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

[aussiegirls]

Yaaaay Andona Have an awesome time. Our trips will overlap a bit

Marvel, just curious about all the food you brought back. We are planning on bringing back plenty of food, mostly smililar stuff to what you did. Did you spend heaps of money on all that food, or was that a bargain too?

As for $2.50 runners How good is that

xxxx

 

[marvel]

have a great trip andona, i am sure you will.

 

[queenie82]

Hojo review sounds pretty much the same as what I had heard over the years and is why we have never stayed there.
We live (and have lived) on a busy road my whole life which has semi trailers and other traffic whizzing past and then slamming on the brakes for the traffic lights at night. But it is a rhythm I am used to and can sleep through.
Anywhere else I will NOT tolerate traffic noise. I just can't sleep with it.
I especially will NOT tolerate AC noise. If that AC rattles out I go.
We have stayed at Carousel 4 out of 6 times. Our fav now is the Fairfield Inn, Disneyland side/end room Quiet, comfortable. Downside is no microwave...but regular food is so cheap I'm fine with it nowadays.
Anyway (sorry I'm a bit cranky...night roadworks at the moment round the corner)

So...I can't wait to hear more about your trip Marvel!!!!
Was it REALLY stinking hot. That is what I heard...
How was the Halloween edition of Space Mountain (if you rode it)?
Whereabouts in vegas did you stay? Did you see the beautiful Bellagio Fountains...sigh...I love them
Love the comment on food. We love to bring Quakers oats home It is such a simple food but the fruit flavours and the low sugar other flavours are soooo good. I don't eat any other American cereal bar some granolas and muesli. The rest are sugar coated sugar.
We also stock up on Ghiradelli chocolate and Hershey...hehe

Re CPK...was there one near DL??? I have been to the CPK in sydney which was wonderful but a bit pricy. We specialise in Dennys Grand Slams

Those are wonderful specials! We used to get great ones at the nike factory outlets but their styles have been so weird lately we haven't seen anything good. I'm going to hunt for some nice Tevas, Keens and Salomons though while we are there.

Nice to see you back having had a good time

Oh and if you see this before you go have an AMAZING trip Andona

 

[Jade+3]

Marvel, what is steak rub??

There is a CPK at Garden Walk. I have never tried it, so another place to add to the list. One thing I did not like about Cheesecake Factory is that they do not have a childrens menu (well, the one in San Diego didn't).

We stay in Building 2 at HoJo's and have not had any issues with traffic noise. Last time we were on the top floor and I am sure I could hear the odd plane at night.

I have been looking at a friends photo's of the halloween fireworks. They look awesome.

 

[bumbershoot]

...we have nothing in Australia that competes for the quality of food we ate in general in the US.

My hubby would absolutely faint at that. He just spent 11 days in Canberra and Auckland for work, and the food, he said, was INCREDIBLE. So real, not fake...in the States you have to worry about all the non-food JUNK they are putting in it..the simplest things have nonsense like lab-created high fructose corn syrup (Uncrustables, bread, hamburger buns, and of course the sodas...he tried to bring me back a cane sugar Coke from NZ but forgot that it was in his carryon and it was confiscated). We have just absolute non-food nonsense in so much of our "food" here..for him to go to two countries that had such good, real, unadulterated food...it was just blissful.


My husband was very impressed with your corner of the world! He met so many people and everyone was so genuine, so lovely...he can't wait until we can make it down there as a family.

He also loved your coffee (said that coffee in Canberra was better than in NZ, but it's ALL better than what we have here, even though we live right near Seattle, coffee-corner of the universe, it sometimes seems), and brought some back for me, along with some NZ-made, and quite delicious, chocolate.

 

[darren123]

Soo happy to hear you has a great time Marvel
Can not wait for your trip report

 

[queenie82]

My hubby would absolutely faint at that. He just spent 11 days in Canberra and Auckland for work, and the food, he said, was INCREDIBLE. So real, not fake...in the States you have to worry about all the non-food JUNK they are putting in it..the simplest things have nonsense like lab-created high fructose corn syrup (Uncrustables, bread, hamburger buns, and of course the sodas...he tried to bring me back a cane sugar Coke from NZ but forgot that it was in his carryon and it was confiscated). We have just absolute non-food nonsense in so much of our "food" here..for him to go to two countries that had such good, real, unadulterated food...it was just blissful.


My husband was very impressed with your corner of the world! He met so many people and everyone was so genuine, so lovely...he can't wait until we can make it down there as a family.

He also loved your coffee (said that coffee in Canberra was better than in NZ, but it's ALL better than what we have here, even though we live right near Seattle, coffee-corner of the universe, it sometimes seems), and brought some back for me, along with some NZ-made, and quite delicious, chocolate.

I sort of agree with what he means about the food but I do have a GREAT deal of fun eating all sorts of things we don't have at home...maybe because it is full of all this stuff it tastes better

I do love going to dennys and the like but not so much for the quality but for the yummy factor. I LOVE Cracker Barrel I'm sure it is terrible for my health but after 20 hours of flying nothing beats a Dennys grand slam at midnight! I couldn't get that at home. Bring on the corn syrup!
Your Krispy Kreme's are also a HEAP better. I got a krispy kreme a couple weeks ago here and it was just so icky...and there are NO stores you can get them fresh unlike the US where some places do.
I do love good old Aussie food generally though (it is just that it is more expensive.) The best thing we have (to me) is FRESH FRUIT!!! This is what I miss the most in the US....me and my fruit. Although the oranges are good in Florida and California!

I also agree on the coffee front but only in part. In the Italian run cafes - their coffee is AMAZING. Near my work there is also a Toby's Estate cafe which has fantastic coffee and you can buy grinders and mixed blends and all sorts of things. They take it very seriously.
What I DOOOO love about the US is the RANGE of blended flavoured coffees at Starbucks. Gingerbread frappachino anyone I also love being about to get frappachinos in glass bottles at the supermarket! I'm easy to please. I don't take my coffee very seriously

Anyway...I'm so glad he had a good time and managed to bring back some samples

Oh and there is one thing that I can ONLY get in the US - BAGELS!!! Proper Bagels. The sad excuses for Bagels in this country are terrible.

I guess we love what we can't get at home....sigh...
This is why I'm sooooo happy Ben and Jerry's is on its way

_____________________
Now why I actually popped online just now is because I got an email about Toys R Us (our ones) having Halloween stuff. I don't know why they keep bringing it in because most of it ends up really reduced...but for those travelling soon it might be useful??? I'm not sure if all the travellers for a Disney Halloween have left yet???

 

[marvel]

we found the food both in the restaurants and supermarket cheap. We bought a slab of water from wal-mart for $3.99 (arrowhead springwater) now I have never seen any water of any type in any supermarket here for anything like that price. The kids love pop tarts so we have a few boxes of those ($2.00 a box, 10 in a box), the cereal (which is all sugar but nice as a treat, like captain crunch and lucky charms around $3 a box.) It is more about the type of stuff we just cannot get, if you get a chance try cheddar cheese bugles, absolutely hooked on those

Hauted Space mountain was fantastic, really adds to an already unbelievable ride. the new fireworks also amazing.

Oh, our coffee and bread are better across the board. But once you get a slice of chocolate cake from CHeesecake Factory for $7, you will see what I mean about the food in the USA. Wonderful.

 

[Kimmym]

You guys are a wealth of knowledge! Have been reading this thread and finally have registered...

We are off to LA on the 30th October staying in B.hills for a few nights, then up to San Fransico, then to Vegas and then to DL!.. I'm going with the girls! - God knows how my DH 'let' me go.. but he had no interest in the USA until i booked my flights so now we are going back next year with the kids! lol

I've got so many notes from you all but i had two questions... whats CPK?? & wheres the best outlet shopping? My daughter has a shoe obsession like her mother... lol

Its been so nice reading about everyone's trips! Very exciting!

 

[aussiegirls]

Hi Kimmy,

Welcome. Not long till you go now When you say you are going with "the girls" do you mean your girlfriends or your daughters. I am going with my girls - they are my daughters

CPK = California Pizza Kitchen.

Outlet shopping I can't help you with a great deal. We are going on an organised tour to some outlet malls around LA. They all sound great but I haven't actually been yet so I can't say whether or not they are as good as they sound. I hear there is some great outlet shopping around Vegas though

xxx

 

[gogo65]

You guys are a wealth of knowledge! Have been reading this thread and finally have registered...

We are off to LA on the 30th October staying in B.hills for a few nights, then up to San Fransico, then to Vegas and then to DL!.. I'm going with the girls! - God knows how my DH 'let' me go.. but he had no interest in the USA until i booked my flights so now we are going back next year with the kids! lol

I've got so many notes from you all but i had two questions... whats CPK?? & wheres the best outlet shopping? My daughter has a shoe obsession like her mother... lol

Its been so nice reading about everyone's trips! Very exciting!

Kimmym

How exciting for you.
The outlet shopping in Vegas is meant to be fantastic, so I would save your shopping till there.

 

[Kimmym]

No leaving my kids at home Going with my Aunt and a friend - cant wait!!

So i have to try this CPK??

I dont think 2.5weeks will be long enough..

 

[aussiemickeys]

We love CPK as well. The thin crust pizzas are yummy & you must try Red Velvet Cake if you haven't before. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!!

 

[Saskiwi]

If you are driving from LA to Vegas there are giant outlet malls at Cabazon which you go past en route. (also the wonderful Wheel Inn diner from the movie "Pee Wee's Big Adventure", but I know that may be an acquired taste....!)

there are also outlet malls in Las Vegas - just google 'em

We love indulging in American "junk" food as part of the treat of a US holiday, but agree with Bumbershoot - some of the ingredients are just plain scary!

I think the quality of basic food is MUCH better in NZ/Aust; fruit, veg, coffee (that's a major food group right?) etc etc.

We couldn't get over how sweet all the bread was - and giant sodas with everything is a killer weight wise... but we do love the Krispy Kremes, Inn n Out burgers, real American barbecue ribs, and those trashy, trashy evil desserts... double-fudge everything baby!!

To all of you about to depart, have fun - looking forward to hearing all about your trip Flea - love the costume!! We have been studying pics from miceage.com of the Halloween decorations and my boys are busting to go bnack to DL at Halloween on our next visit (probably not til 2011 )

 

[Ihaveamickeymousekid]

Not long to go for us now either.

We picked up all of our travel documents and tickets yesterday so thats making it seem more real.

Better get those suitcases out soon.

The dollar just keeps getting better but we already have all our money so i am going to stop looking.

 

[melbarkwith]

The dollar just keeps getting better but we already have all our money so i am going to stop looking.

I keep watching the dollar too, but I have a little more $$ I want to get. 88c is awesome, 2 months ago I was thrilled to see 81c We still have 3 weeks and 4 days to go, but I'm starting to collect things we need to take.

 

[queenie82]

Oh the bread in america
It is inedible.
In Maui we found a Whole Foods type supermarket (can't remember the name...they have more organic type stuff as well as regular) which had the closest to regular bread I have ever found.
Generally speaking if you are looking for GOOD American food in a supermarket type setting Whole Foods is the best. I'm not sure where they all are. We went to the one in the Time Warner Building in NYC but I'll have to try and find one near WDW or DL.

Welcome Kimmy!!!
I hope you have a wonderful trip.
I don't know how much time you have but there are 2 things to do near San Francisco.
1. The Jelly Belly Factory - http://www.jellybelly.com/visit_jelly_belly/california_factory_index.aspx
The tour is free and you get free samples. Plus they sell "mistake" jelly bellys cheaply.
Step into our factory and smell the aroma of chocolate, apricot, cinnamon or pineapple, whatever is being cooked up that day. A visit to our candy making factory in Fairfield, Calif., located about an hour's drive north of San Francisco, is a sugary delight.
2. The Charles M Shultz Museum - http://www.schulzmuseum.org
From San Francisco take Highway 101 North. Santa Rosa is about 60 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge (one hour by car, depending on traffic).

Some of the best outlets are indeed in Vegas. Indeed just google outlets in each city you visit.
If you are looking for cheap Disney then go to one (or more) of these!
http://www.ams-liquidation.com/listings.aspx

 

[becpee]

Well, a month to go for us, very very excited and getting more so every day!
Can't believe Marvel is back already, time goes fast wherever you are

DS3 has been playing up a bit so we are trying to change his behaviour, I can see it now, him throwing a massive tantrum and Mickey Mouse standing there in utter shock

 

[melbarkwith]

Oh the bread in america
It is inedible.

Generally speaking if you are looking for GOOD American food in a supermarket type setting Whole Foods is the best. I'm not sure where they all are.

There is a Whole Foods at The Grove in LA. We walked in there, and then turned around and walked out because it was just packed! Food did look great though.

Becpee - I have one of those 3YO at the moment too. She is just not sleeping AT.ALL and we are all exhausted. Between that, her motor mouth and the attitude The plane trip should be interesting

 

[aussiegirls]

becpee I doubt Mickey will be shocked at all. I am sure we are the ones who would be shocked if we knew all the things that poor mouse has had to see

Hmmmmm whilst I am not surprised about the bread comments I am a bit worried about not being able to eat "real" bread. I don't want to eat bread that tastes like cake, will be eating enough cake as it is

xxxx