Now we hadn't told the girls about our plans for DLP. We gave them the tickets on Easter Sunday before we headed of on the tour. We decided to go on a Thursday.
We left Paris at 8am and caught the Metro and RER A Line out to DLP. This was really easy although the train was very full with cast members heading to work.
We headed towards the entrance under the
Disneyland Hotel and it was cold. The coldest day of the whole trip. We had rugged up as we planned on staying as long as we could last and the park closed at 9. We figured we could leave layers in the lockers yet we resisted all day buying an additional layer.
We were in line by 9am and the park opened at 10. They allowed us into Main Street at 9.30am. Whilst their was a familiarity I really missed walking under the tunnels. Walked down Main Street to get our bearings.
They have scaffolding around the castle giving it a touch up before the big birthday celebrations next year. We decided to grab a coffee and headed back down Main Street. Our plan was to hit Fantasyland for Dumbo and then head to Discoveryland (Tomorrowland). The demographics of the crowd were quite different to what we are used to, there were lots of older teens even at this time of the day with beer although they certainly did not follow us to Fantasyland.
Through the castle which from the inside was a lot more spacious and onto Dumbo. Even at opening we waited 45 minutes as there is early morning entry for hotel guests. With Dumbo flown, we headed to the Labrinyth which was open
as we were unsure before we left.
We decided to head for Autopia which was the girls favourite ride
but I did learn that DD1's driving has not improved and I do not want to be her driving instructor. She even stalled the car.
After much laughing we decided to go to Space Mountain. First wait was an hour. It was great, a little bit rougher with heads being banged around but upside down and corkscrew in the dark was great.
Then off to Buzz. As the reigning family DL champion I want to be sure that I retained the title and retain it I did by a landslide.
Good to know that I still have it. We waited 45 minutes for this one.
Grabbed snacks on the go including brioche filled with nutella that was shaped like Mickey, potato chips and hot dogs in line for Buzz.
Headed back to the hub to head towards Frontierland and Adventureland. Big disappointment for the day was that Big Thunder was closed. I was so looking forward to it. DD2 was too short for Indy so we all gave it a miss, it was a one in all in day. Headed down to Phantom Manor, the wait time said 45 min but was way longer. In this line we encountered the rudest people, trying to push past us, then half their group past, half back. The wife and daughter ahead and dad and son behind. The dad kept telling the wife off. They were so close to you, we tried to wave them through but to no avail. The rubbish was overflowing in bins. The ride itself was good and it has gotten DD2 over being scared of the HM so we can have lots of fun with that at Christmas.
We grabbed some churros, they were good but not quite the same but the certainly warmed us all up. We decided to head back to Fantasyland to see what the wait was like for Peter Pan. It was not below 80 mins all day. We did get fastpasses but forgot that at DLP they have to be used in the window and we were turned away rudely.
So off to the tea cups. These were in an undercover tent which was just lovely.
We rode back to back twice. The parade was close to starting so the crowds had thinned out.
We headed over to catch a glimpse of the parade which was great. DD2 was loving it but DD1 was struggling to see so we decided to run onto Its A Small World which I just loved. DD2 and DH followed not far behind us.
At this stage the cold was catching up, the crowds were just getting rude and the very sad looking staff were killing the buzz so we decided one last ride. We headed to Autopia but line was massive and Space Mountain was saying a 20 min wait. It was more like 10 and so had one last ride.
We wandered through the Main Street shops on our way out. We headed to Disney Village for dinner at the Rainforest Cafe which is a favourite in DL. Again not quite the same. I think it is a cultural thing, there are some parts of Disney that just do not cross over.
Overall I felt like I was at Dreamworld with Disney rides, there were lots of bits that needed a coat of paint, the rubbish was everywhere and chewing gum stuck on walls into rides.
Would I go again, probably not. I would rather go to Disney or go to Europe. Not mix the two. I am glad I went though and we did have a great day together and it was a nice break from the sightseeing. We had lots of laughs and great conversations in line. On the train on the way home we all were just excited that we get to go back to DL for Christmas. Greedy we know.