The real Melbourne DISmeet Fri 7th October 2016

[ebusinessguru]

So I'm a bit excited that there are actually other Disney fans in Melbourne! Wish I'd realised this a few days ago so I could have come along on Friday. If you're having another meetup in August though, I'm definitely in!

Stephanie

Hi everyone. Just started doing some planning for my solo trip to WDW this August (my 19th I think), and stumbled on this thread. Fantastic that there are DISers in Melbourne. We (my wife and I) met up with some when we went on a cruise last year. Planning up a long list of "must dos" for the trip. Any one ever go solo?

Chris

 

[PrincessInOz]

Hi everyone. Just started doing some planning for my solo trip to WDW this August (my 19th I think), and stumbled on this thread. Fantastic that there are DISers in Melbourne. We (my wife and I) met up with some when we went on a cruise last year. Planning up a long list of "must dos" for the trip. Any one ever go solo?

Chris

Welcome to the Dis!

I've been 'solo' a couple of times....but I've always met other Dis-sers there.

Have a great trip and enjoy the planning.

 

[zanzibar138]

Hi everyone. Just started doing some planning for my solo trip to WDW this August (my 19th I think), and stumbled on this thread. Fantastic that there are DISers in Melbourne. We (my wife and I) met up with some when we went on a cruise last year. Planning up a long list of "must dos" for the trip. Any one ever go solo?

Chris

Welcome Chris

It seems there are many DISers in Melbourne

I haven't been solo yet, but I suspect it will be in my future (perhaps for the first time in Shanghai). In the meantime, I have lots of solo adventures in the parks when DH needs a break, and will have one night solo on my August/September trip. I can't wait!

 

[FireflyFi]

Two newbies in 24 hours - welcome Stephanie and Chris!

I've been solo to Tokyo Disney and will be soloing wdw in December.

 

[ebusinessguru]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. Great to know that there are local experts around We went Disney in Dec/Jan last year and WOW it was crowded ... (Christmas/New Year). I guess it's something you want to do once (Christmas deco was fantastic), and since we'd been so many times, we were content to just do a few things and take in the atmosphere ... but literally, we only did 2-3 rides/shows a day during the public holiday.

Thinking of doing the Backlot tour this time. It's a bit too expensive to do as a family of 5, but since it's just me .. thought it might be good to get a tour behind the scenes.

 

[Aldetha]

Hi everyone. Just started doing some planning for my solo trip to WDW this August (my 19th I think), and stumbled on this thread. Fantastic that there are DISers in Melbourne. We (my wife and I) met up with some when we went on a cruise last year. Planning up a long list of "must dos" for the trip. Any one ever go solo?

Chris

I did Tokyo Disney solo a couple of weeks ago. Haven't done the other parks solo though. Good on you for giving it a go... so many people wouldn't!

Stephanie

 

[PrincessInOz]

Chris and Stephanie - if you want to join us in August, we're more than happy to PM you the details. But you'll need to get to a post count of at least 10 before you're able to receive/send PMs on the Dis.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Or maybe that 10 post count is for linking images. I forget now.

 

[ebusinessguru]

Haha. Better get some chats in then! What does everyone want to talk about?

Really want to see Disney Sea. It's the last on by Disney list until shanghai.

This trip is probably not as epic as it sounds. I'm telling myself it's like a "free" trip. I'm in Chicago already, then I've used points to fly down, still have time on my annual pass from the last trip, and DVC points...

 

[PrincessInOz]

Haha. Better get some chats in then! What does everyone want to talk about?

Really want to see Disney Sea. It's the last on by Disney list until shanghai.

This trip is probably not as epic as it sounds. I'm telling myself it's like a "free" trip. I'm in Chicago already, then I've used points to fly down, still have time on my annual pass from the last trip, and DVC points...

You're on the DIS-boards.

What else but Disney....and travel......and food.....?

 

[Aldetha]

Chris and Stephanie - if you want to join us in August, we're more than happy to PM you the details. But you'll need to get to a post count of at least 10 before you're able to receive/send PMs on the Dis.

Okay... I'm on it!

 

[Aldetha]

Haha. Better get some chats in then! What does everyone want to talk about?

Really want to see Disney Sea. It's the last on by Disney list until shanghai.

This trip is probably not as epic as it sounds. I'm telling myself it's like a "free" trip. I'm in Chicago already, then I've used points to fly down, still have time on my annual pass from the last trip, and DVC points...

Ugh! [jealous] I one day dream of an annual pass!

Disney Sea was amazing. The best themed park I have ever been to. Unfortunately they really only cater to Japanese visitors, so the rides that rely heavily on the commentary to tell the story do lose a lot of their appeal. Hong Kong Disneyland was (although an inferior park) far superior in catering to both Chinese and English visitors. I would *LOVE* to see them to a version of Disney Sea somewhere else in the world.

Paris is last on my Disney list. I've been trying to get to Paris (not just for Disney) since I was a teenager, but I just haven't made it there yet, for one reason or another it always gets put off until another time. Soon I hope.

Stephanie

 

[ebusinessguru]

I heard Disney Sea is most unlike the other parks. Definitely keen to see it. Gotta confess though ... Pretty much nothing gets better than Orlando WDW.

This was my first time getting annual pass. So happened that we went there in sept (15th yr anniversary) and dec (big family reunion with my sister who lives in the states) ... Don't think I'll ever get it again. Not because it's not fantastic (because it is ... Discounts on everything ... Plus this August trip is now nearly free for me), but because I'll never go enough times in a year to make it worthwhile

What was your favourite thing about Disney Sea?

 

[zanzibar138]

I have yet to get to TDL and WDW. WDW is my lowest priority, seems like a lot of hard work

DLR is my favourite probably followed by HKDL, then DLP.

 

[ebusinessguru]

DLR is fantastic! I actually think they do their individual components really well. It was my first taste of Disney so it's always super special

I'm sure there's a wide range of opinions on this (and maybe soliciting them will be a quick way to hit my 10 post count? ). I've always liked WDW because it was a bit hard to take it all in. So you can pick one place (WDW) ... Keep going back to the familiar and still keep discovering new things. 10 days there pass so quick ... Combined with free dining and there's just so much to see and do. ... And eat!

How long has this group been together for? I know stephanie and I are brand new, but not sure how long you've all known each other for ...

 

[zanzibar138]

DLR is fantastic! I actually think they do their individual components really well. It was my first taste of Disney so it's always super special

I'm sure there's a wide range of opinions on this (and maybe soliciting them will be a quick way to hit my 10 post count? ). I've always liked WDW because it was a bit hard to take it all in. So you can pick one place (WDW) ... Keep going back to the familiar and still keep discovering new things. 10 days there pass so quick ... Combined with free dining and there's just so much to see and do. ... And eat!

How long has this group been together for? I know stephanie and I are brand new, but not sure how long you've all known each other for ...

I believe our first official meet was around Christmas time 2012. We've had a few join us since then though

 

[Dommiekazommie]

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

 

[Aldetha]

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!

I heard Disney Sea is most unlike the other parks. Definitely keen to see it. Gotta confess though ... Pretty much nothing gets better than Orlando WDW.

This was my first time getting annual pass. So happened that we went there in sept (15th yr anniversary) and dec (big family reunion with my sister who lives in the states) ... Don't think I'll ever get it again. Not because it's not fantastic (because it is ... Discounts on everything ... Plus this August trip is now nearly free for me), but because I'll never go enough times in a year to make it worthwhile

What was your favourite thing about Disney Sea?

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

 

[Aldetha]

I have yet to get to TDL and WDW. WDW is my lowest priority, seems like a lot of hard work

DLR is my favourite probably followed by HKDL, then DLP.

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

 

[Aldetha]

I believe our first official meet was around Christmas time 2012. We've had a few join us since then though

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

Stephanie