We got to the gate at 10pm, and started our walk about. Neither of us are attracted to the very "wild" rides but we did line up for a ride called "big thunder mountain railroad" and was it a wild ride, after that experience we went for much ..more subdued rides. However tomorrow we intend to use the fast track system to try a couple of popular rides...we will probably regret it.
The PARK is divided into 2 major sections 'Disneyland " and California Adventure park"
Today was Disneyland.
We rode fire engines, steam trains, monorails, paddle steamers, jungle boats and revolving chairs in a cave..... it's all good fun but very big in area and very busy. You have to queue for everything. they do have a fast track system that helps.
We spent 7 hours there but didn't have the stamina to stay for the 7 o'clock parade.
Lets see what happens on day 2!!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
WE ARE BACK IN ANAHEIM
We left Carlsbad in the fog and traveled the 94km into Anaheim and what a drive it was!! Eight lanes of speeding traffic all going north, off ramps by a score, cars cutting in and out as we both watch out to avoid any last minute incident. We have the car back one and half days early with no desire to do any LA
driving at all.
We had a hold up finalizing the car hire bill with Alamo car hire....there seemed to be a bit of a discrepancy between them and the Internet booking company we used, but, in the end it all worked out....we got a great deal.
We are staying at the Super8 motel a short walk to Disneyland. The weather here is fine and cooler than 2 months ago but still T shirts and shorts. This arvo we collected our tickets and will set off early tomorrow morning for the first day of our 2 day pass..
driving at all.
We had a hold up finalizing the car hire bill with Alamo car hire....there seemed to be a bit of a discrepancy between them and the Internet booking company we used, but, in the end it all worked out....we got a great deal.
We are staying at the Super8 motel a short walk to Disneyland. The weather here is fine and cooler than 2 months ago but still T shirts and shorts. This arvo we collected our tickets and will set off early tomorrow morning for the first day of our 2 day pass..
Monday, October 17, 2011
RUMBELOW'S HINTS IF YOU'RE PLANNING A SELF DRIVE USA HOLIDAY
Today we have walked the main street and some back street of "Carlsbad" for 4 hours ,which did include a very nice fish and chip lunch at a seaside cafe....very good.
While eating lunch we were thinking about what worked well and what didn't for us over the past 7 weeks.
Suggestions;
Only book airfare if using an agent, or if really brave book on line. We found that the Flightcenter matched the cheapest fare I could find and beat it by a dollar!!
If flying into LA, ...stay out of LA, everything is cheaper.(don't hire a car at the airport there are extra taxes and charges and the stress of driving in LA isn't worth is....hire at Anaheim is our advice.
A very good Hotel chain in Nth West states in US is Red Lion Hotels.....They have a good hotel near Disneyland,.. full breakfast but a fee for car if parking but wi fi is included in the tarrif.In other location parking is free.
We found this chain of hotels was nearly always in a great location and quite close to the attraction.
Best hire car rate by far....is www.happytoursusa.com... they only deal with non USA or Canadians
Car hire time in USA would appear to be calculated in 30 day lots,
Our 56 day hire was some $750 better than the best Flightcenter rate ( consider x-change rate) check them out..
If you have a seniors card use it here, for accommodation ( 10 to 15%) saving per stay, for public transport and sometimes meals, entry to major attractions is usually a few dollars but it all adds up.
If going to National Parks buy a Beautiful America Pass ($80) as most entries to NP are $$25 some $20.
We could give you a list of parks and towns we really liked,
Tipping takes a bit of adjusting to but if you double the Tax shown on the bill in a restaurant you are pretty close....$2 in a hotel for the maid per day is enough
For 8 weeks tips will cost us about US$600.
Wi Fi is free in nearly all hotels
Buy a mobile phone in the US, DON'T use international roaming on your Aussie phone
We paid $15 for a basic Pre paid phone and $25 for calls to book accommodation as we went along
We found the weather to be almost perfect from mid August to Late Oct.....crowds are down, kids are in school
Skype is worth considering for Phone or Video Phone to family and friends....set up in Aus,,and check out carefully the rate system that you think will best suit your call pattern.
We found CBA mastercard charged with US currency worked well, we avoided ATM 'S and drew out
thousand $ lots in cash over the counter of banks and we paid no transaction fees. ( We aren't CBA account holders)
If we think of other things to pass on we will do it when we get home,
While eating lunch we were thinking about what worked well and what didn't for us over the past 7 weeks.
Suggestions;
Only book airfare if using an agent, or if really brave book on line. We found that the Flightcenter matched the cheapest fare I could find and beat it by a dollar!!
If flying into LA, ...stay out of LA, everything is cheaper.(don't hire a car at the airport there are extra taxes and charges and the stress of driving in LA isn't worth is....hire at Anaheim is our advice.
A very good Hotel chain in Nth West states in US is Red Lion Hotels.....They have a good hotel near Disneyland,.. full breakfast but a fee for car if parking but wi fi is included in the tarrif.In other location parking is free.
We found this chain of hotels was nearly always in a great location and quite close to the attraction.
Best hire car rate by far....is www.happytoursusa.com... they only deal with non USA or Canadians
Car hire time in USA would appear to be calculated in 30 day lots,
Our 56 day hire was some $750 better than the best Flightcenter rate ( consider x-change rate) check them out..
If you have a seniors card use it here, for accommodation ( 10 to 15%) saving per stay, for public transport and sometimes meals, entry to major attractions is usually a few dollars but it all adds up.
If going to National Parks buy a Beautiful America Pass ($80) as most entries to NP are $$25 some $20.
We could give you a list of parks and towns we really liked,
Tipping takes a bit of adjusting to but if you double the Tax shown on the bill in a restaurant you are pretty close....$2 in a hotel for the maid per day is enough
For 8 weeks tips will cost us about US$600.
Wi Fi is free in nearly all hotels
Buy a mobile phone in the US, DON'T use international roaming on your Aussie phone
We paid $15 for a basic Pre paid phone and $25 for calls to book accommodation as we went along
We found the weather to be almost perfect from mid August to Late Oct.....crowds are down, kids are in school
Skype is worth considering for Phone or Video Phone to family and friends....set up in Aus,,and check out carefully the rate system that you think will best suit your call pattern.
We found CBA mastercard charged with US currency worked well, we avoided ATM 'S and drew out
thousand $ lots in cash over the counter of banks and we paid no transaction fees. ( We aren't CBA account holders)
If we think of other things to pass on we will do it when we get home,
Sunday, October 16, 2011
SAN DIEGO STORY...MARITIME MUSEUM AND THE " MIDWAY "
We spent the morning and part arvo of the 3rd day having a look over the decommissioned aircraft carrier the Midway...It was built about 1943 and saw service in WW2, Korean war and Vietnam, it was for most of that period the biggest ship of the US fleet, it had a crew of about 3500, sailor's , pilots etc
We did our tour using a headphone set and Ipod,but the bridge area was a conducted tour.
All in all an interesting 3 hours.
About one o'clock we headed down Hwy 101 (coastal road) to a town called Carlsbad...it will be a 2 night stay.
Lets see what we can discover here!!
We did our tour using a headphone set and Ipod,but the bridge area was a conducted tour.
All in all an interesting 3 hours.
About one o'clock we headed down Hwy 101 (coastal road) to a town called Carlsbad...it will be a 2 night stay.
Lets see what we can discover here!!
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