New to the forums and to Disney

[Anne_Aus]

Hey All,

I am planning my trip to the US for Jan next year. I am spending 3 months traveling around and planning to do both Orlando and California Disneyland.
I have been to California Disneyland when I was little but really remember very little from it.

I have been reading the forums and trying to take it all in, I am glad I have some time to try and work out what is the best deal, packages, tickets, meals ect... I never thought there was so much to disney.

I have been looking and reading through the threads in here, and have loved seeing the trip reports and photos from disney and also other places I am going to.. helps to make me much more excited.

Hope to get to know some of you a little better and borrow some of that knowledge that you all seem to have when it comes to planning my trip

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Welcome Anne and congrats on your upcoming trip!

Everyone in here is so helpful so ask away, someone is sure to know the answer.

Can't wait to hear more about your wonderful trip.

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Welcome and Congratulations 3 months wow you should get to see a lot in that time.
Happy planning

 

[PrincessInOz]

Welcome to the Dis and the Aussie section!


3 months? That's a fabulous amount of time to be spending travelling. Hope you'll share where you're planning on going so that we can all live vicariously through you!

 

[shushh]

Welcome to the boards! Wow, 3 months is an awesome time to travel around the US. I am jealous already! Please share your plans, there will be many here who will enjoy planning with you and sharing their thoughts and opinions!

 

[skiingfast]

3 months and a lot of the country to travel. I'd try to aim for the cold/snowy places early in the trip, when it's full on winter, or later in the trip, when roads are drier. These would be places like the northern half of the US. Traveling over the Sierras between California and Nevada, and through the Rocky Mountains can be quite perilous when a storm is taking place. In March the North East can get wild storms.

The Southest and South are fairly dry(for being a wet area), but this goes up a little in March. Still none of these months are like the summer, when hurricanes become common.

You should look into www.citypass.com, and see if it covers any cities you want to visit.

 

[jacs1234]

Welcome welcome welcome. You will have the BEST time. Did you know that if you buy a premium annual passport, you can use it in both parks. It could save you some money if you were planning to stay at the parks for long lengths of time.

What are your plans so far. Share with us

 

[Anne_Aus]

Thanks for all the warm welcomes. I have been planning it out for a while now, but of course that means I am still completely clueless and keep changing my mind every other day. I am traveling most of the time on my own, so joining some groups tours here and there, and having time to myself as well.

So far on the list is

LA - for a few days - Universal studios, seeing a few shows I like that run weekly.

San Francisco - Unsure how much time I want here, I keep getting very mixed reviews.

Vegas and Grand Canyon - I am doing this at the end when a friend is meeting up with me - 3 nights in Vegas.

Tossing up if I want time at Yellowstone and Grand Teton or Yosemite - Yosemite is obviously closer but Yellowstone just seems amazingly beautiful.

Boston - once again no idea how long I want here I am thinking 4 nights

Niagra/Toronto - Clueless when I come to this, whether to fly to Toronto and arrange if from there, or to look for a tour.

New York - 6 nights on my own doing whatever I want - So excited for this part, broadway, seeing the sights and people watching.

I am then joining a tour which takes me to Washington, Raleigh, Savannah, Charleston, St. Augustine, Coccoa Beach, Kennedy Space Centre, Miami, Orlando, Tallahassee and New Orleans.

Then comes the fun part Orlando I have 5/6 days for Disney and Harry Potter world - I have never been to disney here, so I am trying to piece it all together. I am thinking of staying at a disney resort, with a park hopper ticket and possibly considering the disney dinner plans - but I need to work out if it is worth it.

The rock boat is my stop after that - a cruise with some of my favourite bands, and some of my US friends.

Before meeting a friend in Vegas, heading to San Diego, Anaheim for more disney we have 3 days so will be getting a pass hopper ticket here as well.
Ending up back in LA before flying home.

Sorry this is so long... any input or advice, must see places, best way to do things is encouraged... I have just put it together from reading forums, travel guides, talking to agents ect.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I'll let the experts jump in here first, then I will add anything I can

 

[DVCAustralia]

The itinerary looks great so far.
I noticed that you are 7 months out, meaning the trip must be about January to March 2012. This would almost certainly rule out Yellowstone and Grand Tetons, because whilst there is winter access it is very limiting. Further it is quite out of the way compared to your other plans so I would suggest sticking to Yosemite (I strongly recommend you stay overnight in the park) but put it after San Francisco before Las Vegas/Grand Canyon.
Toronto/Niagara Falls or Boston would both work as the place to land from the West Coast before getting to New York, however as Toronto is in Canada it may be a cheaper airfare flying to Boston.
As for Orlando I would strongly recommend at least 10 days if possible, WDW alone is a massive place before you add in Universal.
Enjoy the planning process, however above all have a fantastic time.

 

[QuirkyButterfly]

Welcome to the insanity that is Disney and the boards. Wow 3 whole months, that will be wonderful. You are brave to be doing so much on your own. It will be good to meet up with friends along the way. I am sure you will have a great time. I hope to hear more soon.

 

[Anne_Aus]

Thanks DVC great advice, the tours I had looked at in yellowstone were snow ones, but I think your right and I will leave it for a later visit - when it is warmer.

I intend to stay overnight in Yosemite so I am glad you suggested this.

I will play with dates and see if I can fit in some more time in Orlando, I do get 2 days in one of my tours, but any extra time will be great. Do you advise staying at a disney resort?

QuirkyButterfly I am traveling solo, its a much needed fresh start sort of trip, I do have a friend meeting me later int he trip but that is for Disney California (sorry still not up with all the shorthand just yet)

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Definitely stay at a Disney resort, unless a. you plan on hiring a car or b. you are on a tight budget. If you are on a tight budget there are some really decent cheaper disney resorts, I can highly recommend Pop Century of all the value resorts. If you can afford a little more, there are millions of wonderful choices.

Definitely try to find more days at WDW. Magic Kingdom and Epcot are 2 day parks, you could get away with 1 day at Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios (I couldn't but if time is a stretch ). Universal you will need 1-2 days.

 

[Travel Mum]

All I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Hahahaha Travel Mum ......I know, right! How lucky is she.

 

[austraveler]

Your trip sounds fabulous. Just a heads up re Boston - many of the "tourist" destinations are not open in the winter or are open for very limited hours. It is so cold outside that you will be pretty limited even walking around unless you have proper snow gear.

I LOVE San Francisco and it is relatively temperate, even in winter. It is very easy to get around and prett safe. I would recommend trying to fit in some time here if you can

 

[Anne_Aus]

Thanks Austraveler, I really want to do Harvard in Boston and a few other things, so I can cut back my time in Boston and add some extra time to Disney or San Fran.

Side note I just saw your from Newcastle - same as me it really is such a small world.

TravelMum I am very lucky to have the 3 months to take my time, though it will probably be the last holiday for some time.

 

[Snickals]

Hello Welcome to the boards and to teh Aussie section!
WOW 3 months...what a dream! Reading your plans it sounds so amazing, you will have the time of your life!!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

WOW! Great sounding trip.

We're all going to be living vicariously for the next 7 months...so I hope you'll share every incy detail of your planning!

I love San Francisco...so my vote goes to spending more time there.

Depending on how long you want to spend in each location, in 3 months you can start in LA and keep going in one direction towards New York and then head back in a different direction back to LA.

Probably best to travel in a straight line so that you don't criss-cross the continent too many times.

I agree with DVCAustralia - winter might limit your travel opportunites in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons.
However, I noticed that skiingfast has posted...he might be able to provide more detail advice on what it is like during that time of the year as I believe he lives in that neck of the woods. Hopefully, he'll stop by again and post.

 

[Jade+3]

Welcome! What a wonderful itinerary you are putting together.