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

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Aussiegirls I think the biggest difference is in the types available. They have so many different flavours that we don't have here. Check out usafoods.com.au and that will give you an idea of what is available.
My food purchases when over there are usually ingredients for cooking, Things like peanut butter chips for biscuits, baking chocolate, graham wafer crackers and crumbs and maple essence. A trip to a US supermarket is always good fun.

I have to tell you peeps, my husband would think I was beyond mad if I told him I wanted to bring back some of these food items . I would think it was perfectly normal though, hehe.

Hey Marvel, my DH will be thrilled to hear about the Calvin Klein undies, they are his faves

My guilty pleasure is going to be Christmas decorations. I think I will have to sneak out to buy them though, hehe. I plan on starting a 4th Christmas tree in our home with all Disneyland decorations. I have set aside a tidy sum to get it started on this trip so my husband needs to watch out

Oh and I adore snowglobes and anything Jim Shore which I know they have alot of at Disneyland and I can't wait

 

[platypus67]

Ms Shuttergirl you will love shopping for Chrissy decorations. It is a passion of mine as well. I always come home with heaps. My husband gave up a long time ago on commenting on my shopping habits when in the US. He just accepts that we leave with two suitcases and come home with at least 4.

 

[kel77]

I will be searching for Red Velvet Cake

Woolworths used to stock it but haven't now for years I will be tracking it down

 

[Andona]

We've never tried to bring food home before because we preferred to go through the Green gate at Customs - we always liked the Nothing to Declare lane.

However, these days it doesn't look like it saves you much time going that way so for this trip I've decided I just have to bring some food home

For those that have brought food back before - did you have any problems at customs? I gather that processed stuff ( biscuits / chocs/ cake mixes) etc should all be OK??

Andona

 

[melbarkwith]

We actually found it pretty quick to go through the red line (at Melbourne) last time.

The customs guy asked us what type of food we had (lollies, biscuits etc) and just waved us through.

Of course, the overtired screaming 4 year old may have helped a little with that We had the same experience coming into LAX, minus the screaming 4YO. But absolutely no dramas with food.

I'm going to try to bring home a Tigger Tail for mum this time, not too sure how I'll go with that since it's not packaged.

Mel

 

[marvel]

Let me shed some light on Customs. There is no red or green anymore. All suitcases are X-rayed on return (it is a quarantine issue), which is why the queues can be super long. It just depends on how many flights are down at the same time. Food comes up easy in the x-ray so as long as you declare food on your Customs form you will have no problems. Generally the stuff that is not allowed is anything fresh ie - fruit, many seeds, live plants etc, but even if you have stuff that is not allowed as long as it is declared all they will do is take it off you.

Also declare anything of straw etc.

I brought back a suitcase full of stuff no problems. Just tick yes to food, and to animal products just in case!

Oh, beware of the alcohol limits. You are allowed 2 x 2.125litre bottles for each adult, if you have anything more, even one small little sample bottle and you get found out, you will have to pay tax on all the bottles you have or leave them behind. There is no option to pay just on the excess. Common problem. Officers don't have any discretion in this, if you are over and they see it in the x-ray you are gone, even if you declare more than the allowance you are gone. Don't have more than what is allowed. Not worth the hassle and cost.

 

[kylieh]

Let me shed some light on Customs. There is no red or green anymore. All suitcases are X-rayed on return (it is a quarantine issue), which is why the queues can be super long.

Also declare anything of straw etc..

We brought back some Mustard and Ketchup which I believe they were looking for either eggs or diary. I really can't remember which. I just checked the bottles and they contained neither. It was all packaged and sealed.

We had lollypops, straw hats from the USA, and some wooden product souvineers. None of which were a problem, the officers just inspected them, asked where we purchased them from, and waived us through.

There was one inspection point/line which didn't have an x-ray in Sydney and we were lucky enough time wise to get that one. After passport processing and getting our bag I think we were in the right spot/right time situation as that took maybe 5 minutes including inspection! The line is like a bank queue. Everyone is together in one line and at the end there was maybe 20 counters and an officer points you to the next available.

Ooh, and we also had medicine, normal over the counter and prescription from home. We declated it and one of the many officers reviewed it circled and initialled it. One mentioned that it was better to declare than not declare if you're unsure.

A little hint, keep everything that you know they need to inspect together, and keep a list of it all, including your medicines. Even if your medicines are only Panadol, Ventolin, and Mylanta, after such a long flight it's easy to forget. And remember which bag they're in Trust me.

 

[kel77]

Well we did it! We got our CBA travel cards today

We got a rate of 0.8271 - for our $8000AUD we received $6616.80USD

I'm too scared to watch the finance reports now

 

[marvel]

you've done well, now you are protected, if the dollar goes up , just use a good credit card that doesn't charge any conversion fees. I reckon it will stay pretty much around this mark for a while unless something happens to the stock market.

 

[rossip]

Hi Kel with the CBA Travel card I understand there is a fee at ATMs for withdrawls but if you buy something at a shop with it , is there a fee for that ?

 

[keptwoman]

Kel I just noticed you guys are staying at the Shangri La in Fiji. We love it there!! Make sure you go snorkelling just off the beach by the main pool as there is an area of coral with beautiful fish not far outside the rope.

 

[kel77]

I fell pretty good about the rate and there is only a week left until we leave so I can't see anything really drastic happening with the market during that period

Although...............you never know

With the CBA card they have a flat $15 start up fee and there is no % charged for your initial load up - it's 1% of re-loads though. The ATM fee is $2.50USD and there are NO fees for eftpos (in-store, online, or over the phone).

You get 2 cards and each have there own PIN. It takes 24-48hrs to activate though. I went to go online last night and kept getting told I had an "invalid" card I called the 24hour number and was told about the activation time - I wasn't told that at the bank.

The Shangr-La looks gorgeous. We don't plan to do alot there It is our relaxation time before the USA and again before we return to reality

Just from looking at the website though, Hubby and I are planning on going back. I hope it is as wonderful as it looks.

 

[Kiwianna]

for anyone travelling on Air NZ.
We arrive at LAX at 2.30pm, Terminal 2. Any idea how long it usually takes to get through immigration, customs etc?
Coming home, our flight leaves at 9.30pm. We will be using the Disney Express bus (Grayline) to the airport. To arrive at the airport at the suggested 3 hours prior to departure time, how long should we allow for the bus trip on a weekday?
Do you get priority checkin at LAX if you are travelling Premium economy?

 

[platypus67]

Customs will depend on the number of flights arriving. If you have your docs filled out correctly you should go through reasonably quickly. The line looks huge at times but always seems to move well. This is my experience anyway.
Usually when you book your shuttle service from the hotel back to the airport the person taking your booking will ask flight number and time of departure and then they will tell you a time for pick up.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

We are flying out of LA to come home at 10.30 at night. What time should be leave Anaheim to get to the airport? We are being picked up in a town car with a driver.

I was thinking 7pm??

Is that early enough.

 

[melbarkwith]

for anyone travelling on Air NZ.
We arrive at LAX at 2.30pm, Terminal 2. Any idea how long it usually takes to get through immigration, customs etc?
Coming home, our flight leaves at 9.30pm. We will be using the Disney Express bus (Grayline) to the airport. To arrive at the airport at the suggested 3 hours prior to departure time, how long should we allow for the bus trip on a weekday?
Do you get priority checkin at LAX if you are travelling Premium economy?

I Air New Zealand, we flew with them last time and they were awesome.

I think all up it took us around 40 mins to get through at LAX. BUT, they were letting people with little kids go through the US resident line, which definitely sped things up for us.

I have found that when I have called Grayline in the past to organise our departure pick up, they ask what time your flight is and suggest a time. We've always had plenty of time, I have a feeling last time it was around 5 hours before our flight.

As for check-in, I don't know. To be quite honest, last time I thought that check in at LAX was sooo disorganised. We had to check in, and then carry our bags somewhere to be x-rayed, and then do something else - can't remember.

Oh, and make sure you wear slip-on shoes for the flight home if you'll otherwise have your hands full. They make you take them off at LAX to go through security.

Mel

 

[aussiegirls]

Please give me some advice ladies and gents. I am contemplating going to see the new Cirque de Soleil show at Santa Monica Boulevard. I keep tossing up between yes I will and then no I won't AAAARRGH. If we go during the week it will cost about $240USH ish and there are seats available third row from the front but at the side. I think that if I am going to do it I need to book now because those are great seats and I don't want to spend all that money and get crap ones.

Please tell me guys, is it worth the $$$$$$? Is it something we are going to love? Also, if anyone knows, is Santa Monica boulevard ok? Will it be scary for us girls to be there at night?

xxx

 

[kylieh]

We are flying out of LA to come home at 10.30 at night. What time should be leave Anaheim to get to the airport? We are being picked up in a town car with a driver.

I was thinking 7pm??

Is that early enough.

We left at 6pm with a car, maybe too early - BUT, security was really quick and we were using the Qantas Club. We got settled the DD and had seats well before the rush. If you have Qantas Club i'D suggest the extra time so you can relax and reflect.

 

[Czardas]

Please give me some advice ladies and gents. I am contemplating going to see the new Cirque de Soleil show at Santa Monica Boulevard. I keep tossing up between yes I will and then no I won't AAAARRGH. If we go during the week it will cost about $240USH ish and there are seats available third row from the front but at the side. I think that if I am going to do it I need to book now because those are great seats and I don't want to spend all that money and get crap ones.

Please tell me guys, is it worth the $$$$$$? Is it something we are going to love? Also, if anyone knows, is Santa Monica boulevard ok? Will it be scary for us girls to be there at night?

xxx

Oh I am soooo jealous, I am a Cirque fanatic, shame the dates are for after we go
The grande chapateu seats are generally very good but you need to remember that if your seats are on the far side further away from the red zone seats and more in line with the rear yellow zones, then the majority of the show you will be watching from the side or back (as the performers move closer to the front of centre stage) although there is so much happening and going on, that the show moves in all directions but can at times be featured forward of the stage.

I usually sit in the red zone 200 but if you can try and get tickets in blue zones 200, 201 & 202, they will be fantastic seats even though they look further back, they are still close to all the action. Much better option than too far to the side.

So if your seats are closer to the red zone on the side go for it. Have you joined Cirques free membership for priority seating???? If not go to their website and join up. Their site has the tickets in your area for $95US Adult $66 Child mid week 8pm show.
I hope this helps

 

[kel77]

OMG OMG OMG 1 week until we fly out of Aus!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG


Ok, freak out over, thankyou for listening