Day Four
Today my princesses dressed as princesses
. DD1 was Cinderella - a dress we got from DLRP last visit but it was waaayy too big for her then, and DD2 was Rapunzel.
Here they are having breakfast in Inventions (no problems getting in here today
). We had a great window seat and could see the Castle quite well. Food, as usual, was lovely. As we had seen Dreams last night, so a late night, we were a little later at breakfast today - can't quite remember the time.
We got into the park towards the end of EMH and headed to Orbitron as we hadn't done it yet - we did queue for 15 mins but thought if we didn't do it now before park opening, the queue would just get worse!
We were going to do Buzz but time was getting on and we wanted to head to the Studios for a little while today (we had lunch reservation at Auberge - not the best use of time again as a lot of walking but it was just the way we'd been able to fit into our schedule). So, off we went.
We got there and it was quite busy already. There was a showing of Animagique almost due to start in 15 mins (one of the things on our must do list), so we waited for that. We had a terrible time with queue jumpers here - we had been queuing fine and were not far from the doors, when the doors opened half of the queue from the back just charged forwards and around the front of the queue! Needless to say there was a bit of a push and shove from people which was awful and quite scary
. Anyway, we got in and got a good spot. The girls both loved the show - DD1 has seen it before but didn't remember it (DD2 was not quite 6 months old!). This is one of DH's faves too so he was happy
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We had a quick go on Flying carpets and then had to head back to the park for our Auberge lunch at 12 noon. My poor feet!!
We queued up outside Auberge and there was quite a queue! Doors opened about 12.05 and people filtered in. I couldn't believe there were a few families who had turned up with their little girls all dressed up but didn't have reservations - and then were grumpy when they were turned away??!
We walked in and were shown to a table on the dancefloor (we've been here a few times and by luck have always been on the dancefloor - imo it's the best place to sit as you are central in the restaurant and can see the dancing etc very well - the tables are also a little further apart than in the rest of the restaurant). DH took a panoramic shot.
I had a look at the menu but knew that there was nothing really I would like to eat! DH ordered the foie gras (urgh) and I had salmon tartare (double urgh) to start. The girls enjoyed the amuse bouche (cheesy bread), and we enjoyed our non alcholic cocktails. I ordered chicken for both of the girls and asked if I could have this as an adults main which was agreed. It was actually really nice chicken with a fabulous stocky sauce and mashed potato. I found the pan friend vegetables a little odd (the girls didn't like them) and we are all usually happy to eat veg. DH had the veal and said it was very nice but a bit rich.
The girls had the Cinderella's delight pudding which was a chocolate fest - literally, there was so much of it even they struggled to eat it all as it was sooo rich. DH and I had the adult's chocolate pudding which again was really nice. I will add photos on the Auberge review thread.
We met Cinderella & Prince Charming, Snow White (who was absolutely lovely), Aurora and Suzy & Perla. We had a minor crisis as both girls' autograph books were running out so I had to nip out to the shop across from the restaurant to buy another (the 20th books are lovely and really nicely done but I do wish they had more pages in as with just 2 character meals we had filled it!).
I had to laugh at DD2 - she is such a character and quite 'eccentric'! She pulled up Snow White a seat and said she had a question to ask her "Where are the seven dwarves today?" Poor Snow White clearly wasn't used to such questions and did dither a bit until DD1 helped her out and said "Oh, are they in the diamond mine working?"
. DD2 then proceeded to show Snow White Jack Sparrow's autograph which she stated was a "scribble, so messy!" Priceless!
I did enjoy the meal, mainly because we then didn't have to queue at the Princess Pavilion for 2 hours plus
. But I have to agree with DH, it's become so much more expensive from our previous visits and just isn't as good value for money. The lack of wine (and water on the table), the lack of souvenir for the children and the fact I asked twice for crayons for the girls to colour in the back of their menu (we still never got them although other tables looked to have some), just made me question if we would do it again now we've done it once where DD2 is old enough to take it all in. I think perhaps if the menu changes to something a bit more 'mainstream' we might do it again - I think I liked the lamb best out of the meals I've had there. I'm just not sure really.... But, overall, the girls had a nice time and that is what matters.
With shareholders discount it was 165.83 euros!
When we came out of the restaurant we headed to Main Street and caught the Character Express just coming into Central Plaza - we stopped to see it but didn't stop to see the characters as we had learned that it is just a total scrum and not something we want to let the children get involved in. DH took this additional panoramic shot while in Fantasia Gardens.
As we'd agreed that other than Auberge, today would be our Studios visit day, we headed back there. We weren't too bothered by the rides this time in the Studios but like Animagique, Stitch Live had been on our to do list. Like others have said there seemed to be a huge demand for English showings and queues were long with many people disappointed due to strict numbers. We queued for an age but were near the front which was a bonus (queue jumpers once again seen here - why oh why!).
We entered the studio and the girls were straight at the front sitting down, DH and myself were seated on the front row
. DH was really keen to do this and so you can imagine his delight when DD2 was picked as Stitch's new best friend
. Bless her - she went a bit shy so I think they picked on another, slightly older boy to do the monkey face etc. Still, she has never stopped mentioning since how she is Stitch's best friend
. We all loved the show and came out happy and smiling!
DD2 was quite tired by this point and was trying her best to go to sleep in a pushchair that does not recline! So, I volunteered to sit down in TSPL while DH and DD2 went on RC Racer - they were away ages (and DD2 suddenly developed a new lease of life
but Mummy didn't share it after our heavy Auberge meal!).
I can't recall what we did after that but I think the queues for everything were pretty long so we walked around for a little while and thought that because it was 6 pm, that we would head back to the park to get a spot for the parade and the DDs could do IASW while I waited. We had hired another pushchair for DD1 (free with our AP) as her feet and legs were sore with all the walking which I'm not surprised at. And I got left with both pushchairs while DH took the girls on IASW - I was popular standing there with those and so effectively blocking off a fair area by IASW at the top. People still tried to push past the pushchairs but I just explained I was keeping a space for my family!! DH and the girls came back about 15 mins before the parade and then it started (I videod it today as I had a good spot with waiting such a long time). We had taken two nutty/choc pastries (the ones I love!) from SM that morning and hadn't eaten them so polished those off between us - they were quite flat but still yummy! It did start to rain as MoP was finishing, and as we'd had a late night due to Dreams the previous night, and had been out all day, decided to do one last ride using our DLH fastpass and then head back.
I'm sure you can guess what the FP was used on....
yes..... BTM
. Although it literally poured down while we were on it so we got soaked - a strange experience!
It was at this point that I started to feel quite sick
. I'm not sure what is was (DH had been sick the night before but it wasn't a bug as it was over quite quickly), I suspect it was a combo of rich food at lunch, the speed I ate the pastry (!) and tiredness. So, I took DD2 back to the hotel and DH and DD1 stopped off to get some coconut popcorn for her nighttime snack (treat) as they didn't need any more food really. I must have been ill as I didn't have a morsel of it
.
I got almost straight into bed and DH sorted the girls out for bed and we were all settled by about 8.45 pm. DH said he wasn't tired so went for a drink at the DLH bar and went to ask if we could now have our DLH FPs for our last two days (Thurs & Fri)
. We were asleep when he returned. I asked him the next morning if he'd had problems getting the FPs and apparently he'd had to relay it all again (I had been told earlier in the week that they would be ready in a package for us to collect!). The CM still didn't really understand (two men you see!), but after some head scratching etc they sorted it out - so we now - after 4 days, got our last few days FPs
.
Tomorrow - first in the park by a fair bit - yay!
I know you don't get SH discount if buying at a bar but we've always had it during a TS meal. 
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I love all the Mini Boden too, your DDs and my DDs have some of the same clothes by the looks of it, I can't resist the Boden! 
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. Just little things but as I said earlier, I am so pleased we did it as the girls had a great time (and we were able to miss the PP as a result!) but this is the first time I've come away thinking that it soooo wasn't worth the money 
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