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

[Flea]

Well guys, I have a problem!

I can't find my passport, had it a couple of weeks ago when I picked up my DS's passport and now it's lost.

With getting a new passport do I need to pay the full passport fee + the 1 lost passport OR is it just a 1 lost passport fee.

I am freaking out, at least I have more than 3 months to go.....



ETA thank God!! I just found it....

Phew lucky - I hate those moments.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Well guys, I have a problem!

I can't find my passport, had it a couple of weeks ago when I picked up my DS's passport and now it's lost.

With getting a new passport do I need to pay the full passport fee + the 1 lost passport OR is it just a 1 lost passport fee.

I am freaking out, at least I have more than 3 months to go.....



ETA thank God!! I just found it....

Oh thanks goodness, what a relief. That would've made me feel sick, hehe

 

[melbarkwith]

Think Goofy's kitchen for a breakfast but I'm not sure about Ariel's Grotto, maybe a lunch???

I also need to decide other places we want to eat so I can make some PS's.

Where are you all planning on eating????

We are going to have Breakfast at Minnie's - last time we ate there on Mother's Day and it was fantastic! Also going to Ariel's Grotto for breakfast - we looked at the lunch/dinner menu and thought that the kids might have difficulty finding something they liked.

We have quite a list of other places we'd like to go to as well - Rainforest Cafe (love it there), Tortilla Jo's, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen, Carnation Cafe and on the list goes...

You can almost call about your PS ressies - how exciting!

 

[becpee]

I couldn't sleep last night after my passport dilemma, too much adrenaline I think

But checked the exchange rate today and it's gone up again, we bought some cash yesterday, and I am thinking of getting a travel card soon too, but wondering should I wait a little bit longer and see if it goes up some more

It's all a gamble...

 

[arje]

Yes it is a gamble, and you need to give yourself targets and just do it when it gets there otherwise you'll always be wondering. For example, to beat possibly 2 price rises, I bought our WDW annual passes this morning. The exchange rate was above my own 80c target and I thought doesn't really matter whatever happens from here, and because of the rumoured ticket price rise on Sunday, I just did it. So set yourself a comfortable target based on what you know can happen and just do it when it get's there.

 

[rossip]

But checked the exchange rate today and it's gone up again, we bought some cash yesterday, and I am thinking of getting a travel card soon too, but wondering should I wait a little bit longer and see if it goes up some more

It's all a gamble...

Yes it is a gamble - I've never paid as much attention to the finance report each morning

With just under 2 months to go we acted this morning and bought some travellers cheques from Australia Post , rate was 0.8060 which was more than comparible with the banks about .8070 and given Post don't charge any fees we jumped in and grabbed some .

As I posted somewhere earlier we are not doing the travellex card due to all the fees instead taking Cheques and cash - its just all too confusing

I think we will get our Disney tickets tomorrow or Friday too given the rumours of a price rise .

 

[rossip]

Sorry double post Too much excitement happening here !!!!

 

[Jade+3]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but CBA have a new travelcard. The rate yesterday was 0.8128. It is a prepaid Mastercard. $15 fee to set it up, 1% reload fee (inital load is free), no transaction fees, ATM fee 2.50USD.

 

[rossip]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but CBA have a new travelcard. The rate yesterday was 0.8128. It is a prepaid Mastercard. $15 fee to set it up, 1% reload fee (inital load is free), no transaction fees, ATM fee 2.50USD.

Is anyone intending to do like us and just take travellers cheques ? I'm a bit worried now as it seems everyone is taking these travellex type cards ?

 

[becpee]

I just had to come in and shout from the rooftops, I am soooo excited!! LOL
I just booked MGM Las Vegas for less than $400 AUD including taxes for 4 nights!!
We were initially looking at over $400 + taxes USD for the same nights, booked through Hotwire, what an awesome deal!!

 

[keptwoman]

Is anyone intending to do like us and just take travellers cheques ? I'm a bit worried now as it seems everyone is taking these travellex type cards ?

We are taking cash and our standard credit cards. We aren't bothering with travellers cheques OR special currency cards.

 

[lovintheland]

Hi there, called us "old fashioned" but we always use travellers cheques, plus our trust credit cards LOL!!!! and take some cash for tips etc. Plus we take the kids money in cash. We finally worked out a good system this trip for all of their spending. Last trip we just had their money in with ours and we all lost track of who owed what etc. This time we kept the 3 kids wallets in the safe with their money in and at the end of each day they would give us what they owed. We have three kids and eldest DD 14 had saved $500+ and the other two had several hundred to spend on souveniers. It just worked better than them (or us for that matter) carrying their money around all day.

 

[gogo65]

Haven't checked in for a couple of days and I feel like I have just read a novel to catch up.

We are also just taking cash and using credit cards.
we also just use our normal ATM card if we need more cash, costs a little more, but not really worth the hassle of travelers cheques, travel cards etc.

One more thing for anyone going to Vegas, there is a website called smartervegas.com if you register they will send you emails with special codes, we got a great deal for NYE through them. Also as you are booking direct with the hotel if a cheaper code comes out, you can change your reservation, no charge

 

[aussiegirls]

Can someone please explain travellers cheques to me? This is what I understand. You buy them from Post Office at the current exchange rate, they look like cheques but you have to take them to a bank on the other end and they give you cash to their value. Is that right? You can't use them to buy stuff can you?

xxx

 

[keptwoman]

That's the general gist, except you can buy them at banks and currency stores as well.
You can take them to the bank at the other end, most hotels will cash them or accept them as payment and some (not many) tourist shops will accept them as payment.

 

[melbarkwith]

We bought travellers cheques to cover the amount of our accommodation (Hojo will accept them as payment).
It saves us worrying about changes in the dollar, and I don't have to think about it at all.

 

[aussiegirls]

So if you don't use them all can you get your money back when you get home?

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Travellers cheques do sound a little old fashioned to me, but I haven't ever travelled overseas before. I think they would be perfectly fine if that is what you are used to.

 

[Czardas]

We just take cash and then use our atm cards and finally credit cards as last resort.
I find travellers cheques outdated but if it gives you peace of mind then use them.

Our bank has told us to make sure our credit cards are pinned as we are not able to sign for them overseas anymore. So double cheque what your banks rules are. This is for our mastercards from Commonwealth Bank only.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Ooooh Czardas, I love your new avatar.