We're an Australian family who visited
Disneyland in December 2004, and, although we live in Canberra our flight went via Brisbane.
did you book from a
travel agent here in australia or did you do it online(through disney) yourself?
We booked the entire tour ourselves, on line. We noticed, very quickly, that the prices offered by travel agents in Australia seemed to be about one third higher than booking direct.
- Cheapest Disneyland tickets can be obtained through the Disney website. You simply show your credit card or print out to collect them at the gate on your first day.
- We booked our hotel (the Howard Johnson) online, direct through the hotel, after singing up with the mousesavers website which offers a good discount.
- Note - you do NOT have to stay at a Disney hotel. Many of the hotels in Anaheim are as close as the Disney hotels and just as good - Howard Johnson and Candy Cane Inn are two examples often cited here. However many believe a Disney hotel adds to the magic. If you wish to stay at a Disneyland hotel book direct with Disneyland.
did you purchase a package deal (airfares/accom/tickets) or did you purchase each by themselves?
- We purchased all parts separately though the hotel, Disney (tickets) and Qantas (air fares)
how was the long flight/did you ahve children/what did they do the whole time? we would be leaving from brisbane and have 3 kids aged 9/7/4 at the time of travel.
- Our kids were aged 9 and 5 at the time and had no problems. It is a long flight but the entertainment systems on most flights (and all those flown by Qantas) will keep anyone entertained. They have personal video screens with dozens of movies to choose from, as well as games. Our kids never got bored, but it might be a good idea to have some books and colouring in stuff for the little ones. But ours just sat there and chose the videos.
once in LA what did you do for transport from LAX to disney?
- We used Supershuttle. We booked online beforehand, but probably didn't need to. It is $15 per head (plus tip) and takes you from the airport to the hotel.
- On arrival at LAX you will join a long queue which will take 45 minutes or so to get through immigration. You will then have a digital fingerprint and photo taken, and then have to collect bags and join another queue for customs. Count on all this taking 60-90 minutes. After passing Custom follow signs to exit - cross first part of the road (were taxis drop off) and head for the traffic island next to the main road and Supershuttle signs. Tell staff member with clipboard you are going to Anaheim and they will put you on the first shuttle. The shuttle will not leave until it is full, and may drop off at other Anaheim hotels, but you will be at your hotel within an hour. Tip the driver at the end about 15%
How do you know how much to 'tip' and who to 'tip'?
For Australians this is bewildering. Generally don't tip people in shops or fast food places, but do always tip servers in restaurants, shuttle drivers, taxi drivers, bell hops etc - anyone who provides you with a service (as opposed to those who just sell you something from behind a counter). Tip 15% - 20%, so, I gave the super shuttle driver about $2 extra for each of us, and I gave the bellhop $1 or $2 per bag. In Disneyland you would not tip the servers in the Plaza Inn buffet, the ride attendants, or the shop assistants, but would tip the waiters in Blue Bayou, for example.
- Another warning is most prices do NOT include taxes. So be careful, as most clothes etc will actually cost you (I think) 10% - 12% more than the marked prices. In restaurants, the prices on the menu won't show the tax, but the bill will. So when you add the tip, a meal at a cafe or restaurant will cost you about 25% more than the menu price makes it appear.
where you about to make PS at any character meals without problems with the time difference?
- I rang Disneyland, direct from home during US office hours (time difference at the moment is 19 hours, so midday there is, 7AM here for example) and made a reservation no problem.
- To overcome jet lag do NOT sleep on your first day in LA. Your flight will arrive at about 10 AM, and you will get to the hotel around 1-2PM. Go straight to Disneyland or do something to stay awake until at least 8pm, and you will then have adjusted your body clock.
For more details read our trip diary below, or contact me directly.
Have a great time!!!
