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

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

We did Princess Lunch. Was fun, and I think DD wants to do it again next year, along with all of the others.

Best part - you don't need to wait hours in line to meet the Princesses, and you need to eat. But, you don't know which 5 apart from Ariel until you get there. We tried and tried but didn't get to see Cinderella the whole trip.

My hint for the Princess Lunch would be to get the first sitting at the first PS time for that session. For us, 11.30 lunch, arriving maybe 15-20 minutes before. When we booked the guy also offered 11.40 and 11.50, but I really wanted to be one of the first. They also say don't get there until 11.30, but if any 11.40s get there before you they may go into the dining area before you.

This is DD meeting Ariel.

We were the 2nd family to be seated and DD spent maybe 5 minutes talking with Ariel which was great. Ariel greats you as you walk down the stairs. If we were later we probably would of had less time. Then the other 4 princesses visit while you're eating in a very orderly manner.

So yes, next trip we will be doing, according to DD6 who will be just 8 then, Ariel's, StoryTellers, Minnies, and the other one which I can't remember off the top of my head.

We did Pat-E-Cake as well for DD's 6th Birthday Party. I wouldn't do it again but DD really liked it and wants to. Wasn't worth the money, around $16 each for basically a very average birthday cake that you decorate yourself. Mickey and Minnie turn up for a photo which is cool but no autograhs. Went for perhaps 30-40 minutes or so.

So summing up, if you can afford to go to character meals do so to save so so so much time lining up to meet the characters. And you get to eat at the same time.

Kylie, you totally made me want to do this now, hahahaha.

I'm thinking Goofy's kitchen for a breakfast and Ariel's Grotto for a lunch

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

We had a Town Car take us back from the hotel to LAX. It was with tip around $100. Even on the way home it was so worth just sitting, relaxing, and taking it all in. We started the holiday in Las Vegas and we had a town car there as well. Again about $100 including tip. That was only a 10 minute ride but it was worth having someone help us in the heat with our luggage.

Kylie, we are considering booking alot of our transfers from airports as town cars. I am thinking the following:-

LA - towncar to hotel and return to airport
San Fran - shuttle (but will check towncar prices)
Las Vegas - shuttle (but again will check prices)
New York - definitely town car (we fly in late and I don't want the hassle of the shuttle), plus another one to take us to Bruce Springsteen and back
La/Anaheim - towncar

I will just book an extra photo shoot in the lead up to the holiday to cover the cost

 

[arje]

We're suckers for the character meals. We've done the Lilo and Stitch in PP, Goofy's Kitchen for both Breakfast and Dinner, Aerial's Grotto for lunch, and Minnies Breakfast in the Pavilion. Only one we haven't done is the one in the Grand Californian. To be honest, if you can do it, do them all. I'd do them all again in a heartbeat and I'm sure my kids (16 and 13) also would. It's just fun. The characters play up to the age they're dealing with and make it fun not only for the littlies but also for the teens and adults. We have a picture of Hook trying to force feed my eldest daughter last time. She was 13 and laughed so hard, ended up with sauce all over her face.

 

[aussiegirls]

Both of my hotel bookings were made directly with the hotels. Although the prices on Expedia were good the hotels own sites beat it quite significantly.

In regards to people being a bit wary of Expedia, on their Aussie website there is a phone number that you can ring and actually speak to one of their travel consultants. I have not bought anything from Expedia but I have spoken to them and they seemed nice and helpful enough.

Also, if you are a bit apprehensive about purchasing online from them what you could probably do is get a printout of the prices of whatever it is you want to get from them and take it into a travel agent, they will usually match if not beat the quoted price. But it has to be from expedia.com.au not just .com. I know Flight Centre will beat the written quoted price and I think that most others probably would too.

xxx

 

[kiwitinkerbell]

Hi all,

I'm a Kiwi and would love to join your thread if you will have me! I have been to Disneyland twice but a long time ago. I have also been to WDW twice, Dec/Jan 2007 and Dec/Jan 2009. We (my friend who travels with me) and I are planning a return trip to Disneyland but I have a terrible feeling it won't be until next year! Sooooo I will read this thread and plan, plan, and plan to help me count down the months until we go.

I haven't read all 71 pages yet, but school holidays start here next week so I will then! (I'm a teacher of 6/7 year olds).

Jen

 

[soak01]

Hi again ,

Has anyone bought he 14 day pass from Expedia ? Any dramas ? They seem to be quite abit cheaper than the Travel agents and other sources . I ask because I have not heard of Expedia before.

Thanks

For our upcoming trip in November, I used the US expedia site to book a flight from LAX to Calgary in Canada, without any hassle. Although the booking was for a code-shared United Airlines flight (i.e. with a United Airlines flight number but operated by Air Canada) the price was cheaper than booking direct with either airline or the Aust Expedia site.

I was abit apprehensive after making the booking, but after receiving the confirmation from Expedia I rang Air Canada in Sydney and they confirmed my booking and even offerred us the option of selecting our seats.

 

[becpee]

Hi all, just wondering if anybody has booked the entertainment rate without having a card?
I wasn't going to worry about it but the difference is about $15 USD a night and we will be there a little while so it may be worth investing in one, but they are not out yet for November, we will be there Nov 3 and the current one expires 1/11.
Does anybody know when the new one will come out so I can get hold of one and then book our accom.

 

[gogo65]

Hi all, just wondering if anybody has booked the entertainment rate without having a card?
I wasn't going to worry about it but the difference is about $15 USD a night and we will be there a little while so it may be worth investing in one, but they are not out yet for November, we will be there Nov 3 and the current one expires 1/11.
Does anybody know when the new one will come out so I can get hold of one and then book our accom.

Becpee,
You are able to use the Australian entertainment card, This has been confirmed by Hojo's.
The current Australian one has just been released and is valid until Jun 1st 2010.

 

[gogo65]

Just got a quote from B&W and they have quoted me $100 each way (incl tax and gratuity) using a Lincoln Town Car???? or $300 in a stretch limo. The limo would be nice, but is a bit overpriced.

I have also had a quote from another recommended company called Crown Limousine LA who have quoted me $95 for the Lincoln or $125 for a Limousine or SUV, again tax and tip included.

I think this is going to be difficult and hope whoever I pick will actually be there when we emerge from the terminal at 9.15pm!

Thanks Soak,

I have emailed Crown limos and have just got a quote for a 5 hour tour of LA.
They have come in at $450 all inclusive for 5 hours in a stretch, drinks included it also includes pick up from the hotel at LAX and drop off in Anaheim. As there will be 8 of us it works out to be about $55 each
They have been very efficient and friendly in my emails so far.
B&W limos also gave me a quote for $640

 

[melbarkwith]

If you're booking a suite at Hojo's, the entertainment rate is 15% discount. This is the same as the mousesavers/disboards discount, in which case there would be no need to buy the entertainment book (just ask for either of those discounts instead).

But yes, I requested the entertainment rate without having a card. I was going to either buy the book or borrow a friend's card.

Melissa

 

[jacs1234]

I'm a Kiwi and would love to join your thread if you will have me!

Ok I guess you can join us

 

[aussiegirls]

OMG I only have 108 days to go Tomorrow is officially tax time so I have fingers crossed that I get a bit of extra spending money

xxx

 

[staceyinaustralia]

Hi All!

We've just returned from our holiday....2 days in LA, 9 in Anaheim and a week in Las Vegas .

We absolutley loved every minute everywhere we went....once we adjusted to the time difference . In Anaheim we stayed at the Desert Palms hotel and suites and it was great, I recommend it to anyone especially families (I have a 9yr old, 4 yr old and 22months) we had a sahara kitchenette suite booked thru hotel-rates.com during a sale which made it cheaper than the hotel site.

We booked the 14 day disney tickets thru expedia and didnt have any problem at all, simply picked them up at the booth (will call booth I think) and we were in!

If anyone wants any more info feel free to message me as I prob wont be lurking in here thay much anymore.... I must go to work to pay off my credit card

Happy planning !

 

[dollarmite]

Hi again ,

Has anyone bought he 14 day pass from Expedia ? Any dramas ? They seem to be quite abit cheaper than the Travel agents and other sources . I ask because I have not heard of Expedia before.

Thanks

I just booked this yestersday for our Nov trip. I saved almost $500 doing it this way (with my debit card) compared to the price in the Creative Holidays and Harvey World Travel brochures. I watched the prices for a few weeks and as soon as it went below $1000 I booked it. No dramas. Fingers crossed there won't be any dramas when we actually rock up to the gate.

I was on a roll then so I booked our 6 night accommodation in NY as well. I watched the prices for a few weeks and compared it to every other site I could find and Expedia was the cheapest, plus being in Australian dollars on an Australian website meant there were no conversion fees.

I'm trying to find the best price for accomm at the Disneyland Hotel but so far Expedia, DL website and Dreams Unlimited are all virtually the same.

I also found out today that the Commonwealth Bank now also has a travel cash card. It allows withdrawls from ATMs as well as normal EFTPOS transactions (not sure if the ANZ one does?). I'm going to try it out on a trip to NZ in a few weeks, to see if it might be suitable for our US trip.

Does anyone know how to book the Candy Cane Inn, Anaheim, other than through its own website? Their price of US$139 per night, approx $171 AUD, is rather steep, but it meets all my criteria so I'd really like to find a better deal.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Thanks Soak,

I have emailed Crown limos and have just got a quote for a 5 hour tour of LA.
They have come in at $450 all inclusive for 5 hours in a stretch, drinks included it also includes pick up from the hotel at LAX and drop off in Anaheim. As there will be 8 of us it works out to be about $55 each
They have been very efficient and friendly in my emails so far.
B&W limos also gave me a quote for $640

Hey Gogo, what is included in the 5 hour tour of LA? Is it wherever you want to go or do they have an itinerary and you just tweak it.

 

[melbarkwith]

Tomorrow is officially tax time so I have fingers crossed that I get a bit of extra spending money

Me too! Unless of course I win that $90 million in a few minutes...

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Me too! Unless of course I win that $90 million in a few minutes...

ummm sorry Mel, I'm winning it tonight. Maybe next time

 

[marvel]

hey dollarmite, the DLH is being refurbished from what I have read on the boards, not sure the affect on travellers or dates or anything.

 

[gogo65]

Hey Gogo, what is included in the 5 hour tour of LA? Is it wherever you want to go or do they have an itinerary and you just tweak it.

We are able to go where ever we want, however they do have some recommended itineraries I will look at.

 

[kiwitinkerbell]

Hi All!

We've just returned from our holiday....2 days in LA, 9 in Anaheim and a week in Las Vegas .

We absolutley loved every minute everywhere we went....once we adjusted to the time difference . In Anaheim we stayed at the Desert Palms hotel and suites and it was great, I recommend it to anyone especially families (I have a 9yr old, 4 yr old and 22months) we had a sahara kitchenette suite booked thru hotel-rates.com during a sale which made it cheaper than the hotel site.

We booked the 14 day disney tickets thru expedia and didnt have any problem at all, simply picked them up at the booth (will call booth I think) and we were in!

If anyone wants any more info feel free to message me as I prob wont be lurking in here thay much anymore.... I must go to work to pay off my credit card

Happy planning !

Welcome back! I would love to know where you stayed in Las Vegas. We are also planning to visit there after our cruise and Disneyland.