Say G'day to the USA pre-trip report Update post #24 Oct17

[hjd0411]

Hi everyone :wave2: Or should I say G'day!! I have decided to start my pre-trip report - one which I never thought I would do!!! I am very nervous, as I have read so many great trip reports, and I feel sadly lacking in the writing department.

Still, I guess this isn't a competition, and it will be a travelogue for me as much as for everyone else, so here goes nothing.

I thank everyone who reads this and offers any input! Sadly I have no photos as yet, but please be assured there will be lots when I come home!!

So let the show begin....;) :cool1:


Walt Disney said “It all started with a mouse.” Well, for me, it all started about 2 years ago with an idea – an idea to be out of the country for my 50th birthday. :hippie:

But where to go? Now, my birthday is in November, and as much as I would love to revisit France, or see Tuscany, or cruise the Mediterranean, I’m afraid November is not the time to do it (for me anyway!) So, where to go? I love travelling to the United States – my last 2 holidays have been there, so that narrowed it down. And I loved Orlando and Walt Disney World when I was there in 2002.

So, after consultation with my travel companion, it was decided that, yes we would go to the US, and yes, we would go to WDW, and other places as well. Our initial plan was to spend a few days in San Francisco and Dallas, before heading to the World, and revisit Las Vegas on our return. Out came the calendars and calculators and a plan was hatched. This plan only allowed about 8-9 days in Orlando, and I knew there would be so much to see and do. Plus I didn’t want to rush everything like we did last time, and miss lots!

Well, the long and the short of it was 8 days just wasn’t enough for me! I needed more WDW time! :rolleyes1 So, out went San Francisco and Dallas (to be visited on another trip), and in came 15 nights in Orlando!! Yay!!! :banana: :cool1: Plus 5 nights in Las Vegas on the way home. What more could a girl ask for for a birthday trip!!

So on to the introductions:

Me – Heather – presently 49, and ready to turn 50 with the House of Mouse. Planner of all trips (in my previous life I was a travel agent – really). Lover of the internet,:surfweb: and reading, reading, reading :coffee: all things relevant to where I am going next. Also, official travel photographer, so yes, there will be photos, but not just yet!!

Travel Companion – let’s call her Eeyore (her favourite) – also presently 49, and maybe not so ready to turn 50 after the House of Mouse. Goes along with most of my planning, and is thankful that I do all the reading!!


Next up: Where to stay/What to do?


Thanks for tuning in.


Part 2 in Post #2

[hjd0411]

Part 2...

OK, so we know the when – Nov 2-18 in Orlando, Nov 18-23 in Las Vegas.
And the why – my 50th birthday.

But what about the where?

Last time we came to WDW, the exchange rate of the US$ to the Aussie $ was bad – really bad! We were getting US.53c to every one of our dollars. :scared1: :eek: Not good. So, accommodation then came down to cost. We stayed in a hotel in Lake Buena Vista. Now the hotel was very so-so, (but clean and safe), and we did like the LBV area. We also only hired a car for about 5 days the last time, and loved the freedom of having that car and not relying on hotel buses. Heaven forbid, but I never even got to see the Magic Kingdom fireworks the last time because of the bus timetable! :mad: (And believe me that was tough, because I love fireworks)

Back to now – the exchange rate has thankfully improved – at the planning stage we were working on getting US.75c to our dollar – much better, I’m sure you would agree!::yes:: So, where to stay? We began looking at hotels in the LBV area, and some were really nice, and prices were good, too. Then I stumbled across a website which talked about vacation home rentals. I liked the sound of this, so delved a bit deeper. One thing led to another, and I heard about Windsor Hills! Wow!! Talk about looking gorgeous! I devoured all I could about this place, and came across a great looking condo. Now, I know what you might be thinking – 2 people, 1 three bedroom condo?? Lot’s of space, not many people..!!?? Well, as we will be there for over 2 weeks, I’m afraid the idea of being cramped into a hotel room just didn’t appeal. I like my space (;) ), and I’m sure Eeyore will too! Anyway, the cost of the condo was a bit less than some of the hotels in LBV! Go figure! :confused3

So, place to stay – check, car hire – check! Yes, we will be picking up a car from Alamo at MCO on our arrival, and dropping it back on departure day! Yahoo. Wheels! :drive: Able to come and go at will! (Do I sound like a teenager with my first car??!) As Eeyore is not too sure about driving on the “wrong” side of the road, I will be chauffeur for these 2 weeks. Can I just warn anyone who will be on the road from MCO to Windsor Hills on Fri Nov 2 to stay out of my way!!! I haven’t driven in the US for 2 years or so, so I will be a bit rusty!!!

Next is the how…

[disneylovinfamily]

great so far! I too am writing my first trip report so good luck to you. I would think there would be no better way than to celebrate a birthday in WDW especially a milestone one! I can't wait to hear more.popcorn::

[SnoopyDancer]

Wow, I can't believe I'm not at the tail end of a trip report. I came over from Randy4au's thread which I found from Life_Long Dreamer's thread. It sounds like you are going to have a great birthday trip!

[hjd0411]

great so far! I too am writing my first trip report so good luck to you. I would think there would be no better way than to celebrate a birthday in WDW especially a milestone one! I can't wait to hear more.popcorn::

Disneylovinfamily - I started reading your trip report yesterday - good work so far! :thumbsup2


Wow, I can't believe I'm not at the tail end of a trip report. I came over from Randy4au's thread which I found from Life_Long Dreamer's thread. It sounds like you are going to have a great birthday trip!


Thanks SnoopyDancer - I actually got some inspiration from Randy's report - I love all his photos!! :surfweb:

I'll update again soon.

[dismom9761]

Great start!I have heard great things about Windsor Hills!:goodvibes Looking forward to more plans!

[WDW Poly Princess]

Sounds like fun! Looking forward to the rest!

[hjd0411]

Great start!I have heard great things about Windsor Hills!:goodvibes Looking forward to more plans!

Sounds like fun! Looking forward to the rest!

Thanks Amy and Crystal - I'm looking forward to Windsor Hills too! In fact I'm jumping out of my skin about the whole thing! I'll have another update soon.

Thanks for reading, everyone!! :banana:

[hjd0411]

Pre trip Report - Part 3

OK, now onto the how.

Hmmm, Brisbane to Orlando – how many hours do you think?? :scratchin Too many is how many!!! :eek: And all in one go this time!

Harking back to my last visit – again with costs in mind we did this travel a bit on the cheap. I am lucky enough to work for an airline here in Australia – our national carrier, in fact. And have done so for a long time. As a reward my company grants each employee a free trip anywhere on the network, for each 5 years of service. These trips are standby, but if you time it well, it can be good. So in 2002 we flew to LAX (from Melbourne, which is 2hours flight further south, as the Brisbane flight was full!), then spent the day at LAX waiting, waiting, waiting for a flight with AA to DFW. I chose this route, because as DFW is AA’s hub it meant more flights to MCO the next day. Long story short, it took us 7 hours of waiting in LAX to get to DFW, and a very short sleepover at a hotel in DFW, and then the early am flight from DFW to MCO. We were lucky enough to get on this flight straight away!

Back to 2007, and whilst I don’t have a free trip left (I used this 2 years ago), I do have access to reduced cost flights. Yes, good, but still standby. Again, I am going with the historical data that says November is good - lots of empty seats! :woohoo: But different to last time, we are buying our tickets direct LAX to MCO on Delta. My confirmed tickets are now in my hot little hands, ready for me to check-in online the night before I leave!:banana:

So, our flight will look something like this:

Nov 02, 2007 Leave Brisbane around 12noon

Nov 02, 2007 Arrive Los Angeles around 7am (after crossing the Date Line making my Friday Nov 2 about 36 hours long!!:scared: )

Flight time – 12hours

Nov 02, 2007 Depart Los Angeles around 1050am

Nov 02, 2007 Arrive MCO around 6pm

Flight time – 4.5 hours

Yes, a long time, but oh so worth it!! So in answer to my first question, as long as all the flights are on time, no delays etc, we will be travelling a total of 20.5 hours. So, as I said earlier, please be aware on the roads from MCO on Nov 2 of this tired, jet-lagged person driving a rental car on the “wrong” side of the road!!! My community announcement for today!!!;)

More to come later - thanks for reading!! :flower3:

[dismom9761]

12 hour flight!:scared: I flew from Georgia to Belgium as a teenager.Don't remember how long it took but remember thinking I would never get there.

Its great that you get a discount.:thumbsup2

[hjd0411]

OK – now where was I? That’s right. All the travel plans have been mapped out, if not booked yet!:thumbsup2 And at this point we are in about May 2006 – a full 18 months until the planned departure! And 12 months since my last visit to Disneyland.

What to do to fill in the time? I did a bit of surfing for info – isn’t Google great!!?? And what did I DIScover? Well, the DIS of course! And what a find that was – I was like a kid in a candy store! I couldn’t get enough!

At first I was a “closet” lurker – I didn’t post, and I didn’t tell anyone what I was reading, either! :guilty: But then I thought “What the heck” and jumped in with both feet. Information overload loomed large! :laughing:

Plus I had borrowed a friend’s copy of the Unofficial Guide and devoured that cover to cover. :coffee: And anything else I could get my hands on! I have since bought a couple of books and 2 (yes 2) sets of DVD’s (I’m watching one now, to get me “in the mood”!!). These have been fabulous in helping me see what I can do.

From the DIS I also discovered Tour Guide Mike. Well, that opened my eyes, too. What’s this about green days and red days..?? Now I’ve got my head around that, I even have a “plan”. That is, more of a plan than I had – which I now discover was not a plan at all, but only an idea!!

And of course I can’t forget PassPorter. Do you see a pattern here? I am a sucker for all of this, you see. If I can buy the book, I will! Love it all! And it makes great bedtime reading.

With all this reading I make some discoveries:
1. I will be at WDW for a MVMCP – :woohoo: – I love Christmas :santa: – my favourite time of year.
2. I can make dining reservations – even more :woohoo: – and it only takes an international phone call
3. The Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian has my name written all over it!!!
4. A Segway Tour in Epcot before World Showcase opens – count me in!!

And lots more, of course, but those are what spring to mind right now! No doubt more discoveries will come to be. ;)


Later – adding tickets and ADR’s

Thanks for reading...

[dismom9761]

I love my passporter and TGM!!:woohoo:
Sounds like you have some great things in mind.:thumbsup2

[hjd0411]

I love my passporter and TGM!!:woohoo:
Sounds like you have some great things in mind.:thumbsup2


Thanks Amy - seems like it's you and me here! Hey, not long until your trip now - 14days - got to be good!!! :cool1:

[AshleyMWC]

Looks like a great start to an AMAZING sounding trip. It makes my 6 night stay seem so mini :lmao: But then again, if I was flying that far you'd better believe I would be staying a heck of a lot longer!!!

Well, I am officially along for the ride- oh, and thanks for riding along onmy pre-trippie :thumbsup2

Oh, and a shout out to a fellow Canon S3 IS user- I sure hope I can get decent enough with mine in the next 54 days :confused3

[hjd0411]

Well, to continue the story…

After sitting down with Eeyore and discussing what we would like to see and do, we went through the TGM info looking at the best/least crowded days for each park. Wow – talk about decisions! So far the basic itinerary looks like this:

Fri Nov 2
Fly (and fly, and fly..) to Orlando. Pick up rental car at MCO and drive (very carefully) to Windsor Hills.

Sat Nov 3
Rest day – need to get supplies for condo, and get bearings, but probably go to DTD to get “in the mood”

Sun Nov 4
My Birthday!!! :cake: MGM, with Fantasmic Dinner booked for Hollywood and Vine.

Mon Nov 5
Rest day again – shopping most likely!!:dance3:

Tues Nov6
Magic Kingdom

Wed Nov 7
Epcot – staying for Illuminations

Thur Nov 8
Rest day again – more shopping maybe or resort hopping or whatever takes our fancy, really!

Fri Nov 9
Animal Kingdom

Sat Nov 10
Hoping to drive to a beach for the day – and trying to fit in an airboat ride (not something we have Down Under!) Depending on how tired we are maybe MK in the evening, as it will be open until midnight!!!

There ends week 1…..:thumbsup2

Week 2 to follow!

[hjd0411]

Looks like a great start to an AMAZING sounding trip. It makes my 6 night stay seem so mini :lmao: But then again, if I was flying that far you'd better believe I would be staying a heck of a lot longer!!!

Well, I am officially along for the ride- oh, and thanks for riding along onmy pre-trippie :thumbsup2

Oh, and a shout out to a fellow Canon S3 IS user- I sure hope I can get decent enough with mine in the next 54 days :confused3

Hi Ashley - thanks for coming along for the ride!!! Your trip sounds good too! And a big :cool1: :woohoo: :banana: for the Canon S3!! I love it! Got lots of learning to do, of course, but loving doing that! You'll be fine with yours - I look forward to seeing your photos!

[gogo65]

Hi Heather,

Just found your trip report from downunder's trip report.:yay:
I am Gabrielle (GOGO65), I met Jess on the boards. Another Aussie

Looking forward to your trip report, it is always fun to read everyone else's.

However like your last trip we have 7 hours in LAX and you have just made me realise I am crazy. However it was 7 hours in LAX or waiting another day and we only have 8 days, so didn't want to waste any more time. The things you do for Disney.

Your trip sounds fantastic, I love Vegas as well,in fact my whole family loves Vegas, but we won't be visiting this holiday:sad2:
I so wish we were going this year, I'm jealous

Any way I look forward to reading more of your trip report,

[downunder]

Hi Heather,

I just read your TR aswell, wow i wish i had as much tim in WDW as you, i only have 11 days but i am sure that will be enough. I am looking forward to hearing more about your plans

Jess

[difry]

I am almost as envious of your trip to Vegas as I am the length of your WDW stay. My hubby and I keep talking about a trip to Vegas but we just haven’t made it yet.

Once our WDW trip is behind us I will begin planning (for 2-3 years) a trip to the UK. We are hoping to go in 2009, but it will probably be 2010 before we have saved enough to make the trip.

[erinstar]

Hello from a fellow Aussie!!

Great TR, keep it up!

[hjd0411]

Seems like "life" got in the way of the DIS!!! :confused3 :scared: I haven't updated for a couple of days...

So, on to week 2 of the plan!!

Now, I will add here that a friend of mine from home will be joining us from Sat 10 Nov until Wed 14 Nov. He will be in the US visiting friends in Nashville, so is coming down to join us for a few days! He is a lover of all things Disney so I’ll call him Mickey! He has been to Disneyland many times, and Disneyland Paris and WDW once each, so knows all about the “magic”! He celebrated his 40th birthday this weekend and his birthday present from me is breakfast at CP! Hope he enjoys it! Now, on with week 2..

Sun Nov 11
MK – 810am ADR at Crystal Palace for birthday celebrations. Today will probably be a big day – we hope to get to AK and Epcot as Mickey only has limited time here!! It will be fun, though!

Mon Nov 12
Rest morning – maybe a trip to Winter Park to see some of Orlando. MVMCP is on tonight! Can’t beat combining Disney and Christmas!!! :santa:

Tues Nov 13
Not sure about this morning :confused: (late night last night), but MGM this afternoon for dinner at 50’s Prime Time and to see the Osborne Lights after dark.

Wed Nov 14
We will farewell Mickey,:wave2: and then Eeyore and I will head to Epcot for the day

Thu Nov 15
AK in the morning, with the Grand Floridian afternoon tea booked for this afternoon. Probably MK or Epcot in the evening – or not, depending on how tired we are!

Fri Nov 16
Another rest/shopping day

Sat Nov 17
Last day - maybe Epcot in the morning, then MK in the pm. We have an ADR at Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner, and then plan to watch Spectro. Thought that would be a good way to end this magical vacation, especially now that MK is open until midnight!!! :cool1:

Sun Nov 18
Pack up for an early (1015am) flight to Las Vegas. So the holiday is technically not over, but the WDW part is…:sad1:

[hjd0411]

Hi Heather,

Just found your trip report from downunder's trip report.:yay:
I am Gabrielle (GOGO65), I met Jess on the boards. Another Aussie

Looking forward to your trip report, it is always fun to read everyone else's.

However like your last trip we have 7 hours in LAX and you have just made me realise I am crazy. However it was 7 hours in LAX or waiting another day and we only have 8 days, so didn't want to waste any more time. The things you do for Disney.

Your trip sounds fantastic, I love Vegas as well,in fact my whole family loves Vegas, but we won't be visiting this holiday:sad2:
I so wish we were going this year, I'm jealous

Any way I look forward to reading more of your trip report,

Hi Gabrielle - 7 hours is a long time to wait, but if it's that or a whole day - I vote for 7 hours!!!! :rotfl: That's why we are going straight through in the one go - I didn't want to waste a day at LAX!
Thanks for joining in!

Hi Heather,

I just read your TR aswell, wow i wish i had as much tim in WDW as you, i only have 11 days but i am sure that will be enough. I am looking forward to hearing more about your plans

Jess

Hi Jess, I've got a bit of catching up to do - I've had a bit on over the weekend, so haven't been on the computer for a while!!! I'm making up for it today, though!!! :surfweb: Last time I went I had about 11 days in WDW and managed to see each park (only 1 day each, 2 days for Epcot), Kennedy Space Center, Universal and IOA! So it can be done! Oh, and I did have time to shop too!!!

I am almost as envious of your trip to Vegas as I am the length of your WDW stay. My hubby and I keep talking about a trip to Vegas but we just haven’t made it yet.

Once our WDW trip is behind us I will begin planning (for 2-3 years) a trip to the UK. We are hoping to go in 2009, but it will probably be 2010 before we have saved enough to make the trip.

Hi diana - thanks for joining in. I love Las Vegas - it is a great place to visit. I don't gamble at all, but I can fill in a lot of time just looking!! So much to see!! There's too many places around the world to see, aren't there!! I love planning holidays! You enjoy all of your planning! And you enjoy your vacation - not too long to go now!!!

Hello from a fellow Aussie!!

Great TR, keep it up!

Hi Erin - hey you aren't too far away from your holiday!!! Hope you have a great time!! How long are you away? I can't wait for my ticker to be under 3 weeks!!! ;)

[erinstar]

Hi Erin - hey you aren't too far away from your holiday!!! Hope you have a great time!! How long are you away? I can't wait for my ticker to be under 3 weeks!!! ;)

Hi Heather

I know, less than two weeks away, I am sooo excited, I really can't wait!!

I'm away for 3 weeks, heading to LA and New York for a few nights each before 10 days/10 nights in Orlando then over to Las Vegas on the way home.

I'm glad to read what you did in Orlando last time. We plan, on 2 days at MK, mnnshp, and a day each at AK, MGM and Epcot, as well as, KSC, US and IOA!! and hopefully fitting in Seaworld as well.

p.s. thanks to your thread, i've found a few other Aussie TR's its, great o see other Aussies on here as well! Thanks!

[AshleyMWC]

Thu Nov 15
AK in the morning, with the Grand Floridian afternoon tea booked for this afternoon. Probably MK or Epcot in the evening – or not, depending on how tired we are!


HA, this is practically the exact same day my mom and I have planned on our last full Disney day. We are doing AK in the morning, having GF Tea at 3:30, and then hitting either Fantasmic! or Illuminations again. Great minds think alike I guess :rotfl:

[hjd0411]

Well, it has been a looong time since I have updated this pre-trip report, and I am at just over 2 weeks to go!!! :banana: I will ask where has the time gone, but it sounds so silly when you are looking forward to a trip!!!
Anyway, I have been sick for about 10 days recently,:sick: and the last thing on my mind was anything to do with this holiday! I know – but I just couldn’t even think about going on a ride or taking a photo or eating any great food – it was all I could do to move from my bed to the lounge and back again!! But, that is now officially gone, and I am back to wishing my life away to Disney!! :woohoo:
I have also had a couple of changes to my plans whilst there – additions more than changes.
We are going to see La Nouba which will be my first Cirque du Soleil show. My brother worked for one of the shows here in Brisbane, and also for a short time in the US, but I never did get to see it. He worked behind the scenes in audio, but he really enjoyed that. So now I’ll be able to see what the “hype” is all about, and I’m really looking forward to it.
I have also added in an Epcot Segway tour. Now that I am really excited about. It looks like so much fun, and you get to World Showcase before it opens – now that’s got to be a plus!!! I just hope the weather holds!
We have also got everything bought and paid for! Woohoo!!!! All airline tickets, accommodation, car hire, tours etc, so that is a weight off my mind! Now all we have to do is w-a-i-t!!! And w-o-r-k!!!! Still at least there is the DIS and others trip reports to keep me going! popcorn:: :surfweb: :coffee:
Thanks for reading, and I’ll hopefully update closer to departure! :surfweb:

Heather :upsidedow

[Robert TG]

What a fantastic plan.
One day when I had a rental car, I drove over to see the Wedding Chapel, it's beautiful, and there are two Water Parks to see even if I didn't jump in.

I'll just offer this advice, Be prepared to cancel some of those "Rest Days" the excitement of the parks will keep you going and give you energy.

[hjd0411]

Hi Robert - yes I think the "rest days" will be still full of "stuff"!! Lots of shopping and other sightseeing to do, of course. I want to have a look at the Disney resorts, too, and yes, even the water parks! (Although one of them will be closed when we are there.) I just love the freedom of having the car and being able to go where ever/when ever you want!!

Thanks for joining in.

Heather :upsidedow

[Avivasmom]

You definitely have a great trip planned between Las Vegas and WDW...cannot beat that for a birthday trip.

Your plans look great...not a better place to spend your bday!

[darren123]

Sounds good so far best wishes for your 50th Congratulations
See the Dollar today 91 cents to the USD.
We went to Disneyland in 2002 and remember well the 53 cents to the USD oh the pain every thing was doubled. The AUD is estimated to reach the 95 to the USD in the new year
I do not know but much better than the 53 cents back in 2002 that is for sure
do you know that Alamo Car Hire offers GSP for about $10 a day
Best Wishes Darren

[gogo65]

Have a fantastic trip Heather.:cool1:

:bday:

I'm so jealous.

Like darren I was also in the US in 2000 and the dollar was 48c:scared1:

we had to double everything.

It is so exciting to see it at 91c:banana:
Perfect timing for those of us going in the next few months.

Enjoy your trip, look forward to hearing all about it when you get back home.:)