Day 4 Wednesday, our last day 
We were up, packed, checked out and on the shuttle bus to the parks by 9.15 this morning. Took our cases to the train station lockers for the day (5.50 euros) and then headed off to the Studios. I got a large coffee from a stall near the En Coulisse restaurant in Studio One as we entered because we'd missed breakfast and I needed to wake up
.
We wanted to ride Tram Tours first (DD's choice) but it wasn't opening until after 10am, the nice but vague CMs at the ride told us (ie they didn't know exactly when it was going to open, just "later"
). So we rode Slinky, then Cars, and when we'd done that, they were just letting the first guests onto the Tram Tour, so we were in the first tram of the day. My DD didn't remember any of this, as it had been at least 4 years ago we last did this ride. We both quite enjoyed it, a few of the props have been replaced, like now the Gargoyles from Hunchback of Notre Dame are there on the tour
, RC racer is there, and although I miss the costume department drive-through bit, its not bad seeing where the new Ratatouille area will be as you drive past.
We left the Studios at around 11.15 and headed to the main park, where we picked up a FP for BTM at 2pm, and rode POTC.
Although I like most of the gold theming and bunting thats around the entrance and Main St area, I'm not keen on these at all -
they look like they're wrapped in rubbishy plastic bags somehow
.
We decided to have a proper lunch today, as we wouldn't have a chance to have much for dinner, so we went to the Plaza Gardens at just after 12noon. Oh my goodness everything was delicious and there was so much choice (including escargot
). Real food!!!! I had a little selection of starters, then a bowl of lovely vegetable soup with croutons, then my main was grilled beefsteak with onions and peppers, green beans and dauphinoise potatoes (I
love those
). I couldn't force any more food down me after all that, but there was loads of fresh fruit so I snaffled a banana and a little stalk of grapes for later.
We were in the Plaza Gardens for an hour, so when we left it was time to go to City Hall for DD's surprise. When we got there it was very busy, but when we got to the desk I explained what had been discussed the evening before with their colleague, the CM there went off to make her phone call, then asked us to accompany her up to the hub opposite the castle. We were just in front of the character train as it came up Main St, and when it stopped and the characters got off, the CM with Donald called to my DD by name, cleared the way for her, and she got a big fuss made of her by the Duck Dude himself -
She was over the moon, especially since seconds later every character was being completely mobbed
.
We left the madness of the character train, and did the Fort Comstock walkthrough for the first time, then BTM with our FP from earlier (picking one up for later too).
Then we did Phantom Manor again, this time (as all over the park today) it was busier than we'd experienced before, and when we went into the stretching room the place was pretty packed, I felt quite claustrophobic (and crowds normally don't bother me at all). We had time for Tarzan again, and 3rd time lucky, no columns blocking my view at all today
!
POTC next, then explored Skull Rock and the floating bridge, then it was BTM time but the FP line was long and we didn't really have a lot of time left, so we window-shopped our way down Main St and went into the Market House deli to eavesdrop on the telephones for a while
. I took a final pic from the bottom of Main St -
then it was time to go.
Now - I have a confession to make.
Before we went on this trip, I was seriously gearing myself up for it possibly being our last together for quite a long time
. My DD is growing up, she starts secondary school in September, and if she would rather not come again, if she would rather try going elsewhere on holiday, I knew I would have to accept that. So I spent a lot of time this trip getting quite teary-eyed at the possibility that we wouldn't be doing this together anymore. I asked her, on our last day (while at lunch) if she thought she'd want to come to DLP again soon. Her face lit up and she gave a resounding YES
. Since we've been home, she's been telling her friends about her VIP day, meeting Donald etc. So I guess DLP is still working its Magic
.
.
lol yes... a sneaky trip which, u can imagine doing a day trip from where we r, is gonna b long and without sleep 
one day.... def be interesting!!
! Its right next to the castle stage, opposite the benches, and its where the Princesses used to arrive/depart from the stage when they used that venue for the Princess meet n greet in the past. A small area with 2 benches in, there was only us and one other family of 3 in the area, with a lovely CM who was expecting us. Definitely a VIP experience 
. This is the waiting line and corridor - 
Sounds fantastic 
.....
