Warren, New Jersey; Newark, NJ; New York City, NY- Multiple questions about travel experiences

[rainbowgirl]

What are fast passes in relation to Disneyland?

 

[Denali]

It's been an extremely hectic last 2 weeks for all of us. There have been multiple end of school term activities, heaps of driving across town for a musical theatre activity, volunteer work and a house, 2 kids and a husband to look after. Things have slowed down a bit now, the extended family on Mr Rainbow's side are back from overseas.

Mr Rainbow hasn't wanted to discuss travel plans and has been caught up in work related issues and taxes.

I finally put together a plan with costings for the proposed trip including flights, taxis, documentation, travel insurance, accommodation and several attractions per location. After reading it together and discussing other information needed, Mr Rainbow has now agreed to ask for annual leave for the trip. I don't know what our chances are given the staff movements and deadlines at his workplace at the moment.

We started talking about mobile phones and data plans at the end of our travel discussion. Mr Rainbow is under the impression we would need either new phones or new antennas for the United States. I want a separate mobile phone while I'm travelling with a new number. I don't want to take my existing phone overseas. My current smartphone is more like a dumb phone with a camera at the moment and it will be a long time before we get it fixed. My plan is to take photos and post them to AFF while still on holiday and then do the rest of the trip report when we get back. We'll probably get a USA data and calls pack (or whatever the term is) and then I'd get a short term recharge when I got the phone back here so I could upload photos. Similar to the Mildura report where I used a combination of my PC and smartphone to do the trip report.

Short question: do we need new smart phones for the USA?

I've purchased a sim Inc data and used an old phone (3G) so I had aussie phone and USA phone. Use USA phone as a hot spot for other devices. I've bought sim in the USA and from Aussie supplier, Sim Corner. Would use Sim Corner again.

I've also purchased a burner phone with sim and data in the USA with no issues. I prefer Sim corner because arrive in USA with working wifi and calls.

 

[Denali]

What are fast passes in relation to Disneyland?

Check out this thread for info.

QF WP’s do Disneyland (LA), Seattle and beyond

 

[JessicaTam]

I believe that AU phones will work in the USA, but not necessarily the other way around. I think because ours use more frequencies as a matter of course.

Look at either a travel pack from your carrier, or a local sim card.

 

[Denali]

Hubby is with Vodafone and its $5 per day.

 

[rainbowgirl]

Check out this thread for info.

QF WP’s do Disneyland (LA), Seattle and beyond

Thanks for a link to this trip report. I knew QF WP and family were overseas but hadn't gotten around to looking for the report. I've read all of it now including the help sheet on Disneyland. All of the report will be very useful.

 

[kookaburra75]

Hubby is with Vodafone and its $5 per day.

Ditto - I just take my normal Aus phone and pay the $5/day roaming. That only applies if you use the roaming e.g. make or receive calls or data. When on holidays, due to the timezone difference, I set all calls to go straight to voicemail so they don't come through on the phone and count as roaming. To check the voicemails I use Skype (paid credit) to dial in and check without having to use the roaming function.
If the cost of roaming is a worry, you can get away with email and just set your phone to "Not Roam" for data. You can hook up via wi-fi for email etc, and if you download Google Maps covering your area in advance, you can use it for navigation without needing a connection. I also just use paid Skype to make calls if I have to back home.
The only hassle with mobile roaming, is if locals want to call you, they have to dial an international number. If that's an issue, then as @Denali has suggested, get a burner when you arrive

 

[rainbowgirl]

We're not going to the wedding in August.

I finally got Mr Rainbow to agree to travel, but his boss wouldn't let him take annual leave. Things are too difficult at work at the moment. Several key staff members have left recently and there is extra stress on the staff that are left.

We are considering travelling to the USA next July during the school holidays even though the US will also be on school holidays. I'm not sure what will happen. All the research we've done has been really useful. Thanks to everyone's help we figured out that the attractions we wanted fitted into our timetable and budget.

I'm upset we won't get to the wedding in New Jersey but I think my family will understand.

I had a great itinerary planned which included 2 days in Disneyland, 2 days catching up with friends in LA, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers Studios, exploring part of New Jersey, going to a family wedding we have been waiting years for, New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn, Manhattan and finally seeing what it was like to be driven on the other side of the road. I was also going to be catching up with a friend from Connecticut who was going to travel down to see me in either New Jersey or New York.

The girls are really disappointed but hopefully we can make it up to them. As a bonus or compensation, Mr Rainbow's boss has agreed to him having the full 2 weeks of the September/October school holidays off. We'll be spending the first week at a timeshare in Kyneton and then relaxing at home for the second week. We might do one or two family day trips to Melbourne attractions like Scienceworks, The Aquarium and maybe even Gumbuya Park (the new one in a totally different place to the old one).

Are you interested in a trip report from Kyneton? It won't be as exciting as the one from Mildura but there are many fascinating places in Kyneton and surrounds.

I'll get back to this thread or start a new one next year once we start planning.

Thank you everyone for all your contributions. I've learnt a huge amount of things which will help us wherever we decide to travel. You've opened my eyes to so many experiences. Thank you for your advice, information, stories and opinions. It's great to be part of such a supportive community.

 

[Denali]

Sad youre not going but trying to look at the silver lining and thats all the planning will spur you to make it happen next year and thats a good thing. Maybe your family member (brother I think?) can fly to LA to visit you as flights for him will be cheap.

Can you take the kids out of school and go at a different time? Easter school holidays?

Sending hugs, because Im sure youre disappointed.

 

[VPS]

Bad luck you're not going away. Good to see such positive suggestions from people on here. TR of anywhere are always good. You might uncover a gem. Good luck

 

[rainbowgirl]

Sad youre not going but trying to look at the silver lining and thats all the planning will spur you to make it happen next year and thats a good thing. Maybe your family member (brother I think?) can fly to LA to visit you as flights for him will be cheap.

Can you take the kids out of school and go at a different time? Easter school holidays?

Sending hugs, because Im sure youre disappointed.

Thank you for your thoughts and hugs. I am disappointed but I'm glad I did all the planning and research as it will help us next year. My nephew is getting married to a lady who's family live in New Jersey. I mentioned my brother in the trip report frequently because we'd be doing lots of activities with his family over there and he was helping out with travel suggestions and accommodation. My brother and the rest of his family live in Australia but he has travelled to the United States before and was giving advice.

Next year we'll probably do one week in LA and one week in New York or New Jersey and meet up with my nephew and his wife somewhere on the east coast. We might also spend a day or 2 in Connecticut and meet up with my friend there.

 

[JessicaTam]

Sorry to hear the trip you were looking forward to won't happen quite when you wanted it to.

I look forward to reading the Kyneton TR.

 

[drron]

Commiserations.But as you say you have a head start ion a future US trip.

 

[QF WP]

"Reconnaissance is rarely wasted" was an oft used phrase my dad used with me (and I now use). A pity that your husband can't get the time off and the whole trip is scuppered. But, look forward to the 2 week break in September.

 

[BAM1748]

I guess when in do as, driving in the US is straight forward and drivers generally very polite and don't cut you off or push in or drive to close to you. I find driving a better experience in the US than Australia and a lot of fun. Well you don't know who is packing do you.

 

[rainbowgirl]

"Reconnaissance is rarely wasted" was an oft used phrase my dad used with me (and I now use). A pity that your husband can't get the time off and the whole trip is scuppered. But, look forward to the 2 week break in September.

Thanks for your support. Your trip report has been fascinating and very useful. I'm thinking we might go to LA and New York City in September next year. I hope the Springs are mild and we still get some good weather then. That should avoid the US school crowd but work in with our holidays.

 

[rainbowgirl]

 

[rainbowgirl]

 

[rainbowgirl]

My nephew, Matthew and his bride, Rosa were married on August 26 in New Jersey.
There were approximately 70 people at the wedding including 19 in the bridal party. They had an abundance of food. The bride and groom had their own table and the rest of the bridal party had two long tables behind them. The ceremony was a garden wedding in a beautiful setting. I'm not sure of the exact number of family and friends who travelled from Australia but I think it was about 12.

 

[Denali]

They look wonderful - Im sure they look forward to you visiting next year. Hopefully without a wedding to host they will have more one on one time with your family visit