My Itinerary for you Travel Mum, and anyone else - feel free to make suggestions!

[battymum]

Felt like I was hijacking another thread - so here it is

Saturday 17th September fly Syd - LA - MCO - preferably with Delta as their schedule gets you to MCO earlier - some dont get in until near midnight

17th - 23rd Sept- Pop Century Resort

24th - Pick up hire car - drive to Kennedy Space Centre

24th - Stay one night Port Canaveral area (although I am considering driving back to WDW - we can have some more "free" meals and maybe some EMH at Magic Kingdom), we really want to fit Kennedy Space Centre in sometime, at this stage there is a rocket launch scheduled for 23rd so might make it that day.

25th - Board Freedom of Seas for Eastern Carribean Cruise

2nd October - (my birthday) Early express departure from FOS (carry our own bags) - hire car back to Orlando - check in Hard Rock Hotel, head off for some outlet shopping (only chance I think I can hit the shops) DH and sons might like to watch NRL Grand Final somewhere at this stage - although I think the live time would be middle of the night when we are still on FOS - I think internet is too expensive on a ship to stream it live, he will have to settle for delayed.

Universal Studios by four so we can be in holding area for Stay and Scream Halloween Horror Night (not especially comfortable with this one, doing it for the teens, there is something not quite right about finding entertainment in gruesomeness,)

3rd / 4th October - Universal / IOA

5th October - early flight to NYC - may look into evening flight on the 4th, although accomodation in NYC is way more expensive than HRH -but that will make it 3 full days in NYC.

5 / 6/ 7 October -NYC - have booked Radio City Apartments - this part is totally dependent on getting reasonable flights.

8th October - JFK - LA - SYD -


So if anyone is interested, feel free to make suggestions -

 

[Travel Mum]

Thanks so much for posting Battymum! After I posted our brief itinerary on Ehsmum's thread, I did feel a bit guilty about hijacking it so this is a good idea of yours.

We would have been departing on a similar date as you next year except the NZ government has decided to push back our Sept/Oct school holidays by a week next year so the the Rugby World Cup final is the last weekend of the school holidays. That means they are October school holidays now! We have to depart 2 days earlier than originally planned in order to get to POR by 29 September in time to get free dining!

I'm envious of you going to New York as, after reading all the fabuous recent trip reports from there, I toyed with the idea of adding it to either the beginning or at the end. The QF (who we have to travel) flights between N.Z and New York flow so nicely - it would be so easy. I had several emails between the Radio City Apartments and was impressed so that's where I would have booked us too. However, I've had to be realistic and accept that we are doing the cruise instead of New York plus, although my oldest daughter would adore it, perhaps my two youngest are too young to appreciate New York. So maybe another time.....

I presume you have booked your cruise already? If so, what cabins are you having? We are in interconnecting cabins 9520 and 9518. Luckily my in-laws are doing the cruise with us so they will be in 9518 with one of our children while we have the other two with us in 9520. I'm excited about the cruise because, although I've cruised a few times before, I've never been on a ship this big! It amuses me that my 6 year old will have her first ice-skating experience on the ship as we don't have a rink here in Wellington! Oh, and yes, internet onboard the ship costs a fortune!!

I'd like to go to Universal's Halloween party as would my DH and eldest daughter but I know it wouldnt be appropriate for our youngest two so we're doing MNSSHP. Not the same but at least we'll get lots of U.S. candy Your teens will love Universal's party - no one does Halloween better than the Americans!

The reason we have to fly QF is because DH and DD13 will be travelling on Frequent flyer points. I have already booked and got the tickets for their flights to and from L.A. so that's pretty exciting! I do have a booking held for myself, DD10 and DD6 with all the QF flights confirmed and I'll buy those tickets when the return domestic flights come online for booking. I've still trying to figure out what's best for the domestic U.S. flights and will have to make up my mind before the time comes to ticket our flights if we want to use U.S. add-ons.

I'm not sure I'm going to be one of those that can give you advice on your itinerary as it's my first time too but I will enjoy planning our trips together! I've got the Unofficial WDW Guide for 2011 (as big as a brick!), have joined Tourguide Mike and will probably join Touring Plans too.

 

[battymum]

We went to the Gold Coast this past easter and our family had such a great time there, we had been there previously but this time the kids really got into the rides and so that is what got the whole ball rolling, I hadnt considered going to the US before that, but I started thinking lets do DL, San Fran and Vegas, and maybe Hawaii on the way back, one big trip before they grow up, then I found the DIS and discovered WDW.

Well thats only another 5hour flight I told myself and it seems like its soo much better, but with paying all that money for flights, what else can we do, dont want to go all that way just for theme parks, then discovered the FOS (it may well have been a post from you) cruising is so much cheaper there - we have 2 interconnecting balcony cabins, deck 8 (midship, not sure of the numbers) total cost $5000 (thereabouts) I know I looked at cruising from Sydney a couple of years ago and it was going to be about 7000 for one cabin.

Then, reading TRs from New York, got me thinking wouldnt that be great, when else will we go to NYC and it will only cost extra - it seems most are doing NYC before Orlando, I wonder is it better to do it that way, due to connections or something, we cant fit it before Orlando as I am already taking the kids out of school for that week.

So this trip keeps evolving, I try not to tell DH too much - he worries about how much money we are spending, that we cant afford it and can be a bit negative about the whole thing, "too many americans" he has this mental image of it being full of cliched American tourists, being loud and obnoxious. Its not a trip he would have chosen, but this is all about the kids, and I am sure they would prefer a trip to WDW than looking at some ancient castles.

We have to keep to that time frame, as it is, we will be back in Syd Monday morning, when he will want to be back at work and the kids should be at school, so there can be no more extensions, just got to juggle to fit it all in. Would still like to see Washington and San Francisco.

 

[Travel Mum]

It's funny how our trips come about. I lived in L.A. for a few years first as a child, later as a teenager and lastly after uni when I went back to do a nanny stint. Therefore I have been to DL heaps and I also went to DCA on our last trip 4 years ago which was our daughters' first Disney trip. At that time, our youngest was only 18 mths old so both DH and I said to each other that we owed her a Disney trip because she'd have no memory of that one. So, last year, when I began thinking about that Disney trip, I had a brainstorm and decided that we'd try WDW this time - somewhere I'd never been and we'd just tell DD5 that MK is Disneyland! (sorry if I'm repeating this story which you may have read on previous threads) Anyway, I started researching, found the Disboards and in particular the Aussie boards and away I went.

Then, because I'm a cruiseaholic just as much as I'm a Disneyaholic, I decided that it would be a crime if we went all that way to Florida and didn't do a cruise! DH and I have done a Southern Caribbean cruise (and the Eastern Caribbean goes to alot of the same ports - you will love it) before so I decided (can't you tell I'm the planner and DH just comes along for th ride?!) that we'd do Western Caribbean this time. I wanted to go on one of the mega-ships that will never get down our way in the world and toyed with the idea of Oasis but figured Freedom was plenty big enough and the convenience of going out of Port Canaveral was just too good. Also, I really wanted to have a balcony cabin as we've only ever had Oceanview before. However, I really didn't want to have to fork out for a balcony cabin for our children nor did I really want our youngest having free access to a balcony door! So, I researced heavily on the Cruise Critic boards and found that Freedom has four sets of unique interconnecting cabins on deck 9. Two sets are a Balcony cabin that interconnects with an Inside cabin. This would have been fine with me (and wonderful price-wise) but unfortunately both cabins were twins and, as a family-of-five, we needed one to be a triple. However, down the other end of the ship, the other two sets are a Balcony Cabin interconnecting with an Outside and both cabins can go up to be quads! So I knew what cabins we wanted and I bided my time until our cruise came on sale and booked them as soon as they did! It now turns out that the In-laws are coming so they will be in the Outside with one of our children which means that reduces our cost

My DH really enjoys visiting the U.S. and likes theme parks but I'm pretty sure this will be too many theme parks for him. I really must keep reminding myself to schedule rest days or at least nights or mornings off. My family think I'm mad planning all this so far in advance and in such detail. Sometimes when I say to DH "can I tell you something?", he'll say jokingly "yes, but as long as it's not about the trip" So that's why these Disboards are so fantastic because they are full of excessive planners like me

 

[Travel Mum]

Oh and everyone else, please don't think this thread is just between Battymum and Travelmum - feel free to jump in with any comments or advice

 

[Jade+3]

Ok, I will jump in as we will be there at the same time. Our proposed itinerary is as follows (just waiting for an airfare special).

Fri 9 Sep - Fly from Brisbane to LAX. Staying at HoJo for 5 nights. Planning on doing a day trip to Leogoland, as both kids loved it last time. We will get 3 day DL tickets. We have friends that will be there the same time. DH is looking forward to that as he thinks he can hang at the hotel while I take the kids to the parks. It is looking like we will hire a car. Initially we were going to get the shuttle but with the Legoland trip it will cost the same for the car, so may as well have it for convenience.

Wed 14 Sep - Fly to New York for 4 nights. Staying at Radio City Apartments. I have always wanted to go to NYC and all the trip reports swayed my decision. I really should leave it for a couple of years as we will have a kid in a stroller, but we will make do.

Sun 18 Sep - Fly to Miami. Probably stay somewhere near the airport - not sure yet.

Mon 19 Sep - Board our Carnival 4 night Caribbean cruise, which goes to Cozumel and Key West. Very excited to find out that some Carnival ships allow 5 people in the cheaper category staterooms. We will be squished in, but for 4 nights we will cope, plus we are not planning on spending much time in the room.

Fri 23 Sep - We were going to spend a couple of nights in Miami, but it does not look that exciting. Then we were going to spend 2 nights driving up the east coast to Orlando, but it seems like a lot of driving. So now, we are probably going to go straight to WDW and do a day trip to the beach.

Fri 23 Sep or Sun 25 Sep - Arrive at WDW. Staying at CBR, to take advantage of the fact that our youngest will be under 3, so we can stay in a room that usually has a maximum occupancy of 4. Planning on doing MNSSHP. Wont be doing Universal as the kids are too young.

Thu 6 Oct - Fly to LA. This weekend is a long weekend, so we thought it would be better to travel on Thursday rather than Friday. We usually stay near the the airport, probably at Manhattan as it is cheaper, and close to the freeway, so a convenient location.

Sat 8 Oct - Fly home.

My kids will be 6, 5 and 2. My poor DH would rather spent the holiday at home, but he reluctantly allows me to drag him to the US every other year.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Miami is deceptive. We had a great time there...but then we wanted to see the Everglades and Lincoln Road is FANTASTIC at night. On second thoughts, Lincoln Road wasn't that great for kids. DH and I enjoyed it and DS was happy to tag along because we promised him pasta for dinner.

We also found a nice place to stay right along the beach; so we had a great afternoon swimming in the Atlantic and lazing by the pool.

 

[hjd0411]

Hi battymum! (and everyone one else, of course!)
Hope you don't mind if I add in my 0.02c worth..
Your itineary looks good! Wish I could go next year, but as I went this year, I guess I have to wait until 2012..
Anyway, just one little teeny word of (possible) warning. Regarding your trip to Kennedy Space centre - I have read some reports here that say on a launch day there are heaps and heaps of people there, plus you can't get to see all of the complex because of the launch. Admittedly these were for shuttle launches, but I could imagine that it would be similar for most types of launches.
(In May, when I was there, there was a shuttle launch and apparently it took hours and hours to get back from Kennedy to Orlando - but it was the 3rd last shuttle launch, so crowds were a lot larger!)
I would prefer to go to KSC on a non launch day and enjoy as much of the complex as I could - it is really fantastic to see and well worth it!
Good luck with the planning - I love it - which is just as well as I have 2 years worth...!!!

 

[cola]

I agree with hjd0411 about the launches. First time I went to WDW was for a work conference, I went out to Kennedy Space centre and did the tour. There was a launch a couple of days later, so the shuttle was on the launch pad. The guide on the bus kept saying things like 'we couldn't go here if it was launch day' and 'see that hill way over there in the opposite direction to the shuttle? That's where people get to stand to watch the shuttle if they are a vip that can get close...'.
The shuttle went off at 5am in the morning, we woke up and watched it on TV and the cameras were obviously a lot closer than you could get if there. Then I went off to a breakfast conference presentation for work at 8am. There were 3 people there. Over the next 2 hrs another 40 or so straggled in - they'd gone to watch the launch, they were all hyped up about the launch and complaining about how long it took to get back....

 

[Travel Mum]

Battymum, when you get off FOS and pick up your hire car, are you keeping it throughout your stay at the Hardrock Hotel? We will have a car too once we are staying offsite WDW and intend to keep it until we drop it off at Port Canaveral just before the cruise. So, since I'm now looking into staying onsite whilst at Universal at least for on night, I'm disappointed to see that they charge for car-parking at the hotels.

 

[Travel Mum]

Yes Jade, isn't it great that Carnival has some ships that let 5 sleep in a cabin! We did a Carnival Paradise Mexican Riviera cruise after our DL trip 4 years ago and, since youngest DD was only 18 mths and still in a cot, we could fit into one cabin. However, now that she needs a bed it's near impossible to find cabins, except very expensive family cabins (more like suites), that can accommodate us. I really considered going on the new Carnival Dream which goes out of Port Canaveral as they have some specially desinged and well-priced cabins for families of five but, once I saw that Freedom of the Seas was an option, I couldn't go past it

Good decision staying at a different moderate while you still can, because once your 2 year old is a bit older, you'll need to be at POR like us if you want a moderate and to be in one room!

 

[AussieDisneyNut]

I have been to DL 3 times, 1977,1993,1995 and love Disney! We have friends in San Francisco and have visited them numerous times too. However this forthcoming trip next March is taking on titanic proportions! The planning seems so much more intense and I seem to be worrying so much more. In my heart I know that as it is my kids first visit, they will love it regardless, but I just want it to be perfect. I think I just need to relax. Perhaps there is just too much information available now!

 

[Jade+3]

Miami is deceptive. We had a great time there...but then we wanted to see the Everglades and Lincoln Road is FANTASTIC at night. On second thoughts, Lincoln Road wasn't that great for kids. DH and I enjoyed it and DS was happy to tag along because we promised him pasta for dinner.

We also found a nice place to stay right along the beach; so we had a great afternoon swimming in the Atlantic and lazing by the pool.

I still have not sent the email to DU to add the extra 2 days to WDW. Our cruise gets in at 8am and we plan to be off the ship early. So I figure that once we pick up the rental car, that we will have a few hours to check out South Beach.

Yes Jade, isn't it great that Carnival has some ships that let 5 sleep in a cabin! We did a Carnival Paradise Mexican Riviera cruise after our DL trip 4 years ago and, since youngest DD was only 18 mths and still in a cot, we could fit into one cabin. However, now that she needs a bed it's near impossible to find cabins, except very expensive family cabins (more like suites), that can accommodate us. I really considered going on the new Carnival Dream which goes out of Port Canaveral as they have some specially designed and well-priced cabins for families of five but, once I saw that Freedom of the Seas was an option, I couldn't go past it

Good decision staying at a different moderate while you still can, because once your 2 year old is a bit older, you'll need to be at POR like us if you want a moderate and to be in one room!

Last year we sailed with Disney. DS was only 8 months old, but we had to get connecting cabins to accommodate him. I booked the cruise before I fell pregnant, so one little baby doubled the cost of the cruise.

We chose Carnival as they allow non toilet trained 2 year olds in the kids club. I dont think I could do a long cruise all squashed in the one stateroom. The 2 rooms we had with Disney were fantastic, in fact, we had too much room. The kids all wanted to sleep with DH so I had a room to myself.

I have a feeling that the kids will love the pool area at CBR and will be disappointed that they wont be able to stay there again.

Traveling with a family of 5 should really not be this difficult! When I found out I was expecting #3 the only thing that concerned me was how it would affect our holidays.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Yes Jade, isn't it great that Carnival has some ships that let 5 sleep in a cabin! We did a Carnival Paradise Mexican Riviera cruise after our DL trip 4 years ago and, since youngest DD was only 18 mths and still in a cot, we could fit into one cabin. However, now that she needs a bed it's near impossible to find cabins, except very expensive family cabins (more like suites), that can accommodate us. I really considered going on the new Carnival Dream which goes out of Port Canaveral as they have some specially desinged and well-priced cabins for families of five but, once I saw that Freedom of the Seas was an option, I couldn't go past it

Good decision staying at a different moderate while you still can, because once your 2 year old is a bit older, you'll need to be at POR like us if you want a moderate and to be in one room!

I understand that POFQ will be undergoing a refurb that is expected to be completed by May next year. Rumour is that they will be installing Queen/Queen beds.
Rumour is that POR will then undergo an refurb after that. If you aren't already, you might like to keep an eye on the resorts section of the DisBoard to see if this is true and if POR is being refurbed whilst you are there. It may not affect you; but if you're worried about, keep an eye on the rumours.

 

[shushh]

Traveling with a family of 5 should really not be this difficult! When I found out I was expecting #3 the only thing that concerned me was how it would affect our holidays.

Ditto

 

[shushh]

Although it does mean that you get that 2 extra suitcases to bring your shopping home with...

 

[Jade+3]

Although it does mean that you get that 2 extra suitcases to bring your shopping home with...

Ah yes, if only DH had enough hands to carry 10 suitcases while I look after the kids! I am under strict instruction 3 suitcases this trip (but can bring 4 home). After last year, he refused to travel again until the kids were old enough to carry their own bags. So, as a compromise I have to pack lightly and do laundry often!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Although it does mean that you get that 2 extra suitcases to bring your shopping home with...

Yeah! Both bags filled to the brim with 0 - 3 y.o. baby clothes and toys.

 

[shushh]

Ah yes, if only DH had enough hands to carry 10 suitcases while I look after the kids! I am under strict instruction 3 suitcases this trip (but can bring 4 home). After last year, he refused to travel again until the kids were old enough to carry their own bags. So, as a compromise I have to pack lightly and do laundry often!

Get the 4 wheeled suitcases. They're great! The children are then able to wheel/push their own...well at least my 7 yr old did in Europe! I got my 5 year old to push the baby.

Yeah! Both bags filled to the brim with 0 - 3 y.o. baby clothes and toys.

Luckily little people own little clothes!

 

[battymum]

I booked the cruise before I fell pregnant, so one little baby doubled the cost of the cruise.

QUOTE]

We should start a protest forum on "FAMILIES CAN BE MORE THAN 4 PEOPLE"