Recap: Paris, Day 7: Disneyland

Ahhh... Disneyland. Paris. A wonderful mixture. We checked out prices in advance online before we went, and they were selling for about 29 euros, and the 'affordability' (thanks Mom and Dad) was one of the reasons that made booking a day for Disneyland easy. The park opened at 10, and we got there around 9 revved up and ready for Mickey. It was kind of chilly out, so we were a little nippy by the time we were able to get to the ticket booth. Jodi took a side glance at one of the price lists and saw 60 euros (remember, we are not fluent francophones) so we convinced/lied to ourselves that, "That must be the price for the year's pass". Sure enough, it turned out to be for a single day and a single park. Jodi began to pack up the bags and head 'er on out, but Grandma and Grandpa wouldn't hear of it (Wally world comes to mind - remember the moose?) - they weren't about to tell Erika she couldn't meet her precious Ariel (more on that later). Jodi shows her frustration at me for not buying the advance online tickets in our jaunt up Main Street:First on the list - meeting the Disneyland princesses. The line didn't seem too long, I think we were at around 50, which I didn't think was bad, considering the efficiency of previous (albeit North American) Disney visits. The clock started ticking, and we realized an hour into it that we had moved up approximately five places, so Jodi decided to cheer Reesey up a bit (make sure to enlarge it to get the full effect):

Man, that Donald sure terrified Reese. As Jodi mounted the platform, Reese turned into a stiff board and began convulsing violently and trying to push himself in the opposite direction of the inevitable introduction. Jodi decided to press on - what would Disney be without the tell-tale picture with Donny? About half an hour later, my Dad was in the vicinity of Don again with Reese, and that bugger (the duck, not Reese) turned around and had the audacity to wave at Reese. Needless to say, scenario one was repeated and we were down two diapers in the first hour of our visit. Meanwhile, me and Erika waited a total of 2 hours and change to finally get on stage for the abominable picture shoot. As it turns out, you could pay extra for a 'special tour' or something and get to the front of all the lines. So our 60 per person wasn't good enough. These weiners were continually budding into the queue every time I looked around. I was irate. Then we got on the stage, and this fellow figured he could take up the entire angle with his massive contraption of a camera - so that we could pay another 20 and get the splendid picture framed. I elbowed right in (yeah right - 'Ah, pardon me sir?') and managed to get one of Erika looking at me and not Mr. Nigel Barker.

Ahhh... the sauna warmth of Small World. The kids really liked it, and we went on it quite a few times (for the sake of the kids of course, not Jodi's frozen fanny).

Jodi snapped one when she spotted the Canadian hockey part. Cheese!

Too bad you couldn't go up the stairs in the castle. Erika was a little disappointed.

The good old car ride. Erika was a pretty good driver. The fumes were incredible though. Honestly, maybe that was why she had such a good time. Nah, I can remember the first time I grabbed the wheel, right after 'Nam, in the 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. It pretty much had pillows/built in couch for the front seat. Anyway...

Reese had an ongoing game with this duck. Cute.

Erika with her purchases. Yup, the square box faux-feather princess cape made the cut. Along with the Tinkerbell slippers and Cinderella wand. Although not shown, we managed to also pick up a basket of stuffed kittens (don't ask) and make-your-ears-bleed loud Buzz Lightyear gun (don't ask) which Reese continually depressed the trigger of for the final hour.

Here's the Basket O' Kittens. Of course, Erika was holding it for Grandpa, right? I think Grandpa was just overjoyed with the draped Strawberry Shortcake scarf and the pink basket banging him in the face for the entire finale parade.

Here's the happy family. Jodi is donning the complete selection of outerwear we brought with us for the day, whilst I enjoy the crisp, evening air.

After the intial turbulence (price gouge/princess) Disneyland Paris was a really fun time. The 'Disneyland mood' wasn't completely captured as it has been for us in the Florida one, but we did go in low season (hence the reduction in our park passes).

Jeff and Jodi