The three princess' (and one prince) hit DLRP: A Trip Report. **COMPLETE**

[LoodlesNoodles]

Okay, so I figured it was about time I made my first pre trip report.

Cast:
There's me, Louise (20). An absolute Disney nut. Loves pretty much everything Disney has ever produced pre 2000. Post 2000, not so much (though I did like Lilo and Stitch).
4th visit to DLP, 7th Disney holiday.
Favourite Aurora

Laura (21) and my absolute best and oldest friend who has been away this entire academic year studying in Canada but is back end of April . Doesn't like the movies much, but loves DLP.
3rd visit to DLP & Disney holiday.
Favourite Ariel

Ami (20), Laura's sister. Being so close in age we've always been close to each other. Loves the Disney renaissance movies.
2nd visit to DLP & Disney holiday
Favourite Jasmine

James (21), Ami's boyfriend. Don't know much about him tbh but apparently he wants to do all the rides. By default, being Ami's bf this makes him Aladdin whether he wants to be or not.

When: 17th - 20th May 2010

Travelling direct on the Eurostar (because it was cheaper than transferring at Lille )
Staying at the Sequoia Lodge, which is exciting as I've never stayed here before.


Now we just need to decide where we want to eat... hmmm
Off to do some review reviewing

 

[Gwendolyn]

If you have some extra cash in a sock somewhere you should eat with the princesses at Auberge de Cendrillon.

Agrabbah Cafe is my absolute favourite

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

Have fun planning! Sounds like it will be a great trip - and the Sequoia Lodge looks lovely!

 

[Mum to Belle]

Hope you have a great trip!

Happy planning...

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

Thanks guys, truth be told I haven't done much restaurant review reading yet. Too busy making silly pictures in honour of the trip.

We're also planning on staying overnight in London in a youth hostel close to St Pancras, but James doesn't want to stay in one because aparently he is a snob.
After much banter, I finally came up with the idea to tell him it is just like a hotel, just with an S which stands for supercalifragulisticexpelidotious in the middle. Somehow this worked and is reconsidering.
Reconsidering what I'm not sure, probably the whole idea of coming with us!

 

[TokyoDina]

I'm going to live vicariously though you for this trip! Ha Subbing.

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

I'm going to live vicariously though you for this trip! Ha Subbing.

Aww my first ever subscriber

Instead of reading restaurant reviews and planning this is what I have been spending my time doing, drawing this:
http://loodlesnoodles.deviantart.com/art/Aladdin-Jasmine-Ariel-Aurora-159792436

I think it's time to step away from the Disney...
or maybe in a few years. After I've visited all the Disney parks. 2011 Disneyland California here I come!

 

[TokyoDina]

Oh I love DL I live only six hours drive from there! I went there so many times last year. It was kind of crazy but I'm only going one time this year for my B-DAY I hope read the planning for that one!

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

Paid my last bit of money off today.

Been discussing where we'd like to eat and a trip to Cafe Mickey is a must, and Auberge is a possibility - what's the interaction with the princesses and their princes like if you're a table of young adults?

Also found out James doesn't mind what we do as long as he gets to meet Winnie the Pooh. Where's the best place to meet Pooh?

Oooh it's getting close, my ticker is almost on just weeks now!

 

[Mum to Belle]

Woo hoo!!

There is a meet & greet for Pooh at the end of Main Street but be warned the queues are massive! Worth it though if it's him must-do of the trip!

We love Auberge with our DD but no experience of adults only, pretty sure the princesses would make a big fuss of your prince though!!

 

[tennisfan]

Have fun planning your meals & have a lovely trip

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

We've narrowed down our choices, though I know Cafe Mickey is a must do.

Restaurants being considered include:
Rainforest Cafe
Agrabah Cafe
Blue Lagoon
Annettes
Lucky Nugget Saloon
Silver Spur Steakhouse
Planet Hollywood
and Auberge de Cendrillion

Day one (we arrive 13.30):
Agrabah Cafe for late (ish) lunch
Rainforest Cafe for dinner

Day two
Blue Lagoon for early (ish) lunch
Cafe Mickey for dinner (if we can!)

Day three
Auberge for lunch or Lucky Nugget depending on if we decide to do Auberge or not.
Annette's for late dinner

Day four
Snack around lunchtime from any kiosk/CS around
Silver Spur Steakhouse for (very) late lunch/early dinner before going home!

What do you think of this food plan? Which restaurants will I need reservations for? When should I make the reservations, now or when I get there?

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

In light of recent events (losing one of my 2 jobs), chances are I won't get to eat at a some of the places mentioned previously (gotta save money and all that).
Therefore this is an updated list of what our meals could look like:
Day one
lunch
Market House Deli (those baguettes others have mentioned sound good!)
Dinner
Rainforest Cafe

Day two
lunch
make up a sandwich at breakfast to take into parks with us.
snack with some of that yummy popcorn mid afternoon
Dinner
Cafe Mickey (if we can) - get two pizzas to share between the 4 of us.

Day three
lunch
Res De Stars
Dinner
Annettes

Day four
lunch
pizza planet buffet
Dinner
CS in the park before heading off.

Not too long now!

 

[Mum to Belle]

In light of recent events (losing one of my 2 jobs), chances are I won't get to eat at a some of the places mentioned previously (gotta save money and all that).

Sorry to hear that but I'm sure you'll enjoy it just as much, and it gives you something to look forward to on your next trip!

Have you noticed how much of our trip planning revolves around the food?!! My Mum & I have spent hours reading menus and reviews!

As you say, not too long now! I love this bit of being excited - before all the really hard work of packing has to be done!!

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

I've been working on this http://loodlesnoodles.deviantart.com/art/Disney-montage-162363824 for a little while now. It's for my upcoming trip. I want to get it reproduced and give one to everyone going (A3 poster size). I worked really hard on this and I'm super pleased with how it turned out.

There ended up being about 6 pictures I didn't use so I'll probably make a smaller one and take it with us to the parks and get a few characters to sign it.

 

[Mum to Belle]

Wow!! You are super-talented!! How long has it taken you?

The most creative I get is visiting the Creative DISigns board for ideas!!

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

I swear I already answered your post Mum to Belle, but about a month altogether.

Just got a reservation for Cafe Mickey for the Tuesday at 6.30!
Though I forgot to order a birthday cake for Ami, can you still book them once you get there?

Met James for the first time over the weekend, seems really nice and is enthusiastic about all things Disney - we will get along famously!

Not long to go now, eeeep!!


Edit: I currently have a hat wars game going on with a friend of mine (I'm winning, but only just) so I currently have a plan of trying on as many fun hats as possible whilst at Disney.

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

Just got back from my trip!
Highlights include Cafe Mickey, meeting Woody, Crush, and Pirates.


I'll make a small start but I don't have any photos uploaded yet, so this will be updated. Promise

Day One:
We decided that we would start our adventure the day before, and spend the night in the St Pancras Youth Hostel so we got the train to London after James had driven to MK from Oxford after he had finished work so we left at about 6ish. Walked from Euston to the Youth Hostel (about 5-10 mins) and settled into the Youth Hostel when Laura realised she had forgotten her tooth brush so Laura and I set off to find a Boots in the train station as well as have a mooch about to see where we could find to eat that evening. We decided on Nando's, which was a good choice. We went over to Nando's at about 8ish after playing a mean game of Apples to Apples (best game ever!). We had a short game after dinner too before turning in as we had to be up early next day!

Day Two:
We got up at 7.00 and got ready and sorted before walking over to the station, checked in and through by 8.30. We sat and had a tea in the cafe before boarding (what felt like super fast) and then we were off! We were in leisure select going out and it was glorious! So much space!
Here's Ami proving how much space

Laura and I

and James being a massive loser watching a film on his iphone

And we got breakfast too, croissant, bread, mini pots of cherry jam, yoghurt and juice, plus tea, coffee and hot chocolate and a mushroom crepe, sausage and something else.
We got to Marne Le Vallee at 1.30ish and headed straight to check in at Sequoia Lodge. Whilst checking in, Minnie Mouse surprised us! She looked cute in the same outfit as the SL uniform. After regrouping to find out where we needed to go, she came up to us again and got the guy to say what times our breakfasts were for and mimed that she would be asleep at 7am when we would be eating breakfast.
Our room was in Yosemite Lodge, overlooking the car park. It was a nice enough room and plenty big enough for the four of us. My only complaint was that the only English channels we had were the top 10 countdown show thing and playhouse Disney. I would have appreciated a regular Disney Channel in English too.

...to be continued!

 

[Mum to Belle]

Welcoome back!

Leisure Select is great isn't it?!!

Can't wait to hear more, did you get the cake, how many hats did you wear???

Love that you saw Minnie when you checked in - what a great start!

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

We sorted ourselves out in the hotel room quickly and wandered down to the parks by about half 2.

Laura and I quickly popped into City Hall to pick up a birthday badge for Ami

and we all headed off for Phantom Manor. Queue was at 5 mins, great!! As we got near the doors we were taking pictures and James sent a picture message of Big Thunder Mountain to his mum and Ami ended up seeing some picture of another girl on his phone and ran off. So we chased after her and James and I ended up losing them. After 10 minutes of trying to get through to either of them we finally found Laura and had to try to find Ami. She was sitting in Fantasyland by the Auberge.
Whilst James and Ami talked things through, Laura and I did some photos.

We then went to get some candy floss for us and some still tropical fanta for Ami (to cheer her up). As we were queuing to get the candy floss Ami and James showed up and had patched things up.

Ami wanted to do Big Thunder Mountain so we wandered back to Frontierland and popped under the castle to finally see the dragon on the way! Queue for BTM was 25 mins, we were on in 20. After BTM we went back over to Phantom Manor and managed to ride it this time.
Hat time:

We then walked over to Adventureland next and walked through Aladdin's enchanted passage before heading over to do Pirates. We all made pirate faces for the photo.

Ami was brave and suggested we do Indy next so we made our way over. Ami wanted to sit next to Laura so I sat next to James, we were at the very front. Just before the loop I could feel my glasses slipping off so had to quickly take them off and hold them! Argh! From then on any big rides I took my glasses off.
After Indy, Laura and I did some epic hat pictures.
'Coon skin hat:

Indy hats:

Pluto and Goofy hats:

Goofy top hats:

We got to the castle just as they were getting ready for the Showtime Spectacular so we decided to wait and watch that. It was very cute!
Laura waiting by the castle stage:

We were all rather knackered and hungry after this, so we made our way out of the park and decided we wanted to eat at Annette's. We were sat down straight away as it was still only just before 6pm. I had the chilli bean burger, Ami had an onion burger, Laura had a rock n roll burger and James had a mini incredible burger. Food here was really good, I loved my burger. We had a quick look in the shops, I got some pins and Laura and I bought Ami a birthday Stitch, before heading back to the hotel for showers, playhouse disney and bed.

Up next, day three! ....