The 'Can't believe we're back' Trip Report - Day 2

Ms Poppins

I'm sure I'm very affected by all this Disney talk
Joined
Mar 14, 2009
Messages
4,123
Pre-Trippie - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2202281

Day 1 - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2220468

Cast
Me, 34, dlp addict
DH, 38, loved dlp
DS1, 15, not too cool for Mickey
DD, 12, still the princess
DS2, 4, the reason for this trip

Sunday 28th June 2009

We were up early, showered and in breakfast for 8.00. The usual buffet hotel style, lots of choice of hot food and nice selection of cereals, toast and fruit.

When I had made the reservation they had said only children under 12 would eat free, and we would need to pay for Mark and Abbey when we got there. No-one asked for any extra either a check-in/check-our or in the restaurant, so I didn't offer :rolleyes1

By 9.00 we were on our way to Sainsbury's to buy some sandwiches for lunch on the train. We got there and it was closed - not open until 10am on a Sunday :confused3 - I must be too used to our 24 hour Asda. We went for a drive and found a Tesco Express, but the sandwiches looked as though they were left over from the day before, so we didn't bother.

Got to Ashford International Station no problem and parked on level 5 - which is the same level as the covered walkway that takes you straight to the terminal :thumbsup2

I expected to have to print my tickets with the reference my agent have given me, but a sign just inside the terminal said if you had Disney express to go to the desk. Our tickets were waiting for us and we were through security and passport control in jig time.

There are plenty of seats for waiting with a shop, toilets and small cafe bar for drinks and stuff. I went to the Disney Express desk where CM's were handing out the kids bag and packets with hotel pass, park tickets etc. They also gave the luggage labels for Disney Express. I noticed that our Half board vouchers were not there, and questioned this. The CM called the hotel who said they had no record of it :scared1: - panic set in, we had just added them a couple of days previously and i frantically called our travel agent who were shut :scared1::scared1::scared1:

I eventually got through to them - they didn't open until 10am - and she said she'd sort it out and call me back. We boarded the train - very easy as the carriage numbers are printed on the platform so you know where to stand. I got a message on my mobile from the agent who said she'd sorted it and the hotel would have the vouchers ready for us.

The journey was smooth and we arrived at the station at 13.30. Went to the upper level to leave our luggage - very nicely signposted- and then we were off!!

The heat took our breath away - like walking into an oven - but we were so excited - were were actually here, 4 long years had passed and now we were back. The castle was breathtaking as ususal - and I quite liked the addition of the Mickey and the guys, and of course Tink on top..

2009_0701Disney090003.jpg


As we admired the surroundings Mickey's Magical Party started, which we watched for a while

2009_0701Disney090004.jpg


Lewis had a go at the sword and announced that it must be 'stuck'

2009_0701Disney090005.jpg


Our first ride was Carousel - where I dropped my sunglasses and broke them :headache:

2009_0701Disney090006.jpg


Then It's a Small World - had to get out of the heat

2009_0701Disney090009.jpg


We strolled over to Adventureland and queued for Pirates, again to get out of the heat. This has always been a favourite ride for us, but Lewis was not keen, so dark after being so bright outside. In addition he need the toilet when we eventually got on the ride and did not expect the drops - so he did not want to go back on again.

We headed for the hotel via Liberty Arcade. Check in was quick and easy and we were given rooms on the ground floor next to the pool. We got the interconnecting rooms I had been stressing about, and 2 double beds in each room. It was bliss having two bathrooms too. I've done a review on the hotel thread, but here are a couple of pictures:

2009_0701Disney090013.jpg


2009_0701Disney090018.jpg


We were all a bit tired, and wanted to have dinner - we had missed lunch and decided the quickest would be to go to the Parkside Diner in the hotel - and all you can eat buffet that we used our HBplus vouchers for. Review is on the restaurant thread -

2009_0701Disney090025-1.jpg


It was about 7pm by now, and the park was open until 10pm, so off we went.

Abbey outside our hotel:

2009_0701Disney090028.jpg


First stop was Frontierland - via Liberty Arcade, and under the covered walkway - this was to prove very useful over the coming days to get some shade from the sun.

John, Mark and Abbey went on Phantom Manor

2009_0701Disney090032.jpg


Lewis and I had a look around 'cowboy land' and agreed that it looked very like Back to the Future 3. Lewis got a cowboy hat and pistol

2009_0701Disney090031.jpg


After the guys came off PM, we wandered round to Woody's Roundup. It was closed - I didn't realise it only opened a certain times, and we promised Lewis we would go back another day to hopefully see Woody.

Mark, Abbey and I went on Indiana Jones, virtually a walk on - I think this ride gets forgotten about as it's tucked away. We then went over to Discoveryland and Mark and Abbey went on Space Mountain. John, Lewis and I went into Videopolis (don't know if that's right) and got a drink. Lewis loved watching the Mickey classic cartoons and laughed his head off. It was 8.30 when SM was done, and we wandered back to Fantasyland to try for Peter Pan, but the queue was huge. I promised Lewis we would do this the next morning.

Back to the hotel and John put Lewis to bed and Mark, Abbey and I went for a swim. We were literally 30 second walk from the pool entrance, and it was so relaxing to cool down and float in the pool outside. Back to the room, with our towels wrapped over our cossies, and the kids put the laptop on and watched a dvd.

Coming up - Day 3.
 
Another great day. My favourite hotel is the HNY:thumbsup2 DO you not hav Sunday trading laws in Scotland. Shops here can only trade for 6 hours on a Sunday, even the 24 hour stores which is why Sainsburys were shut as most shops are 10-4 or 11-5
 
Another great day. My favourite hotel is the HNY:thumbsup2 DO you not hav Sunday trading laws in Scotland. Shops here can only trade for 6 hours on a Sunday, even the 24 hour stores which is why Sainsburys were shut as most shops are 10-4 or 11-5

Ahhh, the mystery is solved.

No, Asda is open 24 hrs, and other supermarkets are open from about 9 - 7pm.
 















Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE







New Posts







DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top