Points make Paris... TRIP REPORT COMPLETED 6/29 - Page 4 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
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To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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I think with regard to world of he news here in the US, it depends on what your news sources are. NPR (public radio) tends to give a better world view.
And of course that's the sort of news we never receive whenever we're staying in a hotel in the States...
Glad you made it into France and to your hotel safely! Great way to unwind after a long drive in the spa. You salmon appetizer looked quite . If that's the appetizer portion, I'm not sure I'd want to see and entree sized one!
No, I thought the same thing!
Quote:
The cheese platter does not look good in any way and kind of looks gross!
I thought that when it arrived, but I hoped it would taste better. Sadly it didn't.
Saturday 30 April – part one: talk about a truly magical moment!
Much as I loved our hotel, I did not sleep particularly well. Part of the problem was the TV was quite loud, and it seemed to be quite a performance to turn it down, well at least that’s what Mark kept telling me anyway. Talking of him, someone was also snoring… and then there was the clomping around upstairs. Goodness knows what they were doing!
In the end, I went off to sleep, although I was woken at goodness knows what hour of the morning by a “tick, tick”, which I couldn’t quite get over. Now I knew we had a clock in our room, but I didn’t remember it making any noise. Sure enough, a minute or two later, the noise stopped, so I have no idea what that was!
Eventually, I woke up around 5:30am French time, and then dozed for another hour, before we finally got up and got going. Given we’d agreed to meet the others at the Hotel New York at 9:00am, we figured we wanted to be over at Disneyland Paris by 8:00am at the latest, given we wanted to check in, then sort out breakfast for Monday and see if we could sort out the park vouchers.
We got going, and in the end, we were ready to check out not long after 7:00am. I took the opportunity to get some photos of the hotel reception…
I did ask if I could take some photos of the spa, given no-one was using it, but frankly I was told a very rude by the woman on the desk, so that was the end of the matter. Sorry – I did try!
We headed out of the car park, and immediately you could see Disneyland Paris – this is how close to it we were.
On the way over, we saw the signs for the Newport Bay Club and the Sequoia Lodge, basically cheaper versions of the Yacht and Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge respectively. We passed the entrance to the Hotel New York, where the others would be staying…
… and directly opposite was the entrance to our little pad, the Disneyland Hotel. Immediately, we noticed the increase in security. You were asked to open the boot (trunk) of the car, so they could inspect it, and the guy scrutinised our check-in information, to the point where I was worried the others wouldn’t get into their car park, given I had their check-in details.
Eventually, we were through, and drew up at this beautiful place. It is extortionate to stay here, and had it not been for the use of our Disney Vacation Club points, we wouldn’t pay what they charge, but it is an amazing place.
Outside the hotel, there was a luggage screening facility set up, and when you walked in, you were wanded. However, I don’t think their security was much improvement on Florida, as Mark had car keys in his pocket and was asked to produce them to prove what they were when the beeper went off. I too had exactly the same set of car keys in my pocket, and the wand bleeped as well, and the guy just ignored it… hmmm….
We headed inside, and as always, we were blown away by the lobby. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the splendour of this.
I liked the addition of the spring garden pagoda, which I suspect is part of Disneyland Paris’ spring festival that’s currently taking place here.
We headed over to check in, and were greeted by a wonderful girl. I don’t remember her name, but I assume she was Latvian, as the flags she was wearing showed she spoke English, French, Russian and Latvian. She was an absolute charm, and we got talking about Disney and how much of it we’d seen. She got a bit blown away when we said we’d visited every Disney park in the world (I still get to say that until Shanghai opens in a few weeks’ time… ), taken eight Disney cruises and even been to Aulani – luckily I was wearing my Aulani T-shirt.
We carried on talking about how my favourite character was Eeyore or Bourriquet as he’s known over here, poor guy and how Mark liked Grumpy. I said that I was hoping to bump into Eeyore, as we’d done during one of our previous stays here, and perhaps he’d even be around this time or maybe I’d see him at dinner tomorrow night at Inventions. I have no idea what prompted it, but she decided that she’d give me something, so I could buy an Eeyore if I didn’t see him. Of course, she had no idea I have 300 of the little sweeties at home… I wasn’t quite sure what she was doing, but she handed me a €25 voucher to spend in one of the shops. Wow, talk about a truly magical moment!
Sadly our room wasn’t ready, although we were told the hotel wasn’t that busy, so I was a bit surprised they couldn’t find something to accommodate us, even at this early hour. By now, it was 8:00am, the magic hour that they start doing bookings for restaurants, so we went over to the restaurant podium to try and snag a breakfast for eight of us for Café Mickey on Monday, and we were offered 8:00am, which I took, or 9:30am, so now we were all set.
Saturday 30 April – part one: talk about a truly magical moment!
Much as I loved our hotel, I did not sleep particularly well. Part of the problem was the TV was quite loud, and it seemed to be quite a performance to turn it down, well at least that’s what Mark kept telling me anyway. Talking of him, someone was also snoring… and then there was the clomping around upstairs. Goodness knows what they were doing!
In the end, I went off to sleep, although I was woken at goodness knows what hour of the morning by a “tick, tick”, which I couldn’t quite get over. Now I knew we had a clock in our room, but I didn’t remember it making any noise. Sure enough, a minute or two later, the noise stopped, so I have no idea what that was!
Eventually, I woke up around 5:30am French time, and then dozed for another hour, before we finally got up and got going. Given we’d agreed to meet the others at the Hotel New York at 9:00am, we figured we wanted to be over at Disneyland Paris by 8:00am at the latest, given we wanted to check in, then sort out breakfast for Monday and see if we could sort out the park vouchers.
We got going, and in the end, we were ready to check out not long after 7:00am. I took the opportunity to get some photos of the hotel reception…
I did ask if I could take some photos of the spa, given no-one was using it, but frankly I was told a very rude by the woman on the desk, so that was the end of the matter. Sorry – I did try!
We headed out of the car park, and immediately you could see Disneyland Paris – this is how close to it we were.
On the way over, we saw the signs for the Newport Bay Club and the Sequoia Lodge, basically cheaper versions of the Yacht and Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge respectively. We passed the entrance to the Hotel New York, where the others would be staying…
… and directly opposite was the entrance to our little pad, the Disneyland Hotel. Immediately, we noticed the increase in security. You were asked to open the boot (trunk) of the car, so they could inspect it, and the guy scrutinised our check-in information, to the point where I was worried the others wouldn’t get into their car park, given I had their check-in details.
Eventually, we were through, and drew up at this beautiful place. It is extortionate to stay here, and had it not been for the use of our Disney Vacation Club points, we wouldn’t pay what they charge, but it is an amazing place.
Outside the hotel, there was a luggage screening facility set up, and when you walked in, you were wanded. However, I don’t think their security was much improvement on Florida, as Mark had car keys in his pocket and was asked to produce them to prove what they were when the beeper went off. I too had exactly the same set of car keys in my pocket, and the wand bleeped as well, and the guy just ignored it… hmmm….
We headed inside, and as always, we were blown away by the lobby. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the splendour of this.
I liked the addition of the spring garden pagoda, which I suspect is part of Disneyland Paris’ spring festival that’s currently taking place here.
We headed over to check in, and were greeted by a wonderful girl. I don’t remember her name, but I assume she was Latvian, as the flags she was wearing showed she spoke English, French, Russian and Latvian. She was an absolute charm, and we got talking about Disney and how much of it we’d seen. She got a bit blown away when we said we’d visited every Disney park in the world (I still get to say that until Shanghai opens in a few weeks’ time… ), taken eight Disney cruises and even been to Aulani – luckily I was wearing my Aulani T-shirt.
We carried on talking about how my favourite character was Eeyore or Bourriquet as he’s known over here, poor guy and how Mark liked Grumpy. I said that I was hoping to bump into Eeyore, as we’d done during one of our previous stays here, and perhaps he’d even be around this time or maybe I’d see him at dinner tomorrow night at Inventions. I have no idea what prompted it, but she decided that she’d give me something, so I could buy an Eeyore if I didn’t see him. Of course, she had no idea I have 300 of the little sweeties at home… I wasn’t quite sure what she was doing, but she handed me a €25 voucher to spend in one of the shops. Wow, talk about a truly magical moment!
Sadly our room wasn’t ready, although we were told the hotel wasn’t that busy, so I was a bit surprised they couldn’t find something to accommodate us, even at this early hour. By now, it was 8:00am, the magic hour that they start doing bookings for restaurants, so we went over to the restaurant podium to try and snag a breakfast for eight of us for Café Mickey on Monday, and we were offered 8:00am, which I took, or 9:30am, so now we were all set.
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Both hotels are beautiful! Sorry you didn't sleep very well. The CM at Disneyland Paris was such a sweetheart. How wonderful that she gave you that voucher to spend in one of the shops!!
Both hotels are beautiful! Sorry you didn't sleep very well. The CM at Disneyland Paris was such a sweetheart. How wonderful that she gave you that voucher to spend in one of the shops!!
The hotel you stayed at your first night in France was pretty. But was that mushroom gravy on the cheese? Icky looking, I wouldn't have touched it--and you know I will try most anything!
The Disneyland Hotel looks very pretty. It reminds me a bit of the Grand Floridian in the high ceilings, grand staircase and "Victorian" furnishings. How sweet of the CM to gift you a voucher! Your enthusiasm for Eeyore must have been infectious!
Just like Big Baloo, I too notice some similarities to the GF! Glad check in went well, but sorry your room was not ready yet, even though they said the hotel was not that busy! Nice going on the breakfast ADR!
__________________
October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
The hotel you stayed at your first night in France was pretty. But was that mushroom gravy on the cheese? Icky looking, I wouldn't have touched it--and you know I will try most anything!
I thought it looked gross, but I figured it couldn't taste as bad as it looked... oh boy, was I wrong!
Quote:
The Disneyland Hotel looks very pretty. It reminds me a bit of the Grand Floridian in the high ceilings, grand staircase and "Victorian" furnishings.
It is very similar in theming.
Quote:
How sweet of the CM to gift you a voucher! Your enthusiasm for Eeyore must have been infectious!
In fairness, I do always try and influence people to like my donkey as much as I do. A friend of mine gave birth in January and she was messaging me at the weekend, saying she'd bought her daughter Eeyore boots!
Just like Big Baloo, I too notice some similarities to the GF! Glad check in went well, but sorry your room was not ready yet, even though they said the hotel was not that busy! Nice going on the breakfast ADR!
It was a shame, but I was hardly surprised. I was chancing it a bit, asking that early in the day.
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Great way to unwind after a long drive in the spa. You salmon appetizer looked quite 
. If that's the appetizer portion, I'm not sure I'd want to see and entree sized one! 
Now I knew we had a clock in our room, but I didn’t remember it making any noise. Sure enough, a minute or two later, the noise stopped, so I have no idea what that was! 
Immediately, we noticed the increase in security. You were asked to open the boot (trunk) of the car, so they could inspect it, and the guy scrutinised our check-in information, to the point where I was worried the others wouldn’t get into their car park, given I had their check-in details. 
I wasn’t quite sure what she was doing, but she handed me a €25 voucher to spend in one of the shops. 
Wow, talk about a truly magical moment! 
Waiting for our next adventure after enjoying our Alaska cruise. 
Jenn
Nice going on the breakfast ADR! 
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