Visiting WDW from Australia

[Sharkmeister]

Hi to everyone out there, I'm hoping some of the other Aussies (or anyone)can help me.
My family will be travelling to WDW later this year. It is a long journey and quite pricey, so I was wondering who you booked through and were they helpful.
Did you use Qantas Holidays, Creative or an American based travel agent. I have a really nice TA, but she can't apply any of these codes that I keep reading about. Can Aussie's use the codes or are they just for the US?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Sharkmeister

 

[wilde_oscar]

Codes are location based... folks comming from the UK get a much larger window for free dinning (when it is offered) then what is offered in the US. Disney also has rules on who can handle trip booking from where based on what country you are in... so it might be more complicated then ya think to be able to apply the codes.

My simple suggestion would be an email to Dreams Unlimited travel ( the folks that sponser this site) and ask them... they do tend to be experts on everything Disney.

 

[lovetoscrap]

You will probably get more response to this on the Theme Parks Board or by posting on the Community Board. I know we do have some Australian DISers that can probably help you out.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

Hi Sharkmeister
We travelled in Nov/Dec and I booked pretty much everything by myself. I used to work for QF Hols so felt confident doing this. We didn't stay onsite. Couldn't bear the thought of 4 weeks in a hotel room so rented a house in Windsor Hills directly through the owner who lived in Scotland. We bought annual passes and tickets to MVMCP directly from Disney which I did over the phone. These were sent to my cousin in North Carolina and she then sent them on to me. I could have collected them at Will Call however. We rented a car from yescarhire who were sooooo much cheaper than anything we could get direct through alamo or through a travel agent here. Flights were booked directly through Qantas and ticketed by a local travel agent here. I also booked all my ADR's by calling WDW-DINE.
QF Holidays (or any of the Wholesalers) don't really offer the full range of Disney properties. Most agents will use the local wholesalers. Disney is not hugely promoted here. If anything its more Disneyland orientated.

 

[portia9]

Hi,

We are Australian and travelling in April and booked everything myself. We are flying Air New Zealand but I checked zuji for flight information and booked when I saw a reasonable price.

We are then travelling from San Fran-Portland, then from Portland-Orlando, then Orlando-San Fran. I found the flights I wanted myself and the prices and then booked them through a travel agent (I couldn't do that from here myself). I booked offsite accomodation through the owner, car hire through orbitz and ordered my Disney tickets through undercovertourist.com.

HTH

 

[Nutsy]

We are looking at going in Feb '09. Airfares are not up yet for that far out, but I've got my travel agent on the job.

We recently went to Hong Kong and booked it through Flight Centre whose motto is.."If you finder a cheaper price, we will beat it".

I subscribe to a lot of the airline and hotel websites so I receive e-mails with cheap airfares and hotels quite regularly. We booked Cathay Pacific with the TA for Hong Kong, but I found a cheaper price with Qantas online and she met it (didn't beat it).. then a few weeks later I found an even cheaper one and she matched it again.

For the US... we are looking at Air New Zealand at this stage, but it's the Orlando connection that is the unkown territory. Don't really want to go around the country to get there after spending 16 plus hours already in travel to get to LA.

OP.. you should try subscribing to Mousesavers Newsletter..lots of info and specials in there.

MouseSavers Newsletter [newsletter1@mousesavers.com]

 

[PrincessBelle39]

In hindsight, I don't think we would do Melbourne to Orlando all in one go again. I think next time we will overnight in LAX and take an early morning flight the following day. I would also book my internal flights separately, not as a through fare, so that I have more choice of airlines. That way I could choose someone that flew direct. Last time I looked (and it was a long time ago) Delta flew direct LAX to MCO.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

For the US... we are looking at Air New Zealand at this stage, but it's the Orlando connection that is the unkown territory. Don't really want to go around the country to get there after spending 16 plus hours already in travel to get to LA.

It's so exciting to see how many Diser's are from Aussie!!!!! I visited in 2000 and just loved everything about it!

Anyway, from LA to Sydney, we flew Air New Zealand and loved it! (well, I'm afraid to fly so for me to say that, it takes a lot!). I just looked on southwest.com and they do offer flights from LA to Orlando, so you may want to look into them. They've been in the press lately (not very good press) so they may lower their rates to try to get some customers back. (Don't know for sure, but that's just my thought.) I flew Southwest in December (once again not liking to fly) and I liked it.

I hope you can get everything worked out for your trip to WDW!

 

[karmalicousss]

Welcome you will love the boards!

 

[BrizMarc]

Im an Aussie here but havent made it to a Disney park yet. Im in the process of planning my DLR trip at the moment though

 

[Nutsy]

Im an Aussie here but havent made it to a Disney park yet. Im in the process of planning my DLR trip at the moment though

Howdy BrizMarc... I'm in Brissie too

 

[byoung]

Welcome and hope you stay around!

 

[BrizMarc]

thanks guys. Yeah now ive found this site ill be staying here. Its hands down the best Disney site on the net

 

[PrincessBelle39]

thanks guys. Yeah now ive found this site ill be staying here. Its hands down the best Disney site on the net

I have to agree with you there BrizMarc. I would have been lost without this site when planning my trip.

 

[aussieinvasion]

Hi Sharkmeister,

Im here in Sydney. Ive booked my DCL cruise for next year with Dreams Unlimited and intend to book my 10 night stay at WDW with them too. The prices are so much cheaper for the DCL than what Ive been quoted here with Creative Holidays. I have been reassured that my DU agent can apply any discounts appropriate for the dates we will be travelling for the accommodation as we will be staying onsite. DU do check for discount codes and apply it to your booking if you are eligible.I have been reassured that all documents will be sent via UPS to us here. For the flights have you checked out bestflights.com.au ? Flight Centre have assured me they will match these guys prices too. Feel free to PM me if you would like more info but I have to say that the communication with DU has been excellent so far (thanks kelsie )

 

[Nutsy]

Hi Sharkmeister,

Im here in Sydney. Ive booked my DCL cruise for next year with Dreams Unlimited and intend to book my 10 night stay at WDW with them too. The prices are so much cheaper for the DCL than what Ive been quoted here with Creative Holidays. I have been reassured that my DU agent can apply any discounts appropriate for the dates we will be travelling for the accommodation as we will be staying onsite. DU do check for discount codes and apply it to your booking if you are eligible.I have been reassured that all documents will be sent via UPS to us here. For the flights have you checked out bestflights.com.au ? Flight Centre have assured me they will match these guys prices too. Feel free to PM me if you would like more info but I have to say that the communication with DU has been excellent so far (thanks kelsie )

I use Webjet.com.au and I've found some really good prices on there. We've recently returned from a Hong Kong holiday. Flight Centre quoted us on Cathay Pacific, but I found a cheaper flgiht on webjet flying Qantas and they met it. Although their motto is "if you find a cheaper price we will beat it".

But definately do some homework yourself, don't just assume that the travel agent is giving you the "best" deal.