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

[melbarkwith]

Oh, I also have to shop for a few supplies my Mum wants - Tim Tams, Tetley Allrounders, Fry's Turkish Delight and Maggi Beef Goulash recipe bases

Happy planning

My mum is putting a list of things I have to bring home with me from the supermarket She walked to Von's from DL when we were there 2 years ago and bought a heap of stuff.

My list (for me) already includes Junior Mints, Junior Mints and Junior Mints. A friend has put in a request for Candy Corn in similar quantities to my Junior Mints. It will be so easy for Customs if they want to look in my bag when we get home...

Melissa

 

[Czardas]

We would like to do a tour too in LA, and I totally agree, it won't be on a group tour. We were thinking of hiring a stretch limo, a friend just did this recently and said it was a blast. I love the idea of the Cadillac convertible, do you have a link for the company so I can check it out?

Here you go http://los-angeles.tourcorp.com/tours/los_angeles_oldies_cars_and_tours_star_treatment.html

My husband is a 2 1/2 men fan, so he wants the tour to take us to where Charlie lives in otherwords Malibu. I am no clue how far away that is but it's worth asking to go there. We also want to go to Venice beach - Santa Monica area. Not really interested in seeing a bunch of "star homes" when you just see fences and going by other reports, 3rd rate stars at that.

 

[becpee]

We may be bringing our trip forward to this year, November we're looking at, so am excited looking at flights and stuff.

It would be a shame to miss these great flight specials and if we booked next year and were paying double for them I would spew LOL

 

[marvel]

yes the supermarket is a wonderful shopping experience for us.last time I think we may have had at least half a suitcase with various foods, cereal, pop tarts which my son just loves, lots and lots of various candy, if only I could ship their icecream home

I am really hoping they airfares remain low across next year, I think they will, I read on the weekend that the airlines flying the US route and doing 30% less business since the financial crisis. So I think they will keep rolling once special into another.

thanks for the tour info, i will check it out. But I think we should be able to cover everything we want either using public transport or cabs. I would like to do some studio tours like Warner brothers but the kids are too small to appreciate looking at some old sitcom sets.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

We may be bringing our trip forward to this year, November we're looking at, so am excited looking at flights and stuff.

It would be a shame to miss these great flight specials and if we booked next year and were paying double for them I would spew LOL

OH wow, that is wonderful news!!!!!!!!!! Hope it all works out.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

yes the supermarket is a wonderful shopping experience for us.last time I think we may have had at least half a suitcase with various foods, cereal, pop tarts which my son just loves, lots and lots of various candy, if only I could ship their icecream home

I am really hoping they airfares remain low across next year, I think they will, I read on the weekend that the airlines flying the US route and doing 30% less business since the financial crisis. So I think they will keep rolling once special into another.

thanks for the tour info, i will check it out. But I think we should be able to cover everything we want either using public transport or cabs. I would like to do some studio tours like Warner brothers but the kids are too small to appreciate looking at some old sitcom sets.

How old are your kiddos Marvel?

If the airfares stay low, where are you planning on going next year? Back to DL?

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I thought I would share some of these cool online Disney shops:-

http://www.disneystore.com/

http://www.treasurekingdom.com/SFNT.html

 

[melbarkwith]

I thought I would share some of these cool online Disney shops:-

http://www.disneystore.com/

http://www.treasurekingdom.com/SFNT.html

I have ordered from the Disney store twice and it's like Christmas! I got my DD3 a pair of Minnie gumboots for $8, she is in love with them

My orders have both arrived in around 5 days. Beware though, the shipping is a killer.

As soon as I drop the kids at school I'm going to check out the other site - thanks for sharing.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Can we discuss packing? I am a complete overpacker, and I am a mood dresser too so find I need to take nearly everything with me, even if only going for a day or two, haha. Anyway, anyone who has seen my itinerary for our US trip knows we are going to be in internal flight hell on this trip so there will be tons and tons of lugging our baggage around airports etc. The kids are 11 and 7 and the 7 year old will sook if he has to lug much.

So I would love some packing tips, or must takes, or don't bother's or really any advice at all. This could be helpful to others as well. Oh and for a family of 4, how many cases should we take? I am thinking four, DH is thinking 2 (is he mad )

I'll start:-

I've read on here about the zip lock bags, packing an outfit per bag. I love the idea in theory, not sure how we can make it work for us since we are going for 3 weeks but like the idea.

 

[Flea]

Can we discuss packing? I am a complete overpacker, and I am a mood dresser too so find I need to take nearly everything with me, even if only going for a day or two, haha. Anyway, anyone who has seen my itinerary for our US trip knows we are going to be in internal flight hell on this trip so there will be tons and tons of lugging our baggage around airports etc. The kids are 11 and 7 and the 7 year old will sook if he has to lug much.

So I would love some packing tips, or must takes, or don't bother's or really any advice at all. This could be helpful to others as well. Oh and for a family of 4, how many cases should we take? I am thinking four, DH is thinking 2 (is he mad )

I'll start:-

I've read on here about the zip lock bags, packing an outfit per bag. I love the idea in theory, not sure how we can make it work for us since we are going for 3 weeks but like the idea.

I'm normally an overpacker too - but for this trip we are planning on buying most of our clothes over there (have 2 days at the begginning of the trip where we are doing the outlet malls) so apart from toiletries, togs, underwear and pj's our bags are going to almost empty.

 

[kylieh]

We took 3 full size bags for a family of 3, 16 days. Was only going to be 2 bags, but it would of meant crushing DD's Belle ball gown and hoop - yes she did the full princess thing. The gown ended up having a bag to itself, and everything else fitted very easily in the other two bags with room to spare. We then purchased two more suitcases from Target for all the stuff we purchased, and the gown got a bit squashed on the way home!

Assuming where you stay will have washing, make sure you get there early in the morning or before everyone gets back from their site seeing. I took a book/brochures, etc with me, stayed in the laundry and enjoyed an hour or so of time-out I think I used laundry rooms twice, and handwashed a couple of times.

We took an extra change of clothes including underwear each (two for DD) in our carryon, and we changed in LAX.

When packing think of what you can wash together. For example, if you separate as much as I do, another story, make sure that all the clothes are based on colour groups, eg, not just one red t-shirt that has to be washed alone or a stray white t-shirt. But lots of blues and greens to be washed together, or red/pink/yellows etc.

As I was the chief packer, including for DH, I made a grid up saying stating what we were doing each day and what we would wear. I tried to reuse as much as possible, based upon washing facilities. Then I could make sure we didn't have too much or too little. I also learnt to handwash which was handy in LV where hotels generally don't have washing facilities.

Ooh, and remember to multibag your clothes. For example, underwear and t-shirts for each person split between bags, just incase a bag goes missing then you're not as stranded.

I also found out that water in LA/Anaheim is harder than Sydney water. So that means sometimes a bit more washing powder, or shampoo in your hair for that mater. I purchased Tide washing powder when we were there but I would of much rathered what I was used to. Perhaps pack a small box of Omo or whatever and triple pack in ziplock bags!!!

 

[kylieh]

As I was the chief packer, including for DH, I made a grid up saying stating what we were doing each day and what we would wear. I tried to reuse as much as possible, based upon washing facilities. Then I could make sure we didn't have too much or too little. I also learnt to handwash which was handy in LV where hotels generally don't have washing facilities.

Ooh, I realised how controlling I sound
The plans changed completly when we were away, we purchased t-shirts, dresses, and stuff, but gave me a good base to work from.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Kylie, you are such a legend, this is the sorta stuff I was after. Great info here. I will definitely be able to use some of this.

I'm a bit nervous about taking washing powder away with me, do I really want to have a bag of white powder in my luggage. Was thinking about buying a bar of that Sunlight Laundry soap to use for the handwashing. Not sure how many of our hotels have a laundry, I know DLH does but that is our last 5 days.

I like the idea of having a good look through your itinerary and working out roughly what you would need for each day.

 

[melbarkwith]

Ooh, I realised how controlling I sound

I thought it sounded like a good idea. I must be controlling too
Then again, I've already started writing lists...and dh has already given me the 'not as many suitcases as last time' spiel.

Ms Shuttergirl, what I did last time was to pack clothes into a smaller suitcase for the trip over, and then put that into a larger empty suitcase all ready to be filled with shopping.

 

[BecBennett]

The 2 of us generally try and go over with 1 bag between us, then we usually buy another 1 or 2 suitcases while we're there to fill with shopping.
This usually works really well for us, except it's not uncommon for our single bag that we take over to be really close to the weight limit on the way there.
I've never bothered trying the zip lock bags idea for this reason, our bags are too heavy when they're packed loose.

 

[marvel]

We overpack usually but hopefully not this time!! We do the space bag thingy sometimes even with just extra large ziplock bags, my DW does all the packing! I am not sure what her strategy is but the bags are great, she breaks up the kids stuff and ours but other than that not sure.

We ended up buying some of the giant expander bags that are almost as big as a suitcase and plan to travel hopefully with only two or three large cases and have the expander bags inside for all the shopping? Last time we ended up coming back with 4 large suitcases, 4 carry ons, 2 giant expander bags, 2 smaller carry ons and I think a box with a lantern in it from Tommy Bahama!! we needed to get those giant trolleys that the porters have to push!!

We were getting all sorts of stares, well it felt like that anyhow.

our kids will 9 and 11 when we travel.

 

[keptwoman]

We always travel with one suitcase each. Usually we go with a large one each for DH and I and a smaller one for each of the kids. All are expandable suitcases, and we go with them unexpanded to allow room for all the purchases. We also all have a small daypack or handbag (me) When we go anywhere each person is responsible for their own bags, so we don't need to worry about luggage trolleys etc and it's easy to get on and off public transport.

I have followed the same procedure for many years for packing:
About 2-3 weeks out, get out everything that I want to take.
Spend the next 2-3 weeks amending and adjusting.
2 days before cut the pile in half, put half back in the wardrobe and take what's left. I find it works great and I generally still end up with stuff that doesn't get worn.

This time though we are having one carry-on size (45 litres) each, so I'm planning carefully to be sure I have everything mix-and-match and enough layers for when it gets cold. I've already done a test pack and it all fitted fine, even with an outfit for the wedding. We will be packing some green bags for getting groceries and our suitcases will be un-expanded as usual so if we buy too much stuff we can expand and check them in.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Marvel what do you mean by expander bags? Do you mean those vacuum bags that shrink things down?

I like the idea of fitting a case into another case, but the cases weight 4.5 each so I'd only be able to pack 10kg in there to take over. How many bags do you take onboard the plane?

I was thinking 2 large suitcases and 2 medium suitcases as checked baggage. Then 2 carry on bags for DH & I, plus a handbag for me, DH could maybe have a backpack too. Then each child would have an over the shoulder satchel or backpack.

We have so many internal flights we need to be able to move and carry our own bags, I don't want to mess with trolleys.

And the good news is that DL is at the end of our trip We could maybe post back some of our purchases

 

[marvel]

Don't count on posting stuff back it costs a bundle, and the US postal service stopped doing surface mail which is the only cost effective way to send stuff back. We sent back one box of clothes that we didn't need anymore as we went from cold weather jackets to summer clothing, and it cost around $100US. And it wasn't a very box by any means. Cheaper to buy another suitcase but we were only half way through our trip and the hire car was getting over loaded.

The bags I mean are canvas and fold down to be very flat as they don't have any hard sides, but once you fill them up they expand out to be the size of a suitcase. Generally we put all the clothing in there so nothing can get damaged and then put all the other stuff in the suitcases. They have rounds wheels on the bottom. I am pretty sure you can get collapsable bags at the DFO's here.

 

[keptwoman]

I'm not sure which airline you are flying Ms Shuttergirl, but baggage allowances to/from the US are different to the rest of the world. You can have two pieces, of certain dimensions, each up to 32kgs. It does vary a bit from airline to airline but here is Qantas's details:
http://www.qantas.com.au/info/flying/beforeYouTravel/baggageChecked

The internal flights restrictions depend on what kind of ticket you are on, so probably best to check with your airline/agent.