kevankiki
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2006
- Messages
- 1,235
Wednesday 26th December 2007
DH was anxious about the journey to St Pancras, so we left home just before 8am, even though our train was not due to leave until 12.57pm! The journey was fairly straightforward, however, despite a couple of wrong turns once we got right into central London, and we were relieved to discover that there is a 2 minute drop off point right outside the station. We were dropped around 9.15am so had ages to wait, we didnt care though, as it all added to the fact that we were finally on our way! DD still could not believe she was actually going, having only found out about the trip the day before on Christmas Day! We went to collect our tickets from the machine, these things never like me and we gave up on the first machine after 3 attempts. The second machine found our booking, but I wasnt concentrating, and managed to print off tickets for our Easter trip, as well as the Current one. Since I plan to change the departure station from Ashford to St Pancras, this was rather annoying, so I am now hoping it wont be a problem to do so if I phone up and explain.
Very little was open at St Pancras, some stores did not appear to be opened at all, others were presumably closed as it was Boxing Day. We found somewhere to sit for a while, then went to M&S Food, where we bought some rolls, etc for a brunch, having decided it would be a good idea to eat before we travelled, bearing in mind we had to change at Lille. We picked up a coffee each from the coffee shop, and went and sat somewhere to enjoy our brunch. We were then able to check in, and the Eurostar left right on time. For some reason the transition through the tunnel seemed to take a long time, far longer than the usual 20 minutes. As a result of this we arrived with only about 10 minutes to spare for our transfer at Lille Europe. I wondered if we would make the train, and if our ticket would be honoured on a later train, but I neednt have worried as the TGV was waiting right next to where we got off, we simply walked across the platform and got on! It was a double-decker, and our seats were located on the upper deck, which caused much excitement. The weather appeared cloudy and foggy, and darkness was imminent. We arrived on time, at 5.05pm, and immediately headed for the dreaded shuttle. This is rarely a pleasant experience, and one I would sooner avoid, but the Holiday Inn had been the only hotel I could find room at. We checked in and made our way up to our room, on the 3rd floor, and were very pleased with what we found. It was immaculate and very spacious; we soon decided we preferred this hotel to the Kyriad, which was where we stayed at Easter. As we had travelled light, there really was very little unpacking to be done, if any, so we were soon headed back on the shuttle to the parks. First stop had to be Annettes, as were both feeling very hungry by now! There was not much of a queue, and we were soon seated right by the rear stairs, just below the halfway up bit. One of the waiters was wearing roller skates, I had heard this was the case sometimes, but had never seen it for myself! I asked him if they still did the singing and dancing, he said they did, I asked when and he said A Quelle heures? about half an hour!" This worked out to be about 7.05pm, our food had not yet arrived, but when it did we because very slow eaters! Sure enough, as he had said, after half an hour we were treated to a rendition of Greased Lightening and another song that I dont know the name of (goes Think?). We had waiters and waitresses dancing on the bar, and everyone was clapping along, it was a dream come true for me as I had always wanted to experience this! Oh, and the food was pretty good too, even when it has been pushed round the plate for a while
Feeling well and truly ready for the park, we headed for the turnstiles and straight for Phantom Manor it has been a tradition to start and finish every trip with this ride. After this we walked slowly over to POTC and walked straight on, then went round again a second time, I love it when the CMs say you can stay on if you wish. In fact the people on with us stayed on a third time! I wanted to try and catch Fantillusion though, as this evening and tomorrow evening would be our only chance to do so, we timed this just right, as there were plenty of places to stand round about Bella Notte area. We arrived with a ten minutes to go as the parade started at the opposite end to what I expected. After the parade we wandered back through the shops, stopped by the Disney Village to look in the Disney Store, then headed for the shuttle hotel . and bed!
DH was anxious about the journey to St Pancras, so we left home just before 8am, even though our train was not due to leave until 12.57pm! The journey was fairly straightforward, however, despite a couple of wrong turns once we got right into central London, and we were relieved to discover that there is a 2 minute drop off point right outside the station. We were dropped around 9.15am so had ages to wait, we didnt care though, as it all added to the fact that we were finally on our way! DD still could not believe she was actually going, having only found out about the trip the day before on Christmas Day! We went to collect our tickets from the machine, these things never like me and we gave up on the first machine after 3 attempts. The second machine found our booking, but I wasnt concentrating, and managed to print off tickets for our Easter trip, as well as the Current one. Since I plan to change the departure station from Ashford to St Pancras, this was rather annoying, so I am now hoping it wont be a problem to do so if I phone up and explain.
Very little was open at St Pancras, some stores did not appear to be opened at all, others were presumably closed as it was Boxing Day. We found somewhere to sit for a while, then went to M&S Food, where we bought some rolls, etc for a brunch, having decided it would be a good idea to eat before we travelled, bearing in mind we had to change at Lille. We picked up a coffee each from the coffee shop, and went and sat somewhere to enjoy our brunch. We were then able to check in, and the Eurostar left right on time. For some reason the transition through the tunnel seemed to take a long time, far longer than the usual 20 minutes. As a result of this we arrived with only about 10 minutes to spare for our transfer at Lille Europe. I wondered if we would make the train, and if our ticket would be honoured on a later train, but I neednt have worried as the TGV was waiting right next to where we got off, we simply walked across the platform and got on! It was a double-decker, and our seats were located on the upper deck, which caused much excitement. The weather appeared cloudy and foggy, and darkness was imminent. We arrived on time, at 5.05pm, and immediately headed for the dreaded shuttle. This is rarely a pleasant experience, and one I would sooner avoid, but the Holiday Inn had been the only hotel I could find room at. We checked in and made our way up to our room, on the 3rd floor, and were very pleased with what we found. It was immaculate and very spacious; we soon decided we preferred this hotel to the Kyriad, which was where we stayed at Easter. As we had travelled light, there really was very little unpacking to be done, if any, so we were soon headed back on the shuttle to the parks. First stop had to be Annettes, as were both feeling very hungry by now! There was not much of a queue, and we were soon seated right by the rear stairs, just below the halfway up bit. One of the waiters was wearing roller skates, I had heard this was the case sometimes, but had never seen it for myself! I asked him if they still did the singing and dancing, he said they did, I asked when and he said A Quelle heures? about half an hour!" This worked out to be about 7.05pm, our food had not yet arrived, but when it did we because very slow eaters! Sure enough, as he had said, after half an hour we were treated to a rendition of Greased Lightening and another song that I dont know the name of (goes Think?). We had waiters and waitresses dancing on the bar, and everyone was clapping along, it was a dream come true for me as I had always wanted to experience this! Oh, and the food was pretty good too, even when it has been pushed round the plate for a while
Feeling well and truly ready for the park, we headed for the turnstiles and straight for Phantom Manor it has been a tradition to start and finish every trip with this ride. After this we walked slowly over to POTC and walked straight on, then went round again a second time, I love it when the CMs say you can stay on if you wish. In fact the people on with us stayed on a third time! I wanted to try and catch Fantillusion though, as this evening and tomorrow evening would be our only chance to do so, we timed this just right, as there were plenty of places to stand round about Bella Notte area. We arrived with a ten minutes to go as the parade started at the opposite end to what I expected. After the parade we wandered back through the shops, stopped by the Disney Village to look in the Disney Store, then headed for the shuttle hotel . and bed!
