Day 4
Up again for EMH and this time we did Buzz twice, Orbitron twice and then went off to do something else we hadn’t done before in February – visit the dragon! I was apprehensive as to how DD would be given it was so dark in there, but both children were so much more daring on this trip, and the dragon was to be the new favourite on this trip! We stayed in there a loooooong time. Shame none of my pics came out, I’m just not that good a photographer and it was so dark. DS got the idea that the dragon woke up when you tried to take a pic so I took a lot but none of them are any good. After saying goodbye to Mr Dragon it was off to Fantasyland and another first – Pinnochio. I’d read on here that it wasn’t worth queuing for and I heartily agree, however both children loved it and we had to go on twice. Along with Snow White I find it a very strange ride, unnecessarily gloomy and macabre. Heigh ho. We just had time to do the teacups twice with a spinning competition (didn’t realise they could go round quite that fast!) and for DS to try to pull the sword out of the stone (unfortunately it seems he’s not the rightful King of England. Prince Charles will be pleased.) before the new Sleeping Beauty show in the courtyard. This was very well done but I was standing on the balcony of the castle to take pictures, and the show was all done to the front so I mostly got a back view unfortunately.
However, you didn’t have to get there very early to get a good front row position at the round bit where the Sword in the Stone is. They won’t let children sit on the wall with their legs dangling over but it doesn’t seem to be a problem for them to just perch there. DS and DD had by now changed into their costumes (Ds a knight and DD was Belle) because we had a 12 o clock booking at Auberge de Cendrillon. This is the second time we’ve had a booking for this time and I would recommend this early sitting – later it gets extremely busy and the princesses don’t get properly round all the tables. DD, even at 3, is a princess fanatic and had been talking about this for months, but she wasn’t quite prepared for meeting Cinderella right at the door and having the official photo.
Cinderella was very good with her though and tried her best, and all the princes and princesses gave attention to DS this time too, so he didn’t feel left out. He actually likes this experience as much as DD! Actually, there were 2 princes there this time, perhaps they are trying to make it more boy-friendly? The food was wonderful, the wine flowed freely and so did the cash unfortunately! The non-obligatory official photo was 25 euros for a set and we got it in the end because DS looked lovely and DD was pulling the most hilarious pouting face! We saw Ariel and Prince Eric, plus Aurora and Prince William and both princes were much more active and talkative this time than in February.
Both DH and I really fancied a nice lie down now after our big lunch but no, not allowed, we have to revisit Pinnochio and then go on IASW 4 times – no queue so the CMs let us stay on. Luckily as we were coming around for the 5th time a queue had formed and DS was persuaded we’d have to get off! Thanks to the lovely people here I knew the benches opposite IASW were a good place to be for the parade, so off we went to do something else we hadn’t done on our February trip.
Got a wave from Buzz
Had a perfect view of 2 of the dancing princesses - go nearer to IASW to see Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.
We hung around a little while after and were rewarded with the Character Express, which was lucky as DD was crying for the parade to come back. After our big lunch we just grabbed something small at Casey’s (where we saw the Character Express again) and headed home.
Day 5
Not quite so early for EMH this time, and my enthusiasm was waning for the rides on offer. We just did Buzz twice (why is it DH scores 120,000 regularly and I’m lucky to get more than 15,000? The only explanation is a faulty laser gun EVERY TIME!) and then tootled off to Salon Mickey for a croissant and their lovely hot chocolate. After that it was time to explore the fort, but all of this week you couldn’t get up on to it. We didn’t try this in February so I don’t know when, if ever, they open it?
DS decided he’d try Thunder Mountain again as long as he didn’t go to the front, but on no account would he go into Phantom Manor again, which he did try on our previous trip. We spent some more euros on the shooting gallery and DS decided he would spend the remainder of his money on a gun from the shop. We explored the excellent Adventure Island which again we hadn’t had time to do much before (and to be honest its not quite so inviting when the temperature is below freezing).
Then demi-poulets at the Cowboy Cookout called, and we queued for Woody, only to be switched to Jessie at the last moment. Still, DS seemed to get over his disappointment quick enough!
We experienced some creative queuing for Tarzan, which I thought was a really excellent show, far better than Mickey’s Winter Wonderland. Then off for another first, the Swiss Family Robinson house, the pirates’s playground and back to POTC which DS seemed to have taken a dislike to after his front of the ride experience on BTM. A quick walk through Aladdin, and then off to Annette’s for Rock’n’ Roll burgers and peanut butter milkshakes, yum!
Day 6
We decided we needed a bit of a rest today so we got in later and went straight to Salon Mickey. Today’s plan was to do all the things we hadn’t done yet. We tried to go on Autopia, but it didn’t open until 11.30 so we went to Casey Jr and the Storybook ride, got crushed in a scrum for Belle and the Beast, went in the Alice maze
and explored the fort so the children could have their beloved toffee apples which aren’t sold in many places.
Lunch at the Lucky Nugget today which we really enjoyed on our last trip but today seemed a bit frantic with the characters coming in a big wave and no time to get your food or eat it. Perhaps we just picked a bad time. We saw Minnie, Baloo, the baddie whose name I can never remember who looks a bit like Captain Hook, Mr Smee, Geppetto and Eeyore.
After lunch it was off to the riverboat (saw the keelboats were running but didn’t try to get on them) and a very leisurely trip on the Molly Brown where we sat down and had an uninterrupted view the whole trip. I’ve never been on before without it being crowded so that was nice. BTM again, then the train to Discoveryland where DS had requested to go on Star Tours again. We also visited the Nautilus which really impressed us. DS was most taken with the giant octopus and we watched it 11 times before he reluctantly came up, then immediately wanted to go on it again. His restaurant choice was Planet Hollywood, but we didn’t think much of the food and won’t go again. The tables are so close together it’s impossible to get out, and DS is just mesmerised by the big TVs so it doesn’t make for an ideal family meal IMO. Back to the Hotel NY where we’d parked, and home sweet mobile home.
Day 7
Our last full day, so strict planning needed by DH to make sure we got everything done!
Into Fantasyland for EMH to do Dumbo and Peter Pan twice, Pinnochio (oh great, Pinnochio again), then off to Salon Mickey for a much deserved croissant. Into Studios to catch Stitch Live – we loved this, very clever. It’s a shame we didn’t manage to get an English showing when we were in the Studios earlier as I’d have liked to see this twice to see how much difference audience interaction made. We queued 20 minutes, our longest queue, for the Cars ride and as before DH and I didn’t think it was worth the wait. It’s a shame, they could have made so much more of this ride. Then on to the Tram Tour, which again had freaked out DD on our earlier trip, but she was fine this time if a little apprehensive about the dragon. We had lunch on the backlot for DS to have his beloved Mickey pizza, then on to Flying Carpets for a walk-on twice. We did check out the Moteurs show but there was a huge queue even 45 minutes before the next show and there was no way the children would have been happy to stay in a queue that long. Anyone know why you have to queue so early for it?
Back to Frontierland to see Tarzan again (my request for one thing we could do again), then to Bella Notte for the parade (DD’s request)
and back to our beloved Annette’s.
Last Day
We didn’t have long in the parks so we went in for EMH, visited Buzz, Peter Pan and Pinnochio, said goodbye to the dragon and explored upstairs in the castle which besides Autopia was the one remaining thing to do on our list.
I made up for my previous rate of photo-taking! On the way back we managed to spot loads of the old vehicles,
plus Mickey in his car while I actually had a camera in my hand. The children had been promised a present and DD was adamant she wanted a Minnie dress – she even knew which shop it was in so she’d obviously had it on her mind! DS wanted the Stitch in a rocket he’d seen earlier so it was off to Main St for that and goodbye to the park. We needed to eat early and DH has a particular love of American pancakes and had always wanted to have breakfast at Annette’s, so we were back here again, and a very good breakfast it was too. DS and DD shared one and devoured it, which is most unlike them!
Back to the car for another showing of Lilo and Stitch 2 and back to Dover, exhausted but happy. My MIL asked me if being there for a whole week had put DH and I off going on our own in October – far from it. We spent the whole time secretly planning what we’re going to do! Can’t wait.
Up again for EMH and this time we did Buzz twice, Orbitron twice and then went off to do something else we hadn’t done before in February – visit the dragon! I was apprehensive as to how DD would be given it was so dark in there, but both children were so much more daring on this trip, and the dragon was to be the new favourite on this trip! We stayed in there a loooooong time. Shame none of my pics came out, I’m just not that good a photographer and it was so dark. DS got the idea that the dragon woke up when you tried to take a pic so I took a lot but none of them are any good. After saying goodbye to Mr Dragon it was off to Fantasyland and another first – Pinnochio. I’d read on here that it wasn’t worth queuing for and I heartily agree, however both children loved it and we had to go on twice. Along with Snow White I find it a very strange ride, unnecessarily gloomy and macabre. Heigh ho. We just had time to do the teacups twice with a spinning competition (didn’t realise they could go round quite that fast!) and for DS to try to pull the sword out of the stone (unfortunately it seems he’s not the rightful King of England. Prince Charles will be pleased.) before the new Sleeping Beauty show in the courtyard. This was very well done but I was standing on the balcony of the castle to take pictures, and the show was all done to the front so I mostly got a back view unfortunately.
However, you didn’t have to get there very early to get a good front row position at the round bit where the Sword in the Stone is. They won’t let children sit on the wall with their legs dangling over but it doesn’t seem to be a problem for them to just perch there. DS and DD had by now changed into their costumes (Ds a knight and DD was Belle) because we had a 12 o clock booking at Auberge de Cendrillon. This is the second time we’ve had a booking for this time and I would recommend this early sitting – later it gets extremely busy and the princesses don’t get properly round all the tables. DD, even at 3, is a princess fanatic and had been talking about this for months, but she wasn’t quite prepared for meeting Cinderella right at the door and having the official photo.
Cinderella was very good with her though and tried her best, and all the princes and princesses gave attention to DS this time too, so he didn’t feel left out. He actually likes this experience as much as DD! Actually, there were 2 princes there this time, perhaps they are trying to make it more boy-friendly? The food was wonderful, the wine flowed freely and so did the cash unfortunately! The non-obligatory official photo was 25 euros for a set and we got it in the end because DS looked lovely and DD was pulling the most hilarious pouting face! We saw Ariel and Prince Eric, plus Aurora and Prince William and both princes were much more active and talkative this time than in February.
Both DH and I really fancied a nice lie down now after our big lunch but no, not allowed, we have to revisit Pinnochio and then go on IASW 4 times – no queue so the CMs let us stay on. Luckily as we were coming around for the 5th time a queue had formed and DS was persuaded we’d have to get off! Thanks to the lovely people here I knew the benches opposite IASW were a good place to be for the parade, so off we went to do something else we hadn’t done on our February trip.
Got a wave from Buzz
Had a perfect view of 2 of the dancing princesses - go nearer to IASW to see Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.
We hung around a little while after and were rewarded with the Character Express, which was lucky as DD was crying for the parade to come back. After our big lunch we just grabbed something small at Casey’s (where we saw the Character Express again) and headed home.
Day 5
Not quite so early for EMH this time, and my enthusiasm was waning for the rides on offer. We just did Buzz twice (why is it DH scores 120,000 regularly and I’m lucky to get more than 15,000? The only explanation is a faulty laser gun EVERY TIME!) and then tootled off to Salon Mickey for a croissant and their lovely hot chocolate. After that it was time to explore the fort, but all of this week you couldn’t get up on to it. We didn’t try this in February so I don’t know when, if ever, they open it?
DS decided he’d try Thunder Mountain again as long as he didn’t go to the front, but on no account would he go into Phantom Manor again, which he did try on our previous trip. We spent some more euros on the shooting gallery and DS decided he would spend the remainder of his money on a gun from the shop. We explored the excellent Adventure Island which again we hadn’t had time to do much before (and to be honest its not quite so inviting when the temperature is below freezing).
Then demi-poulets at the Cowboy Cookout called, and we queued for Woody, only to be switched to Jessie at the last moment. Still, DS seemed to get over his disappointment quick enough!
We experienced some creative queuing for Tarzan, which I thought was a really excellent show, far better than Mickey’s Winter Wonderland. Then off for another first, the Swiss Family Robinson house, the pirates’s playground and back to POTC which DS seemed to have taken a dislike to after his front of the ride experience on BTM. A quick walk through Aladdin, and then off to Annette’s for Rock’n’ Roll burgers and peanut butter milkshakes, yum!
Day 6
We decided we needed a bit of a rest today so we got in later and went straight to Salon Mickey. Today’s plan was to do all the things we hadn’t done yet. We tried to go on Autopia, but it didn’t open until 11.30 so we went to Casey Jr and the Storybook ride, got crushed in a scrum for Belle and the Beast, went in the Alice maze
and explored the fort so the children could have their beloved toffee apples which aren’t sold in many places.
Lunch at the Lucky Nugget today which we really enjoyed on our last trip but today seemed a bit frantic with the characters coming in a big wave and no time to get your food or eat it. Perhaps we just picked a bad time. We saw Minnie, Baloo, the baddie whose name I can never remember who looks a bit like Captain Hook, Mr Smee, Geppetto and Eeyore.
After lunch it was off to the riverboat (saw the keelboats were running but didn’t try to get on them) and a very leisurely trip on the Molly Brown where we sat down and had an uninterrupted view the whole trip. I’ve never been on before without it being crowded so that was nice. BTM again, then the train to Discoveryland where DS had requested to go on Star Tours again. We also visited the Nautilus which really impressed us. DS was most taken with the giant octopus and we watched it 11 times before he reluctantly came up, then immediately wanted to go on it again. His restaurant choice was Planet Hollywood, but we didn’t think much of the food and won’t go again. The tables are so close together it’s impossible to get out, and DS is just mesmerised by the big TVs so it doesn’t make for an ideal family meal IMO. Back to the Hotel NY where we’d parked, and home sweet mobile home.
Day 7
Our last full day, so strict planning needed by DH to make sure we got everything done!
Into Fantasyland for EMH to do Dumbo and Peter Pan twice, Pinnochio (oh great, Pinnochio again), then off to Salon Mickey for a much deserved croissant. Into Studios to catch Stitch Live – we loved this, very clever. It’s a shame we didn’t manage to get an English showing when we were in the Studios earlier as I’d have liked to see this twice to see how much difference audience interaction made. We queued 20 minutes, our longest queue, for the Cars ride and as before DH and I didn’t think it was worth the wait. It’s a shame, they could have made so much more of this ride. Then on to the Tram Tour, which again had freaked out DD on our earlier trip, but she was fine this time if a little apprehensive about the dragon. We had lunch on the backlot for DS to have his beloved Mickey pizza, then on to Flying Carpets for a walk-on twice. We did check out the Moteurs show but there was a huge queue even 45 minutes before the next show and there was no way the children would have been happy to stay in a queue that long. Anyone know why you have to queue so early for it?
Back to Frontierland to see Tarzan again (my request for one thing we could do again), then to Bella Notte for the parade (DD’s request)
and back to our beloved Annette’s.
Last Day
We didn’t have long in the parks so we went in for EMH, visited Buzz, Peter Pan and Pinnochio, said goodbye to the dragon and explored upstairs in the castle which besides Autopia was the one remaining thing to do on our list.
I made up for my previous rate of photo-taking! On the way back we managed to spot loads of the old vehicles,
plus Mickey in his car while I actually had a camera in my hand. The children had been promised a present and DD was adamant she wanted a Minnie dress – she even knew which shop it was in so she’d obviously had it on her mind! DS wanted the Stitch in a rocket he’d seen earlier so it was off to Main St for that and goodbye to the park. We needed to eat early and DH has a particular love of American pancakes and had always wanted to have breakfast at Annette’s, so we were back here again, and a very good breakfast it was too. DS and DD shared one and devoured it, which is most unlike them!
Back to the car for another showing of Lilo and Stitch 2 and back to Dover, exhausted but happy. My MIL asked me if being there for a whole week had put DH and I off going on our own in October – far from it. We spent the whole time secretly planning what we’re going to do! Can’t wait.
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