Disneyfanswicklow
Disney Fanatic!
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2009
https://picasaweb.google.com/sheehy.jo/Disneyland2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCLLi3MnA1bPXIw&feat=directlink
Hopefully the thingy above will take you to my photos don't know how to get single ones on!
At last the day has arrived! although it is 3am we are all up the minute the alarm goes off (big change from usual alarm waking!) Quick showers all around and it is time to head to the airport. After an uneventful journey we were checked in and sitting down to breakfast before boarding our flight which left on time. After arriving at Terminal 1 we went to the designated gate for the VEA - oops it was out of order and we had to walk a way to find an open gate, a bit of a panic to find where the VEA went from as there was some construction work all along the usual spot - a nice French taxi driver showed us we should be at stop J. VEA shuttle arrived within minutes and took us to a waiting bus. 40 minutes later we were at our hotel and checking in. There was a q (the first of many on this trip) but it moved extremely quickly as more staff popped out to the check-in desk. We were greeted by a very friendly gentleman who looked up our reservation and asked me which of the girls was the birthday girl, I pointed to our eldest and he wished her a very happy birthday and then gave a big grin and said there were a few surprises for us....we had been upgraded to the Empire State Club - WOW - I was stunned as I had stayed here last year but could not afford it this year as we were now 4 adults. Our room was not ready so we were invited to the lounge for coffee and given our tickets for the park along with our vouchers for dinner and lunch). We headed up to the lounge and took a little time out
then hit the parks - first stop was pirates - a q of 35 minutes later we had our first ride under our belt, then it was time for our lunch reservation at Blue Lagoon - oh my God this was fabulous - brilliant service and the food divine - we all declared it to be our best meal yet (we had yet to have our Walts meal that just surpassed this one later in the week). Needless to say in my excitement I completely forgot to take photos! After lunch we set off for our first ride on big thunder mountain - we were glad to have fastpasses as the q time was 65 minutes
we adrenalin junkies headed directly to Indiana Jones - just a short wait with fastpass, then over to dh favourite Phantom Manor - 60 minute q! but it moved steadily and it seemed we were on in no time it was brilliant and we enjoyed a walk through the grave yard. we headed over to Fantasyland and could not believe how busy it was! we fastpassed Peter Pan (Q was 90 minutes) then did snow white and Pinochio - long waits for both. We sadly passed Dumbo as the q was extremely long we reckoned we would do that and tea cups in EMH time. Small World was as charming as ever and the line moved quickly. We decided that as the parks were so busy we would head over to get our room key and avail of the afternoon tea. Our room was gorgeous - lake view
and one of the beds covered in Birthday Balloons and a lovely gift wrapped Mickey mug
dd was delighted with herself and threw herself onto the bed in delight!
The afternoon tea was even better than I remembered
and we got some lovely relaxation time and were able to hone our plans for the next few days (this was badly needed as the parks remained very busy throughout our stay!). It had started to rain as we made our way back to the park and this helped thin the crowds a little so we were able to ride space mountain and star tours in quick succession and Buzz with fastpass - Autopia was not to be 90 minute q. Headed back to Thunder mountain and rode again by now it was getting dark and the parks looked magical from the runaway train - we just had to ride again (Thank God for fastpass!). We were all becoming very tired and decided to call it a day and head back to the hotel to shower for dinner at Annette's (waited 40 minutes to get in
) the meal was fabulous as always - we fell into bed and set the alarm for 7 as we had breakfast reservation for 8 at Cafe Mickey. More soon and I will try to upload some photos!
Hopefully the thingy above will take you to my photos don't know how to get single ones on!
At last the day has arrived! although it is 3am we are all up the minute the alarm goes off (big change from usual alarm waking!) Quick showers all around and it is time to head to the airport. After an uneventful journey we were checked in and sitting down to breakfast before boarding our flight which left on time. After arriving at Terminal 1 we went to the designated gate for the VEA - oops it was out of order and we had to walk a way to find an open gate, a bit of a panic to find where the VEA went from as there was some construction work all along the usual spot - a nice French taxi driver showed us we should be at stop J. VEA shuttle arrived within minutes and took us to a waiting bus. 40 minutes later we were at our hotel and checking in. There was a q (the first of many on this trip) but it moved extremely quickly as more staff popped out to the check-in desk. We were greeted by a very friendly gentleman who looked up our reservation and asked me which of the girls was the birthday girl, I pointed to our eldest and he wished her a very happy birthday and then gave a big grin and said there were a few surprises for us....we had been upgraded to the Empire State Club - WOW - I was stunned as I had stayed here last year but could not afford it this year as we were now 4 adults. Our room was not ready so we were invited to the lounge for coffee and given our tickets for the park along with our vouchers for dinner and lunch). We headed up to the lounge and took a little time out
then hit the parks - first stop was pirates - a q of 35 minutes later we had our first ride under our belt, then it was time for our lunch reservation at Blue Lagoon - oh my God this was fabulous - brilliant service and the food divine - we all declared it to be our best meal yet (we had yet to have our Walts meal that just surpassed this one later in the week). Needless to say in my excitement I completely forgot to take photos! After lunch we set off for our first ride on big thunder mountain - we were glad to have fastpasses as the q time was 65 minutes
we adrenalin junkies headed directly to Indiana Jones - just a short wait with fastpass, then over to dh favourite Phantom Manor - 60 minute q! but it moved steadily and it seemed we were on in no time it was brilliant and we enjoyed a walk through the grave yard. we headed over to Fantasyland and could not believe how busy it was! we fastpassed Peter Pan (Q was 90 minutes) then did snow white and Pinochio - long waits for both. We sadly passed Dumbo as the q was extremely long we reckoned we would do that and tea cups in EMH time. Small World was as charming as ever and the line moved quickly. We decided that as the parks were so busy we would head over to get our room key and avail of the afternoon tea. Our room was gorgeous - lake view
and one of the beds covered in Birthday Balloons and a lovely gift wrapped Mickey mug
dd was delighted with herself and threw herself onto the bed in delight!
The afternoon tea was even better than I remembered
and we got some lovely relaxation time and were able to hone our plans for the next few days (this was badly needed as the parks remained very busy throughout our stay!). It had started to rain as we made our way back to the park and this helped thin the crowds a little so we were able to ride space mountain and star tours in quick succession and Buzz with fastpass - Autopia was not to be 90 minute q. Headed back to Thunder mountain and rode again by now it was getting dark and the parks looked magical from the runaway train - we just had to ride again (Thank God for fastpass!). We were all becoming very tired and decided to call it a day and head back to the hotel to shower for dinner at Annette's (waited 40 minutes to get in
) the meal was fabulous as always - we fell into bed and set the alarm for 7 as we had breakfast reservation for 8 at Cafe Mickey. More soon and I will try to upload some photos!
while dd2 and I headed for the last hour of EMH - we could not believe the q's already 40mins wait for buzz 
Great that you got to ride everything now! 
