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

[dave73]

Posted in error.....see below

 

[dave73]

I ahd the same feelings prior to departure , I was worried our kids wouldnt like it since they hadn't grown up with Disney characters , i was also worried they would say Movieworld was better

Last year on a shuttle we overheard another Australian couple talking to another American family. They said something similar to "Oh our kids are in their early teens and were bored of Disneyland and didn't like it, we have parks in QLD on a place called the Gold Coast, those parks **** all over the parks here, you have to go there and see how good it is"

He just went on with how the DL parks aren't really much and after a couple of hours they had seen enough and you have to go to the Gold Coast to see what a real theme park is about etc....

Would love to see that American family on their big annual trip to Movieworld on the Gold Coast instead of Disneyland at Christmas, I guarantee you will see some really dissapointed kids...

I couldn't believe what was hearing.....but each to their own.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Hi everyone. We just got back. We are tired but happy. We had a wonderful time. Pretty much everything went smoothly and Disneyland was all I had dreamed it would be and more (don't worry Becpee).

So much to do in the next few days but I hope to get together some sort of trip report within the next week.

 

[melbarkwith]

Last year on a shuttle we overheard another Australian couple talking to another American family. They said something similar to "Oh our kids are in their early teens and were bored of Disneyland and didn't like it, we have parks in QLD on a place called the Gold Coast, those parks **** all over the parks here, you have to go there and see how good it is"

He just went on with how the DL parks aren't really much and after a couple of hours they had seen enough and you have to go to the Gold Coast to see what a real theme park is about etc....

Wow! Some people...

We went to the Gold Coast last year, and I was comparing *everything* to Disneyland. DH got sick of hearing that DL is cleaner, DL has more atmosphere, DL is more FUN etc. There is just no comparison.

Although my MIL did try to tell us that the Gold Coast is just as good as Disneyland, yeah that would be why we are putting up with a 14 hour plane flight to get to DL

Ms Shuttergirl - glad to hear that you had a great time. Can't wait to hear all about it.

6 days to go here

 

[darren123]

Wow! Some people...

We went to the Gold Coast last year, and I was comparing *everything* to Disneyland. DH got sick of hearing that DL is cleaner, DL has more atmosphere, DL is more FUN etc. There is just no comparison.

Although my MIL did try to tell us that the Gold Coast is just as good as Disneyland, yeah that would be why we are putting up with a 14 hour plane flight to get to DL

Ms Shuttergirl - glad to hear that you had a great time. Can't wait to hear all about it.

6 days to go here

Ms Shuttergirl welcome back

We were yearly pass holders to Movie world and the way that Movie world has had some cutbacks like opening the rides half an hour after the park opens and staff taking there time with rides that you are standing in line for over an hour ( If a ride can have less runs per hour they save on maintenance ) no thank you over the last 5 years to us the Gold Coast Parks are getting worse I now would rather go to Disneyland Knotts Berry Farm Universal Studios and Magic Mountain any day. Just before our yearly pass expire my brother and his family was here for a holiday we went to Movie world and they spent over $600for the day for a family of 5 I felt ashamed that they had to spend that much money for a day entertainment at a park that does not have that much going for it. As I will not renew our yearly pass I am saving that money to go to Disneyland

 

[queenie82]

Last year on a shuttle we overheard another Australian couple talking to another American family. They said something similar to "Oh our kids are in their early teens and were bored of Disneyland and didn't like it, we have parks in QLD on a place called the Gold Coast, those parks **** all over the parks here, you have to go there and see how good it is"

He just went on with how the DL parks aren't really much and after a couple of hours they had seen enough and you have to go to the Gold Coast to see what a real theme park is about etc....

Would love to see that American family on their big annual trip to Movieworld on the Gold Coast instead of Disneyland at Christmas, I guarantee you will see some really dissapointed kids...

I couldn't believe what was hearing.....but each to their own.

WHAT!!!!
geez...
I grew up going on Queensland holidays every year or 2 and sure the parks are fun but they aren't anything like Disney parks.

A few years after our 96 trip to Disneyland (must have been 99/00 summer) we went to Queensland and there was a big stuff up with tickets and we ended up meeting up with a head honcho at Movieworld and talking to him about things.
We discussed the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland and how amazing it was and how much we would love to have a ride of this quality in a local park. He basically said that they would never be able to afford anything close to that.
The Wild Wild West ride was brand new and he said how this was a very expensive ride to them. At the time it was a pretty cool ride...and to me the best they had...but it still wasn't anything close to Disney.
It was really nice talking to him and he sympathised that they are no match for Disney but they do try and get the best rides they can.

The biggest problem with Queensland is lack of maintenance. Lethal Weapon is nauseating now and downright painful.

The WATERPARKS are up to scratch now and they have rides that the WDW water parks don't have. But I still love Blizzard Beach for atmosphere and the chairlift!!

I hope that family didn't take that advice!!!! How disappointing

 

[Kalice]

Speaking of the Gold Coast, just wondering if anyone has done both Seaworld Gold Coast and Seaworld San Diego? We are considering purchasing a SoCal pass sooo really just want to know if it would be worthwhile? We will probably give the zoo a miss, as we've been to Singapore, Melbourne and of course Perth zoo in the last couple of years.

 

[dave73]

Speaking of the Gold Coast, just wondering if anyone has done both Seaworld Gold Coast and Seaworld San Diego? We are considering purchasing a SoCal pass sooo really just want to know if it would be worthwhile? We will probably give the zoo a miss, as we've been to Singapore, Melbourne and of course Perth zoo in the last couple of years.

We have been to Seaworld Gold Coast and SanDiego. The Gold Coast Seworld is pretty good in comparison, though smaller and does not have Shamu.

I highly recommend Seaworld San Diego. It's a beautiful park, some cool rides and the shows are fantastic. You need to see the killer whale show featuring Shamu, worth admission alone. We went last year and will probably go again this year. I have heard the Zoo isn't that great and Melbourne is even better.

You won't regret it and you can spend a whole day there, only thing is plan the shows you want to see.

If you are staying in Anaheim there are tours including admission, so it's a long day but fun.

 

[queenie82]

We have done Sea World SanDiego, Orlando and Gold Coast.
I highly recommend both Orlando and San Diego.
They have wonderful shows and some rides. You can certainly fill a day just getting the shows done. You may notice the seal show is similar...because we copied it...but I found theirs better.

If you are going around Christmas there may also be a Christmas show. When we went to Orlando at the start of December 07 they had a special Night Shamu Show with laser lights and it was beautiful! San Diego may or may not have this but it would be worth checking.

I wouldn't worry about the zoo. I found it quite disappointing.

 

[marvel]

You really cannot compare gold coast theme parks to disney. We happened to do both this year, as we didn't plan to go to disney at all so went to the Gold Coast in April. WHat a disappointed, especially Movieworld. We found it run down, Lethal Weapon is dangerous to your health, i totally agree. We vowed, the kids as well, that we wouldn't spend any more money on the theme parks in Australia, we may still go on relaxing holiday but won't spend any money on the theme parks.

Welcome back Ms. Shuttergirl, glad you had such a great trip.

I agree with the Sea World reviews, we loved San Diego. Is there much difference to the florida one? We are thinking of doing that next time, or maybe Discovery Cove. ANyone been to Discovery cove??

 

[Kalice]

Thanks for your responses. We have a few nights in San Diego, hence the reason for the Sea World question. We went to a few of the Gold Coast theme parks in 2008. We enjoyed them, but wouldn't make the trip from Perth again specifically to visit the parks. If we feel inclined to do a cheaper trip we tend to make our way to Bali (only has Waterbom park) for a relaxing holiday. We considered Hong Kong a couple of times, but for the cost of the flight, it's not a great deal more to head to the US.

When we go to Orlando we only have 7 full days so are concentrating on WDW and not bothering with the other parks, as we would like some down time.

 

[jacs1234]

Speaking of Australian parks, has any one been to Australia zoo? Did you like it. I loved it but only because I was expecting a run down reptile park We were lucky enough to see Steve Irwin while we were there.

OK Ms shuttergirl. You've been home long enough now We need a trip report with loads of photos.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Speaking of Australian parks, has any one been to Australia zoo? Did you like it. I loved it but only because I was expecting a run down reptile park We were lucky enough to see Steve Irwin while we were there.

OK Ms shuttergirl. You've been home long enough now We need a trip report with loads of photos.

Jacs we have been to the Australia Zoo 5 times and love it everytime. We were never lucky enough to see Steve or anyone else for that matter but we still enjoy it.

As for photos and a trip report, not sure whether a day and a half classifies as "home long enough" but I do plan to do something soon. I've walked back into a heavy workload so it's hard to juggle clients and what I would really prefer to be doing, haha.

I can't get photos to load on here for some reason so will probably create an online gallery on my own website and give you guys a link. But I will write a trip report soon, promise.

 

[rossip]

Speaking of Australian parks, has any one been to Australia zoo? Did you like it. I loved it but only because I was expecting a run down reptile park We were lucky enough to see Steve Irwin while we were there.
.

We loved Australia's Zoo , thought it was great , a lot of interactivity which you dont get elsewhere , where else can your kids pat a crocidile ??? OK so it wa sa baby one and had its mouth taped but you just cant do that elsewhere.

The day we were there we saw Steve , John Howard (PM) and The Dixie Chicks

Great day it was

 

[becpee]

I'm just sticking my head in to say tomorrow I will be doing the single digit dance

Excited!!

 

[queenie82]

You really cannot compare gold coast theme parks to disney. We happened to do both this year, as we didn't plan to go to disney at all so went to the Gold Coast in April. WHat a disappointed, especially Movieworld. We found it run down, Lethal Weapon is dangerous to your health, i totally agree. We vowed, the kids as well, that we wouldn't spend any more money on the theme parks in Australia, we may still go on relaxing holiday but won't spend any money on the theme parks.

Welcome back Ms. Shuttergirl, glad you had such a great trip.

I agree with the Sea World reviews, we loved San Diego. Is there much difference to the florida one? We are thinking of doing that next time, or maybe Discovery Cove. ANyone been to Discovery cove??

We didn't do discovery cove. When they first started the dolphin encounters at SeaWorld Gold Coast we did the blue lagoon on there. It was $50pp and you had to bolt as soon as the park opened to the counter near the ship and mini lagoon just past the ski show lake to book.

I like both SWSD and SWO. They are different experiences because although there are similarities they are still great. The Orlando one we actually spent 2 days at because we had a ticket that had that included that for no extra. You can do it all in a day though...but it is a full day.

Sea World Orlando is much bigger and has a 2 roller coasters. Kraken and the new one Manta. [So certainly will be a bigger hit for older kids/teens]
They both have Journey to Atlantis which is a boat/flume ride sort of like the Bermuda triangle ride (in style) and the GC. The Orlando one is more themed though and the 'complete' experience. It is a bit of a funny ride and be prepared to get WET. I wore jeans to SWO and they were wet for the entire day
SWSD has a rapids ride and a skyride (like the GC).
Both have the Skytower which is this rising viewing platform thing.
Both have a kiddy ride section but SWSD doesn't have a waterfront section.
Both have the Sea lion and Shamu shows
Both have a pets based show (pets doing tricks etc)
I had a quick look and it seems SWSD does NOT currently have a night time or Christmas show but Orlando does. I believe SWSD WILL be getting some next year though.

They both have much the same big animal exhibits (shamu, manatees, belugas, penguins) but SWSD has more small aquariums as well.

Anyone going to San Francisco and has time Monterey Bay Aquarium might be worth considering if you love Sea Otters like me It isn't huge but I like it.

 

[jacs1234]

As for photos and a trip report, not sure whether a day and a half classifies as "home long enough" but I do plan to do something soon.

It's already too long for us

 

[Aust]

We went to Disneyland 2 years ago, and are just back from a trip to Qld where we went to Dreamworld, Movieworld and Whitewater world. No comparison! All we did at Dreamworld was complain how bad it was in comparison to Disneyland, and I hadn't realised on my previous visit (prior to Disneyland) how many try-hard DL features Dreamworld has. Movieworld was much better but still nowhere near DL.

 

[jacs1234]

Those of us going soon. Did you notice the new parade we'll get to see with Princess Tiana? That's a little bonus for us. It's showing from Nov 6th till Jan 3. woohoo

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I really wish we could get this thread moved over to the Aussie section.