No way Jose! We are going to Disneyland! 3/13 - Movin' on Up!

[ClaireW]

Glad to see you updating again - and it sounds like you've got lots more to write about too!

And when you get so far as planning your trip to Europe, head this way with questions about coming to the UK

 

[ladylyons]

I'm glad we did it! It's a pretty quick drive, just high way too, so it's not bad. Go for it!

The sad thing is we always drive and I don't have a problem driving through the city's and traffic. We go to San Francisco enough so I've gotten used to small very curvy roads. I'm really thinking about it this next trip in December. Now just got to talk DH into it.

 

[Poolrat]

YAY I am caught up


I will see you in about a week

You found the sign!!!!



So glad you ventured off property, I wasn't so brave.


Summer trip in my siggie and hopefully soon the DL trip.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Oh I can totally hear what was probably going on in Henry's mind, "we drove an hour and a half just to look at this sign!". Poor kid, I bet he was bored to tears, lol!

Glad you finally made it!

 

[KatMark]

Brook, between vacation, a funeral, putting mom in a nursing home and work, I'm finally catching up on all my threads.

I loved your updates. So glad you got to see the Chinese Theater and you found the Hollywood sign. We've only been to San Francisco (and that was actually sitting at the airport waiting for our connecting flight to Las Vegas after flying home from Hawaii), but I would love to go to LA/Anaheim some time.

I'm not up to that part in my TR yet (I actually just got it started), but I hope your check-in at OKW goes a lot better than us...very disappointed in that experience last month.

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

I felt like I just took a virtual tour of Disneyland. Now I want to visit for real. Soon, very soon.

Your little boy is so handsome. I love his hair!

I have a question for you. Which Disney do you prefer? DL or WDW?

 

[tehSAC]

Wow great report! Trying to catch up.

A few years ago a couple buddies and I visited LA, and we too tried to get as close as possible to the sign too. Most likely we traveled the same roads you did. Views up there were amazing.

Your photos look similar to mine. . Look forward to catching up on the rest of your report!

 

[Caretames1]

What a great tour of Hollywood! We have decided to that in the next 5 years we will attempt DL and Cali. I say attempt because WDW is so alluring and a cruise is something I'm really interested in. We'll see.

How long did it take for you to drive from DL to Hollywood and the Theater area?

 

[jedijill]

Yay! You are back and I am caught up. Henry keeps getting cuter.

Jill in CO

 

[elphie101]

Glad to see you're back! I think the transition from summer to school season throws everyone into a loop hahaha.

Your TR has been a life saver for me so far, as an East Coaster planning my first trip to DLR (well, the first trip my parents didn't plan ), especially your latest installment going outside the Disney bubble. Definitely want to look into renting a car at DLR for the day, and on getting to the park to see the Hollywood sign!

Can't wait for more!

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Sorry I missed the send off! Hope you are having a great time at OKW!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Long time no talk. I am loving this trip report and it has given me alot of ideas for our Cali trip. The pics are awesome as usual!! Have fun in sunny FL this week. Hope you get to do the Halloween party.

 

[annmarieda]

Looks like quite the journey to get the hollywood sign! At least now you can say you have "been there"

 

[Poolrat]

Caught up and Welcome back!!!!

It was great seeing you again and so sorry it wasn't longer.

 

[brookelizabeth]

I'm back from a WONDERFUL week at the World! One of my favorite trips, hands down! We had such a blast with our friends and the 2-bedroom Villa at Old Key West spoiled me!

That was a great view! We got as far as the bridge you see in the picture of the mall at the Hollywood and Highland Center. We had parked there and went to the "observation deck" to see the sign. I can't get over that the Oscars are held there...I can't imagine Brad and Angelina walking past Johnny Rocket's to go up the stairs into the theater. Weird. The Dirty Dancing after party was in one of the empty areas in there as well. It is a strange place. Then again, we must have been strange to the LA people having a 9 year old boy at a premiere after party! Can't wait to see your take on Santa Monica. We never made it over there.

I agree! It was a strange place, not at all what I expected being connected to a mall and all that...so odd.

Glad you got to see the sign and YAY for OKW!

Me too! It was definitely worth the hassle for me. Next trip, we won't bother, but I'm glad I got it that one time!

WOW, another trip! I remember you saying on my TR how you were going in February but I had a feeling you'd probably be going sooner than that! Only 6 days, I'm jealous!

Cool California updates! Love all the pictures. It's so neat to see the real Chinese Theater. And yay for seeing the Hollywood sign. I think we might've only seen that from a distance as we were driving around. haha!

We had that October trip planned FOREVER it seemed! I just didn't talk about it much due to my DIS-hiatus.

Next time we are in California I won't bother with going to see it closely either, it doesn't look any different close-up.

Goodness! What an exhausting time trying to find that sign! Im glad you guys finally made it...although Henry doesnt look impressed I dont think I would have liked driving on those roads either...scary!
We are leaving for WDW in 9 days! Maybe we will see you down there Are you doing the MNSSHP? We are looking forward to it on the 23rd...and hoping for great weather

LOL! You are CORRECT! Henry was not all too impressed. Yep, it's a sign. Okay, I'm gonna throw rocks.

I'm sorry I missed you! We didn't go to MNSSHP, we were going to, but decided last minute to not spend that money. We had a fantastic time, the weather was perfect!

Oh Brook, your driving adventure sounds awful. I hate to drive too. Thankfully Denny handles all the difficult driving in places we've never been to. I'm glad you finally found the Hollywood sign.

I have yet to catch up on your pictures, because, yes, I am at work.

But only 6 more days for me too!!!!!!!! (my ticker is off by a day). Really looking forward to meeting you at the DIS meet on Thursday afternoon. This is going to be a crazy trip.

Score on the 2BR at OKW. I bet its wonderful. I really want to try a 2BR there. I get its huge.

It was WONDERFUL meeting you!!!!!! And thank you again for the great gifts for Henry, he loved them all. You two really took your time and put some serious thought and energy into those goody bags!

The 2 bed is MASSIVE! I couldn't believe how big it was. I did a room tour with video and pictures - once I have both up I'll post it on Facebook and here too if I remember!

Loved the update! Been so long since CA adventures for us now. But great fun reading yours. So excited for you for AKL trip! I love that resort. We are just back from a mom's only food and wine fest trip and had dinner at Sanaa. One of the best TS meals we had while there. Enjoy your trip to OKW! Can't wait to read more of your adventures.

Ooooh, a Mom's only trip! Love that! I do believe we are booked for Sanaa in February, I've been wanting to try it and since we'll be so close... I *think* we have 'Ohana breakfast, Boma breakfast (can't skip it...drool), Be Our Guest dinner and Sanaa dinner. I might cancel the 'Ohana, even though I've been itchin' to try it. Staying Club Level with 2 breakfasts is kinda silly being they have nice breakfast choices. We'll see though!

Yay...I can feel your frustration. I've been there before and the "husband" doesn't listen to what you are telling him.

Skip wouldn't apologize though. LOL

Exactly! Or what's even worse is when you tell them something and they don't believe you, so they "double check". Ugh.

Oh goodness do I hate driving! Driving in unfamiliar places is the worst. I'm so glad you finally found the famous sign. Hallelujah! Love the photos! I'd love to see it too!!

I hope to see you next week Brook!

It was a crazyyyyyy drive, but I'm glad we did it! No way will I do it again unless a friend is along who really wants to go! LOL

It's good to see you back posting on the Dis again!

Hum, after looking at your pictures, I can honestly say that Hollywood doesn't look like I thought it would althought I don't know what I thought it would look like. It seems as if "Hollywood" has done a good job at only showing the cleaned-up version of Hollywood. Still, I'm sure that it was neat to see the stars and the Chinese Theater.

I get tickled every time you refer to the vehicle as "Carzilla". Here in Louisiana, they think the bigger your car, the better. (Sounds a little like our neighboring State of Texas' motto doesn't it? ) I could feel just how frustrated you were when you described the driving and getting turned around/lost. Thank goodness you guys finally made it and were able to take pictures with the Hollywood sign.

You are exactly correct! The "pretty Hollywood" is just TV. It's kinda like NYC - you see all the glamour on TV, but none of the homeless, trash on the curb, etc. It's not nearly as pretty as they make it out to be! But, I'm glad we went anyway. I definitely wanted to see it all.

Joe and Henry agree with Louisiana, the bigger the car the better! Henry was obsessing last week over the size of our car. We had a van, but before we picked it up, he kept asking if it would be a BIG truck, etc. Goof.

my DH and I took our dog to California a few weeks before our wedding and we had the same issue with finding that sign. We gave up! We got pictures of her on hollywood blvd with the stars and the chinese theater so that was alright. Nice that you got to find the sign, and another great update!

It's nutty trying to find that sign! You'd think it would be simple considering how famous it is, and it's on a hill, but they do not make it easy!

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Welcome home!! Can't wait to hear about your trip.

 

[micandminforever]

Welcome home. I look forward to the pictures from your latest trips.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Welcome home Brook! So, so sad I missed you and Sheree on our trip. Like really bummed!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Wow! That ordeal to get to the Hollywood sign was something! I could feel your frustration, Brook! All's well that ends well, though, and you saw it!!! In person!!!

Glad you had a great trip to WDW! Excited to see your pictures and read all about it!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Check your homes and children people! Is anything odd going on?

I ask because...I am caught up on the DIS.
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Hoping to get an update on tonight...!​