Can we squeeze Disneyland in?? my May 2014 PTR/TR

[Fairy Floss]

Exciting plans! I'd love to hear about your Boston experience, I'll be there six months after you keep NOLA on your list for next time, as well as the wider Louisiana, it's such a beautiful area. And, I saw on another thread your mention of a TDL trip as well?? What a year!

After the DISmeet where you showed us your Japan photos , we all needed to go
Anyway... Jetstar are starting direct flights from Melbourne to Narita - and...
I managed to get sale fares for Sept school holidays.
This is awesome because
1) DH cannot get more leave from work
2) DD can come - she's a teacher, so can only come in the holidays
DD is totally Disney obsessed - she even used Disney font on her wedding invitations.
Every time I go to visit the mouse, my joy is dampened by the guilt I feel knowing how much she wants to go

 

[Fairy Floss]

New York

Sat - arrive JFK around 5
Was considering catching the train to Times Square - but am now leaning towards taxi
Need to book in quickly - shower and change because we have tickets to see Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella with Fran Drescher as the Stepmother at the Broadway theatre

Sun
Get up and out of the hotel early to go to Top of the Rock for 8am opening
Then do the tour of the Rockefeller Center
Next - Radio City Music Hall
And then to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space museum
Lastly, hop on the evening Circle Line Harbor Lights cruise

Mon
Start off with the walk on Broadway tour
Then down to Battery Park for Shearwater Schooner cruise
After this, over to Grand Central Station and the Chrysler Building
Finally, the Empire State Building for sunset

Tues
Go to Macy's on 34th St, then do the Central Park walking tour @ 12
Afternoon at FAO Schwartz (toy store)
In the evening, we have tickets to Aladdin at the New Amstedam Theatre

Wed
No plans for the morning (yet)
Have a midday reservation for the lobby tour of the Woolworth building
Then back to collect bags from the hotel because we're leaving mid afternoon by train from Penn station to go to Boston

 

[FireflyFi]

Anyway... Jetstar are starting direct flights from Melbourne to Narita - and...
I managed to get sale fares for Sept school holidays.

That's great! And how good have the Japan airfares been. I'm seeing regular sales with Jetstar for under $600 return. I'm hoping they stay this low into next year.

Did you pre book your ife and food? They had ipads for ife when I went and not very many on hand if you hadn't already booked. And I didn't bother booking food as I flew from Cairns and its only a 7.5 hour flight. From Melbourne I probably would. Again, it seemed if you hadn't booked in advance, there was pretty much no meals available.

And your NY itinerary looks amazing! I'm seeing a big emphasis on architecture there...?

 

[Fairy Floss]

I booked food + ff points + luggage
Don't worry about IFE - just load up my own ipad

DH is a car fanatic - he really wants to go to a nascar race - but for the 2nd time - it's just too hard to fit in
DH also loves Art Deco - trying to keep him happy

 

[Tashinwdw]

Sounds amazing, You will love NY, I dont know of anyone that has been there and not fallen in love with the place. Cant wait to see your trip report.

Do keep New Orleans on your must do list - it is a beautiful city its so full of life, in that way it is similar to NY.

 

[Fairy Floss]

Boston
Arrive Wed evening - book into hotel
Go to Skywalk observatory (50th floor of Prudential building)

Thurs
Walk Newbury St & window shop
Visit Isabella Stewart Gardner museum
Have tickets for 4pm baseball game @ Fenway Park

Fri
VERY early start
7am flight to Buffalo for Niagara Falls tour
On arrival back to Boston - straight to the conference opening reception

Sat
DH is booked to go on a tour of Newport (he's been watching High Society to prepare )
I'll be at the conference

Sun
I'm at the conference again
DH not sure what he'll explore today - maybe do the freedom trail
Dinner at Museum of Fine Arts

Mon
Maybe explore Waterfront area
Leave after lunch to fly to LA

 

[PrincessInOz]

Nice. Enjoy Boston and Niagara.

 

[elphaba91]

I booked food + ff points + luggage Don't worry about IFE - just load up my own ipad DH is a car fanatic - he really wants to go to a nascar race - but for the 2nd time - it's just too hard to fit in DH also loves Art Deco - trying to keep him happy

Have you booked your hotel for New York yet? We are staying at the a Hotel Edison - a gorgeous looking Art Deco hotel right in Times Square!

 

[Fairy Floss]

Have you booked your hotel for New York yet? We are staying at the a Hotel Edison - a gorgeous looking Art Deco hotel right in Times Square!

A friend of mine always stays there
She says my DH would love it
I get a good deal with a large chain I have loyalty points with - so am using them
Will be sure to visit the Edison though

 

[zanzibar138]

Boston is the really place in the US my DH has ever expressed an interest in seeing with no prompting. I'll be very interested to hear what you think of it!

 

[Fairy Floss]

I thought I had (over) planned this enough
But now am thinking of using the subway to get to hotel
Looks very easy - airtrain to Jamaica then E line to 7th ave - short walk. Big $ saving + potential time saving as we arrive around 5 and have theatre tix for 8
Also thinking that I would rather do Top of the Rock at sunset to SEE the Empire State Building rather than be at ESB ... Then go to ESB at opening (shorter queues)
Any thoughts?

 

[zanzibar138]

I did a very brief amount of research on NY when it looked like we might be having a long layover there. From what I read, TOTR is much easier to get into, so you might have the right idea doing that at sunset and leaving ESB for first thing

 

[FireflyFi]

potential time saving

And potential nerve saving - the drivers in NY are crazy! Lol we did have an airport transfer by car when we arrived, but spent the rest of the time getting around on subway, and it was very easy.

Also thinking that I would rather do Top of the Rock at sunset to SEE the Empire State Building rather than be at ESB ... Then go to ESB at opening (shorter queues)
Any thoughts?

We did this. So beautiful! From memory, I didn't think the view of ESB blew me away, because the building is a bit to the side. I did love the view of central park, though. You can see the whole thing right in front of you. I haven't been to ESB, but we loved the whole Rockefeller Center, the lobby is impressive, there's shopping and restaurants, and if you go at night the courtyard as all lit up and so pretty.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Definitely do ESB first thing. The crowds can get crazy later on in the day.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

We did TOR for sunset - bought tiz that am for that pm and I'd third do that and then ESB early-though have to say ESB on the 4th July late (1hr or so before closing) was empty.

 

[Fairy Floss]

Definitely do ESB first thing. The crowds can get crazy later on in the day.

And potential nerve saving - the drivers in NY are crazy! Lol we did have an airport transfer by car when we arrived, but spent the rest of the time getting around on subway, and it was very easy. We did this. So beautiful! From memory, I didn't think the view of ESB blew me away, because the building is a bit to the side. I did love the view of central park, though. You can see the whole thing right in front of you. I haven't been to ESB, but we loved the whole Rockefeller Center, the lobby is impressive, there's shopping and restaurants, and if you go at night the courtyard as all lit up and so pretty.

We did TOR for sunset - bought tiz that am for that pm and I'd third do that and then ESB early-though have to say ESB on the 4th July late (1hr or so before closing) was empty.

Thanks ladies
I've locked it in

 

[Fairy Floss]

Las Vegas
Not too planned for here ....
Arriving early Tuesday morning
Staying mid strip
Plan to explore Venetian, Paris, New York New York, maybe pick up cheap(er) tix for a show tonight
Wed
Up really, really early for helicopter to Grand Canyon
Shop at outlet mall on our return
Try to rest in the afternoon
Have tix to see Shania Twain @ Colosseum tonight
Thurs
Trip to Hoover Dam today, free time in the evening
Flying out stupid early Fri

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Just caught up with your PTR. Everything sounds so wonderful. And the best bit is that you don't have long to wait.

 

[Fairy Floss]

Just caught up with your PTR. Everything sounds so wonderful. And the best bit is that you don't have long to wait.

19 days!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Sounds like you're packing it in at Vegas. Have fun. Not long to go.