The 'rain, what rain?' trip report!

[Brummig]

So this is trip 13 or 13 and 14 depending on if you count 2 visits in the same holiday as 1 or 2 visits!

Day 1:
Getting into the slightly silly Disney frame of mind we went to bed in the campervan on our driveway at 9.30pm and set the alarm for midnight! We used to overnight at the Eurotunnel early arrivals but they made that silly money and we haven't found a better alternative yet! So, there in good time for the 5.50am tunnel, another straight forward journey so arrived at Disney by 1pm and went into our car park home using DS annual pass.

After a quick lunch and tidy up we headed straight into park by 2pm. We weren't expecting to get much done that day it been a Friday (and needing an early night) - really just to renew my annual pass (which had expired the week before), get ds one go on BTM (his favourite) and maybe 2 other things, but it was surprisingly quiet. We bought my ticket outside, and got a carer ticket for DH, then headed to BTM. It was a short wait time so DS and DH went on. Then we went to the Annual Passport office to get my card. Despite the fact that my card had expired they still gave me the offer of 18 months instead of 12, and was very soon done. Back to BTM, but long queue now so DH tried to use DS's exit pass that was issued with his Annual Pass in May, but the CM said he'd never seen one before! After some explaining and discussion he said he would accept this time but we would have to go to City Hall and get a new kind of pass. So, off to City Hall we went. After 10 minutes (loads of people seem to have lost cameras that day!) the CM told us that they couldn't issue an annual exit pass, we would need to go to the annual passport office - grr!! We took the opportunity to book Cafe Mickey for our return visit so it wasn't totally wasted!

Back to the Annual Passport office - same lady! She was very apologetic, and it only took a couple of minutes. Then we managed to do Pirates (twice), Peter Pan (twice) and Buzz without waiting more than 15 minutes in the normal queue! We stopped for a slush puppy, then back to BTM to find it was closed! DS took it very well, but wanted to do Pirates (again) so headed back there again, and then as Peter Pan queue was also quiet we went there too (well, would have been rude not too!).

Just after 6 by this time, and we were flagging so back to the van for tea, and in bed by 9pm! Despite a dodgy forecast it was overcast but kept dry.
Next day was a blackout day for our fantasy passes so we stayed the night and then headed off down to the south of France.

 

[Ms Poppins]

Wow, you got loads done

I love the idea of being in my own wee 'home' for a Disney visit, being able to throw whatever you need in the back must be great.

Look forward to more

 

[Brummig]

The best thing Julie is that I can actually pack my kitchen sink - great for me as I never travelled light!

Gosh there were lots us there in half term weren't there?

Hopefully I'll get more of my trip report done soon - before the memories fade!

 

[DLPDreams]

Wow you did manage a lot - what day was it? We found the Monday fairly quiet compared to the rest of the week (Thurs wasn't too bad either).

I also love the idea of a campervan at Disney - so much fun .

 

[jothp]

DH is desperate to take a camper van to disney. I don't think I would survive any length of time in such a small space with the girls. DD2's favourite character is Tigger and with good reason.

You got lots done on your day. I thought at times the park seemed busy but in general the queues were not bad at all.

 

[Brummig]

That was Friday 25th May -we were expecting it to be a lot busier to be honest.

jothp - the camper is brill. We find it easier than hotels for ds as he feels safe there, and to be honest the lack of space isn't that much of an issue at Disney as we leave the van at 9.30am, and normally get back between 7 and 8pm, quick tea, then ds is ready for bed, and we all sleep well!

Another highlight of van - when we arrived back at Disney last Thursday night, we got there after 11.00pm, so we expecting to park up outside the gates overnight (we did this last time), but as Dreams was on they were still manned so we got in to our car home no problem. The view of the fireworks as we came down the drive was amazing! We pulled straight into a space , stuck the handbreak on and went outside to watch the rest with a glass of wine!! (ds was asleep in the back and slept through the whole thing). After the fireworks ended - no queues, no walk back, we just stuck the curtains up and climbed into bed - bliss!

 

[Brummig]

Friday - ready to hit the parks by 9.30am. As usual we headed straight for BTM arriving just as it opened so boys walked straight through in 10 mins, then on again. While they queued, I waited for fastpasses to tick over to 11.30 then picked 2 up. We had time for a quick go on Pirates, then back to BTM. Then time for a test - to see if ds was big enough for Indiana Jones. He wouldn't stand up straight so CM said he wasn't quite tall enough, though we knew he was.

So instead to Peter Pan, Pirates again, then we picked up slush puppy each. Then went over to see the Tarzan show. It was totally amazing. DS was a bit upset at first because he wanted to sit at the back but no room, but soon became engrossed in it! So glad we went to see it.

Then time to head over to the studios.

 

[Mum to Belle]

I love the idea of you going to bed in your motor home on your driveway! Fab!

It would indeed have been rude not to go on Peter Pan!

 

[Brummig]

Totally losing the plot, and mixing up the days! After the test for Indiana Jones it was time to go to Cafe Mickey! There was a long queue for people who had booked (don't quite get that system!) but actually only took a few minutes to get everyone in. We got a great table just by the kitchen, and right where the characters came in so they came to us first! While we were there we saw Eeyore, Tigger, Chip and Dale and Mickey. They came in seperately (apart from Chip and Dale) a few minutes apart so there was lots of character time for us! Ds was great, and spoke to all of them and gave them hugs. Eeyore was playing it up as everyone got a bigger cheer than him, so when he'd finished his round, he started creeping up on tigger and pulling his tail, and tried to get ds to join in! DS was eating dessert by this time (and nothing will disturb that) but I gave Eeyore a big hug and told him he has always been my favourite.
Food was usual standard for us, and service was better than usual - all in all a great time!

We got to the studios to find the Stitch show (in English) started in about 25 mins. We figured this gave us time to go and do Cars using ds's pass. The system worked perfectly on Cars. There was one family already waiting with a pass, so they just asked to wait a couple of minutes and it was fine. Back to Stitch to find it was now full! DS was a bit upset as he had been looking forward to it, but soon decided Animagique would do instead. The show was about to start and almost full, but the disabled area was totally empty so we used ds pass (I wouldn't normally do this in a show, but we were going to be really disruptive getting him to a seat and he was getting upset because he thought it was full). Ds loved the show as usual - he was singing along to all the songs. There was a shower while we were in the show, but had stopped when we got out.
After that we decided to try something different as ds has been getting a bit stuck on the same rides, and he has dropped a few of the one's he used to do (won't do Rock n Roller coaster or crush anymore) so we decided to try Argmageddon which we hadn't done for a couple of years (and hadn't gone down very well). There was a 10 minute wait and it was quite empty - 5 minutes later the heavens opened so loads of people came piling in! Well,ds wasn't totally engaged but it wasn't a disaster - he didn't get upset, even when the flames shot up behind us. To be fair, I found it fairly hard to follow what was going on!
By the time we got out it was drizzling, but did not bad. We went over to Slinky dog, where the wait was about 15 minutes. We all love this ride.
We were going to head back to the main park, when we realised Stitch was about to start in English again, so off we went. DS will never sit too close to the front, but he does enjoy the show and joined in well again.

So, back to main park for one last BTM (using pass). Things were fairly quiet
by this time (combination of rain and people eating before the parade) so we walked straight round Pirates, had a go on Buzz and then to Its a Small World. By this time ds was starting to flag (as was dh to be fair) so we headed back to the van for tea. Long after ds had gone to sleep we went outside the van to watch dreams again with a glass of wine. We were in bed 5 minutes after the show had finished! Another fab day.