Sooo we are finally here at DLH for our Disney familymoon! DH and I got married on the 2nd Aug and are here now with his DD who is 8 for our familymoon! We wanted to do something special that included her to as part of becoming a new family We are also joined by her beloved Stitch who even has his own 'pawsport' which caused a lot of smiles from the Eurostar and DLH reception!
We are all big Disney fans since doing a day trip to DLP 3 years ago and getting smitten with the bug. Since then we did a few days at Disneyland California as part of a work trip and 2 nights at the Sequoia Lodge at the end of the Christmas season last year. This is our first time at the DLH and I've got a lot of help on these boards so thought I'd do a trip report to try to give something back.
Unfortunately we both had to work this morning and so we had to get the Eurostar via Lille leaving at 12.58 rather than travelling earlier in the morning. We settled into our table seats and it was very easy and relaxed - went to the buffet car earlier for yummy pizza. DH and I were working on stuff for work (booo but means we can now relax and enjoy the weekend!) and DD was busy looking after Stitch.
We are staying for 3 nights and getting the direct Eurostar back on Monday. Because it was only £5 more we are coming back in Standard Premium! We have premium half board and had made the following bookings:
Sat 23rd 12.30pm Cafe Mickey, 7pm Walts
Sun 24th 1pm Inventions brunch
Mon 25th 12.30 Blue Lagoon
We planned to just order pizza at Cafe Mickey and pay cash. DH had ignored my suggestions to book for the first night...wanting to just grab something...
Train was a bit late but easy change in Lille just walking over the platform. We walked to DLH and checked in - all very easy! Snagged an extra fastpass for today which was a win! I'd asked for a room overlooking the park which we didn't get but we are very close to the elevator down to the parks so still very happy. Little bit of pixie dust in an autograph and pen for DD - she is very happy!
DH was still working and sending emails as we girls got more excited about going to the parks so despite arriving at 5.30 didn't leave til just after 6. He then decided he wanted a sit down meal and only places with space were Silverspur or Cali Grill...we decided to try Cali Grill and splash out with the premium vouchers so made a reservation for 8.30. Unpacked while he was working - nice to be settled!
Finally Decided to go use the hotel fastpass on Ratatouille which still had about a 15 mins wait - loved the ride though - very different and a great start!
By time we finished was 7, saw queue for Crush was only 50 mins so decided to brave it. What a fun ride! DD loved it too - haven't done this one before so that was good! Then we did flying carpets twice as there wasn't much of a queue - DD and stitch in the front doing the up and down and me and DH in the back rocking it.
Then onto Cali Grill! Got a lovely window table with a view of the castle and it's a beautiful restaurant! We treated ourselves to a glass of Disneyland champagne which was very yummy! A tip - they added grenadine to DDs sprite to make it special and didn't charge any extra for this - she'd wanted pink lemonade!
TBH were a bit disappointed otherwise - service was very slow and the food wasn't really my thing. Pudding made up for it tho - DD had the chocolate hedgehog and I had the cheese - on the premium menu you were only meant to get two but I got all 5 (I think because they were so slow with to come - DD had already finished) and they were very yummy cheeses - roblochon, Brie , Camembert, goat and Comte!
Because it was so slow we didn't finish until 10.30 and as it was raining decided to rest and do EMH tomorrow rather than try to squeeze in rides or dreams. Bit disappointed but also very tired - to bed now before getting up to do some of our favourites. Felt odd to start in the studios but DD had seen ads for the rat and badly wanted to - looking forward to seeing the castle tomorrow but very pleased we've already done ratatouille and crush before the weekend erm... Crush!
We are all big Disney fans since doing a day trip to DLP 3 years ago and getting smitten with the bug. Since then we did a few days at Disneyland California as part of a work trip and 2 nights at the Sequoia Lodge at the end of the Christmas season last year. This is our first time at the DLH and I've got a lot of help on these boards so thought I'd do a trip report to try to give something back.
Unfortunately we both had to work this morning and so we had to get the Eurostar via Lille leaving at 12.58 rather than travelling earlier in the morning. We settled into our table seats and it was very easy and relaxed - went to the buffet car earlier for yummy pizza. DH and I were working on stuff for work (booo but means we can now relax and enjoy the weekend!) and DD was busy looking after Stitch.
We are staying for 3 nights and getting the direct Eurostar back on Monday. Because it was only £5 more we are coming back in Standard Premium! We have premium half board and had made the following bookings:
Sat 23rd 12.30pm Cafe Mickey, 7pm Walts
Sun 24th 1pm Inventions brunch
Mon 25th 12.30 Blue Lagoon
We planned to just order pizza at Cafe Mickey and pay cash. DH had ignored my suggestions to book for the first night...wanting to just grab something...
Train was a bit late but easy change in Lille just walking over the platform. We walked to DLH and checked in - all very easy! Snagged an extra fastpass for today which was a win! I'd asked for a room overlooking the park which we didn't get but we are very close to the elevator down to the parks so still very happy. Little bit of pixie dust in an autograph and pen for DD - she is very happy!
DH was still working and sending emails as we girls got more excited about going to the parks so despite arriving at 5.30 didn't leave til just after 6. He then decided he wanted a sit down meal and only places with space were Silverspur or Cali Grill...we decided to try Cali Grill and splash out with the premium vouchers so made a reservation for 8.30. Unpacked while he was working - nice to be settled!
Finally Decided to go use the hotel fastpass on Ratatouille which still had about a 15 mins wait - loved the ride though - very different and a great start!
By time we finished was 7, saw queue for Crush was only 50 mins so decided to brave it. What a fun ride! DD loved it too - haven't done this one before so that was good! Then we did flying carpets twice as there wasn't much of a queue - DD and stitch in the front doing the up and down and me and DH in the back rocking it.
Then onto Cali Grill! Got a lovely window table with a view of the castle and it's a beautiful restaurant! We treated ourselves to a glass of Disneyland champagne which was very yummy! A tip - they added grenadine to DDs sprite to make it special and didn't charge any extra for this - she'd wanted pink lemonade!
TBH were a bit disappointed otherwise - service was very slow and the food wasn't really my thing. Pudding made up for it tho - DD had the chocolate hedgehog and I had the cheese - on the premium menu you were only meant to get two but I got all 5 (I think because they were so slow with to come - DD had already finished) and they were very yummy cheeses - roblochon, Brie , Camembert, goat and Comte!
Because it was so slow we didn't finish until 10.30 and as it was raining decided to rest and do EMH tomorrow rather than try to squeeze in rides or dreams. Bit disappointed but also very tired - to bed now before getting up to do some of our favourites. Felt odd to start in the studios but DD had seen ads for the rat and badly wanted to - looking forward to seeing the castle tomorrow but very pleased we've already done ratatouille and crush before the weekend erm... Crush!