Anemone
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 29, 2013
So I finished my California TR and can now start my PTR for next January
A bit of background. My boys were only 2 and 3 when their dad and I split up and although I was working, he wasn't and contributed nothing so money was pretty tight. Only kidding with the violin - we were actually really lucky as we had everything we needed but Disney holidays were impossible. By the time I was able to afford holidays abroad the boys were teenagers and way too cool for such childishness.
Then a year ago last weekend my DS2 and his girlfriend had a little boy, my beautiful grandson, and suddenly all things Disney were cool again. So I decided last October to book a trip for us all to go to DLP in January 16 and surprised them with it as a Christmas present. This gave them a year to save some money to spend - if nothing else they will have their birthday and Christmas money from me this year. I've printed off "fake" notes from the internet to put in their birthday cards as IOUs and will give them the actual Euros when we go.
So the cast...
Me, Anne, 21 and 3/4 - usually go to Disney with my sister but this trip is going to be a little bit different.
My DS1, John, 24.
DS2, Mark, 22, his girlfriend Ruth, 20, and the light of my life, Tyler-James, who was 1 last week.
Ruth is Mickey Mouse crazy and has also never been so is really looking forward to the trip.
This "family photo" was also taken at Tyler's birthday party DS1 is in disguise. Catherine hadn't a clue which was very sweet.
We are flying Ryanair from Dublin to Beauvais and I have booked Ezyshuttle for the transfers. Flights are early - 6.25am so we will arrive in Beauvais at 9.05 and should be checked in and in the park by lunch time. John from Ezyshuttle said the journey time is about 75 mins. Departure flights are at 22.35 so we get a good part of our last day in the parks too.
We live about 2 hours drive from the airport and I have a very small car so we won't all fit with luggage and Tyler's buggy. It's cramped with 2 adults and the car seat in the back as it is. I think the solution is to send the 2 boys on the aircoach then drive me, Ruth and Tyler down with the luggage. Neither of my boys have learned to drive yet and they're not sure if their dad will help out. They can ask him nearer the time or I'll drop them at the bus. We could stay overnight at the airport but would need 2 rooms so I think I'd rather just drive down that night. Hopefully the baby will sleep in his car seat.
We're staying in Santa Fe in 2 standard rooms. For the same money we could have shared 1 room in a more expensive hotel but with 4 adults and a cot I thought it would be too cramped. This way there are 2 bathrooms and I will ask for interconnecting rooms so we can share looking after Tyler.
I could be wrong as it is a long time since either boy lived at home, but memory tells me they won't be keen to get up early whereas I'll be getting up for 7am brekkie every day and doing EMH with the little one if he's up. Maybe they will surprise me and get up for EMH too. I am so looking forward to seeing Tyler's reaction to everything. It will still be Christmas season for our first couple of days so hopefully we can get photos with the characters in their Christmas outfits. We'll miss Santa of course but a pre-Christmas trip just wasn't affordable.
With Catherine I've only stayed in DLH and HNY and we do all the character meals so I'm looking forward to experiencing a more budget conscious trip.
I haven't booked any extras at this stage. I will definitely get photopass+ - will decide nearer the time whether to add it to the package if available or if there's a discount coupon about get it in the parks.
I think everyone will love BBWWS so need to find cheap tickets for the 6.30 show. ticketmaster.fr, fnac and the french disneylandparis site only have cheap tickets for the 9.30 show. Is it possible to get cheap tickets for the early show? Maybe nearer the time?
I would also like to do a character meal and am thinking Cafe Mickey breakfast. I need to talk to the kids about it before I book but think I might add this to the booking so we're sure of getting the day and time we want. Either 1st or last morning.
I want to see Dreams every night - based on what happened this year I think we will get a couple of nights Dreams of Christmas and a couple of normal Dreams - and will do some of the scarier things I've never done in DLP with Catherine. I am absolutely gutted that BTM will be down for refurb. I finally got to ride it in California this spring and loved it. Everything I read suggests DLP's version is even better. However I am glad that IASW should be running and am looking forward to lots of baby rides - Tyler will be 20 months when we're there.
We'll be eating in more QS places than I've done before and I'm looking forward to having a meal in the hotel buffet too. Am considering whether it would be worth paying for a meal plan for 1 room so we have meals paid for all of us on 2 nights but think I'll stick with standard and use the standard buffets. I'd quite like to try Plaza Gardens as well. A "cocktails around the lake" evening could be on the cards too.
We have loads of time left to plan and change our minds over and over. Any Santa Fe tips welcome especially on what the best block to stay in might be.
Thanks for reading.
A bit of background. My boys were only 2 and 3 when their dad and I split up and although I was working, he wasn't and contributed nothing so money was pretty tight. Only kidding with the violin - we were actually really lucky as we had everything we needed but Disney holidays were impossible. By the time I was able to afford holidays abroad the boys were teenagers and way too cool for such childishness.
Then a year ago last weekend my DS2 and his girlfriend had a little boy, my beautiful grandson, and suddenly all things Disney were cool again. So I decided last October to book a trip for us all to go to DLP in January 16 and surprised them with it as a Christmas present. This gave them a year to save some money to spend - if nothing else they will have their birthday and Christmas money from me this year. I've printed off "fake" notes from the internet to put in their birthday cards as IOUs and will give them the actual Euros when we go.
So the cast...
Me, Anne, 21 and 3/4 - usually go to Disney with my sister but this trip is going to be a little bit different.
My DS1, John, 24.
DS2, Mark, 22, his girlfriend Ruth, 20, and the light of my life, Tyler-James, who was 1 last week.
Ruth is Mickey Mouse crazy and has also never been so is really looking forward to the trip.
This "family photo" was also taken at Tyler's birthday party DS1 is in disguise. Catherine hadn't a clue which was very sweet.
We are flying Ryanair from Dublin to Beauvais and I have booked Ezyshuttle for the transfers. Flights are early - 6.25am so we will arrive in Beauvais at 9.05 and should be checked in and in the park by lunch time. John from Ezyshuttle said the journey time is about 75 mins. Departure flights are at 22.35 so we get a good part of our last day in the parks too.
We live about 2 hours drive from the airport and I have a very small car so we won't all fit with luggage and Tyler's buggy. It's cramped with 2 adults and the car seat in the back as it is. I think the solution is to send the 2 boys on the aircoach then drive me, Ruth and Tyler down with the luggage. Neither of my boys have learned to drive yet and they're not sure if their dad will help out. They can ask him nearer the time or I'll drop them at the bus. We could stay overnight at the airport but would need 2 rooms so I think I'd rather just drive down that night. Hopefully the baby will sleep in his car seat.
We're staying in Santa Fe in 2 standard rooms. For the same money we could have shared 1 room in a more expensive hotel but with 4 adults and a cot I thought it would be too cramped. This way there are 2 bathrooms and I will ask for interconnecting rooms so we can share looking after Tyler.
I could be wrong as it is a long time since either boy lived at home, but memory tells me they won't be keen to get up early whereas I'll be getting up for 7am brekkie every day and doing EMH with the little one if he's up. Maybe they will surprise me and get up for EMH too. I am so looking forward to seeing Tyler's reaction to everything. It will still be Christmas season for our first couple of days so hopefully we can get photos with the characters in their Christmas outfits. We'll miss Santa of course but a pre-Christmas trip just wasn't affordable.
With Catherine I've only stayed in DLH and HNY and we do all the character meals so I'm looking forward to experiencing a more budget conscious trip.
I haven't booked any extras at this stage. I will definitely get photopass+ - will decide nearer the time whether to add it to the package if available or if there's a discount coupon about get it in the parks.
I think everyone will love BBWWS so need to find cheap tickets for the 6.30 show. ticketmaster.fr, fnac and the french disneylandparis site only have cheap tickets for the 9.30 show. Is it possible to get cheap tickets for the early show? Maybe nearer the time?
I would also like to do a character meal and am thinking Cafe Mickey breakfast. I need to talk to the kids about it before I book but think I might add this to the booking so we're sure of getting the day and time we want. Either 1st or last morning.
I want to see Dreams every night - based on what happened this year I think we will get a couple of nights Dreams of Christmas and a couple of normal Dreams - and will do some of the scarier things I've never done in DLP with Catherine. I am absolutely gutted that BTM will be down for refurb. I finally got to ride it in California this spring and loved it. Everything I read suggests DLP's version is even better. However I am glad that IASW should be running and am looking forward to lots of baby rides - Tyler will be 20 months when we're there.
We'll be eating in more QS places than I've done before and I'm looking forward to having a meal in the hotel buffet too. Am considering whether it would be worth paying for a meal plan for 1 room so we have meals paid for all of us on 2 nights but think I'll stick with standard and use the standard buffets. I'd quite like to try Plaza Gardens as well. A "cocktails around the lake" evening could be on the cards too.
We have loads of time left to plan and change our minds over and over. Any Santa Fe tips welcome especially on what the best block to stay in might be.
Thanks for reading.
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