Aussie Disneyland Planners come on in and lets plan together :)

[mareeld86]

I was watching saturday disney too..... but the worst thing I find is that when every there is a special on disneyland they class disneyland and California Adventure as one park!!!!

 

[aussiegirls]

Stupid Saturday Disney, they showed Woody's Celebration Roundup. We had originally planned to go there (was going to be a highlight of our trip) then they got rid of it, changed it into just a normal restaurant. This morning the kids see it on Sat Disney and get all excited and tell me how they can't wait to go to it. They tell me that that is one special thing they are looking forward to and they are so excited about it. I try and tell them that it's not like that anymore but because it was on Sat Disney I don't think they believe me

Anyway, that's my vent for the day

xxx

 

[queenie82]

Re TSA locks. We always use these and have never had them broken but we have had the red dot come up. But even then nothing has ever been moved dramatically...or I've been too jetlagged to notice.
We did a 13 flights in 6 weeks round the world trip and again no break ins and no dramatic searches.

Onto other topics, I have been reading all these posts about the shuttle which leaves me wondering does anyone ever rent a car?????? We have always rented a car which makes life sooo much easier. And it has never been dramatically expensive because we watch the websites every so often and have landed a number of great deals booking online which means you can select all the insurances you want so when you get to the counter....they read through and are like...ok...I guess I can't sell you extra insurances

We can drive around LA sight seeing, drive over to the Malibu Getty Museum, Drive over to the New Getty museum, duck down to the supermarket, duck down to the AMC Disney merch outlets (to grab some more cheap pins to trade), drive to Santa monica, Newport Beach. We have also driven out to Six Flags Magic Mountain. It isn't amazing or beautiful but if you like thrill rides it is worth checking out. Last time we got $29.99 tickets and then a storm rolled in at about 2pm so we got a refund even though we had already got everything done
It is just great having a car and so much freedom. You save so much time. And with Alamo/National you can have as many extra drivers as you like for no extra so any of us can drive.
All the Harbor Blvd accommodation have free parking.

We will be utilising the shuttle for one person in our group to go to the airport because she has to go back a couple days early (stupid work) so hopefully it will run smoothly

Anyways...there is GREAT info on this thread (although I haven't read all of it) so a big thanks to the person who set it up

As for our upcoming trip what I am MOST excited about is that we bought into the villas at Grand Californian DVC so will for the very first time staying onsite

[oh and as for Universal...we have put a moratorium on visiting there until Harry Potter Land opens. I realise it isn't going into LA (only Orlando)...but the ban holds ]
*essay over...

 

[Andona]

Onto other topics, I have been reading all these posts about the shuttle which leaves me wondering does anyone ever rent a car??????

Definitely, DH loves driving over there.

We'll be arriving in Anaheim after coming from Yosemite and Sequoia national parks and plan to keep the car until we drop it off at LAX on the way home.

That said, I suspect it may spend most of the time at Anaheim sitting in the hotel car park - we only have 2 1/2 days there this time so I doubt we'll be doing much other sightseeing. I do think we might drop into Santa Monica on our last afternoon/evening - have taken note of all the Parking lots there

Andona

 

[keptwoman]

Where do you get TSA locks from? And who is going to steal stuff from luggage and wouldn't they be able to open them too?
My plan is no locks and no valuables in the luggage.

 

[Jade+3]

Where do you get TSA locks from? And who is going to steal stuff from luggage and wouldn't they be able to open them too?
My plan is no locks and no valuables in the luggage.

That's my plan too. I haven't bothered with locks for our past 2 trips. I did see them the other day at Strandbags and KMart.

 

[queenie82]

Definitely, DH loves driving over there.

We'll be arriving in Anaheim after coming from Yosemite and Sequoia national parks and plan to keep the car until we drop it off at LAX on the way home.

That said, I suspect it may spend most of the time at Anaheim sitting in the hotel car park - we only have 2 1/2 days there this time so I doubt we'll be doing much other sightseeing. I do think we might drop into Santa Monica on our last afternoon/evening - have taken note of all the Parking lots there

Andona

Have a GREAT time in Yosemite (which when we asked at an Aussie travel agent about before we went there in 03 pronounced it like Vegemite)

It is beautiful. You need to go on the little tram sort of tour thing they have. It is open air and a lot of fun. We stayed in the (very basic but adequate) cabins they have which was soooo good waking up in Yosemite.

Where do you get TSA locks from? And who is going to steal stuff from luggage and wouldn't they be able to open them too?
My plan is no locks and no valuables in the luggage.

As for locking bags. I have a number of reasons for putting on TSA combination locks I bought at DJs or Myer
- One of the main reasons for me is to make sure if the zip gets caught on anything it won't open. I have had the front pocket of my suitcase get caught on something which obviously was of some force (although because it was a very good samsonite didn't rip) so I think the locks are just a nice measure to keep it closed.

- Also...if you are delayed in getting to your bag off the carousel it is a bit of a security measure. And certainly if you are on a tour...your bags get pulled off and dumped in a group which isn't really closely watched.

- Finally, unless your room is ready at check in your bags might be stored in a room or even in a section of the lobby...so again at least a deterrent. I remember a hotel in New york had bags sort of bundled together with cable locks in the foyer so it might not be taken but someone could rummage through in really busy times even in a good quality hotel.

 

[keptwoman]

As for locking bags. I have a number of reasons for putting on TSA combination locks I bought at DJs or Myer
- One of the main reasons for me is to make sure if the zip gets caught on anything it won't open. I have had the front pocket of my suitcase get caught on something which obviously was of some force (although because it was a very good samsonite didn't rip) so I think the locks are just a nice measure to keep it closed.

- Also...if you are delayed in getting to your bag off the carousel it is a bit of a security measure. And certainly if you are on a tour...your bags get pulled off and dumped in a group which isn't really closely watched.

- Finally, unless your room is ready at check in your bags might be stored in a room or even in a section of the lobby...so again at least a deterrent. I remember a hotel in New york had bags sort of bundled together with cable locks in the foyer so it might not be taken but someone could rummage through in really busy times even in a good quality hotel.

Good points, thanks And we certainly aren't staying at quality hotels Except for HoJos, they are as flash as we get this trip. I'll have to book another holiday somewhere just so we can stay in a fancy looking room, Club Med is looking appealing again

 

[Andona]

Have a GREAT time in Yosemite (which when we asked at an Aussie travel agent about before we went there in 03 pronounced it like Vegemite)

It is beautiful. You need to go on the little tram sort of tour thing they have. It is open air and a lot of fun. We stayed in the (very basic but adequate) cabins they have which was soooo good waking up in Yosemite.

Thanks Queenie,
We're really looking forward to getting back there again. We visited it on a day trip in January 2005, from San Francisco. It was snowing when we arrived in the park and the peaks were totally hidden in clouds, but gradually the skies cleared and we were blown away by the breathtaking views.

Ever since then we've been determined to go back and see it again in another season - this is that trip

We're staying in Yosemite Lodge. Every time we visit a National Park in the USA we stay in the park accommodation - usually fairly basic lodges etc but there's nothing like waking up right in the middle of the park.

As for TSA locks, they seem to sell them pretty much anywhere that sells luggage locks. We bought some at Big W last year but I've also seen them at handbag stores, Myer and David Jones.

We always prefer to travel with locked luggage these days. As well as the other things Queenie said I also like to be reasonably sure that it's not easy for someone to put things IN my bags ( although I guess that is more of a worry on SE Asian trips than American ones)

Andona

 

[kylieh]

Where do you get TSA locks from? And who is going to steal stuff from luggage and wouldn't they be able to open them too?
My plan is no locks and no valuables in the luggage.

This is why you lock your bags - remember the ad?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chbGBU-pbyk

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

This is why you lock your bags - remember the ad?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chbGBU-pbyk

hahahaha

 

[keptwoman]

This is why you lock your bags - remember the ad?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chbGBU-pbyk

I don't remember the ad because I wasn't in Aussie then, but goodness that takes me back in a scary scary way. The 80's

 

[aussiegirls]

Another freebie for those that are looking for some. Fire & Ice restaurant at Anaheim Garden Walk has an email club. I read that you can get a free meal within 2 weeks of a birthday but you have to register for them to send it to you. So I registered and they sent me a voucher for a free fondue dessert. It expires in 2 weeks so it's no good to me but now that I know about it I will register again with another email addy just before I go (same with Mimi's).

So when you register you get an immediate email for free dessert and if you are going over a birthday they will send an email for a free meal just before

 

[marvel]

hey queenie. I love having a car as well, and it is really very good value. Our van is under $50AUD per day, which I couldn't believe. We love the freedom like you say, to just go to target,or walmart whenever we want. The roads are well organised in the US so not real hassle driving.

We leave on Thursday !!

 

[dollarmite]

If anyone's looking for a good hotel deal on actual Disneyland property, Paradise Pier has some great prices on Expedia.com.au at the moment, averaging about AUD119 a night, depending on dates.


We were originally going to stay for 2 nights at a cost of about $670AUD , but are now staying for 5 nights at a cost of $760 AUD. Not sure how long this special will last, and I think it only applies to stays of 4 nights or more. It works out only about $50 more than the next 5 nights we're spending at Desert Palms.


Grand Californian and the DL Hotel don't appear to be having any deals at the moment though.


Desert Palms also has a special on at the moment with 20% off stays of 3 nights or more. This only applies to the DP website and is in USD, but worked out cheaper than Expedia.


I recently compared the prices I've gotten online for acccommodation, attractions, etc and can't believe how much I've saved compared to booking through a TA using their brochures. Hotel costs in the brochures are sometimes more than double than online. Using a brochure/TA Paradise Pier would have cost over $2500 for 5 nights, compared to the $760 online.


As for locks on bags - I have never travelled anywhere without locking my bag. I don't trust anyone when it comes to my luggage. I'm paranoid enough that I'll often lock my hand luggage too.


I used the special USA TA locks on a recent trip to NZ, as well as the plastic ties, and thankfully everything appeared to be intact when I retrieved it.

 

[queenie82]

Great info Dollarmite!!!
SOOOOO true about the TA brochures.
We have been booking almost completely ourselves since our 96 trip. We have a great travel agent who will help out with booking airfares etc (great back up incase something goes wrong and she gets the same specials they put in the papers etc so it costs no more) but accommodation we trawl online and book direct.

The one time we took a package recently with a company was for a ski accommodation in Canada and while it was a good deal they stuffed up the car rental so while we brought the car back on time according to OUR documentation....the company had expected it the day before.

The BIGGEST problem with the brochures at the moment (even more than usual) is the fluctuating dollar. They printed the 07/08 ones based on a strong dollar and then when it dropped added up to 30% surcharges. So then for 09/10 they have REALLY over compensated and now the dollar is up!

Another freebie for those that are looking for some. Fire & Ice restaurant at Anaheim Garden Walk has an email club. I read that you can get a free meal within 2 weeks of a birthday but you have to register for them to send it to you. So I registered and they sent me a voucher for a free fondue dessert. It expires in 2 weeks so it's no good to me but now that I know about it I will register again with another email addy just before I go (same with Mimi's).

So when you register you get an immediate email for free dessert and if you are going over a birthday they will send an email for a free meal just before

I'm sure I could find them googling...but do you have links for any of these restaurants??? My brother has his birthday while we are in DL...
Thanks!

 

[queenie82]

Just thought I would add...

HAPPY DADDYS DAY to ALLLL
Hope you are having a nice time

 

[aussiegirls]

queenie, this is the link to sign up to fire and ice. Just click on the link for the email club. http://fire-ice.com/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=Anaheim, CA&category=anaheim

I was also wondering, for any of those that are going in the next few weeks, is there any chance of one of you bringing a map back and then sending me one? I would be more than happy to reimburse you for the cost of postage

Less than 6 weeks to go now

xxx

 

[~ButterflyKisses~]

Aussiegirls, I'd be happy to bring you back some park maps. What date do you leave? We're leaving in 7 days. We fly out on the 13th and won't be back until the 10th October so I wouldn't be able to send them to you until then. Would that be too late?

 

[aussiegirls]

Butterfly kisses thank you so much for your offer. No it wouldn't be too late, we are not leaving until the 16th of October. If you think it is something you could do just let me know and I will PM you my details.

Wow, you are leaving in 7 days how excited are you? I am excited for you

xxx