The "Pirates again?" trip report Day 2 (updated and finished)

[DLPdaft]

Cast - me, 40(ish) 6th trip to The Magic
DD, 8, 6th trip along with me

Monday 11th May

We were up early today, to a drizzling grey sky. Had breakfast in the hotel, very civilised, I don't think the hotel was very busy, as there were no more than about 30 tables ever occupied for breakfast the whole time we were there . Suitably filled up, we caught the bus to the parks at 8.30, then walked through the Village to the Hotel New York, where we just missed getting a pic with Pluto, but were first in line to see Goofy there - my Disney trips don't really start until I get a Goofy hug .

Then we walked down to Salon Mickey, for our first ever visit as shareholders. This was lovely, so relaxing and inviting that we made this a habit each morning of our trip. By 9.40am we'd had a cookie and a drink and were browsing the shops on Main St USA. I think the decorations for Mickeys Magical Party are actually quite understated here, but fun too -

At rope-drop we went through the castle and got a fastpass for PP, then went on to POTC. Straight from Pirates to our fastpass time for PP, then I somehow managed to wander back to the exit of Pirates - and met Captain Jack Sparrow -

I went all girly and unnecessary, because he sounded just like the real thing

DD dragged me off to the teacups and then IASW (where half the animatronics weren't working , compared to yesterday evening where everything looked fabulous). It was now around 11.15, and there were lots of characters around near the turrets in Fantasyland, Governor Radcliffe, Kenai, 2 bears from Song of the South, Baloo, King Louie, Chip, Dale, Suzy, Perla, Tigger, Rafiki, Goofy, Pluto, Mr Smee, Frodo (or is it Frollo?), and Eeyore. My DD was concentrating this trip on autographs she hadn't got yet, so she got Kenai's and Governor Radcliffes.

We then went to Buzz, with only a 10-minute wait, then walked down to the bandstand to watch the Mary Poppins show, then back to Buzz for us (a walk-on this time). We had lunch at the Videopolis just after noon, it filled a gap, and we watched some old cartoons while we ate. After lunch we walked over to Woodys Roundup at 12.45, but it was too busy for us, so we headed back to Main St for Minnies Party train. Glad I saw it, but apart from the decorations, it doesn't appear to be much different from the character express (and thankfully its the same music ).

As the Disneyland railroad was showing a 45-minute wait, we decided to walk over to the Studios for our first visit this trip.
We rode Cars as soon as we got there, then caught the 2.15 Stitch Live show - I could watch this show all day and still love it . We saw Remy with few people around over at Toon Studios, so got his autograph,

then we caught the "Toon Train" at 3pm - except there was no train ! It was just the characters, who came out of the area near the entrance to Playhouse Disney Live. Stitch, Lilo, Clarice, Chip n Dale came out and fooled around for a while around the Place des Stars.

We went back over to the main park for the OUAD parade, but had time for Pirates before that. We also picked up another fastpass for PP, this was timed for 5.25 when we picked them up at 3.30ish.

We had to move down the parade route to see our favourite part of the parade, as the Lion King float wasn't parading while we were there. We found if we stood right beside the turrets, we had a great view of the Princesses when they did their first stop and got off the floats to dance. After the parade, we did IASW again, then Casey Jnr (we went on this around 5pm, and it was closing just after that). The teacups and carousel were both busy, so we had a rest at the tables opposite PP for 5 minutes or so while we waited for our PP fastpass time to come around.

 

[Tillybud]

sounds like a great day and you got so much done I wonder why the characters turned up minus the train?!! Salon Mickey sounds great, I can't wait for our first time

it won't let me see your photos

can't wait to hear some more !

 

[DLPdaft]

Thanks, I think I've sorted out the photo problem now - but the combination of photobucket and this site is making my little old computer go as slow as a very slow thing going slow . I'll keep trying.

 

[PJackson]

Elaine, forgot to say on my previous comment - thanks for putting the actual date on your TR too - it makes it so much easier for others looking back later

You packed so much in - it's great to read. Just thinking we could have been there about the same time (as you know), glad we didn't in the end as both DD1 & 2 were poorly last week at Center Parcs so I don't think it would have been ideal being abroad!

It does sound like a good time to go though - not too much queuing and quite civilised!

PS - Love your photo with Captain Jack

 

[cap'njack.]

Cool picture with Captain Jack. I'm very impressed with how much you got done.

We must have just missed each other at Woody's Roundup as our picture with Woody (the last character is timed at 12:38) we were then sat on a bench opposite feeding Macklyn and trying not to die of heat exhustion!!

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

I'm too scared to meet Jack Sparrow

Sounds like you had a fab 2nd day!

 

[ghockley1981]

soundsl ike you had a fab second day. Great pic with Mr Sparrow!

 

[poppyolivia]

awww sounds like you had a fab 2nd day...thank you for sharing xxx

 

[DLPdaft]

Day 2 continued ....

So, we had our 2nd ride on PP, then we went back off to the Studios so we could see the Stars n Cars parade. We had time to do the Flying Carpets ride first though (we also would have had time to do Cars, but DD's legs were getting tired so we sat on a bench near Cinemaqique and had a drink and a cookie instead).

At about 6.15, we went over and stood behind the stage area at Cars n Stars, sort of halfway between the entrance to Cinemagique, and the entrance to Stitch Live. This is a good place to stand, as although you don't see the show on stage, you do get a great view of the cars as they pass you (from both directions) and you are really close to the characters when they are fooling around backstage, while some of them are around the front onstage . Cue loads of pics -

I think Lilo and Stitch's car is my favourite - and Elvis Stitch is coo-oool .

Some of our backstage pics -

This one is my favourite - not only because its the wicked stepmother fantastically in character, but because Dopey was behind her blowing raspberries at her the whole time

The "show" behind the stage is so funny that we came back the next day and did it all again - this was a real highlight of our trip, and I think it will be for many trips to come as well .

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

LOL at Dopey! Gotta love him.

 

[DLPdaft]

Day 2, theres more ..........

So, the excitement of Cars n Stars over, we left the Studios with everyone else, as it was the end of the parks day.
I'd made a reservation for 7.30 for Cafe Mickey, so by 7.15 we were at the entrance of the restaurant. I have no idea why, but today, the "with reservations" queue was already right out the door and about 10 deep, and it got a lot bigger before we were seated at 7.40 . We were shown to a table for 2, in the conservatory, right behind a door, and in a position where no characters were going to be able to get anywhere near us. I explained to our waitress that we were here to celebrate my DD's birthday, and I'd ordered a cake, and she immediately moved us to a table for 2 in the main ground floor area, near the buffet.

We had a brilliant time here, as I've always found evenings in Cafe Mickey to be . We were there for just over 2 hours, and there were more characters there than I have ever seen before .

Baloo and the cat from Pinnochio were also around, but neither of them managed to get to us. Not that we were complaining, because DD's autograph was almost full just from Cars n Stars and the ones we did see here .

DD's face was a picture when her birthday cake was brought to her by the main Mouse himself -

Eeyore wrote her a special birthday message in her autograph book too, so all in all, this was a resounding success. I think there were around 8 or so birthday cakes brought out this evening, and every birthday boy or girl seemed to be having a whale of a time . We cut off a huge slab of ours and gave it to the family at the next table, as we knew we'd never get through it all before we had to come home from DLRP. We did get the rest boxed up, and had it as a supper snack at the hotel for the next couple of nights, but even so, a fair portion of it ended up in the bin .

By 10pm we were on the shuttle back to the Magic Circus and bed. It had been overcast and cloudy most of today, but the sun had broken through at Cars n Stars parade time, so we were hoping for more sunshine (and less drizzle) over the next 2 days.

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Wow Elaine you had a action packed day 2!

 

[DLPdaft]

I know, it was 13 hours well spent I think

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

I know, it was 13 hours well spent I think

 

[DLPdaft]

Elaine, forgot to say on my previous comment - thanks for putting the actual date on your TR too - it makes it so much easier for others looking back later

You packed so much in - it's great to read. Just thinking we could have been there about the same time (as you know), glad we didn't in the end as both DD1 & 2 were poorly last week at Center Parcs so I don't think it would have been ideal being abroad!
It does sound like a good time to go though - not too much queuing and quite civilised!

PS - Love your photo with Captain Jack

I hope your DD's are feeling better now Patsy, there are a few bugs about at the moment I think. I hope you all managed to enjoy the activities at Center Parcs some of the time .

 

[DLPdaft]

Cool picture with Captain Jack. I'm very impressed with how much you got done.

We must have just missed each other at Woody's Roundup as our picture with Woody (the last character is timed at 12:38) we were then sat on a bench opposite feeding Macklyn and trying not to die of heat exhustion!!

We have a habit of missing each other it seems cap'n .
We passed Woodys roundup 3 or 4 times in the afternoons, when the characters were scheduled to be there, and it always looked busy.

 

[Tillybud]

I love your photo's, so cool and I'm loving dd's birthday cake ! It looks like you both had such a great day I have to admit I went all girlie when I met Captain Jack but I loved every minute

 

[karenmoloney]

Sounds like you packed alot into your day. Pity about the weather - we were there the week before you & had dry (and sometimes sunny) weather all week.

 

[tennisfan]

A very packed day but a fab way to celebrate a birthday

 

[mommy2ash]

wow what a great day. my dd is loving all the character pics. we are both so jealous over kenai lol. great trip report.