We’re Coming all the way from the Land Down Under! Jan 2012 PTR

[PrincessInOz]

Check out Bogey Creek. I think one of the other Aussies used them and wrote about it in their TR. I've always considered using them as well.

Also - keep an eye out for coupons for Bogey Creek. I know I've physically seen them in stores and those tourist info stands in hotels; but they might also have something on-line or specials online.

I also second Belle's suggestion for the Boardwalk. If you have time and want to check out more of WDW, after you've been to DTD, you can head over to the Boardwalk. There are less shops there...but the resorts are worth having a look at. The bakery is nice as are some of the restaurants there.
And once you've worked out how close the International Gateway is to the resorts, you always have the option of heading out of Epcot and taking a Friendship boat to Hollywood Studios from the Beach/Yatch club.

 

[OziJo]

Things to do on our free day. Oh my goodness so much to do so little time...

• Explore Fort Wilderness
• Take a jet boat ride- Bogey Creek (thanks PrincessInOz)
• Take the monorail to each of the 3 monorail resorts and check out the lobbies, shops, and grounds of each
• Rent a boat and go for a tour of Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon
• Walk around the Boardwalk (making sure you stop for a treat at the Boardwalk Bakery!) and check out the lobbies of the 3 resorts
• Go to Downtown Disney, have a sandwich at Earl of Sandwich and stop in at Ghiradelli for dessert (ideas by Belle599)
• Go to the Factory Outlets (suggested by Battymum)

 

[Colleen27]

Joining in from the Jan '12 thread! It sounds like you have a great trip in the works.

 

[OziJo]

78 Days to Go!!

The Aussie$ is back over the US$1.00 mark. Might be time to buy those Universal Tickets!

On to less positive news QANTAS industrial action is just getting worse and QANTAS are now canceling and rearranging flights up to 4 weeks in advance

I know a lot of people who work for QANTAS from ground engineers to flight attendants and baggage handlers. I hope something gets sorted out soon. QANTAS needs to get back to providing the high quality safe service it is renowned for and to do that they have to treat their staff right.

On a lighter note, Colleen.

 

[PrincessInOz]

That countdown is getting closer.

Yes - time to change more money or buy tix.

 

[WickedDreamer]

Can't wait to read your trip report wil definatlely be following your report!! I am also from Sydney and am traveling over for my first trip on January 25th and am going for 2 weeks

 

[OziJo]

77 Days to Go!!
76Days to Go!!
75 Days to Go!!

Hi WickedDreamer.

I have been busy this week doing hair for all the girls at my daughters' dance school who have done their ballet exams this week. I'm no hairdresser but I have had a lot of experience with ballet exams. And they pay .

My girls are past the grade exams which are done at your own dance studio. When they do an exam now they have to go into the city for their Major exams. As they get into the majors they take 18 months to 2 years to complete the grade. This is the first year neither have done an exam. Humour me while I reminisce and post a few photos of when they were younger. This also illustrates what I have been doing for the past 2 days on other peoples children. Each grade has a different hairstyle.

Here's Clair getting her hair done by someone else (never do your own child's hair) back in 2007 for her Grade 5 exam:

Here's Hannah also in 2007 for her Grade 4 exam:

And Hannah again in 2005 ready for her grade 2 exam:

So I have made a little cash and will now go out and buy myself a new pair of walking shoes. I need to get them now so I can wear them in by January.

 

[OziJo]

74 Days to Go!
73 Days to Go!
72 Days to Go!

Not much planning going on at the moment. I'm feel like I'm in a bit of a holding pattern. I'm thinking about the trip all the time while I'm driving the kids around, having coffee with my mum or hanging out at a family BBQ but I'm not doing anything practical. I need to make a To Do list.

DD2&3 are involved in Schools Spectacular (or Spec for short) this term.

This is how the Official website describes Spec:

The Schools Spectacular is one of the world’s biggest youth variety events: an inspirational performing arts showcase choreographed, costumed and musically performed on an epic scale.

There's also a slideshow with highlights from last year here;
http://www.schoolsspectacular.com.au/2009/index.php?page=prior-years

DD2 is there amongst it!! I can pick her out a couple of times in a few different items but there is only 1 clear shot of her, a close up of her and another girl in sunnies and a white, blue and yellow geometric patterned dress She's on the left. They were performing "Cinema Italiano".

This year's Spec is taking up a lot of our time. Both DD2&3 are involved and I have to drive them to rehearsals. These full day rehearsals are held at a venue which is a 40min drive from our house. Sometimes they catch a train home. We car pool with others but because I'm not working at the moment I tend to take on the bulk of the taxiing. They have 10 days of rehearsals each during school time plus their usual 2 hrs a week State Dance rehearsals. On top of all this they have their usual dance classes (about 10 hrs a week each) and are working hard towards their end of year concerts as well.

They are juggling all this with their end of year school exams. They both do well at school but it worries me when the dancing commitments get in the way of school work. DD2 tells me all her exams are finished but I'm sure she still has a few assessment tasks to do. DD3 still has a few more exams to go. She is more organised with her study.

And all I want to think about is Disney World and Honolulu...

To Do list tomorrow.

 

[archdandy]

Woohoo! I'm all caught up from the last time I checked in to your PTR. I think that going to downtown disney or the boardwalk is a great idea for your rest day. Me and DH do that a lot when we have nothing else to do. There are so many great shops and things to look at. Plus at DTD they have a movie theatre where you can watch movies. Its always fun to watch a disney movie at DTD!

Thanks for the link to the website about weather history! I'm still stressing out about it I just hope its warm enough to wear a tshirt and pants and I'll be happy!

 

[battymum]

Hi Ozi Jo - I just found your PTR (I am so lost without something to plan)

Anyway I am wondering if you have bought your Universal tickets yet? We bought ours through Undercover Tourist - I am pretty sure they have the best prices , and they send "real" tickets to your home in Australia (just don't forget to take them!!!). We also got our Kennedy Space Centre tickets from them. It was great having to walk straight through the turnstiles without having to collect tickets (or pay) I liked having as much as I could paid for before we left home. (The only money we spent at WDW was for gratuities, average $30 per meal, and - oh and our shopping spree)

Also I notice that you plan on buying 2day passes at Universal but are having a day elsewhere in between - just check that your 2 days do not have to be consecutive.

As for your first day, I see you are getting the SYD-DFW flights - as you may have read that is the flight we were on, and had significant delay in DFW - so did not end up at WDW until 2:00am - I think Downtown Disney is a great plan for this day, or maybe a park that will be open late, I wouldnt make firm commitments for the morning, catch up on your sleep or you will be on the backfoot the whole holiday. - consider getting your shopping delivered on this day.


But have a great time, I wish we went in January,

 

[OziJo]

71 Days to Go!!

Anyway I am wondering if you have bought your Universal tickets yet? We bought ours through Undercover Tourist - I am pretty sure they have the best prices , and they send "real" tickets to your home in Australia (just don't forget to take them!!!). We also got our Kennedy Space Centre tickets from them...

Thanks for the heads up Battymum. I just checked and Undercover Tourist is cheaper and I like the idea of having real tickets. I also checked and the two days do not have to be consecutive. They can be used anytime within a 14 day time period from the first day of use.

As for your first day, I see you are getting the SYD-DFW flights - as you may have read that is the flight we were on, and had significant delay in DFW - so did not end up at WDW until 2:00am - I think Downtown Disney is a great plan for this day, or maybe a park that will be open late, I wouldnt make firm commitments for the morning, catch up on your sleep or you will be on the backfoot the whole holiday. - consider getting your shopping delivered on this day.

Hopefully we won't have your delays but I think we will still take it easy that day. Our Park Hopper passes don't kick in until the 8th (we have split ressie to take advantage of Free Dining from the 8th) so we won't be doing any Disney Parks day 1 . Downtown might let us feel like we are in Disney even if we can't be in a Park.

There is so much do. I want to go to the outlets and we want to explore Fort Wilderness. I wish we had more free time scheduled but we won't make any firm plans for day 1. We will see how we feel.

Here's a couple of questions:
1. How long does it take to get to and from Universal?
2. How long does it take to get to KSC and will our teenage DD's be really interested in KSC? I know DH and I will enjoy it but with so many other things to do is it worth taking a whole day for this excursion?

 

[PrincessInOz]

71 Days to Go!!
Here's a couple of questions:
1. How long does it take to get to and from Universal?
Depends on traffic. We got a private car that happened to be outside our resort at WDW and it took about 20 minutes...but then it was real early.

2. How long does it take to get to KSC and will our teenage DD's be really interested in KSC? I know DH and I will enjoy it but with so many other things to do is it worth taking a whole day for this excursion?

It takes about a hour to 1.5 hours to drive from WDW to KSC, again depending on traffic, using the tollway. Make sure you have plenty of quarters.
In my opinion, it is definitely worth the day for this excursion. Your DD may feel differently. Just depends on whether they are in the whole space exploration thing or not.

Your countdown is counting down quick!

Answers above.

 

[battymum]

As for KSC - we went as we were heading to Port Canaveral for our cruise anyway - and it is one of those things we felt we had to do, but if it came down to choosing between a day of shopping and going to KSC - I am pretty sure most teenage girls would choose shopping everytime.

Maybe DH can go on his own, mine enjoyed it.

 

[OziJo]

70 Days to Go!!
69 Days to Go!!

Wow my countdowns into the 60's!! How did that happen?

Thanks for the answers to my questions. I'm going to have to put it to a vote around the dinner table. If we are going to do KSC I want to get tickets before we go.

Looking at our schedule again I'm thinking that we could do the Outlets stores after our second day at Universal. After one full day at Universal we might only need half a day to revisit IOA. We could get an early start and be there at opening. Then we can stop at the outlets on the way back. We just need to be home in time for the 6:15 HDDR. Sound feasible?

 

[PrincessInOz]

YAY for the 60's!



Anything is feasible.
You could choose to buy your KSC tickets when you decide to go; and give yourselves the option of going or not going depending on the mood. If it is the exchange rate factor that is driving your purchase plan, perhaps you could exchange the money into a cash card and lock in the rate.

Regarding the second day at IoA/Universal - Your plan is feasible and leaves it open for last minute changes when you get there.

 

[battymum]

I was actually going to suggest that may be an option. Unless you are ride junkies, its possible to do the two parks in one and half days - The Premium Outlets is not far from Universal.

 

[battymum]

You could even consider shopping after your first day at Universal - the shops are open quite late - and you wont have to rush for a dinner reservation.

 

[archdandy]

Counting down in the 60's

 

[OziJo]

68 Days to Go!

It's unanimous. My family want to do KSC. But DD3 still wants shoes and "we have to go shopping mum" so...

Anything is feasible.
You could choose to buy your KSC tickets when you decide to go; and give yourselves the option of going or not going depending on the mood. If it is the exchange rate factor that is driving your purchase plan, perhaps you could exchange the money into a cash card and lock in the rate.

The exchange rate has a part in it but it is probably more my need to have tickets purchased before we go so we can just breeze on in I may be willing to forgo that urge in favour of more flexibility.

You could even consider shopping after your first day at Universal - the shops are open quite late - and you wont have to rush for a dinner reservation.

This sounds most promising. I wasn't thinking about the shops being open that late but if they are we then that may be answer!

Thanks for the advice ladies

 

[battymum]

Premium Outlets Vineland Avenue -
Mon - Sat 10:00am - 11:00pm - Sun 10am - 9:00pm

You should be able to get a few hours in here after your day at Universal - provided you have the stamina!!