November Disneyworld. Our first ever trip.

[Tara2004]

Hi everyone. Yesterday I booked the return plane tickets to LA. Im just starting to organize the hotels. This is my first trip over to the USA and have never been overseas with the kids either. (DD is 7 years old and DS is 3 years old )

We have a US travel agent, but she is hopeless. I have been waiting for reply's from her for ages, so I was hoping someone in here can help.

This is our basic plan.....


Thurs 3rd - Fly out of Melbourne
Friday 4th - Fly to Orlando check into Disney
Sat 5th - AK
Sun 6th - EP
Mon 7th - Magic Kingdom
Tues 8th - Hollywood Studios
Wed 9th - Magic Kingdom (2nd day visit)
Thur 10th - Animal Kingdom
Fri 11th - Epscot (final night at Disney)
Sat 12th - Check into Orlando Hotel. (Homewood Suites International Drive Orlando:The Homewood Suites by Hilton.?????)
Mon 14th - Universal Studios
Tues 15th - TRADE SHOW at the Convention Centre (business meeting)
Wed 16th - Universal Studios (2nd Day visit)
Thurs 17th - Day Of Lesiure
Fri 18th - Legoland
Sat 19th - Day of Lesiure
Sun 20th - Day of Lesiure
Mon 21st fly to LA again.
Tues 22nd LA
Wed 23rd fly back

Any input would be great. This is very rough outline.

 

[HappyFingers]

ok i just found a travel insurance place that i wish i knew about before i paid for min

if you google 28 degrees, the 28 degrees website will come up
scroll down to where it says travel insurance and click your way threw until you get to the get quote place (southern insurance or something its called)

i just put in our dates (42 days) and it quoted me $250 which is a lot cheaper than what i got with travel insurance direct

but read the fine print

for example if you hurt yourself because you fall down a flight of stairs drunk, your not covered

so what are they saying ? we cant have a drink ?
no skydiving, no racing of any kind except on foot, so i guess that means no go carts

it makes me wonder if the cover anything at all

also if you use travel insurance direct
google for a 10% off coupon before you finalise your quote
i got one "tidstaff"that knocked 10% off the price
i mean hey, why not ?

now
what was the question again ?

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Congratulations on booking your flights

 

[Tara2004]

happyfingers. Doesn't that drive you nuts when you pay for something and find it cheaper elsewhere. That's why I'm posting in here. No way would I be getting drunk or racing go karts. In my 20's that would be a different story.lol.

Thanks for the info

WAMUMOF4, I'm freaked a bit, but I cant wait.

Does anyone have any Orlando motels they can recommend? I need one near Universal studios and the Orange county convention center. Im not sure if to get a place with a kitchen or not. WDYT????

 

[DVCAustralia]

I hope you have a great trip.
The Australia board (in conjunction with the specific boards for WDW) is a wonderful place to get answers to any questions and find a heap of information.
In relation to your basic plan here is some information that may (or may not) be of assistance: -
I note that you have five days scheduled and seem to be avoiding park hopping. Here is a link for the November park hours -http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/hours/nov11.cfm?requesttimeout=1000
Further early November is towards the end of the Epcot International Food and Wine festival, which particularly impacts on the crowds in World Showcase, Epcot. As well, if you want to do any restaurant meals the 180 day ADR booking window is already open so you should at least make interim ones.
Monday 7 November 2011 - Magic Kingdom is a great introduction to WDW.
Tuesday 8 November 2011 - I would recommend Epcot as much of Future World has early entry that day, in particular Soarin'. Whilst there is late entry (three hours extra) on Wednesday this would be until midnight and make it very difficult to do MK early entry the next day.
Wednesday 9 November 2011 - Hollywood Studios could move to this day.
Thursday 10 November 2011 - I would strongly recommend that you do the second day of Magic Kingdom, as the extra hour provided by early entry is invaluable for Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.
Friday 11 November 2011 - I would recommend Animal Kingdom as it has early entry this day, great for seeing more of the animals on the Safari.
It is worth signing up to the mousesavers.com newsletter which is sent out on the 15th of the month, as you get a private link to Undercovertourist that gives about the cheapest price for tickets and has free shipping to Australia.
Consider paying the extra for a longer pass, even a 10 day pass is only about US$26 (child US$24) more than a 5/6 day pass and you get an extra 4 days entry able to be used any day within 14 days of first use.

In regard to non-WDW accomodation I would strongly recommend a timeshare which gives you a full kitchen and plenty of room.

 

[shaz105]

Congratulations on your booking how exciting

 

[Snickals]

Congratulations on your up coming trip! You'll have a wonderful time

 

[Sugarglider]

Way excitement for you!
I have stayed at the LAX Hilton and thought it was as good as any hotel. Nice Crabtree and Evelyn toiltries and good restaurant.

re: travel insurance - Happy Fingers - I went with "Ouch" on the recommendation of Choice Magazine. They are a QBE brand, and according to Choice gave the best level of benefits compared to their price ($107 for two weeks). The insurance on my credit cards was not as good, and besides I am buying everything through Travelex cards rather than my credit cards this time.

So yep - if you have the time to browse all the different threads on this board as well as a couple of the disney related websites you can work it out for yourself.

 

[shaz105]

The travel insurance we used was cover more they were the only people who would cover my husband who has a pre existing illness. We will probably go with them again.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Congratulations on booking your trip. You must be really excited about going.
There are heaps of hotels/motels/suites on or around International Drive. It just comes down to what you want to pay. The Homewood Suites are usually a dependable chain.

 

[Travel Mum]

We are staying at Staybridge Suites International Drive for our second week while we visit Universal and Sea World. We will have a two-bedroom so that we can spread out after the 5 of us all being in one room for 9 nights at Port Orleans Riverside At the Staybridge, breakfast is included.

 

[Mum from oz]

Congrats on booking your trip. You will have an awesome time!! I would book a place with a kitchen but thats just me.

 

[rmorrison100]

that's nice

 

[hellosue]

Congrats on taking the first step - booking the flights to US
We all have had different experiences and booked travel insurance - compare heaps or go with who you know - I went for 1 cover direct 25-28 days 1 adult 2 child $158

Do you know about Disney Agents? who look after your every Disney/Universal booking? you don't pay them anything for the service and they work their magic and make your holiday a dream! (I think anyway) - Lots to choose from some examples: Magic For Less; Small Vacations, Dreams Unlimited etc you could email all of them and get quotes and then go with the best price/option.... Good luck

 

[Tara2004]

We have Jessica from Magic for less. Does anyone else dealt with her before and do they seem to take a long time to get back to you?

Mum from oz, Im with you, but DH has a different opinion. He thinks the rooms bump up in price a kitchen. I think with youg kids you need it.

Hellosue, who did you book through?

We are staying at Staybridge Suites International Drive

They look good. I was reading a review, but closed the page by accident. I will have to try to find it again.

DVC australia, thats for all that info. That was awesome. It really helped.

 

[Aussie-Grant]

If you want to stay in a apartment for your second week have a look at the website vrbo dot com

The other suggestion I have if you need to hire a care is use traveljigsaw dot com dot au
I have hired a car many times from here without any issues .
Legoland Florida is just opening is October & you may find it difficult to get there as it is a brand new attraction. I believe it is a 45 minute trip between Orlando and Legoland.

 

[Tara2004]

I thinking of changing what order I do Disneyworld now. Im looking at when the christmas deco go up at Disney, and think I should go there closer to the end of the trip. It would be great to come home late November to put up the christmas tree after just seeing Disney all done up for christmas. It will be colder, but I think worth it.

I think this week I will be booking the hilton homewood suits. I just cant find anything better for that price, and is close to the shops and Universal studios.

I also have to look at booking a couple of charater meals for the kids. Im looking at 4 places atm. Maybe the princesses for DD and mickey for DS. Has anyone got any idea what ones to pick? It seems like everyone sooks about the food.

All these choises are me out.

Aussie grant, We will just have to leave quite earily and drive to legoland.

 

[Tara2004]

Righto people. I have got most of my crap together.

I have booked POP for 7 nights, and booked Hilton homewood suits for the second half of the holiday.

The hilton has free buffet breakfast and free internet and is close to a few outlets in orlando.


At POP Im going to ask for a renovated room, and have already paid for a prefered room. For charater meals I have booked Chief Mickeys and 1900.

Im yet to book..

Car hire in orlando.

LA motel rooms

Insurance for the trip

Now talking about insurance. ( Happy fingers would laugh at this)

My sister went to the USA with her new boyfriend, and he decided while she shopped to ride a motor bike over jumps. What a idiot! He broke his back, leg and really ended up in pain Now after stuffing the whole trip for them both, he got a bill from the hospital sor $320,000. This only happened 3 months ago.

Now down to the fun stuff.....

I have made the kids some autograph books. Really easy to make.

I was told to use plain paper inside because the autographs can be upside down when rushed. I will just have to cut them out and stick them on another piece of paper.

I have also got some tranfers for the kids tees. I bought the transfers off Etsy with the kids names under them. $7 US was too bad.

I was wondering if any other aussie where doing disney outfits for their kids? Am I alone with this?

 

[battymum]

OMG -

Did your sisters BF (whats the acronym for that one?) have travel insurance - and more importantly are they going to cover it?

 

[Tara2004]

Did your sisters BF (whats the acronym for that one?)

It ment to mean "boyfriend", but I think more in the lines of "Bloody fool".lol

No he isnt covered because it didnt happen on the road. It was on a outside track. BF.lol