November/December 2012?

[dabecs]

We ended up flying into SFO which was plan B, but had a really neat couple of days in SFO and driving down the Pacific Coast Highway to San Diego/LAX.
.

Sometimes on holidays it's the unexpected parts that are the best. On the other hand I am an uber planner so not having complete control would kill me

Jacs - sounds great! Have you ever been in NY for Thanksgiving before? Are you going to watch the parade? I haven't looked into times or best places to see it or anything yet.

 

[jacs1234]

No we haven't. They say that going to Central park where they blow up the balloons the day before is a great thing to see. It's just mum and I and we are Staying at the Edison HOtel and the parade goes down the end of our block so we're just going to walk down there. People start staking out at 6:30 am but we're not going too. As long as I can see the balloons I'm fine. It's easier not having children. If we had kids we'd be staking out a spot. Heck, my hubby would probably sleep in a sleeping bag on the street to get them a good spot. lol

I need to book my thanksgiving meal though.

 

[Sugarglider]

I did it - I booked the Qantas special and am off again

this time for early dec to do all the christmas stuff.

reasonably happy with the fare: $2056 all in Canberra - MCO return
got the Sydney - DFW for $1600 (paid $100 extra above the advertised special price to not wait an extra 2hrs in DFW for a later connection) and Qantas only charged me $228 each for the CBR - SYD rtn and the DFW-MCO rtn.

All up - only $42 more than buying everything separately - and I have it all on 1 ticket.

But I am stuck down the back of the plane with a no upgrades allowed

so perhaps I make this the "how cheap can I go" trip - esp. after last yrs all out extravaganza.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I did it - I booked the Qantas special and am off again

this time for early dec to do all the christmas stuff.

reasonably happy with the fare: $2056 all in Canberra - MCO return
got the Sydney - DFW for $1600 (paid $100 extra above the advertised special price to not wait an extra 2hrs in DFW for a later connection) and Qantas only charged me $228 each for the CBR - SYD rtn and the DFW-MCO rtn.

All up - only $42 more than buying everything separately - and I have it all on 1 ticket.

But I am stuck down the back of the plane with a no upgrades allowed

so perhaps I make this the "how cheap can I go" trip - esp. after last yrs all out extravaganza.

That seems like a very good price for from Canberra. Bummer about being stuck down the back of the plane but so long as you are on the plane I guess it's all good.

What are your dates again?

 

[dabecs]

No we haven't. They say that going to Central park where they blow up the balloons the day before is a great thing to see. It's just mum and I and we are Staying at the Edison HOtel and the parade goes down the end of our block so we're just going to walk down there. People start staking out at 6:30 am but we're not going too. As long as I can see the balloons I'm fine. It's easier not having children. If we had kids we'd be staking out a spot. Heck, my hubby would probably sleep in a sleeping bag on the street to get them a good spot. lol

I need to book my thanksgiving meal though.

We are arriving in NY on the morning of Thanksgiving, so we will miss the inflation night which I hear is good. Like you I don't want to see the whole parade just the balloons. We are catching the train from Washington early and planning on leaving our bags in storage at Penn Station and walking to Central Park. I won't walk too close to the parade route - I really want the view of the balloons in between the buildings. Then we are thinking of having Thanksgiving lunch at the Central Park Boathouse before making our way back to Penn Station to pick up our bags and go to our accommodation (which has check in after 3pm).

Sugarglider - welcome to the thread! Glad to see another Nov/Dec Aussie Diser!

 

[alicia1506]

well today i am back to planning with a vengeance, and we've finally decided on dates - nov 23 to dec 13 so i will be on here a little more frequently with all my questions about flights/where to go/value for money etc.

last time we went in nov only and we were at disneyland nov 6-8 which made it a relatively non-busy time of the year and the weather, while rainy and cold on our first day, was fabulous on our second and third days.

this year, we'll be in california from dec 1 - dec 11, so i'm wondering for those that have been there at that time of year... what's it like?? should we be prepared for chilly nights and rain, or is it still nice, warm, temperate sunny weather??

also, crowds? are there likely to be huge crowds, especially at disneyland at that time?

 

[DisneyGirlInOz]

We are arriving in NY on the morning of Thanksgiving, so we will miss the inflation night which I hear is good. Like you I don't want to see the whole parade just the balloons. We are catching the train from Washington early and planning on leaving our bags in storage at Penn Station and walking to Central Park. I won't walk too close to the parade route - I really want the view of the balloons in between the buildings. Then we are thinking of having Thanksgiving lunch at the Central Park Boathouse before making our way back to Penn Station to pick up our bags and go to our accommodation (which has check in after 3pm).

Sugarglider - welcome to the thread! Glad to see another Nov/Dec Aussie Diser!

'Opentable' is a great way to book the Boathouse (That's how we booked it) and many other restaurants. Just get in early for Thanksgiving bookings.

 

[Sugarglider]

That seems like a very good price for from Canberra. Bummer about being stuck down the back of the plane but so long as you are on the plane I guess it's all good.

What are your dates again?

yes - I haven't been down the back of the plane since 2009! I feel a bit like that Seinfeld episode where Jerry has flown in first class and he can't go to coach!
And in 2009 I reserved a seat in one of the pairs right up the back - Row 72 but as I was boarding they called me over and said "we are moving you" and I ended up stuck in the middle seat
But I decided this trip will be cheaper and it will be character building for me.

So I am off 28 Nov - 10 Dec - straight into MCO and staying there the whole time.

Now waiting for Disney special - hoping for a room discount.

Sugarglider - welcome to the thread! Glad to see another Nov/Dec Aussie Diser!

Hi dabecs - thanks for your cheers

There's a bunch of us - is this where we organise a meet up?

I am also going to meet other DISers from US and UK.

 

[dabecs]

'Opentable' is a great way to book the Boathouse (That's how we booked it) and many other restaurants. Just get in early for Thanksgiving bookings.

Thanks for the tip! Haven't heard of Opentable - just having a look now. I emailed the Boathouse and they said they open up Thanksgiving reservations about 2 months before..

Sugarglider - if a meet is organised I will do my best but being my first trip and taking parents and children with me I am not making any promises I will actually make it on the day

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Dabecs - since you started this thread, do you think you could add everyone's dates to the first post so we can see who is going where and when? That would be wonderful.

My dates are 9 Dec-13 Jan US/Canada, in WDW 9-20th Dec.

 

[aussietravellers]

well today i am back to planning with a vengeance, and we've finally decided on dates - nov 23 to dec 13 so i will be on here a little more frequently with all my questions about flights/where to go/value for money etc.

last time we went in nov only and we were at disneyland nov 6-8 which made it a relatively non-busy time of the year and the weather, while rainy and cold on our first day, was fabulous on our second and third days.

this year, we'll be in california from dec 1 - dec 11, so i'm wondering for those that have been there at that time of year... what's it like?? should we be prepared for
chilly nights YES
and rain YES ,
or is it still nice YES
warm, YES
temperate sunny weather?? and YES

also, crowds? are there likely to be huge crowds, especially at disneyland at that time?

crowds in early December are not bad at all. They start to get really busy the week before Christmas, we noticed a big change from week to week when we went for December last time. Also I would avoid the weekends if you can or get in early. Two of our weekends, we didn't go, but on returning from our day tours there were signs everywhere about Disney being at capacity. Now as there are many levels of capacity entry, I'm not sure if it was closed completely or at one of the lower levels.

Weather, oh the weather! Well the day we arrived last trip for example (in early December) it was 4 degrees and was a top of 12. It was freezing and like that on and off for about 10 days, then for about a week, it was warm. We had days where it was wet and absolutely freezing and required coat, gloves, then we had days where we could wear a light top, as it was about 24, but when the sun would go down late afternoon it would quickly become chilly again. I guess it is sort of like our SE Qld weather in winter. Can be really pleasant on a sunny day with very mild temps or it can be freezing. It is usually cool in the evenings, early mornings and late afternoons. Be prepared for anything weather wise.

 

[dabecs]

Dabecs - since you started this thread, do you think you could add everyone's dates to the first post so we can see who is going where and when? That would be wonderful.

My dates are 9 Dec-13 Jan US/Canada, in WDW 9-20th Dec.

I've added a roll call to the original post Once you have decided on resort/s let me know and I'll add that too!

Can everyone else on this thread please post your dates so I can copy and paste them in the OP. I am going for the format

Disname: total holiday dates, where, in WDW/DL dates (resort)

eg (for me) Dabecs: 2/11 - 29/11 USA, in WDW 2nd - 18th November (saratoga Springs)

Thanks!

 

[shushh]

I know I've been AWOL for a while. But please put my dates in...Dec 7 - Jan 23 Europe, DLP Dec 10-12

 

[dabecs]

I know I've been AWOL for a while. But please put my dates in...Dec 7 - Jan 23 Europe, DLP Dec 10-12

added

 

[Luisa]

Nothing booked yet, but dates worked out- just waiting for the right airfare! Travelling solo 4-18 Dec, 4th & 5th at DL, then Boston, New York and Philadelphia and finishing in WDW 14th to 18th. Will probably stay at Pop again but the new AoA resort is tempting too.

 

[dabecs]

Nothing booked yet, but dates worked out- just waiting for the right airfare! Travelling solo 4-18 Dec, 4th & 5th at DL, then Boston, New York and Philadelphia and finishing in WDW 14th to 18th. Will probably stay at Pop again but the new AoA resort is tempting too.

added

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I know I've been AWOL for a while. But please put my dates in...Dec 7 - Jan 23 Europe, DLP Dec 10-12

Can't wait to hear more about the wonderful things you will be seeing and doing. It's bound to be filled with lots of lovely things and ideas I would like to steal for my own holiday .

I've added a roll call to the original post Once you have decided on resort/s let me know and I'll add that too!

Can everyone else on this thread please post your dates so I can copy and paste them in the OP. I am going for the format

Disname: total holiday dates, where, in WDW/DL dates (resort)

eg (for me) Dabecs: 2/11 - 29/11 USA, in WDW 2nd - 18th November (saratoga Springs)

Thanks!

Thanks for doing this Dabecs. I will let you know my resorts once they are confirmed and like Luisa, we haven't booked flights yet but that will be coming soon but I'm fairly certain our dates are correct.

Nothing booked yet, but dates worked out- just waiting for the right airfare! Travelling solo 4-18 Dec, 4th & 5th at DL, then Boston, New York and Philadelphia and finishing in WDW 14th to 18th. Will probably stay at Pop again but the new AoA resort is tempting too.

Have you decided where you are staying in Boston and New York? So many gorgeous options.

 

[Royal Consort]

We've just booked flights!!!! So it's all happening. We were really wondering if we should cancel the whole trip as we're both looking for new jobs but ... nope, it's all locked in now and come hell or high water, we are going!!!

We're flying with Delta (Virgin Australia code share) and got a fantastic deal. We are flying to LA, three hour layover, then to NY for a week before heading to Disney World for 8 days, and then Disneyland for 4 days. The return flights including the connecting NY flight cost us $1300. We had to snap them up! I got a quote the day before for $1800 - thought I could do better, and then went in the following day because I saw a flash sale on the website. They beat the price and now I'm a happy little prince.

Here's to Disney in NOV!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

We've just booked flights!!!! So it's all happening. We were really wondering if we should cancel the whole trip as we're both looking for new jobs but ... nope, it's all locked in now and come hell or high water, we are going!!!

We're flying with Delta (Virgin Australia code share) and got a fantastic deal. We are flying to LA, three hour layover, then to NY for a week before heading to Disney World for 8 days, and then Disneyland for 4 days. The return flights including the connecting NY flight cost us $1300. We had to snap them up! I got a quote the day before for $1800 - thought I could do better, and then went in the following day because I saw a flash sale on the website. They beat the price and now I'm a happy little prince.

Here's to Disney in NOV!

Oh wow, that is an AMAZING saving by just waiting a day. Well done.

 

[Royal Consort]

Oh wow, that is an AMAZING saving by just waiting a day. Well done.

Thanks Ms. Shuttergirl. I learned from booking a trip last year that when travel agents say "you should book now as they're unlikely to get much cheaper", to take that with a grain of salt.