On our final morning at the Pierrefitte campsite we had our usual chaotic pack and left the site at lunchtime. I had been stressing somewhat as we were supposed to be meeting up with Bozzie, Jim and Thomas, who were joining us in Paris for four days in Disneyland. Well, as I know from experience, there is no way you can do Disneyland Paris in one day, so when I saw their really good offer of an extra day for free I had taken advantage, much to the disgruntlement of Paul. PJ decided that he would take the lead as his sat-nav was better than ours. We still got held up round Paris and arrived at the new site to find Bozzie and Jim all set up. This site was very nice too, only basic, but it was immaculate and did have a pool which was enjoyed on several occasions. Whilst we were setting up, Netti and Bozzie Sat and had a picnic with the kids to keep them all in one place. Once sorted Paul and PJ went off in search of the supermarket so that we didn’t have to waste time in the morning. And of course there was the obligatory barbecue that evening.
The next morning dawned with clear skies so it looked like our first day in Disneyland was going to be a fine one. As it turned out, it was the first of four sweltering days. By the time we had organised ourselves we didn’t get to the park until lunchtime, after PJ’s sat-nav took us up AND down the motorway! But not to worry since the park was open until 9pm. Well I for one thought it was as magical as it was last time I was there but I don’t think Paul has ever seen the attraction. It was hard, with so many of us, to decide what to do first. We did try and stay together but in the end we split up and just kept meeting up with each other at various points. Lils wasn’t too sure about the characters wandering around. It was OK so long as they kept their distance but she freaked if they came anywhere near. We spent a long, hot and exhausting day, riding the rides, chasing round Alices Labyrinth, shooting aliens and not leaving until the park closed!
The next day we decided that, as we had the time, we would try and meet some of the characters before having a look at the Studios. Whilst we were queuing to meet Minnie Mouse I nipped in to the shop and bought a Minnie Mouse dress for Lils to wear for her photo. She looked soooooo cute, especially with her ears on as well. But when the time came she just wouldn’t go near Minnie! All the others posed really well with her. Then Harvey took his turn with Buzz Lightyear. We eventually got into the Studios which was more for older kids I thought, with more shows and demonstrations as well as the rides. Our first stop was a shady bit of grass where we ate the picnic we had smuggled in. Well everyone else seemed to be doing it! After lunch we tried the rides. Harry wasn’t sure about the parachute drop in the Toy Story area and Paul spent most of the time looking after Joey and trying to find some shade. Later on some of us went on the Tower of Terror but we couldn’t convince Cain to join us! We ended the day by wandering back over to the Park and then into the Disney Village for dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe where, it turned out, the waitress was from Swinton and knew some of the same people we did!
Our third day was equally as hot and action packed. We spent a little more time around the labyrinth and the Pocahontas village play area so the kids could run wild. At the end of the afternoon we watched the parade before heading back to the campsite for a swim and an ill fated barbecue. That was the night of the major row between PJ and Shawna. And all because Rowan had pinched her sausage. And, as usual, when she retaliated, she was the one who got caught! And there was no way Rowan was going to admit it was his fault. In the end she slept over in Bozzie’s tent with them.
Our last and Bozzie wanted to get to the park in time to watch the morning showing of the stunt show. Netti was supposed to have got up early so she could go with them but she seemed to be on a go slow that morning. So, after a bit of a rant, Bozzie, Jim, Thomas and Shawna went off on their own. By now I was stressing, Paul was stressing and Netti was still on a go slow. We eventually got set off and arrived at lunchtime with Paul saying we were not staying late that night as we had to be up and packed early the next day. High hopes!! We started by queuing for a stupidly long time for the Tower of Terror because Cain had finally agreed to go on. After that there was just enough time to meet up with Bozzie’s party before we went to watch the stunt show. And queuing for it was horrendous. Everyone had been told to park their pushchairs before joining the queue. Which meant there were lots of people carrying small children. We were then herded into a “holding area” where you could look in at the workshops. The only problem was, there were so many people crushed in that no-one could move. And there we were left for about 30 minutes, by which time people were getting restless and angry, with children crying and everyone needing drinks. It’s a good job the show was worth the wait but I do think that they should have apologised for the way we were all treated! However we weren’t going to let it spoil our last day. We ended up back in the Park going on all the baby rides and watching the Mickey Mouse Show from the back! And then it was into the shops for the final spend!!!! At 9pm, as the Park was closing and the sun was setting we trudged our weary way back to the cars. Back at the site we had something to eat and watched a rather spectacular thunderstorm. And it rained.
The next morning, however, dawned fine and warm and found us trying to pack for the long journey home. Paul stressed about everything. Bozzie tried to organise everyone. PJ and Kate took their time as usual. The kids ran riot. Netti and I had a row and she threw her toothpaste at me. We eventually got set off about one o’clock and, once again, PJ led the convoy as his sat-nav had plotted a route which avoided Paris altogether. But, as usual, we just made the ferry by the skin of our teeth.