Anyone on the Knights and Lights 12/20 trip

[SCFamily4]

We (family of 4, son will be 10 yrs old, daughter 6 yrs old) - have booked our trip for the Knights and Lights tour from 12/20 to 12/27 - we can't believe that we will be in Paris for Christmas!!

Anyone out there that will also be on the trip?? Looks like it will be awesome!!

 

[WeLoveABD]

Our family is going on this trip. Our daughter will be 8 by then, and our son will be 15. This will be our third ABD trip and we are expecting it to be just as fabulous as our earlier trips.

 

[WeLoveABD]

Hey SCFamily4--I'm posting this to move it up, hoping you see it! We will be on this trip--but are wondering what Disney will do on Christmas day--most things will be closed, so the itinerary will be rearranged to some degree. What have you heard?

 

[SCFamily4]

Hi there!
Sorry I didn't respond earlier! Thanks for your response - we look forward to meeting your family in a few months!

When I booked the trip last August (seems like forever!), the booking agent stated that the itinerary might change - looks like Christmas Day will be at the Louvre - assuming they are open. BUT - the agent said in previous years the schedule had changed a bit for the holiday. More specifically - I guess they sent the group to EuroDisney for the day (or half day - not sure!).

Have you heard anything??

Talk to you soon!

 

[SailingBeagle]

I was told by a ABD travel specialist that you are going to DisneyLand Paris
and having a Christsmas dinner.

Call and ask for the Knights and Lights Service specialist for this trip.

Each destination has a specialist assigned who can answer specifics about this trip.

Hope this helps

 

[WeLoveABD]

Thanks--we have heard that past trips at xmas have gone to Disneyland Paris, but when we called a month or so ago the Disney folks indicated those plans could change--guess we'll know for sure 45 days out! We did Italy last year and China this year, and remain impressed by the Disney detailing....so we know that whatever is planned will be great!

 

[HockeyHeather]

WeLoveABD,

I think that my mom and I were on the Enchanted China trip with you and your family. You will love the Knights and Lights adventure. We went on that adventure last summer after a Disney Mediterranean cruise. I hope that you get Francesc for a guide. He was very enthusiastic and accomodating like Dusty and Daisy were on the Enchanted China trip. We also spent four days at Disneyland Paris. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel that overlooked the park. It was magical just like the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel.

My mom and I are thinking about the South Africa adventure for next summer. Wouldn't it be fun to have a group like the Enchanted China group go on the South Africa adventure?

HockeyHeather

 

[SCFamily4]

Thanks--we have heard that past trips at xmas have gone to Disneyland Paris, but when we called a month or so ago the Disney folks indicated those plans could change--guess we'll know for sure 45 days out! We did Italy last year and China this year, and remain impressed by the Disney detailing....so we know that whatever is planned will be great!

This is great information! This will be our first ABD trip, so we are new at all this. The Disney folks have been wonderful so far - I am very impressed with all the details! I went with my parents to France and Germany in April this year on our own (complete with rental car, where I was the one and only driver!) - and am really looking forward to someone else making most of the arrangements and just enjoying everything!

Looking forward to meeting everyone!

 

[WeLoveABD]

Hey SCFamily4--it IS great to leave it all to the guides to make sure things go smoothly, and so far our experience has been that the guides continue to go above and beyond. We come back to the Disney tours because it runs so smoothly, and they do a great job of showing you not only the main attractions of a location, but also a sense of how people live day to day. I also like the activities they do for the kids (all ages)--nice not to have to worry about things being "boring" or "too adult"--and the surprises each day along the way keep the excitement level up. This added "signature" stuff is interesting--what Disney is doing with Africa and Yosemite--must have developed out of surveys and the like. We are looking forward to Knights/Lights and meeting you!

(HockeyHeather--it is indeed us--George/Miriam et al--and we are giving serious thought to the South Africa trip. As to Knights/Lights--any tips on free time? Also--we have two nights added at the end to see Disneyland Paris--enough time? Hope all is well!)

 

[WeLoveABD]

HockeyHeather--if you are out there...we made it through the crazy Aug 1 morning of booking, and reserved the South Africa trip for xmas 2009. Now we have over a year to save up for it--and looking at the itinerary, it looks jammed packed! I like having Christmas and New Year's in South Africa--should be a very unique experience for our kids! (There is a lot of nashing of teeth out there re prices, but we still feel that the overall value is well worth it--costs are up everywhere, of course, but I feel that if I am going to travel to a whole new world that I would't do on my own, I want the Disney detailing and, really, the feeling of safe passage that they provide. We have gone on other tours with other companies, but we are definately hooked on the way Disney does it--we leave not only seeing the "big" sites, but also with a better understanding of the people, and the day to day life. That is what I want my kids to take from this.)

 

[HockeyHeather]

WeLoveABD,

I am still here. I didn't book on Friday because I had to talk my mom into to going to South Africa. Today we were watching Victory Garden on PBS and it showed a botantical garden in Cape Town. After she watched the show, I read the description of the trip to her again and convinced her that if she could climb to the Great Wall in China, she could ride in a jeep on a safari. I am going to book the trip on Monday for sometime in June or July. We might go to Egypt after the South Africa trip. I am still researching a tour for that part of the trip.

In regards to the Knights and Lights trip, during our free time in London, we went to Madame Tousaud's wax museum, spent extra time at Harrodd's, and went to the British Museum. In Paris, we went to the Moulin Rouge show (not appropriate for children - great show for adults) and went to the Impressionist art museum. I can't remember the name of that art museum.

Two days should be enough for the Disneyland Paris resort because you will be there in the winter. Are you staying at the Disneyland Hotel? It is so convenient because you can walk right into the park. It should be very festive at Christmas!

 

[WeLoveABD]

Hi HockeyHeather! Maybe you guys and the Traveling Tinks will start a trend to add on Egypt following the S. Africa tour! Thanks for the info on Disneyland Paris--we are booked into the New York Hotel for a two night stay--from what I saw on the online map, the Disneyland Hotel is the primo one much like the Floridian, but the NY one looked relatively walkable. Guess we'll hang out in the lobby of the DH! If Disney takes us to the park on Christmas, we may have extra time on our two day extension to train somewhere else--suggestions sought! (And thanks for the suggestions for what to do in London/Paris on free time)

 

[SCFamily4]

Hi HockeyHeather! Maybe you guys and the Traveling Tinks will start a trend to add on Egypt following the S. Africa tour! Thanks for the info on Disneyland Paris--we are booked into the New York Hotel for a two night stay--from what I saw on the online map, the Disneyland Hotel is the primo one much like the Floridian, but the NY one looked relatively walkable. Guess we'll hang out in the lobby of the DH! If Disney takes us to the park on Christmas, we may have extra time on our two day extension to train somewhere else--suggestions sought! (And thanks for the suggestions for what to do in London/Paris on free time)

I am not sure if your kids are into history, but when we (my parents, 9yr old son and I) were in Paris last April, we took the train to Caen (about 1-1/2hrs) and went on a tour of the Normandy beaches (American beaches). We hired a private tour guide - well worth the $$ and he can pick you up from one of the small train stations. It was an amazing day trip for us.

We are looking at some places to visit during our "free time" in London and Paris as well. My son (the 9 yr old) is a history buff and wants to see the RAF museum outside of London. My daughter and I will likely let the boys do that and we will head over to Hampton Court Palace. I would also like to see the Natural History Museum in London. Anyone have any feedback on these locations??

December 19th will be here before we know it!!

 

[WeLoveABD]

Thanks for the ideas! We are going to play it by (mickey) ear...see how the weather is, whether we want more time in Disneyland Paris (especially if ABD takes us there on xmas day) etc. We may even train back to Paris for a day, if there are things we want to explore. In London--we are coming in a day early, but may use that to adjust to the time change! I'm looking forward to getting the trip box with all of the details--it will be easier to do specific planning!

 

[WeLoveABD]

Just logging in to see if we can catch the eye of other travelers on this ABD. I expect we'll get our packet in a few weeks--and will know at long last what the itinerary will be for xmas day! Anyone out there know how the dollar is faring against the pound and the euro?

 

[Pakey]

Hi, I won't be on this trip but just returned from this tour with the DLRP addon. I wanted to tell you that we did our addon at the Disneyland Hotel but another couple stayed at New York. They were not dissers and were unaware of the VIP fastpasses. Guests who stay at Disneyland Hotel get them but only guests staying through AbD get them at New York Hotel. This couple we had met did NOT get them and hadn't known to ask for them. Make sure you get them when you check in as they will save you so much time on the rides (too bad they don't have fastpasses for Crush's Coaster but it was worth the line wait anyway).

I hope all of you enjoy your vacation in Paris for Christmas.

 

[WeLoveABD]

Thanks for the tip re the VIP passes--we'll be sure to ask! We'll probably get the itinerary in a couple of weeks, which will help us decide whether to stay in the parks for the two post-Adventure days, or explore a bit on one day (if ABD brings us to the park on Xmas, then likely we'll take one of our days originally devoted to the park add on and maybe train back to Paris, or see something closer to the DLP area--any recommendations?).

 

[SCFamily4]

We are getting excited about the trip!! I can't believe it is only about 2 months away -- seems like it was forever since we made our first reservations.

The dollar is actually faring OK overseas right now - 1 British Pound is $1.729 USD, and 1 euro is $1.34 USD. Let's hope it stays that way - or even improves a bit more!!

Looking forward to meeting you all - and the others on our trip. I called a few weeks ago, and the reservations agent told me that the 12/20 trip was full! Should be a fun time!!

 

[WeLoveABD]

We were glad to hear the trip was full (other blog messages about cancelled trips had us slightly concerned). I just noted the currency exchange rate improved a tiny bit more--a good trend! We look forward to meeting your family, and to another great Disney adventure!

 

[SCFamily4]

Hello again! Just checking in as we get closer to our trip! Have you received your packet and itinerary yet? I guess we should receive this soon (~45 days out, right?).

I also saw that the exchange rates are still looking good! Hopefully this will continue thru the end of the year!

Looking forward to meeting you & your family ... and the others on our trip!