advise for first time aussie traveller to Disneyland

[aussienurse]

Hi! My twin sister and I are taking our first ever trip on a plane to come over to Disneyland from Australia in March. I wonder if anyone can give us some advise as we have no idea about anything at the moment.
We are staying at the Howard Johnson, is it ok?? Also, if we are at DL until closing time, say between 8 and 11 pm is it safe to walk back to the hotel in the dark?? or should be catch the shuttle....we'd rather walk unless it's not safe to. On that note, should we carry some sort of personal alarm? In Australia it's really safe to walk in the night so we are really unsure what it's like in the us.
Also, we would love to try american pizza, it looks so nice on the TV (the aussie pizza is iccckkkkk) so where is the best pizza in disneyland??
Any tips on the American culture, common slang, tips about D/L would be very appreciated.
P.S... we are there from March 3rd to 8th, is this a busy time?
Thanks everyone.

 

[Nutsy]

Hello fellow Aussie


Welcome to the Dis

We went to DL for the first time ever in Sept 2002 & loved it.

I'm not sure where your hotel is, but were we stayed , was right across the road from DL & it was qutie safe to walk back at night, we found there to be lots of people around.

 

[year2late]

There are two hotels that I have seen on DLR boards that have very loyal followings. One is Candy Cane Inn and the other is Howard Johnson's. I am sure you will be happy with your choice.


If you are walking back to your hotel near closing time, you will probably be amoungst many others. As long as there was a large group, I would feel safe.


Pizza - Naples/Napolini has decent pizza. I don't care for the pizza at Red Rockets in Tommorrowland, but my son loves it,
The pizza I have had at Rainforest Cafe is tasty, I don't recall if there are any basic pizza places on the way back to HoJos.

Best DL tip. Study the fastpass rules to maximize your visit. Try to rememeber that Matterhorn is not fastpassed so go there first thing. Great Fastpass discussion/hints.

Don't miss Soarin over CA in California Adventure. Park opening is 10 AM, but they open the gates at 930 - and the ride is open! If we aim right for the ride at 930, we can usually ride it twice before any real line develops. Don't miss the Electric Parade at DCA. I am not much of a parade person, but this one is special!

Also, if you will be staying for 4 days or so, consider at least one person in your party getting an Annual Pass - especially if you are planning on buying meals in the park and a fair share of souveniers. I usually do quite well with the discounts.

Think about priority seating arrangements. Blue Bayou is a nice resturaunt IN the Pirates ride and it is quite a treat. Lunch is much cheaper than Dinner - with the same ambience.

Have fun!!!!!

I think early March is OK. Weeks immediatly surrounding Easter are hell.

 

[daannzzz]

The Howard Johmson Anaheim is a great place to stay. If you go to www.laughingplace.com and read the message boards, particularly the trip planning board, you will see that many, many of us choose that Howard Johnson to stay at on our trips. The walk from the hotel to the front gates of the parks is about 7 minutes and is, in general, a well lighted walk and usually there are many other people about. Here is a link to a view of the Disneyland area with many of the hotel marked.
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/dlmp.html
You can see the Howard Johnson on the very right. Some of the rooms have great views of the fireworks.
In my opinion you can get just okay pizza at Disneyland, nothing that is really good. I haven't tried the pizza at Naples restaurant in Downtown Disney but it probably is better than what you find in the parks. The have good Pizza at the Storryteller Cafe in Disney's Grand Californian hotel.

 

[Nutsy]

I was thinking last night of the Pizza question & I remembered that we got a Pizza offsite at a little place practically opposite the gates of DL.. I've no idea what it was called tho I'm sorry, but I do know it was a good pizza.

Another good eating place is Denny's. We loved that place, good food & good size serving too. They are opposite DL too, to your left as you reach the traffic lights.

Fastpass is a must! Will save you heaps of time waiting in line.

Oh & don't forget to take a pair of comfortable walking shoes. DL is way bigger by far than any of our theme parks

Also, be aware that you can get a pass out stamp on your hand, so you can go back to your hotel for an afternoon rest if you wish & return later for the parade. Something to think about anyway.


We used the pass out quite a bit. We always got there as soon as it opened & would often come back to the hotel in the afternoon for a break & to catch up on some lost sleep & the washing.

Be prepared to feel jetlagged for a day or so, depending on how well you sleep in the plane going over.

If you are have transfers included in your trip from LA airport, then be prepared to wait a bit for your bus & make your way to the centre island, that is where the bus will come.

Other than that................I'm sure you'll have a great time.

 

[Grog]

Hi aussienurse, and welcome to the DIS

Also, if we are at DL until closing time, say between 8 and 11 pm is it safe to walk back to the hotel in the dark??

From opening to closing, there are usually plenty of people coming and going to the parks at all hours, so you shouldn't be alone.

I agree March should be a good time to visit. I was there the first week of April last year and the crowds weren't bad at all. It did get cool enough at night for a sweater or light jacket.

As for rides, Indiana Jones is scheduled to be down for rehab from January to April, which is a shame as it is a really fun ride. Big Thunder Mountain is currently closed but is scheduled to re-open on March 4th, so you should be able to catch it if it opens on time. I'm sure you'll have a great time

 

[Nutsy]

Hey aussienurse


Cick on this link


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=502972


Also, go to your UserCp, you have a couple of Private Messages waiting for you

 

[nccoke]

Hi aussienurse, we went to Disneyland in October2002 and spent 6 days in disneyland, this was my second trip there and I just adore the place, it is very magical. We stayed at the Disneyland hotel which was the best and we ate a lot in downtown disney. My favourite restaurant was Naples for the best pizza and caesar salad. If you need any more info I'd be happy to help you if I can.

 

[mobetsy]

If you hear someone asking for the bathroom, they are looking for the toilet/WC, not the room with a tub or shower.

Jelly is clear jam, not gelatin...and as such is often made into a sandwich with peanut butter.

Your runners (hmmm...joggers?) are our sneakers or tennis shoes.

We eat sloppy joes (tomato based sauce w/ ground beef in it, on a bun), not wear them.

The engine in the front of the car is under the hood not the bonnet, and your bags go in the trunk in the back, not the boot.

If you want Vegemite, bring your own; it will be hard to find here.

Those are my Australian-born-of-American-parents' niece and nephew's favorite points of confusion

For pizza chains, I don't know exactly how close they would be, but I think Papa John's and Numero Uno are some of the better pizza places around, with Pizza Hut, Round Table, and Dominoes further down the list but still not bad.

Have a fabulous time!

 

[aussienurse]

Thanks everyone for all the tips and advise, it's really helpful...i'll have to get a little notebook and write down all the bits and pieces.....there's so much to know!!!

Thanks Nuttsy for the links. I'm in Melbourne Victoria, also nice to see an aussie with some advice.

Just another question. Is Walmart near the Ho-Jo? I would love to have a look around an american store.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[aussienurse]

Nutsy, could you tell me where you go to get a 'pass out' I reckon we will probably need a rest in the afternoon, especially since we are off to DL straight from getting off the plane.......and with me having a terrible fear of flying, I'm quite sure I won't get much rest on the flight

 

[nccoke]

Hi aussienurse, if you have time while you are there you should check out there shopping centre's which I believe are called malls. I caught a bus to one near Disneyland and the shopping was fantastic, take lots of money and enjoy. cheers

 

[vickitricki]

WOW, another melbourneite!!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>Hi aussienurse, & welcome to the DIS,


You might want to get the ART Pass - It would be about $12 per adult for your stay. The main ART station is right near the Howard Johnson. If you don't feel like walking back to the Howard Johnson after a day at the parks, you could take the shuttle, especially at night. In addition to going to Disneyland, you could take the ART to Target - a store much like Walmart, and a little closer to Disneyland. If you want to go to Walmart, you'd have to get on the freeway, and drive about 5 minutes (it's pretty close). If you have a rental car, then you wouldn't need the ART pass.

The Howard Johnson is close enough to go back to to rest, and/or freshen up.

What I do sometimes, is I go to the Grand Californian Hotel, and relax in the big lobby there, listen to some piano playing, and people watch. It's a great place to relax for a bit. There is a lounge in there with a fireplace, too.

 

[Nutsy]

ausisenurse, you get the pass out at the gate. When you are ready to go back for a rest they will stamp your wrist & then when you come back they will put your wrist under the infrared & it will show the logo.

Also, don't forget that you can park hop between DL & DCA in one day & also there is Downtown Disney which is an eyeopener.

Have fun & take plenty of money

 

[nigel-bigel]

Oh, yes, I love Target. I think that Target is a much better example of American mass marketing than Wal-Mart.

Who doesn't love Target?

Have a great trip!

Nicole

 

[Nutsy]

I've not been to an Ameican Target store, but I have been to Walmart & be prepared they are massive

Everything you could possilby need under one roof

Oh & a drink bottle to take some water with you to the parks might be a good idea.

 

[Judy from Boise]

OK, here are a few more language tips

Don't be suprised if someone offers you a "napkin", it is the same as a serviette (spelling?)

Tomato sauce is ketchup

a jumper is a sweater

 

[Nutsy]

Yeah & you don't have hot chips over there, they are all called fries, unless you are ordering fish, then it's chips

 

[Judy from Boise]

just curious, have you been to "Dreamworld" on the Gold coast ? It was so eerie walking around there! I can't believe they got away with some of the exact replicas of DL !