Huxwolds (et Lola) En Tournee - DLP Feb 24 (Day 2) - Disneyland Park & Drinks at Art of Marvel Hotel

[HEMANCLOFTY]

Huxwolds (et Lola) En Tournee - DLP Feb 24
Day 2 - Disneyland Park & Drinks at Art of Marvel Hotel (Fri 09/02)

Index
Day 1 - Travel Day & Disney Village

I slept fairly well considering we had a very creaky bed. I think we had the alarm set for about 6:30am.

I attempted to make some hot drinks, but couldn’t get the Lavazza coffee machine to work. I tried 2 pods, but they seemed to drop down inside the machine (is that meant to happen?). I failed at Rich’s tea too as they only had Earl Grey & Cammomile. I tried the Cammomile but it wasn’t nice.

Rich went to look if he could find the “free daily coffee” vending machine. But there were none to be found in our block, or in the Laundry / Vending block, so we assume they have been recently removed.

I’d have to wait until we got to the park to get my fix.

I took a couple of photos of last night’s shopping haul, then got myself ready. I was channelling Stitch today with my jumper and socks, which I’d bought last weekend from Primark just because I knew I was getting the Stitch ears…

I was ready by 7:45, and we knocked on for Tom & Lola on the way out at 7:50.

It was still a bit dusky, but the walk to the park was nice...

I took some pics of the statues outside the Art of Marvel Hotel…

We were quickly through the short bag check scanners into Disney Village…

And we were at the Disneyland Hotel by 8:05am…

A few more pics, then we joined the queue waiting for Extra Magic Hours which started at 8:30am…

We were one of the first 5-6 people in our line, but there were plenty of people behind us by the time 8:30 arrived…

The park opened bang on time, and we were welcomed in by Mickey and Minnie who were in the station…

First glimpse of the Castle…

We walked down Main Street to the Castle…

Then headed into Discovery Land, which was pretty empty…

I loved this…

We’d intended to start with Star Tours, but it wasn’t open until 9:30am…

We didn’t think Hyperspace a mountain would be the best first ride for Lola (she’s a theme park newbie) so we did Buzz instead. It was a 5 minute queue and we pretty much walked on…

It was a good version of the ride. We had a temporary stop, so we were able to rack up some bonus points. I actually did quite well (for me), ending up with 73,500 and Rich got 68,500…

Concentration faces…

8:55am - The Castle area was nice and quiet, so we took a few photos of Tom and Lola, then Rich actually agreed to pose for some with me too…

We decided to head to Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril next, so headed there via the Pirates area in Adventureland..

I (mistakenly) thought it was a Wild-Mouse style coaster, and Lola was up for giving it a try. It was another 5 minute queue / walk-on…

Luckily, I spotted the loop as we were walking through the queue. Lola decided it wasn’t for her, so Rich waited with her whilst Tom and I went on.

It was ok, a little bit rough and definitely not a good coaster for Lola. It was still a 5 minute wait when we got off, but Rich wasn’t bothered about riding it after our review.

We decided to head for Phantom Manor next, so that we could get ahead of the main crowds when it opened at 9:30am, via a restroom stop for me…

Sadly Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was closed for maintenance….

We were in the first Stretching Room group and soon riding. It was a good version of the ride.

9:40 - We were all ready for some drinks and breakfast now, so we headed back to Main Street. We liked the look of the Beignet Mickey at the Cookie Kitchen, so decision made…

Rich and I got a Beignet each, plus a Capuccino for me and a Coke for Rich (€16.80)…

Tom and Lola got a Beignet and a Pain Au Chocolat Croissant to share and some drinks (no total noted).

Rich ate his Beignet whilst I was sorting my sweeteners and I could tell from his face that it was good. I really liked it too. Plus they are absolute bargains at only €4.50 each. They were huge and I’m a good wife so I gave Rich a couple of pieces of mine.

By 10:10am we were queuing for Star Tours, which was about a 25 minute wait…

It was a really good version. The screen quality was great and Lola was really surprised by it, having had no idea what to expect.

10:50 - We had a little mooch around Discoveryland and our first Sooty update came through from Annette at Kitty Angels (he was, of course doing fine)…

Rich and Tom popped to the smoking are behind Buzz, whilst Lola and I admired some Disney Ducks…

It was good (for Tom and Rich) that there were plenty of designated smoking areas in the park. It was not so good that some parents were taking their kids / prams in with them . There was also a fair bit of smoking in general areas too.

We did It’s a Small World next, queuing about 10-15 minutes (one lady was vaping in the queue, until a cast member told her off)…

It was a good version of the ride. I’m pretty sure I did it on my 1999 visit, but can’t be certain.

One thing I do remember from 1999 (because it’s one of only 2 photos I have) is the Alice In Wonderland chair, so I had to get an updated photo…

I was sure the chair used to be bigger. I found the photo on Facebook later and I was right - 1999 (with my lovely twin nieces Kate and Beth)…

There was a Lion King: Rhythm of the Pride Lands show at 12:15pm, so we headed for that next, waiting about 5 minutes before they let us in just after 12…

We didn’t know what to expect, but I adore Festival of The Lion King at Animal Kingdom, plus it’s Lola’s favourite film, so we were excited. I had a little girl with a nasty cough behind me - I could feel it on my neck, and I ended up with a cold a few days after we got home 😷

I didn’t take pics during the show as I wanted to enjoy it, but I did grab one right at the end before the curtains closed…

It was awesome - I cried 3 times! Lola loved it too.

We’d all agreed whilst we were waiting for the show to start that we’d head out after for some lunch at McDonalds and an afternoon rest, before heading back to the park for the 5:30pm parade. Then we’d end the evening at the Art of Marvel Hotel for a drink after the Fireworks.

A few pics from the walk out…

By 1:25 we were at Maccy’s…

We used the self service screens and ordered…

Rich - Double Royale Cheese / Large Fries / Fanta
Me - Royale Cheese / Cheese Fries / Coke
Tom - Royale Cheese / Bacon & Cheese Fries / Coke
Lola - CBO (Chicken, Bacon & Onion) / Cheese Fries / Coke
Total €45.25 (Tom offered to pay, but we insisted)

Lola and I found a table upstairs, whilst Tom and Rich waited for our order. Everything was in reusable containers, with what looked to be security tags on the bottom…

It was nice. Perhaps a smidgen too much cheese on the fries, but you can’t go wrong with a Maccy’s.

We walked back to the hotel and we’re back just after 2:05pm. I took some photos now that we could see it in the daylight…

Rich and I both had a decent nap, and we were up and ready to head back out by 4:40 - I text Tom and we arranged to meet outside in 10 mins.

We were back outside the Disneyland Hotel by 5:15pm…

Tom and Lola took a few pics…

The new Symphony of Colours theming..

I saw on socials later that day that the Symphony of Colours mini-parade had soft launched this afternoon (a day earlier than advertised)

It was 10 minutes until the parade started so we grabbed a spot by the railings just after Casey’s Corner…

Tom and Lola went to find a drink, but left it for now as they were worried they get stuck in a queue.

It was a decent spot and the Castle looked very pretty with its sparkly lights in the twighlight…

The parade got to us by 5:40 and it was good. We missed a few details of the dancers / characters on the ground as we were a bit back from the crowd, but we could see the floats…

I loved that it was a twighlight parade - it really added to the magic…

We got some more Castle pics next…

Then we headed under the Castle to see the Dragon, at 6pm…

Tom and Lola needed some drinks and something snacky by now, so we headed into Fantasyland. All of the food and beverage carts were closed which was a bit frustrating. We eventually found a little food festival area. They had some nice looking (and smelling) options, but card payments weren’t working at the stall they chose and none of us had any Euros (Rich was right, we should’ve got some)…

It was raining a bit now.

We carried on looking in Adventureland, coming across Pirates of The Caribbean. It only had a 15 min wait so we headed in for a bit of shelter (although half the queue was outside). Another good version of a classic. I definitely remember riding this one back in the day.

We had a look in the Pirates store on the way out - they had loads of Nightmare Before Christmas merch in here, which was a bit of an odd fit. Jack and Sally (aka Tom and Lola)…

Lola was starting to feel the effects of a long park day, and my back was aching too so we had a little sit down on a wet bench near the Pirates play area, whilst Rich and Tom found another smoking spot.

We eventually found somewhere open to eat. The Coco quick service. Tom and Lola grabbed a seat, whilst Rich and I waited in the very slow queue.

Tom and Lola shared some Doritos au Cheddar and a kids Boucheees de Poulet (kids chicken). Rich and I shared a Burrito au Boef and another kids chicken. We also got a some Jalepino au Cheddar which we all ended up sharing. I had a Cappuccino and Lola had a Hot Chocolate (Total €44.10)…

It was ok, but not something we’d rush back for. It filled a hole though and was a much needed sit down.

It was 7:45pm by the time we’d eaten and walked back to the hub area for the Disney Dreams Extravaganza (Fireworks) and Electrical Sky Parade pre-show at 7:50pm.

We managed to find a fairly decent spot. Unfortunately we didnt get any drones tonight, but both shows were still really lovely, despite a few bargy guests pushing past us with prams and shopping bags banging everywhere.

I got a few pics…

Afterwards we got a few more Castle pics, then braved the crowds, exiting through the arcade on the Discoveryland side….

We were leaving the park by 8:35pm, stopping to give Donald some love on the way out - he was loving whipping up the crowd…

We arrived at The Art of Marvel Hotel at 8:55pm….

There was a queue for Skyline Bar, but Bleeker Street Lounge was quiet so we grabbed some seats. The menu was the Skyline Bar one…

I had the The Heroic Star (mocktail), Rich had a Coke, Tom had a Disarono & Coke and Lola had a Margarita (Total €43). The waiter brought us some bar snacks whilst we were waiting…

My drink was very tasty, but strange. The blue cream was like cupcake frosting…

We enjoyed just under an hour chilling and chatting, then had a mooch at some of the artwork and in the hotel shop…

I, of course, admired the Loungeflys…

Tom and Lola decided to head back into Disney Village for another drink at The Pub, where it was a 2 for €22 for cocktails (they both had Pina Coladas).

Rich and I walked back to the Hotel, arriving back by 9:30. Rich popped to the vending machine to us get some drinks and snacks. He got some Peanut M&Ms and a drink for himself and a Fanta, Crisps and a Twix for me (c€20)…

Rich got peckish and ate my Twix in the night.

I think Tom and Lola were back by just after 11, having realised Tom doesn’t like coconut milk (so Lola had to finish his Pina Colada). We exchanged a few pics we’d taken of each other during the day in our WatsApp group, and I thing I was dropping off to Modern Family around 11:30pm.

Today’s step count was 25,110 👣

Day 3 - Walt Disney Studios Park, Bistro Chez Remy & Disney Village