The Craik's Pre-Trip Report

[andycraik]

Blimey! Getting excited now. Sent the kids up to bed tonight with the promise of "just 2 more sleeps!".

Firstly, a potted history of me and Disneyland Paris.
In 1993, I was working at Allsports and won a sales contest which won me and other employees from around the country an all expenses paid weekend in Hotel Santa fe. Even though I was 21 at the time, I was like a kid in a candy shop. Really great experience. although not as good as marrying Michelle a few months later.

Then, 4 or 5 years ago, my much missed Gran paid for me, Michelle and our 3 kids (Dan, 12, Ben,8 and Evie, 6 - That's their current ages!) to spend 4 nights in the newport bay club. We flew there (first time flying for the other 4) and had a brilliant time. We'd planned to stay up late one night to watch the main St electrical Parade, but ended up doing just that (plus the fireworks) every single night of the stay. We were knackered when we got back to manchester I'll tell you. It was such a strange Saturday afternoon when i awoke on my living room floor to then wander round the house observing Michelle and the kids also sleeping, each in a different room.

It was the best holiday we'd had at the time, but now we're getting around to it again.

This weekend in fact. When i booked at the beginning of this year I knew nothing of this or other DLP related websites and very little about the 15th celebrations. It was just by chance that we booked for Saturday the 31st and will be around to see some of the new stuff. I'm slightly miffed that there'll be no night parade or fireworks this time around, but the festivities that are going to be happening are very exciting. can't wait.
Plus, on Monday, I'll be turning 35. So a double celebration.

So after reading this site for a couple of months to research and read opinions and tips of others, I thought it only fair that I contribute with a trip report from my family's point of view. And even tho, I'm currently in the first few months of a new job and we are also about complete a sale on our house and move into a new one in the matter of a few weeks, I haven't been able to think of much else but the wonderful holiday in Disneyland we have lined up.

So I thought a PRE Trip report may be a good way of sharing our excitement as well as introducing myself to more members of the forum. It's also an opportunity for me to post the plan i've drawn up for the holiday.

See what you think and post here if you have any thoughts/tips. Are the plans realistic? Will we fit everything in?

Disneyland Paris Plan

SATURDAY
4pm – Arrive, get to hotel, unpack.
4.45pm – On Shuttle to Disneyland Park.
5 – 8 pm – Discoveryland.
6.30pm – Lion King show if tickets available.
8pm – Annette’s Diner for evening meal

SUNDAY
8am – Breakfast
10am – Arrive at Disneyland Park for opening (watch morning parade)
10 – 2pm – Adventureland with a break for lunch at Casey’s Corner (Main St)
2pm - Fantasyland
4pm – Watch Dream Parade at Fantasyland end
4.30pm - More Fantasyland
6pm – Candleabration at the Castle
6.30pm – Meal at Walt’s & more Fantasyland

MONDAY (Andy’s Birthday)
8am – Breakfast
10am – Arrive at Walt Disney Studios
10.30am – Motor Stunt Show
11.45am – Cinemagique
12.45am – Animagique
1.30pm – Cinema Parade / Hot Dogs at Cascadeurs
3pm - Leave WDS to catch 4pm parade in DLP
4pm – Dream Parade on Main Street
4.30pm – Free Time (Shopping?)
6pm – Candleabration at Castle
7pm – Meal at Café Mickey’s
After Meal - Ice Rink

TUESDAY
8am – Breakfast
10am Arrive at Disneyland park
10am – 3.30pm – Frontierland (including 2pm lunch at Lucky Nugget)
4pm – Dream Parade
4.30 – 8pm – any bits of parks we haven’t done yet or want to do again.
6pm – Candleabration
After 8pm – meal at McDonalds

Wednesday
10.40am - Train back to London.


Rides We Must Go On

DISNEYLAND PARK

DISCOVERYLAND
Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
Star Tours
Autopia
Orbitron
Honey I Shrunk The Audience
Space Mountain
Lion King Show

ADVENTURELAND
Pirates Of The Caribbean
Indiana Jones?

FANTASYLAND
It’s A Small World
Peter Pan’s Flight
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The Adventures of Pinocchio
Flying Dumbo
Lancelot’s Carousel
Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups
Alice’s Labyrinth
Casey Jr
Storybook Boat Ride

FRONTIERLAND
Big Thunder Mountain
Phantom Manor
Thunder Mesa Riverboat

WALT DISNEY STUDIOS
Aladdin’s Flying Carpets
Animagique
Cinemagique
Motor Stunt Show
Studio Tram Tour
Rock N Rollercoaster
Armageddon

OTHER
Panoramagique
Ice Rink



We'll be in DLP from Saturday (around 3.50pm) until wednesday morning, before then spending a night in London and arriving home just in time for easter. Last day in work tommorow!

Thanks for reading, I'll continue the report when we get back at the end of next week. I'll try to post some pics/vids too.

 

[wendybird7]

Hi, what a lovely post, you sound so excited, I know you and your family will have a marvellous time!

Sounds like a good and realistic itinery, you've got 3 full days in the park so you will definitely get a chance to do all your must-dos.

A word of warning, only because my own itinerarys have gone to pot before - don't be scared to go with the flow according to crowd traffic, because in my opinion Fantasyland is one of the busiest lands during the day, and in the space of 2 hours in the evening you would probably be able to go on most of the rides without rushing!

I also recommend the railroad, especially if you've not been on it before, it's a really great way to reacquaint yourself with the park

I'm so jealous, I have a bit of waiting to do yet before my next trip!!

Which hotel are you all staying in, out of interest?

 

[karenmoloney]

You can always watch the Lion King show from the Hyperion restaurant which overlooks the theatre & gives you a great view of the show. This way you don't have to worry about looking for tickets. I have always watched it from there.

Have a great trip.

 

[andycraik]

Thanks for the reply.
We're staying in the Explorers hotel this time. I've heard it's ok for families.

 

[andycraik]

actually, I have a question.
How is the extra 2 hours that are allowed to disney hotel guests policed in an evening? I'm assuming I won't be given these this time as we're in Explorers, but once it gets to 8pm on Monday, how do Disney know if i leave the park or not? Would it be possible for us to stay in until 10?

 

[wendybird7]

good question, I'm not too sure - has anyone tried this?

I would have thought the extra magic hours were for explorer's guests as well, is this not the case?

I think it may be that since it says it's certain areas of the park, guests might be expected to show their hotel ID when entering these lands? Oh I'm really not sure, how can they enforce this, it seems near impossible come to think of it!!

 

[jillrobinson]

Apparently and you can correct me if I'm wrong on your return, Disney hotel guests will have a wristband, you will be allowed to stay in the parks without one when EMH at the end of the day but not to ride the attractions. Hope this helps.

Your itinerary sounds great BTW, although I have read about parts of the park being closed off on 31st March due to the press event, only from 1 source though so

Have a great trip, we're starting out on ours now.

 

[marcus.ka]

The extra opening hours will start on 1st April. So no one can say anything about this yet. But as Jill said you will get a wristband as a Disney Hotel guest! But not if you are staying at Explorers or Holiday Inn. Only the 7 "real" Disney Hotels will get one! AFAIK!

And I think when you enter the park at 5pm you won't get tickets for Lion King anymore!
And on Sunday Fantasyland will be very crowded! It should be not so crowded on Monday and Tuesday!

And don't forget to go on Indiana Jones! It is a great rollercoaster and not as hard as SM2 or Rock'nRoller Coaster!

 

[A Small World]

Last Easter we had extra hours at end of day and had to go and collect a wrist band from somewhere near mainstreet station at 5.00 on the day. (You had to show hotel id/park passesto get this) We then had to show this band at each ride.
Guests who werent staying in Disney Hotel were still about in the park- in shops/restaurants etc but not allowed on rides.

Im assuming it will happen in a similar way with EMH

Sounds like you'll have a great time but dont be frightened to abandon your plan and go with the flow

 

[Cyrano]

Great to continue the excitement with a pre-trip report. Especially with all the other things going on in your life.
Have a great birthday trip
Looking forward to hearing and seeing all about it

 

[marcus.ka]

Guests who werent staying in Disney Hotel were still about in the park- in shops/restaurants etc but not allowed on rides.

And were the CMs very strict? I can imagine that people don't know about the extra hours when they queue for an attraction after 8pm.
Or were there CM's at the entrance of the attraction who checked the wrist band?

 

[A Small World]

Yes, we had to show wrist bands.

 

[tennisfan]

I'm not sure if the ice rink will still be running, as it use to change to an all weather sports pitch/cycle thing outside winter months.

 

[mulan1]

Great to continue the excitement with a pre-trip report. Especially with all the other things going on in your life.
Have a great birthday trip
Looking forward to hearing and seeing all about it

my sentiments exactly
have fun!

 

[andycraik]

Thanks for the fantastic response everyone. Some great replies there.

With regards to the ice rink, I'm sure I read on another site that it will still be open until the 2nd week in April. No biggy if it's not, but I went on it on my first trip in '93 and always remembered the nice atmosphere it had. Plus, my kids have never been ice skating. so fingers crossed.

As for my plan, it's not set in stone. I just wanted to be a bit organised. Mainly because of the food. Last time we hadn't done any research and only just fitted all the rides in. We only had one sit down meal (Planet Hollywood) and were fed up of burgers and hot dogs by the end of our stay.I'm sorry to say constipation was rife in our family that week.

I hadn't thought about it being busy in Fantasyland on Sunday. Maybe I'll do a swop and visit there on my birthday (monday) instead. we could do WDS on Sunday cos I'm assuming it won't be as busy. That may also be a better plan due to the fact the weather is predicted as raining on Sunday with sun the rest of the time we're there. There's more undercover stuff at WDS I think. The only trouble with that is that I felt we should be in the "proper" disney park on our first day. Oh well, as somebody said, it's probably best to just go with the flow.

My one other concern is about whether my fussy kids will enjoy the food at Walt's and Cafe Mickey. Oh, and would you recommend booking for these two meals? and if so, are the times I've chosen good times to be there?

Also, anyone have more info on the situation for Saturday? Is it right that some of the park will be closed to non-VIPs? Maybe I'll do some starspotting instead.

Sorry for all the questions, I just don't want to waste the fountain of knowledge which I know is on tap at this brilliant forum.

 

[tennisfan]

According to the Shareholders club, they state the the press & VIPs will be given priority so i'm not sure if they are closing any areas off but I think they will have the best seats in the house so to speak.

Feel free to ask any questions, were a friendly bunch

 

[quirkygirl]

hiya

just wanted to say have a fab time personally i would recommned booking before you go for your evening meals, as on our last visit there were many families being turned away from cafe mickeys (we ate twice here) in tears as it was full.

The food is kiddie fare but my meals were of a good standard...... somesort of chicken chowmein style/ noodle thingy. I think the more recent menu is available on the dlp food guide site...rubbish at links or i'd do one.

have fun

 

[Disney owl]

looks & sounds great

Have a brilliant holiday

 

[Raci]

My one other concern is about whether my fussy kids will enjoy the food at Walt's and Cafe Mickey. Oh, and would you recommend booking for these two meals? and if so, are the times I've chosen good times to be there?

Hi Andy!
Great to hear all your plans for your trip!

I would definatly pre-book your meals at Walts and Cafe Mickey's. Then you're guaranteed to get the times and restaurants you want. I certainly wouldn't book CM for later than 7, maybe even bring it forward to 6.30. We were in there nearly 2 1/2 hours, with all the characters. When we left there was quite a queue outside for later bookings and very few free tables to honour the bookings at the time they were made for. Also my friends son is a fussy eater and he enjoyed his meal at both Walts and Cafe Mickey so you should be fine

Our only plan in advance was for which park we would be in on which day and roughly where and when meals would be. We just went with wherever the queue's were shortest on each given day and when FP times were for. Esp if the park is busy it's well worth getting these early in the day, it eliminates time wasted in a queue. Originally I thought to do each land in turn but they were so close it was easy to swap between them. So just go with the flow.

The best piece of advice, Have a wonderful time and make the most of every minute
I can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[bells]

Just wanted to wish you all a fantastic trip ,really enjoyed reading about all your plans