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

[Caroline NZ]

Hi all,
I am am Kiwi, not Aussie, but just thought I would let you know we got back from our 15 night stay ( at Hojos ) today. We had a great time. If you have any queries ask away and I may be able to help.
We purchased the 14 day Expedia Vacation pass for DL/DCA, but at the ticket booth they had problems locating it in the computer which delayed our first day by about 1/2 hr. They had to phone Expedia NZ ( and it was 4am in the morning in NZ so they weren't getting an answer!). Apparently they have had this ongoing problem with Expedia Vacation passes. They were a great price though so well worthwhile despite the initial hitch.

Hojos was great.

We rented a car from Thrifty ( watch out the insurance is EXPENSIVE!!)

We also visited Seaworld, Legoland, USS Midway & shopped at Las Americas ( mall in San Diego next to the Mexico border).

We went on just about everything at both DL/DCA ( and multiple times for our favourites).

Places we ate at were Mimis, Mac Ds, Dennys, Rainforest Cafe, Carnation Cafe, Cafe Orleans, Round Table Pizza ....

 

[keptwoman]

Thanks Caroline!
For those looking into rental cars I've just been booking ours today. We are renting 3 times, in California and New York and each time National Car Rentals direct on their website were substantially cheaper than anything else I could find and their costs included insurances! Once when I forgot to click that we reside in Australia it calculated the rates as if we were US residents that the difference was substantial... the US rates were much higher, so be sure to say where you reside!

However, if someone thinks they found cheaper than National, I'm all ears!!

I've just been booking all our accommodation this week, we are just about fully confirmed now which is exciting. The most difficult bit is one place where we want to rent a vacation home, they definitely assume US residency so contact and prepayment is not easy.

I'm holding off booking the Disney tickets and a few other prepaid bits until the dollar goes a little higher. I've read somewhere it's going to peak at 80c and then start to drop. Then other articles say it's going to go higher than that. What is everyone doing with regard to this? I'm torn between prepaying all I can when it hits 80c or holding off until it looks to be starting to drop a little from whatever peak it hits. I'd be gutted if it went to 90 after I'd paid everything at 80! It's such a gamble isn't it.

 

[gogo65]

When thinking about car hire and insurance, look at your travel insurance. most travel insurance covers you in the event of an accident, so while you need the basic insurance it is often not necessary to pay for the extra comprehensive insurance, as in the event of an accident most costs will be covered

 

[kylieh]

I'm torn between prepaying all I can when it hits 80c or holding off until it looks to be starting to drop a little from whatever peak it hits. I'd be gutted if it went to 90 after I'd paid everything at 80! It's such a gamble isn't it.

Gambling is the word - I remember when the "free-fall" of the dollar occured during October last year, some economists were saying 45-50c. My DH came home the other day and told me that some economists were saying $1.08 over the next two-three years! I thought wow, but these are the same people that did say 45c!

I suggest follow what the market is doing, and go with your gut - perhaps hedge you bets buying a bit at a time.

 

[staceyinaustralia]

Im so glad I could help with my expedia advice

I agree with the $$ issue...yesterday our disney tickets were $1092, this morning they were $992 and tonight they are $990!! (Im checking regularly now its getting so close )

We are also thinking of staying at Sheraton Universal or the Hilton close by for Universal, and will be heading to Vegas as well (although our trip is not until September next year )

I booked the Sheraton through Hotwire for US$106 per night, its a great site to save some money!! Have a look, you also have to look at betterbidding.com which helps you work out what youre getting.

 

[aussiegirls]

We will be staying close to Universal for a week too after we have been to Anaheim. We are staying in a place called Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City. It is only a few mins to Universal and they have a free shuttle that picks up and drops off. The people I spoke to there were lovely and so helpful too.

Most of the reviews over the past year or so on Trip Advisor in regards to this place are great and the photos are beautiful. So I am hoping I have made a good choice. I got a great deal of about US$90 per night advance purchase which is about half of the regular room rate.

xxx

 

[keptwoman]

I just did a double check of our costings. The difference between 0.75 and 0.80 is hundreds of dollars. Oh may it continue to climb!!!

 

[aussiegirls]

keptwoman isn't it amazing the difference 0.01 can make? I worked out the difference I would have in our spending money if the dollar went down just .01 and it was quite significant. I am hedging my bets and holding off putting all our spending money on a Travelcard till it gets a bit higher. I'm not normally a gambler but I know I would kick myself if I end up losing out

xxx

 

[keptwoman]

Yeah we've just been sitting here looking at news reports and predictions and I have to say the predictions are all very very good for us Aussies right now. We've decided to hold off as long as possible unless the AU starts a sustained downward trend. But yes.... it's very much gambling isn't it!!

 

[marvel]

hi everyone. Haven't been on the boards for a few days. Welcome to the new aussies and kiwis.

with the rental car prices try yescarhire.com or usacarhire.com i found them to be the best in the past as they include all the insurance. Your travel also covers you for the car hire excess which is around $3000 sometimes. I will have to check national for our trip and compare.

With the dollar, I think 80 is really good considering what it was, and i think that it may go a bit higher in the next little while, they said this week may be be that good for the dollar due to local market/economic data due this week. Problem is that if it starts going bad it can lost 5c very quickly. I tend to put a bit more on the travelcard as it keeps going up.

I didn't know expedia sold tickets I will have compare to the park hoppers online.

with the tipping, i think you do get used to it as it is part US culture. I am still unsure about tipping the maids. Some people do and some don't. We did during some parts of our previous trips but the staff at some of the hotels said not to. I suppose we will at Disney as that seems to be the norm.

 

[aussiegirls]

One thing I was thinking of doing re the Travelcard is putting all my money on in one go when the dollar gets to a good rate.

When I spoke to ANZ the guy told me that the fees are an $11 fee for the account and the % (can't remember how much it was) that they deducted from the deposits but the first deposit was free. So I am thinking that it might be worth my while to put it all on in one go and not pay any fees except for the $11 account fee. ...... so much to think about!!

xxx

 

[SnowWhite09]

Thanks Caroline!
For those looking into rental cars I've just been booking ours today. We are renting 3 times, in California and New York and each time National Car Rentals direct on their website were substantially cheaper than anything else I could find and their costs included insurances! Once when I forgot to click that we reside in Australia it calculated the rates as if we were US residents that the difference was substantial... the US rates were much higher, so be sure to say where you reside!

However, if someone thinks they found cheaper than National, I'm all ears!!

We also booked a car through National. Originally booked with another company however checked National closer to our trip and saved over $100US with insurance included!

Have a fun trip!

 

[keptwoman]

Wow SnowWhite. 1 day to go!!!
Have fun I'll look forward to your trip report.

 

[becpee]

Wow SnowWhite. 1 day to go!!!
Have fun I'll look forward to your trip report.

I'm jealous, jealous, jealous

Have an awesome trip!!

 

[aussiemickeys]

AAA Discounts

I don't think this has been mentioned on this thread yet & just wanted to bring it to everyones notice.
We are in the RAC & on the back of our card is a little AAA (I think it stands for American Automobile Association) symbol.
This gives us access to the same AAA discounts in the USA as if we were direct members. Whenever booking hotels we always use this where available to save some money (Usually about 10% cheaper we have found).
Every restaurant we go to as well, we always ask if they have AAA discount (sorry I can't remember which ones did & didn't).
I just did a really quick look at the AAA website & saw a few interesting things listed there as well - such as Universal : a few dollars off admission & 10% discount on select merchandise & dining, Sea World : a few dollars of admission & Six Flags discounts.
There is also shopping ones on there as well. It has lots of stuff there (& it definately works as we have used it in past trips for hotel stays, although noone has actually asked us to show them the card upon check in!, dining & at Universal Orlando when we went).

On a personal note, we have changed our plans a little for our trip in November & have now included Disney World (at the expense of Boston & Philadelphia LOL). We will be going for 4 days to Washington, 2 days to Universal Orlando, 7 days at WDW, 2 days at Disneyland & then home. If anyone has any advice for us about Washington (especially cheapish, central hotels) we would love to hear it.

 

[aussietravellers]

AAA Discounts

I don't think this has been mentioned on this thread yet & just wanted to bring it to everyones notice.
We are in the RAC & on the back of our card is a little AAA (I think it stands for American Automobile Association) symbol.
This gives us access to the same AAA discounts in the USA as if we were direct members. Whenever booking hotels we always use this where available to save some money (Usually about 10% cheaper we have found).
Every restaurant we go to as well, we always ask if they have AAA discount (sorry I can't remember which ones did & didn't).
I just did a really quick look at the AAA website & saw a few interesting things listed there as well - such as Universal : a few dollars off admission & 10% discount on select merchandise & dining, Sea World : a few dollars of admission & Six Flags discounts.
There is also shopping ones on there as well. It has lots of stuff there (& it definately works as we have used it in past trips for hotel stays, although noone has actually asked us to show them the card upon check in!, dining & at Universal Orlando when we went).

Oh my goodness, I never knew this! Have just looked on the back of my RACQ card and sure enough, there it is AAA. Thank you so much for this very handy piece of info To think of the number of times that I have travelled to the US and I could have used this, oh well, next trip .

 

[becpee]

AAA Discounts

I don't think this has been mentioned on this thread yet & just wanted to bring it to everyones notice.
We are in the RAC & on the back of our card is a little AAA (I think it stands for American Automobile Association) symbol.
This gives us access to the same AAA discounts in the USA as if we were direct members. Whenever booking hotels we always use this where available to save some money (Usually about 10% cheaper we have found).

I must have a look at our RACV card and see if it's the same

 

[marvel]

Where did you guys find the 14 day tickets to DL for Aussies? I tried Expedia.com.au and could only find the 5 for 3 day hoppers, which ended up being $878 for the 4 of us.

I am thinking of not getting a car for our 4 days in LA when we plan to do Universal and Hollywood. the parking alone is $30US a day, I am thinking even if we stay in hollywood it can't be that hard to either us cabs or catch the train to Universal and Santa Monica it would be ok? What do you guys think?
Anyone us public transport in LA? I figure even the cabs would be close to the same price as the car hire and parking combined.
Then we pick up the car on the last day in LA drive to Vegas and back to Anaheim and keep the car the whole time.

 

[aussietravellers]

Where did you guys find the 14 day tickets to DL for Aussies? I tried Expedia.com.au and could only find the 5 for 3 day hoppers, which ended up being $878 for the 4 of us.

I think you can only get them through travel agents in Australia. It's called the "14-Day Disney Vacation Pass" There is a little info on it here.
http://www.disney.com.au/disneyland/disneyland_resort.html

 

[keptwoman]

I did find them on expedia yesterday.