The real Melbourne DISmeet Fri 7th October 2016

[Aldetha]

Yay! 10!

 

[zanzibar138]

Hi Guys

Not new to the Dis, but new to the Aus boards (a few years back no one ever posted here so I stopped checking).

If the Melbourne meet up is still happenign i'd love to come along.


This is a big Disney year for me, went to DL and Mexico in April for my Honnyemoon, a Girls trip to WDW for November, and in May we're going to the Philippines for a wedding.... and there's an option to fly via HK!!!!!
That'd just leave Paris (and Shanghai) and a cruise on my Disney to-do list

Oooh another Melbourne DISer! Where have you all been hiding?

Sounds like a great year

That gave me a giggle. DLR is my favourite in part because it is where I have my fondest childhood memories, but from a practical perspective, it is so compact. Everything is right there within walking distance and it's just so convenient! Especially with little kids that like to change their minds every 5 seconds.

WDW really is spectacular though. If you go there with plenty of time to explore, and you are ok with the idea that you won't see everything no matter how hard you try, but the most important thing is to thoroughly enjoy the experiences you do have, you will have an amazing time!

Just curious why you liked HKDL better than DLP? I haven't been to DLP so I can't compare, but I kind of see HKDL as being like a good introductory DL. Small and not a lot there, and can seem quite disappointing compared to the others, but if it is your first DL experience, it's still going to knock the Australian theme parks out of the park. I just imagine DLP being better than HKDL.

Stephanie

It's hard to put into words, but DLP seemed more um... serious People weren't smiling. Parents were walking around smoking and dragging their children along. I didn't see another adult or older teenager at a character greeting the whole time we were there. People weren't wearing ear hats or anything. It didn't seem like the adults were willing to let their inner child out, if that makes sense.

At HKDL, on the other hand, the CMs are generally fun and happy. The other guests seem to be too, and get excited about characters and photo opportunities, not just rides. We've had some great interactions with CMs, and I think the little stickers they hand out are fun. I find HKDL very charming.

Having said that, we experienced DLP at a more crowded time, and HKDL at a quiet time. We can afford to stay onsite at HKDL, which always makes it seem more magical. And on our last trip to HK, we had anniversary buttons given to us, so got heaps of great CM/character interaction.

As far as the parks themselves go, I loved them both. DLP was especially beautiful and magical with a dusting of snow (but FREEZING and uncomfortable ). I love the mountain backdrop of HKDL. DLP obviously has more 'to do', but for me, that's not what Disney parks are about. On our first stay at HKDL we stayed 4 nights, and I left wanting more. DLP has some of my favourite rides, and my favourite night time show so far. However, HKDL has the best parade I've seen by a mile.

Sorry, you got a bit of a novel there

How many of you are there? How often do you guys get together?

Stephanie

Let's see... There are about half a dozen regulars. We try to catch up on a monthly basis, but it doesn't always work out.

 

[ebusinessguru]

Just a quick apology up front, I am going to reply to each person in a separate post just to get my post count up, then I'll stop! Disney Sea is definitely different to the other Disney parks. You can see the "Disney" in it if you're looking, but it's not obvious like it is in the other parks if that makes sense. My favourite thing about it was definitely the theming (is that spelt right? Spell check can't figure it out). It is in every minute detail everywhere. But at the same time this park is huge and even the largest objects like the volcano are perfectly themed. Even though there is a volcano, a full size cruise ship, a massive ancient temple/pyramid, a castle, and the tower of terror, there is rarely a spot in the park where you can see them if you're not supposed to (the volcano can get a little difficult to hide sometimes ). If you are in a land, you are completely immersed in that land. They have kept them well separated and the transitions from one land to another are virtually seamless. It's also built around a lake, and they have their parades on boats around the lake, which was really lovely. Stephanie

Wow! Now I've gotta come up with an excuse to get our family to Japan ...

Looks like a little bit of a growth spurt for the DIS here in Melbourne

happy to be the scout for any of the groups going after me. If anyone has any questions or things they want investigated.... Let me know and I'll be sure to post up answers. Should be quite mobile since it's just me. I'm there 18-22 Aug

 

[PrincessInOz]

Wow! Look at all these new Melbourne Dis-sers.

 

[FireflyFi]

happy to be the scout for any of the groups going after me. If anyone has any questions or things they want investigated.... Let me know and I'll be sure to post up answers. Should be quite mobile since it's just me. I'm there 18-22 Aug

Chris, are you going to check out any of the Frozen in Summer stuff? If so, I'd love to see some pictures!

 

[ebusinessguru]

Chris, are you going to check out any of the Frozen in Summer stuff? If so, I'd love to see some pictures!

Yes. I'll definitely check it out. Right now trying to decide if I splurge for the premium package and enjoy desserts, snacks drinks while I take it in. We've had the soundtrack playing in our house and car since december last year ...

I'll take some pictures and post it up if you like. Fav character?

 

[FireflyFi]

Yes. I'll definitely check it out. Right now trying to decide if I splurge for the premium package and enjoy desserts, snacks drinks while I take it in. We've had the soundtrack playing in our house and car since december last year ...

I'll take some pictures and post it up if you like. Fav character?

Errm, Kristoff? he is the best 'prince' Disney has come up with. Even with his unmanly blondness.

But I do love them all! Anna, Elsa, Sven, Oaken (yoohoo)...maybe the only one I'm not all that excited about is Olaf.

If I were you, I'd go premium

 

[ebusinessguru]

Errm, Kristoff? he is the best 'prince' Disney has come up with. Even with his unmanly blondness. But I do love them all! Anna, Elsa, Sven, Oaken (yoohoo)...maybe the only one I'm not all that excited about is Olaf. If I were you, I'd go premium

I've just got my iphone camera with me. But I'm now pretty sure I'll be doing the premium. Decided against the back stage magic, so might fill my time up with smaller tours (behind the seeds?) and this premium access to frozen summer. Should be fun going in to the new oaken merchandise area.

Heard that they have a bunch of new merchandise out ... So may be looking to get some stuff for the house.

 

[FireflyFi]

Sounds like a plan!

Photos of merchandise are always appreciated

 

[ebusinessguru]

Sounds like a plan! Photos of merchandise are always appreciated

Great! I'll aim to post up pictures. I've never done pictures or a trip report before. Maybe I'll start a thread on this forum ? Is that the way to do it. Probably won't do a trip report as I imagine it will be really boring (doing lots of reading and journaling) peppered with Disney exploring. But merchandise pics and frozen pics I can do ...

Uhm so where is the August meet? Would love to catch up before I head over there

 

[PrincessInOz]

In case no one else has done so, I'm sending a PM to ebusinessguru with the details.

But could one of you also send a PM and exchange contact numbers?

I have a suspicion that I won't be at the next one. I'll find out for sure on Monday night but I think I have one of those unmissable school events to attend on the same night.

 

[zanzibar138]

In case no one else has done so, I'm sending a PM to ebusinessguru with the details.

But could one of you also send a PM and exchange contact numbers?

I have a suspicion that I won't be at the next one. I'll find out for sure on Monday night but I think I have one of those unmissable school events to attend on the same night.

Oh, that's a shame PIO

I'll PM ebusinessguru too

 

[ebusinessguru]

Oh, that's a shame PIO I'll PM ebusinessguru too

Thanks! Replied. Does the group use whatsapp?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks! Replied. Does the group use whatsapp?

I do have and use whatsapp. Not sure about the others.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Oh, that's a shame PIO

I'll PM ebusinessguru too

Thanks.

At least Chris can be in contact with someone who is going, rather than me.

 

[zanzibar138]

I do have and use whatsapp. Not sure about the others.

I think I have it, but my phone and I are both a little technologically challenged and don't really do apps

 

[ebusinessguru]

I think I have it, but my phone and I are both a little technologically challenged and don't really do apps

No worries. Was just wondering as whatsapp is kind of my go to app for group chats. What are your thoughts on the My Disney Experience app and My Magic +?

 

[PrincessInOz]

I think I have it, but my phone and I are both a little technologically challenged and don't really do apps

Ooh! Now that's an assignment. Next time, we can figure it out for you. It's really as easy as using text.

 

[zanzibar138]

No worries. Was just wondering as whatsapp is kind of my go to app for group chats. What are your thoughts on the My Disney Experience app and My Magic +?

I haven't been to WDW yet, so I haven't had to use anything like that.

I don't mind booking/keeping track of things on the internet, I'm just not a fan of doing it on the go. I like to be able to use my laptop with a proper keyboard, and not have to worry about data usage on my phone etc.

I usually don't even take my phone overseas as I'm so paranoid about roaming charges for data usage (my phone tends to always have something running in the background that I'm unaware of). The idea of having to use it in a Disney park bothers me, even if there's free wifi. I like to get away from that sort of thing when I'm on holidays, and focus on taking in the environment that I'm actually in. I can just imagine all the people wandering around in WDW so attached to their phone that they are unaware of all the magic they're missing around them.

Ooh! Now that's an assignment. Next time, we can figure it out for you. It's really as easy as using text.

I think I've got a different one set up on my iPod, which I used to communicate with DH when I was in Europe. For me, it's not really worth it because I get some ridiculous amount of text messages included with my phone plan that I'll never ever go anywhere near using, but I get very limited data.

In any month, usually two return train rides to the city's worth of accessing facebook and the DISboards app will put me very close to going over my data allowance.

 

[ebusinessguru]

Oh man. I shouldn't have hesitated! The frozen summer fun premium package is sold out! apparently it sold out almost as soon as it came out. Now I've been asked to call every day to check if there are cancellations. Apparently you can cancel the day before with no consequence ...