How to fill 2 days in Hollywood before Backstage Tour

scottmel · Jun 1, 2015

I have been researching and booking a few things but here is what I have for early July

tour Starts the 5th I arrive in LAX the 3rd around 12 noon. I am GUESSING I will get to hotel around 2?

Arrival Day - Roosevelt's Hotel for a buger and movie at El Captains theatre (spelling?) I think inside out will be playning....

4th - 9 AM tour at Warner Brothers Studio then to Farmers Market then ??????

Done by3 - any7 must see or must do in the evening that is NOT included in the Backstage Magic Leg

5th - Was thinking of LA City Tour, Movie Star Homes & Beaches Tour - can't tell if this is cheezy or not....If not this - any thoughts on what else? We wont have a car in LA......ABD Trip starts the 5th I am guessing around 4 pm??

THANKS!!! Hoping DisneyKevin reads this!!!!

Cinderella's Slipper 2015 · Jun 1, 2015

You might want to hold off on the movie at El Capitan. I did the Backstage Magic tour in February and one of our optional activities was seeing Lady and the Tramp at the El Capitan (on Disney).

Definitely check out the Chinese Theatre. They offer tours daily. You don't get to actually visit inside the theatre during your ABD. We took a morning and took a hike through Runyon Canyon, which is about a 15 minute walk from the hotel and is next to the canyon where the "Hollywood" sign is. This was a great way to spend the morning. Your hotel is pretty much sitting on the LA subway line and Universal Studios is only one or two stops from the hotel.

You will need to check in with ABD on the day the tour starts. Our guides (Jason and Michael) were set up outside of Preston's restaurant during the afternoon. You will need to be back outside of Preston's by 5pm for your welcome dinner.

We arrived the day before the tour started and this was what we did.

Arrival day - wander around Hollywood to get acquainted with the area
Tour start day (prior to dinner) - Hiked Runyon Canyon, Toured Chinese Theatre, shopped for souvenirs (no time during ABD to shop)

scottmel · Jun 1, 2015

Thanks! Great advice!Is the Chinese Theatre the Dolby? Did you find discounted tickets anywhere? I will plan on doing this for sure and hold off on the other. Great advice. THanks!

Cinderella's Slipper 2015 · Jun 1, 2015

The Chinese theatre is not the Dolby Theatre. It's next door to the Highland Centre, which the Dolby theatre is a part of. The Chinese Theatre is what inspired the one at Hollywood Studios in Florida. Tickets to tour the Chinese theatre are like $13 unless there is a movie playing, in which case I think it was $10. In the forecourt of the Chinese Theatre we came across people selling tickets for the city tours. If you purchase your ticket a day in advance you can usually get a discount. It's a hop on/hop off trip and you can purchase a ticket that is good for up to 48 hours.

Not sure if you're staying at the Loew's for your pre-stay or not but just wanted to let you know that Preston's Restaurant in the Loew's Hollywood Hotel is not worth going to for breakfast on your own time. It is way over priced for the quality of the food. They charge $6 for a glass of juice and $16 for an order of pancakes. When we were in LA for our Backstage Magic trip my mom noticed that there was a Johnny Rockets in the Highland Centre (which Loew's is attached to) and they serve breakfast. We got 2 juices, a coffee and 2 orders of pancakes for under $20. Another good place for on your own dining is the Wildfire BBQ in the Highland Centre. We ate there for dinner and it was really tasty.

scottmel · Jun 1, 2015

Cinderella's Slipper 2015 said:
The Chinese theatre is not the Dolby Theatre. It's next door to the Highland Centre, which the Dolby theatre is a part of. The Chinese Theatre is what inspired the one at Hollywood Studios in Florida. Tickets to tour the Chinese theatre are like $13 unless there is a movie playing, in which case I think it was $10. In the forecourt of the Chinese Theatre we came across people selling tickets for the city tours. If you purchase your ticket a day in advance you can usually get a discount. It's a hop on/hop off trip and you can purchase a ticket that is good for up to 48 hours.

Not sure if you're staying at the Loew's for your pre-stay or not but just wanted to let you know that Preston's Restaurant in the Loew's Hollywood Hotel is not worth going to for breakfast on your own time. It is way over priced for the quality of the food. They charge $6 for a glass of juice and $16 for an order of pancakes. When we were in LA for our Backstage Magic trip my mom noticed that there was a Johnny Rockets in the Highland Centre (which Loew's is attached to) and they serve breakfast. We got 2 juices, a coffee and 2 orders of pancakes for under $20. Another good place for on your own dining is the Wildfire BBQ in the Highland Centre. We ate there for dinner and it was really tasty.

Great advice again! thanks! So you are saying NOT to visit the Dolby? Do we see that with ABD and just focus on the Chinese Theatre?

scottmel · Jun 1, 2015

And yes we are at Loewes for 2 nights pre trip!

Cinderella's Slipper 2015 · Jun 1, 2015

Definitely see the Chinese Theatre on your own. I can't say one way or the other for the Dolby Theatre. We were there during Oscar week so we were not able to go inside the Dolby Theatre as they were busy setting up for the ceremony.

Definitely look into Jobnny Rockets for breakfast. There is also a McDonalds just down Hollywood Blvd from the hotel.

scottmel · Jun 1, 2015

Oh I am at Johnny Rockets no doubt. Thanks for the warning!!! Not to sound like an idiot but I looked at the Chinese theatre. Am I touring this or seeing a real movie here?

Cinderella's Slipper 2015 · Jun 1, 2015

You can do both at the Chinese Theatre. They are a working movie theatre but offer tours as well because of its historical significance.

scottmel · Jun 1, 2015

I just looked and the Terminator is playng. Would you recommend seeing a movie in here to taking a tour? I should have worded question this way, sorry!!! Is the Hollywood Highlands nice for shopping or just outrageous in price etc?

Cinderella's Slipper 2015 · Jun 1, 2015

We didn't see a movie cause it was Jupiter Ascending that was playing. You can just see a movie and look around yourself. The tour just gives you more insight into the building itself and its place in Hollywood history.

The Highland Centre is no different than any other mall. It's just outside. They have a lot of typical Mall Stores. Prices are pretty standard

pudinhd · Jun 1, 2015

We went on the BSM in October. We did not visit the El Capitan, but we did do a tour of TCL Chinese Theatre. I think that is the current schedule.

Cousin Orville · Jun 1, 2015

pudinhd said:
We went on the BSM in October. We did not visit the El Capitan, but we did do a tour of TCL Chinese Theatre. I think that is the current schedule.

We toured the Chinese Theater in December as well. It was impressive.

sayhello · Jun 1, 2015

pudinhd said:
We went on the BSM in October. We did not visit the El Capitan, but we did do a tour of TCL Chinese Theatre. I think that is the current schedule.

Yes, @scottmel, if you look at the itinerary on ABD's website, it lists touring the TCL Chinese Theatre, not the El Capitan.

Sayhello

Cinderella's Slipper 2015 · Jun 2, 2015

Odd. I was there this past February and we toured El Capitan and only toured the outside of the Chinese Theatre. Maybe it has something to do with the type of trip your on. I was on an adult only tour. Only place we did not get to visit was the Dolby Theatre. We saw the entry way with all the movies listed but did not get to see inside the actual theatre as they were prepping it for the Oscar broadcast. I did get to see the giant Oscar statues though

pudinhd · Jun 2, 2015

Cinderella's Slipper 2015 said:
Odd. I was there this past February and we toured El Capitan and only toured the outside of the Chinese Theatre. Maybe it has something to do with the type of trip your on. I was on an adult only tour. Only place we did not get to visit was the Dolby Theatre. We saw the entry way with all the movies listed but did not get to see inside the actual theatre as they were prepping it for the Oscar broadcast. I did get to see the giant Oscar statues though

We were on an adults only tour, too!

I guess this is why they say nothing is guaranteed.

scothen50 · Jun 2, 2015

I am doing a tour in August, and I am going to a concert (Bugs Bunny at the Symphony) at the Hollywood Bowl, and the Turner Classic Movies (TCM)Los Angeles Tour.

scottmel · Jun 2, 2015

Thanks much all! then I will NOT do the Chinese theatre after all! HAs been wanting to see a movie at the El Captains or whatever it is called so I think we wil plan on that after all as the newer Disney movie is playing then....Thanks! Is the Dolby covered at all? I don't see it mentioned at all on the website but just checking....

pudinhd · Jun 2, 2015

scottmel said:
Thanks much all! then I will NOT do the Chinese theatre after all! HAs been wanting to see a movie at the El Captains or whatever it is called so I think we wil plan on that after all as the newer Disney movie is playing then....Thanks! Is the Dolby covered at all? I don't see it mentioned at all on the website but just checking....

We gathered outside the theater and the guides talked, but we did not go inside.

scottmel · Jun 2, 2015

pudinhd said:
We gathered outside the theater and the guides talked, but we did not go inside.

Thanks...Hoping I can fill two days on my own here....
El Captains for a Movie...Warner Brothers Backstage Tour...Farmers Market.....Dolby maybe...

any other thoughts of things you did on your own or wish you would have? places to eat?

How to fill 2 days in Hollywood before Backstage Tour

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