One Last, Magical Parade ......

It's almost time for our little intrepid Disney adventurer to return to the welcoming arms of his family's ample bosom. It goes without saying that we've really missed him even though we've video called almost every night.

Sooooooo, this morning he bid a fond farewell to the tangible and palpable hustle and bustle and upgraded room .......

....... of his Newport Bay Hotel ......

....... and the lake he's looked down upon from the window of his room during his more wistful moments!

Then he took a last nostalgic wander through .......

....... and lingering gaze at Sleeping Beauty's Castle, followed by a final bittersweet queue and ride embracing the delights of Phantom Manor, Small World and  Crush's Coaster. 

...... before the final meal of his trip at the Agrabah Cafe. Saying that he thought they'd saved the best 'till last, as he just couldn't get enough of the spicy sausages and couscous .......

..... or it's exotic and magical decor splendours, which he was sure Darrell would very much appreciate too.

Then it was time to find a prime position from which to view his very last Disney parade, he, we are assured, gave it his all, even though there were a few tears and stifled sniffs.

Then, it was time to finally pack his Mickey ears away and travel back to his original Val d'Europe Aparthotel for a last night dans Paris before flying home!  

Stay Clear Of The Water!

Nigel says that his time at Disney has certainly been an adventure he (and his feet) will NEVER forget ......

..... where he discovered something new and exciting every day .......

...... like the free bus to and from the park to his hotel when his poor little feet (see above) just couldn't take another step! 

Or finding the car of his dreams.

And then, there was the seeming tranquil and unassuming waters of the lake in front of his hotel .......

..... that actually harboured the most gigantic fish Nigel had ever seen in real life, that seemed to circle the odd duck that ventured onto the water (and Nigel didn't see that many) in a very menacing and ominous fashion. He reckoned, just looking at them, that they could have easily taken the leg off any said, unsuspecting duck that dared to stay still long enough!

So after that, he himself was mindful not to get too close to the rail, that went all round the lake, that he now knew, had obviously been put there by the Disney people for very salient health and safety reasons! What on earth is he like?

With Thoughts of Alice

Nigel says he hadn't quite realised how much he'd missed Alice while he's been away .......

...... until he found himself in one of the posh Disney arcades .........

...... drawn inextricably to the looking at "pretty things" .........

......and thinking how she was almost born to wear a tiara. How beautiful and elegant she would look gracing a tiara, even on Evesham High Street.

But with soooooo many to choose from, Nigel was worried that he might go and buy completely the wrong thing, as he had no real idea as to what coloured gems Alice actually preferred.

Then thought perhaps he should be a a little less ambitious in the buying of such a personal piece of jewellery and wait until they were together to choose something of a sparkly type disposition for her ....

...... thus avoiding any embarrassing and unfortunate faux pas ......

....... especially when knowing that Alice would probably be just as happy with a charity shop bracelet or necklace to express her tastes equally as well.

So in the meantime the little fella is considering something a little more "usual" but just as fitting instead, bless his little cotton socks!

Blue Mayo at PYM Kitchen ..... And More

Another day, another very different restaurant and another bewildering choice of exotic comestibles ........ with a twist!

This time at PYM Kitchen, where the theme revolves round shrinking or growing food using "PYM Technologies (???, no, us neither!!!).  Nigel says it was truly "other worldly" and almost too much of an assault on his concept of normal dimension for him to take it all in, as again, his lack of photos reflect, but the little fella was truly experiencing everything in the moment, rather than through the lens of a camera/phone.

The condiments were in test tubes ........ 

......and the water served in conical flasks (perhaps not unlike the domestic life of our beloved Mr D?).

As for the bewildering array of humungous or tiny food, from beef burgers, cookies, pretzels, pizza, pasta and meatballs, Oreos and a million tiny puddings, to name just a few of the delicacies, it was hard to know just where to start and try first.

Nigel, as ever, tried his very best to try a little of everything .......

...... but he says it was the blue mayonnaise that finally blew his mind, where reality and fantasy truly caught up with him. It would have looked rude not to give it a go .......

......and it tasted just the same as "real life, proper" mayonnaise, but the colour, he said, totally sent his brain off axis, so I doubt he'll be putting in a request for Darrell to serve it with his salad when he gets home or prepare a rabbit and hazelnut pie for that matter!

However, the  giant and normal meatballs were a triumph, as were the corndogs, pickles and extra long green beans.  It was quite an experience ..........

...... made all the more surreal, when a group of quite frightening Wakanda Warrior ladies marched past menacingly after demonstrating their strength and skills in front of a rapt and appreciative audience, just as he left the kitchen .....

...... swiftly followed by Spiderman demonstrating his terrifying, death defying, acrobatic spidey skills, high above them, among the tangle of pipes on the roof of one of the nearby buildings. He obviously hadn't had his lunch at PYM Kitchen!

To be honest, Nigel was quite relieved to sit back after that to absorb the innocence and the calm of the Mickey and The Magician Show (photographs and videoing of the performance strictly verboten), before heading back to his hotel for a bit of a lie down .......... before it all started again after tea!  

A Breakfast Of A Mouse Type Nature .....

It may look as if most of Nigel's Disney adventure has been spent mainly looking after his stomach ......

...... however, as I've said, the lure and subsequent whirling and twirling of so many wonderful rides has all but taken his eye off the ball when it's come to taking many pictures, bless his little cotton socks ........

...... and as such, the times when he's been a little more contained and focused in order to take any pictures has been during many of his scheduled pre-booked meals .......

...... which brings us to the Newport Bay Club breakfast! The first meal of the day to.... erm, lay a firm foundation, as well as put a lining on his said stomach, ready for the day ahead. 

Sooooooooo, in order to make the most of the Disney's Magic Hours, Nigel says he's been partaking of breakfast even earlier than if he had been enjoying one of Darrell's full English back at The Towers.

Now, one of the comestibles on Nigel's bucket list of Disney delicacies were the Mickey Mouse shaped waffles, he said they did not disappoint!

However, he's had to restrict them to just one per day, due to the vast array of other glorious treats, from cold meats and cheese, pastries to die for, all manner of bread rolls and toast to go with his beloved President butter and the ever present Nutella, jams and marmalade to spread on them. There are also cereals (Young Master Bertie's breakfast of choice), and yoghurt, not to mention scrambled eggs, bacon, baked beans and the cutest button mushrooms Nigel has ever seen, but says he's resisting anything he could normally have at home because of the overwhelming choice of the more exotic.

This morning, it seems he "started" off with a small pile of pancakes, followed by an assortment of the aforesaid pastries, (wrapping a couple up in a napkin to eat later in between rides), followed by a put together himself cheese and ham roll, a French yoghurt and probiotic drink to "keep things moving"  ........

...... all washed down by a cheeky Donald Duck latte.

No wonder he can't put his mind to taking pictures trying to keep hold of that lot in the park, it's nothing short of a blooming miracle! 

Thoughts of Home .......

With Disney merch absolutely EVERYWHERE .......

.... including the Bay Boutique at Nigel's hotel ........

...... it goes without saying that the little fella's mind, as he Disney Adventure nears its end, has turned to the idea of making one or two considered purchases.

A mug or beaker exactly like the ones in his room are a definite possibility .......

...... or a bottle of "parfum d'ambiance" - air freshener to you and me, to waft round The Towers, with its evocative aroma to bring back memories of his time at  Newport Bay, which would be especially welcome on a grey and dank day by the river.

Darrell and I might appreciate a new mug, breakfast bowl or water bottle, but which of all the Disney characters would resonate most with each of us, he pondered. Perhaps a bucket of candy floss or bag of gummies might be a less challenging consideration though.

Mickey hands and ears (of which there are many hundreds of varieties for every mood or occassion) may look au natural and de rigueur on absolutely everyone in the park, as do little ones walking around dressed as their favourite super hero or princess .....

..... but on the High Street of Evesham, mmmmmmmm maybe not.

As for all the soft toys, don't get him started, Little Miss Iris and Young Master Bertie have, somehow, already managed to weeddle a Chip n Dale plus a Baby Tigger and Pooh into their beds! 

However, Nigel, deep down, is a quite a frugal fella, he says the price of everything is eyewatering and he isn't now going to be silly with his money (except where his beloved niece and nephew are concerned of course) ...... so he tells us that so far the cheapest thing he's found and subsequently purchased, are two tins of Chip n Dale sweeties for 1 euro each ...... while he continues to consider a little more, bless him!