To start the year (and maybe a bit because we didn't have a free weekend in December) we went for 2 days in Disneyland, embracing the tradition of going to Disneyland around Christmas time. Like last year I managed to get a great deal on Vente-Privee so we could spend 2 days/1 night at a reasonable cost. This year I targeted New York hotel but it didn't work out so faithful to our Californian vacation we stayed at Sequoia Lodge, inspired by the lodges in the national parks in the US.
We left home a bit after 7am (yes one more time I kicked wolfram out of bed at an impossible early hour on a Sunday ) and drove to Disneyland Paris. This year we knew the system so we left the luggage in the car, checked in to get the park tickets, learned that we can get 2 extra hours of the park the next morning between 8am and 10am and booked breakfast at 7:30am in consequence, walked to the parks and were ready for the first attraction at 11am.
This year I had fully anticipated the cold weather with the following:
- my new bearpaw boots and knee height socks to keep my feet and leg warm
- Damart under tshirt under flees sweater for the upper body
- Scarf and hat for neck and head
- and my new pair of gloves (thanks Christa and Christian) ensuring my fingers would not get cold.
This year we tried new attractions in the Studios:
- Animagique where you learn how Disney creates its icons. So so to be fair.
- Stitch Live! where you are looking for Stitch. This one was surprisingly good. After Animagique we expected the worse and were positively surprised. The animator did a really good job and the way they integrate the audience in the show and on the screen is worth a visit.
- Studio Tram Tour, another studio tour, this one shorter and worse than the one in Universal Studios. I guess Studio Tour is not our thing.
- Toy Story Mission Parachute: nice parachute drop but I would advise you to make sure your shoes are well attached to your feet.
- Disney's Stars 'n' Cars show with a parade and a show where Mickey is a director of a movie and all the stars pop up. Lot's of singing and dancing. A pure Disney show :)
This year, Wolfram brought his brand new camera and was experimenting with it. See on his blog all the pictures and videos! As a consequence I decided to travel light without camera. The only one where I had an active role was the one from the Hollywood Tower Hotel shot at some point when they dropped us. The fact that my hair are almost vertical gives you an idea of the speed of the drop.
This year we had the photo and its frame delivered at the hotel. Concept is simple: you buy in the shops from the park, any time, whatever you bought is delivered at your hotel where you pick it up. Convenient isn't it? Another nice way to keep you shopping.
This year we did the Classics of course, sometimes even twice: Peter Pan (Wolfram's favorite), Pirates of the Caribbean, It's a small world (my favourite), Big Thunder Mountain, Phantom Manor and Buzz Lightyear.
This year again Wolfram did the hard core roller coaster alone while I was enjoying a less shaking attraction (that's how I trained to improve my score at Buzz's), shopping or resting in a warm place.
This year Captain EO is back. Created in 1986 and for the first time in Europe, a 3D show produced by George Lucas, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Michael Jackson himself! It was shot in the 1980s with basic 3D and sadly it shows when compared to what is done today (especially the hair cuts) but it's always nice to hear Michael Jackson.
This year we rushed back after the electrical parade to hit the swimming pool, open until 10pm. Unfortunately it didn't turn out the way we wanted. The place was packed with people (apparently after a full day outside in the cold everybody wants to be in a warm swimming pool), the jacuzzi was so full it was almost impossible to get a slot, the water of the swimming pool was very cold (probably because it's the same that goes to the outdoor pool) I thought I would never get in. The worse was the changing room: too small for the number of adults and children in it, and clearly disgusting given people were walking with their shoes in it and it didn't look like anyone was cleaning it regularly. Big disappointment as usually Disney is a master at keeping everything neat and clean.
This year we watched the illumination of the Christmas tree. Even after Christmas it is a magical moment.
This year again, for 2 days, we were kids enjoying Fantasyland and escaping the cold reality that tomorrow... it's back to work :(
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