The Surprise Birthday Trip PTR

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This is our 3rd trip to DLP, though the baby's 1st visit. It's a surprise for my DD1's 4th birthday which is the day before we travel We'll tell her as one of her presents on her birthday. She is going to be over the moon! I'm kinda using this PTR as my thinking board so I apologise if it's waffly

Cast
Me (28) shareholder,
DH (40 going on 6!) Dream AP,
DD1 (4, just) free Dream AP, currently mad on Peter Pan (I think he's like her invisible friend), the Lion King and the Princesses
DD2 (16 months) free! She likes Peppa Pig (oops! :laugh, Mickey's Clubhouse and animals in general.

Travel Plans
Sun 6 May - flight from Liverpool to CDG with Easyjet, car trf yet to be arranged
4 nights Sequoia Lodge booked for free with Avios points. Kids are on the booking as they're free anyway but DH to be added at check in for city tax.
Followed by 2 nights Santa Fe booked using the Dream AP discount on RO. I have a free Sky park ticket.
Sat 12 May fly back to Liverpool :-(
Dream AP with free child's pass bought via Promoparcs. As we're there 6 nights it worked out cheaper to book a package for me and add DH at check in, as well as getting the extra discounts and perks. We were originally intending to stay offsite for 2/3 nights but the SF with discount was only a few pounds dearer than the hotels we were looking at.

Dining
Nothing booked yet - will update as I decide but here's my thoughts anyway. We're trying to stick to two or three nice meals and then budget hard on the rest. We'll be using the AP and Shareholder discounts.
Auberge with birthday cake for definite
Cafe Mickey for definite
Then maybe BBWWS with free AP birthday ticket for DD1 possibly just her and DH as not sure if it would be too much for the baby (or too much £!). Or Walts or Blue Lagoon with DD's free AP meal. Or Cowboy Cookout tea party (we all love our desserts!)
Toad Hall, Hakuna Matata, Fuente del Oro. Maybe Pizzeria Belle Notte (but DH off pizza since an unfortunate Dominos incident :-o ) Earl of Sandwich. Possibly McDonalds if we're scrimping.
Salon Mickey of course ;-)

Itinerary
I haven't worked out a daily plan yet. Best get cracking...
Would quite like to: visit Versailles, check out Val d'Europe, swim in the SL, get a glowtini, probably won't go into Paris this time, Starbucks. Gotta do EMH a few times.

Other Plans
I really want to make an autograph book as we've never collected signatures before and I think DD1 would enjoy that this time. I have some ideas from the DISigns board, just need to phone a printers and see how much they'd charge to print and bind.
We are telling DD by way of a treasure hunt. So far as clues I have a figure of Captain Hook in his ship, a bag shaped chocolate (as in suitcase), a Disney Princess balloon in the shape of a castle. Need an aeroplane and something Mickey related hmm. And I'm going to get a nice invitation to DLP as the finale with (fake) tickets inside. Possibly from Peter Pan and then do a letter from the Princesses under her pillow asking her to Auberge for cake.

Worries and Insanities
We are traveling with only 3 pieces of hand luggage!!!! It was over £100 to add a suitcase so we are going light. Might have to make use of the laundrette at the Cheyenne or post stuff home There's no weight limit so it's just however much we can cram into the three small cases.
DD is having a jungle themed, self-catered party in the village hall for 20 kids the afternoon before we fly. I must be mad! At least there won't be much packing to do...

 

[Ms Poppins]

Great trip report

We're going on same date as you to celebrate our dd's birthday, which is on the 6th And we'll be doing a birthday party the Friday before we go too, but that's DS1's 18th party - so will be a late night

I know what you mean about packing.....we too are flying Easyjet, from Glasgow, and having always gone by car/Eurostar before, I'm beginning to panic about having enough room - although I have paid to put one case in the hold.

Like your dining plans too.

Happy planning

 

[tinkerbells mum]

sounds like the plans are well underway, good luck with the packing!! happy planning xx

 

[deepblue]

We've had news today that our two French friends will be able to join us on the Monday and Tuesday They are uni students who stayed with us for 3 months last year while on a work placement at my DH's office. Really looking forward to seeing them again My eldest still talks about them but of course the baby won't remember as she was only a few months old at the time. I'm hoping DH and I might get to go on a ride together as an added bonus.

I've got a Nala tshirt and some Disney jibbitz off ebay for Emily's treasure hunt. Some of the jibbitz are the really awful copies with deformed looking princesses but it included the only Peter Pan charm I could find and she's asked for him especially. I really really need to start working on her invite as it'll be here before i know it.

 

[deepblue]

Oh I forgot! I've also got a Cars and a Pooh Busy Book coming. We have the Princess and Dora versions already and they're fab. Only £5 from Asda. I bought a princess dress for DD2 - Cinderella and Aurora reversible. It's a bit long for her but she's very cute in it inkhearts:

I've got the DLP free park ticket that Carrie posted too. They have a 20% discount for Agrabah Cafe which we might use. Hoping the express menu will be on in Blue Lagoon or Walts so we can eat in there too. Really fancy a cafe gourmand, yum!

 

[jothp]

Your daughter will be so pleased with her birthday present and I love the idea of putting an invite to Auberge under her pillow. Looking forward to hearing more about your plans.