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

[bumbershoot]

HI Bumbershoot. I'm in Canberra so I guess I should chime in. The airport is only about 3 mins from Canberra city so best to choose something there. I'm not sure I know where the Novotel is to be honest, however Novotel's are generally nice hotels here in Australia. You can definitely get some seedy places to stay near the city so definitely read some reviews first, probably use Expedia.com.au to find somewhere. I'm sorry I can't recommend somewhere, I just have never had any need to stay in a hotel here

As for booking the date, make sure you look at your husband's flight itinerary to ensure you get the right date for booking. The date on there that he lands will be the Australian date. I feel your pain on this one because I was so scared that I would book my accomm for the wrong dates. Essentially the date will be 2 days after he leaves the US.

If he gets time while he's here, tell him to get outside of the city a bit. Canberra city is all concrete, but if he drives 15 minutes out, he'll feel like he is in the Australian countryside, and most sightseeing things in Canberra are free.

Hope that helps!

Thank you for your thoughts! The itinerary all seems to be written with dates/times of the place he'll be in, if that makes sense. It's all "current time" for where he is. I spent quite a bit of time last night writing down "WA time" so I know when he's on a plane. Of course it's all confused by our being in daylight savings time for his whole trip, Australia not being in daylight time yet, and NZ changing to daylight savings while he's in NZ! Confusing!

Good to know the Novotels are basically good. I'll tell him to get out somewhere if he can, and it's nice that most sightseeing is free! Obviously not the transportation, but I get what you mean. Sounds a lot like Washington DC, where so much is free except how to get there.

He's getting into Australia the week before your Disneyland trip, so if you meet some random sumo-wrestler-looking American guy wandering the city, it might be him.

 

[bumbershoot]

For Canberra - we pop down there often for weekends. It's only a 3 1/2 drive from Sydney. What is the budget, and what time frame? A few nights when parliament is sitting in a 5* for example would be AU$500 a night, but no paliament you could get the same room for around AU$250. 3 and 4 star hotels don't vary as much in price and you can get them between $100 - $300 per night depending on needs. And the advertised price is the price you pay including taxes.

What Ms Shuttergirl said re the time - The arrival time/date on the flight is normally the time you arrive at the destination. Because of the international date line you lose a day coming here. We left LAX roughly 10.30 on Friday night and arrived in Sydney 6.30am Sunday morning. The opposite applied when we left. Left Sydney at 1.30pm Wednesday, arrived LA 10am Wednesday!

Pretty much the same for Auckland as the closest to the international date line IYKWIM.

Are you and Eamon coming?


PS - I reread you post re basic accom. Roughly where in Canberra is he working? Is there a street name or suburb name so we can help you get close by?

We aren't coming. We hope that at some point we'll be able to go somewhere with him, but his company likes to book these things last minute. And especially with the cost of getting all the way there...and that I haven't yet renewed my passport and E doesn't have one yet...and he's leaving next week, it's not going to happen this time. Hence the bedtime tears on my part.

He just needs to be in the city, no specific place. The novotel was running about $176 USD (average) and he seemed to think that was fine, which was good, b/c i wasn't noticing anything much less than that, except for the Formule 1! Auckland seems less expensive (maybe that's a difference from one country to another, maybe it's being a week later than when he's in Australia, I don't know), but Canberra, at least around the 20th of this month, wow! Of course, it being last minute causes the prices to be higher.


Thanks for the continued answers, by the way!

 

[kylieh]

He just needs to be in the city, no specific place. The novotel was running about $176 USD (average) and he seemed to think that was fine, which was good, b/c i wasn't noticing anything much less than that, except for the Formule 1! Auckland seems less expensive (maybe that's a difference from one country to another, maybe it's being a week later than when he's in Australia, I don't know), but Canberra, at least around the 20th of this month, wow! Of course, it being last minute causes the prices to be higher.

Thats a good price for the Novotel. Good location.

Floriade is on September. If he gets away or has some spare time, here's a link to whats on. http://www.floriadeaustralia.com/visitor-information/whats-on-in-canberra/day/20090919?ccatid=20

 

[bumbershoot]

Thank you for that link! That sounds like a lovely festival. He's actually quite into looking at flowers/gardening so I'll be sure he takes some walks in the garden bed displays.

 

[queenie82]

We aren't coming. We hope that at some point we'll be able to go somewhere with him, but his company likes to book these things last minute. And especially with the cost of getting all the way there...and that I haven't yet renewed my passport and E doesn't have one yet...and he's leaving next week, it's not going to happen this time. Hence the bedtime tears on my part.

He just needs to be in the city, no specific place. The novotel was running about $176 USD (average) and he seemed to think that was fine, which was good, b/c i wasn't noticing anything much less than that, except for the Formule 1! Auckland seems less expensive (maybe that's a difference from one country to another, maybe it's being a week later than when he's in Australia, I don't know), but Canberra, at least around the 20th of this month, wow! Of course, it being last minute causes the prices to be higher.


Thanks for the continued answers, by the way!

We always stay at the Rydges Capital Hill in Canberra City as do many of the flight attendants. I really love it.
It is clean, comfortable (oh the DREAM bed....I want one!!!) and has a ripper of a buffet breakfast

Their rates generally aren't too bad but they may or may not be cheaper than the novotel depending on the dates. The Priorityguest membership is free so if you want to sign up for that you can get a cheaper rate. rydges.com.au

Canberra has a flipped cheaper/dearer system where weekends are cheaper than weeknights.

Either the Novotel or Rydges would be my choice I think...both have good reputations.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thank you Queenie! The Rydges was on my "list", but I couldn't get the silly website to open and kind of gave up on it. Now I'm feeling bad about that (but the Novotel can be canceled)..

Are you a flight attendant?

 

[queenie82]

Thank you Queenie! The Rydges was on my "list", but I couldn't get the silly website to open and kind of gave up on it. Now I'm feeling bad about that (but the Novotel can be canceled)..

Are you a flight attendant?

Nope...I just see them in the hotel all the times we are there. They were checking in when we were once.

sorry the website isn't working for you

 

[rossip]

We're Rydges Capital Hill fans too - love that place

Novotel is smack bang downtown and its quite Ok too - a little noisier maybe but otherwise fine

A Week tommorrow !!

 

[chickyann]

We're huge Qantas fans here, we've travelled quite a bit over the years to Europe, the States etc flown with American Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, Jetstar, Aer Lingus, I've even flown with Air Niugini

And we always return to Qantas

 

[mareeld86]

Im so Excited I just booked my flights for my partner and I to go to LA on the 20th of Feb!!!!
Yay!!
Now the countdown begins 161 days to go!
We are flying air pacific found them great in jan when we went over.

 

[melbarkwith]

Im so Excited I just booked my flights for my partner and I to go to LA on the 20th of Feb!!!!
Yay!!
Now the countdown begins 161 days to go!
We are flying air pacific found them great in jan when we went over.

How exciting for you!
I know we had over 4 months to go when we booked, and it has just flown by. February is normally nice and quiet at Disneyland too (at least it was around 10 years ago )

 

[mareeld86]

It was very quite in feb this year when we were there so hopefully its the same again!!
We are heading to San Francisco first then vegas then Disneyland so should be a good trip!

 

[aussiegirls]

Made my final PS today. After DD saw Big Thunder Ranch BBQ on Saturday Disney last week she decided that she just had to go there and eat the chicken So I added that to our list of PS's. Also booked Studio 365 for the girlies to have a makeover. So I think that all is done now. Just need to go to Aust. Post this week and get my stash of cash and we are good to go - I think!!!!!!

Less than 5 weeks to go now

xxx

 

[melbarkwith]

Made my final PS today. After DD saw Big Thunder Ranch BBQ on Saturday Disney last week she decided that she just had to go there and eat the chicken So I added that to our list of PS's. Also booked Studio 365 for the girlies to have a makeover. So I think that all is done now. Just need to go to Aust. Post this week and get my stash of cash and we are good to go - I think!!!!!!

Less than 5 weeks to go now

xxx

We were going to go to Big Thunder Ranch, but ended up with quite a long list of PS ressies without it! I think we'll be eating non-stop

I am still thinking about booking the BB Boutique at DL for my girls. Just not sure if the 3YO will sit still for it (she *hates* having her hair brushed). I'm quite sure her big sisters will go for it though

Yay - we have 6 weeks tomorrow

 

[rossip]

Here is a handy link to the 10 day weather forecast for Anaheim , may come in handy when deciding what to take and wear !!

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USCA0027?from=36hr_topnav_undeclared

 

[queenie82]

We were going to go to Big Thunder Ranch, but ended up with quite a long list of PS ressies without it! I think we'll be eating non-stop

I am still thinking about booking the BB Boutique at DL for my girls. Just not sure if the 3YO will sit still for it (she *hates* having her hair brushed). I'm quite sure her big sisters will go for it though

Yay - we have 6 weeks tomorrow

I love the eating non stop!
I think I'm going to go on a diet once we hit DL because we will be eating non stop in WDW for 2 weeks. Once you get into booking ADRs (like PS sort of) you just keep adding until you have covered nearly every restaurant!

I'm incredibly tempted by the Minnie breakfast in the Plaza Inn but it is so expensive. (39.99 at WDW gets you a table service, Counter Service and a snack like a DoleWhip)

I did get a VERY good review of the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ by a friend.
You might like to read it (with pictures) on her blog http://disneylanddiva.blogspot.com/2009/06/big-thunder-ranch-celebration-round-up.html
Again I am SOOO tempted because Bullseye is there :

 

[dollarmite]

With all this talk about departures etc I was wondering what airlines people use?
I have seen AirNZ mentioned a few times and I understand people in NZ using Air NZ but I'm curious about people who go with them given the stop in NZ?

Air NZ is my favourite/preferred airline. The stop in Auckland has never bothered me - actually I preferred it. It usually allowed for a few days stopover in either or both directions at no extra charge.

This time we are flying Qantas, as for some reason Air NZ was 3 times the price the day I went to book,, although I think the prices have since come down. I'm not a fan of Qantas, so this should be interesting.

We have a direct BNE-LAX-NY flight, and the return LAX-BNE flight was non-stop, but now it has been changed to include a 3 or 4 hour stopover in Auckland. I was annoyed by this as we deliberately avoided the flights that went via Sydney or Melbourne in the first place. Due to time constraints it was important to get home at our original time, so now our plans for that day have gone by the wayside. Mind you, I would rather be stuck at AKL airport for a few hours than Melbourne or Sydney.

We have US internal flights between NYC and Orlando with Southwest (no seating assignments) and Delta (paying for baggage). I'm so looking forward to them. Not.

I recently flew to and from NZ with Royal Brunei. They were fantastic! I would recommend them to anyone, and hope to fly with them again one day. They reminded me very much of Air NZ with their service and food, although the seats were a little small.

 

[dollarmite]

I've just come across a site called www.viator.com. It's similar to Expedia in that you can purchase tickets to events and attractions etc in Australian (and NZ?) dollars.

They also provide traveller reviews of the products, which is extremely helpful.

Has anyone used this company, and if so, would you recommend them?

 

[kylieh]

I've just come across a site called www.viator.com. It's similar to Expedia in that you can purchase tickets to events and attractions etc in Australian (and NZ?) dollars.

They also provide traveller reviews of the products, which is extremely helpful.

Has anyone used this company, and if so, would you recommend them?

We used Viator last year to book tickets for Las Vegas. We had no problems at all. We're looking at using them again next year. And because they will charge in AU$ saved on currency exchange fees, and the rate was very very favourable!

 

[Andona]

I've just come across a site called www.viator.com.
Has anyone used this company, and if so, would you recommend them?

Yes, we've used them in the past and found everything to be quite straightforward.

Andona