Planning WDW from Australia

[vault19dweller]

Just a little vent

Mostly seems to be fine with so much being online now - just think the biggest things I'm struggling with at the moment are

• Arranging an American Phone Number

I know there's some on e-bay, but just not sure about trusting them.
I really want to get the t-mobile online (and walmart) only option because it seems to have the best amount of data for the lowest price, but they only accept US billing addresses -_- let alone shipping, which prolly wouldnt happen either.
Going from airport, DME to WDW, then back (no rental car) its not like we can just pop out the world to a mall or something, guess thts my problem, but trying to arrange a basic SIM from the actual provider from here seems more complicated than Id planned.

• Working out how to do groceries with no rental car

That mostly links back to the previous dot point, they need a number to call, I dont have a number, blah

• No magical snail mail

Yes, its a small touch, but would help get the excitement going, especially around times like this, feel so disconnected from WDW.

• How expensive it is

Bad exchange rate, long haul flight, then a connecting domestic, plus the longer stay because its not like you'll fly for over 24 hours just to spend a day there, international call costs, and lack of deals for Aussies, but that's just a little rant - never gonna change


To be honest, don't even get the point of this, just feeling a lil down and over the amount of planning work I guess

She'll be right though

 

[Zosha]

The groceries one is easy. We used Garden Grocer. I ordered online before I left Australia and then when we checked in at CSR, bell services delivered the lot to our room. We had fruit, milk, cereal and heaps of water delivered. While we were there I used the parks wi-fi to order some more groceries when our supplies ran low after the first week. It was very easy - no phone required!

 

[battymum]

Don't know who your provider is in Australia, we recently travelled to Hawaii and used the Vodafone $5 per day roaming - it worked a treat ! Use your phone like at home for $5 per day, !

you are only charged if you actually use it - so if you turn off data and use wifi you will only be charged if you call or text that day. But if you do use data it's not going to send you broke!

No worrying about giving out a new number everyone can contact you easily.

 

[AussieNSW]

Try travel gear, do a search for them. We used them we went to the states and were given an American phone number and had no problems.

 

[jevs]

I second travel gear for your phone if it's unlocked.

Not sure about snail mail from WDW, I'm getting something as I had a fedex email from them with a tracking number, it might be something to do with the memory maker though as I was under the impression we would get everything there.

Can't help with groceries.

I hear you on the exchange rate, but it's a gamble I guess. Long haul sucks but it will be awesome when you arrive (or maybe after a day)

 

[DisneyWorldTraveller]

I understand. Though when I went I just used my phone whenever I could get free wifi & made calls home using Viber.
To be honest I had the international roaming turned off so I didn't get massive bills or any incoming calls. I didn't know you could get a temporary number so I didn't even look into it sorry I'm not much help. But I was very disappointed seeing all my American mates gets packs in the post with packages/ ticket wallets etc and I didn't get anything till I checked in at WDW

 

[Sugarglider]

I am going to second Travel Gear - I have used them several times all with no problems.
Not sure about not getting snail mail - I have always received my booking notification in the snail mail from WDW. The envelope is nice but frankly the mail itself it pretty boring - just a schedule of the booking which is not actually needed.
I am not sure how much grocery shopping you want/need to do - I have just ignored the price and gotten everything i want (usually bfast cereal, milk etc) at the hotel grocery store. yes - probably very expensive - but I was never buying that much in total.
yeah - the cost is going up - I have put my trips on hold now.

 

[vault19dweller]

Thanks guys! Was having a bit of a bad day yesterday I think *laughs*

Glad to hear the groceries can be done without a mobile

Suppose I can always just enable roaming and disable data / rely on WiFi - how did people go about putting a contact number down for ADRs? Mine wouldn't allow an Aussie mobile in MDE

Thanks for letting me know about travel gear, somehow hadn't heard of them so will definitely look into that!

 

[LivingforDisney]

I just took my sons mobile, as it is prepaid and he never uses it, only if he wants me to pick him up from school or something, just a plain old phone, doesn't even have a camera
When we went he had about $450 credit on it, the only times I used it was to call a taxi once and ring Delta when we were in Orlando to check something. I did ring my husband a couple of times, as he didn't come with us, to make sure the was still alive!
We used the iPad to Skype my sisters son back here.
We found we didn't have much use for a phone to tell u the truth.
Used to hotel one to confirm some transport bookings.
As for adrs , I just put the hotel number when doing the booking.
We had no need for groceries, had free dining and couldn't eat all of that.

 

[lffam]

I used an Australian ebay supplier and bought AT&T sims before we left. We had unlocked phones and an iPad and that worked well for us. Most of the set up is done in Aus and we had a US phone number to give before we left. It was probably overkill for what we really needed, but it all worked fine and was only $30 from from memory.

I love the planning stage, its like the holiday almost starts for me then! (sad I know!) Enjoy it and of course the trip also! ask anything you might like to know there are many here who helped me and plenty willing to share their experiences.

 

[ozliz]

I second the question about ADRs. I had to put in a version of my Australian number that would never work if called just to book the ADRs. I don't know what they would actually do if they need to contact me.

I am planning to try vodafone red roaming on my next trip and have never roamed before. Usually I just stick with wifi on my smart phone (leave in flight mode but reactivate wifi) or buy a local sim soon after arriving and chuck it in an old unlocked phone. The time I did this I researched the package options in advance so I knew what I wanted and would get cheap calls back to Australia as an add on.

Can anyone explain how roaming works if I need to leave a number for someone to call me in case a booking changes while I am in orlando? Would they still have to make an international call with the Australian country code in front? I am not sure how many tour type places would do that.

 

[vault19dweller]

Oh I normally love planning too, just hit a wall the other day after hours and hours of daily planing over months just kinda got to me which hasn't happened before

The SIMS on TravelGear were a little steep, am really just after a prepaid SIM which I can activate online before we head off.

Might try e-bay if people have had good experiences with them?
Am normally a little cautious about things like that- has anyone had a good / trustworthy experience with getting a USA Prepaid SIM from ebay?

Really our ideal situation would be to have a USA number - that way we can recharge if or when we do go back

 

[lffam]

Oh I normally love planning too, just hit a wall the other day after hours and hours of daily planing over months just kinda got to me which hasn't happened before

The SIMS on TravelGear were a little steep, am really just after a prepaid SIM which I can activate online before we head off.

Might try e-bay if people have had good experiences with them?
Am normally a little cautious about things like that- has anyone had a good / trustworthy experience with getting a USA Prepaid SIM from ebay?

Really our ideal situation would be to have a USA number - that way we can recharge if or when we do go back

I know what you mean about the daily planning. sometimes it does get a bit much and your got to take a break. remember what your planning a holiday to relax and enjoy!! you can plan all you like somethings will run smoothly some may go off a little important thing is not to sweat the little stuff and enjoy it

I didn't have any issues at all with the ebay supplier I used. I checked for there link but they are not selling them anymore otherwise I would have sent to you.

I thought about the keeping the number thing, but I really had no need for that. The number I use really just for that trip when i go next time I get a new one. We've done it twice now like that although the first time I didn't buy it before we left I went to an AT&T store in LA which ended up being a hassle.

 

[ssour]

I second the question about ADRs. I had to put in a version of my Australian number that would never work if called just to book the ADRs. I don't know what they would actually do if they need to contact me. I am planning to try vodafone red roaming on my next trip and have never roamed before. Usually I just stick with wifi on my smart phone (leave in flight mode but reactivate wifi) or buy a local sim soon after arriving and chuck it in an old unlocked phone. The time I did this I researched the package options in advance so I knew what I wanted and would get cheap calls back to Australia as an add on. Can anyone explain how roaming works if I need to leave a number for someone to call me in case a booking changes while I am in orlando? Would they still have to make an international call with the Australian country code in front? I am not sure how many tour type places would do that.

If you're staying onsite they'll leave a message on your room phone. Happened to us last trip when a restaurant opening was moved back half an hour.

 

[Sugarglider]

when making ADRs I just left a digit off the end of the number. never had a problem. Also - I used the international dialling structure so : 61412......
I would eventually get my TMobile sim card from Travel Gear and register that phone number on the hotel booking and the only restaurant that has ever called me (and used the hotel registered number) was V&A (when I was running late for arrival). Have fun choosing your restaurants