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

[melbarkwith]

Flea, those costumes are awesome.

I've put off buying/organising costumes because of an unexpected $$ dental bill for DD8 and also some pricy meds for our dog. I also still have to make a travel journal for DD8 and autograph book for DD3 (have done one for DD6).

So many things to do, and I'm browsing Disney photo sites looking at the pretty Halloween pictures...DD3 has a Disney CD on and is practising her singing to the Mickey Mouse march

 

[keptwoman]

Oh my word, those costumes are incredible!! Good work

 

[jacs1234]

You're brilliant Flea.

 

[platypus67]

Just thought I would say hi from Canada. We've been here for nearly 3 weeks. We have 5 more days here and then we fly to LA for our 4 days at DLR.
Our flight over on Qantas was fantastic. The service was great as always. The flight itself was probably the smoothest ever. Seatbelt sign never came on at all. LAX was terrible. We had three hours to connect to our AA flight. It took over two hours just to get through customs, claim and transfer our luggage and then get to our next flight.
We flew AA business class to Toronto and to my surprise the service was excellent. Meals were great. I think I will be using the extra points and doing this again on the next trip.
Last weekend was spent down in Lancaster PA. Had a fantastic time shopping and taking in the sights. The fall leaves were spectacular.
Tomorrow if the weather is good we are going on a 1000 Island cruise.
It's Thanksgiving here in Canada this weekend so will be enjoying two festive meals with family.
We've packed up two suitcases. OMG can't believe how much we have bought. I've had to pull out my old suitcase that stores our skates and winter gear and add this to the three we brought with us.
I will report back in after we get back to Oz. I'm hoping to do a trip report at some stage.

 

[darren123]

Welcome back and happy holiday's to those about to go.
There are alot of Disneyland competitions on at the moment, Home and away, Disney Channel, Disney DVD and a few more I have seen.
Have entered a few and have not won anything yet.
Since our daughter's now married and work telling me I have to take some holidays soon, We are going to Disneyland for 6 days in January as it is our 27th wedding anniversary and what a better way to spend it than at Disneyland.
VAustralia has some great fares January and being low season should be a good time to go. I would like to here how other people flights with VAustralia went.
Also thinking we should get an annual pass since we are going back in November.

 

[dave73]

VAustralia has some great fares January and being low season should be a good time to go. I would like to here how other people flights with VAustralia went.
Also thinking we should get an annual pass since we are going back in November.

We are flying V Australia in a couple of weeks so I will report back on our experience. I would interested how you find it there in Jan, we plan to go one year during Xmas.

We got the annual pass, mainly because we are there for 11 days or so which will allow us access to each park at any time over that period which makes it very flexible and you get alot of discounts on various restaurants and other places too. We plan to head back within 12 months so we have the added benefit of already have the cost of the parks covered.

It's a not a big difference in cost between the hoppers and the AP for the added benefits, especially if you are planning to head back within 12 months.

 

[darren123]

We will be there from the 27th Jan to the 1st of Feb and will be going to Magic Mountain on the Sunday it is normally a low crowd for them, with Disneyland we expect there will be some closures and refurbishments happening in January as HM and small world will be closed for holiday overlay removal and the ROA maybe drained so no Mark Twain Etc while the Fireworks and Parades should on a Fri/Sat/Sun on the Wed/Thurs there should be low crowds. Fri is our anniversary day with breakfast with Minnie and friends.

 

[Andona]

We are flying V Australia in a couple of weeks so I will report back on our experience..

Hi everyone!
Just checking in from Rapid City airport (South Dakota) So far we've been to Yellowstone National park and Mt Rushmore - the weather has been incredibly cold here for early October - we've been in snow most of the time. We're looking forward to getting to California and some warmer weather.

For those interested in V Australia - we were very happy with our flight to L.A. I definitely noticed the extra width and legroom in the Economy seats - more room to move than Qantas, that's for sure. However the seat itself seemed a little hard. The seats have the little pull out wings for your head.

The entertainment system was great - it was available right from gate-to-gate - you didn't have to wait for them to load up the system after takeoff like you do on Qantas. Excellent and wide range of Movies/TV/Radio/Music. The usual ordinary games - i played a few rounds of Solitaire

The mood-lighting is supposed to be soothing but it just seemed a little gloomy to me, though.

The service on our flight was good - more meal choices than Qantas and the food was quite good ( for airplane food!)

We got pillow, blanket and eye mask on the flight - no socks or earplugs. No little snack bags like Qantas give you, no ice creams and hot chocolate but they came back several times after the meal with coffee/tea topups. Water available all the time, of course.

The flight was fast - we arrived about 40 minutes early. Immigration and Customs at LAX was the usual longish wait.

I haven't had a chance to look back through the posts since we left home ( about a week ago) Hope everyone's planning is going well

I'll try to post again once we hit Disneyland - about a week from now.

Andona

 

[Andona]

We fly out in just under 3 weeks with V Australia and just wondered if anyone as heard or flown with them and what their experience was like. Seat room, service, in-flight entertainment etc..

More specifically can anyone confirm if the economy seats has a USB hub to keep devices charged throughout the flight.

Yes Dave73,, I forgot to mention in my previous post all the economy seats have a usb port. Very handy! It's near the screen in the seat back in front of you. Also the controller for games and in-seat communication and volume control etc fits into a slot in the seat back in front of you rather than into your armrest - I think that's better because you're less likely to knock it with your elbow.

Andona

 

[Flea]

wooohooo we are into the single digit countdown

9 SLEEPS TO GO

 

[darren123]

Looking at booking through expedia.com.au, I can book the flight and hotel for the same price for the flights only. Have never booked through them before would like your opinons please.

 

[aussiegirls]

Darren, my suggestion would be to print off the best prices you can get from expedia (make sure it is .com.au not just .com) and take it into your local Flight Centre. They will beat the price and give you a voucher to use on something else. You will also have the security of being able to hand over money over the counter (if that is what you are going to do) and getting a receipt.

You have to get all these travel services to work against each other for your benefit - that is how I got all my great deals. Expedia is (in my opinion) very difficult to beat, they always have the best prices. I just didn't want to purchase online, so got FC to beat them

xxxx

 

[darren123]

That is a great idea Thank you
While I have no problems booking online but I do like to book directly with the hotel, airline etc but have never booked through a 3rd party. Expedia can save me over $500 with the hotel flight combo, I have printed it out and will go and see FC today.Thanks for the advice.

 

[becpee]

23 Days to go here, and work sucks so it seems to be taking longer

Sitting here trying to print out all our stuff and my printer is stuffed, I *might* go and get another one, sooo frustrating!!

Organizing (or trying) paperwork today, redirecting mail, just generally getting stuff ready, the last week is going to be spent getting the house ***** and span so it's nice when we get back, it will be bad enough returning to work when we get back without adding a messy house to that.

Glad to hear the good V-Australia reviews

I feel like taking a drive to the airport, even that gets me all excited, the thought of getting on a jet plane

WOOHOO!!

 

[queenie82]

We will be there from the 27th Jan to the 1st of Feb and will be going to Magic Mountain on the Sunday it is normally a low crowd for them, with Disneyland we expect there will be some closures and refurbishments happening in January as HM and small world will be closed for holiday overlay removal and the ROA maybe drained so no Mark Twain Etc while the Fireworks and Parades should on a Fri/Sat/Sun on the Wed/Thurs there should be low crowds. Fri is our anniversary day with breakfast with Minnie and friends.

We did Magic Mountain in late January and it was pretty much empty.
We got cheap online tickets and it is good to do if you like Thrill rides but it has no magic.
If you are driving the road you go along is in a stretch that gets high winds. It isn't a problem but it is just something to be mindful off. Both hands on the steering wheel
It can also get windy at the park so even if it is a sunny day take a jacket. (my dad eskimo joe even had to buy a jumper )
The day we went a storm rolled in in the afternoon but we were done anyway and got we return tickets as well as a refund.

I agree with trying to get someone to match expedia. I use expedia for pricing and that is about it.

 

[Jade+3]

One week to go!!! This time next week we will be in the departure lounge. So much to do - my head is spinning. DH is away for work, the kids are being little brats, the house is a mess and I am so tired that I cannot be bothered doing anything.

 

[dave73]

Yes Dave73,, I forgot to mention in my previous post all the economy seats have a usb port. Very handy! It's near the screen in the seat back in front of you. Also the controller for games and in-seat communication and volume control etc fits into a slot in the seat back in front of you rather than into your armrest - I think that's better because you're less likely to knock it with your elbow.

Andona

Thanks Andona, appreciate the feedback, can't wait now!!

 

[darren123]

We did Magic Mountain in late January and it was pretty much empty.
We got cheap online tickets and it is good to do if you like Thrill rides but it has no magic.
If you are driving the road you go along is in a stretch that gets high winds. It isn't a problem but it is just something to be mindful off. Both hands on the steering wheel
It can also get windy at the park so even if it is a sunny day take a jacket. (my dad eskimo joe even had to buy a jumper )
The day we went a storm rolled in in the afternoon but we were done anyway and got we return tickets as well as a refund.

I agree with trying to get someone to match expedia. I use expedia for pricing and that is about it.

Thank you
Looking at going to Magic Mountain on the Sunday as they are only open Sat/Sun, We want to be in Disneyland for Fri/Sat for the Fireworks etc. We went to Magic Mountain in May last year and it was crowded but not to bad some rides we walk on in the morning but waited 2.5 hours to get on X2, did you go on it best rollercoaster ever. I remember the area of high wind that you are talking about and have made a note to take care will make sure we have jumpers especially my DW feels to cold. Just got back from FC and they will match the quote I got from Expedia worked out to that if we stay another 2 days we will save $150 on airfares as I am looking at staying at Alpine Inn only need a place to sleep and the reviews look good. Looking at booking in Nov/Dec do not want to book to far in advance because when we went to HKD airfare went down by $300 each in Dec maybe VAustralia/Qantas will have a special on then I hope.

 

[jacs1234]

Looking at booking through expedia.com.au, I can book the flight and hotel for the same price for the flights only. Have never booked through them before would like your opinons please.

We've used them for the first time for this trip but I can't tell you the end result yet. We just booked 14 day passes through them.

 

[jacs1234]

One week to go!!! This time next week we will be in the departure lounge. So much to do - my head is spinning. DH is away for work, the kids are being little brats, the house is a mess and I am so tired that I cannot be bothered doing anything.

Think happy thoughts Think happy thoughts.