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

[soak01]

gogo the company we are using is called B&W Limos. They come recommended and are super nice.

czardas it sounds like you got really lucky with your shuttles. If I could be guaranteed a trip like yours I would book.

xxx

Hey Aussie Girls, they sound good. I'll check them out. Just wondering, did you have to pre-pay and I guess plus gratuity (I guess I'll get use to this by the time we leave!).

Also do you have to ring them when you clear baggage claim or will they be waiting for you.

I've also had a quote from Tony The Limo King and looked at the private car service with Execucar (i.e. Super Shuttle) and Prime Time Shuttle, so I'll see what B&W come up with.

 

[darph nader]

I can see it now,(without reading all '70' pages)
22 747s converge on LAX. Madness and mayhem ensue.
Please don't take that wrong. I would LOVE to go to Ularu (sp?) and drink a few 'stubbies'.

 

[aussiegirls]

soak I only had to prepay half. So how it worked was the girl at B&W and I emailed back and forth a few times - she also gave me a discount because I booked all 3 transfers with them but I had to ask. Half then is prepaid and the balance paid at the end of the 3 trips. However if for some reason I need to cancel the half that I have paid will be refunded provided it is more than 48 hours notice from the first pick up.

We won't need to call them from LAX as she asked for all flight details and will ensure that the car is waiting when we come out.

Just make sure that you ask for a discount when you are talking to them. Like I said I asked and she was more than happy to give me one.

xxx

 

[soak01]

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!

 

[jacs1234]

Hi, my name is Trudie and I'm a Disneyholic.

I'm so excited to be joining you Aussie planners. dh and I have 4 kids that we're taking to Disneyland in November thanks to those wonder deals at V and qantas. We decided and booked 2 days before the sale closed.

We took our oldest children to DL last year with our frequent flier points and I totally didn't expect to love it soooooooooo much. It was the best. We also didn't expect to be going back so soon..
We'll have 11 useable days at Disneyland, we bought anuual passes last year and they will still be valid for 3 days for the 4 of us but we'll buy the 14 day pass for the others if it's cheaper than an annual pass.

We'll be staying at Ho Jo's. I'm so excited.

We're not telling the kids till closer to the trip.

 

[marvel]

hi trudie, welcome to the aussie thread. Congrats on having an AP, i thought about getting one to force me to go every year !! Well force is strong but it would add some more motivation. I would love to be able to go every year, thats the plan.

 

[lovintheland]

Hi Trudie,

you are so lucky to be going back!!!! We just got back and we were there in 2007. We absolutely loooooove the place and want to go back again. It's funny we were going to buy annual passes for this trip but ended up with the 14 day ones. I'm now thinking if we had got the annual and there are more crazy airline prices which there is tipped to be, it would've been a good excuse to sneak back. Our friends and family think we're nuts and don't understand our addiction.

How old are your children? They will be beside themselves when they find out. I keep saying to my husband "I wish someone would surprise me with a trip like we did for our kids" hint hint!!! actually no I don't. I want to be the one planning it all. Adds to the excitement

 

[marvel]

Hey, if I win the 90 million tomorrow I will book out a jumbo and get everyone on here for a free flight to Disney !! Staying at the GC. Surely will be able to book out a whole floor or two with that kind of money.

 

[aussiegirls]

marvel, have you seen how much the GC costs, I don't think 90 mil would cover it

xxx

 

[kylieh]

Hey, if I win the 90 million tomorrow I will book out a jumbo and get everyone on here for a free flight to Disney !! Staying at the GC. Surely will be able to book out a whole floor or two with that kind of money.

I'll do the same. But I think I've got Buckley's of winning!

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.

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.

 

[aussiegirls]

Hey guys I was just wondering about character meals. Which ones do you plan on doing or for the people that have already been, which ones did you do?

I had a plan to do 1 character meal and it has now turned into 3 It is my DD#2's birthday when we are there so I told her she could choose which one she wanted to go to (that was the 1 I had planned on doing) and she chose Ariels Grotto. Then DD#1 came to me and asked me ever so nicely if she could choose one too. I figured that even though it wasn't her birthday it's her holiday too and she deserves something special as well so she chose Breakfast with Minnie. Then we heard about Woody's BBQ round-up and to be honest I can't not go to that, it sounds so fun.

So 1 birthday character meal has turned into 3. But that's ok with me, we are there to have fun and it may just be a once in a lifetime thing so I am looking forward to all of them

Which ones are you planning on doing?

xxx

 

[marvel]

Not sure about the character meals. We have done the one at Paradise Pier with Lilo and Stitch, and it was a lot of fun. They have lots of interaction with dancing and activities, the kids loved it and the food was ok. We actually just walked up and got in on the last morning.

Our kids will be 11 and 9, sure not sure how much they will be into characters this time.

 

[melbarkwith]

We have been to Minnie's before, on Mother's Day, it was just awesome! Eating breakfast while there were people walking by in the park was great.

For this trip, I'm not sure. DH wants to go to Minnie's again, the bbq sounds good if it's on while we are there, and of course the girls want to go to Ariel's grotto.

Mel

 

[kylieh]

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.

 

[jacs1234]

Hey guys I was just wondering about character meals. Which ones do you plan on doing or for the people that have already been, which ones did you do?

We went to Goofy's kitchen last November and it was soooooooo awesome. The food was amazing. It was sooooooo much fun. Goofy got the kids out dancing a couple of times and we had lots of characters visit our table. I think Mulan must of sat with us talking to the boys about what airplanes are (cause of course she doesn't know) gor atleast 20 minutes. We had visits from chip, dale, goofy, the genie, pluto, mulan and Alice in wonderland and not just once, they came around a few times.

They even had a peanut butter and jelly pizza. It was great and almost cultural for the kids to try these things. Very peanut pastey though lol

 

[jacs1234]

I have a hint for some of us, especially first timers. I haven't read through all the posts so I don't know if it's been mentioned but they sell autograph books at disneyland and each time you see a character they sign your book and you can put a picture of them and you beside the signature. It's great. They sell them with ball point pens though and sometimes they don't work so bringing a thin permanant nikko is a good idea. Especially at the character breakfasts. You don't want to miss out on someones siggy.

 

[marvel]

goofys kitchen sounds good, my daughter still loves chip and dale.

Just on other question re hotels. Have any of you booked via the net on a site other than the hotels direct website? I seem to always find the direct website the same or better price than all the others like expedia that everyone seems to rave about. Just found a good deal with the holiday inn universal and the holiday inn website is still best.

wondering what other sites you guys may have used to actual book with.

 

[rossip]

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

 

[jacs1234]

I'd like to know about expedia too.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

goofys kitchen sounds good, my daughter still loves chip and dale.

Just on other question re hotels. Have any of you booked via the net on a site other than the hotels direct website? I seem to always find the direct website the same or better price than all the others like expedia that everyone seems to rave about. Just found a good deal with the holiday inn universal and the holiday inn website is still best.

wondering what other sites you guys may have used to actual book with.

Marvel I found this with a couple of places too. I booked 3 places directly and 2 with Expedia.