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

[queenie82]

We were thinking of going over to Tokyo next year but were advised against because of the language barriers. Rather than to take our son it would be better for just the two of us to go to later. He was 9 when we went to Anaheim so it will be good for him to rekindle some of the memories he had back then.

I'm not sure advised you of that but I think that is a bit dramatic. I don't see why if you can go your son can't!
We speak ZERO japanese and we still managed fine. It does get frustrating at times but overall it really is great and the rides and shows are AMAZING.
You really don't have to talk to them that much because they have maps in english and signs in english. Much of the parade music is in English as well. It is the show dialogue that is in Japanese.

The main advice for going there is to go in OFF PEAK times and avoid weekends. It gets incredibly busy on the weekend. But during the week it was manageable. And one thing you WILL notice is that there are no ECVs and No Wheelchair bound guests pretty much - I saw one lady in a wheelchair - so there are less things to dodge (except the queues for the popcorn.)
Even the strollers are generally pretty small because you are NOT ALLOWED to keep the child in there to watch the parade. You SIT on the ground along the parade route.

In Tokyo city itself there are certainly more people who do speak english.
[these are links to my photos
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/labe...?authkey=Gv1sRgCIe5_MG-l73-Ng&feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/labelmer/TokyoDisney?authkey=Gv1sRgCIOa3sHGr5qrtAE&feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/labelmer/TokyoDisney1?authkey=Gv1sRgCPKuo6WVp6Ky1gE&feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/labelmer/TokyoDisney2?authkey=Gv1sRgCKCSxb-n69_WjwE&feat=directlink

 

[melbarkwith]

And I agree Melbourne Zoo is pretty darn nice! We weren't planning to go there but we got the 3 zoo pass with Werribee and it was wonderful. I love the red pandas and tree kangaroos :

We have been to San Diego Zoo approx 9 years ago, and while it was nice, we wouldn't go again.

OTOH, we have the annual pass which covers Melb Zoo, Werribee and Healesville Sanctuary and we go there ALL the time. We normally get there early enough to see the red pandas eating breakfast, and the kids love it.

 

[aussiemickeys]

Tokyo Disney Resort,

I totally agree with Queenie82 about visiting the Tokyo parks. They are awesome & we plan to visit again one day soon. Before we went we learnt a whole 3 things in Japanese - "Please", "Thank you" & "Excuse me".
We had a ball. In Tokyo itself we were actually feeling bad at times, because of how the people were all going out of thier way to understand us. Here we were in thier country & if the person we asked (in english of course) couldn't help us, they would literally run & get someone who could speak english. Never seen anything like it!
At the Disney resort itself (& we were there a whole week), I can't recall any instances where we had any major issues. We did find that we felt a bit left out when you can't understand any background conversations (hadn't realised how much this adds to the atmosphere) & some of the show narrations went right over our head. Other than that though, it was such an amazing experience. The parks are beautiful (& huge), it is so easy to get around (all signs are in both English & Japanese) & the people were so welcoming.
Two funny things we experienced were 1.Any "Western" cast members would make a special fuss over us when they spotted us & 2. Our mum (who is in her 70's) & has white hair just fascinated some of the Japanese kids - the couldn't take thier eyes off her.
If anyone gets the chance to go to Tokyo, we couln't recommend it enough.

 

[queenie82]

Two funny things we experienced were 1.Any "Western" cast members would make a special fuss over us when they spotted us & 2. Our mum (who is in her 70's) & has white hair just fascinated some of the Japanese kids - the couldn't take thier eyes off her.
If anyone gets the chance to go to Tokyo, we couln't recommend it enough.

I'm a fairly tall blue eyed blonde...so...well...you can imagine. The staff at the Disneyland Hotel would bow as I walked along but had to crane their necks a bit to look up at me first to do it.
Also Outside the Indiana Jones ride there was a "Western" CM dressed up as Indiana Jones cracking his whip! We gave him a special wave as we ran by
And then the best was at the airport for going home. There was a Jetstar, Qantas and JAL flight all leaving about the same time and so as soon as you entered the "western" food area (especially maccas) all you heard were Aussie accents!! I nearly felt home!!! (that was until I boarded my JAL flight and was served something very odd for "dinner" and offered Green Tea)

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Hey everyone, well we leave at 5.15am for the airport tomorrow morning. Everythings packed, in fact the cases have been packed since yesterday . Far too organised for my own good because today just dragged.

A shout out to Andona for putting me onto those packing cube things, they worked marvelously and I managed to get everything we are taking into a large, a medium and a small suitcase with room to spare. I then popped the small case into another medium case that we can use to fill up with all of my DH's shopping .

Qantas rang us today and told me they had cancelled our flight from Canberra to Sydney. Don't they know they are dealing with a first time international traveller who doesn't cope well with change .

Anyway, they have us on a flight 1/2 hour later which means more sleep in but a bit more of a rush to get from domestic to international and check in. I'm not going to worry about it though, I figure we'll get there in plenty of time.

I'm so excited to start this journey and although I am fairly calm (for me) I will breath a big sigh of relief when I finally sit down on that international flight.

I kind of never thought this day would come so I am so excited to finally say to you all see you on the other side and thanks for everyone's help

 

[melbarkwith]

Have fun!!!

 

[dollarmite]

Have fun Ms Shuttergirl!

Only 27 sleeps for us, and I've barely started packing. Need to get onto that soon!

 

[Jade+3]

Have a great holiday!

 

[aussiegirls]

Ms. Shuttergirl I am almost crying with excitement for you. I hope you have the most amazing time ever, will be wondering what you are doing whilst I am sitting at my desk at work for the next few days

Only 18 more sleeps here

xxx

 

[queenie82]

Ms. Shuttergirl!
Have an AMAZING time.
Give that Mouse a big ol hug and go play in his happy land.

Oh an you could take a few photos...although I'm not sure if you have used a camera before

 

[queenie82]

Just a quick question about the DL H&A contest.
Do you actually need to watch Home and Away to go in it? The info and number flashed on during Border Security and I entered but I'm not sure if you actually need to watch the show....which I don't...

 

[aussiegirls]

queenie I don't think you need to watch H&A. I don't watch it either but I did hear the ad say that they would announce the winners each day during H&A, but I suppose they would also let you know some other way as well.

 

[lovintheland]

Ms Shuttergirl I am soooooooooooo exictied for you!!!! and anyone else going soon. I wish you the all the memories that my family made. It's 5 months later and every single day all 5 of us at some point of the day say .... "wish we were.........." . It's crazy but we had the best family time ever and just want to do it again.

 

[Andona]

Hey everyone, well we leave at 5.15am for the airport tomorrow morning. Everythings packed, in fact the cases have been packed since yesterday . Far too organised for my own good because today just dragged.

A shout out to Andona for putting me onto those packing cube things,

Ms Shuttergirl, I hope you have an AMAZING time ...actually I'm just sure you will. I am so excited for you - that first trip is just sooo special I really hope all your flights go smoothly and that the family all travel well.

I was thinking of you today - as I knew you were heading off 2 days before us I'm so glad the packing cubes etc worked well for you. I'm about half way through my packing - loving my packing folders and cubes and also loving the space bags that squish everything down. I think it was Queenie that reminded me of those in a recent post - I went out to buy a couple more today

We've been looking at the long range forecasts on Weather.com - they're predicting sub-zero temps and snow showers when we're in Yellowstone Nat. Park. but, of course, we'll probably need shorts and swimming costumes for Anaheim - I just keep running over a little mantra in my head "layers..layers..layers"

Andona

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Thanks everyone, I just know it's going to be great. Will try and stop in here sometimes. Would share some pics but can't work out how to do it

 

[jacs1234]

Would share some pics but can't work out how to do it

Well you better learn how, and quick

Have an awesome time and I hope the flight change doesn't cause any hassle.

 

[jacs1234]

double post

 

[Flea]

20 sleeps here 1 more sleep and we'll be in the teens countdown and then onto single digits

Just sewing up the girls Halloween costumes for Mickey's TOT Party. For once I'm not leaving it right till the last minute.

 

[melbarkwith]

20 sleeps here 1 more sleep and we'll be in the teens countdown and then onto single digits

Just sewing up the girls Halloween costumes for Mickey's TOT Party. For once I'm not leaving it right till the last minute.

What sort of costumes are you making Flea? I'm getting so stressed about what costumes my girls need.

 

[Flea]

What sort of costumes are you making Flea? I'm getting so stressed about what costumes my girls need.

I'm making them a pirate princess costume (well that's what they call it)

It will hopefully look something like this when it's finished

I've started the skirts tonight - they take a few days work (well for me they do) and I'll hopefully start on the top this weekend