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

[melbarkwith]

I'm also glad to hear of someone doing Studio 365. My own DD wants to do both Studio 365 and BBB. She will be 7 1/2 at the trip time so she's between both.

My DD's are 8 and 6 1/2, and they were given the choice between the two. I was quite pleasantly surprised with the whole thing. We are still trying to choose their freebie photos - they get them to pose with a microphone, guitar etc and then you download them from the photopass site.

 

[LesleyP]

Dave: How did you get to the Warner Bros studio? Did you drive or take public transport? I'm going on it but am not entirely sure of the best way to get there.

Thanks for the info on the shuttle to the South Coast Plaza, I'm going to keep that in mind in case Disneyland gets too crowded.

 

[dave73]

Dave - we're planning on the the Warner Bros tour, and hoping that Chuck is still set up when we go. Was there a lot of walking?

They tend to rave on about Chuck alot, I wasn't very familiar with the show but they mention it alot so they push it quite a bit.

Since it's a working studio they take you where they can on the day and if they are shooting something you may not get to see that set etc. CSI was filming when we were there so didn't see that, another day when they aren't shooting you may get to see that set for example.

Not much walking at all. You go on a cart that seats about 12 people or so, you stop at certain points to see a set or something but it's mainly in the cart. Goes for about 2.5 hours. It's a fun and interesting tour, you see some outside sets from various productions as well.

 

[dave73]

Dave: How did you get to the Warner Bros studio? Did you drive or take public transport? I'm going on it but am not entirely sure of the best way to get there.

Thanks for the info on the shuttle to the South Coast Plaza, I'm going to keep that in mind in case Disneyland gets too crowded.

All Anaheim Tours, the website is anaheim411, do the transport and tour. You can make your own way there and pay for the tour when you arrive if you want to.

It's a few minutes from Universal Studios so if you get there a cab from Universal shouldn't cost too much.

Southcoast Plaza is great, it doesn't get busy and is a relaxing day. Plus great shopping!

 

[soak01]

Don't you just hate how you think you've got everything organised and answered and then you think of something.

Okay, so here is my quandry..........

We will be in the US for 6 nights before heading on to Canada and are planning on bringing some 'Haighs' chocolates as gifts for family in Canada. Whilst I know not to wrap any gifts, does anyone know if you need to declare chocolate on arrival in the US or is it just meat, fruit and plants that have to be declared.

Also as we'll be carrying medication, we've organised letters from our GP, but do you need to declare things like Panadol, Neurofen, Boscopan, Imodium etc

Thanks for any help. Only 3 weeks to go

 

[melbarkwith]

Whilst I know not to wrap any gifts, does anyone know if you need to declare chocolate on arrival in the US or is it just meat, fruit and plants that have to be declared.

Also as we'll be carrying medication, we've organised letters from our GP, but do you need to declare things like Panadol, Neurofen, Boscopan, Imodium etc

Thanks for any help. Only 3 weeks to go

Yes, you need to declare all food. They just asked me what we had, and didn't even bother to look at it.

We didn't declare any medications, and I don't remember there being a question that related to the medications that we had with us. All prescription meds had the labels on them, and the over the counter stuff was just in our carry on bags.

How exciting that you have only 3 weeks to go! I'm sure you'll have a ball. We are sitting here listening to the Official Disneyland Resort CD - reliving everything from Soarin' to Space Mountain

 

[jacs1234]

Don't you just hate how you think you've got everything organised and answered and then you think of something.

Okay, so here is my quandry..........

We will be in the US for 6 nights before heading on to Canada and are planning on bringing some 'Haighs' chocolates as gifts for family in Canada. Whilst I know not to wrap any gifts, does anyone know if you need to declare chocolate on arrival in the US or is it just meat, fruit and plants that have to be declared.

Also as we'll be carrying medication, we've organised letters from our GP, but do you need to declare things like Panadol, Neurofen, Boscopan, Imodium etc

Thanks for any help. Only 3 weeks to go

We have a note from the doctor too but when we went last year they didn't even look at our medications.

What do you mean by not wrapping gifts? I'm bringing over some gifts for some friends, just clothes and toys, can I not wrap them?

 

[LesleyP]

What do you mean by not wrapping gifts? I'm bringing over some gifts for some friends, just clothes and toys, can I not wrap them?

No you're not supposed to wrap gifts because if they search your luggage then they'll open the gifts because they won't know what's inside, and they might think it's something you shouldn't be bringing into the country.

Maybe you should take some gift bags with you and put the gifts into the bags once you arrive.

 

[kylieh]

Maybe you should take some gift bags with you and put the gifts into the bags once you arrive.

I'm thinking out via the keyboard tonight. You won't be able to take the scissors on the plane to cut tape etc. This is what has worked for us - we have taken gift bags, tissue paper, and gift wrap type stickers. The cute sheets that you get at $2 shops. Then, if the people are meeting you at the other end or you won't have time to wrap them you can do so on the plane once your past final security or similar. Or you could skip the gift bags and go with the tissue paper only, or vice versa!!!

 

[Oz-kateer]

becpee, we just got back 3 days ago and I too am already planning a return trip.

I took a bit too much spending money (I never thought I would say that sentence) and had a bit left over when we got back and the first thing I did was to figure out if it was enough to buy some more plane tickets for the next trip.

I am not sure if I am still on a holiday high so I think I might wait a few weeks or so before making a definite decision, but I think I want to go back at the end of next year. I want to see Christmas at Disneyland.

Anyway DD asked me this morning if we will ever be able to go back. I told her that if I ever see a $1000 return air fare again I will just buy it

xxx

You can go in March next year for $1000 (and psssst - in Feb, watch out for more specials for the Aug - Oct 2010 period.....)

 

[Oz-kateer]

That is a great deal. I just got quoted by Qantas for our trip in Sept/Oct 2010 for 2 Adults and 2 kids it was $9293.

I saw an article on the weekend that said if V-Australia and Delta get approval to join up prices will go back to normal on the Aus-US route. My quote would seem to suggest they are right.

This $9000-odd is a FULL FARE. This is because discounts for that period haven't been announced yet. They always release full fare 331 days in advance. For Sept/Oct 2010 they will announce specials from towards the end of January.

V-Australia and Delta are alreday in bed together - if you fly a US domestic destination on top of V-Australia to LAX it's in a Delta plane, but a codeshare flight.

From what I can see happening at the moment in volumes I wouldn't be surprised if you could get adult fares for around the $1200 mark including taxes for the low season (autumn in the US - Aug/Oct 2010).

 

[darren123]

Welcome back and Happy Holiday to those about to go.

It is so funny when you say to people I am going back to Disneyland were not you there last year yeah well you should see Main Street USA the feeling you get just being there and the sideways look you get priceless.

We are about 10 weeks out before we go in Jan/Feb I have not purchased airfares yet I think airfares may come down to the $1000 mark in the next few weeks or so, now they are around $1250 VAustralia and $1450 Qantas flying out from Brisbane.

Disneyland Tickets Adults at Kids prices just saved $90AUD and booked the HoJo at ER 50% off would be nice to get a cheaper airfare and does not concern me if I end up paying $1250 still a cheap Holiday.

 

[aussiegirls]

Oz-kateer, how do you know all this, do you work for an airline?

What do you think the chances are for a cheap airfare for December 2010? I know that December is traditionally peak period but I was wondering about the beginning of the month, say the first 3 weeks or so - not at Christmas. Actually the first 3 weeks of Dec are classified as low season at Disney. I really want to have a Disney Christmas (well December anyways) and have fingers crossed for some bargain basement airfares. If there aren't any then I would still be more than happy to go at another time.

Another thing is that we had such a great experience on V Australia they would definately be my carrier of choice next time. V first choice, Qantas second choice.

xxx

 

[LesleyP]

With regards to December airfare, I'm flying out this year on the 18th with V Australia and I can tell you that it was most definitely not a cheap flight. I ended up paying $2,300 for 1 person in economy! And that was the cheapest out of all the airlines. Quite a difference to the $1,000 seats that were available in November.

I think the cheap flights seem to end around the first week of December and go up more and more towards Christmas.

 

[melbarkwith]

What do you think the chances are for a cheap airfare for December 2010?
Another thing is that we had such a great experience on V Australia they would definately be my carrier of choice next time.

Aussiegirls, what I did after we returned from our trip 2 years ago was to check the fares often (usually weekly) across the airlines and write down the price. If you start now you'll at least get an idea of what the fares could be around that time, and you'll know if you see a good December fare.

I totally agree with you about V Australia - they were fantastic! My DD3 threw up all over herself on our flight over (antibiotics upset her tummy in a large way) and they even washed her clothes for us. Totally awesome and unexpected service. (except Air NZ would be my #2 choice )

 

[marvel]

V- Australian sounds like a good option. We usually fly AirNZ, way better than Qantas.

 

[kylieh]

I received an email from Expedia Australia - Delta is $1116 return in Feb, and $1237 for V.

I'm guessing that extends for the first four months of the year.

 

[OzCath]

You can go in March next year for $1000 (and psssst - in Feb, watch out for more specials for the Aug - Oct 2010 period.....)

Thanks Oz-kateer will keep an eye out. Do you know something we don't? I was worried that I had missed the boat on the cheap us deals. Hoping to go late next year so will be great if these deals continue.

 

[Oz-kateer]

It depends on exactly how many bottoms they can get on seats but yes, there will be at least one more seriously low $1000-$1200-ish promotion in about 3 months that will carry through the norther post-summer trans-Pacific route until early Nov 2010.

 

[aussiegirls]

I am feeling a bit lost at the moment with no Disneyland trip to plan and look forward to - am I the only one?