Aussiefamof5
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2012
So after being back for nearly 2 months, back in to the full swing of Christmas and work I thought I better get my butt in to gear and write a trip report. It will only be basic but If I can give back to others who helped me whilst we were planning, and help someone else in return.
The travellers were myself 37, my dear partne (41)r now fiancé ( ), Hamish 15, Saxon 9, Matilda 3. Travelling to the Unites States sunny California from November 1st November 15th
DAY 1
As we are from Hobart it was a very early start for us to say the least we left home at 3;30am to catch the 6am flight from Hobart to Melbourne. We chose to fly with Virgin Australia the whole way, and really that only came down to the best price at the time. I have to say they were fantastic in some aspects and not quite so in others but I will get to that.
Here is all our bags not forgetting the Makka Pakka teddy LOL, we returned with a lot more.
Miss Tilly so happy at 3am
We arrived in Melbourne for a very short layover then another quick Virgin flight to Sydney for our international departure later that afternoon
Once we arrived in Sydney it was time for lunch and some dollars form Travelex, then we awaited our international flight.
We departed Sydney at 2:25, Miss Matilda had been fantastic with all the landings and take off thus far, laughing at the captain going fast but I was a little worried on the 777. We sat down for the take-off and Matilda fell asleep immediately, thus needing for me not to worry.
Could not fault the service on this flight, the seats were very comfortable for economy we were seated in row 37 window to the middle. The food was well ok for economy, accommodating my gluten and lactose allergies very well. From memory there was a main meal and later in the evening a snack consisting of some toastie which was rather pointless as the crew insisted on waking people up for it. My boys said there was snacks and water and soft drink near the toilets but I never saw those. The RED system was brilliant, tons of movies and music, PEPPA PIG for Matilda was a saviour having that seat back tv is great, it interacts quiet well, I had heard previous reviews of people saying they constantly felt the pushing in the back of seat from the tapping of screen, but I never felt that
After a forever time of 15 hours Miss Matilda did really well slept for 6 hours then me armed with my surprise activities managed to keep her entertained till right before landing when she became grumpy and hated on her daddy something chronic, so I couldnt take any pictures for landing. We touched town only slightly ahead of schedule at approx. 9:25am November 1st only for the captain to inform us we arrived in the middle of another LAX lockdown. So we waited on the plan for what seemed like forever but I think it was 45 minutes.
Once inside we breezed through customs and thinking YES lets get our luggage and head straight to Disneyland Hotel . And in to the parks um well that was not going to happen. Once in the arrivals hall we realised something was wrong, an endless serpent line of people waiting to get through immigration . We found out there had been a shooting and we were held in the arrivals hall for our own safety. Fair enough, we waited and waited and waited with an airport representative yelling There is TWO LINES FOLKS TWO LINES ahhh no definitely not two lines as Matilda pointed out mummy everyone is lining up like a big snake. We werent allowed to eat there was only water from a fountain which I took the kids over for a drink only to see a dirty person blowing there nose in to it NO THANKYOU we will dehydrate.
After 3 hours I had enough, and this is the problem I had with Virgin Australia, there was no communication from them what so ever, once we were off that plane they couldnt care less. I found a LAX representative walking around and told her we have 3 children one with diabetes can we please get through quicker . OH my you have 3 children come with me she said, off we went well it kinda created a chain reaction everyone saw we were going through and wanted to follow, we thought we were in luck finally, nope here is another huge room full of families more waiting. I have to say we were all in the same situation and there was a lot of rude arrogant people, my partner well he hadnt had a ciggi in nearly 24 hours so I think he was in a trance by this stage.
We finally got through immigration and OMG then we realised the extent, we finally saw some shots on TV screens as to what happened and I am very sorry for the families who suffered a tragic loss my waiting was nothing compared to that.
So more waiting and the only food was beer nuts and beer!!!! Yep that will do so more waiting as we were told that were about to be released HA like we were prisoners.
A very tired me and my dear partner
Suddenly everyone was pushing forward, reminded me being at a Rock concert, we backed off and thought we will wait its not worth being crushed. Finally we were out lets get to where we needed to go . Again MISTAKEN.
Some random shots of outside
The mass of people went forever.
We were waiting for the Disneyland express, and the airport police were slowly letting in buses etc, Now this what I love about Aussies, in a desperate situation you all stick together We met some fellow aussie travellers who were awaiting the same bus, and all day this guy was screaming LOT C LOT C folks get on this bus it will take you to cabs, buses limos take you to where you need to go!!
We rang California grayline numerous times who said they were waiting to be given permission to go in bla blah well we paired up with our fellow travellers and decided yep gotta get outta here lets go halves in a limo!! We boarded the LOT C bus, my son decided he had to vomit on the bus . Then only to discover lot c was just that no people allowed its just a lot thats close to the airport that when they get a booking off they go.
OMG welcome to the city of angels what the hell!!! By this stage it was dark there were 6 adults and 4 kids one with a pram with luggage walking the streets of LA at night . Hmmmmm not COOL!!!
We ended up at Burger King I think and were all feeling lost, it was about 9:30pm there was some real shady dudes hanging around and this mumma bear was starting to get protective, my poor kiddos were sooo tired. We rang Disneyland Hotel and our friends rang paradise pier to see if they could do anything to help us out. They said you have to go back to LAX and catch the last Disneyland hotel bus .. pfffftttt NO FREAKIN WAY was I going back there. Some cabs went buy we took photos on our phones and called them, 3 cabs we needed. They got to us straight away, yyyeeeessssssssss. ALI was our driver he was absolutely fantastic made us feel very welcome gave the kids some treats, we said goodbye to our friends and finally we were going to Disneyland
We arrived at 10:30pm and upon arrival I burst in to tears, it was a long day, we were finally here and OMG this place is beautiful.
We checked in, I wish I remembered his name at the check in desk he was fabulous, he said they were worried we were caught up in everything and to make our stay more magical they upgraded us to a standard room, high floor in adventure tower with downtown Disney view.
For now it was food then bed, so we made our way to downtown disney and stumbled across of Earl Of Sandwich
So this was our crappy overwhelming day one but by this stage I didnt care we were at Disney
We went back to our room and slept so soundly for the next day was going to be our first day in the park.
The travellers were myself 37, my dear partne (41)r now fiancé ( ), Hamish 15, Saxon 9, Matilda 3. Travelling to the Unites States sunny California from November 1st November 15th
DAY 1
As we are from Hobart it was a very early start for us to say the least we left home at 3;30am to catch the 6am flight from Hobart to Melbourne. We chose to fly with Virgin Australia the whole way, and really that only came down to the best price at the time. I have to say they were fantastic in some aspects and not quite so in others but I will get to that.
Here is all our bags not forgetting the Makka Pakka teddy LOL, we returned with a lot more.
Miss Tilly so happy at 3am
We arrived in Melbourne for a very short layover then another quick Virgin flight to Sydney for our international departure later that afternoon
Once we arrived in Sydney it was time for lunch and some dollars form Travelex, then we awaited our international flight.
We departed Sydney at 2:25, Miss Matilda had been fantastic with all the landings and take off thus far, laughing at the captain going fast but I was a little worried on the 777. We sat down for the take-off and Matilda fell asleep immediately, thus needing for me not to worry.
Could not fault the service on this flight, the seats were very comfortable for economy we were seated in row 37 window to the middle. The food was well ok for economy, accommodating my gluten and lactose allergies very well. From memory there was a main meal and later in the evening a snack consisting of some toastie which was rather pointless as the crew insisted on waking people up for it. My boys said there was snacks and water and soft drink near the toilets but I never saw those. The RED system was brilliant, tons of movies and music, PEPPA PIG for Matilda was a saviour having that seat back tv is great, it interacts quiet well, I had heard previous reviews of people saying they constantly felt the pushing in the back of seat from the tapping of screen, but I never felt that
After a forever time of 15 hours Miss Matilda did really well slept for 6 hours then me armed with my surprise activities managed to keep her entertained till right before landing when she became grumpy and hated on her daddy something chronic, so I couldnt take any pictures for landing. We touched town only slightly ahead of schedule at approx. 9:25am November 1st only for the captain to inform us we arrived in the middle of another LAX lockdown. So we waited on the plan for what seemed like forever but I think it was 45 minutes.
Once inside we breezed through customs and thinking YES lets get our luggage and head straight to Disneyland Hotel . And in to the parks um well that was not going to happen. Once in the arrivals hall we realised something was wrong, an endless serpent line of people waiting to get through immigration . We found out there had been a shooting and we were held in the arrivals hall for our own safety. Fair enough, we waited and waited and waited with an airport representative yelling There is TWO LINES FOLKS TWO LINES ahhh no definitely not two lines as Matilda pointed out mummy everyone is lining up like a big snake. We werent allowed to eat there was only water from a fountain which I took the kids over for a drink only to see a dirty person blowing there nose in to it NO THANKYOU we will dehydrate.
After 3 hours I had enough, and this is the problem I had with Virgin Australia, there was no communication from them what so ever, once we were off that plane they couldnt care less. I found a LAX representative walking around and told her we have 3 children one with diabetes can we please get through quicker . OH my you have 3 children come with me she said, off we went well it kinda created a chain reaction everyone saw we were going through and wanted to follow, we thought we were in luck finally, nope here is another huge room full of families more waiting. I have to say we were all in the same situation and there was a lot of rude arrogant people, my partner well he hadnt had a ciggi in nearly 24 hours so I think he was in a trance by this stage.
We finally got through immigration and OMG then we realised the extent, we finally saw some shots on TV screens as to what happened and I am very sorry for the families who suffered a tragic loss my waiting was nothing compared to that.
So more waiting and the only food was beer nuts and beer!!!! Yep that will do so more waiting as we were told that were about to be released HA like we were prisoners.
A very tired me and my dear partner
Suddenly everyone was pushing forward, reminded me being at a Rock concert, we backed off and thought we will wait its not worth being crushed. Finally we were out lets get to where we needed to go . Again MISTAKEN.
Some random shots of outside
The mass of people went forever.
We were waiting for the Disneyland express, and the airport police were slowly letting in buses etc, Now this what I love about Aussies, in a desperate situation you all stick together We met some fellow aussie travellers who were awaiting the same bus, and all day this guy was screaming LOT C LOT C folks get on this bus it will take you to cabs, buses limos take you to where you need to go!!
We rang California grayline numerous times who said they were waiting to be given permission to go in bla blah well we paired up with our fellow travellers and decided yep gotta get outta here lets go halves in a limo!! We boarded the LOT C bus, my son decided he had to vomit on the bus . Then only to discover lot c was just that no people allowed its just a lot thats close to the airport that when they get a booking off they go.
OMG welcome to the city of angels what the hell!!! By this stage it was dark there were 6 adults and 4 kids one with a pram with luggage walking the streets of LA at night . Hmmmmm not COOL!!!
We ended up at Burger King I think and were all feeling lost, it was about 9:30pm there was some real shady dudes hanging around and this mumma bear was starting to get protective, my poor kiddos were sooo tired. We rang Disneyland Hotel and our friends rang paradise pier to see if they could do anything to help us out. They said you have to go back to LAX and catch the last Disneyland hotel bus .. pfffftttt NO FREAKIN WAY was I going back there. Some cabs went buy we took photos on our phones and called them, 3 cabs we needed. They got to us straight away, yyyeeeessssssssss. ALI was our driver he was absolutely fantastic made us feel very welcome gave the kids some treats, we said goodbye to our friends and finally we were going to Disneyland
We arrived at 10:30pm and upon arrival I burst in to tears, it was a long day, we were finally here and OMG this place is beautiful.
We checked in, I wish I remembered his name at the check in desk he was fabulous, he said they were worried we were caught up in everything and to make our stay more magical they upgraded us to a standard room, high floor in adventure tower with downtown Disney view.
For now it was food then bed, so we made our way to downtown disney and stumbled across of Earl Of Sandwich
So this was our crappy overwhelming day one but by this stage I didnt care we were at Disney
We went back to our room and slept so soundly for the next day was going to be our first day in the park.
, i quickly realised after that starbucks coffee was the way to go LOL 
