Category: In the Parks

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HOTEL REVIEW -NEWPORT BAY CLUB

This review is based on a visit by my family to Disneyland Paris in December 2010. The Newport bay club is a mid range hotel. It has a nautical theme and is thought by some to be similarly themed to Disney’s Yacht club. The Hotel overlooks lake Disney and is within 10 minutes walk to the Disneyland Parks.

 

The first thing to mention is that this hotel is huge! With over 1000 rooms it is one of the largest hotels in Europe. This means that reception can be extremely busy. When we arrived it was approximately 6pm and it still took some time to check in. However the lobby is beautiful and was very elegantly decorated for Christmas at the time. As I said before the hotel is very large and those who have rooms at the farthest ends of the wings will have a considerable walk to their rooms. We were lucky enough to get a room that was fairly central, one floor below the lobby.

Our room was spotlessly clean and decorated in a nautical colour scheme . The room was of an adequate size for the four of us with two double beds. We felt that the hotel was beginning to show it’s age. There were chips in some of the furniture, and a cracked tile in the bathroom   Obviously Disney agreed with us as it has just been announced that the Hotel is to undergo refurbishment.

The hotel has a large gift shop with a great range of Disney merchandise but unlike the hotel shops in Florida it does not stock basics, we asked for headache tablets and were directed to an offsite pharmacy.  There are also occasional character meet and greets in the hotel lobby.

Off the lobby is a restaurant and a very pleasant bar with a view over the lake. It has an extensive cocktail menu and I can personally recommend the Mojitos.

The hotel does have a swimming pool and a games room but i cant comment on these as we didn’t use them. December in Paris is not peak swimming season.

All the Disneyland Paris hotels operate on a bed and breakfast basis. We had been warned to expect long queues for the restaurant but didn’t find this to be a problem. In peak season i imagine this would be different. There was a good selection of cereals, croissants, yoghurt, cold meats and cheeses. There was tea, coffee, hot chocolate and assorted fruit juices. All of these were serve yourself and we saw several people taking extras for lunch.

 

There was a regular bus service from outside the hotel to the bus station outside the parks, it is also possible to walk to the parks.  On the way to the park you pass this lighthouse,

 

It’s a fun landmark but again could do with renovation.

Overall we loved staying in this hotel, the staff  were helpful and we had a great time.

If you have persevered this far  thank you for putting up with my ramblings.

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In the Parks

Beating the Heat

One of the quintessential parts of the summer months are family vacations and we know many of our readers will be spending their vacations at one of the Disney parks so here are a few tips for surviving the scorching temperatures.

Hydrate!  This may seem like common sense to many but it can never hurt to be reminded, right?  Our bodies require water to function properly so if you are enjoying the Disney magic in the heat of the summer be sure to hydrate consistently throughout the day.  While water is an excellent choice it doesn’t have to be the only one.  Here are a couple of other ideas:

  • Fresh veggies and fruits are good snacks this time of year, and not just for dieters. Fresh produce has a very high water content, so it’s a great way to hydrate without having to drink a ton of water. For example, an apple is up to 85% of water by volume.
  • Pickles (and pickle juice) are higher in electrolytes than beverages like Gatorade or Powerade, and have been shown to reduce cramping cause by exertion in high temperatures. The acetic acid in pickles and pickle juice are considered superior to the citric acid found in commercial sports drinks, at least when it comes to rehydration properties.

*Be sure to avoid caffeinated beverages as they can have diuretic effect which can actually speed up dehydration.

*You can get a glass of water free of charge at any quick service restaurant.  If you don’t like the taste of tap water consider bringing along some individual powdered drink mixes to improve the flavor.

Plan ahead.  Temperatures tend to peak in the middle of the day so keep this in mind when mapping out your plans for the day.  Consider taking a break from the parks during that time to return to your resort to swim or relax in your (air conditioned) room.  If you are completely opposed to leaving the parks then plan to use the hottest hours of the day to visit indoor rides/shows.  Here is a quick list of the attractions in each park that can offer some relief from the heat:

Magic Kingdom

  • Carousel of Progress
  • Mickey’s Philharmagic
  • Tommorlowland Transit Authority (People Mover)
  • Hall of Presidents
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Haunted Mansion

Epcot

  • O Canada Movie
  • Three Caballeros Ride (Mexico pavilion)
  • Reflections of China Movie
  • Impressions De France Movie
  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends
  • Living with the Land
  • Spaceship Earth
  • Ellen’s Energy Adventure

Hollywood Studios

  • Great Movie Ride
  • Voyage of the Little Mermaid
  • One Man’s Dream
  • Art of Disney Animation
  • Post Show after the Backlot Tour

Animal Kingdom

  • Conservation Station
  • Finding Nemo: The Musical
  • Festival of the Lion King

Dress Accordingly.  Remember that light colors and loose fitting clothing will offer the most comfort in extreme temperatures.  Also, be sure to choose proper footwear.  While sandals or flip flops will be cool they may or may not have the support needed to keep your feet comfortable for the entire duration of the day.

Protect your skin.  Don’t leave home without sunscreen and remember to re-apply throughout the day.

Think duel purpose: If you are planning to bring your own bottled water into the parks consider freezing them the night before.  In the morning wrap each bottle in a wash cloth, secure it with a rubber band, and put them in a gallon size Ziploc bag.  As the ice thaws it will help to keep the water cold and the condensation will be absorbed by the washcloth giving you a nice refreshing cloth to put on your neck, wipe your face, etc.  If it dries the washcloth can also be dampened again in the bathroom so you can continue to use it throughout the day.

Most importantly don’t push yourself too hard, listen to your body, and if you start to feel weak find some shade or air conditioning, sip water and have a small snack.  If your condition does not improve within a few minutes head to the first aid center for medical attention.  It is always better to be safe than sorry!

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In the Parks Store News

Let’s celebrate Disneyland’s birthday with a sale!

July 17, 1955 is to me, one of the most important days in not just Disney history, but also theme park history. This was the day that Walt Disney proudly showed the world a place unlike any other in existence – one based on cleanliness and courtesy. For those of us who never saw what amusement parks were like before Disneyland, it is perhaps a little harder for us to grasp the magnitude to which Disneyland made an impact on the industry. Walt’s ideas for this park broke so many typical design philosophies of the time. It is interesting to take a retrospective look at what the ‘experts’ said about his plans. For example, he was told having a single entrance was a major flaw because it would cause a large bottleneck at the front gate (but he wanted to do this so he could control the guest experience from start to finish). He was told that custom-built rides were a bad idea because they would be too expensive to build and maintain (compared to ‘off the shelf’ rides). They suggested that things that were not rides (like a castle, pirate ship or a ‘town square’.. even janitorial services) did not generate revenue and were therefore a waste of money; that people wouldn’t really notice them anyway. Yes, to build something that broke the mold was met with a lot of criticism and skepticism, and Walt was basically told that he should stick to what he knows and to leave amusement parks to the experts. Walt, undeterred and confident, forged ahead with the vision he had for this park, and we can all thank him for that! While the day was not without problems (extremely hot weather, ladies heels sinking in soft asphalt, shortage of drinking fountains, rides breaking down), I still wish I could have been there – to feel the excitement in the air and to experience this new, clean, exciting and unique place must have been such an amazing experience.

We want to celebrate the anniversary of this special day by offering the biggest discount yet on most products in the store… but only for today, Disneyland’s birthday!

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In the Parks Reviews

Restaurant Review – Liberty Tree Tavern

Hi, Julie here with another Disney World restaurant review for you. Last month we were at WDW and had made some pre-trip restaurant reservations, but we are always open to changing our plans last minute if our mood doesn’t fit the restaurant we chose. On our day at the Magic Kingdom we had originally planned on eating at the Wave at the Contemporary Resort. Then it was so stinking hot and humid that I had to go back to the hotel every day from about 12-3. I decided that I didn’t want to leave the park and waste time travelling out of the park and back again after dinner. Luckily when I checked at 1 pm there was a reservation available at one of our favorite Magic Kingdom restaurants, the Liberty Tree Tavern.

We got there about 2 minutes before our reservation, I usually like to show up earlier, but it was pouring out and we decided to try and run over to space mountain for our fastpass time and run back in one of the rain breaks. It wasn’t really a break per say, but lets just say it was pouring less heavily! Lucky for us though it was at the tail end of the dinner crowd and it seemed that some people had left the park because of the rain, so it wasn’t as busy as I had expected it to be. We only had to wait about 5 minutes before our table was ready.  Which is really too bad, since I love the décor so much here, and I didn’t have any time to look around like I usually do.

Our waiter, Tyler, came right over to our table and took our drink order and informed us that dinner was family style and our food would be out shortly. The family style meal included rolls with a sweet butter, roasted turkey breast, carved beef, and sliced pork, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, salad with a strawberry vinaigrette dressing, and apple craisin cake with ice cream.

The salad and rolls came out first and were delicious as usual. I love the sweet butter they used for the rolls. I also love the strawberry vinaigrette dressing for the salad and this time I finally got up the nerve to ask our waiter if it was possible to get the recipe for the dressing. He said it was and brought it right out to me. I can’t tell you how awesome that was. I always knew you could ask for recipes at WDW and most restaurants would give them to you, but I had never actually asked to get one. It was nice to finally find out how easy it was to do so.

After we had our fill of salad and rolls, the main course came out. It all looked and smelled fantastic. Once we loaded up our plates we got down to eating and it tasted as good as it looked and smelled.  We filled up so much on the turkey and trimmings that we totally forgot to leave room for dessert, so I can’t report on that, but the rest of our meal was fantastic.

Service here was also impeccable. Our waiter, Tyler, was very attentive and checked up on us several times. He even came over and wiped off the AC vent that was occasionally dripping on me. He spent several minutes chatting with us too. I always like when the wait staff has a minute or two to chat with us. It definitely makes you feel more at home when they do. I think the poor guy needed a break though, he was really running around, had dropped a few items and had a couple of extra-large groups to serve that were not so nice to him. One group ordered a whole new round of drinks and then left 2 seconds after he brought them to the table. We felt bad for him, and since he had been so nice to us, we left him an extra big tip and made sure to mention to the management how much we enjoyed his service. Hopefully it made his night a little bit better.

All said and done, we definitely enjoyed our meal here. The LTT has never disappointed us and we will continue to call this one of our favorite places to eat in the World. It may not be the most daring or exciting food, but it is excellent fare and its a place that makes us feel like we are visiting good friends for a home cooked meal. Here is the recipe for the Strawberry Vinaigrette Dressing that they gave me. I can’t wait to make some for myself. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Liberty Tree Tavern Strawberry Vinaigrette

8 Tbsp. strawberry vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1 oz. frozen strawberries
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
dash Tabasco sauce
dash white pepper
3 cups salad oil
4 Tbsp. water

Place strawberry vinegar, salt, sugar, strawberries, Dijon mustard, Tabasco sauce, and white pepper in a bowl. Using a hand-held blender, blend ingredients well. Add oil in four parts, blending thoroughly after each addition. Add water and blend one last time.

 

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In the Parks

What to do at Disney when it rains . . .

The last thing anyone wants to plan within their itinerary while at Disney is rain … but unfortunately it happens. We had the distinct pleasure (lol) of experiencing Walt Disney World during Hurricane Debby just a few weeks ago. So I would like to share with you some of the tips we found while we were there; and some other tips that can make your vacation enjoyable, even in the rain.

A lot of the top Disney “experts” all claim the best choice for rain days is Downtown Disney. Walking around from shop to shop with a large umbrella or poncho doesn’t at all seem like a bad deal when you think about it. But, if you have kids … then the second best thing to do at Downtown Disney is Disney Quest. For those choosing the premium option with your park tickets … an admission to Disney Quest is included, so be sure and check that out. There is still plenty of interactive fun to keep the kids happy and cut down on the “I’m bored” rant.

Now it pretty much rained the entire time we were there (other than the last three days of our vacation), so going to the parks were a must. It always varies on the severity of the weather which rides and attractions will stay open and which ones will close. So if you have one of those nifty smart phones be sure and download an app that can update you as to which ones are or aren’t available that day. That was a big help.

The one park we decided not to visit this trip was Animal Kingdom. It seems there are more outdoor venues and outdoor eating spaces … which in turn isn’t good if you are looking to duck in to avoid a few raindrops. All the other parks seem to have more inside venues that could better shield you and your family from weather that may turn on a dime.

A definite must in almost every park is … BUY THE RAIN PONCHOS. For one they are durable … and we have used ours the last four years in revisiting Disney. They are worth the money. And can be easily stored in a plastic freezer sized Ziploc bag (I fit 5 adult sized ponchos and 1 kids sized poncho in one bag), and placed it in the bottom of my backpack

Another thing that seems pretty popular is checking out to see if there are any character meal times available last minute should the day turn a little gloomy. We love Cape May Cafe for breakfast and had that planned for months prior coming to Disney. But I guess that day with all the rain everyone else had the same idea and there were a lot of walk ins that day. We waited an hour after our original reservation time to get in, but as always the breakfast was well worth it. And we got some great character interaction in a nice dry, calm environment.

Checking out some of the other resorts is also an idea. That is one thing we don’t normally get to do while we are there … and are always intrigued by what the other resorts have to offer. Not only just for putting them on our bucket list of where we might like to stay someday … but also for their different eating and shopping as well.

The two previous years the days we went to water parks were also days that it rained. Well .. if the weather is just a light rain … why not go to the water park. You’re already gonna get wet … right? LOL !!! A lot of the water parks weren’t very busy this past trip but also a lot of the water rides weren’t up and running because of how quickly severe the weather could turn.

One last thing that we personally had on our side staying off property was the fact that our vacation home was equipped with a game room. There was a pool table, darts, ping pong, bevy of games … and the kids spent at least two rain days just hanging out in there. We never heard them complain once … and even the adults enjoyed a few games of pool taking on the kids.

I was surprised how full the parks were even in the shadows of a hurricane. So pack those rain ponchos and remember two things …. one, you won’t look any stranger than anyone else in that poncho (the ones not wearing them are the outcasts – lol!) … and two …. don’t let the rain dampen your magical Disney vacation … it will just make those pages you scrapbook more interesting.