However....... it all started when the girls opened the brochure on their birthday, our way of telling them that we were were going to Disneyland Paris. The fanfares didn't go off, fireworks didn't happen, no one screamed with excitement, the girls weren't very excited and me and Mark with video camera and normal camera to our eyes were, shall we say, a little surprised by their lack of excitement. In the main I think this was due to the fact that they had each just opened near on 40 presents from family and friends and they were slightly over-whelmed. Lucy was the most excited thumbing through the brochure - though still calm. Chloe was really excited when she saw that the accommodation had a swimming pool! Damn should have booked numerous trips to the local baths instead. Eleanor just took it all in her usual stride.
The lack of excitement prior to the holiday was nothing to go by though as when the day finally arrived and we were going on the ferry the smiley faces and constant chattering was wonderful.
We decided on the first day at the Davy Crockett Ranch not to go in to the main park but to find our feet and stay around where we were. We had some great photos taken on the Park with Minnie and Mickey Mouse - over excited girls racing to the nearby shop to buy their autograph books.
I only have to look at their faces and I smile. They were so excited. Chloe & Lucy were near bursting and it was lovely that they still believed. I mean they actually believe that Minnie Mouse is Minnie Mouse and not well you know......
So the next day we joined the thousands of other people all there for the same thing "The Disney Experience". The Park was bigger than anything I had expected, cleaner than I could have wished for and just ticked all the boxes. The parades were out of this World and we were so lucky to see the fireworks display as a back drop to the castle - just enchanting.
As a one-off - not to be repeated experience - we decided to take the girls to the Auberge de Cendrillon for Lunch with the Prince and Princesses. This for me was an absolute highlight of the whole holiday. Not only had we brought our children to Disneyland Paris but we had also been lucky enough to take them to this special restaurant. Belle, The Beast, Cinderella, Suzy and Perla just some of the characters at our tables, giving our girls individual attention. As Cinderella came to the table and called our girls "Princesses" (as they do to all), I shed a tear. The food was amazing (though nut laden for hubby - ooops) and the atmosphere was magical. I feel very blessed to have been able to give our girls this experience lets just hope that they remember it. ha ha
So everything else..... I could talk for hours. There are moments in the DisneyPark when you think "gosh this is just another theme park" and then, well then something magical happens, and you literally feel the Disney lurve. We loved Disney..... would we go back.... yes in a heartbeat.
