First journey to the land of the mouse PTR

[skiingfast]

Pushed back to April now. But I dont think the dates going to change again, which is a relief . What sort of times are the spring break crowds the worst at Disneyland? I was having a read of my unofficial guide and have settled on sometime after easter weekend till memorial weekend. What time in this bracket would you suggest? Help would be greatly appreciated

This is tricky because Easter Day changes year to year. Last year it was very late which pushed a lot of school breaks back. This year being early it will probably focus things.

I'd aim for the last week of April right upto the Memorial Day Weekend. Just keep in mind that that period is the #2 time for rehabs because of it's length of off season. So you will get rehabs in there as they touch up things for summer. Also if there are any Carsland soft openings or media events it could bring sudden crowds. It's hard to plan that far out for these unknowns, but a risk you may have to accept.

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

i think easter weekend is scheduled for around the 8th (With the 8th being Easter Sunday) Would we be better to go at the end of march/start of April. Or is that when spring break is on? We dont have spring break in New Zealand so im not entirely sure on how it works.

 

[Disneydreamsdancer]

Hello fellow kiwi!

Firstly congrats on the new job Hope it works out well for you!
Secondly dont feel silly for doing your ptr, I did one for me and my moms trip which was supposed to be this October but then with the World cup the flight prices were just too much so we had to postpone till Jan 2012, it can be pretty pricey flying half way around the world! Just think you now have plenty of time to plan the perfect disney trip
As for shopping, I spent 2 years living in the US and some of their shops are amAzing and I fell in love with bath and body works, their stuff is gorgeous!
Happy disney planning

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

Thanks
Im so excited!!!! Yeah, it sure can be! haha
Exciting! Your trip is getting close now!
Im having a blast doing all of my planning, this is possibly one of the only situations where I will ever be so organized haha!

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

Weve decided on the end of April The rought dates that we have are the 15th of April to the 26th, hopefully it wont be too busy during this time. Otherwise we were thinking maybe the 22nd till the 3rd. Went to visit my Nan yesterday for some trip planning and we've decided to stay at the Tropicana Inn and Suites We wanted somewhere that was close to the parks so that walking back and forward wouldnt be an issue, but we also wanted somehwere that wasnt too pricey. We looked at some photos and reviews and decided that the Tropicana was the place Starting to feel the Disney magic!

 

[skiingfast]

Tropicana is a good choice. Super close and you will like that.

As far as the April dates. It's a long period and on the tail of Spring Break so that might work great. Busy when you arrive but getting more calm and relaxed as it goes on.

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

Hello fellow DISers

Just wondering if anyone has stayed at the Tropicana before? What did you think of the continental breakfast? I was reading some reviews online and saw somewhere that you have to pay for cereal and milk (seriously?!) We were wanting to save some money by eating a big breakfast in the morning to cover us through till a late lunch (and just snacking in between) so were trying to avoid having to pay too much for breakfast. Which brings me onto my next question. Where would the closest place be to buy groceries and snacky items. Were hoping to save some money to spend on other things and want to buy things like little packets of chips and pretzels and some fruit (like grapes) to snack on while waiting in lines (what else are you supposed to do, right?! haha) I know that most hotels will offer little snacky things in the gift shop, but I presume these are ridiculously over priced. On a seperate note, has anyone done the dolphin experiance at SeaWorld, the one where you get to go in the water with them? I really really really want to do this and would like to know your thoughts on weather it's worth while (I think it will be, how often am I going to get to swim with dolphins, haha) Hope everyones having a magical day

 

[skiingfast]

Most of the breakfasts at the near hotels are very basic. I'm not sure of the pay for milk and cereal thing you heard happens at Tropicana.

If you want a bigger breakfast and to be close there are two good options.

The Desert Inn and Suites has a full breakfast in the restuarant next door. The restaurant serves a buffet that is aweful so don't be drawn into it for other meals, but the breakfast service is said to be good and served upstairs of the restaurant. I hope this makes sense, that it's a good breakfast option but don't go into the regular restaurant called Captain Kidds. This is an ok rates hotel.

A better option though at more cost is the Park Vue Inn. It has a full breakfast. Also fruit and cookie in the lobby, and bottled water. Also a light dinner at their social hour. Food wise the best bang for your buck that you can walk to the parks from. This is a high rated hotel.


Also for snacks at the end of Harbor where it intersects Katella is an ABC Market and 7Eleven. You can by snacks at either though for moderate prices that the gift shops can rival. They are about a 10 minute walk.

If you want to know more about this stuff I encourage you to search on the main DL board or start your own threads there to ask questions.

Ask about the dolpin experience on the Southern California Theme Parks board.

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

Well Disers, we're booked

Departing Auckland internation airport : Sunday 22nd April, 7.40pm
Arriving Los Angeles International airport: Sunday 22nd April 12.55pm (yay timezones)
Staying at: Best Western Pavillions (which is really abit further away than what we wanted to stay, but it was included in the deal)

In our package we're booked in to do a L.A/Hollywood tour, with Southern California Grey Line. Has anyone done this before? Is it good?

Departing Los Angeles International airport: 9.30pm
Arrive Auckland International airport: 05.03am

Im soooooo EXCITED!

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

Hello Disers

Less than a month to go now and the time seems to be flying by fast! ive got a list of things to get and stuff to do thats about a mile long and havent even started cracking on it! Im picking up our travel documents today on my lunch break! Excited! stay tuned for more updates and pictures

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

Hi everyone

Were counting down at 17 days now and getting really excited! Ive practiced packing all of my stuff that i'll be talking over there in my carry on bag. My theory is that because were flying Air New Zealand and we can only check one bag weighing 23kgs, that i'll try to pack as much stuff as possible in my carry on luggage, then put my carry on bag inside my big bag (otherwise the supports will break) and just bring a backpack as my carry on bag. So that on the way back ill have a big bag to pack all the stuff that ive bought in, and use my little red bag as my carry on luggage because I already know that it will all fit . ... I really hope this makes sence to anyone else but myself. HAHA! I've also started pasting in alot of maps and useful information that i've found here on the DIS into a little book which will probably be my life saver multiple times throughout this vacation. I'll post a picture of my little creation when im finished

Hope everybody's doing well! I'll be posting abit more frequently now that we're getting closer !!!!!!

 

[Disneydreamsdancer]

Looking forward to reading your TR!! Just a side note, make sure that your carry on baggage is under 7KGs, we had our carry on bags weighed at Auckland airport when we checked in, then again after we went through security, they seem to really be getting tight on weight allowance Infact Auckland weighed my checked in suitcase at 25.5KGs and Heathrow and LAX weighed the exact same case later in our holiday AFTER I had brought souvenirs as 17.5KGs so Auckland was way over! Have a great trip!!! It is so worth the long journey

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

Hello Disers! Well! Were counting down 13 days now and the reality that this trip is actually going to happen is starting to sink in! I think ill 're-introduce the cast' considering the photo that I posted of myself is about 4 years old and you havent even met my Nan yet!

I'm really excited to start sharing this trip with you guys! One of my favorite things to do on these boards is read trip reports and look at the photos (And this is a pre warning, my trip report will probably be photo heavy! Haha!)

I've been pretty organized up until now, and keep thinking of things that i've forgotten to do, such as putting my foreign currency onto my card! I've just ordered my scrapbooking supplies so that I can get right into scrapping my trip when I get back. I also plan to make a trip to Michael's craft store while i'm over there to see what goodies I can pick up Ooh, and for those who care, this is my little lifesaving book that I made

An example of one of the pages

Look forward to sharing my trip of a lifetime with you!!

 

[skiingfast]

Hello Disers

Less than a month to go now and the time seems to be flying by fast! ive got a list of things to get and stuff to do thats about a mile long and havent even started cracking on it! Im picking up our travel documents today on my lunch break! Excited! stay tuned for more updates and pictures

I'm curious, I have friend leaving Auckland in a few week, and stopping in LA for a week plus. At some point they have to exchange their Kiwis to US Dollars. So they are looking at buying park passes while there.

How did you get park hoppers, and your Hollywood tour booked?

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

Hi Skiingfast. Both my Nan and myself have got cards from the bank which you can load 5 different currencies on, that is how I would recommend they get their money. I have got a bit of cash out for tipping and such, but I personally find it easier and alot safer to do everything 'electronically' (Id feel like I had a weight in my pocket if I carried all of my money around in cash) As for our park passes, we got them through our travel agent. It was really easy and they made sure to book our tickets to seaworld and universal studios as a tour so that we had transportation included. They print your ticket onto a voucher and you exchange it once you get to the parks. Hope this helps!!!

- Cass

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

Look what came in the mail today!

Get ready for some Disney scrappin'

P.S: Someone please tell me how to make my pictures smaller -.- haha!

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

I found this awesome website with coupons for the Orange Country/ L.A Area. http://anaheimoc.org/coupons << link for like minded crazy discount scouters

 

[Khiori]

I just found this thread today. Wow!! I'm so excited for you and your nan!! You're going to have a ~*!Fantastic!*~ time!!

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

Hi Khiori, thanks for tuning in 5 days till lift off now, so excited! Eeeekkk!

 

[miss.potatohead]

Well Disers, we're booked

In our package we're booked in to do a L.A/Hollywood tour, with Southern California Grey Line. Has anyone done this before? Is it good?

I know this is an old post I'm quoting but we used Southern GreyLine for our day trip to Universal, and in our package we went through Hollywood. We did this part at night so it wasn't that great (Hollywood Blvd at night...) and it was hard to see the sights out the bus because it was dark and the bus had those annoying sticker advertisements on the windows so no one could see us but we could see through the small dots of the sticker (that probably makes no sense, sorry!). They're a great tour group though, if it is the same as what we had to do, they'll pick you up from your hotel and get other people from the area, drive you all to their bus depo, you'll go in and pay, then get told which bus to go on to for your tour. They later drop you directly off at your hotel! Their tour guides were helpful too, and they tell you when to be back at the bus ready to go again etc and give you a little narration of the history of LA when you're driving around.

Have the best trip! Come over to the Australian/New Zealand section of the DIS too, everyone loves to hear about other people's trips.

http://disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=177