Disney Paris part 4(ii)

Made it to the weekend, and so time to complete the holiday diary. Photos are on their way to Flickr as well, so will link some onto this page. Here's Nicky and I at the end of Main Street, taken by Jake when we first arrived at the park.



Anyway, our first task of Wednesday morning was packing up our stuff. I took it our to the car whilst Nicky checked out (we could have used the express checkout, but Nicky wanted to admit to one last bottle of water from the mini bar). We decided against the hotel breakfast and headed for the park, thinking that we'd get something there, but then we stopped at Cafe Mickey in the Disney Village for their American Buffet. We'd forgotten that this was a character dining spot, so it was an added bonus when Mickey and Tigger showed up!
After breakfast we went into the park, and first stop, again, was Buzz Lightyear. This time we agreed that no-one would be taking it easy and we'd all be going for a high score. Due to a shot somewhere along the way that got Jake 50,000 in one hit, he was the winner. I came third!
After Buzz I headed for Space Mountain as the wait time said that it was only 5 minutes, whilst Nicky and Jake went to the Nautilus submarine. My wait time was probably even less - I fairly much walked straight on. I have to confess that I didn't enjoy the ride very much - I found it very jerky and my head was getting thrown around a fair bit - it was certainly no Hulk!
Next we decided that it was time for a full circuit on the train, but the Discoveryland station was closed so we walked round to Fantasyland and got on there. After our circuit we headed over to Adventureland, and did a few more things on Adventure Isle, including the Family Robinson treehouse and the suspension bridge, as well as Aladdin's enchanted passage, just so that we could say that we'd ticked it off. Next stop refreshments, and Jake decided to try a toffee apple, which he enjoyed, albeit that he didn't penetrate the toffee layer very much and did get rather sticky.
A tour on the paddle steamer was next, taking lots of photos, of Big Thunder and of ducks, and then it was one last trip to Phantom Manor before making our way back to Main Street for a final bit of souvenir shopping.
Leaving the park we stopped off for sandwiches in Disney Village, and then it was back to the car for the 200 mile drive back to Calais, which was just as straightforward in reverse as it had been on the way down.
We went in to Carrefour at Citi Europe for provisions before going back the the Shuttle terminal, where we scraped together our remaining euros to buy some burgers for tea. Our train was a little delayed, but only 20 mins or so, and we were back home by just after ten.
Here are a few more photos from the trip (lots more on Flickr).

Disney Paris part 4 (i)

Back home now, and too tired to post at length, so for the time being, here's a photo from breakfast time this morning - seems like a long time ago.



More detail on our final Disney day to follow in part 4(ii)!
In health news, Heather has had her tracheotomy, but hasn't woken up yet.

Disney Paris part 3

At last a bloggable photo - this is Nicky and Jake with our hotel (the Newport Bay) in the background, taken in a brief moment without rain. I'll just mention it once, and then say no more about it, today we got wet - really wet!
Today we went to the main park (interestingly I don't think they call it the Magic Kingdom here) and we were able to use our extra magic perk by going past the rope and into Discoveryland before 10am, albeit only by a quarter of an hour or so, and into the queue for Buzz. Nicky won again, but only because I was under strict instructions not to try too hard - honest.
Then Nicky and Jake went on Star Tours, which I sat out as simulators aren't really my thing, and then we all went to Honey I Shrunk the Audience. Sheltering from the not to be mentioned weather, Jake and I played in the arcade whilst Nicky got some coffees. Then it was off to Fantasyland for It's a Small World (cheesy fun as always) followed by the Snow White ride, which was rubbish, and I have the video to prove it.
Through Fantasyland and into Adventureland, and after a wander around Adventure Isle and Captain Hook's ship, we presented ourselves at the Blue Lagoon restaurant for lunch. Food was scrummy, and desserts were definitely the best bit - Nicky's was even on fire!
After lunch we stopped off at Big Thunder Mountain to collect Fastpasses before going to the Tarzan show - one of the best things in the whole park - makes me sad that they replaced Tarzan with Nemo at the Animal Kingdom.
Jake and I just managed to sneak on to Big Thunder before our Fastpasses expired, and Jake really enjoyed it. I was a bit worried for him at first, when we were plunged high speed into darkness, and I was doing my usual thing of over enthusiastic whooping to convince him that it was all good fun. I don't think he really needed it, although as we were being pulled up for the third time, Jake did ask me how much longer the ride went on. Still, it got two thumbs up when we got off.
Then back to Discoveryland for Jake and I to go on Autopia, before we headed for the exit, pausing at the end of Main Street to watch the parade.
Having got back to the hotel and dried off a bit, we got wet again by going for a swim in the hotel pool. This evening we've been over to Disney Village for tea (sandwiches and cookies) and now it's time for bed.
Weather forecast looks better for tomorrow .... ?
Health news - Heather was supposed to have her tracheotomy today, but they were unable to do it because her temperature and blood pressure got too high. Hopefully they'll try again tomorrow.

Disney Paris part 2

Another busy Disney day! Up for 7:30 breakfast, and then straight off to the park to enjoy extra magic. Turns out that it's only Fantasyland plus a couple of Discoveryland rides that open early, but this did mean that by 9:30 we'd done Pinocchio, the Carrousel, tea cups, Dumbo and Peter Pan.
We then waited at the Fantasyland / Adventureland border for rope drop, and this meant that we were right at the front of the line for Pirates of the Caribbean, and we set sail on the first boat of the day.
Back to Fantasyland at Jake's request for a tour around Alice's maze before going back through the castle to Main Street, en route to the Studios via a quick stop at the Bake Shop (where Nicky discovered that the messy way that the chocolate brioche contains a lot of chocolate!).
At the studios our first stop was at Cinemagique, one of those Disney live action and film combos starring Martin Short. Other attractions at the studios done today were Armageddon, High School Musical on tour, the Backlot Tour, and Disney Animation.
Tea at Planet Hollywood (with 20% off thanks to the Brits Guide) and back to our hotel - in the rain again!
Note - Nicky and are spend a fair amount of time commenting about how all sorts of things would be different / better in Orlando, but I'm trying not to mention it here!

Disney Paris part 1

A fairly early start this morning, leaving the house to head to the Chunnel at about 7:45. Our journey went smoothly, and we arrived here at Disney just after 2pm. Allowing for the hour of time difference, that was a door to door time of just over 5 hours - not bad at all. Our room wasn't ready until 3pm so we had a drink in the hotel lounge while we waited. One to remember for the future - might as well get a later train!
Once unpacked we headed off to the park and at Jake's request our first stop was the Buzz Lightyear ride - Jake took great delight in beating my score! Then we went to Videopolis next door and grabbed a burger, having realised that we were all quite hungry as we'd only been snacking on picnic food brought from home up to that point.
We surprised ourselves at how much longer we kept going, and enjoyed rides on the train and Phantom Manor before heading back to Newport Bay as the rain came down.
Not taken any photos on pda yet, but taken lots with the camera. Will take a pda photo that I can blog tomorrow.
Off to bed now as we have an early start tomorrow - 7:30 breakfast and 8 - 10am are extra magic hours!
Positive news about Heather today - Nicky has spoken to her Dad and we've checked Andy's blog - seems like things are starting to head in the right direction.

Heather

What a week it's been for Heather, taken into hospital as a result of an asthma attack last Saturday. At first I think that we all thought that it would be a relatively short stay, but things haven't quite worked out like that. Each day this week seems to have brought some further complications, and since Tuesday she's been in Intensive Care.
The main issue seems to be serious blood poisoning, but on top of that there's kidney stones and a problem with her heart as well. It's not clear whether the heart problem is related to the other issues or whether its something she's had for longer, but we understand that it should be controllable, albeit that she may need medication for it for the rest of her life. For the last few days the big question has been whether she should still be under sedation, or whether the sedatives should be stopped in the hope that she'll wake up. I think that the latest plan is to stop the sedatives, but to give her some other medication which will hopefully ease the trauma of coming round - there is some concern that the waking up process won't go entirely smoothly, and in particular that she'll react badly to discovering that she has a ventilator tube in her throat and that she will try to bite it.
Andy appears to be coping amazingly well, certainly when I've seen him over the last few days he looks like he's holding it together. As well as speaking with him, lots of text messages and seeing him at the hospital, he's keeping us all up to date via his blog.
Thinking about Heather I remember that I've actually known Heather for longer than I've known Nicky - by a week to be precise! On my first visit to the St Alban's youth group, Heather was there, and for some reason Nicky wasn't. Heather was making cryptic comments that she thought that I'd get on with her sister, and what do you know, she was absolutely right!
We're all missing you Heather - come back to us soon. xxxx

Testing photo sending

Testing sending of photos from pda to blog! This photo was taken on my K-JAM pda (as per the date stamp on the image) the first time that I ever went to White Hart Lane. I'd only been a Spurs supporter for 25 years at that point!

However, that's not the point of this post - the point is that I've managed to prove that it works, and this means that by taking my pda on holiday I will be able to post photos of Disneyland whilst we are away!

I Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels,
But have not love,
I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy
and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
And if I have a faith that can move mountains,
But I have not love,
I am nothing.

If I give all that I have to the poor
and surrender my body to the flames,
But have not love,
I gain nothing.

Love is patient,
Love is kind.

It does not envy,
It does not boast,
It is not proud.

It is not rude,
It is not self-seeking,
It is not easily angered,
It keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects,
Always trusts,
Always hopes,
Always perseveres.

Love never fails.

But where there are prophecies,
They will cease;
Where there are tongues,
They will be stilled;
Where there is knowledge,
It will pass away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
But when perfection comes,
The imperfect disappears.

When I was a child,
I talked like a child,
I thought like a child,
I reasoned like a child.

When I became a man,
I put childish ways behind me.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror;
Then we shall see face to face.

Now I know in part;
Then I shall know fully,
Even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain:
Faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.

In the hammock

We've been enjoying the good weather, and spent most of the weekend in the garden, enjoying barbeques and lazing about in the hammock.
And, the hammock proved to be a popular spot ...



By happy chance, it turns out that Flickr have just started to allow users to upload snippets of video, so I can share this little bit of fun!