Disney World advice for an Aussie

[jettgrrlaust]

Hi all,

I’m an Aussie who will be staying in LA for a month before I travel down to Orlando on November 10th. I’ve been to Disneyland Anaheim quite a few times but this is my first time down to Disney World, so excited. My friends and I will be staying at Art of Animation for a few nights and then moving to Port Orleans Riverside for a few nights before moving onto Universal.

I have a bunch of questions so I will try to break it down in to points. It's regarding extra persons, moving from hotel to hotel within Disney property, ticket purchasing for myself and a friend, ticket purchasing from Australia and whether or not I should get the magic band sent to me in LA before I fly down to Orlando.

1. I will be staying in LA at a residence for a month before I go to Disney World, is it worth me ordering my Magic Band earlier and sent to that address or should I just wait until I check in? Should my friends (they both live in the US), also order their magic bands earlier?

2. I will be buying myself my ticket (4 day park hopper) and then separately, purchasing my friend her ticket (2/3 day park hopper). We both have Disney.com accounts. Will I have trouble purchasing these tickets for separate names and also any problems purchasing these with an Australian based Credit Card and a non US address? Have any other Aussies used Undercover tourist to buy tickets from and if so, have they had trouble purchasing from outside the US with a non US address? I read they send out paper tickets. Also, should I stay logged into my account and purchase both and then give the ID number to her and get her to link hers through her account?

3. I’ll be moving from Art of Animation to Port Orleans Riverside. Is this going to be a problem moving between the resorts ie. catching the free internal transport (any suggestions on how to do this would be appreciated), but also luggage storage Art of Animation after check out and before check in so I can enjoy a park in the morning and then checking in later on in the day? I’ve read that Disney will actually transfer your luggage for you if you’re moving between resorts?

4. As long as Disney are aware that I have extra people staying in my room with me my friends shouldn’t have any problems with checking in to my room when they arrive a few days later should they? Even though the room is under my name?

5. Can anyone give any advice as to which buildings are the ‘best’ to stay in in Art of Animation and Port Orleans re: food court and bus/boat station access? Should I call up the week before and see if these rooms/buildings are available and check my reservations?

6. State of Downtown Disney - because we will be staying at PO Riverside is Downtown Disney worth a visit? I plan for us to have a 'day off' from the parks on the Saturday to chill out and enjoy the resort but will give this area a miss if it's not worth a look at the moment as I know it's a construction site at the moment.

7. As for airport transfers, how do you book Magic Express? I’m guessing I just login and book online through my Disney account or should I call? Also, we will be staying at Cabana Bay has anyone used the airport transfer from there? I also heard somewhere that if you stay at a Universal resort you get 'free' front of line passes?

Sorry, I know a lot of questions but thanks all and ANY help would be appreciated!

 

[nkosiek]

Hi all,

I’m an Aussie who will be staying in LA for a month before I travel down to Orlando on November 10th. I’ve been to Disneyland Anaheim quite a few times but this is my first time down to Disney World, so excited. My friends and I will be staying at Art of Animation for a few nights and then moving to Port Orleans Riverside for a few nights before moving onto Universal.

I have a bunch of questions so I will try to break it down in to points. It's regarding extra persons, moving from hotel to hotel within Disney property, ticket purchasing for myself and a friend, ticket purchasing from Australia and whether or not I should get the magic band sent to me in LA before I fly down to Orlando.

1. I will be staying in LA at a residence for a month before I go to Disney World, is it worth me ordering my Magic Band earlier and sent to that address or should I just wait until I check in? Should my friends (they both live in the US), also order their magic bands earlier?

2. I will be buying myself my ticket (4 day park hopper) and then separately, purchasing my friend her ticket (2/3 day park hopper). We both have Disney.com accounts. Will I have trouble purchasing these tickets for separate names and also any problems purchasing these with an Australian based Credit Card and a non US address? Have any other Aussies used Undercover tourist to buy tickets from and if so, have they had trouble purchasing from outside the US with a non US address? I read they send out paper tickets. Also, should I stay logged into my account and purchase both and then give the ID number to her and get her to link hers through her account?

3. I’ll be moving from Art of Animation to Port Orleans Riverside. Is this going to be a problem moving between the resorts ie. catching the free internal transport (any suggestions on how to do this would be appreciated), but also luggage storage Art of Animation after check out and before check in so I can enjoy a park in the morning and then checking in later on in the day? I’ve read that Disney will actually transfer your luggage for you if you’re moving between resorts?

4. As long as Disney are aware that I have extra people staying in my room with me my friends shouldn’t have any problems with checking in to my room when they arrive a few days later should they? Even though the room is under my name?

5. Can anyone give any advice as to which buildings are the ‘best’ to stay in in Art of Animation and Port Orleans re: food court and bus/boat station access? Should I call up the week before and see if these rooms/buildings are available and check my reservations?

6. State of Downtown Disney - because we will be staying at PO Riverside is Downtown Disney worth a visit? I plan for us to have a 'day off' from the parks on the Saturday to chill out and enjoy the resort but will give this area a miss if it's not worth a look at the moment as I know it's a construction site at the moment.

7. As for airport transfers, how do you book Magic Express? I’m guessing I just login and book online through my Disney account or should I call? Also, we will be staying at Cabana Bay has anyone used the airport transfer from there? I also heard somewhere that if you stay at a Universal resort you get 'free' front of line passes?

Sorry, I know a lot of questions but thanks all and ANY help would be appreciated!

I've always been a sucker to help out an Aussie, so I'll try to help out with those I can.
1. It depends on how Disney has set you up in their program, but having it mailed to the hotel or wherever you're staying isn't a bad idea. Disney ships the bands out a month before your stay, so using that address as a shipping address means you'd get them while in CA.

2. Sorry, can't help in terms of whether Undercover Tourist will ship to Oz, sorry.

3. This is simple. Day of check out, call bell-services and tell them you're moving to another property. They'll send someone up and take your bags from you and by 4pm they will have them at your new resort. I've done it before and it's been easy. I spent the day in one of parks near my resort and after some park time went to the new resort, checked-in, and asked them about my bags. I was able to pick them up right there. To get between resorts you'll either have to go to a park or Downtown Disney first so you can change buses.

4. Provided they are on the reservation there shouldn't be a problem with them getting into the room. Double check with the front desk when you get there.

5. Can't help, sorry.

6. Who knows what will be finished/complete in November. I like a nice stroll around and even a little shopping. If it's a rest day from the parks and you wanted to catch a movie, they have those available. It's worth a shot, and if you don't like it, you just go back.

7. You could call or I believe there is a link set up to do the Magical Express. You'll just need your flight info as well as your resort confirmation number. Once you get off of the plane, follow the directions they send you to the bus and hop on, don't bother getting your checked luggage as someone will get your bags for you and deliver them to your room. Once on the bus, it will take you to Art of Animation and you can enjoy your day.

Hope this helps. Have a wonderful trip.

 

[Planogirl]

I can maybe help a little with Port Orleans Riverside.

Here is a link to Port Orleans website which shows a good map. http://www.portorleans.org/room-requests.phpWhere you ask to stay depends on what you consider important such as whether to be close to the main building or poor or even Port Orleans French Quarter. We prefer to stay in Alligator Bayou because we like the theming but others might prefer the "mansions".

Have an amazing trip!

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Regarding people who are staying in the room but not on the reservation: No problem! We've done this before! Just alert the front desk when you arrive that you will have a guest staying with you in your room and give them the arrival dates. They will have everything ready for that person when they arrive. We did this with a friend and she went to the desk, got her room key, bought her tickets, dropped her bag in the room and met us in Epcot. No problems

 

[andyman8]

I can maybe help a little with Port Orleans Riverside.

Here is a link to Port Orleans website which shows a good map. http://www.portorleans.org/room-requests.phpWhere you ask to stay depends on what you consider important such as whether to be close to the main building or poor or even Port Orleans French Quarter. We prefer to stay in Alligator Bayou because we like the theming but others might prefer the "mansions".

Have an amazing trip!

I echo this for POR.

In regard to AoA, it depends on what room category you're in. If you have a standard room, all of the rooms are going to be the furthest away from the lobby/food court/pool but it's not that far out all (10 minute walk tops but usually shorter). I wouldn't even bother making specific building requests 'cause they're all clustered. If you're in a family suite, I'd try to see if anything in Finding Nemo is still available. Personally, I prefer those rooms' theme but they are also the closest to the lobby/food court/pool area. Within two minutes, you'll be at the food court if you stay there!

 

[mummabear]

I also heard somewhere that if you stay at a Universal resort you get 'free' front of line passes?

Sorry, I know a lot of questions but thanks all and ANY help would be appreciated!

From what I understand Cabana Bay is the exception to this.

 

[jettgrrlaust]

Thank you all for your replies so far! They've all been helpful. I'm sure I'll have more questions as the dates draw closer and I get more excited! I love this site and have also been listening to the podcasts for extra help.
Thanks again and I'll keep reading