Millies Daddy
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2007
- Messages
- 132
The day with the sunshine and Planet Hollywood.
We all awoke just before 0700 after a nice restful night. The only disturbance was mine with the nocturnal habits of our neighbours and their headboard. I didnt think that kind of activity happened in Disneyland!!
Once we had competed with the throng at breakfast we arrived in good time to make use of the Extra Magic Hours. As we entered the park there was characters everywhere. The kids quickly whipped out their autograph books and off they went. They got everyone from Tic and Tac, Lilo (Stitch was being naughty and stealing peoples pens), Remy, Mrs Incredible and even Geppeto. The only thing I wish was that the characters minders were a little more forceful in stopping people from forcing their kids towards the characters and jumping the queue. It was heartening to see that when Tic (or was it Tac) was having his photo taken with a little boy in a wheelchair that the minder quickly got the other half in on the act to complete the photo. We also got to have our photo taken with Mickey. It was such a good photo that we got it printed and let them talk us into having a frame as well. I think we will use that photo for our Christmas cards this year!
We hit the main plaza just on 1000 so we made our way across Adventureland to Indiana Jones. DS loves Indy and we had already let him down gently before we got there. I think I was on the second car out and I got the front seat. It was great riding at the front and gives a unique experience. We were really disappointed with the merchandise on sale at the ride. DS would have bought the shop if there was anything half decent.
We then wandered across and rode Pirates, Peter Pan, Pinocchio and Its a Small World. They were all walk ons. We even got the front seat on IASM so I videoed the ride. It will be nice to play again when we are a little low and hear the song mixed in with the Christmas tunes!
DD then decide that she really wanted to go in the Maze. DW and I cant think of anything worse but she insisted. We let her be the guide so it took some time!!
It had now reached nearly 1130 and time to catch Mickeys Winter Wonderland. A quick rethink when we saw the queue saw us decide to pay Santa a visit instead. In the queue the elves had a chat with the kids about what they wanted for Christmas and what they had to do to earn them. Santa was wonderful. We explained to the kids that they should only ask for a couple of things each and not be greedy. He even asked me what colour Aston Martin I would like!! He was really engaging, funny and very attentive. Just as Santa should be!
Our new plan involved a quick bite to eat and to catch the next show. Unfortunately this also fell by the wayside because of the slow service in Fuente del Oro Restaurante it took over half an hour when there was only four people in front of me. The food was worth the wait though. I had the Chilli and DW had the Fajitas. Both were very tasty and hot.
Because we had missed the next slot for Mickeys Winter Wonderland we headed for the main plaza for the main show. We found a good spot to watch from the back.
It was now hot chocolate time so we popped into the Café Hyperion so the kids could watch the cartoons. We then decided to catch the train from Discoveryland Station and get off at Frontierland ready for the Winter Wonderland show. It absolutely poured down as we waited which meant that the seats nearest the doors in the carriages were a little wet. Guess who had the wet bum when we got off!!
The show was really good fun. The kids were spellbound and to keep them quiet for 25 minutes or so is no mean feat!! It was absolutely freezing in the theatre so if you are going wrap up warm and take a hot chocolate with you!
After the show we planned to leave the Park a little earlier to ensure that we could be back in the park for the castle lighting. We took the bendy bus back to the hotel and dropped off our bags and got back in time for a meal in
Planet Hollywood before the crowds. We went to Planet Hollywood at about 1700. It was really quiet and the experience was so much better than our last time about six years ago when it was busy, rushed and DD had mouldy bread on her ham and cheese toastie!! I had the chicken tenders for starters followed by the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger. It was all very hot, extremely tasty and quickly delivered. DW has the Chicken and Broccoli Pasta which she said was absolutely lovely. The kids had hot dogs and chips with ice cream for afters and a kinder surprise. DW had the Double Chocolate Brownie which I had to help her with. Overall, a very pleasant experience with good food, good service and not overly expensive.
We got back to the park to watch the Disney Showtime Spectacular Celebrates Christmas Show. It was so different watching it at night. The only problem was when a bloke lifted his daughter onto his shoulders right in front of me. I moved to not cause a fuss but the view was not as good. DW was not so polite and told anyone who got in DDs was where to get off (much to the annoyance of a woman who kept of giving dirty looks!) It was at the end of the show when Mickey made the lights on the Castle light up that we realised exactly way should have happened on Monday night. It was very entertaining.
It was now time to position ourselves to watch the Fantillusion Parade. We wanted to move further down the street so that we could see the transformation of the villains. It also answered the question to why some characters were pushing trolleys!!
After the show had finished we joined the throng leaving the Park. Our bus was absolutely full so we jumped on a bus bound for the Santa Fe. It was a trip down memory lane for me and DW because this is where we stayed during our first visit. The décor was very good and we absolutely loved the Cars theme and the pictures on the walls!!
It was a very tired family that finally retired to bed at 2030!!
We all awoke just before 0700 after a nice restful night. The only disturbance was mine with the nocturnal habits of our neighbours and their headboard. I didnt think that kind of activity happened in Disneyland!!
Once we had competed with the throng at breakfast we arrived in good time to make use of the Extra Magic Hours. As we entered the park there was characters everywhere. The kids quickly whipped out their autograph books and off they went. They got everyone from Tic and Tac, Lilo (Stitch was being naughty and stealing peoples pens), Remy, Mrs Incredible and even Geppeto. The only thing I wish was that the characters minders were a little more forceful in stopping people from forcing their kids towards the characters and jumping the queue. It was heartening to see that when Tic (or was it Tac) was having his photo taken with a little boy in a wheelchair that the minder quickly got the other half in on the act to complete the photo. We also got to have our photo taken with Mickey. It was such a good photo that we got it printed and let them talk us into having a frame as well. I think we will use that photo for our Christmas cards this year!
We hit the main plaza just on 1000 so we made our way across Adventureland to Indiana Jones. DS loves Indy and we had already let him down gently before we got there. I think I was on the second car out and I got the front seat. It was great riding at the front and gives a unique experience. We were really disappointed with the merchandise on sale at the ride. DS would have bought the shop if there was anything half decent.
We then wandered across and rode Pirates, Peter Pan, Pinocchio and Its a Small World. They were all walk ons. We even got the front seat on IASM so I videoed the ride. It will be nice to play again when we are a little low and hear the song mixed in with the Christmas tunes!
DD then decide that she really wanted to go in the Maze. DW and I cant think of anything worse but she insisted. We let her be the guide so it took some time!!
It had now reached nearly 1130 and time to catch Mickeys Winter Wonderland. A quick rethink when we saw the queue saw us decide to pay Santa a visit instead. In the queue the elves had a chat with the kids about what they wanted for Christmas and what they had to do to earn them. Santa was wonderful. We explained to the kids that they should only ask for a couple of things each and not be greedy. He even asked me what colour Aston Martin I would like!! He was really engaging, funny and very attentive. Just as Santa should be!
Our new plan involved a quick bite to eat and to catch the next show. Unfortunately this also fell by the wayside because of the slow service in Fuente del Oro Restaurante it took over half an hour when there was only four people in front of me. The food was worth the wait though. I had the Chilli and DW had the Fajitas. Both were very tasty and hot.
Because we had missed the next slot for Mickeys Winter Wonderland we headed for the main plaza for the main show. We found a good spot to watch from the back.
It was now hot chocolate time so we popped into the Café Hyperion so the kids could watch the cartoons. We then decided to catch the train from Discoveryland Station and get off at Frontierland ready for the Winter Wonderland show. It absolutely poured down as we waited which meant that the seats nearest the doors in the carriages were a little wet. Guess who had the wet bum when we got off!!
The show was really good fun. The kids were spellbound and to keep them quiet for 25 minutes or so is no mean feat!! It was absolutely freezing in the theatre so if you are going wrap up warm and take a hot chocolate with you!
After the show we planned to leave the Park a little earlier to ensure that we could be back in the park for the castle lighting. We took the bendy bus back to the hotel and dropped off our bags and got back in time for a meal in
Planet Hollywood before the crowds. We went to Planet Hollywood at about 1700. It was really quiet and the experience was so much better than our last time about six years ago when it was busy, rushed and DD had mouldy bread on her ham and cheese toastie!! I had the chicken tenders for starters followed by the BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger. It was all very hot, extremely tasty and quickly delivered. DW has the Chicken and Broccoli Pasta which she said was absolutely lovely. The kids had hot dogs and chips with ice cream for afters and a kinder surprise. DW had the Double Chocolate Brownie which I had to help her with. Overall, a very pleasant experience with good food, good service and not overly expensive.
We got back to the park to watch the Disney Showtime Spectacular Celebrates Christmas Show. It was so different watching it at night. The only problem was when a bloke lifted his daughter onto his shoulders right in front of me. I moved to not cause a fuss but the view was not as good. DW was not so polite and told anyone who got in DDs was where to get off (much to the annoyance of a woman who kept of giving dirty looks!) It was at the end of the show when Mickey made the lights on the Castle light up that we realised exactly way should have happened on Monday night. It was very entertaining.
It was now time to position ourselves to watch the Fantillusion Parade. We wanted to move further down the street so that we could see the transformation of the villains. It also answered the question to why some characters were pushing trolleys!!
After the show had finished we joined the throng leaving the Park. Our bus was absolutely full so we jumped on a bus bound for the Santa Fe. It was a trip down memory lane for me and DW because this is where we stayed during our first visit. The décor was very good and we absolutely loved the Cars theme and the pictures on the walls!!
It was a very tired family that finally retired to bed at 2030!!
