Off to Paris we go!

This was an early morning since we were required to get to the St Pancras station for our 10:30 am train. The Eurostar site suggested we arrive 90-120 minutes before departure, and I was concerned about meandering through the station with small humans and our luggage. To our surprise, we walked into a huge train station filled with 1000s of other families doing the same thing. And then we were all instructed the same: we weren’t allowed to “queue” until 9 am (and it was 8:30). Well, I hated the fact that I could have used that 30 minutes back at the hotel for the kids to sleep a little longer, but here we were.

After 9am we curved around the lines for literally over an hour. We had to go through passport check to both leave the UK, then enter the EU within the train stop. THEN we had to wait for our platform, which meant we then lined up to ascend the escalator to THEN board the train. I love European train travel, but leaving the UK is probably the most annoying. The kids did great, and carried their backpacks the whole time. Diane was also pretty calm and only fussed for a bottle until we finally boarded.

The 3 hour chunnel journey went quick, and both Perla and Trent were both in agreeance that trains are better than planes LOL. We finally found our hotel after walking and feeling like we burned off the 20 lbs of fish and chips consumed in London. Diane was nice and cool in the room and the kids were able to jump into the hotel pool. We had dinner reservations at the Manhattan restaurant, and sat through a three course meal for both adults and children. Even though Perla didn’t like her mozzarella and tomato salad, she at least tried the bread they served with it. Trent of course enjoyed his starter, and then the fish dinner he ordered. Perla did a great job cutting into the grilled chicken dish she selected from the kids meal. Of course Greg and I enjoyed our meals, and Diane had some fun slobbering over a couple pieces of bread. It’s so fun watching her grabbing skills develop, and seeing Perla and Trent observe Diane’s milestones. They get so happy when she does something new, and it melts my heart with every little change.

It was 8:30 pm, but we still walked into Disneyland Park. It was an amazing feeling to walk into Main Street with it be light out, and everything feeling so peaceful since a lot of people were leaving for the day. The park stayed open until 11pm, so being able to go on at least two or three rides was all that we needed. It was perfect! Our first ride was as a whole family, and we went on Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters. Diane fell asleep in her stroller after that, and then Greg took Perla and Trent on the Orbiters ride, then Big Thunder Mountain. I personally found a margarita at a food counter, then waited over an hour for them. Poor things were on Thunder Mountain when it broke and they were stuck on it! They had a blast getting evacuated from the ride, and then seeing the “background” of the ride’s mechanics. We missed the drone light show, and were stuck behind trees for the 11pm light show and fireworks, but I think everyone still enjoyed something. Our walk back was alongside hundreds of other families, and many had strollers so we weren’t the only ones to party until midnight. Considering the early start, it was a LONG day for us but a great one for Diane’s first day at Disney!