Let's compile some Disneyland Paris Info.

[AndyJ]

And a rant I wrote after the trip in 2005:

For the third time in as many weeks I sit in the boring world of the departure lounge.

Its a time gamble between arriving and getting a decent seat, unlike our trip to cz last weekend where we sat 15 rows apart, and sitting bored silly outside Dixons Tax Free.

This flight to Paris, fortunately, only has 62 of 108 seats filled, and so mum and I get to fake a business class arrangement and occupy seats A and C and leave space for arms.

Interestingly, check-in guy said that of the 108 seats they can only fill 99 of them due to government regulations. Just in case a squad of special forces want to hich a ride? Probably not, but It is an interesting law.

Captain has announced we are off now, and I point out to mum there are several window seats if she wants one. She gave me a look that leaves me in no doubt that this will never happen. No wonder dad has so many sunset-from-the-air photographs.

Once we landed in France, the fun began. Some muppet left thier bags unattended and ground arrivals to a halt. Standing up at passport control I could see the bag, the empty baggage collection room, about 10 police guarding the area and ultimately a brave dude with a sharp knife who hacked the bag open at arms length.

I am sure the poor lady on realising she had left the bag would be upset to know we all got to see her underwear distributed by the bomb squad all over the floor for all to see.

What was amusing was that her case contained what was either a long string of sausages or something I dare not contemplate...

But out of the airport the real fun began.

People on the continent in general have no concept of a queue, and the bus to the resort was a fine example. Soon as the bus arrived, the people at the back of the queue jumped at the door of the coach. Seeing this, the driver shut the door quickly and counted up the number of people altogether. Enough to fit on, he realised, and started loading the luggage, and when done opened the door and started checking tickets or collecting fairs.

But oh no, nothing is as simple here. Some new people came along, loaded their luggage on and dived into the queue as close to the front as others would allow. By now I was using my tripod as a plow seeing as mum and I were in the first 10 in the queue from the now 80 odd people attempting to get on a 46 seater bus.

Chaos, and very cramped conditions. It was like a bus in India, and I am sure if allowed some of the people present would have climbed on the roof.

At the hotel it was time to exact our revenge. The lobby was quickly packed with people, and the fact Mickey and pals were visiting didn`t help. But being in the castle club has its perks. All the queue jumpers got to wait whilst we were personally escorted off to a secluded reception area.