Our Disneyland Paris experience

We just had the most amazing, magical weekend ever. We went to Disneyland Paris. We had spend the week before in Belgium visiting family and friends and wanted to take advantage of already being on the mainland. So after a week of being really excited we finally left destination Paris. The drive itself was quite straight forward and including two stops took us just under 4 hours.  We arrived before 10 and immediately booked into our hotel which was Hotel Cheyenne. I loved this western style hotel and the staff were all so friendly.

We couldn't actually check into our room until 3 pm so after booking our lunch and dinner at the hotel reception we headed straight for the parks. The kids were so excited on the short bus ride over to the park. Their faces were literally alight with excitement. Once through the gates we walked toward the pretty castle where we visited the dragon cave.  Emily couldn't get enough of the dragon! He actually became a daily must to visit!

I'd forgotten to grab a map at the park entrance but did remember a great ride from a previous visit many years ago, Thunder Mountain. The queue was about 40 minutes but actually went quite fast, there were just so many interesting things to see. We were lucky and got to sit at the very front of the runaway train, which was probably a good thing as the front moves a bit slower than the back, but oh boy did we move! As we climbed out of the ride Emily said she must have had a heart attack and dramatically announced she did not like fast rides.

As we continued walking we found ourselves near the Haunted Mansion. Both kids did not like the look of the house or the "creepy music" but decided to go on anyway. The ride itself was great and the effects amazing but the kids weren't too convinced. Maybe a bit too scary for them.

Since we'd done two scary rides we thought it would be nice to do a few quieter things so we visited the Swiss Family Robinson's tree which was so cool and we also went on the Dumbo ride and It's a small world. 

Afterwards Dylan and Simon went on Space Mountain, Emily was still too small so we explored Discovery land and then met them at the exit. Dylan's reaction to the ride was hilarious and he couldn't stop talking about it! Time goes fast in Disneyland and before we knew it we had to head back to our hotel where we had booked our dinner. While we were there we also picked up our hotel key cards.  We had a bit of a problem with our first room (REALLY bad musky smell) but after informing the staff we got moved to a lovely new room. The kids were really excited about the bunk beds and all the Far West style decorations, yay! As soon as dinner was finished, which was a lovely buffet with plenty of choice, we headed back to the parks. We decided to spend our evening at the Walt Disney Studios. The kids really wanted to go on the Ratatouille ride but the queue was 130 minutes!!! Fast passes weren't available anymore so we decided to leave that one for the next day. We loved walking around the Disney Studios and so did the kids. Most of their favourite characters were there and the rides were pretty amazing too. Dylan loved the parachute drop and Emily the Slinky ride.

By the time we headed back to the hotel it was dark and the Studios Park was closing. We wanted to stay for the fireworks but we were all just way too tired. After a nice rest we got up early to have breakfast which was at Mickey's cafe in The Village. We surprised the kids with having breakfast with the characters, something we had kept a secret from them! Dylan's face when we walked in and he noticed Mickey Mouse and the other characters was priceless. Emily on the other hand was a bit starstruck and shy. She didn't dare go up to Mickey to have her photo taken. We also met Pluto and Tac the chipmunk. It was such a great experience and seeing the kids excited faces was the best!

After breakfast we headed back to the park where Simon walked around Fantasy land with the kids while I went to queue up to get a ticket to meet a princess.   It was a bit of a wait but well worth it as we got to meet Snow White. Emily had already changed into her princess Anna's dress (her early birthday present) and Snow White was really pleased to meet a fellow princess. 

It was quite funny actually because a lot of the staff members all over the park greeted Emily with "oh hello princess". We told Emily to curtsy every time someone greeted her and it was so cute. After meeting Snow White we went back to the Disney Studios to pick up our Ratatouille fast passes and we ended up meeting Buzz Lightyear!

 We were also just in time to see the Stars n Cars parade where the kids got to meet a few more characters. Pinocchio was the funniest and full of energy, he even gave Dylan a head rub!

We did a few more rides and the most amazing one was Crush's Coaster. What a ride! Definitely a family favourite. Something we definitely didn't want to miss was the Disney parade so we headed back to Main Street to get a good space and it was just so magical. Emily (or little Anna) even got a wave and wink from the real Anna, it made her day even more magical! 

We had dinner at the Plaza Gardens in Main Street and I couldn't recommend it enough! It was buffet style and we were spoilt for choice. The staff were friendly and the kids loved it because it was a bit of a "fancy" restaurant, it made them feel very important.  After dinner it was finally time to go on our long awaited Ratatouille ride. It is the parks newest ride and definitely worth the wait. It's all in 3D so you get to wear some funky glasses. The kids loved this ride, and so did we! We left again as the park was closing and day 2 had been a very successful day. We started day 3 by meeting Donald just outside our hotel! The kids said he gave the best cuddles as he was so soft.

 We entered the park really early and we headed straight for Discovery land. I love those 2 extra hours hotel guests get as it's far less crowded and there are hardly any queues. In those 2 hours we went on Buzz's laser blast which was so much fun, the Orbitron, Autopia and Star Tours. We then went back to Fantasy land to go on the Peter Pan ride, Pinocchio ride and Snow White's Forest ride. In the afternoon we were lucky enough to meet some more characters, Captain Hook, Mr Smee, Peter Pan and Wendy. They were all so much fun to meet.

We then queue for the pirates of the Caribbean but just before we were about to get on the ride broke down, oh no! Not sure what had happened but everyone queueing up had to leave and the ride closed. Hmm, I wouldn't have liked to be the ones stuck at the top of the hill! Later in the afternoon we also met Minnie and Rapunzel. Both meet and greets were happening at the same time in different locations so Simon and I split up . The queue for Minnie was shortest so I told the kids to stay with me to meet her first and we would then walk back to daddy to join him queueing for Rapunzel but Emily wasn't convinced and even after assuring her she wouldn't miss Rapunzel she still didn't want to chance it. Dylan meeting Minnie was the cutest though and he even got a kiss from her!

We then rejoined Simon and Emily and met pretty Rapunzel who told us her hair took forever to brush. I love how all the characters we met were so amazing! They all interacted with the kids so well, they all had their special little poses and mannerisms and they were all just perfect and really sweet.

It was nearing Parade time again so we decided to watch it one last time before heading back home. I think we were all a bit sad to leave. Our weekend was truly magical and we made some amazing memories. We can't wait to go back again!

When dad's in charge

I was just browsing through our summer photos and this one made me laugh. I'd left the kids with their dad while in town so I could do some quick shopping and this is what I walked back to...two children with blinged out caps, one of them eating blue ice cream! It's not unusual for Dylan to have his ice cream all over his face, I actually think he thinks it's a necessity. Thank God he wasn't eating chocolate ice cream! As for Emily, I remember her being particularly ratty later that day, I wonder if that blue ice cream had anything to do with it. I'm am thankful though because I did get a chance to get some shopping done without two kids trailing behind me touching everything and moaning loudly, and, the caps are still worn regularly. Blue ice cream however will NEVER be bought again.

Surprise!

 

  Did you know... that this cutie patootie bought me some flowers yesterday? Well he did. We went to the supermarket and he insisted on taking his own wallet, then dragged dad away while me and Emily were buying groceries, unaware of anything. When we got home Dylan asked me to sit on the sofa and close my eyes and when I opened them he had a big bunch of flowers...just like that! How sweet is he and how lucky am I to have such an amazing boy!  

  When I asked him why he surprised me like that he said because you are the best mommy in the world. Awwwww. That's my Dylan for you, he's amazing, kind, clever, thoughtful and all mine!

 

This little family of mine...

 

  Yes, that is you I'm referring to! you are beautiful! AND I MEAN THAT.   Yesterday I co-hosted the GFC blog hop and I am so grateful to welcome loads of new followers (if you haven't already added yourself to the hop scroll down and go do that now, there is still time). So, I figured today would be perfect to introduce my little family to all you lovely people.   Well here I am

I'm Daisy, I was born in Belgium but am now living in England. How did I get to live here? Because of him  

 That's my husband Simon. We met in France while we were both in the navy. Him being in the Royal Navy, me in the Belgian navy.  

 Yes, I really was in the navy....I also used to wear shorts!   So there I was in France, having some drinks with a few friends in a cafe, when all of a sudden this guy picked up my (silver) jacket and ran out. Of course I ran straight after him shouting like a crazy lady. Turned out that was my husband to be.... You see the cafe had these lovely menu's that were printed on sails of a ship and he wanted one as a souvenir. My jacket seemed like the perfect disguise to smuggle one out according to him. The rest is history. Yes, I ended up marrying a jacket stealing, menu stealing Englishman!   So a few years went by and the cutest little baby boy was born. Meet Dylan.

He's the most amazing little boy. He's so full of energy and has got the kindest heart ever. He loves his bike, Lego, maths, his Wii and even though he's eight now he still loves his teddy Rex. When he was two he became a big brother to Emily

She is a little madam and has a very strong personality. No one will ever need to tell her who is is or what she needs to do (which does make parenting challenging sometimes for me) She's very clever, artistic, loves books all things girly and sweet.   Together we make up this family

Gosh, how much have we changed in just one year!!!!   Want to know 25 random facts about me? You can read them all here   So now that you know me a bit better I really hope you will stick around! Thanks so much to each and every one of you. Let's become great friends OK.

splashing!

Summer has finally arrived, yay!

Yesterday we took the kids to the park and what better thing to do to cool down than

to splash in the streams!

They had so much fun.

We'll definitely be returning to this park SOON.

My favourite photo of the day?

This one

Hahaha, I didn't.....just in case you were wondering!

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fun in the sun

I don't know what it's like at your house,

but when my kiddies come home from school they are famished!

First thing they do when they get through the door is raid the cupboard for

goodies and after school snacks.

Must be all the learning that makes them so hungry.

clever little peanuts.

Yesterday the sun remembered it was in fact summer in England

so instead of having the kiddies indoors I decided to treat them to an

after school picnic.

They loved it!

Once their little bellies were all filled Dylan went off to play ball tag

with some friends and Emily and me played "the princess and the witch", me

being the witch of course!

It was loads of fun.

We'll de doing this again soon.

Have a great weekend my lovely friends!

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An afternoon at the park

It's been a week now since we moved and we are still waiting for

the kids to get a new school. What a nightmare, never thought it would be such a

long process for them to change schools.

To keep them entertained we took them to the country park for an afternoon.

First stop was the playground of course.

They did a bit of climbing, a bit of swinging and some sliding.

Needless to say they absolutely love it there.

When they were all played out we went for a walk around the lake.

The lake is just beautiful and alongside it runs a small river with

lots of bridges and waterfalls.

 My kids can't get over a bridge without playing pooh sticks.

 You ever played this?

You each drop a stick one side of the bridge and whoevers stick

is first on the other side is the winner.

Great game.

First task was to find a suitable stick of course.

Notice how Emily's stick resembles a log next to mine and Dylan's stick!

I'm guessing she was hoping to win.

No such luck for Emily though, Dylan was the clear winner this time.

We were hoping to see some ducklings but I'm guessing the were all

hiding with their mommy ducks.

All the daddy ducks were showing off and begging for bread.

Do ducks beg, is there even such a thing?

When we came to a throne cut out of a log the kids thought

they were in Narnia. Surely this was made for their kings and queens.

Such royalty!

Further along the way was another little stream where Emily

wanted to look for some precious rocks.

She just loves collecting them, every time we go for a walk she collects

about a pocket full of them.

Rocks found, mission accomplished.

By then it had started to rain which made the forest smell so nice.

I love nature scents like that.

So off home we went.

We had a brilliant afternoon.

Go and have yourself a brilliant afternoon as well

xxx

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