Last night we’d decided not to set an alarm, and just take our time this morning, so we woke up about 8.30am to a very cold but dry day. We don’t eat big breakfasts so we’d taken wrapped croissants, choc waffles and sachets of latte etc with us, and had breakfast in bed before wrapping ourselves up and setting off for Disneyland Park.
The hotel lobby was madly busy again as we walked through! We stopped of for a couple of Marvel photos outside the New York hotel and went through security at the Village entrance - the Village looked very Christmassy with food market stalls which opened later in the day, and we were heading to the park when H suddenly decided to ‘take a short cut’ through the crowds coming out of the railway station - I had to follow her as she couldn’t hear me, and we were now stuck in a massive queue to go through another security check as we weren’t allowed back out the way we went in! Things were frosty for a while - and I don’t mean the weather - till we finally got into the park!
Happily as we finally entered the park, Mickey, Minnie and all the gang walked towards us after ending their photo session, and immediately after seeing them we managed to get a private ride down Main Street in the Paddy Wagon.
We headed towards Discoveryland and went on Star Tours which said 20 mins but was actually a walk on, followed by Philharmagic which I love and where we were surprised by an additional scene from Coco! There were only about 50 people in the huge theatre, but it's tucked away and they don't seem to make a big thing of this show.
We walked over to Frontierland for Big Thunder Mountain and were on and off within 20 minutes - we must have just timed it right as when we came off the queue was quite long. We then had a visit to Phantom Manor and a wander round the graveyard, then into the shops.
We had planned to try to see the Lion King show, and if needed pay for an express pass another day - but we arrived there 20 mins before it started and got in with no problem, although the theatre was full by the time it started, and what a great show, it's like a west end production rather than the one at WDW. I do hate the bench seats with no backs on though - must be an age thing! We were getting hungry but we had a late afternoon reservation so didn’t want to eat and spoil our appetites.
Pirates was next on our way round to Agrabah Cafe for our very late lunch, early dinner . We haven’t eaten there before and the buffet is Moroccan / Mediterranean - which we both enjoyed and were ready for. The theming is really great - very like the Moroccan pavilion in Epcot.
After eating we, maybe unwisely, went on the Teacups and the Carousel where H got stuck on her horse at the end and I had to get her off 🤣 then we bought a couple of Christmas ornaments in the Castle crystal shop, before wandering through the shops up Main Street - the park was closing at 7pm - and making our way back to the hotel for baths, hot drinks and snacks.
I have to say, we didn't find wearing masks all day much of a problem apart from the steamed up glasses at times (we only took them off to eat; when we were in our room or for the very occasional outside photo) and they did keep our faces warm :d:
