Millies Daddy
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2007
- Messages
- 132
The day with the missing tooth, broken rides, rain and hot chocolate
The day started well. The weather was dry but cold (that soon changed!!) and DDs second middle tooth finally dropped out. At least she wont look like a hillbilly in the photos now!! The Kyriad provided a very nice room for the first stop gap night. It was very quiet and very warm. In fact we all slept outside the covers and the window was open.
We left the Kyriad at just after 0800 for the short journey across to the Cheyenne. Checking in at reception was quick and easy and our room was ready to move straight in. The room was beautifully clean with absolutely nothing to complain about. The new TV was nice (with a nice welcome message) and the safe was a great addition. Saves having to find somewhere for the valuables. Once we dropped our stuff off and caught the bendy bus it was time for a quick breakfast at McDonalds. It was enough to keep us going until dinner time but the tea was awful!!
So we finally arrived at the park at about 0930. The Christmas theme hits you straight away with the fantastic tree and decorations down Main Street. We quickly made our way to Discoveryland and straight onto Buzz. It was great. Considering that we are regular visitors to Legoland and the Pharaohs shooting game there Buzz shows what you can do with the technology. It is a real blast of colour and action from start to finish. I then made my way straight to Space Mountain and met the rest of the family straight after to ride Orbitron. Staying in Discoveryland I took DS on Star Tours which he didnt really enjoy but he did get to meet Darth Vader on the way out. Onwards an upwards we went across the sea Captain EO. Unfortunately we had pictures but no sound so we were quickly removed due to the technical difficulties!! This was the second technical difficulty with Buzz stopping on the way around. When we left the theatre it had started to rain. It remained persistent right up until the late afternoon.
We were in need of a hot chocolate so we popped into the Café Hyperion to have a sit down and watch some cartoons. Suitably refreshed it was off to reacquaint ourselves with Its A Small World. It was great with the usual catch song mixing seamlessly with Christmas songs. Next it was off to the castle to catch up with the dragon. She looks in really good condition because she looked a little tired last Summer when we last saw her.
It was now dinner time so we made our way around to the Cowboy Cookoff. We enjoyed the half chicken and wedges while the kids had the sausages and fries from the junior menu. The sausages werent great and they did well to eat one each. I dont think we will be trying them again. We stayed in here for a while to dry, warm up and soak up the Country singing!!
We finally decided to bite the bullet and walked down to Phantom Manor. Like all the rides today it was a walk on. I forgot just how great Disney is at the art of Imagineering. DS was enchanted by the whole thing. It was then straight across to Pirates of the Caribbean. Possible DWs favourite ride. Going back to back with Phantom Manor really is spoiling yourself.
We finally decided we had had enough of getting wet and feeling cold and decided to retire to the room for a couple of hours to change into dry clothes and warm up. That is after we detoured for DD to finally pick her teddy. She chose a fluffy Pluto. Wise choice I feel.
Suitably refreshed in a change of clothing we made it back to the Park in time to see the parade at 1700. It had changed its route from the last time we saw it by travelling from the Town Square towards the castle. It was great as always but photography was difficult due to the fading light. We really enjoyed the final part of the parade with the elves, soldiers and Santa and his reindeers. The only downside was people pushing in and smoking right in your face.
What to do for the rest of the evening? We all fancied a last go on Buzz which was equally as brilliant as the first time. I thought it would be a good time to grab a bite to eat at the Victorias Home Style restaurant. Unfortunately they were just closing. As we weighed up our options we could hear the noise of someone having a bath coming from the upstairs window.
Another magical Disney touch. It was then we noticed the noise and the Christmas tree was fully lit up. We had missed the lighting ceremony! Gutted. Never mind, we would just have to make sure that we made during the rest of the week. I checked the programme and it was almost time for Fantillusion so we made sure we found a good place to watch. Then the announcement came that due to unforeseen circumstances the Disney Showtime Spectacular Celebrates Christmas! show had been cancelled. Again gutted. I saw that the cast were still coming out so we stood our ground as they made their way around the stage greeting people. We only really wanted to see Mickey, Minnie, Buzz, Woody and Jessie but we got to see them and much more. It probably worked out better than seeing the show.
Then came the lighting of the castle which was absolutely superb. It was absolutely breathtaking. DS said that it was Tinker Bell at the top sprinkling her pixie dust that made the lights go on, which we thought was a wonderful thing to say. It was only after we had a quick look around the castle that we saw there was really pixie dust coming from Tinker Bell. A touch only Disney could think of!! It was now time to ensure a good spot for the Fantillusion Parade. I decided the best place was Main Street by a lamp post which would ensure that we werent pushed around by the type of people we had already met. We did just that and guess what? Some inconsiderate couple stood practically on top of us and then decided to smoke. Luckily we were down stream of the smoke but it makes your blood boil. As the parade approached the lights were turned off in Main Street. It was so atmospheric. You could even see the lights flickering in the upstairs windows giving the effect that of candlelights.
The parade was outstanding. It is the first time we have seen this one and it was well worth the wait. I though the floats with the villains where they transformed was exceptional.
It was then time to join the throng heading out of the parks to see the fireworks. Time really was short and due to our bad luck with Victorias Home Style restaurant we only had the option of a quick bite from McDonalds. Far from our ideal choice but with no other option!! It was as we were eating the McDonalds that I said to DW that I thought it was quiet seeing as there was only 15 minutes to the fireworks and a man came up to ask if we were here to watch the fireworks and if so they were cancelled until tomorrow night. One final gutted for the day!! Once we had finished it time for the short walk back to the hotel to put two very tired children to bed. It means that we will have to change our plans for tomorrow because we need to balance how tired the kids are going to get!
The day started well. The weather was dry but cold (that soon changed!!) and DDs second middle tooth finally dropped out. At least she wont look like a hillbilly in the photos now!! The Kyriad provided a very nice room for the first stop gap night. It was very quiet and very warm. In fact we all slept outside the covers and the window was open.
We left the Kyriad at just after 0800 for the short journey across to the Cheyenne. Checking in at reception was quick and easy and our room was ready to move straight in. The room was beautifully clean with absolutely nothing to complain about. The new TV was nice (with a nice welcome message) and the safe was a great addition. Saves having to find somewhere for the valuables. Once we dropped our stuff off and caught the bendy bus it was time for a quick breakfast at McDonalds. It was enough to keep us going until dinner time but the tea was awful!!
So we finally arrived at the park at about 0930. The Christmas theme hits you straight away with the fantastic tree and decorations down Main Street. We quickly made our way to Discoveryland and straight onto Buzz. It was great. Considering that we are regular visitors to Legoland and the Pharaohs shooting game there Buzz shows what you can do with the technology. It is a real blast of colour and action from start to finish. I then made my way straight to Space Mountain and met the rest of the family straight after to ride Orbitron. Staying in Discoveryland I took DS on Star Tours which he didnt really enjoy but he did get to meet Darth Vader on the way out. Onwards an upwards we went across the sea Captain EO. Unfortunately we had pictures but no sound so we were quickly removed due to the technical difficulties!! This was the second technical difficulty with Buzz stopping on the way around. When we left the theatre it had started to rain. It remained persistent right up until the late afternoon.
We were in need of a hot chocolate so we popped into the Café Hyperion to have a sit down and watch some cartoons. Suitably refreshed it was off to reacquaint ourselves with Its A Small World. It was great with the usual catch song mixing seamlessly with Christmas songs. Next it was off to the castle to catch up with the dragon. She looks in really good condition because she looked a little tired last Summer when we last saw her.
It was now dinner time so we made our way around to the Cowboy Cookoff. We enjoyed the half chicken and wedges while the kids had the sausages and fries from the junior menu. The sausages werent great and they did well to eat one each. I dont think we will be trying them again. We stayed in here for a while to dry, warm up and soak up the Country singing!!
We finally decided to bite the bullet and walked down to Phantom Manor. Like all the rides today it was a walk on. I forgot just how great Disney is at the art of Imagineering. DS was enchanted by the whole thing. It was then straight across to Pirates of the Caribbean. Possible DWs favourite ride. Going back to back with Phantom Manor really is spoiling yourself.
We finally decided we had had enough of getting wet and feeling cold and decided to retire to the room for a couple of hours to change into dry clothes and warm up. That is after we detoured for DD to finally pick her teddy. She chose a fluffy Pluto. Wise choice I feel.
Suitably refreshed in a change of clothing we made it back to the Park in time to see the parade at 1700. It had changed its route from the last time we saw it by travelling from the Town Square towards the castle. It was great as always but photography was difficult due to the fading light. We really enjoyed the final part of the parade with the elves, soldiers and Santa and his reindeers. The only downside was people pushing in and smoking right in your face.
What to do for the rest of the evening? We all fancied a last go on Buzz which was equally as brilliant as the first time. I thought it would be a good time to grab a bite to eat at the Victorias Home Style restaurant. Unfortunately they were just closing. As we weighed up our options we could hear the noise of someone having a bath coming from the upstairs window.
Another magical Disney touch. It was then we noticed the noise and the Christmas tree was fully lit up. We had missed the lighting ceremony! Gutted. Never mind, we would just have to make sure that we made during the rest of the week. I checked the programme and it was almost time for Fantillusion so we made sure we found a good place to watch. Then the announcement came that due to unforeseen circumstances the Disney Showtime Spectacular Celebrates Christmas! show had been cancelled. Again gutted. I saw that the cast were still coming out so we stood our ground as they made their way around the stage greeting people. We only really wanted to see Mickey, Minnie, Buzz, Woody and Jessie but we got to see them and much more. It probably worked out better than seeing the show.
Then came the lighting of the castle which was absolutely superb. It was absolutely breathtaking. DS said that it was Tinker Bell at the top sprinkling her pixie dust that made the lights go on, which we thought was a wonderful thing to say. It was only after we had a quick look around the castle that we saw there was really pixie dust coming from Tinker Bell. A touch only Disney could think of!! It was now time to ensure a good spot for the Fantillusion Parade. I decided the best place was Main Street by a lamp post which would ensure that we werent pushed around by the type of people we had already met. We did just that and guess what? Some inconsiderate couple stood practically on top of us and then decided to smoke. Luckily we were down stream of the smoke but it makes your blood boil. As the parade approached the lights were turned off in Main Street. It was so atmospheric. You could even see the lights flickering in the upstairs windows giving the effect that of candlelights.
The parade was outstanding. It is the first time we have seen this one and it was well worth the wait. I though the floats with the villains where they transformed was exceptional.
It was then time to join the throng heading out of the parks to see the fireworks. Time really was short and due to our bad luck with Victorias Home Style restaurant we only had the option of a quick bite from McDonalds. Far from our ideal choice but with no other option!! It was as we were eating the McDonalds that I said to DW that I thought it was quiet seeing as there was only 15 minutes to the fireworks and a man came up to ask if we were here to watch the fireworks and if so they were cancelled until tomorrow night. One final gutted for the day!! Once we had finished it time for the short walk back to the hotel to put two very tired children to bed. It means that we will have to change our plans for tomorrow because we need to balance how tired the kids are going to get!
