Kiz, Jem and Jims adventure along the Rio Grande PTR

[kizzabel]

Hello everyone

Welcome to our PTR! It’s called Kiz, Jem and Jim’s Adventure along the Rio Grande as we’re way out west at the Santa Fe this trip and I’m going it alone (DH isn’t fussed!) and it will be an awfully big adventure having no other adult. Eeeek! We are currently at 63 sleeps and I'm having a duvet day so I thought it would be the perfect time to start this PTR.


Back Story:

In April I made the decision to quit smoking (I hated the taste and smell, I was worrying about my health and the kids too being around me smoking plus DD was worrying about it making me ill and this really made me conscious of the risks – saying that I’m not an antismoker, most of my family and friends smoke so I’m not going to be that person preaching at them – I’d soon be lonely!!)
I had a good bit of extra money in my pocket every week so being the constant planner I sat down with my calculator and soon had a strategy for my extra funds – well it was always going to be a holiday to DLP!
So I asked DH and he said he wasn’t keen but he wouldn’t mind us going without him – not a DLP fan – and he would stay at home and mind our moggy. Within hours I had booked the trip and was smiling and jumping around like a loon!
I decided not to tell the kids straight away but only lasted until my birthday as DH had upgraded us from our original booking at the Kyriad to onsite at the Santa Fe as my birthday present, definitely a keeper.
I made up a treasure hunt all around the house with lots of clues and they had a ball figuring them out. They were eventually directed to the sitting room where I had posters stuck in a circle all around the room revealing our holiday surprise with their brand new custom made autograph books and little Mickey and Minnie backpacks. I had a lovely day and it was the best way to spend a birthday plus the kids were so bowled over. I will post photos of their autograph books later on.
And that was that! Next: all the details and planning!

 

[kizzabel]

When:

Sunday October 6th at an airport hotel.

Monday October 7th flying from Dublin to CDG early!

Until

Friday October 11th with an afternoon flight back to Dublin.

Where:

The night before we fly we will spend at a Premier Inn which we got for peanuts when we combined it with onsite parking/shuttle to the airport.
The most important part of our stay will be at the hotel Santa Fe –




It will be mine and Jemma’s first time back since our very first trip in 2010 and also James’ very first stay here as he was too small to join us in 2010.

 

[kizzabel]

Cast:

Kizzy – me! Mammy aged 27, DLP nut.



Loves the Queen of Hearts, Stitch, ToT and BTM! Looking forward to skipping down Main St USA when we arrive, drinking Hot Choc while watching Dreams, seeing if I can get a cuddle from the Queen of Hearts and seeing all the other Villains out and about for Halloween and spending a whole 5 days at DLP with me two little chickens! Our longest stay ever!



Jemma – DD, aged 7, Princess crazy!



Loves Alice, Tiana and Rapunzel. Thinks Fantasyland is the best place ever and really likes Stitch Live. She loves all the excitement on the build-up and being part of the planning. Jemma is Disney Bounding a few days this trip (1st ever attempt!) and is so excited about it. She is also going to be Super Brave and try BTM again – she was very frightened by it after trying it aged 4 but something seemed to click the other day and her mantra is “Noises cannot hurt me”! Fingers crossed she conquers her fear.


James – DS, aged 4, wannabe Monster!



He loves Mike Wazowski, Stitch and the Seagulls from Nemo... Mine, Mine, Mine. MINE! He is very excited to get to ride BTM, ToT and Cars Ralley. He was heartbreakingly upset about being too small for ToT on our last trip, we both had a little cry in fact – I’d never seen such a desolate 4 year old before. James is also over the moon to be staying at the Santa Fe.

 

[kizzabel]

The Plan:

Sunday >
We will set off mid-afternoon for Dublin, stopping on the way to pick up a few bits for DH as I have no point bringing him back pressies from DLP – heathen – and then we’ll be headed for the hotel to check in and relax for the evening. We have already set our sights on dinner from Pizza Hut (thanks to some Tesco vouchers, great bargain ) and it’s early to bed for an early start.

Monday >

Up at around 3.45am for check out and to catch the shuttle bus to the airport for check in and a 6.50am flight. Can you imagine how excited we’ll be by now?! We should land about 9.40am then it’s onwards with RS Transport and we should be checked in and bounding towards the park by 11am.

Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday >>>

We will be soaking up the Halloween season fun, changing some bargain APs (Ce M), riding/seeing all our must do’s, taking a venture up the RER to Val d’Europe for a look about (who am I kidding – straight to PAULS –give me sweet things!) and watching Dreams as many times as we have energy for! Myself and James are also getting the chance to ride ToT thanks to Donald Duck’s Wife a.k.a Ruth who has very kindly offered to watch Jemma for us while we have a quick go on ToT. Jemma was very anxious about this ride and in the end she just can’t face doing it and James was super excited about finally being tall enough after Januarys disappointment at being a tiny bit too short so I was left with a huge dilemma as I so badly wanted them both to have the best trip and this one ride left them very much at odds so I posted about it here and that’s when Ruth so very kindly offered to help us. We are also very much so looking forward to meeting Ruth and her son Jonah.

Friday >

Check out day. Boooo. We have a 3.45pm flight back to Dublin so we’ll be leaving DLP and the SF around noon, again with RS Transfer, probably in tears, again. We are flying home earlier than usual as I’m doing this trip all on my own so I don’t want to be driving home late at night with no adult company. We should be home and telling DH all about our adventures by 7pm.

 

[kizzabel]

Must Do’s

See Dreams in full and without leaving a minute early and hopefully from a great spot.

See the parade – haven’t managed to see this since it changed from OUAD!

Rides: BTM, ToT, Cars Ralley, Slinky Dog, Phantom Manor, POTC, PP and I hope not too many turns on the Carrousel, I think James almost wore it out in January!

Hunt out autographs, especially the Villains. Well it would be terrible not to use their swanky new autograph books. We had fab interaction with the Queen of Hearts and that guy from Pocahontas? He was hilarious and a little unnerving!

Shows: Stitch Live, Animagique and maybe the Moteurs Stunt show again as its been aaaaages.

Disney Bound: Jemma is super excited about Disney Bounding (where you dress up like but not as the characters – similar colour outfits and accessories). I did really think she would be all about costumes again this trip but no such luck. We looked at the website and she was smitten! So far she’s set on Minnie Mouse, Anastasia (Stepsister from Cinderella), Marie from the Aristocats and the Queen of Hearts. We just need to customise one t-shirt and make four hair bows to complete these outfits.

Val d’Europe: a visit to HEMA for more tiny mugs for me and nougat for my Mam and a look around the other shops before we eat loads of patisseries at PAULS before heading back for DLP. Oh and I may just buy a load of make up in Sephora / Beauty Institute – be rude not to!

Pins: this year I think Jemma especially will really get a hunger for pin trading (she has discussed spending all her savings on pins lol!) and I can’t wait to try it properly too. I don’t know if James will get it but saying that he has the most pins.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten loads :/

 

[kizzabel]

Meal Plans:

Well for lunch I’d love to try places we haven’t eaten at before so this is our list plus one lunch we might just buy bits from the Casino shop to keep costs down a little.
Victoria’s, The Lucky Nugget, Col. Haithi’s, Last Chance, Café des Cascadeurs, Chalet du Marionette. Casey’s, Café Hyperion or Fuentes Del Oro.

Dinners options so far are:
Café Mickey, The Sports Bar, Rainforest Café, Annette’s, Inventions, Earl of Sandwich, La Cantina, Chuckwagon, McDonalds or New York Sandwiches.

I have to sit down and chat about with the kids still but I imagine it will look like this:

Monday
Lunch: Col. Haithi’s. Dinner: La Cantina

Tuesday
Lunch: Café des Cascadeurs or Blockbuster (will enquire in Guest Relations). Dinner: Inventions

Wednesday
Lunch: Lucky Nugget. Dinner: Sports Bar.

Thursday
Lunch: Chalet du Marionette. Dinner: RFC or Annette’s.

Friday
Take out: EoS or McDonalds @ CDG.


So that’s about all our plans. I will add photographs and anymore plans we make as it happens. Thanks for reading along and I’ll be adding more as I’m going along.

 

[Isila]

I'd like to try cafe des Cascadeurs or Blockbuster, but it was closed on our trips so far...

 

[kizzabel]

I'd like to try cafe des Cascadeurs or Blockbuster, but it was closed on our trips so far...

Someone said in another thread that you can ask at City Hall and they will tell you about CS closures for your stay. Our restaurant that we always find closed is Victoria's so that's also on the list for trying (fingers crossed). The croques are fab in the blockbuster. We have never found cafe des cascadeurs open either.

 

[Ms Poppins]

Sounds like a lovely trip you've got planned You should get to see Dreams, with earlier park closing hopefully in October (it's the only bad thing about summer....knackered by the time 11pm comes around!)

I think Lewis would love Santa Fe too as he was Cars daft when he was little - and he seems keen on it again now after our last visit.

Your kids look lovely, and you'll have such a good time not needing to worry if your DH is enjoying it or not

Oh, I so wish I was going back soon........

Look forward to hearing more of your plans

 

[LunaMini]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who seems to have everything planned to the letter! I hope you have a fantastic trip!

 

[kizzabel]

Sounds like a lovely trip you've got planned You should get to see Dreams, with earlier park closing hopefully in October (it's the only bad thing about summer....knackered by the time 11pm comes around!)

I think Lewis would love Santa Fe too as he was Cars daft when he was little - and he seems keen on it again now after our last visit.

Your kids look lovely, and you'll have such a good time not needing to worry if your DH is enjoying it or not

Oh, I so wish I was going back soon........

Look forward to hearing more of your plans

Thanks Julie.
I'm relieved its early closing too! I'm gone terrible for falling asleep early so I'd be no good plus your right - a day at DLP is tiring enough without trying to wait up for a late showing of Dreams.
I'll miss DH like mad but on the upside we'll be texting which the big soppy side of me loves. We don't text anymore and he's great for the cute texts! And you hit the nail on the head, he just isn't keen and I cant make him like it so hard as it will be we'll all be better off doing our own thing. He'll be in his element fishing for the week anyway
I'll be sure to get loads of pics of the room for Lewis the theming looks great I must say.

 

[kizzabel]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who seems to have everything planned to the letter! I hope you have a fantastic trip!

Shhhh don't tell anyone but I may have done 80% of the packing already. Its nearly time to make lists too. Sad to admit but I'm excited about this
Thanks

 

[Lisa_C]

One of these days our paths will cross in Disney - love your PTR, im off again next week and still never got around to writing about my proposal from three werks ago let alone a PTR for this one. Need to pull my finger out!!
I'm yet to get my head around planning for October, DF just about let me plan the meals for next week though, I'm paying so got to choose LOL!

 

[kizzabel]

One of these days our paths will cross in Disney - love your PTR, im off again next week and still never got around to writing about my proposal from three werks ago let alone a PTR for this one. Need to pull my finger out!!
I'm yet to get my head around planning for October, DF just about let me plan the meals for next week though, I'm paying so got to choose LOL!

Will you do TRs? I normally slack near the end of mine!
What restaurants have you picked? I keep chopping and changing at the minute.

 

[kizzabel]

Hey I'm up late doing some work so while I'm here I said I'd update this with some pics of the fantastic autograph books a lovely lady from etsy made for us
I can pass on her details if anyone want them too.

This is Jemma's book:







And here is James:





Oh and this is a cute little belt I picked up for James in Penneys (Primark)



He loves his belt and we picked up a lovely hoody too.

 

[HappyPanda]

Fab Autograph books! Can I have the contact details please? I bought personalised one from eBay last time but wasn't impressed with the quality!

 

[kizzabel]

Fab Autograph books! Can I have the contact details please? I bought personalised one from eBay last time but wasn't impressed with the quality!

Hi Helen Thanks!
I love them and then after we got ours I saw an Ariel one which is beeeeautiful! And the Snow White one is so pretty too. I got them from etsy from a lovely lady in America called Sandy. Her etsy shop is called three paper tulips. Now saying that the paper could be stiffer but they do look great and I've also seen lovely ones on by Amys Autograph books on facebook - if you join the group Disneyland Paris Fans you'll see she has posted a link to her website / page

 

[HappyPanda]

Hi Helen Thanks!
I love them and then after we got ours I saw an Ariel one which is beeeeautiful! And the Snow White one is so pretty too. I got them from etsy from a lovely lady in America called Sandy. Her etsy shop is called three paper tulips. Now saying that the paper could be stiffer but they do look great and I've also seen lovely ones on by Amys Autograph books on facebook - if you join the group Disneyland Paris Fans you'll see she has posted a link to her website / page

I will take a look, thank you!

 

[kizzabel]

No probs

 

[kizzabel]

Just made two cute bows for DD's Disneybounding I'm just waiting for one more piece to add to them to make them extra special
Pics to follow later - the model is demanding straightened hair 1st if you don't mind!!