Disneyland Paris 2017 - Part 4

It seems at this point photo-taking started to go out of the window somewhat. Around midday, we hopped on over to the other park to check off the few things on our list that we wanted to do, before our lunch/dinner (linner?) reservation at Restaurant des Stars at 2.30. We had hoped to eat around 4 but the only slots were either super early or a lot later and, as we 1) had other plans & 2) aren't the type who eat meals in the late evening, so we settled for that time.
As I think I probably mentioned in a previous post, I had just visited in December but Laura hadn't been since a short school trips years ago, so I made a list of must-dos in the short time we had. Here's some of what we got up to in the Walt Disney Studios Park.

We didn't quite expect to do any character meets in WDS but we spotted Tigger and Eeyore with a tiny queue right by Art of Animation so we had to grab a sneaky hug. Then we popped round to check the times for Mickey and the Magician, squeezed in a go on Cars Quatre Roues Rallye (always a good laugh), had a good cry at the show and headed round to Ratatouille. Single rider on this ride is a 'Godsend'! A 5-minute wait as opposed to a 50+ min wait - yes please! We even ended up in the same rat which was an extra plus.
I finally had the time and guts to step up and ride Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop, which was okay. I love hights but I'm not the biggest fan of the dropping sensation but it was way better than Tower of Terror.
Something I haven't bothered with since 2010 is Armageddon, though seeing as we were early for our meal reservation and it was starting we thought what the heck and to tell you the truth I actually enjoyed it. With a bit of an expansion, this could be super cool. After doing the WDS tour back in December it reiterates what this park is meant to be all about - the behind the scenes and making of the movies.
Once we came out of that attraction it was time to eat and be disappointed...so much so I apparently took no photos at all for a proper review...oops!


Until next time check out the previous posts in this series:
Disneyland Paris 2017 - Part 3
Disneyland Paris 2017 - Part 2
Disneyland Paris 2017 - Part 1
Character Meet and Greets
Disney Stars on Parade pt.1 
Disney Stars on Parade pt.2 

Disneyland Paris 2017 - Part 3

One of my all-time favourite things at Disneyland Paris is the Molly Brown Paddle Steamer and the Rivers of the Far West in general. They encompass everything I treasure at home (nature, wildlife etc) but have that Disney flare...obviously.
On each trip, well, most trips, I like to make sure I hitch a ride on the back of good old Molly at least once, and seeing as this visit was in May - therefore blessing us with beautiful weather - we made it our second attraction of the day.
Here are some shots I snapped along the way.

How exciting it was to witness the rivers during birdy breeding season. I will be doing a separate post of all the birding images I took at DLP over my previous two trips, however, I just had to pop a couple in here. Just look at them! Canada Geese with chicks, Mallard chicks, a Coot with her babies, a gorgeous Heron and even a Canada Goose on her nest of eggs!
I could go round and round on that boat all day, waving at people on Big Thunder Mountain and taking photos. Although I have to admit I was a little disappointed the geysers weren't working. I was under the impression that they had been repaired during all of the refurb and was looking forward to seeing them in action for the first time since 1996. One day maybe!


Catch my other Disneyland Paris 2017 posts:
Disneyland Paris 2017 - Part 2
Disneyland Paris 2017 - Part 1
Character Meet and Greets
Disney Stars on Parade pt.1 
Disney Stars on Parade pt.2 

Disneyland Paris 2017 - Part 2

I never meant for it to be so long between posts, but it's been almost 2 months since I posted part 1 and that means like 5 months since the actual trip. As a quick catch up, this was a super flying visit - my shortest ever Disney visit in fact - staying only 2 nights and having 2 days in the park. To catch up fully and find out how our day started out you'd be best giving this post the quick once over and then I'll continue.
We rejoin the day at only 10am-ish, still, the full day to go as extra magic hours are just that and a huge advantage seeing as by this point we'd already ticked off 3 meet and greets with 5 characters!
Having a slow wander down the happiest Main Street on Earth, I took a couple photos of the 25th decor and my favourite go-to photo spots, while headed for Frontierland and the traditional first ride of the trip...

I think that'll do for part 2. It's a shorter one but I took way less photos than I usually do and the next bunch need to stick together! As if it wasn't surreal enough to be in Disneyland with one of my best pals, to do Phanom Manor with her was insane. It's my favourite ride and yes, it is outdated blah blah blah, but I just looovvve everything about it so to see someone else experience it for the first time is the best.
I bet a lot of other fans or people who visit a lot do this too, but once we were inside I edged Laura to the door of the lift before it opened so we'd be first in and then again toward the exit door so we could race along and be first on hahaha. Childish, petty or sad - you decide! If we'd had more time we'd have gone on again but hey ho two-day trip :(
Until next time, check out the previous posts listed below.


Catch my other Disneyland Paris 2017 posts:
Disneyland Paris 2017 - Part 1
Character Meet and Greets
Disney Stars on Parade pt.1 
Disney Stars on Parade pt.2 

Disneyland Paris 2017 // Disney Stars on Parade pt.2

As the 'pt.2' in the title suggests, this is a follow on from this post here so be sure to check that one out first and read all about my emotional breakdown before carrying on. Done it? All caught up? Right. So at this point, I'm still doing the worst ugly cry sobbing that I ever have in public before. People around me are still confused as to what the heck is going on with me and I'm in my own little world with my eyes darting everywhere to try and take in every part of the insanely beautiful floats and costumes, through the wall of tears half obscuring my view.
Like I mention in the part 1 post as well, my photos suffered throughout the whole parade as I was trying to watch with my eyes and experience it for the first time in person, rather than through my camera. As it drew to an end the weather closed in too, darkening the photos and did I change settings? No, I did not! Ha, Either way, I am so happy to have the few shots I do have because it was one heck of a memory. Let's get into them...

I really hadn't allowed myself to see anything online about this parade before getting to see it in person, minus the dragon as it was obviously used in a lot of promotion and difficult to avoid. Therefore when the Finding Nemo/Dory float rounded the corner I was shocked at how good it was...well that it was there at all too to be fair. Always nice to see a different film get some airtime.
The dragon, although I was expecting it, did actually make me 'wow' out loud and cry even more if that was possible haha! Seeing this, even more characters acknowledged me (if you read part 1 you will know why I say 'even more'). Each one of the Princes either winked and waved or blew a kiss as they passed and that beautiful blue fairy whizzed over to ask, 'why are you crying my dear?!' to which I replied in a brilliant stutter, 'because you are all so beautiful!'. Obviously, that was true but I was mainly crying because I was overwhelmed at how truly amazing this parade was and that I was there in person, getting to see it.
Overall, I have never had a parade make such an impression on me which I was surprised about having loved the previous 2 parades so much. The only thing that could top it is if they bring Main Street Electrical Parade back. 1996 was the first and last time I saw that in person but it holds great memories. So yeah. Enough rambling, hope you liked these photos.


Catch my other Disneyland Paris 2017 posts:
Character Meet and Greets
Disney Stars on Parade pt.1