Adventures By Disney - A Tale of Two Cities - Page 38 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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After the group was back together, we boarded our coach and continued our little mini tour of the city on the way to our hotel.
Institut Parisien Assemblée Nationale Place de la Concorde Our first view of the Champs Elysées
It was exciting driving down the Champs Elysées for the first time. The guides told us the Champs Elysées was known as the street of diamonds and rubies and asked if anyone know why (answer later in this update). Laurent, our local guide, pointed out a lot of the landmarks (including the Disney Store, which was unfortunately on the other side of the bus, so I couldn’t get a photo of it). I did get pictures of a lot of other wonderful places.
Grand Palais
Arc de Triomphe
Fouquet’s, a famous celebrity hangout
Louis Vuitton’s flagship store
Chez Clément, where we’d have dinner
Our hotel was a short distance from the Arc de Triomphe (which makes sense, considering it’s called the Hilton Arc de Triomphe). We heard that ABD is actually changing to the Renaissance Arc de Triomphe and we were supposed to be the first group to stay there, but the hotel wasn’t ready. I think I saw it under construction as we passed by.
When we arrived at the Hilton, there was a little reception set up. We all got checked in and enjoyed the reception. I didn’t take photos of the food, so I can’t really remember much about it (except very tasty macaroons and wine).
I ducked out of the reception a little early because I wanted to settle in a bit and freshen up before dinner. What follows isn’t really a spoiler unless you’re doing an adult only Adventure. So what were our surprises? Dinner at Chez Clément (very nice ) and taking a cruise along the Seine on the Bateaux Mouches (awesome!! ).
My room was nice, but much smaller than the one in London.
I freshened up and changed (we were told we could dress up if we wanted, so I put on a dress). Then I went down to the lobby to meet the group. Some people had changed, others hadn’t. Our guides were all spiffy looking so I had to get a picture.
Andy on the left, Eddie on the right
It was a short ride to the restaurant, and they had a little room all set up for us in the back of the restaurant.
It was a lovely meal and I enjoyed chatting with my fellow Adventurers. The food was delicious. I guess we were offered a choice of what we wanted, but I didn’t make a note of it, and I don’t have the menu in front of me.
After we’d eaten, they brought out cupcakes for the two people who were celebrating their birthdays (they both had the same birthday!). Then we must have had dessert, but I didn’t take a picture, so I don’t remember that.
After dinner, we headed to our sunset river cruise. It started to rain as we arrived, but it stopped raining before we left the dock. The only problem was now all the outside seats were wet, so I stood up.
This was absolutely fantastic and something Id recommend. The scenery was amazing!
Musée dOrsay, which I unfortunately didnt have time to visit. It is entry #1 on the next time list
While I was enjoying the scenery, Andy took my picture (which I didnt even know about until I saw it on the Photopass ).
We chatted for a bit and he warned me about bats flying around. Umm bats? It seems the river is a popular dinner spot for the bats because of all the insects attracted to the lights on all the boats (including the very one we were on). I spent the rest of the trip watching for bats (and luckily, I didnt spot any, or you may have heard me screeching all the way over in the U.S. ).
There was an incident of a giant spider attacking some of the Adventurers. Well, ok, not exactly giant but big, and not exactly attacking, it was just sitting there but it scared the poop out of everyone. I was at the other end of the boat, but I heard Jessie scream like a girl and then she went inside, followed by a few others and Eddie, our guide (who may or may not have screamed like a girl ). I stayed outside, but between the bugs and the bats, that boat ride was a bit more thrilling than Id have liked.
And we got an unbelievable view of the Eiffel Tower on its first twinkle. The lights twinkle for 10 minutes on the hour, and it had just gotten dark enough for them to go on when we reached it. It was absolutely breathtaking! The photos just dont do it justice at all.
I took a little video so you can see the twinkling effect. Its completely magical!
When our cruise was over, we waited for the boat to clear out a bit (there were a lot of people on the boat like 200 or 300). The guides spent the time taking Photopass pictures.
Then we all got back on the bus and went back to our hotel. One of the guides took this picture of the Champs Elysées from the coach.
The street of diamonds and rubies (get it now? )
Back at the hotel, we got our pins, and this days pin was my favorite of all of them. It was A Tale of Two Cities (which is the title of my TR, how convenient), and it featured Goofy, my favorite!
Wed done a lot in Paris, and this was only our first day (Id been in London that morning!). Breakfast in the morning started at 7 and we had to be ready to leave for the short trip to Versailles at 9. Back in the room, I called my DM to let her know Id made it safely to Paris. Then I finished unpacking and set the alarm for 7:00 (I knew it wouldnt take me long to eat breakfast). It was after midnight when I turned out the lights.
Up Next: Awe.
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Mickey's so happy to see me back, he can barely contain himself!
Lovely pictures! I'm sure they started the twinkling light on the Eiffel Tower just because they knew an ABD group was coming by ... or maybe ABD chose this cruise because the effect would be so cool? Either way, it was lovely. Are the twinkling lights something that started with the Millenium celebration, or later, or maybe they did that before 2000? Just something I was curious about. I love how this day's pin fit you perfectly. And I noticed people on top of the Arc d'Triumph, did you get a chance to go to the top of it? Looking forward to more ...
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Again, just phenomenal pictures of your boat ride sights and the Eiffel Tower twinkling. Beautiful.
Bats I can handle...but I am the biggest non-fan of spiders and would have been screaming like a girl also...which luckily, I am.
We stayed right on the Champs Elysees near the Arc (and across the street from the ice cream ) and climbed to the top of that as well. What a sight there too. I was hoping you would have gotten to the Musee d'Orsay and I could live vicariously through you. That was one that I also did not get to and I love Monet.
i might be crazy but i thought i read somewhere that adventures by disney is now offering adults only excusions on select dates? has anyone else seen this?
Wonderful update! *sigh* Just gorgeous. Love it all but oh my word, look at that traffic (I know, I know, you're a New Yorker and this doesn't phase you)
I can see why they call it ruby's and diamonds. Perfect description.
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Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
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šOš ~*~
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?
Last edited by Minnie Lor; 07-23-2009 at 12:01 AM..
Love LOVE this and all the ones before it. Your pictures are better than the official ABD pictures.
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Originally Posted by PrincessSharon
I have to add that I'm so glad that you're planning on visiting Tokyo with PP's in 2013. Between you and Cheryl, I just may leave my camera at home.
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šOš ~*~
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?
I totally got all verklepmt during the video. I so want to take a trip to Paris but I don't see it any where in my future. Unless I win the lotto then a lot will be in my future.
What a wonderful surprise - cruising the Seine is one of my favourite things to do and that time of the night is a perfect time to do it. How great that you were able to see the effect on the Eiffel Tower, as it really is magical. The lights were introduced for the Millennium and they do make a spectacular show. It's a great addition.
And as for the comments about the traffic on the Champs Elysees - I hate to tell you, but that's a quiet day! We've seen it much worse than that before.
One final thing about the Champs Elysees - why is it whenever you look up it from the Place de la Concorde, there's always an evil looking cloud in the shot? We've had that on our last couple of visits and I notice it was there for you as well.
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) and taking a cruise along the Seine on the Bateaux Mouches (awesome!! 
).
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Pixie Dust
).
Umm
bats? 
It seems the river is a popular dinner spot for the bats because of all the insects attracted to the lights on all the boats (including the very one we were on). I spent the rest of the trip watching for bats (and luckily, I didnt spot any, or you may have heard me screeching all the way over in the U.S. 
).
). I stayed outside, but between the bugs and the bats, that boat ride was a bit more thrilling than Id have liked. 
) and climbed to the top of that as well. What a sight there too. I was hoping you would have gotten to the Musee d'Orsay and I could live vicariously through you. That was one that I also did not get to and I love Monet. 
Teresa
(I know, I know, you're a New Yorker and this doesn't phase you)
šOš ~*~ 
PassPorter Guide Author
The lights were introduced for the Millennium and they do make a spectacular show. It's a great addition. 
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