zanzibar138
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2007
Just updating this first post as this trip has now been cancelled. It was supposed to be a 40th birthday trip for me to also coincide with TDR's 40th anniversary. There were a few changes along the way to try to make it work, but unfortunately it just wasn't the right timing. I'll still be doing the Sydney part as that's for work and was mostly non-refundable anyway.
Sydney (7 nights)
Sadly the actual day of my 40th birthday coincides with the annual work conference that I am one of the main organisers for. I'll be spending the week in Sydney for work, but also to meet up with some friends from Melbourne on the Saturday night (hence the 2 bedroom suite) for some pre-birthday shenanigans. B will be arriving on the Thursday and will join me at my work-provided accommodation at the Four Seasons (although he'll be on his own until about 3am if past experience is anything to go by!). Usually the Friday after conference is a fairly relaxed work day with a late start and early finish, but things are a bit different this year. Hopefully it will still be a fairly flexible day for those of us who are heavily involved with the conference and I'll be able to spend a bit of time with B in the afternoon.
Bookings so far:
* Qantas from Perth to Sydney (Economy) (and B has booked his flight with Virgin)
* 1 night at Skye Suites Green Square (2 Bedroom Suite) - booked through Qantas
* 3 nights at Metro Hotel Marlow Sydney Central (Deluxe Double) - booked through Qantas
* 2 nights at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney - work provided
* 1 night at Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel (Superior Queen) - booked direct
Tokyo (2 nights)
Our just over 9 hour flight will take most of the day Saturday, arriving in Tokyo in the evening. The hotel I've booked is at the end of the monorail from the airport, so should be pretty easy to get to. On our full day in Tokyo, we'll aim to just wander to the Imperial Palace (approx 45 mins) and take in whatever we see along the way. The hotel is also pretty close to the Tokyo Tower, so we might decide to do that. The Monday is a public holiday (Respect for the Aged Day), so that is likely to have an impact on crowds/travel times/availability for activities.
Bookings so far:
* Japan Airlines (codeshare with Qantas) from Sydney to Tokyo (Premium Economy) - booked with Qantas points
* 2 nights at Sotetsu Fresa Inn Daimon (Standard Double) - booked through Qantas
TDR (5 nights)
This is of course the main purpose for the trip, so I was keen to spend a full 4 days to be able to have 2 full days and evenings in each park, which of course means 5 nights. We are planning to avoid weekends and of course the Monday public holiday but, despite the public holidays on the Monday and following Saturday, from my research it still actually seems to be a relatively quiet time. We plan to splurge on premier access for everything we can if required.
Bookings so far:
* 5 nights at Hotel MyStays Maihama (Standard Twin) - booked through Expedia
Kyoto (1 night)
On the Saturday, we'll make our way down to Kyoto on the bullet train. We'll try to get on an early-ish train, and will take a late train to Osaka the following day to maximise our time in Kyoto. Our must-dos in Kyoto are the Bamboo Grove (B) and the Tori Gates (me).
Bookings so far:
* 1 night at Tune Stay Kyoto (Double Room with Shower and Toilet) - booked through Qantas
Osaka & USJ (2 nights)
Unfortunately Cathay only have 1 direct flight from Osaka to Hong Kong per day, and it leaves fairly early on the Tuesday, so we won't have much time in Osaka at all. We're planning to arrive late on the Sunday, spend Monday at USJ, and then will have to head to the airport early on Tuesday.
Bookings so far:
* 2 nights at Hotel Dans Le Coeur Osaka Umeda (Twin Room) - booked through Qantas
Hong Kong & HKDL (3 nights)
We'll be arriving in HK early afternoon on the Tuesday. We decided to stay at HKDL, since we can't justify the cost of the Disney hotels in Japan. Not sure whether we'll try to do anything in the city our first night or just enjoy the HKDL Hotel since it'll be our only night there. B will lose his mind staying at a Disney hotel We'll have 2 full days Wednesday and Thursday, and leave at about lunch time on Friday. If HKDL is still closed on Thursdays at that time, we'll go Wednesday. They've just announced that night time entertainment will be on every night the park is open. Thursday we might do the Lantau cable car or maybe the tram to Victoria Peak, and B wants to do a dinner cruise on the harbour.
Bookings so far:
* Cathy Pacific (codeshare with Qantas) from Osaka to Hong Kong (Economy) - booked with Qantas points
* 1 night at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel (Standard Room) - booked through Qantas
* 2 nights at Disney's Hollywood Hotel (Standard Room) - booked through Expedia
* Cathay Pacific (codeshare with Qantas) from Hong Kong to Perth (Business) - booked with Qantas points
Sydney (7 nights)
Sadly the actual day of my 40th birthday coincides with the annual work conference that I am one of the main organisers for. I'll be spending the week in Sydney for work, but also to meet up with some friends from Melbourne on the Saturday night (hence the 2 bedroom suite) for some pre-birthday shenanigans. B will be arriving on the Thursday and will join me at my work-provided accommodation at the Four Seasons (although he'll be on his own until about 3am if past experience is anything to go by!). Usually the Friday after conference is a fairly relaxed work day with a late start and early finish, but things are a bit different this year. Hopefully it will still be a fairly flexible day for those of us who are heavily involved with the conference and I'll be able to spend a bit of time with B in the afternoon.
Bookings so far:
* Qantas from Perth to Sydney (Economy) (and B has booked his flight with Virgin)
* 1 night at Skye Suites Green Square (2 Bedroom Suite) - booked through Qantas
* 3 nights at Metro Hotel Marlow Sydney Central (Deluxe Double) - booked through Qantas
* 2 nights at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney - work provided
* 1 night at Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel (Superior Queen) - booked direct
Tokyo (2 nights)
Our just over 9 hour flight will take most of the day Saturday, arriving in Tokyo in the evening. The hotel I've booked is at the end of the monorail from the airport, so should be pretty easy to get to. On our full day in Tokyo, we'll aim to just wander to the Imperial Palace (approx 45 mins) and take in whatever we see along the way. The hotel is also pretty close to the Tokyo Tower, so we might decide to do that. The Monday is a public holiday (Respect for the Aged Day), so that is likely to have an impact on crowds/travel times/availability for activities.
Bookings so far:
* Japan Airlines (codeshare with Qantas) from Sydney to Tokyo (Premium Economy) - booked with Qantas points
* 2 nights at Sotetsu Fresa Inn Daimon (Standard Double) - booked through Qantas
TDR (5 nights)
This is of course the main purpose for the trip, so I was keen to spend a full 4 days to be able to have 2 full days and evenings in each park, which of course means 5 nights. We are planning to avoid weekends and of course the Monday public holiday but, despite the public holidays on the Monday and following Saturday, from my research it still actually seems to be a relatively quiet time. We plan to splurge on premier access for everything we can if required.
Bookings so far:
* 5 nights at Hotel MyStays Maihama (Standard Twin) - booked through Expedia
Kyoto (1 night)
On the Saturday, we'll make our way down to Kyoto on the bullet train. We'll try to get on an early-ish train, and will take a late train to Osaka the following day to maximise our time in Kyoto. Our must-dos in Kyoto are the Bamboo Grove (B) and the Tori Gates (me).
Bookings so far:
* 1 night at Tune Stay Kyoto (Double Room with Shower and Toilet) - booked through Qantas
Osaka & USJ (2 nights)
Unfortunately Cathay only have 1 direct flight from Osaka to Hong Kong per day, and it leaves fairly early on the Tuesday, so we won't have much time in Osaka at all. We're planning to arrive late on the Sunday, spend Monday at USJ, and then will have to head to the airport early on Tuesday.
Bookings so far:
* 2 nights at Hotel Dans Le Coeur Osaka Umeda (Twin Room) - booked through Qantas
Hong Kong & HKDL (3 nights)
We'll be arriving in HK early afternoon on the Tuesday. We decided to stay at HKDL, since we can't justify the cost of the Disney hotels in Japan. Not sure whether we'll try to do anything in the city our first night or just enjoy the HKDL Hotel since it'll be our only night there. B will lose his mind staying at a Disney hotel We'll have 2 full days Wednesday and Thursday, and leave at about lunch time on Friday. If HKDL is still closed on Thursdays at that time, we'll go Wednesday. They've just announced that night time entertainment will be on every night the park is open. Thursday we might do the Lantau cable car or maybe the tram to Victoria Peak, and B wants to do a dinner cruise on the harbour.
Bookings so far:
* Cathy Pacific (codeshare with Qantas) from Osaka to Hong Kong (Economy) - booked with Qantas points
* 1 night at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel (Standard Room) - booked through Qantas
* 2 nights at Disney's Hollywood Hotel (Standard Room) - booked through Expedia
* Cathay Pacific (codeshare with Qantas) from Hong Kong to Perth (Business) - booked with Qantas points
Last edited: