Adventures By Disney - A Tale of Two Cities - Page 3 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Oh boy here we go . . . hey Sharon when you decide you want to do Tokyo or Hong Kong . . . let me know . . . B and I both want to get out there! I'm envious of your trip to Paris, its one of my all time favorite places to hang out! Yummy!
Hmm... We'll have to talk!
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Originally Posted by chezp
I can't wait to see you again in just a few days' time - safe travels over here!
Can't wait to see you and Mark!
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Originally Posted by mattnkatsmum
Sorry your Mum can't come, but we'll do our best to make sure that you have a Great British Welcome!
Can't wait to see you.
And can't wait to see you, Karen!
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Originally Posted by MGW
Can't wait to read all about this trip! What fun! But I'm so sorry you will have to go solo. Hopefully your trip mates will be nice and fun and not too old! But those old folks can be a hoot sometimes!
Old foks can be a lot of fun, I agree! Just no loudmouths, please.
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Originally Posted by Hugmonster
Sounds like you will have fun even without Mom. And you will not need to hide dessert...
I won't have to find places to hide snacks in the hotel room, which isn't easy to do! I speak from experience!
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
So with everything taken care of, it was time to play the waiting game. At 45 days out, I got some Disney mail! Three boxes, in fact. I opened it up and checked out the goodies. I was happy with the stuff, but the itinerary was sorely lacking. It wasn’t much more detailed than the information on the website. Disney likes to keep everything a secret – even from us. We won’t get a nice, detailed itinerary until we check in.
That made it harder to plan when to meet up with Cheryl and Mark, but we decided since there was only one thing on the itinerary on Sunday, we could safely plan for that afternoon. I also talked to Karen (mattnkatsmum), hoping she could arrange for a day trip to London, and after checking train fares, she PM’d me (just yesterday) to let me know that she could make it! So we’ll have lots of fun!
Back to the Disney mail. Inside the boxes were an Adventures by Disney backpack, an Adventures by Disney digital picture frame (which was a bonus of the package I booked) and the box of paperwork.
The box contained the details of my Disneyland Paris add-on, plus a yellow luggage-handle-cover-thingy so the folks at ABD will know to pick up my suitcase.
There was a cute little countdown calendar
And a booklet with the itinerary.
This is what passes for the itinerary – not adequate for an uber-planner, but I’ve let it go
Anyway, here’s the sad state of my itinerary.
Thursday, 14 May – I fly out of JFK on the redeye. I’m flying British Airways in premium economy. My plan is to try to sleep on the plane, but I can take a nap the next day if necessary
Friday, 15 May – I land bright and early at Heathrow. The folks at ABD will pick me up and deliver me to the Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel, which my research tells me is near the theatre district. There’s nothing on the itinerary that day except a welcome reception at dinner. I’m hoping to do some sightseeing if I’m not too tired. This is the day I have the London Eye penciled in, but it looks like it’s going to be raining, so I think I’ll wait and see what the visibility looks like.
Saturday, 16 May – We start the day with sightseeing on a double decker bus. Also on the agenda are Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and tea at Harrod’s. We’re seeing the Lion King show, and because it’s ABD, we get to go backstage after the show!
Sunday, 17 May – The Tower of London is on the agenda for the morning. That’s it for the ABD tour. The rest of the day will be spent with Cheryl, Mark and Karen. We will probably visit the British Museum and then have dinner somewhere together.
Monday, 18 May – We’re taking the Eurostar to Paris. This is something I’ve always wanted to do, so I’m happy it was part of the ABD tour. In Paris we’ll be staying at the Paris Hilton. OK, so we’ll be staying at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but I like saying the Paris Hilton better. There’s a “Parisian Orientation Tour” on the agenda. Could they be more vague?
Tuesday, 19 May – We’ll visit Versailles and have lunch at La Flotille.
Wednesday, 20 May – This is a busy day. It starts with an early bird city walk, then a visit to the Louvre, lunch in the Eiffel Tower and a visit to Notre Dame.
Thursday, 21 May – After a farewell breakfast, I’ll be on my way to Disneyland Paris. I’m staying at the Disneyland Hotel. I’m planning to visit Disneyland park this day. I don’t have a ton of time, so I plan to grab a quick meal rather than a restaurant.
Friday, 22 May – Early entry at Disneyland park. When Walt Disney Studios opens, I’ll head over there. I’m planning on my one sit-down meal at Restaurant des Stars, which is a buffet. I can control the speed of my meal, and also meet Remy from Ratatouille.
Saturday, 23 May – I’m going to spend as much time as I can at Disneyland, and then head to the airport. I’m flying from CDG in Paris to Heathrow, and from there back to New York.
The way the ABD tour works, everything on the tour is paid for. All the hotel rooms, the meals as a group, any admission fees, train tickets, etc. are included. Any meals on my own or attractions I visit on my own are not. The Disneyland portion of my visit includes park tickets, early entry admission to Disneyland Paris, breakfast at the Disneyland hotel each day (in a restaurant) and special VIP FastPass.
Up Next: The Final Details
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
I'm so Jealous!!!! It sounds like an amazing trip and I hope you have a Fantastic time and please please please take a lot of photos and eat lots of chocolate for me.
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Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust! Studying Hard to Make a Difference!
It sounds wonderful. I can't wait to read your spin on everything. Have a safe and marvelous trip
(tip that I've heard from family that travel on red eye to London - take Benadryl or other just after boarding. You'll feel refreshed first day in London.)
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ºOº ~*~
Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
With my experiences on a tour, we also had a very vague itinerary, but that was long before I became a compulsive planner, it didn't bother me. My tour also had everything paid for except meals and souvenirs, trust me, it's fantastic. Oh and of course there's the tip aspect we had. Of course, this was a 15 day tour of Hawaii back in 11/01.
I'd love to take an ABD tour. You're going to love the very pretty London and the countryside and of course you'll have tons of laughter with Karen, Cheryl and Mark!!
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I agree that the itinerary is sparse; it ain't no Big A$% Spreadsheet for sure. But this day...
Quote:
Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
Saturday, 16 May – We start the day with sightseeing on a double decker bus. Also on the agenda are Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and tea at Harrod’s. We’re seeing the Lion King show, and because it’s ABD, we get to go backstage after the show!
sounds like absolute perfection to me! I'm so excited for you Sha. I have been since you first starting talking about it last year. And now I can't believe that you're leaving TOMORROW! Safe travels!
K
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Karen, aka Zack's Mom - Lover of all Things Disney and the San Francisco Giants!
What a wonderful trip Sharon! I absolutely can't wait to hear all about it. What a dream trip! I have always wondered about the ABD trips so it will be fun to hear how it goes!
Maybe all the vague-ness means you'll have more free time?? I dunno, it sure would drive me nuts too!!! Either way, it's all happening pretty darn soon..... like momentarily!!! Have a fantabulous time, and enjoy your friendly company along the way. Reeeaally looking forward to hearing (and seeing) all about it!!!!
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Tanya
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Oh gosh Sharon - this trip sounds so awesome!
I know that you will have a wonderful time and you will not know a stranger on this trip - I am sure!
I am sorry your sweet Mom could not go with you. Do her right and eat lots of wonderful European sweets!
Have a safe flight and enjoy yourself!
Sounds awesome....Andrew loved the DLH although he reported lots and lots of pink....even the toilet paper which, being a 14 year old boy, he got a kick out of! He also said to make good use of early entry...he was the first one in the park and reported not too much company....should be easy to be there nice and early since you are up with the roosters, anyways!
danielle
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We'll have to talk! 
I won't have to find places to hide snacks in the hotel room, which isn't easy to do! I speak from experience! 
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(and “You Call This an Itinerary?”)
So we’ll have lots of fun!
There’s a “Parisian Orientation Tour” on the agenda. Could they be more vague? 
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ANGIE
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