Just returned from 4 days in the magic. Arrived Christmas Eve, having driven from the UK (Kent) via Eurotunnel. Got to try out my new car on a long run, and use the satnav. An early start, but we were checked into Disneyland Hotel, and in the park by 10.
The weather was great. Dry and quite bright every day. No rain!
Started at Disney Studios, as we hadn't seen that before. Was impressed by the quality and freshness of the attractions, but disappointed with the size. They can hardly call it a 2-park resort, when it's 1/3 the size of the main park. But the rollercoaster is great. Stunt show was great. Cinemagic was great. Tram tour was good. Youngest son really enjoyed magic carpets. Same ride as Dumbo & rockets really, but works better. Had dinner at Cafe Mickey, which was very nice.
Christmas day was lovely. Did all the big rides in the main park, finished with Wild West Show, which even had Father Christmas visit (not sure if that's normal). The Indy ride broke down though, while we were about to get on.
Boxing day was busier, and colder. Managed to get tickets for Lion King (make sure you start queuing at about 10am). The Lion King show was well worth seeing. Followed by a trip on Pirates, and lunch at Blue Lagoon.
Having used fastpass before, and read the guidebook, I was surprised to find that you could get fastpass tickets at every ride. Instead of one ride at a time. We basically spent the whole trip with a fist full of fastpass tickets. In fact we didn't even get to use all 12 of the hotel fastpass tickets.
Yesterday (27th) was a blackout day, apparently, so I was expecting it to be very busy. It was, but not madness. Still got plenty of good rides early on. But later in the day the queues were terrible for some. We avoided the non-fastpass ones because of that. BTM fastpass machines broke down early on, which meant chaos. Luckily we'd got some for 11am, and then at 11 got some for 2pm. Then went back to Disney Studios at 4. Saw Cinemagic (great!), and then got 3 rides on rockin roller. And back to DL for a ride on SM before we returned home.
Simon's guidebook is well worth buying. I'm glad we did Blue Lagoon. And many other suggestions from it. Now planning our next trip, which hopefull won't be 4 years time.
My only slight regret is not booking at Castle Club (will do next time though)
------------------------
Jan 2001 - Sequoia Lodge
Xmas 2004 - Disneyland Hotel
The weather was great. Dry and quite bright every day. No rain!
Started at Disney Studios, as we hadn't seen that before. Was impressed by the quality and freshness of the attractions, but disappointed with the size. They can hardly call it a 2-park resort, when it's 1/3 the size of the main park. But the rollercoaster is great. Stunt show was great. Cinemagic was great. Tram tour was good. Youngest son really enjoyed magic carpets. Same ride as Dumbo & rockets really, but works better. Had dinner at Cafe Mickey, which was very nice.
Christmas day was lovely. Did all the big rides in the main park, finished with Wild West Show, which even had Father Christmas visit (not sure if that's normal). The Indy ride broke down though, while we were about to get on.
Boxing day was busier, and colder. Managed to get tickets for Lion King (make sure you start queuing at about 10am). The Lion King show was well worth seeing. Followed by a trip on Pirates, and lunch at Blue Lagoon.
Having used fastpass before, and read the guidebook, I was surprised to find that you could get fastpass tickets at every ride. Instead of one ride at a time. We basically spent the whole trip with a fist full of fastpass tickets. In fact we didn't even get to use all 12 of the hotel fastpass tickets.
Yesterday (27th) was a blackout day, apparently, so I was expecting it to be very busy. It was, but not madness. Still got plenty of good rides early on. But later in the day the queues were terrible for some. We avoided the non-fastpass ones because of that. BTM fastpass machines broke down early on, which meant chaos. Luckily we'd got some for 11am, and then at 11 got some for 2pm. Then went back to Disney Studios at 4. Saw Cinemagic (great!), and then got 3 rides on rockin roller. And back to DL for a ride on SM before we returned home.
Simon's guidebook is well worth buying. I'm glad we did Blue Lagoon. And many other suggestions from it. Now planning our next trip, which hopefull won't be 4 years time.
My only slight regret is not booking at Castle Club (will do next time though)
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Jan 2001 - Sequoia Lodge
Xmas 2004 - Disneyland Hotel
