7 flights, 6 hotels, 1 cruise ship and a major stuff up...brace yourself UPDATE!

[becpee]

Well, the countdown is at 23 weeks and 2 days

Too early for a PTR? Hope not

The plans so far are to leave Melbourne on Sept 11 and will be arriving back into Melbourne on Oct 11.

The trip will take us to places we've never been before, and quite honestly places I never thought we'd go, and an almost total immersion in all things Disney

Orlando, The Caribbean, New York City and LA for a second time as a family.

Our trip will take us to WDW, a Fantasy Cruise, the biggest Macy's in the world and Magnolia Bakery (My Disneylands ) and Walt's Disneyland.

All this and as yet our DS5 is not in on the secret

This trip started as a trip back to Disneyland and has evolved into something bigger!
Expensive flights made me rethink our plans, bringing our trip forward and flying further for the same price, why not?
The excitement of The Fantasy almost forced me to change our Wonder cruise, DH didn't need any encouragement.
A drop in flight prices and a credit from the airline made me add in a stop, NYC here we come
I don't know which part is more exciting, our first cruise, NYC, WDW?
DL is still there because I just couldn't bring myself to fly all that way and not go there, i'd feel like a traitor

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Never to early for a PTR

 

[becpee]

So, I guess i'll start with the itinerary.

Flying out on the 11th Sept, and arriving in Orlando on Sept 11, about 22 hours in transit (not allowing there for any delays, and i'm hoping there aren't any).

11-13 Orlando
14 Port Canaveral
15-22 Fantasy Western Caribbean Cruise
22-1 Oct WDW Coronado Springs with prak hoppers and free dining
1-5 NYC hotel here is unknown
5-9 LA and Disneyland

Arrive home on the 11th as we lose a day coming home

I always cry coming home.

The only flights i'm yet to book are the JFK to LAX, and am still deciding where to stay for all our hotel stays except for WDW.

 

[alicia1506]

i'm subbing in -- i love a good PTR and TR and this is a great time to start

i can't wait to hear more about your trip.

we're doing a scaled down version on your trip when we go: fantasy cruise to the caribbean for 7 nights, then 11 nights at disneyland with a side trip to san diego/zoo etc and some shopping.

good for you for being able to take advantage of the great prices

 

[becpee]

Hi WAMUMOF4 and Alicia

Exciting times ahead!

So here I am adding to my PTR when I should be ripping through my house with The Dyson, my floors need a really good vacuum, it's been a few days

Flights!
We've booked a direct Delta but operated by V-Australia MEL-LAX, then Delta domestic LAX-MCO.
No Sydney stopover which is great!
Pretty sure we'll clear customs at LAX? Yes?
2 hours between getting off one and getting onto the next, not too bad, I guess the time will go fast and from what I can gather we'll be landing and departing from the same terminal in LAX

After travelling for so long I think the extra $ spent to stay there will be money well spent.

 

[Frances69]

Arrive home on the 11th as we lose a day coming home

 

[becpee]

Well, DS5 last night informs me he wants to go to Disney on ice

We've been the last couple of times and this year I deliberately didn't mention it (thinking he'd never know) and he wants to go, I was so close to telling him about our plans

DH told me not to, we wouldn't be able to stand the buildup to the actual getting on the plane.
DH thinks we just shouldn't tell him LOL i'm still torn.

Wondering if we should start booking accom? I don't know, it's been a while since i've done this

This time in 23 weeks we'll be checking in (at the airport)

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Very exciting Becpee.

I think you could start looking around for some accom deals, see what you can find. If something jumps out at you, book it.

 

[Toy Story]

Twenty- three weeks will go in no time.

Keep your eye out for the Double Tree specials for NY - I booked our travel back in October I subscribed to there e-newsletter and have not seen a better price come out.

Have fun planning.

 

[WAMUMOF4]

This time last year i had all our accommodation booked and paid for this year the only thing i have booked is the Disney cruise which is not paid for and i am not even sure we are keeping that cruise

NY Doubletree times square have you been looking you just cant beat that location.

 

[alicia1506]

i waited until the last minute to book our accommodation (as we were saving along the way) -- and by last minute, i mean i booked in october for our trip in november -- and this year, i'm booking as i go along.

so far i have the cruise and disneyland hotel booked & have a reservation for our disneyland accomodation for the other days. i'm placing our order for our 14 day park hopper tickets in a few days. this way i'm finding keeps me less stressed than last year when i was budgeting based on the advertised prices, but sudden price hikes right before we went, combined with the us dollar increasing before we left meant that we ended up with less play money than we wanted

i'm finding that if i book certain things now... i get to take advantage of the higher aussie dollar and save a few $$ along the way

just a thought

 

[Mum from oz]

Never too early for a PTR and never too early for accommodation. I tend to book as I go along and if I see a better rate I cancel and rebook. I find most hotels in the USA have a very generous cancellation policy, usually 24-48 hours out.

 

[australiankaren]

yep

me tagging along as well.....

 

[becpee]

Hi everybody

Trying to start booking accom, but I am a serial procrastinator

Trying to book Hyatt Orlando Airport for our first night, just the whole thought of not having to leave the airport to go to bed after being in transit for 24 hours appeals but $208 a night
Tried looking for codes and can't find anything, if anybody can point me in the right direction i'd appreciate it.

We're also under the 5 month mark until departure, makes it seem alot close (well, ok, a little closer).

DH taped another thing on Austar about Disneyworld and Disneyland and i'm still amazed that we're going there!

Also looking for another hotel in Orlando for 2 nights close to some good shopping , please direct me if you can.

Not much else to add, still need to book our JFK to LAX flights, the prices haven't really moved over a few weeks, like I said, serial procrastinator...

 

[battymum]

Becpee

I would consider one of the Universal hotels for your first few nights -, there are cheaper off site options, but seriously WWOHP is awesome, I know you mentioned you werent into Harry Potter, but it would be a shame to go all that way and not go there. There is also the city walk area with restaurants and shopping - They are also reasonably close to the outlet and regular shopping malls (although it would require a taxi).

I wouldnt bother staying at the airport - you will have to check in and muck about - and then have to do it all again the next day.

If it were me, jump in a cab, head to Hard Rock Hotel, its only 20 mins from the airport and wake up to the beautiful pool area there in the morning, ready to start your holiday!!!

 

[becpee]

Becpee

I would consider one of the Universal hotels for your first few nights -, there are cheaper off site options, but seriously WWOHP is awesome, I know you mentioned you werent into Harry Potter, but it would be a shame to go all that way and not go there. There is also the city walk area with restaurants and shopping - They are also reasonably close to the outlet and regular shopping malls (although it would require a taxi).

I wouldnt bother staying at the airport - you will have to check in and muck about - and then have to do it all again the next day.

If it were me, jump in a cab, head to Hard Rock Hotel, its only 20 mins from the airport and wake up to the beautiful pool area there in the morning, ready to start your holiday!!!

You're making sense, pretty sure it'll be hot from the minute we step off the plane and we'll be dying for a swim in a nice spot.
I can't believe the prices of the hotels compared to what we pay here, if you shop around you can get some great deals.

We've booked all of our flights now, checked late Saturday night and noticed a price drop from JFK to LAX, we still had to put a little towards DS's ticket, about $90 so we saved $60, got a redeye flight which is fine with us.
It means we have another full day in New York and we'll get to see the city from the sky at night (cue tears here i'm sure).

DH and I still have over $300 sitting in our Delta e-credits to be used by March 2013, maybe a quick trip to Hawaii to be booked somewhere along the line LOL but we'll see.

So, overall we have (I think) 12 nights accom to book, cities being Orlando, New York and L.A, DH wants to book Grand Cali and i'm pushing for 2 days at Disneyland (might go the credit card booking and just pay it off later LOL).

Coming along but so much money to dish out yet

 

[australiankaren]

It's exciting isn't it.....150 sleeps to go ish....

Maybe use your delta credit to upgrade yourself on one of the flights, I'm sure the family wouldn't begrudge you a little luxury for all your hard work.
Also look at getting a 30 day delta membership, you can use the lounges at all your USA airport locations....you can take in one guest plus kids...worth the $$$.
The lounge in LAX is lovely.....just buy it when you get to the first lounge, or the day before you leave, it's valid for those following 30 days.

Now have you signed up for your delta and v aust FF program, I have just got DH credited with both Delta and Vaust flight, just get delta number put on your Vaust ticket, then 3 months later apply for vasustralia points.
Worked for him but not for me, don't want to call them again as they may take the 19000 points back of him.

Did you sort the Orlando hyatt hotel, we got a room for $100 but that's for between 9 am and 6 pm on our day of departure.....we fly out 7 pm that night.suits us, we book out of BLT that morning, so a day by the pool watching the planes will make my DH very happy.

Did I mention how exciting this is.....

 

[Mum from oz]

I got a room at the Hyatt Regency MCO for about $150au. I booked through hoteltravel.com. We really need to be at the Hyatt as we are flying out at 6:55am so can you imagine what time we'd have to be up to drive to the airport, drop off the rental car and check in with the 2 kidlets? It is great to get up and walk into the terminal and check in and off we go. They do have a pool there too.

 

[becpee]

I got a room at the Hyatt Regency MCO for about $150au. I booked through hoteltravel.com. We really need to be at the Hyatt as we are flying out at 6:55am so can you imagine what time we'd have to be up to drive to the airport, drop off the rental car and check in with the 2 kidlets? It is great to get up and walk into the terminal and check in and off we go. They do have a pool there too.

Another great hotel website, Hyatt Orlando Airport came up at $131AUD a night which is a great rate, the whole not having to transport out of the airport that night really appeals, I know we'll be stuffed (and crabby )

 

[becpee]

It's exciting isn't it.....150 sleeps to go ish....

Maybe use your delta credit to upgrade yourself on one of the flights, I'm sure the family wouldn't begrudge you a little luxury for all your hard work.
Also look at getting a 30 day delta membership, you can use the lounges at all your USA airport locations....you can take in one guest plus kids...worth the $$$.
The lounge in LAX is lovely.....just buy it when you get to the first lounge, or the day before you leave, it's valid for those following 30 days.

Now have you signed up for your delta and v aust FF program, I have just got DH credited with both Delta and Vaust flight, just get delta number put on your Vaust ticket, then 3 months later apply for vasustralia points.
Worked for him but not for me, don't want to call them again as they may take the 19000 points back of him.

Did you sort the Orlando hyatt hotel, we got a room for $100 but that's for between 9 am and 6 pm on our day of departure.....we fly out 7 pm that night.suits us, we book out of BLT that morning, so a day by the pool watching the planes will make my DH very happy.

Did I mention how exciting this is.....

You're a gun LOL

The 30 day membership is a go definately, DH is going to use his work Diners points for that.

I'm going to have points all over the place LOL which i'm sure i'll be able to use for things at some stage in the future, my QFF (maggots included) are racking up quickly, halfway to a return LA flight

It's great, even my DH is trying to figure out ways to earn points now and he thinks you're a bit of a gun too he's all for trying to get us moved to the next flight home out of LAX for an upgrade

Your DH is a plane watcher? Me too LOL
We went and sat at the lookout the other day just to see the planes come in and take off (i'm a bit of a nerd like that)...