Sept / Oct 2011

[Franrose]

I don't think I mentioned earlier either that when we are in NY, we will take the kids to see Mary Poppins on Broadway. Looking forward to that!!

Now for a dumb question. What exactly are these travel cards you guys refer to?

 

[kylieh]

B
I am very very keen to do the space centre though (kind of bummed we won't be there on a rocket launch date, the adrenaline just seeing it on TV is such a rush!! My parents have seen one too, so jealous)! Those of you on a bus package - can you share?? Having done WDW before, we will stick to onsite transport too, so a bus package is what we'd need.

DH is doing the "Ultimate Space Experience" by Grayline Tours: http://www.graylinevacations.com/Orlando/View_All The Untimate tour includes the lunch with An Astronaut. There are other options for the Space Centre as well.

It picks up at All Starts Music (I think.... one of the All Stars anyway) so he'll catch a cab over that morning. We were going to hire a car but as he's going by himself felt it best to do the tour.

 

[battymum]

The only night we could make it is the 23rd as well - But I have made an ADR for just DH and myself at Narcoosees - .

Our kids are 16, and 14 (almost) so they will be OK to stay at the resort on their own for a bit. (As long as I pay for internet)

I didnt want to bother with costumes and more importantly the $250+ it would cost our family to go. We talked about it and everyone is OK with not going, but it would be cool to see some of the costumes, might just hang out outside the gates for a bit (creepy,much?).

The travel cards are prepaid visa cards that you get from ANZ bank. You load them up with $US at the current rate and use them just like a normal visa, (without conversion fees) you can withdraw cash from ATM for $2.50 fee. I have found it to be great for booking the whole holiday online.

As for Kennedy space centre, we are taking a cruise from Port Canaveral after our WDW stay, so we are hiring a car and driving to the coast on the Saturday, we will tour KSC and then stay overnight in Cape Canaveral before boarding on Sunday.

If you are open to driving, I think the cheapest option for a family is to hire a car for the day, apparently its an easy drive, freeway all the way. All the bus tours will charge per person which is not very economical for a family.

 

[Franrose]

Thanks for that info - I've been on a Grayline tour before and they were good, but the minimum length of tour for the Kennedy Space Centre looks to be 11 hours and that is way too long for our kids. One day car hire may indeed be the way to go for more than one reason!

Ta for travel card info too, will check it out (I hate those % conversion charges, have already been stung with purchasing Mary Poppins tickets etc).

 

[Busy Busy]

I'm starting to think about hiring a car to do Kennedy Space Centre as well. We will be going with another family that day - 4 adults and 5 kids under 14 - and if we get a van things might be a lot easier....not to mention cheaper.

In 1997 we did the bus tour to see the space centre and it really was a long day, then 2 days later we hired a van (7 adults) to go back to our special designated area for the Columbia shuttle launch. BEST.....DAY.....EVER!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqBz65-SnQc&feature=related

So it looks like I have my mission for the next couple of days: find a van at a good price and then talk my husband into driving it!!

 

[battymum]

You might be better off hiring two cars, especially if you can fit in a compact (although I know you are the tall family) - getting a van that seats nine might be difficult and expensive.

With that many people it would be better to be on your own schedule IMO.

 

[kylieh]

11 weeks today.... Does it sound better than 77 days?

 

[WAMUMOF4]

11 weeks today.... Does it sound better than 77 days?

personally i think 77 days sounds less

only 22 to go for us

 

[AussieMumma]

I finally feel like I can start planning all the fun stuff! I've spent so long pricing and booking accom and flights that all the fun has been left behind! I'm reading my Universal book first then on to re-read my Disneyworld book for the third time

Not sure if I've mentioned our changed itinerary, we've changed it twice now!!

Current plan (must stick to it )

26th Sep fly out Bris to LA one night Marriott LAX
27th LA-Chicago 3 nights at my cousins house in Naperville
30th Chicago-Orlando 4 nights Loews Royal Pacific Universal
4th Oct 10 nights All Star Music
14th Oct 3 nights Nickelodeon Hotel
17th Oct 3 nights Miami
20th Oct fly Fort Lauderdale-LA 1 night Marriott LAX
21st Oct fly home at 5 to midnight

Something fun to do Halloween wise while your in the US is to visit a pumpkin patch! We did it in California when we were there in 09 and the kids had so much fun, we also bought mini pumpkins for them to decorate (but had to leave them for housekeeping as I didn't want to be on border security back home!!)
I'm off to google one near Orlando or Miami....

 

[Jade+3]

Something fun to do Halloween wise while your in the US is to visit a pumpkin patch! We did it in California when we were there in 09 and the kids had so much fun, we also bought mini pumpkins for them to decorate (but had to leave them for housekeeping as I didn't want to be on border security back home!!)
I'm off to google one near Orlando or Miami....

We went to a pumpkin place in Celebration (a cute little town near WDW that Disney originally built). It was in the church grounds, which I think was on the main street. The homes in the area were decorated for Halloween.

 

[CHCH99]

Hi everyone, bit late joining in but I have just 'discovered' this thread. My DS(11) and I have 70 days until our big trip.
Leaving Christchurch 17th September (yahoo!!!) overnight in LA and then on to New Orleans for 6 nights. Taking a coach tour through Nashville, Memphis, Atlanta etc and finally ending up in Orlando on 1st October. Boarding Freedom of the Seas for the 7 night Western Caribbean cruise. Checking in to All Star Sports on 9th October. We have MNSSHP tickets for 11th. 5 nights there then moving over to Universal for a further 5 nights. Leave 19th October. So excited!!!!!

 

[battymum]

Welcome!

That is some holiday you are planning, we will getting off Freedom on the 2nd of October - we are doing the Eastern itinerary - I promise to leave it in good shape for you!

 

[hellosue]

Welcome CHCH99,
Sounds like an R&R trip "lol" hope enjoy being part of this Dis board, there is lots of info and experiences to be shared.

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Welcome CHCH99 sounds like a great trip you have planned

19 days to go for us
We went to the accountant today and had DH's tax done a nice return not as good as previous years but a great bonus to add to the USA spending fund

 

[Franrose]

Sounds awesome Chch99, and after the year you guys have had with the ground still moving, will be well deserved! Is anyone else here from Christchurch?


Thanks so much for the pumpkin patch tip too btw, I would never have thought of it!

 

[AussieMumma]

DH got his tax done today, bring on the deposit

 

[hellosue]

Wishes Reservations for Sept/Oct now released.....

51 days to go

 

[hellosue]

DH got his tax done today, bring on the deposit

How quick were you guys! I haven't even received my Payment Summary yet "trust Centrelink to be so slow"....

 

[kylieh]

Wishes Reservations for Sept/Oct now released.....

51 days to go

Thank you for this - this is the email that was sent auto to home when the thread was updated. My gut feeling told me to look and I'm glad I did - normally I wait til I get home.

I've booked it for the 5 of us on Thursday night 29 Sept.

70 days to we fly out.

 

[WAMUMOF4]

How quick were you guys! I haven't even received my Payment Summary yet "trust Centrelink to be so slow"....

I was thinking Centrelink were fast this year i rang them yesterday to tell them we were going out of the country for family tax benefit and the lady asked me if i wanted them to reconcile because DH's tax return already showed on their system we only had it done Monday so now we get our top up payment this Monday

only 15 days to go for us