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

[gogo65]

We are also doing Knotts for the rollercoasters.
We are staying at the Knotts berry farm hotel for 220 USD inclusive of Buffet breakfast and 4 adult entry tickets.
We thought that was a good deal, considering the normal entry fee is around $60 each

 

[Czardas]

Well I have bought my etickets and have them printed and ready to go. I am starting to get excited now

The only thing I need to do now is book our Segway tour to the Hollywood sign and I am organised. Then what will I do with myself for the next 6 weeks??? I feel kind of flat now that I dont have much else to do but sit back and wait.

Does anyone else feel how time is flying? July has flown by I have so many things booked socially for August, that I know September will be here before I know it.

How does everyone get to the airport from home? We have a car booked to pick us up bright and early. Our flight is at 10.15am but I like to get there early as we have use of the first class lounge and I like to make the most of it and it adds to the excitement, nothing like quaffing Dom P. at 8am in the morning. Also Qantas call the day before to check us in and see if we would like to book a massage or facial before our flight -
Oh I loooove frequent flyer points.

 

[aussiegirls]

I think my parents are going to drive us to the airport. I am actually working on the day we leave and the kids will be at vacation care as we leave in the next lot of school hols. Our flight is at night so during the day we will be carrying on as normal. I wonder how much work I will get done that day

xxx

 

[melbarkwith]

We are trying to figure out the getting to the airport and home part right now. With 2 adults and 3 kids (plus suitcases), it's going to be tricky to fit everything in one car. Mum has offered to help out, but it's a long way for her to drive twice.

I'm seriously considering taking the Airport Bus, rather than pay for airport parking x2. Given the time we need to be at the airport (flight is also at 10.15am), we would be picked up from home by the bus. Decisions, decisions...

All suggestions are welcome!

 

[Czardas]

We are trying to figure out the getting to the airport and home part right now. With 2 adults and 3 kids (plus suitcases), it's going to be tricky to fit everything in one car. Given the time we need to be at the airport (flight is also at 10.15am), we would be picked up from home by the bus. Decisions, decisions...

All suggestions are welcome!

There is only the two of us travelling and I know that the guy has a problem getting our two suitcases closed into the boot and I have often wondered what on earth families with 4-5 suitcases do.

I have done my time travelling on the airport bus, it was a great solution and used to work out well when going but I hated it as a way to end a holiday, by that stage you just wanted the quickest way home.

 

[Czardas]

What does everyone usually do the day before you leave?

We own our own business, so I generally leave DH to sort out all the final bits and pieces with staff. I take off to get my hair/nails done, final packings, sort out the house etc. (basically come up with any excuse to get off work early )

I have a housesitter that comes to stay and then I have nightmares that she has the biggest party's that this neighbourhoood has ever seen............

I think I repack the bags a few time, go to bed early and then spend the rest of the night awake

Does anyone have a plan for their sleeping pattern when they get on the flight?
I usually plan to stay awake for the first 7 hours then I try to sleep for the next 4-5 hours, then awake for breaky and change for the next 2 hours. We then can last until about 2-3pm at DL and hope that our room is ready to crash for a couple of hours (although I am sure we kept on sleeping last time and didn't make it back to DL, it was MM the next day so up bright and early)

 

[melbarkwith]

What does everyone usually do the day before you leave?

We leave on a Tuesday this time, so DD8 and DD6 will be at school the day before (thank goodness, they'd drive me up the wall!). DH is working and DD3 will have her swimming lesson as normal, all the better to tire her out. DD8 will swim her normal lesson after school.

Probably exciting stuff like pay bills, clean the house for the dogsitter (who cares about the house, it's the dog we are worried about!), watch my vacation planning dvd a million times, haircuts will happen on the weekend (mine without kids!), watch parade videos on You Tube just to get in the mood. I'll be packed weeks in advance it will only be last minute stuff. Oh, and charge my camera battery pack. Mustn't forget that one.

Last time we left on a Sunday and some friends took our older girls to a play centre for the entire day Saturday. They slept very well that night and on the plane, despite the excitement. I think I'll make sure DD3 doesn't nap on the Monday - I need her to be tired for the flight , she didn't sleep much at all last time except for take off and landing.

 

[becpee]

We will be flying out at almost midday on Melbourne Cup day, I am working the night before and DH and I will both be available during the day before to do any last minute stuff (shops, bills, cleaning, take the dog to the kennel etc).
I am not planning on sleeping much the night before though, and will ask my DH to keep the rugrat up late as well, to try and sleep a bit on the plane.

We are getting into LA early in the morning, about 6:30am, and planning on spending a day shopping before we take off and do other things, we aren't doing Disney until the end of the trip.

Anybody have a suggestion on a good hotel to stay at that is close to good shopping for our first night before we drive to San Diego? And also do you think we should book a the night before we arrive so we are able to check in in case we feel like crap and do need a rest?

 

[melbarkwith]

And also do you think we should book a the night before we arrive so we are able to check in in case we feel like crap and do need a rest?

I'm seriously considering this too. Our flight arrives around 6.30am and Hojo's check in isn't until 4pm. That way I'll be able to organise groceries to arrive before 4pm too.

Each time we have visited in the past (not staying at Hojo's), we have been able to check in to our room as soon as we arrived. That was usually between 8 and 12pm.

 

[lovintheland]

On this trip we booked HoJo's for the night before for that reason as we got in at 7.00am and wanted to be able to go straight to sleep for a couple of hours. I even emailed them a week beforehand to let them know we wouldn't be actually checking in on the 14th but on the morning of the 15th but definately still wanted room from the 14th. They confirmed that they had entered this into the computer and it was all sorted. Well when we got there and tried to check in they couldn't find our reservation, after several people looking they finally came back and said, "we have you as a no show you were surposed to be here yesterday", aaaarrrrrgggghhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Luckily they had "a" room and we were able to settle in fairly quickly. We also had to wait for a rollaway that I had requested originally too. Aside from that I couldn't fault HoJo's.

Our trip in 2007 we stayed at Tropicanna and arrived at LA at 7.00am as well and couldn't check in until 3.00pm. It was torture. We just needed a little catch up sleep. I think I was delirious I was so tired. We walked over to Downtown Disney for lunch but we were too tired to even appreciate the Disney vibe. It was a different story at 8.00pm that night after we returned after having a 2hour sleep and a swim in the pool. We were all ready to go.

I would definately book your room for the night before. Just triple check that they realise you're not checking in until the next morning.

 

[becpee]

I would definately book your room for the night before. Just triple check that they realise you're not checking in until the next morning.

Thanks, for that, decision is made, we have a 3 year old so we need that option I think

 

[marvel]

hang on, stop talking about departure day ! way too early for that! I still haven't booked my hotel in LA, nor our disney tickets, or the baseball tickets, or the show tickets for Vegas...

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

too funny Marvel, well you better get to it.

Should I buy Universal Studios tickets in advance or just when we get there?

 

[becpee]

hang on, stop talking about departure day ! way too early for that! I still haven't booked my hotel in LA, nor our disney tickets, or the baseball tickets, or the show tickets for Vegas...

Get onto it LOL

we're still working out our itinerary, all we have booked is our flights...

 

[aussiegirls]

wow marvel, you had better get a wriggle on .

We got our passport photos (mug shots) taken today, very cool and it is all starting to get really real.

Met a lady in the photo shop that is also going to Disneyland in October (if she is in here say hi so I know who you are).

For those staying at Hojo, did you know they have increased their Disney fan discount from 15% to 20% for certain dates starting in October. I called this morning and got an extra 5% off 5 of my days

I bought (well rather, am buying on Monday) my tickets to Universal. If you buy them from Expedia or directly from Universal website they have a deal where you get a 2nd day free. I am going to get that one. We might not want to go there twice but I figure if it's not going to cost any extra I may as well have the extra day up my sleeve in case we love it.

xxx

 

[keptwoman]

We've sent passport applications off for the ones that are expiring. I've booked a lot but I haven't done much at all for our road trip apart from book the car. I'm trying to sort out VRBO accommodation at the moment.

The day before is Friday. I guess we will pack, sort out the kids journals and go and get the last bits and pieces that we need to take.

That night I will dream that we get to the airport without our passports and the next morning I will check that we have our passports about 30 times. That's a wee tradition of mine that I've had on every. single. overseas holiday since 1989 LOL

 

[Czardas]

That night I will dream that we get to the airport without our passports and the next morning I will check that we have our passports about 30 times. That's a wee tradition of mine that I've had on every. single. overseas holiday since 1989 LOL

Oh my gosh I do exactly the same thing. Even though I had just seen them in my travel folder, 5 minutes later I am checking again.

My poor niece went on her first OS trip with a girlfriend. They got to the airport and the girlfriend had forgotten her passport. They emptied her suitcase and handbag on the floor of the terminal just in case it was there - nope. They finally got a brother to find it at home and then they had about 1hour to get it to the airport. It arrived with 5 minutes to spare before the cutoff time. That is a lesson that my niece will never forget.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Oh my gosh I do exactly the same thing. Even though I had just seen them in my travel folder, 5 minutes later I am checking again.

My poor niece went on her first OS trip with a girlfriend. They got to the airport and the girlfriend had forgotten her passport. They emptied her suitcase and handbag on the floor of the terminal just in case it was there - nope. They finally got a brother to find it at home and then they had about 1hour to get it to the airport. It arrived with 5 minutes to spare before the cutoff time. That is a lesson that my niece will never forget.

Oh goodness, my greatest fear, I felt nervous just reading that,

 

[marvel]

Yeah, my brother, wife and kids, get to the airport to go on a really short trip to the US, like a week or so in total, get to the check in desk, and her passport had expired, she missed the first two days of the trip!! makes my laugh every time i remember it because he actually thinks he is the greatest trip planner, when the whole trip was a nightmare, all due to lack of planning.

When can you use the 2nd day of the universal ticket? Is it within 7 days of first entry?

I have been sidetracked with my planning by moving to new role at work, but know what I need to book, just haven't done it. Will definetly some actually booking tomorrow, will have to ring HOJO's and get that extra 5% as well, it all helps.

 

[Flea]

What does everyone usually do the day before you leave?

We are leaving on a Sunday night..

So Saturday I'm at the beautician getting waxed and tanned and all that fun stuff

Sunday - I'll probably go to the gym in the morning then My sister and I (and my friend and her mum I think) are going to have our nails done.

Then I'll fluff with the luggage and packing and repacking.

Get all the stuff organised for the person who is going to be feeding the animals

check and recheck and recheck and recheck our passports and stuff

The girls will proabably watch a couple of disney dvds while we are waiting.




*******THANKS FOR THE PASSPORT REMINDERS******* I'm going today to get our passport photos taken. I feel sorry for the person who is doing the girls as they are fidgeters. Hopefully it doesn't take too long to get the right photo.