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

[OziJo]

67 Days to Go!

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!!

Sounds perfect!I had better start building up my theme park/shopping mall stamina. Now what's the best way to do that...?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Use the Force and go with the flow.

Adrenalin will get you through it when you're there!

 

[Mum from oz]

Kennedy Space centre was good. Although I'm not particularly interested in space etc I still found KSC to be a good day.

I did the air boat rides at Boggy Creek and you can read about it in my TR on my blog. I also got my tickets from undercover tourist and they arrived promptly and were good to go for both Universal/IOA and Disney. Kennedy tickets I got online direct from KSC website and they were print at home vouchers. No problems there either.

Loved the photos of your DD's at ballet. Gives me a preview of things to come with my DD. She just started ballet and jazz this year and I can already see how time consuming it is. I mean all the rehearsals leading up to the end of year concert, sheesh! She's only 3 years old!

Everytime I pop in here your countdown is getting shorter and with all the end of year activities and Christmas and New Years it will be here in no time at all!

 

[OziJo]

66 Days to Go!
65 Days to Go!

Use the Force and go with the flow.

Always...

Kennedy Space centre was good.
I did the air boat rides at Boggy Creek and you can read about it in my TR on my blog. I also got my tickets from undercover tourist and they arrived promptly and were good to go for both Universal/IOA and Disney. Kennedy tickets I got online direct from KSC website and they were print at home vouchers. No problems there either.

Would love to do the air boat rides but I don't think we will have time. Glad to hear more positive feedback for Undercover Tourist. Will definitely be using them.

Loved the photos of your DD's at ballet. Gives me a preview of things to come with my DD. She just started ballet and jazz this year and I can already see how time consuming it is. I mean all the rehearsals leading up to the end of year concert, sheesh! She's only 3 years old!

Mine started around 3 and I miss them in their pink. Its lovely when they are little and wonderful to see them progress. But it certainly is time consuming. Looking at your DD on your blog I can just picture her doing ballet.

Here are mine when they did their first ballet exam. They were 4 years old.

And at last years ballet concert:Clair

Hannah in blue

And Clair doing tap this year:

And Hannah doing Contemporary:

Everytime I pop in here your countdown is getting shorter and with all the end of year activities and Christmas and New Years it will be here in no time at all!

Christmas Normally I would have made my puddings and cakes by now I haven't even thought about it!!

(Back on topic)I was going to book Universal tickets this weekend but the Qantas fiasco distracted me. I started doing sums to see if we could cancel our Qantas tickets and go with Virgin. Hopefully it's settled now. Our flights are good ones and we wouldn't want to have to change.

 

[jessiegirl84]

Hello another fellow Aussie just found your pre-trip report!

We are heading to WDW in December and also visiting potter world & Kennedy space centre.
We bought our universal tickets - 2parks 1day pass, on the universal website and we printed off the tickets in PDF so happy about that.

Looking forward to hearing more about your plans

 

[OziJo]

64 Days to Go!

Jessie! Your trip sounds fantastic!!

So many Aussies. We are a dedicated bunch considering it takes 2o+ hours to get to WDW. Americans don't know how lucky they are

 

[PrincessInOz]

Doesn't seem that long ago when we were celebrating you counting down in the '60s. Now look at it....seems a lot closer to the '50s!

 

[OziJo]

Doesn't seem that long ago when we were celebrating you counting down in the '60s. Now look at it....seems a lot closer to the '50s!

I know so exciting

Today I was out training for our trip, trying to build up my stamina for the theme park/shopping marathons (ie I was out shopping ) when I started chatting with a lady who lives 20mins from Waikiki. She's an Aussie home visiting her family. Any way we were looking at underwear and she was swearing at the prices here. In 5mins she gave me a heads up on where to buy the best undies in Oahu as well as some tips on getting discount vouchers. I didn't think I could say I was military though.

So I'm adding Waikele Premium outlets and the K-Mart to our must dos. 20mins from Waikiki. We might skip Ala Moana (though we do love the food court there) and head out of town for bargains.

 

[PrincessInOz]

The Premium Outlets are great. Just remember that when the malls and full retail is on sale, the bargains are great too!

I also like shopping at Walmart, Kohls and Target in the US. Great bargains there.

 

[battymum]

Yes if you dont get your shopping done in Orlando - I am sure there are bargains in Hawaii -

(I really, really, really want to go to Hawaii next year - I hope Qantas announces some specials to get some loyalty back)

 

[OziJo]

I don't think QANTAS ever will discount because Hawaii is Jetstar territory. Jetstar have deals all the time. You start with the basics with them and add things like baggage, meals and seat selection. They are still cheaper than QANTAS. Well, they are QANTAS. Just the cheap side.

 

[Belle599]

The Premium Outlets are great. Just remember that when the malls and full retail is on sale, the bargains are great too!

I also like shopping at Walmart, Kohls and Target in the US. Great bargains there.

Shopping! Yes, I also love shopping in the US. Much better selection and slightly better prices than in Canada.

Target - love it. We are supposed to get Target in Canada in 2013 so I am very excited.

Kohl's - just discovered this past year and love it! I signed up for the mailing list and they send 15% off or 20% your purchase coupons a lot. Do you go to the one at The Loop in Kissimmee?

DSW - This is a great place for shoes. The one at The Loop in Kissimmee is massive.

Gap Outlet - They are at Premium Outlets, but I make the side trip to Lake Buena Vista Factory Outlets to go to the Gap Outlet there since it is less crazy and more organized. There are often 15% off your purchase on the bottom of your receipt, or 10% off with AAA (we have CAA in Canada, don't know if there is an Aussie equivalent?)

I'm sure with your girls you will find plenty to buy!!!

 

[archdandy]

Just checking in to see updates. Your daughters are beautiful! I wish I had stuck with ballet when I was a little girl. They looked so graceful during the performances!

 

[OziJo]

63 Days to Go!

I've added Chapter Links to the start of my PTR.

I'm sure with your girls you will find plenty to buy!!!

I have no doubt. They only want money for Christmas this year. I will probably wrap a few little travel necessities and put them under the tree to open on Christmas but otherwise just money so they can go shopping!!

Just checking in to see updates. Your daughters are beautiful! I wish I had stuck with ballet when I was a little girl. They looked so graceful during the performances!

Thank you! There hasn't been much updating plan wise. There's a few things on my to do list but it is too early to tick them off. I've been reading TR's and getting some ideas on park scheduling and international sim cards and where to buy my Universal Tickets. Subconsciously I think I've been waiting for the 60 day mark and then I'll get some stuff done

 

[OziJo]

62 Days to Go!

Last night I had the strangest dream. Here's my DR

We had arrived at WDW and were shown to our Cabin. But it wasn't a cabin it was a large free standing building in the middle of what appeared to be sporting fields. Oh and tame miniature adult lions were roaming about . Hey this is Disney right.

Never the less we were happy with our rooms. There was one large room with a beautifully decorated dining table some lounge chairs and and I had the impression that there was a kitchen and a bedroom somewhere off to the right. Behind the table was a large picture window overlooking a lake which I assume was supposed to be the Lake between Fort Wilderness and MK. It was more like a large bay with Islands in the middle. In retrospect it reminded me of Helsinki Harbour in the middle of which DH and I were stranded on a small harbour tour boat back in '92. Any way the view was gorgeous and I remembered thinking I had to take a photo for my TR

Next thing we are out to dinner at Artists Point but it didn't look anything like the Artists Point I'd seen in pictures and it was in the same building as our "Cabin" which really was just a Clubhouse in he middle of a sporting/recreational park- a strange mix of all such parks I have been to throughout my life.

We were nearly finished our meal when I had a panic attack because I had forgotten to let them know we were on the DDP. DH told me not to worry and went off with kids and left me to sort it out. Then I remembered our Free DDP didn't kick in until 4 days later so it was ok.

I went looking for DH. He had taken the kids to the playground (they were a lot younger throughout the Dream). We went back to our room and were once again marveling at the view and I was telling the kids we would be taking the boat to one of the Islands in the morning so they had to go to bed as we had an early start. Off they went and that's when I noticed one of the miniature lions trying to get in. I pushed it out and locked the door but I wasn't particularly worried about it

Next thing we are on a boat arriving at the Fort Wilderness Marina. This Marina was a composite of Fisherman's Wharf San Fran, the Jetty from Pirates of the Caribbean and pictures I have seen of Fort Wilderness. Everything was crowded together and the trees were all overgrown looking more like a jungle than a forest. The Jetty was lined with beautiful shops like something out of an exclusive mall and while we were excited to be there DH & I were commenting on how commercial it had all become.

Then I woke up.

Go Figure.

 

[Travel Mum]

Just wanted to add that I am very excited for you! I see that you started your countdown PTR from 100+ days whereas I made an actual paper chain countdown for our girls that started at 103 days!

We got our Universal, Sea World and KSC tickets all from Undercover Tourist and the service was wonderful. They were here very quickly and it was so great just go to the gates when we arrived rather than to have to queue for tickets. Also, I liked having the actual tickets rather than a print out.

We used Garden Grocer and the latest window they deliver is 7-9 pm. However, if the groceries arrive before you do, the Disney resorts store the cold items in fridges for you so I presume Fort Wilderness would do that too.

Oh how I miss being at your stage - the planning and countdown is half the fun!

 

[Mum from oz]

Your daughters are gorgeous dancers. So cute when they were little!

Here's a sneaky hijack of your thread...

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i79/scampbelle/IMG_0701.jpg
DD waiting to go on stage in her first "concert"

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i79/scampbelle/IMG_0709.jpg
On stage in her midyear display "concert"

Hahaha about your dream. That is slightly bizarre and only a dream a Diser would have!!

The girls are going to have sooo much fun shopping!

 

[OziJo]

61 Days to Go!

My ticker says 2 months 1 day but as it's the 4th of November it's actually 2 calender months to go!!!!

When I started this PTR is was just under 4 months. Our bookings had all been made and I had a basic outline of our schedule. Now with 2 months to go I can see it is time to seriously think about what has still to be done.

So I'm here today to make 2 lists. First up:

Must Do's that have Been Done:
- Passports. We already had these. It was a huge job to provide us all with passports back in 2009.
- Book Flights
- Seat Selection
- Travel Insurance
- ESTA
- Book accommodation Honolulu
- Book accommodation Disney
- Buy Disney tickets
- Make ADR's
- Buy new luggage

Thanks to all DISer's who have helped me with suggestions either directly through my questioning or from my reading of your TR's. Much of the following list is a result of these suggestions:

Must Do's that have Not Been Done:
- Buy Universal tickets from Undercover Tourist
- Buy T-Mobile prepaid sims from Travel Gear
- Pay balance for Disney accommodation package (due November 23rd)
- Book DME. TP to do at 45 days to go probably after we pay balance.
- Request 2100 loop as recommended by the Fort Wilderness experts. Ask TP to do this.
- Arrange Hire Car. Onsite through Alamo/National
- Shop for travel necessities (that's a list all to itself)
- Make Housekeeping Envelopes
- Order from Garden Grocer
- Pack

The next two months are so full that I know they will go quickly. 3 weeks until Schools Spec. 6 weeks until girls dance concert. 7 weeks until Christmas. 8 weeks until we leave.

 

[OziJo]

We got our Universal, Sea World and KSC tickets all from Undercover Tourist and the service was wonderful. They were here very quickly and it was so great just go to the gates when we arrived rather than to have to queue for tickets. Also, I liked having the actual tickets rather than a print out.

The more I hear about UT the better I feel about using them. Thanks

We used Garden Grocer and the latest window they deliver is 7-9 pm. However, if the groceries arrive before you do, the Disney resorts store the cold items in fridges for you so I presume Fort Wilderness would do that too.

I heard this is so. I'm really keen to use them would love to have our groceries there when we arrive

Your daughters are gorgeous dancers. So cute when they were little!

Here's a sneaky hijack of your thread...

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i79/scampbelle/IMG_0701.jpg
DD waiting to go on stage in her first "concert"

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i79/scampbelle/IMG_0709.jpg
On stage in her midyear display "concert"

Oh she is beautiful. Looks like a natural! You've got a long road ahead of you there. Just let me know if you want some advice

Hahaha about your dream. That is slightly bizarre and only a dream a Diser would have!!

I know right!! There is no way I would tell anybody else about a dream like that. So good to have an outlet for the crazy stuff going on in my head

 

[OziJo]

60 days to Go!

And my ticker says 2months