Sept/Oct Planners Check in here

[paulasillars]

I hope so, also want to try and book High Tea but not sure if this is being done on the WBTA. Annual pass for WDW, last item on my list - finally sorted and paid for tonight (just in case the aussie dollars drops again this week). Nothing else to do except finish planning the excursions and of course how am I going to fit all my clothes and shoes into one case.

If you figure that out, let me know - I've packed and repacked already and still have stuff to go in. We are away for 4 weeks and I keep having to remind myself I'll simply have to do some washing while we are away

Do you find the WBTA cruise thread? They are a very friendly bunch so just feel to jump in any time! There is still time to sign up for the FE gifts and other activities such as a chocolate/candy swap (lots of countries represented).

 

[Brookspayne]

If you figure that out, let me know - I've packed and repacked already and still have stuff to go in. We are away for 4 weeks and I keep having to remind myself I'll simply have to do some washing while we are away

Do you find the WBTA cruise thread? They are a very friendly bunch so just feel to jump in any time! There is still time to sign up for the FE gifts and other activities such as a chocolate/candy swap (lots of countries represented).

Found the WBTA thread - thanks for the link, so much to read, moment I go back there another 5 pages have been added. Don't think we will be doing the FE gifts, no time as we are leaving for our holidays in August. Finally decided on getting another suitcase because no matter how much I try, all my stuff will not fit into one.

 

[paulasillars]

Start at page one of the thread - there is all sorts there. It does move pretty quick. There are a lot of activities planned but you can pick and choose what suits. I really recommend you see if you can jump in a bit as I've found on previous cruises, its been the people that have been more the lasting memory than the trip itself.

 

[kyl]

Hi all, we are travelling to orlando on the 19th sept now after our flights had to be changed due to delta changing their flights which would of made us stop over in Atlanta and added a few hours to our time! Never mind we get to leave a day early now Just woundering if anyone else has done the long flight with v australia. We leave Sydney at 8.30pm arrive in LAX at 5.10pm then have a wait until 9.15pm and arrive orlando at approx 5am. We will have three children with us ages 3yrs, 7yrs and 11yrs. I guess I am a little worried about how they will hold up, any suggestions on what to do with our four hour wait in LAX would be greatly appreciated. And any one who has done this flight any input about it would be great. Many Thanks my fellow disney lovers.......p.s. we couldn't help it we have also booked disneyland for a couple of days prior to going home

 

[aussietravellers]

Hi all, we are travelling to orlando on the 19th sept now after our flights had to be changed due to delta changing their flights which would of made us stop over in Atlanta and added a few hours to our time! Never mind we get to leave a day early now Just woundering if anyone else has done the long flight with v australia. We leave Sydney at 8.30pm arrive in LAX at 5.10pm then have a wait until 9.15pm and arrive orlando at approx 5am. We will have three children with us ages 3yrs, 7yrs and 11yrs. I guess I am a little worried about how they will hold up, any suggestions on what to do with our four hour wait in LAX would be greatly appreciated. And any one who has done this flight any input about it would be great. Many Thanks my fellow disney lovers.......p.s. we couldn't help it we have also booked disneyland for a couple of days prior to going home

I think the hardest part of your journey will be arriving in Orlando at 5am and not being able to check into the hotel until 3pm after about 24hrs of travelling You won't get to your resort until maybe 6.30am and if you are lucky maybe they will have your room ready early but if not then you will all be tired and having to hang around until 3pm, . Is the Magical Express service operating at that hour? Or are you taking a town car or taxi or renting a car? We usually pay for the hotel room from the night before so that the room is ready when we check in when we arrive that early in the morning as that is the hard part for us.

The 4 hours in LAX will go quickly as you need to get off the plane and go through customs, then you may need to change terminals as VAustralia usually arrives at the Tom Bradley terminal (departs from terminal 3 usually) and Delta usually flies out of terminal 5. So you can take some time up by taking the shuttle between terminals or you can walk, it isn't very far. Then when you get to the other terminal you will have to go through security, then maybe get some dinner. Hopefully you will get some sleep on the flight from Sydney, my son usually sleeps the whole way on the plane, I on the other hand do not sleep at all (even on a long flight to Europe).

 

[lovintheland]

HI Kyl,

I really don't think you will have to wait that long by the time you get off and the next boarding time etc. Maybe time to get something to eat, stretch etc. There really isn't much to do at LAX and you don't have enough time to go anywhere. I feel like I deserve a gold medal just surviving the 14 hr flight with my 3 without travelling any further.

Think that's why I'm not interested in WDW at this point in time. But really your wait is bearable in the scheme of things

 

[kyl]

Thanks guys, yes I think you are right about the early morning arrival. I will call disney now and try and organize at least one of our rooms for early check in at pop century. I hope the magical express is running at that time didn't even think of that. Must call now. Thanks guys appreciate all your help.

 

[kyl]

O.K so just called disney and paid for one of our rooms from the 19th so that when we get there at around 6.30am we will have at least one room and cross our fingers that the second is also readyHusband very kindly offered to sleep on the floor until it doesYeah right!Also the magical express does operate at that time of the day So all is good. Just that wait at LAX concerns me, but as you have all said by the time we get our bags and go through customs then onto terminal 5 at least an hour would of gone by.

 

[DizOz]

Kyl,

The last 2 times I have flown into LA I have had to wait around for a connecting flight. The first time was 5 1/2 hours and last time 3 hours. I got through immigration and customs and dropped my bags off at the transfer area in around 45 minutes. The newly designed immigration area seems to move people through a lot quicker. Insetad of one line it is designed like a shopping centre checkout with many smaller lines. Trcik is the pick the right one.

LAX is a pretty boring and uncomfortable place to wait. Suggest you have plenty of things to do for the kids and yourself as walks and eating takes up surprising very little time. It seemed to me like the clock ticks two minutes forward and one back.

Great move bocking the room early, you would have kicked yourself when you got there and you chose not to.

 

[kyl]

Thanks DizOz, yes I am thinking of taking colouring in books etc..We went to LAX last year but got off there for a week before going to NYC. So no where near as long a wait. But even waiting for our flight home to Sydney there I remember thinking Sydney airport has more to do than LAX! Just thought if there was a kids play area around somewhere in the airport it would of been a god sent. Never mind

 

[Oz-kateer]

Hi all, we are travelling to orlando on the 19th sept now after our flights had to be changed due to delta changing their flights which would of made us stop over in Atlanta and added a few hours to our time! Never mind we get to leave a day early now Just woundering if anyone else has done the long flight with v australia. We leave Sydney at 8.30pm arrive in LAX at 5.10pm then have a wait until 9.15pm and arrive orlando at approx 5am. We will have three children with us ages 3yrs, 7yrs and 11yrs. I guess I am a little worried about how they will hold up, any suggestions on what to do with our four hour wait in LAX would be greatly appreciated. And any one who has done this flight any input about it would be great. Many Thanks my fellow disney lovers.......p.s. we couldn't help it we have also booked disneyland for a couple of days prior to going home

I have done both the Delta SYD-LAX-ATL-MCO (leave SYD in the morning, arriving MCO in the evening) and a flight that left SYD in the evening and arrived at MCO at the crack of dawn.

Even with a extra couple of hours layover in ATL, which by the way isn't a bad airport at all - much nicer than LAX with lots to look at including the Martin Luther King exhibition - it was far more comfortable arriving in Orlando in the evening and going straight to the hotel, knowing I would definitely be able to check in, have a shower, have dinner, then go to bed and hit the parks fresh the next day. Trying to drag yourself and the kids around the parks for a whole day after stepping off a 24 hours flight without much sleep and no shower and feeling skuzzy was no fun. Never again. What a wasted day that was.

A 3 to 4 hour layover at LAX isn't 3 to 4 hours of sitting around, as you have to clear immigration and customs and then take your bags to the transfer area, and then go back in through security for the domestic flight to MCO. That takes awhile. Once you're back inside, if you have any spare time you can always sit in a cafe, or look in the shops, even with the kids in tow.

However this year, in Sept we are going Delta again but aren't going via ATL as there is a connecting direct flight to MCO that leaves LAX about 3 hours after we land. I am surprised that you weren't offered this option? It was actually cheaper than the route via ATL. Leaves SYD at about 9.45am and gets into MCO at about 6pm local times.

By the way the Magical Express runs all day and night - it's just that late at night into the very early morning there is no luggage service. Personally, I've never tried the luggage service option as I find it easy enough to just collect my own bags from the carousel and take it with me on the ME. That way when you arrive at the hotel you've got your stuff.

Hope things pan out for you.

 

[aussietravellers]

So exciting! Sept/Oct Planners we are getting so close

One thing we always do when we are getting close is check out what movies will be playing during our flights. Have just checked Qantas and they have the September schedule up already

 

[kyl]

I have done both the Delta SYD-LAX-ATL-MCO (leave SYD in the morning, arriving MCO in the evening) and a flight that left SYD in the evening and arrived at MCO at the crack of dawn.

Even with a extra couple of hours layover in ATL, which by the way isn't a bad airport at all - much nicer than LAX with lots to look at including the Martin Luther King exhibition - it was far more comfortable arriving in Orlando in the evening and going straight to the hotel, knowing I would definitely be able to check in, have a shower, have dinner, then go to bed and hit the parks fresh the next day. Trying to drag yourself and the kids around the parks for a whole day after stepping off a 24 hours flight without much sleep and no shower and feeling skuzzy was no fun. Never again. What a wasted day that was.

A 3 to 4 hour layover at LAX isn't 3 to 4 hours of sitting around, as you have to clear immigration and customs and then take your bags to the transfer area, and then go back in through security for the domestic flight to MCO. That takes awhile. Once you're back inside, if you have any spare time you can always sit in a cafe, or look in the shops, even with the kids in tow.

However this year, in Sept we are going Delta again but aren't going via ATL as there is a connecting direct flight to MCO that leaves LAX about 3 hours after we land. I am surprised that you weren't offered this option? It was actually cheaper than the route via ATL. Leaves SYD at about 9.45am and gets into MCO at about 6pm local times.

By the way the Magical Express runs all day and night - it's just that late at night into the very early morning there is no luggage service. Personally, I've never tried the luggage service option as I find it easy enough to just collect my own bags from the carousel and take it with me on the ME. That way when you arrive at the hotel you've got your stuff.

Hope things pan out for you.

Thank you so much for your replies, they have been very helpful especially you oz kateer! We have got the early flight now so will arrive at around 5am orlando time But I am happy because it means less travelling and hours spend at the airport Flight center finally changed our flights so we don't have to go via Atlanta ya....so we will only have four hours now to fill in at LAX. Just hoping the kids hold up, we have booked our room one day early so we can check in straight away and sleep. I plan to sleep until around midday then have a swim late lunch. I have booked whispering canyon for dinner at around 8pm, don't know if that is a good idea or if we should just hang out around POP for the day. Any tips on that would be good! We then plan to start a fresh the next morning and do epcot. Has anyone tried to ajust their body clock prior to leaving? I am thinking I might try it with the kids as we leave late on Sunday night. So thinking after school on friday they can stay up all night Well as late as their little bodies will let them and then let them sleep in on Sat. Doing the same again on Sat night, well thats the plan anyway. Thinking about getting the train into the airport. Has anyone done this or do you think it would be safer via taxi? We live about 45min train ride away from the international airport at Sydney with six of us I thought this might be exciting for the kids and wear them out a little maybe just maybe it might Loving this thread and sharing some magic with my fellow Aussies.

 

[kyl]

So exciting! Sept/Oct Planners we are getting so close

One thing we always do when we are getting close is check out what movies will be playing during our flights. Have just checked Qantas and they have the September schedule up already

Good advice I am going to V australia right now Just hope you didn't get a row in 77 economy. We did last year with qantas on the A380. Only four t.v. not to work you guessed it ours. They tried to re-boot it a thousand times but it didn't work. So I guess if your in that row by an chance just change it just in case. Although I am sure they have fixed the problem by now

 

[Oz-kateer]

Kyl - with regard to getting to the airport - a train might be a hassle with kids and luggage, you will have to change trains at some point - and it's not really all that cheap. A taxi would be a good option but a 45 minute ride might break the bank. Have you thought of a shuttle service? They will pick you and your luggage up from your house and drop you at the airport, for a set price, so no shocks and no messing about changing trains, hauling luggage etc.

I am lucky I live just a few minutes from Sydney airport - oftentimes I end up "babysitting" friends cars as they drive and park at my place and I drop them at the the terminal!

I have found there's not a whole lot of use trying to beat jetlag early by adjusting your body clock before you leave. The long haul 24 hour flight will screw things up anyway. Just wing it until you get there. For some reason when travelling to the US from Australia it isn't all that hard to hit your stride and adjust to the time difference pretty quickly. It's part physical yes, but also part psychological - when it's daylight and things are jumping you want to be awake, when things are dark and quiet you slow down.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

So excited. The dates for the Dessert party have been extended until December so I was able to get tickets for Wed 29 September. I'm really thrilled as this is our first night in WDW and I think it will be a lovely way to enjoy the fireworks and to celebrate being there.

 

[aussietravellers]

So excited. The dates for the Dessert party have been extended until December so I was able to get tickets for Wed 29 September. I'm really thrilled as this is our first night in WDW and I think it will be a lovely way to enjoy the fireworks and to celebrate being there.

That is so exciting!!!! Congratulations.

I tried last week for the 24th and the 27th September and there wasn't anything available So I was planning on trying again this week. But I may call tonight and see about the 24th and 27th again but if they are full try for the 29th if there was space there. We just have a 6.50pm dinner at Le Cellier on the 29th so will either have to cancel that or run from there over to MK to make dessert, oh boy would we have full tummies that night

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

That is so exciting!!!! Congratulations.

I tried last week for the 24th and the 27th September and there wasn't anything available So I was planning on trying again this week. But I may call tonight and see about the 24th and 27th again but if they are full try for the 29th if there was space there. We just have a 6.50pm dinner at Le Cellier on the 29th so will either have to cancel that or run from there over to MK to make dessert, oh boy would we have full tummies that night

I would definitely try and call them again. I must admit to being surprised that we got in so easily. I can't wait.

 

[aussietravellers]

Have just make ADR's for the new restaurant at Epcot, Via Napoli. It has just opened and ADR's can be made online from today

The food looks delicious, can't wait to try one of their pizzas, they don't look like the typical american pizza, they look like italian pizzas, YUM!

 

[queenie82]

Have just make ADR's for the new restaurant at Epcot, Via Napoli. It has just opened and ADR's can be made online from today

The food looks delicious, can't wait to try one of their pizzas, they don't look like the typical american pizza, they look like italian pizzas, YUM!

yes they look lovely!!!
I'm confused about how things work with the dining plan some of the pastas are quite expensive...and then there are the individual pizzas...but then could you get a bigger one between 2???
I'm very confused...

But is does look GREAT. I was a bit hesitant reading the first release of the menu.. but the pizzas look like PIZZAS!!!

Some links for those interested in what we are talking about...lol
http://www.wdwmagic.com/Dining/Via-...-Via-Napoli-opening-day-report-and-photos.htm
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/08/via-napoli-at-epcot-now-thazza-pizza/
http://allears.net/menu/menu_vianap.htm

More links with food porn...
http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2010/08/via_napoli_1.html
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/08/a-grand-opening-for-via-napoli/