USA - March 2016 with big family group (Help needed)

[UP4014]

For Disney tips.....

micechat.com

 

[familyman399]

For Disney tips.....

micechat.com

Thanks BAM1748!

Will check this out tonight, also found The DIS Disney Discussion Forums - DISboards.com with lot of information and discussions.

 

[UP4014]

Thanks BAM1748!

Will check this out tonight, also found The DIS Disney Discussion Forums - DISboards.com with lot of information and discussions.

Micechat has a forum as well with some very informed and inside info.

 

[Quickstatus]

Re Anaheim disneyland.

We have done 3 disneyland trips in a row with 3 young kids.

Kids are very young and suitable rides will be very limited. Also strongly suggest not to split a day between disneyland and Californian adventure park. Do one on one day and the other on another day. That means do not get tickets that allow you to do both on the one day they are more expensive and you waste a lot of time going from one to the other.

Strongly suggest just doing the morning and then afternoon siesta then come back in the evening especially as you have toddlers. the evening is very nice, cooler.

Remember that the opening hours are when the rides open. Smart disneylanders know to be at the gate an hour before official opening time.

Do not stay in disneyland hotel. Its a long way from the disneyland entrance.

Look for hotels along South Harbor Boulevard. There are many along that strip that are much closer to the Disneyland entrance than Disneyland hotel.
Hotel buses to disneyland will always get you there late. You want to get there early (yes early) then afternoon siesta then come back in evening.

Meet the characters breakfast - I would avoid as they are overpriced. You will never see Mickey Mouse or Minnie Mouse at character breakfasts.

Oh and get US sim cards. Uber in the US and especially NYC.

Avoid Cape Canaveral NASA. In fact I would avoid Florida.

See the recent thread "US or Europe with a toddler" and see my post about car seats in planes and bassinets.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-europe-with-toddler-73967-2.html#post1395975

 

[familyman399]

Re Anaheim disneyland.

We have done 3 disneyland trips in a row with 3 young kids.

See the recent thread "US or Europe with a toddler" and see my post about car seats in planes and bassinets.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-europe-with-toddler-73967-2.html#post1395975

Great tips about disneyland and car seats. I cannot believe that we forgot all about car seats. You are a life saver Quickstatus!!

 

[Quickstatus]

just be aware that travel agents say they sell Disneyland tickets, they dont.
All they will give you is a voucher that you have to queue up for to redeem for a real ticket. Then queue up again for entrance.

Also beware of being the travel organiser for a big family group. It will be akin to herding cats.

I agree with others you are doing too much. You are doing what I call "organised travel" - your travel group want to see as much as possible in time allotted and have pre-bookings. Organised travel is tiring especially with toddlers. When ours were toddlers we had this rule:

Arrival day is rest day
Then rest day for every 2 days activity
Travel day is not rest day.
If you want to do evening activities with toddlers then siesta after lunch.
Everything should be early. Early breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nothing after dinner.
*******Every activity is optional*******

Re JFK-LAX replaced by JFK-LAS. If your flying itinerary is all on one ticket and you don't show up for one sector then the airline could cancel your subsequent sectors

 

[andye]

just be aware that travel agents say they sell Disneyland tickets, they dont.
All they will give you is a voucher that you have to queue up for to redeem for a real ticket. Then queue up again for entrance.

Also beware of being the travel organiser for a big family group. It will be akin to herding cats.

You will also find that normally highly functioning adults will be unable to make any sort of decision once you have been identified as the leader. This will not stop them commenting on any deficiencies in the itinerary/logistics . On the other hand you really are the boss

 

[familyman399]

just be aware that travel agents say they sell Disneyland tickets, they dont.
All they will give you is a voucher that you have to queue up for to redeem for a real ticket. Then queue up again for entrance.

Also beware of being the travel organiser for a big family group. It will be akin to herding cats.

I agree with others you are doing too much. You are doing what I call "organised travel"
Organised travel is tiring especially with toddlers. When ours were toddlers we had this rule:

Arrival day is rest day
Then rest day for every 2 days activity
Travel day is not rest day.
*******Every activity is optional*******

Re JFK-LAX replaced by JFK-LAS. If your flying itinerary is all on one ticket and you don't show up for one sector then the airline could cancel your subsequent sectors

So far, we have cut out few things and simplified version is:

- 8 days (excluding travel days) in New York alone. Just explore the city at ease and take our time.
- Fly back to LA and stay the night. Next day, leave for Vegas and spend 3 days there.
- Fly to SF and spend 3 days.
- Drive to LA and spend 5 days. Will be staying in Anaheim for Disney days.

Basically, no complications and no rush through the tour.

 

[familyman399]

You will also find that normally highly functioning adults will be unable to make any sort of decision once you have been identified as the leader. This will not stop them commenting on any deficiencies in the itinerary/logistics . On the other hand you really are the boss

I have noticed that and it was weird at first as everyone was relying on me to arrange everything. However, I am enjoying it now and almost finalised with the bookings.

Plus, I get to have the final say in most stuff

 

[sausagefingers]

So far, we have cut out few things and simplified version is:

- 8 days (excluding travel days) in New York alone. Just explore the city at ease and take our time.
- Fly back to LA and stay the night. Next day, leave for Vegas and spend 3 days there.
- Fly to SF and spend 3 days.
- Drive to LA and spend 5 days. Will be staying in Anaheim for Disney days.

Basically, no complications and no rush through the tour.

Any reason why you wouldn't fly from NY to Las Vegas direct rather than land in LA only to make your way back to Vegas?

 

[Quickstatus]

So far, we have cut out few things and simplified version is:

- 8 days (excluding travel days) in New York alone. Just explore the city at ease and take our time.
- Fly back to LA and stay the night. Next day, leave for Vegas and spend 3 days there.
- Fly to SF and spend 3 days.
- Drive to LA and spend 5 days. Will be staying in Anaheim for Disney days.

Basically, no complications and no rush through the tour.

Hey abhinav396, would you mind putting a trip report for this trip. see the trip report section.

I have found Australiapost Foreign Cash service to be the best in terms of exchange rate and getting cash out before travel. Order you foreign cash and pick up from post office. You also get clean and crisp notes not those cocaine laden used ones

Foreign cash - Australia Post

As you are the travel organiser, you should be ruthless in getting the money from your family members to pay for the bookings.

Also start looking at booking evening Disneyland shows ASAP. especially those Mickey mouse fantasia shows with firework.the shows are free but if you want a better view book a dinner table with a view. The restaurants with a view go very quickly.

Vegas has lots of Cirque du Soliel shows and NYC broadway has lots of shows. However for both there are last minute ticket via non- dodgy available at reasonable prices. I recommend in NYC Book of Mormons, Jersey Boys , Chicago, Wicked, Phantom, Hamilton.

Enjoy your trip!!!

 

[familyman399]

Any reason why you wouldn't fly from NY to Las Vegas direct rather than land in LA only to make your way back to Vegas?

Yup, Single itinerary MEL - LAX - JFK and then JFK - LAX - MEL. Cannot change JFK - LAX as not enough seats in a single flight or the other option is pay approx $400 per person to make the change plus travel in separate flights.

So, basically we are kinda stuck in this but again, should have thought about it earlier.

 

[sausagefingers]

Yup, Single itinerary MEL - LAX - JFK and then JFK - LAX - MEL. Cannot change JFK - LAX as not enough seats in a single flight or the other option is pay approx $400 per person to make the change plus travel in separate flights.

So, basically we are kinda stuck in this but again, should have thought about it earlier.

its not a big deal anyway. I can't wait to see your trip report.

 

[familyman399]

its not a big deal anyway. I can't wait to see your trip report.

Agreed, a good night sleep and then 4 hours drive and we will be in VEGAS

 

[Quickstatus]

Agreed, a good night sleep and then 4 hours drive and we will be in VEGAS

what day of the week are you driving to vegas? Im hoping its not a friday LAX-LAS and not Sunday LAS-LAX

 

[sausagefingers]

Agreed, a good night sleep and then 4 hours drive and we will be in VEGAS

The drive is not bad, I actually rather drive it than fly.
Half way is Peggy Sues 50's Diner, do yourself a favour and stop for Breakfast/Lunch its a really cool place to eat and has old fashion service/price/portions.

https://www.google.com.au/maps/plac...,9.75z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xfeb47174e69820ad

 

[familyman399]

Hey abhinav396, would you mind putting a trip report for this trip. see the trip report section.

I have found Australiapost Foreign Cash service to be the best in terms of exchange rate and getting cash out before travel. You also get clean and crisp notes not those cocaine laden used ones

As you are the travel organiser, you should be ruthless in getting the money from your family members to pay for the bookings.

Also start looking at booking evening Disneyland shows ASAP. especially those Mickey mouse fantasia shows with firework.the shows are free but if you want a better view book a dinner table with a view. The restaurants with a view go very quickly.

Vegas has lots of Cirque du Soliel shows and NYC broadway has lots of shows. However for both there are last minute ticket via non- dodgy available at reasonable prices. I recommend in NYC Book of Mormons, Jersey Boys , Chicago, Wicked, Phantom, Hamilton.

Enjoy your trip!!!

For my travels, I usually use 28 Degrees and Citibank Plus. Will checkout AusPost rates but I have always been happy with Citibank rates. Will be taking USD1 bills (plenty) for tipping etc.

Apart from one family member are very easy to collect from. This one person takes their own time before paying up but I get to collect all CC points, so I am happy!

Will have all accommodations, car rentals and internal flights booked this Saturday.

Sunday will be spent on disney and other theme park plannings.

For the trip report, happy to do this but do I write as we go or all at once when we are back?

 

[familyman399]

what day of the week are you driving to vegas? Im hoping its not a friday LAX-LAS and not Sunday LAS-LAX

Sunday LAX - LAS, just the opposite way. Hope its not going to be jam packed on the roads

 

[sausagefingers]

For the trip report, happy to do this but do I write as we go or all at once when we are back?

Consider taking notes at the end of each day. I usually write a few hundred words on Facebook and post a bunch of photos while at the hotel before bed (late sleeper)
this helps me go back and remember in the case I write a Trip report, it also shows up on Facebook in your memories on the anniversary of each trip, my wife and I love looking back at our holiday trips in the mornings before getting up and going to work.

 

[Quickstatus]

Anyway you like with trip report. TRAYG (trip report as you go) I think is better as you are in the moment.. But whatever you like. Uploaded Photos are most appreciated too!

The Australia post foreign cash is for cash only. Austpost foreign currency takes you to their travel cards.