The 'I'm going to tell them soon- but not JUST yet' PTR

[princessmummy]

I feel like I need to get in on the act of doing my May Half Term PTR as the rest of you have already started......
I could go the the gym right now, or i could write this...... UMMM
No contest really.....

So here Goes:

Cast:
Me 40 (ouch)
Love The Magic and tend to get a bit obsessed about things I really enjoy.
Like POTC Best (followed by a meal in The Blue Lagoon)

DD1 11 (usually) but get a bit now with her age.
Loves Minnie, stitch and the charcters Plus BTM and POTC

DD2 age 3 (with a dash of)
Never been to Disney, or on a plane so a complete novice


Why?
We are having a girls only trip this 1/2 term leaving DH at home with the animals and thats just the way he likes it.......
Went to Butlins last year as training but this will be SO much better!
This will be our 'characters' trip, whilst DD2 too young to go on the big 'scary' rides and before DD1 gets too old for it...

When/ Where?
May half term week.
I am on call for work on the Bank Holiday Sunday so we are heading off 1st thing on Monday Morning (BH Monday- yes I know!) and returning on Thursday (so I can go to a course with work on Friday)

We are staying The Dream Castle where we stayed last time (just DD1 and I) in 2008 and it was LOVERRRLY. Got a really good deal on expedia including flights so deided to just go for it!

The Suprise!

I haven't told them yet!

I know they will be thrilled and I have been running over in my head different ways of telling them
Room full of disney balloons
Postcards from Mickey
Making a video
Easter egg hunt with clues at Easter ... etc

Basically I want to tell them a bit before, so they can get excited about it and I don't have to sneak around any more, but I don't want to distract DD1 from her SATs preparation for school. PLus DD2 will EXPLODE if she has to wait too long (like her Dad there!)

The Nitty Gritty

Day 1

Get up early and head off for Bristol airport (M5 south on a bank holiday- great!) Allow plenty of time for loos stops (DD2- aaah) Check in and get early lunch/ late breakfast before 12.30 Air France Flight

Land and get RS shared shuttle (booked) to dream Castle to get there as fast as possible!!!!!!!

Quick check in then straight back to the park to pick up our Fantasy annual passes (might as well, with shareholders discount) Grab a very quick snack to tide us over......

Spend next hour or two doing things with no queues (ha ha) usch as The Castle, The Dragon, Small World, River Boat Ride, and whatever else we can manage....
The off to Rainforest Cafe for dinner (Salad and cocktail for me!)

Day 2

Up as early as possible for fab Dream Castle Breakfast!
Then off to the Parks to hang out on Main Street USA if we are really early and then a little visit to Salon Mickey before heading to Disney Sudios for opening time...

Catch as many shows as possible:
Stitch Live
Animagique
Toy Story
Cars
Flying Carpets
Stunt Show
Tram Tour

Meet as many characters as possible:

Cafe Mickey for Lunch at 12.30 ish

Then back to Studios (probably avoiding ToT, Rand RC, Armageddon etc as too scary) for parade and to finish off what we've missed out on.

Annettes for Tea (God I LOVE a good burger!)
Then back into DLP (as long as its open till 8) for getting done what we can before the next day.... Try and get on some of the Fantasyland rides if people with young kids have left to eat

Back to Hotel for bed/ and wine (for me)

Day 3

DLP day!


Up early and get there as soon as we can.....
Try and get on as many of these as poss 1st thing:
Peter Pan, Pinnochio, Carousel, Buzz, Small World, BTM, then luch at Agrbah Cafe (yum yum, this is for ME!)

Then ? Phantom Manor, River Boats? as much as we can fit in before the parade? Then
Blue Lagoon (cocktail as well I should think!)

Before another scout around DLP before heading out to the Shops in Disney Village for gift buying....
Decided not to stay for the Pirate and Princess party as I think DD2 will be far too tired to enjoy it by this stage. If it seems she WILL be able to stay awake then I may try and book whilst we are there.
Packing

Day 4 (home)
get up and sorted as early as possible.
Breakfast then check out.
Get bags to train station and into locker (as we are being collected from station at 1pm to maximise the time we have left)

DLP for the last few hours. Ascension day so I am expecting it to be busy...
Try and get last few rides/ hugs from charchters.

Lunch at Plaza Gardens (hopefully table with a view over Main Street)
early at 11.30 or so. That we can get out of the park FAST. Considered Walts but not sure if may be a bit to 'formal' for DD2 at the moment, plus not open till 12!
Then back to Station to collect bags for Shuttle to Airport.
Flight leaves at 4pm.

Home for 8.30 (possibly)

Then to plan christmas visit!!!!!!

Val d'Europe Aparthotel I think week before Xmas, Avoiding Blackout days!

 

[Disneyfanswicklow]

Sounds like you will have a fabulous time! Good luck with keeping it a secret for a while!

 

[Kazzabelle]

Well done for keeping the secret, i never can i'm such a blabber mouth.
Hope it's not too busy for you

 

[susannah365]

very exciting. we went may/june last year and it was great. if it's characters you're after my top tips are stand at the back of the stage for stars and cars and get to the 4pm character meet and greet at the disney hotel (pop into the lobby on your first day to pick up a programme for the week).

very jelous as i don't have any trips planned!

 

[jothp]

We are also going may half term I really seem to be lagging behind on the PTR thing!

It looks like you are going to have a great time

 

[loladelorean]

Yay I love a super organised trip report
Your girls are going to be so thrilled! We are still doing girly trips with my mum in her 50s, me at 22 and sister at 17, so don't worry too much about your girls getting too old
Have you decided yet how or when to tell them? Film it for the DLP website!

 

[Mum to Belle]

Sounds like a great trip you have planned!

I haven't told my DD either yet so I'm thinking of ways to break the news too - let us know when you decide!!

Girls trips are great

Happy planning!

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

Squee, I love hearing about these surprise trips.
I like the idea of a room of Mickey balloons, perhaps with Disney postcards inviting them personally from a whole bunch of characters. Then you can be all 'with that many legends inviting you, how could we say no?'

Looking forward to hearing more of your plans.

 

[princessmummy]

You know what they say about the 'best laid plans'?

well ours have got even better!

1) Air France cancelled out flight back to Bristol and put us on the later one, 4 hours later! Giving us time for a fab 'final meal'

Wher else should Pricess Mummy and her 2 beautiful Pricesses go but auberge????

Duly booked !!"!

2) Decided to tell DDs about their trip at easter as hadn't managed to plan much for them and DD1 is better without last minute suprises! Is a planner like me and relishes the chance to mull over options before deciding what to do!

So constructed an elaborate Easter egg hunt round the garden with egg 'vouchers' which Dds would find and exchange for numbered items in a big gold box....

The idea was each item would be more of a clue to their trip and the last one was a card I had made to say 'You're going to Disneyland Paris'

What actually happened was both DDs were so chuffed with their presents ( a selection of disney related items, clothes, dolls, jewellry, Minnie ears etc) that they didn't really guess anything.

the when they got to open their 'special gold envelopes' whilst i had video camera running DD1 jsut shrugged and said 'really?' and Dd2 ran off to play with her new snow white doll!
Kids eh?

I am pleased i did not save the big suprise till the morning, as both have got really excited over the last couple of weeks and are now 'buzzing' about their upcoming trip!

I caught DD1 showing Dd2 the DLP website the other day saying 'you're going there, thats the castle we'll be going there... 'etc... aaah

I still haven't told them about Auberge though!

3) My bestest oldest friend who i only see about once a year is going to be at DLP at the same time as us!!!!! Fab!!!! Total coincidence but so cool!

So we will be joining her and her DD for lunch on out first full day and 2nd day in the parks. This has meant a few things are changed round now to make this work....

Day 1:
arrive 5pm ish straight to Annual Pass office (whilst parade on) to exchnage vouchers for passes
Then a saunter around beforre Cafe Mickey at 6.30pm

Day 2:
EMH Salon mickey then studios for as much as we can cram in before Blue Lagoon in DLP at 1pm then maybe back to hotel for swim/ rest or maybe not DD1 really wants to go on BTM....... then parades????before dinner at RFC

Day3:
EMH, salon mickey then stay in DLP for as much as we can cram in charcter wise before lunch at Agrabah Cafe (shd please DBF as a bit of a veggie!) at 12.15 then say goodbye to DBF back to Sunny Lancashire

Then retreat to studios for what we have missed then maybe hotel for another erest/ swim before annettes in pm

Day 4
Packing, EMH if we make it then doing 'favourites' before Auberge suprise meal.... buy something on way out to eat for tea (them mainly I'll be too stuffed!)and rolling back to hotel for shuttle at 5.30pm
then home (ash cloud permitting!)

Am SO excited now!!!!!!! 5 more sleeps!

 

[Mum to Belle]

I know exactly what you mean! I'm really pleased you told your DD's before your trip, they do so love the excitement of planning just like us!

Love the idea of a surprise meal at Auberge! Do they even know it exists???

Not long to go now!!!! And how cool about your BF being there at the same time?!!! Perfect timing!