Trip report & pics!

[JoeSam]

Tues 22nd Nov

Arrived at Sequoia Lodge at 4.30pm after driving down from the tunnel. Check in took a while because they couldn’t find my GMF brekkie booking, and didn’t have a slot available til Friday, but we sorted that out. Got a lovely room – here’s the view.

Headed to the park by 5.30. The snow started on Main St on cue – it brought tears to my eyes!! After a quick bite from the bakery – amazed the family by leading them to all the empty tables in the arcade – ran up to the hub to catch the lighting up ceremony. My cool kid “I’m nearly 5 you know” wasn’t going to wave at the characters this time, but couldn’t hold back once Mickey arrived, madly waving and cheering. This set the tone for the holiday. The lights this year are really beautiful, although I do miss the arches a bit.

Joe wanted to do Dumbo first, so he set off at a full sprint through the castle and Fantasyland. He was shouting “quick Mam, it’s stopped! We don’t want to miss it!!” I warned him that there would be a queue – Wrong! They waited the ride for us! We had half an hour of complete walk-ons in Fantasyland til Fantillusion started which we watched from outside IASW.

After the parade we walked on another few rides, finishing off all of Fantasyland apart from the teacups which close at 7pm.

Waved goodbye to Mickey and had a lovely dinner in Annette’s Diner. Joe enjoyed the dancing, and I enjoyed the French Kiss!! (It’s a desert )

 

[Rosie]

Great start, lovely pictures and what a cute little guy!

Was your room a Montana room or did you just get lucky with the view?

Looking forward to the rest.

 

[tialucy]

You packed loads into your first day, considering you didn't get to the park til 5.30. Love the pics, great view from your room.

 

[urglewurgle]

woo hoo! great trippie! omg.. i'm getting so excited! Fantillusion is my FAVE!

Your son looks so excited too! i love piccies like that!

(p.s. My hero Mr M Mouse is lookin' good )

 

[Bexx]

What a great start to your holiday!!

 

[BONITATIME]

These are great photos I love the Malicifient one.

 

[diberry]

Oh, you sound so excited and it really comes through. Thank you very much - loved the piccies too!! Looks like lovely weather too! And a great view over the lake from your room! More please!

 

[Father_and_Son]

Just can say, that seeing your lovely Pictures and reading what a wonderful time you had in just 3 and a half hour, I can´t await part two.

 

[jodyb]

Oh your report is wonderful! Can't wait to read on! Do you remember your room number, and did you take any photos of the interior of the room?
I will remember what you said about Fantasyland being quiet during the hour before the parade. Good tip. And now that Fantillusion is reversed, it's a good idea to watch from Small World rather than stand and wait on Main Street, don't you think?
Hope the rest of your trip was as successful as your first day!

 

[DisneyRGB]

Wow what a great first evening, sounds like everything went just right! Looking forward to part 2

 

[bonhoga]

What a lovely day - we really have to try Annettes diner, it sounds really good!

Kaye

 

[brer rabbit 28]

i love your pic of mickey waving goodbye,great to know you can do it all again the next day!

 

[cannp123165]

Great pictures, cannot wait to hear more. ))).

 

[JoeSam]

Great start, lovely pictures and what a cute little guy!

Was your room a Montana room or did you just get lucky with the view?

Looking forward to the rest.

Thanks v much Rosie! I foolishly - despite good advice against from the Dis boards - decided to upgrade on check-in to a lake view. Don't do it!!! The view was lovely, and I really enjoyed it........for about 5 mins per day!!

 

[JoeSam]

Oh your report is wonderful! Can't wait to read on! Do you remember your room number, and did you take any photos of the interior of the room?
I will remember what you said about Fantasyland being quiet during the hour before the parade. Good tip. And now that Fantillusion is reversed, it's a good idea to watch from Small World rather than stand and wait on Main Street, don't you think?
Hope the rest of your trip was as successful as your first day!

The room number was 3229 - see previous post for advice against it!! I will check when I get home if there are any interior pics (I'm at work now) but I doubt it though. DH is the photographer and he just isn't interested in interiors!! I'll have to get my own camera.

Small World is a good place to watch I think. It's very quiet there, and if you want you can follow Minnie down the route afterwards. I didn't see any stops though - but there weren't many stops this year.

As Fantillusion is now at 7 instead of 7.30 you can also get some rides in afterwards before park closing, especially if you stand there and go as soon as it has passed.

 

[jodyb]

Thanks - that is an excellent tip about the parade. When they switch directions, all bets are off as far as the best place to stand when it was "normal". I always swore that in front of the castle 10 meters to the right facing Main Street was the "perfect" spot, but of course now that the parade starts in Fantasyland, that's a different story.

As for Sequoia views - I agree, I would never pay specifically for a view at any Disney hotel - you see all the beauty first hand anyway! But I'm wondering, did you pay for a Montana Room, and then an additional amount for the "lake view" when you checked in? Can I ask how much the upgrade cost for the view - just curious! I've stayed at the Sequoia twice, both times did not ask for a Montana room but got one, and both times with "views" out the back which were also lovely. And like you said - how long does one really stand at the window of their hotel room - MAX five minutes a day!
Also, did you use your mini-bar? If so do you remember what was in there and how the prices compare with those in the shop downstairs for snacks and drinks?

Thanks again for your report, and sorry for so many questions!

 

[JoeSam]

Jodyb

We didn't ask for a Montana room, we just got it but I did pay for the lake view which worked out around £45 sterling. Won't do it again, although the view was beautiful.

We activated the mini-bar to get the fridge for milk for Joe but we didn't eat/drink anything. I did see water and cans of orange juice there and some beers I think. The one time I was tempted to eat a kitkat the price was E2.80, so I gave it a miss! Saying that I don't know how much a kitkat would be anywhere else in Disney!

 

[MICKEY'S DREAMERS]

Just found your first installment ... so lovely !!!

Beautiful view from the room , still I agree it's no worth paying for it !!!

LOVED the PHOTOS !!!!!

More, PLEASE !!!!

Laura

How "the French kiss" is ? Chocolate ?

 

[Cyrano]

Sam great start to your trip. You'll little guy looks like he is having a ball

 

[JoeSam]

He certainly is having a ball Reid! Thanks for all your lovely comments guys - day 2 imminent.