Cyrano
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2004
- Messages
- 32,227
Travel day 3/Arrival day 1 Thursday 12th July ‘07
Cast members
Me – Disney fanatic - I stomped through Disneyland Paris in 1994, since why come to a theme park when you’re in Paris, yes really!
Diane (DP) – Long suffering Disney widow, buts loves it all anyway
Morgan (DD9) – 9 year old Disney fan. Favourites BTM, Pirates of the Caribbean
Jack (DS) – 7 year old Disney, Star Wars fan. Favourite Autopia
Robyn (DD5) – 5 year old Disney fan. Loves parades and Casey Jr
Tom - TomTom sat nav that will get a full workout this trip
Up nice and bright at 6.45hrs. I go for a quick shower while everyone is still sleeping.
The troops are all up when I come out.
We have a nice breakfast in the hotel. Fresh fruit, yoghurt, cereal, croissants, toast, fruit juice and coffee.
The plan was to be down for breakfast at 7.45hrs. As it is we are completely finished by 8.00hrs.
We go to the garage next door to buy sandwiches as once we hit French soil there is no way we are stopping. What do you mean your are too big to use a potty while I’m driving
I also get a cheap backpack here as DP always ends up carried hats, sunglasses etc.
At £4.99 it ends up being a great buy and DP definitely gives it the thumbsup
Right Tom take us to the tunnel
We are at Eurotunnel checking in within 20 minutes. This being today’s first
Credit card in the machine, pick your language and your reservation confirmed.
By far the easiest check in we have done in any mode of transport. Shame that the earlier train is full but that is okay as we park the car and head to the terminal building.
Now this is nice. Much better than the ferry ports. There is a glasses shop which is good news for Diane as she needs a case for her sunglasses. Then we wander round Dixon’s, the perfume shop and then WH Smith for magazines for Diane and the troops.
After a little while boarding pass R is called. Boarding is quick and easy.
As we have a roof box we are in the same line as buses and vans.
We share a carriage with a tour bus. I think they are Spaniards who have been visiting the UK, bet they are glad to be going home to the sun.
All of Diane’s apprehension of the journey was unfounded. The Nintendo DS’s keep everyone amused, while I shoot off some photographs – respecting the no flash warnings : )
The troops and I get out the car but there is really nothing to see, but we all look out of the window anyway. I bet everyone does this on their first tunnel trip
In no time at all we are out of the tunnel and are quickly and effortlessly disembarked.
What is nice compared to ferries, is there is no queue
I loose out and while stopping for diesel am told to allow everyone a toilet stop.
To be fair everyone has been in the car since just after 8.00hrs so fair is fair.
The journey is easy. €19.20 for the tolls and it is not too long before we really get the magic
Don’t you just love it when you see that first Disney sign after CDG.
We arrive at DCR at 16.00hrs. Check in is smooth although the CM in training asks quite a few times to make sure she has got the length of our stay correct.. yes we’re here for 11 days
Find our cabin easily but we are disappointed. There is broken glass that has been swept off the path onto the grass area. Given that we plan on spending a bit of time here this is an accident waiting to happen.
We let reception know who say that they will get on to housekeeping.
We then head to the park. Use our hotel id to park in the main car park for free.
First stop is guest relations and 2 dreams (1 free) and 3 fantasy passports are purchased.
No problem getting the 2 Dream passports (1 free for DD5). The CM gets a bit agitated and says I can’t use my shareholders card for discounted Fantasy passports. I’m adamant, but polite that I want the discount so a supervisor is called. He quickly realises that I’m not trying to buy the reduced shareholder special Fantasy passport for €89 but I’m looking for shareholder discount on the normal price.
While we want to enjoy the moment in the park we need to get to the AP Bureau.
The park does look wonderful though.
The AP Bureau is fairly quiet so the troops settle down to watch the TV while we go to sort out the passes. We are dealt with efficiently and quickly. The CM checks and finds our records from our old annual passports. We get new photos taken and it only takes 10 minutes for our new APs to be ready.
Troops get a Buzz lanyard and the CM explains about the 20% discount on meals with the voucher at the Disney Village.
We then wander over to POTC, followed by PM.
Everyone is hungry so we head to Fuente del Oro. A family tradition is to get a mixture and everyone tuck in. Chilli, mixed platter, bbq chicken wings, chips, fantas, sprite and water €39.15/£27.75 As we want to see about our replacement cabin we head back to the car park; for the last time, and back to DCR.
When we get back to the cabin there have been no improvements so Morgan and I head back to reception. DD9 is my sympathy card
The same CM says that DCR is fully booked so doesn’t think they can help. I appeal for help saying I’m concerned that as we’ll spend a bit of time at the Ranch troops could come a cropper. The CM heads off to the office and comes back in 15 minutes.
There is a possibility in the Timber Trail. We are given the other key and asked to return the key from the Cherokee Trail that night so that the cabin can be made available for others.
We thank the CM and head back to the others to check out the new cabin. It is obviously not as fresh as the previous one and without the welcome chocolates but it is perfectly fine.
Decamp cases, clothes etc and we are good to go.
Off to Trading Post and we buy liquid refreshments and the troops start to plan their spending strategies.
We bed the troops down at some point and we sit outside with a glass while they get to sleep. DP plays her DS while I catch up on the trip report and check the finances.
Can't believe we are finally here
Cast members
Me – Disney fanatic - I stomped through Disneyland Paris in 1994, since why come to a theme park when you’re in Paris, yes really!
Diane (DP) – Long suffering Disney widow, buts loves it all anyway
Morgan (DD9) – 9 year old Disney fan. Favourites BTM, Pirates of the Caribbean
Jack (DS) – 7 year old Disney, Star Wars fan. Favourite Autopia
Robyn (DD5) – 5 year old Disney fan. Loves parades and Casey Jr
Tom - TomTom sat nav that will get a full workout this trip
Up nice and bright at 6.45hrs. I go for a quick shower while everyone is still sleeping.
The troops are all up when I come out.
We have a nice breakfast in the hotel. Fresh fruit, yoghurt, cereal, croissants, toast, fruit juice and coffee.
The plan was to be down for breakfast at 7.45hrs. As it is we are completely finished by 8.00hrs.
We go to the garage next door to buy sandwiches as once we hit French soil there is no way we are stopping. What do you mean your are too big to use a potty while I’m driving
I also get a cheap backpack here as DP always ends up carried hats, sunglasses etc.
At £4.99 it ends up being a great buy and DP definitely gives it the thumbsup
Right Tom take us to the tunnel
We are at Eurotunnel checking in within 20 minutes. This being today’s first
Credit card in the machine, pick your language and your reservation confirmed.
By far the easiest check in we have done in any mode of transport. Shame that the earlier train is full but that is okay as we park the car and head to the terminal building.
Now this is nice. Much better than the ferry ports. There is a glasses shop which is good news for Diane as she needs a case for her sunglasses. Then we wander round Dixon’s, the perfume shop and then WH Smith for magazines for Diane and the troops.
After a little while boarding pass R is called. Boarding is quick and easy.
As we have a roof box we are in the same line as buses and vans.
We share a carriage with a tour bus. I think they are Spaniards who have been visiting the UK, bet they are glad to be going home to the sun.
All of Diane’s apprehension of the journey was unfounded. The Nintendo DS’s keep everyone amused, while I shoot off some photographs – respecting the no flash warnings : )
The troops and I get out the car but there is really nothing to see, but we all look out of the window anyway. I bet everyone does this on their first tunnel trip
In no time at all we are out of the tunnel and are quickly and effortlessly disembarked.
What is nice compared to ferries, is there is no queue
I loose out and while stopping for diesel am told to allow everyone a toilet stop.
To be fair everyone has been in the car since just after 8.00hrs so fair is fair.
The journey is easy. €19.20 for the tolls and it is not too long before we really get the magic
Don’t you just love it when you see that first Disney sign after CDG.
We arrive at DCR at 16.00hrs. Check in is smooth although the CM in training asks quite a few times to make sure she has got the length of our stay correct.. yes we’re here for 11 days
Find our cabin easily but we are disappointed. There is broken glass that has been swept off the path onto the grass area. Given that we plan on spending a bit of time here this is an accident waiting to happen.
We let reception know who say that they will get on to housekeeping.
We then head to the park. Use our hotel id to park in the main car park for free.
First stop is guest relations and 2 dreams (1 free) and 3 fantasy passports are purchased.
No problem getting the 2 Dream passports (1 free for DD5). The CM gets a bit agitated and says I can’t use my shareholders card for discounted Fantasy passports. I’m adamant, but polite that I want the discount so a supervisor is called. He quickly realises that I’m not trying to buy the reduced shareholder special Fantasy passport for €89 but I’m looking for shareholder discount on the normal price.
While we want to enjoy the moment in the park we need to get to the AP Bureau.
The park does look wonderful though.
The AP Bureau is fairly quiet so the troops settle down to watch the TV while we go to sort out the passes. We are dealt with efficiently and quickly. The CM checks and finds our records from our old annual passports. We get new photos taken and it only takes 10 minutes for our new APs to be ready.
Troops get a Buzz lanyard and the CM explains about the 20% discount on meals with the voucher at the Disney Village.
We then wander over to POTC, followed by PM.
Everyone is hungry so we head to Fuente del Oro. A family tradition is to get a mixture and everyone tuck in. Chilli, mixed platter, bbq chicken wings, chips, fantas, sprite and water €39.15/£27.75 As we want to see about our replacement cabin we head back to the car park; for the last time, and back to DCR.
When we get back to the cabin there have been no improvements so Morgan and I head back to reception. DD9 is my sympathy card
The same CM says that DCR is fully booked so doesn’t think they can help. I appeal for help saying I’m concerned that as we’ll spend a bit of time at the Ranch troops could come a cropper. The CM heads off to the office and comes back in 15 minutes.
There is a possibility in the Timber Trail. We are given the other key and asked to return the key from the Cherokee Trail that night so that the cabin can be made available for others.
We thank the CM and head back to the others to check out the new cabin. It is obviously not as fresh as the previous one and without the welcome chocolates but it is perfectly fine.
Decamp cases, clothes etc and we are good to go.
Off to Trading Post and we buy liquid refreshments and the troops start to plan their spending strategies.
We bed the troops down at some point and we sit outside with a glass while they get to sleep. DP plays her DS while I catch up on the trip report and check the finances.
Can't believe we are finally here
