My time as a princess at Disney, by Laura Bolter
Winning Ferndown Carnival Queen had been so much fun, as had representing my town at lots of different events, but the special prize was an all-expenses paid trip to Euro Disney, Paris, where I would get to compete for Miss UK Carnival Queen!
The day started very early on a Sunday morning, when we had to meet the coach at 6am! Since we were being judged from the minute we got onto the coach, I had to get up even earlier! I took a very large suitcase (well a girl has to be prepared) and was the last to arrive. Everyone was very excited and looking forward to meeting the ‘competition’.
We picked up some more people and headed off for Dover where we met up with three other coaches and the other girls that were taking part. As soon as we were on the boat we were whisked off to the top deck in the V.I.P rooms where all the girls were meeting and where we were presented our Disneyland sashes by the captain. We had an official photographer who took pictures of our every move (over 3000 in total!) and we had to sit down individually with the purser and his assistant and answer questions...the competition had started.
Once off the boat, we headed towards Euro Disney, stopping briefly to stock up on more chocolate at the services. Once we arrived at the hotel, we were shown our rooms, before needing to get ready for another photo shoot. Throughout our stay and while visiting the parks we were told to wear our sashes as there were several ‘mystery’ judges.
Our first evening was a night at the ‘Wild West’ show. We were given ‘special’ treatment wherever we went and that night was no different. The girls that I had made friends with were so much fun and we were all up dancing and enjoying ourselves all night.
The next day was a day at Disney. We were given the freedom to spend the day on our own (after photos!)....and we had a fantastic time wandering around the park. Later on we met up with our families and had a trip to Paris. Paris was fantastic and after more photos we were able to look round the Eiffel Tower, had a trip down the River Seine on a boat and then a trip round Paris with the coach driver showing us so many different things.
Our driver JJ was amazing. He was only young and knew so much. He kept us entertained with quizzes, one of which I won a bottle of wine for! Mum said I can only keep it if I wait until I’m 18 to drink it!
The next day Disney opened the park an hour early for us to have time to take some more photos! Two hours later we were allowed to go off on our own. That evening was our final competition. All the girls got back early to get into their dresses ready for the evening – they all looked so beautiful, I had made so many friends by then that I really felt they all deserved to win!
The Disney train arrived outside of the hotel to take us to the club where the competition was being held. We were all so excited! We entered the hall with everybody clapping, and then had to go up on the stage one at a time and give a speech, but then afterwards we had to answer three questions each. We were then allowed to go onto the dance floor and relax.
There was a first and second place girl....it wasn’t me, but that didn’t matter!....I made lots of very good friends, my mum and dad said I made them proud and I did it all on my own! Nobody knew my past, nobody made any special ‘allowances’ for me, I was just ‘Laura’ having fun with some mates! I will remember my trip always!
Laura, 16, is deaf and was fitted with a cochlear implant when she was three years old, which helped her speech and language develop. She now leads an independent life, although still uses lip reading to fully understand people.
Read her mum's story here and a recent story about Laura in the Bournemouth Echo here.
Comments
Congratulations, Laura, I hope your future brings you lots more happiness. Look forward to seeing you at DELTA summer school, best wishes, Belinda
Posted by: Belinda | May 1, 2009 09:47 PM
Well done Laura - a great inspiration for any deaf person.
(Wouldnt bet on that bottle of wine still being around when youre eighteen if i know your mum.)
Posted by: martin ring | May 2, 2009 01:46 AM
Loved the bit about the large suitcase! Lovely article. Well done lovely one!
Gwenda x
Posted by: Gwenda Malpass | May 2, 2009 05:42 AM