bed. Tomorrow is Monday, and we're intending doing a straight 12 hours in the park - will we make it?

 

[DLPdaft]

Day Four 18th February

Turns out we can't get ourselves out of bed no matter what - we were still having breakfast in the hotel at 10am this morning! We got into the main park at around 10.30, and even though its Monday, its school holidays, so its busy. BTM down - again. So our first ride today - again - was Phantom Manor . From there we walked to Fantasyland and found the storyboats and Casey Jnr open (Casey with a long line) so we walked onto the storyboats ride -

We nipped over to Buzz then to get some FP for later, then had an early lunch at the Videopolis. It was okay, its not my favourite place but its handy when your child all of a sudden has a growth spurt and is ravenously hungry every 2 hours on the dot . Of all the times for this to happen - at DLP when everything is expensive .

After lunch we did IASW, then came back by Videopolis with time to spare before our Buzz FP time, so we went back into Videopolis for a seat in the warm, and we watched a dance troupe doing their set on the stage there.

Off to Buzz next, then we went off the Studios once more. By coincidence we arrived just as Cars n Stars was starting, so managed to dash through to Tower of Terror - which was showing a 5-minute line . We had time to go freshen up and pick up a large coffee for me/soft drink for DD, before going to the Guest information office to meet Ann-Sophie, our guide today for the guided tour of the Studios park. I've reviewed it already here -

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1719651&page=2

It cost only 12 euros today, because my DD is aged under 12 and so is free on the tour, and they didn't charge me the solo guest price (its usually an extra 5 euros if you are the only paying guest doing the tour). Ann-Sophie was also our guide when we did the guided tour of the main park last year . We finished the tour outside Tower of Terror at around 4pm, just in time to dash over and see Cinemagique.

From there we went to Annettes for dinner - at 5pm it was quiet, no problems getting a table and were served quickly etc. No dancing, but DD was happy enough watching the couple of waiters on rollerskates zipping around.

We went back to the hotel again for a rest and warm-up, then later went back into the park for our last sight of Dreams this trip .

 

[DLPdaft]

Sounds like you had a really good day despite the huge queues!
I completely agree re. Crush...never again...!

I know - what is that all about? Once we started getting thrown about in the shells in the twisty bit, I didn't even open my eyes !

 

[DLPdaft]

Day Five, 19th February, last day

Following the trend, we were lazy so-and-so's again this morning (I don't know why I bothered setting the Mickey alarm at all this week ), but by 10.15 we were dressed, packed and checked out of the good old Santa Fe. We got on a very busy shuttle bus to the parks, dropped off our luggage at the train station lockers, then headed on down to the Disneyland Hotel for our now-traditional once-a-trip relaxed breakfast/brunch there. DD ate more than I did (spotting a trend here ?). By 11.30 we were both stuffed and happy, and in Frontierland.

We got some FP for BTM, then had time for a trip on the Molly Brown (inside one of the cabins so we could hear the whole commentary) -

then off to Phantom Manor for us, then finished off Frontierland (and the main park for this trip) with our FP BTM ride. On the way out down Main St, I took some photos in the sunshine -

Over in the Studios, it was now around 1.30pm, and there were no more FPs available for Tower of Terror . DD was starving (again) so we went around to the Blockbuster Cafe - much quieter today compared with Sunday. She had lunch, I had a coffee, and we enjoyed the music from the Pirate band -

After lunch, we found Tower of Terror with only a 15-minute line, so that was naturally next, followed by a browse through the end room of Art of Animation, Cinemagique, then we did Art of Animation all through again (I just could not find the English translation on my headphones this time ) then Animagique.

Surprise surprise - once we'd done all this DD was once again fainting from hunger so we ate in the En Coulisse, and I relaxed a bit over a coffee afterwards while DD took some photos in Studio One -

We had time for one more ride before we had to leave, so chose Tower of Terror. Fabulous as always - but the scariest one yet. I was sitting right at the front nearest the aisle, and when the drop sequence started, I had to grab the bar at the front because I really felt like I was going to lift off the seat and not come back down again !

From there, giggling hysterically (me) and legs shaking (DD) we said Goodbye to DLP for this trip.

We had a bit of a nightmare on the way home too - a freight train broke down on the tracks before DLP, meaning the TGV we were booked on to take us to CDG was going to arrive at least one hour late, too late for us to meet our check-in time at the airport, so we had a last-minute dash to the airport in a metered taxi. A whole heap of money later , we made it on time, and thankfully this time the plane left on time, and we got home in one piece.

 

[DLPdaft]

So, another trip under our belts. Its been a real transition over the last year or so with DD, from a character hound to a thrill rider . We didn't see any parades, we didn't chase any characters (except Marie of course), we didn't do any EMH time, and we didn't spend all our time in the parks. I think some of that might be due to the parks being busier than I'm used to (I really don't think I'm made of non-low-season stuff ).

We are definitely going to be back in The Magic - but probably not until next year (Halloween time is our favourite season in the parks, so possibly an October trip).

I'll leave you with a teaser - where in DLP would you find this little chair?

 

[Disneyfanswicklow]

Fabulous trip report.....sounds so relaxed even though Parks busy....loving your late breakfast each morning (always get up at the crack of dawn when there and spend a week recovering when home ). Your photos are amazing! Sorry to hear about your mad taxi dash!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[pyebibby]

Loved your trip report, sounds like you love Cinemagique as much as me!!

 

[Jonjo]

Lovely trip report, and it looks like you both had a fabulous trip apart from the problems getting there and coming back. Maybe the solution to that one is to just stay in the Magic and never leave

I've not got a clue where that chair is

 

[angelmav]

Thanks for the great TR!