Yippee!! Our own sub-forum

[shushh]

I only just saw this today and what a fantastaic idea!!! There are some things such as flights, adaptors, etc where other Australian DISers input would be invaluable. It will also be nice to hear the Aussie perspective!:cool1:

[arje]

Thanks Pete! :thumbsup2 He promised, and then delivered. :cool1::banana:

I am sure over time this part of the Dis will be well utilised if the Aussie Disneyland Planners thread is anything to go by. :surfweb:

[CairnsGirl]

Hi all !! This is so great to have an Aussie forum. I will look forward to reading all the travel tips while I am planning my September 2010 trip to Disneyworld.
Thanks to everyone at the Disboards for making this happen:wizard:

[jacs1234]

Fantastic. :tigger:

[welley]

party:party:party:

Fantastic...

:jumping1: :jumping1: :jumping1:

[melbarkwith]

Wooohooooo :banana::banana::banana:

[queenie82]

ooooo.......
gotta watch that step over the international date line....nearly tripped!


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/queenamidala82/pinky_brain.jpg

[kylieh]

I'm here too!!!!!!

:banana::banana::banana::banana:

[Cyrano]

Just popping in to say hiya to our down under neighbours :wave2:

[gogo65]

How exciting:banana:

Finally our very own thread.
Thanks for making it happen everyone:thumbsup2

Doesn't anyone have any questions??

[shushh]

I do actually! Now that we're all easily located in one spot so to speak...just wondering how many have been on a Disney cruise?

Disneyland, Disneyworld, nearly everyone have heard of. BUT, everytime I mention that I am going on a Disney cruise, people look at me as though I am crazy!!!

[queenie82]

hmmmmmmm
a question.......
Where is Disneyland?????

shushh
I haven't even BOTHERED telling people I'm going on a Disney cruise.....not yet at least....too many strange looks and questions!!! :lmao:

[welley]

hmmmmmmm
a question.......
Where is Disneyland?????

Disneyland is located in the happiest place on earth. And when you think of DL you can't stop smiling. :)

[marvel]

hey everyone. great to have a spot for us.
yeah a disney cruise sounds wonderful, but we would get some funny looks as well. We plan to go one day, but i don't know of any Aussies that have been on one.

I have been looking at renting a house for our trip to WDW 2011.

Yes, I am that desperate to begin planning. And I cannot believe you can get a house for 10 people with a pool etc etc for $120 - 199 per night, 10 mins from disney. Anyone done anything like this? This was we plan to stay for 2 or so weeks just in florida.

[welley]

Just popping in to say hiya to our down under neighbours :wave2:

:wave2:

[disneymum2201]

I have told lots of people we are cruising but now dont tell everyone who with. I have had some very strange looks.:confused3

I dont know anyone who has been on a disney cruise, but am really looking forward to ours next year.:banana:

[DizOz]

I have told lots of people we are cruising but now dont tell everyone who with. I have had some very strange looks.:confused3

I dont know anyone who has been on a disney cruise, but am really looking forward to ours next year.:banana:

We have just started to organise our next Disney holiday in 2010. It too includes a Disney Cruise. I tell everyone who wants to listen. I do get a few odd looks and plenty of questions.

See our pre-trip report here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2307165

:dance3::dance3::dance3:

[shushh]

Disneymum, we're on the same cruise! We too will be on the Panama Canal cruise and it looks like you'll be getting off the Magic while we board. We're on the April 24 Med cruise next year! What a small world!!

Strange looks can't curb my enthusiasm but it sure will be nice to able to chat about it with people who share the love for all-things Disney!

DizOz, we're going Florida/NY/and back to Florida again in Dec 2010/Jan2011 so would love to hear how your trip goes!

And GO the Aussie dollar!!!!!

[darren123]

Thanks Pete

We were thinking it would be nice to do a Disney Criuse one day.

[Kangarucci]

Hi All,

Great to have our own Aussie forum. :goodvibes

Yes, we ( 2 adults and 2 children, 12 and 10), sailed on the 7 night Western Caribbean in 2007!

It was absolutely fantastic. So much so that we are booked to sail on the 14 night Westbound Transatlantic in 2010.

Highly recommended. :woohoo:

[BrizMarc]

YAY! Its great having our own space now

[kylieh]

I'd love to do a cruise with DD, but I get sick on the Manly Ferry!!! :eek::eek:

[queenie82]

I'd love to do a cruise with DD, but I get sick on the Manly Ferry!!! :eek::eek:
I'm not sure that is a fair comparison.... :lmao: :lmao: I don't recall a Disney ship running aground or running into wharves :rotfl:

[kylieh]

I'm not sure that is a fair comparison.... :lmao: :lmao: I don't recall a Disney ship running aground or running into wharves :rotfl:

True. :lmao:

I'll rephrase, I need sea-sick tablets on the ferry, infact on most boats, and even with them I sometimes end up "fish feeding.: :lmao::lmao::lmao:

[marvel]

hey kangarucci, who did you book your 2010 trip with, i wouldn't mind getting some info on it.

[Kangarucci]

Hi
I booked it through a US travel agent, Small World Vacations, which was recommended on Mousesavers. The agents name is Tracy.

They give you the current Disney on board credit of $25 USD per stateroom and their own shipboard credit of $100 USD (one off) for 7 + night cruises.

I have been very happy with them. We converse by email and the agent is always prompt to reply.

It was much cheaper to book with an US travel agent than with an Aus. one for the 2007 trip and I would expect it to be similar again.

[shushh]

When we booked our 2010 med cruise, we too priced it with US travel agents, AUssie travel agents and directly with DCL. The option not to take is with Aussie agents as it was alot more expensive!

We started off direct with DCL and ended up transfering our reservation to Dreams unlimited. We got the DIsney $25 online booking credit as well as $500 onboard credit per stateroom!!!

For the Panama Canal, we used SmallWorldVacations as well. And their service has been topnotch. Quicker with emails compared to DU. Tracy comes highly recommended by other DISers! Our agent is Karen. Again, we got the $25 Disney as well as $200 onboard credit from Small world vacations.

[marvel]

so that westbound cruise starts in Barcelona and ends in Florida? I think we may want to start with something around Jamaica maybe.

[shushh]

Maybe check out their caribbean cruises? Not sure when you are going, but I think there are kids sail free offers on at the moment for sailings in Jan to April 2010

[lindsey clare]

hooray, Australian forum!

re: Disney cruise, i have told a few people about our plans to go on Podcast Cruise 2.0 and usually i have to explain what a Disney cruise is. most people seem to like the idea of it though. a few have been quite jealous actually ;)

one of my sisters is planning a big WDW + DCL trip with a group of friends in 2018 when their kids are a big more grown up :D

[lindsey clare]

hooray, Australian forum!

re: Disney cruise, i have told a few people about our plans to go on Podcast Cruise 2.0 and usually i have to explain what a Disney cruise is. most people seem to like the idea of it though. a few have been quite jealous actually ;)

one of my sisters is planning a big WDW + DCL trip with a group of friends in 2018 when their kids are a big more grown up :D

[arje]

We're so much looking forward to our cruise we're taking next year. And we're happy to tell people who we're sailing with.

[caseybruna]

Hi all !! This is so great to have an Aussie forum. I will look forward to reading all the travel tips while I am planning my September 2010 trip to Disneyworld.
Thanks to everyone at the Disboards for making this happen:wizard:

I just came back from a 10 day Disneyworld trip in September this year, so if you have any questions I might be able to help :goodvibes I found in my planning it really helped to get an Australian perspective

[marvel]

I always worry about the weather in florida in sept, it seems to be hit and miss. Was it ok this year?? did you do the free dining?

[caseybruna]

I always worry about the weather in florida in sept, it seems to be hit and miss. Was it ok this year?? did you do the free dining?

It was HOT, and humid. It definately takes it out of you, but we are reasonably well conditioned as Australians. You just need to drink lots of water, and use airconditioning and breaks and you will be fine, provided you are reasonably fit (going for walks for the months before you go helps). The crowds were great, there were enough people to create atmosphere but the wait times were pretty good (we used touring plans which was an ENORMOUS help). We completely lucked out, it only rained like once or twice in the whole 10 days we were there, but i think when he left it must have rained for a week straight we were so lucky. We did do free dining, which worked out well for us.

[Oz-kateer]

I was at WDW in the first 2 weeks in Oct 2009 so if anyone has questions about flight/connections/planning/weather/attractions etc I'll try and help.

It was so good in fact we're going back in Sept/Oct 2010!!

[shushh]

I was at WDW in the first 2 weeks in Oct 2009 so if anyone has questions about flight/connections/planning/weather/attractions etc I'll try and help.

It was so good in fact we're going back in Sept/Oct 2010!!

I've got heaps of questions! Although not going until you've been a second time...

It appears that from Sydney, flights either get there early in the morning or in the evening after 6pm. Which did you do? Did you spend all 2 weeks at WDW or did you other Orlando attractions as well? And of course, what was your favourite place to eat?

[caseybruna]

I've got heaps of questions! Although not going until you've been a second time...

It appears that from Sydney, flights either get there early in the morning or in the evening after 6pm. Which did you do? Did you spend all 2 weeks at WDW or did you other Orlando attractions as well? And of course, what was your favourite place to eat?

I know this wasn't directed at me, but Ozkateer and I went at the same time so I thought I would put in my 2 cents with hers. I flew Delta, got into Orlando at 6pm. I think this would have been the better option as we were exhausted and wouldnt have been able to handle a day at the parks (and i think it would have been pretty hard to stay away). We spent 10 days in Disney World (that included 2 days at Universal). From memory, ozKateer spent all of her time in the area as well. We could have spent more time as WDW and Universal etc etc are HUGE with so much stuff to do. I seriously reccommend to all people going to WDW that you buy the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World by Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa, i got mine from Dymocks. It was a wealth of information, which you really need because WDW is a bit of a monster (albeit a fun one). The best restaurant I ate at WDW was probably Le Cellier, which is in Epcot and notoriously books out 90 days in advance. We also ate at California Grill (pretty good), Jiko (overrated), Flying Fish (Pretty good) and Chef Mickeys (food was pretty terrible, but thats not why you go). Any other questions, just ask

[caseybruna]

I was at WDW in the first 2 weeks in Oct 2009 so if anyone has questions about flight/connections/planning/weather/attractions etc I'll try and help.

It was so good in fact we're going back in Sept/Oct 2010!!

It is great to hear your trip went so well. We had an amazing time too, so jealous you are going back next year. I am satisfying my disney craving at Disneyland Paris instead when I go to Europe for 2 months, but it won't quite be WDW will it?! :rolleyes1

[shushh]

I know this wasn't directed at me, but Ozkateer and I went at the same time so I thought I would put in my 2 cents with hers. I flew Delta, got into Orlando at 6pm. I think this would have been the better option as we were exhausted and wouldnt have been able to handle a day at the parks (and i think it would have been pretty hard to stay away). We spent 10 days in Disney World (that included 2 days at Universal). From memory, ozKateer spent all of her time in the area as well. We could have spent more time as WDW and Universal etc etc are HUGE with so much stuff to do. I seriously reccommend to all people going to WDW that you buy the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World by Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa, i got mine from Dymocks. It was a wealth of information, which you really need because WDW is a bit of a monster (albeit a fun one). The best restaurant I ate at WDW was probably Le Cellier, which is in Epcot and notoriously books out 90 days in advance. We also ate at California Grill (pretty good), Jiko (overrated), Flying Fish (Pretty good) and Chef Mickeys (food was pretty terrible, but thats not why you go). Any other questions, just ask

Thank you! I don't mind who the info comes from!

That is nice that you got to go together. It is always more fun when you have someone you can share your excitement with. Its never quite the same telling the stories to families and friends when you come home. Did you already know each other before you went?

[Oz-kateer]

We didn't meet up there! Lol

Flying: Yes, flew Delta from Sydney to LAX, cleared customs and immigration and then went on to ATL, then MCO. I was a bit annoyed at first that they changed our flight from SYD - LAX - MCO direct, BUT it worked out well because we had the nice big plane from SYD all the way to ATL, and the small airbus without personal screens for only 1 hour for that last ATL - MCO leg. Appreciated.

Left Sydney at 9.30am and got into Orlando at about 7.30pm and this is MUCH better than the only other option - where you leave Sydney in the evening and arrive in MCO at the crack of dawn. I was worried I thought I'd "wasted" a nights accomodation, having to pay to sleep there without the benefit of a day in the parks but it was great. You arrive, get to the hotel, and get to have a bite, hit the showers and hit the sheets for a full nights sleep before you get up bright and refreshed and hit the park. Arriving at 6.30am would have been BAD after flying 24 hours.


Weather: hard to say as we had record high temps for October, and in the whole 10 days - NO RAIN, which is unusual for Orlando. This is a hard one to comment on. Suffice to say it was hot and humid and I was sincerely glad of the excellent air conditioning at The Pop, and the 24 hour access to the swimming pools, so after a long day in the parks you could come back and swim.

Disney: Travelled with my youngest son, 6. Had a great time. Didn't leave the property, he was a bit young to apprecaite Universal and so we could pace ourselves. Having said that though my son will ride anything, so we rode EVERTYTHING. The crowds were low low low.


Food: We had free dining which meant 1 table service meal, 1 counter service meal and one snack per day, and quite truthfully, the serves were so huge we rarely needed to eat anything else. Table service meals were at: Le Cellier, Planet Hollywood, Sci Fi Dine In Theatre, The Plaza Restaurant, Crystal Palace, Tusker House, Cape May Cafe, Captains Grille, Coral Reef, Raglan Road. All were great. I don't go to Disney for the food, so if it's good, it's good. But I never had a bad meal, even at counter service.


Any specific questions?

[caseybruna]

Thank you! I don't mind who the info comes from!

That is nice that you got to go together. It is always more fun when you have someone you can share your excitement with. Its never quite the same telling the stories to families and friends when you come home. Did you already know each other before you went?

Oh no haha, we didnt actually go together but we went at around the same time, that is all I was saying :thumbsup2

[shushh]

LOL...sorry shouldn't have made assumptions! I take it that you knew each other from the Boards then. It's nice either way! Not too many people around me appreciate or understand my Disney infatuation.

Oz-kateer thanks for the detailed info. We were leaning towards the flights that arrived in the evening. Was there a particular reason you chose Delta?

[CairnsGirl]

Its great to hear about everyones plans for next year.

We are also going in September/October 2010 to Disneyworld with a stop over in Las
Vegas on the way.

We are planning on ten nights at Disneyworld, then moving over to Universal Resort for another seven nights.

I am still deciding on hotels and I will be glued to the computer from early next year looking for some great airline fares.

I've been a bit disappointed in Qantas on my last couple of trips and think we will be going over on V Australia. I have heard some really good reports about them!:)

[queenie82]

I've got heaps of questions! Although not going until you've been a second time...

It appears that from Sydney, flights either get there early in the morning or in the evening after 6pm. Which did you do? Did you spend all 2 weeks at WDW or did you other Orlando attractions as well? And of course, what was your favourite place to eat?
We have always flown United.
The flight leaves Sydney at about 3-4pm.
We get to LAX or SFO (preferably SFO) at about 6-7am and then get to MCO at 10-12pm. This is late...but you still get a good sleep. We usually have a chill day the next day shopping and getting groceries etc.

We will be spending all our time at Disney this time...but if you haven't been to SeaWorld then that is really wonderful. Especially with younger children.
Universal is good o do at some point but they are largely thrill rides at IOA and I can't remember how many younger kid rides there are at the Studios.
Unless it is exceptionally busy we can finish Universal in a day.

[caseybruna]

LOL...sorry shouldn't have made assumptions! I take it that you knew each other from the Boards then. It's nice either way! Not too many people around me appreciate or understand my Disney infatuation.

Oz-kateer thanks for the detailed info. We were leaning towards the flights that arrived in the evening. Was there a particular reason you chose Delta?

I chose Delta because it was cheap cheap cheap at the time, only $1100 return. The GFC was good for something, and that was my WDW trip. In typical US airline style we had our fair share of delays, I think that even Qantas would probably be a bit better, but the price was right at that time for Delta.

[Oz-kateer]

LOL...sorry shouldn't have made assumptions! I take it that you knew each other from the Boards then. It's nice either way! Not too many people around me appreciate or understand my Disney infatuation.

Oz-kateer thanks for the detailed info. We were leaning towards the flights that arrived in the evening. Was there a particular reason you chose Delta?

Yep - Delta had one of the cheapest rates going AND they had a good series of connections. It was win/win.

Plus, we got to fly one airline all the way, there was no "milk running" where you build a cheapie airfare using different airlines, so if there are any delays the airline knows exactly where you are and what's happened, and they automatically put you on the next available flight. But we had no delays!

Some of the cheaper airlines have poor connection schedules, that's if they actually have true connections at all. It's just a series of separate flights and if you miss a flight all sorts of dramas ensue. Have been there done that and sometimes saving a buck isn't worth it.

I liked Delta, had no complaints. They had a VERY generous baggage allowance, the planes were comfortable, they were totally on time, the staff were nice, the food was fine, they served huge drinks instead of those dinky little ones a lot of airlines serve and their Delta on Demand entertainment is great. Kept my 6 year old totally quiet and engrossed all the way.

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Yep - Delta had one of the cheapest rates going AND they had a good series of connections. It was win/win.

Plus, we got to fly one airline all the way, there was no "milk running" where you build a cheapie airfare using different airlines, so if there are any delays the airline knows exactly where you are and what's happened, and they automatically put you on the next available flight. But we had no delays!

Some of the cheaper airlines have poor connection schedules, that's if they actually have true connections at all. It's just a series of separate flights and if you miss a flight all sorts of dramas ensue. Have been there done that and sometimes saving a buck isn't worth it.

I liked Delta, had no complaints. They had a VERY generous baggage allowance, the planes were comfortable, they were totally on time, the staff were nice, the food was fine, they served huge drinks instead of those dinky little ones a lot of airlines serve and their Delta on Demand entertainment is great. Kept my 6 year old totally quiet and engrossed all the way.

Ditto everything you said. We had no problems with Delta. We flew with them internationally and domestically and there were no delays, food was good, etc.

[erinstar]

I'm soo excited us Aussies have own own forum now!

[shushh]

Thanks for the info on Delta. Didn't know much about them. Good to know they have on-demand entertainment. It has kept us sane on international flights keeping the children "entertained" and now we are not sure if we are brave enough to try an airline that doesn't have them...

Ms. Shuttergirl, I remember in your trip report that you stayed at a hotel in Times Square. Do you mind me asking which one? Hotels around Christmas are so expensive and the novotel will let us have 5 in a room!