Backstage Magic June 10-15 and Carsland Opening_Update June 5

[Dolby1000]

So, California Adventure will be closed on JUne 14 for Media day for Carsland. The Backstage Magic tour is suppossed to be doing behind the scenes of CA on this very date.

See this link (this is offcial Disney info): http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...tre-open-at-disney-california-adventure-park/

What will ABD do to accomadate our tour? Is is possible we won't get rooms at the Grand California in order to accomdate members of Media?

I am quite disturbed that the ABD and the Carsland opening are on the same days, this is not what we bargained for, and since the final payment date has come (we PIF last week) cancelling doesn't seem to be an option. We booked this long before any dates were even speculated.

This is using 2-3 years of our vacation budget to get 6 magical days, now I'm concerned parts of the trip will be cut short or moved.

Thoughts/idea/concerns from others on this trip?

I do have an email to our travel agent about this and I will share what is communicated when we hear something.

Dolby1000

 

[sayhello]

First off, I'm going to totally encourage you to talk to your Travel Agent, or call ABD directly. Unlike DCL, ABD will talk to you even if you are booked through a TA. (They just won't make any changes for you).

I am positive that the Adventure Guides will work things out for you. They are experts at dealing with these kinds of situations. My guess would be they'd just switch the Disneyland day with the California Adventure Day. Disneyland won't be closed, just California Adventure. And I can't imagine them bumping you out of the Grand Californian. You're not just any guest, you're traveling with Adventures by Disney. Your Adventure Guides are your advocates, and I just can't picture them letting that happen.

But again, talk to ABD. I'm sure they can give you an idea of what your Adventure Guides have in mind.

Sayhello

 

[Dolby1000]

Spoke with my travel agent today (Kevin from Dreams Unlimited), he said that the ABD team was caught unawares of the June 14th closure. In fact, it appears my communication to him, when forwarded to his ABD rep, was the first they heard about it. THis is why I waited until an official announcement to raise my hand.

He told me that ABD was looking into the issue but he advised:

The hotel will not be changed, ABD has a contract with Grand California and not with any other Disney property, so not to worry about that.

It is likely, but not official, that the DL and CA days would be reversed.

It is possible, we would get access to Carsland either on Media day or at openning. He said ABD tries real hard to make the trips special, but this was just a possibility, not a promise in any way, especially since ABD was unaware of the park closure.

ABD management is going meet over the next few days to come up with a plan and that will be communicated to those on the trip, likely early next week.

He said that we could also change our dates to another open week with no penalty, but if the week was a higher rate, we would have to make up that difference.

So, at this time, I'm just going to sit tight for a few days and see what happens. Changing the dates for us is really not an option, due to work schedules, this was about the only time open for us.

Dolby1000

 

[DisneyKevin]

If anyone has specific concerns or questions about this departure date, just let me know.

It is not uncommon for things to arise that can (and will) change the schedule of any Adventure.

I was explaining to Dolby1000 that we had a last minute change during our Christmas Viva Italia.

It seems that during our scheduled time to visit the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel, the Pope was having an audience with the employees of the Vatican and their families.

This meant that the Vatican was closed to visitors. Our ABD guides made several phone calls (almost invisibly to the guests) and quickly made adjustments to our schedule making sure that our visit to the Vatican went off as expected......just at a different time.

I can be reached at Kevin@DreamsUnlimitedTravel.comm.

 

[mniederm]

I'm going to be on this ABD trip too.
I keep asking about the itinerary, and still haven't heard that they've finalized it. Have you heard more?

I also have heard that the "big" media day is Thursday, but there are also media events going on Friday for the opening.

 

[Dolby1000]

I've been told to trust in ABD. All will be fine. So, I'll go with the flow.

Having never used them before this is what we are going to do. The money is spent and the flights are booked, nothing to do at this point but to go on the trip and have an outstanding time.

Privately, well, now publically, not that I'm questioning what I've been told, but my biggest fear is that we get there on June 10th and when we meet our guides and ask them about the 14th they tell us "this is the first we've heard of it".

That'll be a primal scream heard all around Hollywood, let me tell ya.
When I hear something, I'll post it here. Heck, when I get our welcome package, which should be this week, I'll post it here as I'll be excited to get that.

Dolby1000

 

[MickeyWatch]

I just spoke to ABD. The agent (I didn't catch her name) told me that they are still working in finalizing the "magical details" of the trip regarding the California Adventures Park day. She was able to respond immediatly to my question so I am sure that ABD is well aware of the potential conflict with Media Day and are working out the details so that we can enjoy both parks as planned on the itinerary.

For any of you traveling with kids, she also told me that there are two 9 year olds, three 12 year olds (including my daughter), and one 13 and 14 year old on the Adventure. I didn't ask about any older children. The trip is 84% booked.

 

[Dolby1000]

I just spoke to ABD. The agent (I didn't catch her name) told me that they are still working in finalizing the "magical details" of the trip regarding the California Adventures Park day. She was able to respond immediatly to my question so I am sure that ABD is well aware of the potential conflict with Media Day and are working out the details so that we can enjoy both parks as planned on the itinerary.

For any of you traveling with kids, she also told me that there are two 9 year olds, three 12 year olds (including my daughter), and one 13 and 14 year old on the Adventure. I didn't ask about any older children. The trip is 84% booked.

Does it count if there is one 50 year old, his wife of XX years both pretending to be 9 years old?

That is why we shamelessly admit we enjoy Disney, regardless of our real ages, Disney brings out the kid inside both of us.

On nice thing, however, is that we can, legally, enjoy the adult beverages that comes with not being an actual child.

Dolby1000

 

[MickeyWatch]

Does it count if there is one 50 year old, his wife of XX years both pretending to be 9 years old?

That is why we shamelessly admit we enjoy Disney, regardless of our real ages, Disney brings out the kid inside both of us.

On nice thing, however, is that we can, legally, enjoy the adult beverages that comes with not being an actual child.

Dolby1000

I'm with you-- I often feel like a kid in an adult body. Disney helps me keep my youthful spirit despite being in the same age group category as you.

 

[mniederm]

Yes it will be nice to meet you all on this trip. Two 40+ year olds with no children (who also become children ourselves when at Disney).

Yep I'm going with the flow too. I haven't done ABD before, but all of the backstage tours at WDW I've been on have been great- and the 2009 Expo was beyond my imagination of surprises and great service. I'm looking forward to great service even with this hiccup- which I'm hoping will turn into a blessing.

Thanks for sharing the news. I'm certain it will be fabulous for all of us.

 

[Dolby1000]

Backbacks and the welcome guide came today, hooray, 4 weeks to go.

Did not get information as CA yet, though.

Dolby1000

 

[DisneyKevin]

Backbacks and the welcome guide came today, hooray, 4 weeks to go.

Did not get information as CA yet, though.

Dolby1000

As has been reported, ABD says that they will just flip the days to avoid the park closure.

I will be very surprised if we hear any more than that.

I also can not imagine ABD sending any written notification, as things may change again prior to the actual Adventure.

I would plan to visit th MK on DCA day and vice versa.

 

[Dolby1000]

As has been reported, ABD says that they will just flip the days to avoid the park closure.

I will be very surprised if we hear any more than that.

I also can not imagine ABD sending any written notification, as things may change again prior to the actual Adventure.

I would plan to visit th MK on DCA day and vice versa.

Did someone from ABD actually confirm this or is this still what is most likely? I admit switching days is the most logical solution. But I don't see any post quoting a ABD rep confirming that this is the solution. In fact, the last post that quoted an ABD rep said the were still working on it. As far as I can see, we're still in the "trust us" situation, which is what we are going to have to do.

Also, the official hours for CA (which seem to change daily) have only one showing of WOC on the 13th and an earlier than normal close of 9 rather than 10.

That being said, this has not diminished our enthusiasm for the trip and we are excited to have started the 30 day countdown.

Dolby1000

 

[DisneyKevin]

This is as close to a confirmation as we are probably going to get.

Disney's not good at commitment.

 

[Dolby1000]

Spoke directly with ABD today and they said that, as expected, the CA day and the DL days will be reversed.

Just thought I'd share.

Looking forward to seeing everyone next week.

Dolby1000