2013 Dis Exclusive BackstageMagic Adventure 6/9 - 6/14/13

[Disneygrl36]

Please dont take this the wrong way, but alerting people that there are spoiler alerts is different than not telling people.

We saw some amazing things on our last BSM Adventure. You may not get to see the same things this time. You just never know.

Had we told you what we saw and then you dont get a chance to see the same cool things, you would most likely be disappointed.

We try to make sure everyone has a spectacular Adventure. Sharing the secrets (even with spoiler alerts) usually leads to someone being upset or disppointed.

Please dont share the secrets of this trip.

I didn't take it the wrong way at all Kevin. I totally respect your request & if I write a trip report which I am not even sure I will do this time, I will not include the extras.

 

[kgibbler20]

Talking about not talking about surprises has me so excited for surprises!!!!!!

 

[Lee Disney]

Talking about not talking about surprises has me so excited for surprises!!!!!!

Me too!!

 

[skier_pete]

I totally respect this Kevin! I wrote a trip report from our ABD BSM back in 2008 & I included lots of the surprises which most people seemed to like, but I also let everyone know ahead of time that if they wanted to be surprised not to read. I really hope I didn't spoil anyone's magic.

We try to make sure everyone has a spectacular Adventure. Sharing the secrets (even with spoiler alerts) usually leads to someone being upset or disppointed.

Please dont share the secrets of this trip.

I should add that there might be some special magical moments that might not be done for other Backstage Magic trips.

Quick question for you Kevin - will it be made obvious to us what the special moments and secrets are that we shouldn't be sharing? I assume certain things like what we see at Imagineering are on the "do not share" list, but other things, such as the parade thing that was announced on the podcast, seem to me should be open to talk about. (see I'm afraid to even tell people that.)

Also, out of curiousity, are there things they show us that fall under "tell NO ONE", like we have to sign a pact in blood or something to see imagineering? (That's how I picture it in my head.) I have some friends at home here that are Disney fans but not DISers that I hope to spill my guts to about the trip.

Talking about not talking about surprises has me so excited for surprises!!!!!!

I know! Me too! I am real big on not knowing details of the trip...but I still want to talk about it! Kind of excited for the chat next Thursday. I really like that doing a tour this way gives us a chance to "get to know" everyone beforehand as opposed to any other tour where you wouldn't meet people until you arrive. DW has some questions - all non-"surprise" related!

 

[DisneyKevin]

Starting Thursday March 28th, we will hold a weekly chat for this particular Adventure.

It will begin at 8:00pm (isn) EST and will be held in the ABD Chat room. There is no ending time assigned and you can chat as long as you like. I usually take off at 9ish....but mostly because Project Runway is on.

You can ask anything you want or need to know and you'll get a chance to "get to know" each other.

If anyone has a question about how to get to chat....look up along the top of the page and you should see a CHAT button. Click on that and you will be asked to sign in. Use your board name and password and you are IN.

There are a couple of Chat rooms. The top room is used by everyone on the boards. Dis Unplugged Chat is Wednesday nights begining at 8ish and going until no one wants to chat any more.

The bottom room on the list is the ABD room. This is where we we will be on Thursdays at 8ish EST.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Quick question for you Kevin - will it be made obvious to us what the special moments and secrets are that we shouldn't be sharing? I assume certain things like what we see at Imagineering are on the "do not share" list, but other things, such as the parade thing that was announced on the podcast, seem to me should be open to talk about. (see I'm afraid to even tell people that.)

Also, out of curiousity, are there things they show us that fall under "tell NO ONE", like we have to sign a pact in blood or something to see imagineering? (That's how I picture it in my head.) I have some friends at home here that are Disney fans but not DISers that I hope to spill my guts to about the trip.

ABD and Disney will not show us anything that will require a blood pact.

I have done this trip several times now and every time ABD has surprised me with something.

You all know the "bones" of this trip. I'm guessing that's why you signed on. Well, on every trip, ABD has added something "magical" to the trip. Usually this leaves us all standing there saying things like " NO WAY", "UNBELIEVABLE"...you get the idea.

Because we are visiting a working business and not a museum, there may be reasons why you cant see the BIG AMAZING THING that another trip has seen. You may get to see something entirely different. You will know when you have ventured off the BSM path into new territory. I swear I'm not trying to be vague.

Let me give you an example...

On our last trip, ABD divided us into two groups and sent us in different directions to see two different things.

My group went someplace I'd never seen previously and I stood there with my mouth wide open. I then got to see something I never ever never thought I;d get to see. I'm not ashamed to tell you that it brought me to tears. I was overwhelmed.

After our experience, we walked to the other experience. We passed the other half of our group on the sidewalk and the conversation was all about who saw the cooler thing. It turns out....we both did.

We agreed that telling others about this would raise people's expectations and seeing that one or both might not be available at the time of the next Adventure, this could lead to disappointment.

It is for this reason, that we have stopped telling our BSM trips that we have a special surprise. Putting that hint out there leads to guessing and the guessing escalates to heights that we could never achieve. "You're getting Diane Disney Miller to let us all sleep at Walt's house and we're all getting lifetime annual passes and we never have to go home". Because of the expectations, our great surprise that we worked like dogs to get...well, it's now a disappointment because it doesnt meet the high wire guesses and speculation.

I digress, but i think you get the idea.

There is no doubt that you will know when you are seeing something that's a surprise. It may be a BIG thing. It may be several smaller things. We just never know.

The other thing with ABD trips is that there is always the possibility that things on the Adventure can change. We had one trip where the MK day and the DCA day had to be flipped. There was an event in the park that would have interrupted our schedule. ABD did this seamlessly.

Talking about our special guests (Kevin Kidney and Jody Daly - SUPER GREAT GUYS BTW)is fine. We've announced that on the show.

And just to be clear...I'm not asking you to not talk about this stuff with friends, families, co-workers etc. I'm asking that you not post surprises on the boards, where people thinking about taking or planning a BSM trip might see them.

They might not get to see the cool stuff you get to see and I would hate to see anyone spending this much money on a special Adventure disappointed.

 

[Chropistopy]

I'm getting to sleep at Walt's house and don't have to go home!!!

What? Kevin said so!!

 

[DisneyKevin]

I'm getting to sleep at Walt's house and don't have to go home!!!

What? Kevin said so!!

Now what happened to Christy's reservation?

It was here somewhere......

I think I booked it.

 

[Chropistopy]

Now what happened to Christy's reservation?

It was here somewhere......

I think I booked it.

[puts herself in the corner] I promise to be good, Kevin! I'm sure that reservation is right under your nose.

 

[skier_pete]

Putting that hint out there leads to guessing and the guessing escalates to heights that we could never achieve. "You're getting Diane Disney Miller to let us all sleep at Walt's house and we're all getting lifetime annual passes and we never have to go home".

I'm getting to sleep at Walt's house and don't have to go home!!!

What? Kevin said so!!

That sentence made me feel like that instead of giving away any secrets of these tours, we should just make up outrageous things that we did so that no matter what, future groups will only be disappointed by what they get. I am not sure that I can top Kevin's, but here goes nothing:

"Disney Board of Directors hired the DIS BSM tour group as Disney theme park consultants to come up with ideas to improve and revitalize the parks. An stiped of 10,000 shares of Disney stock was provided as compensation to each member of the tour group."

"The DIS BSM tour group was given speaking roles in the new Brad Bird directed cinematic extravaganza 'Tomorrowland', starring George Clooney. One lucky tour group member was asked to shoot a love scene with the 'Ocean's 11' star."

(I am off work today - meaning I have too much time on my hands. Can't you tell?)

 

[epcotisdabomb]

Checking out the discussions

 

[BriarRosie]

Kevin brought up a good point. I know that there are aspects that shouldn't be discussed, like the Imagineering portion of the tour. I think the statute of limitations ended on the tour Melanie (and Eric) and I were on in December 2008, the moment that Carsland was fully announced. We saw Imagineers carve out the Cadillac Mountains in styrofoam in order to figure out how to hide the "outside world". Since this will be my first time seeing Carsland in full glory, I'm obviously excited!

Back in the early days of the Backstage Magic tour, I felt that we really COULD have gotten more from ABD. I wondered why they didn't take us to the Archives at the Studios, or why they didn't take us into the two places at Disneyland I know that other tours (Walk in Walt's Footsteps, anyone?) does take people. (And yes, I feel that allowing that tour into Walt's Apartment now makes that aspect of the ABD tour less exclusive.)

There are other aspects of the tour Melanie and I probably know about that we shouldn't share, if we experience them again the same way. We discussed how cool it was that she and her hubby and I have a unique perspective of those who have done this trip before ABD really plussed it up and worked out some of the kinks.

And Christy and Kevin know how things DO change. On the London/Paris trip, we didn't get to the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace due to a citywide bike race that really mucked up that Sunday. We managed to still see the palace. But I'm grateful that our discussion group all decided to go for the palace tour. While that was part of the "on my own" time, I had a blast sharing the experience with Christy and Heather. (But we didn't get to hold the queen's eggs, sadly. )

I'm so glad the trip is already paid for. All we have to do is anticipate, now!

 

[disneykiwi]

Just figured out that 8pm your time is 1pm the day after in NZ and unfortunately I wont be able to join you guys in the chat as we don't have internet access at work and the lunch hour is over

Maybe I could i could get a mystery illness and stay home "Disitis"
I hear it can be quite contagious.

So any juicy gossip - you guys will have to keep me up to date on the thread.

Cheers
T

 

[kgibbler20]

Just figured out that 8pm your time is 1pm the day after in NZ and unfortunately I wont be able to join you guys in the chat as we don't have internet access at work and the lunch hour is over

Maybe I could i could get a mystery illness and stay home "Disitis"
I hear it can be quite contagious.

So any juicy gossip - you guys will have to keep me up to date on the thread.

Cheers
T

Can you please send this new disease to me??? Thursday nights are my busiest night and I always have to be there. However, being the boss has perks.... I will just have to log on from my ipad and chat between customers.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Kevin brought up a good point. I know that there are aspects that shouldn't be discussed, like the Imagineering portion of the tour. I think the statute of limitations ended on the tour Melanie (and Eric) and I were on in December 2008, the moment that Carsland was fully announced. We saw Imagineers carve out the Cadillac Mountains in styrofoam in order to figure out how to hide the "outside world". Since this will be my first time seeing Carsland in full glory, I'm obviously excited!

Back in the early days of the Backstage Magic tour, I felt that we really COULD have gotten more from ABD. I wondered why they didn't take us to the Archives at the Studios, or why they didn't take us into the two places at Disneyland I know that other tours (Walk in Walt's Footsteps, anyone?) does take people. (And yes, I feel that allowing that tour into Walt's Apartment now makes that aspect of the ABD tour less exclusive.)

There are other aspects of the tour Melanie and I probably know about that we shouldn't share, if we experience them again the same way. We discussed how cool it was that she and her hubby and I have a unique perspective of those who have done this trip before ABD really plussed it up and worked out some of the kinks.

And Christy and Kevin know how things DO change. On the London/Paris trip, we didn't get to the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace due to a citywide bike race that really mucked up that Sunday. We managed to still see the palace. But I'm grateful that our discussion group all decided to go for the palace tour. While that was part of the "on my own" time, I had a blast sharing the experience with Christy and Heather. (But we didn't get to hold the queen's eggs, sadly. )

I'm so glad the trip is already paid for. All we have to do is anticipate, now!

Each and every trip goes to Imagineering and each and every trip sees something different.

The last time we were in Imagineering, we saw the scale model for the Fantasyland expansion and some of the large character sculptures that would be on the DCL Fantasy.

That's not what I'm talking about.

I'm talking about surprises that you dont yet know you're going to see.

You'll know what they are when you see them.

 

[Lee Disney]

And the people who have been on this trip before do NOT share the secrets. I've been trying to get some info out of one of my BFFs who did the trip last year and all she says is wait and see, you're going to love it. . But I can't wait, I wanna know NOW!! (patience is not one of my stronger traits)

 

[DisneyKevin]

And the people who have been on this trip before do NOT share the secrets.

 

[skier_pete]

Just figured out that 8pm your time is 1pm the day after in NZ and unfortunately I wont be able to join you guys in the chat as we don't have internet access at work and the lunch hour is over

Maybe I could i could get a mystery illness and stay home "Disitis"
I hear it can be quite contagious.

So any juicy gossip - you guys will have to keep me up to date on the thread.

Cheers
T

I am thinking that you probably log on and see the chat even after it is over, similar to reading a thread. I am not very familiar with chat, though. I can probably hang on the chat until I go to bed, but even that would only be 4 PM your-time, probably not time to get home from work...

You bring up something that makes me curious about the group. Is everyone in the group US East-Coasters except for Toni (disneykiwi)? 8 PM is generally a good chat time for the US east coast and even mid-west, but not as good for the west coast and probably really terrible for Europe.

Just curious

 

[DisneyKevin]

I am thinking that you probably log on and see the chat even after it is over, similar to reading a thread. I am not very familiar with chat, though. I can probably hang on the chat until I go to bed, but even that would only be 4 PM your-time, probably not time to get home from work...

You bring up something that makes me curious about the group. Is everyone in the group US East-Coasters except for Toni (disneykiwi)? 8 PM is generally a good chat time for the US east coast and even mid-west, but not as good for the west coast and probably really terrible for Europe.

Just curious

I guess I should clarify something.

Y'all are welcome to use the chat room whenever you'd like.

8:00pm EST Thursday is when I can be there to answer questions, offer suggestions etc.

I realize that the time doesnt work for everyone, but after doing this for a while, I've learned that no time works for everyone.

 

[skier_pete]

And the people who have been on this trip before do NOT share the secrets. I've been trying to get some info out of one of my BFFs who did the trip last year and all she says is wait and see, you're going to love it. . But I can't wait, I wanna know NOW!! (patience is not one of my stronger traits)

See, I'm just the opposite. I don't want to know a thing! So, I love that everyone keeps the secrets, and the reason I have no issue with keeping them myself. (I am an excellent keeper secret, the trip we took to stay at AKL I kept the location of where we staying secret until we were getting off the plane in Orlando.)

I guess I should clarify something.

Y'all are welcome to use the chat room whenever you'd like.

8:00pm EST Thursday is when I can be there to answer questions, offer suggestions etc.

I realize that the time doesnt work for everyone, but after doing this for a while, I've learned that no time works for everyone.

I understood all of that - you are right to just pick a time - there is no way you could even find a time that works for everyone. The discussion just made me curious as to the demographics of the tour group.