Last few hours on our own

Unfortunately once we got to McDonalds I couldn't work out how to log into my account so we couldn't check-in.

We headed back to Disneyland Parc to see if there were any rides with short waits and to take some photos.

We took the bus ride down main street for the first time ever!

It was soooo cold that we ended up going to watch some of the films shown in the Disney Cinema. We also got some hot chocolates to warm us up a little.

After a little while indoors we headed outside to take some more photos:

Princess Aurora on her way to the Princess Pavilion

We finished up taking photos and headed to the Earl of Sandwich to grab a bite to eat.

Afterwards we did some last minute shopping before going to the train station to collect our bags.

Our TGV was on time for the short journey to the airport. We checked in and got exit row seats. The flight left early (and was almost empty) and we arrived back at heathrow 15 minutes early!

Took a pod back to the car park and a couple of hours later we were home!

There are more photos in my photobucket account:

All photos

Last day - very early start!

Saturday was our last day of this short trip and unfortunately the parks were expected to be very busy as it was the weekend :(

We decided to go to the Extra Magic Hours in the Disneyland Parc before heading into the Walt Disney Studios. This meant getting up for breakfast at 7 as the park opened at 8am :(

After a minor suitcase issue (combination somehow got changed with our passports and other important stuff inside!) we were on the bus just before 8.

We dropped the bags off at the luggage storage in the train station and went into the park.

Just inside the entrance and we managed to meet Mickey again:

Unfortunately there weren't very many rides open this morning, but we did manage to ride Dumbo and the teacups again :)

We did also manage to take some more nice photos

By now it was almost 10am and so we headed over to the Walt Disney Studios to try and get a few rides done before it got too busy.

First on the list was Tower of Terror, we waited a few minutes but not too long :)

We then headed over to the Toy Story playland so that Leona and Blake could ride something. We went on the slinky ride and the parachute drop - which was really high so amazing that Leona would ride it!

By now the crowds were getting ridiculous and all of the wait times were much longer than the kids wanted to wait. We did go and watch the Art of Animation which was quite amusing and warm - which was important as it was so cold today!

While we were waiting in line we saw Mary Poppins - Sharna and Blake popped out of the queue to get a quick photo.

It was almost time for the others to leave as their train home was at 2.30 so they did a little more shopping while we took Leona on the Magic Carpets (which only had a 5 minute wait).

Then we walked them out of the park and we headed to McDonalds to try and check-in for our flight.

Disneyland Parc - Friday 13th January

So breakfast over, we headed over to the Disneyland Parc.

Had a quick wander around the park and we found our first ride of the day: Phantom Manor. It was a bit foggy this morning and so we got a nice spooky photo :)

We continued through Frontierland and took a quick ride on Big Thunder Mountain before heading into Adventurland to take a ride on Pirates of the Carribean.

We managed to get on quite quickly, Leona was a little scared by some of the 'people' but she was ok in the end.

We got off the ride and who should we see? Any ideas?

Captain Jack Sparrow! I was so excited - I really wanted to meet him when we were at Disneyworld last year but the queue was over an hour long so I gave it a miss :(

I got in the queue which wasn't that long and managed to meet him, he was so funny!

We had a quick chat and then he asked me who the man with the black box (camera) was:

Me: "That's my boyfriend"
JS: "I'm SO sorry"

He was brilliant! I don't even like the movies but Capt Jack is a great character :)

After all the excitement we headed into Fantasyland and rode most of the rides:

• Small World
• Snow White
• Pinocchio
• Dumbo
• Mad Hatters Tea Cups
• Carousel

Whilst we were there we also managed to meet a couple more characters:

The Queen of Hearts

The Mad Hatter!

Onto Discoveryland to grab a bite to eat as we were quite cold and hungry now :(

Food is quite expensive here - an adult chicken burger meal (burger, fries and drink) costs €9.99 which is quite shocking!

After eating we did a few more rides:

• Buzz Lightyear
• Space Mountain (ouch my head!)
• Star Tours

Then we took a ride on the Walt Disney Railroad all the way back to Fantasyland.

We then rode Peter Pan's flight using fastpass as it had been having technical difficulties earlier. The cast member did point at our out of date fastpasses but once we told her that it had been broken down she let us through :)

We only had the Indiana Jones ride left so we went over to Adventurland and walked straight on! It was faster than expected and Rob's mum didn't realise it went upside down :)

We then went and got a hot drink ready to watch the parade. Managed to get front row 'seats' in front of the castle which was good - although Leona was still hiding from the characters!

After the parade we had a few photos taken and did a bit of shopping before we left the park:

We left the park and went to Earl of Sandwich for dinner before heading back to the hotel to bed. We were all quite tired and had an early start planned for the next day!

Cafe Mickey breakfast

Possible problem with the character breakfast - turns out that Leona (age 3) is afraid of them!

She didn't like Peppa Pig when we went to Paulton's Park last year but everyone thought it would be fine - apparently not!

Anyway off we go for breakfast and almost immediately we start seeing characters (and Leona starts hiding!)

Me with Gideon (from Pinocchio)

Now Geppetto

Pluto

Chip and Dale

And finally the main man - Mickey!

I have to say though - the food here was not good. The hot food did not look appetising at all! I stuck to the croissants and pain au chocolat just to be safe.

Luckily the many characters made the experience worthwhile but I wouldn't go back!

Getting there :)

After what felt like absolutely forever waiting for my exam results - I was literally counting the days towards the end - it was almost time and we were going to Disneyland Paris as well so I could get a Disney fix :)

I had lots to do at work and so Monday - Wednesday I was in the office as soon as the building opened to try and get everything done :(

3pm Wednesday and I was finally done so I could leave and go get ready. We dropped off the dog at kennels, packed and tidied the house and then set off for the airport.

We stopped to grab a bite to eat on the way and arrived at the hotel at about 8.

We went to bed around 10 with my phone next to the bed (so I could check my emails in the night.)

Rob woke me up around 1.45 (as I had told him to do if he woke up) and no email had arrived :(

Woke up again around 4am and checked again - the email had arrived! Opened it up to find that I had managed to pass all three exams much to my surprise! So back to sleep for the rest of the night.

Got up in the morning and checked out, we had expected to pay £7.50 for parking but the guy at reception told us not to bother - bonus!

Parked at Heathrow in the business parking and took a Heathrow pod to the terminal - so fun!

Quickly through security and off to get some breakfast before the flight.

We boarded and then the Captain announced that we weren't going anywhere soon as air traffic control had been landing flights on both runways which had caused a backlog :(

Eventually, we got airborne and actually only landed 15 mins late at Paris. We got our TGV to DLP and then took a shuttle bus to the hotel.

Check-in was quick and easy, we dropped off our bags and then headed to the parks to see if we could find the rest of the family (their train had arrived a couple of hours earlier).

We went into Walt Disney Studios and took a quick ride on Tower of Terror, before taking a look for the family in the Toy Story area.

Didn't find them so had a go on the remote control car ride - really fun!

Almost park closing time so we had another go on the Tower of Terror. We had been trying to call the parents but none of their phones were switched on!

We had a walk around the Disney village and they eventually called to say that they were back in their room and were going to eat at the hotel as the children were cold.

So, we went and had dinner in the rainforest cafe! It was a little expensive but a nice meal.

Back to the hotel and we found the others just heading back to their rooms. We had a drink in the bar with Rob's parents and then off to bed so that we were all up bright and early for breakfast at Cafe Mickey's.

Background

Back in November I thought it would be a nice idea to take a trip to Disneyland Paris to celebrate finishing my exams so I started researching how much it would cost to go to Disneyland Paris :)


I couldn't decide if I was willing to pay £500 for the most basic category of hotel and then Rob got told he might have to go on a work trip over the dates I was considering so that made up my mind for me - we wouldn't go.


A few weeks later I found out that there was a 50% sale on hotel and ticket packages for selected dates in January and February, so I started looking again!


I found that I could get a 2 night 3 day package for £228 just after I would receive my exam results so I thought we might go and celebrate/comiserate depending on the results.


I then managed to get free flights with my airmiles (before they changed to Avios) and a free night at a heathrow hotel using some points that I thought I was never going to be able to use!


So, I arranged airport parking and TGV for the transfer from the airport to Disneyland and we were all ready to go.


I told Rob's parents about the deal as I knew they wanted to take Kevin (Rob's brother) and his children to Disneyland and this might make it affordable for them. Before I know it we are all booked into the Santa Fe - they would take the Eurostar as it was cheaper and easy for the kids!