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

[brookelizabeth]

When I left off....a very long time ago...slowest TR ever....

We had just finished up our character breakfast and headed out to Carzilla-today we were going into Hollywood to see some sites!

Joe took a picture trying to capture the sheer size of the car.



He and Henry loved it. I, on the other hand, was very nervous about driving all day in LA traffic, but there were things I just needed to see!


The bridge is a walking bridge that goes over Disneyland Drive and into DTD.


I love palm trees!!!!!

We started to drive and after you leave the few blocks of the Disney bubble the sites aren't all that pretty; however, I think this trailer park might have one of the best views ever!







Before too long we started seeing signs for...



I didn't get us lost! Oh wait, Joe is the navigator in this family. If he's in charge, we rarely get lost. Yep! Let the BLIND man lead!



And then...


And soon enough we were exiting onto Hollywood Blvd.


Where's the big Mickey hat?




The parking signs are just as confusing as they are here in NYC. Problem is, I don't drive here, so I really don't pay attention. It took me a good 5 minutes of looking at the sign to ensure we were safe!

We got out of the car and started down the strip to see the stars. We later found out we completely failed to lock the car...with an iPad and other valuables left inside! NICE! Hollywood isn't exactly the best area either...but thankfully it was fine!


This is what I came to see! I had to see the Hollywood sign!










Another shot of the real Hollywood & Vine.




Cool old buildings





Continued in next post

[brookelizabeth]

Zoltar!


Whoop-whoop!






The closer you got to the Chinese Theater, the more touristy it became.


A Disney store/soda fountain right next to the El Capitan and pretty much across the street from the Chinese Theater! How convenient!







We made it!

And the crowds were a 10/10!
















There is a tour, but we opted not to go because Henry was already b.o.r.e.d.

The theater is attached to a.....mall!! I guess it makes sense, it is a movie theater... So we exited to the right and went up some escalators!




View from the mall

Back out on the street



Woot!








I had NO idea the park had it's own star!

Continued in next post

[brookelizabeth]

You can take a guess where all these stars were located! Yep, right in front of that Disney soda fountain! We had to go check it out! Disney knows their fan base so well.


One giant ice cream for H.

And I believe both Joe and I got root beer floats.



It was very cute inside!

With our treats to-go, we started our walk back to the car. I am pretty sure this is the El Capitan.










Just beautiful!

Looking through the mall that is attached to the Chinese Theater we noted you can see the Hollywood sign! Very cool.




Ah, reminds me of home. We live very close to what is called "Little Arabia" of Queens and there are about 9 hookah lounges PER block.



We were soon back at the car. Our next stop was to go to a park that was very close to the Hollywood sign. I had researched where to go, but Joe looked at map and wanted to go elsewhere, a place he thought would be better. Since he truly knows his directions and is generally correct with this sort of thing, I trusted him.

Dum, dum, dum!!!!!

A quick note about Hollywood. We enjoyed our hour walking the sidewalks and seeing the stars, and seeing the theater. However, this area is not the cleanest and is even a bit sketchy. This didn't phase us a BIT, as we are used to this sort of feel since we live in NYC. Here one block can be great, and the next is sketchy, it's just how it goes. Similar feel there. From what I could tell it was completely safe, there were tons of tourists around-so don't hesitate to go if you want to, but it's not the prettiest or cleanest until you get closer to the theater.

With that said, let's hop back in the car and find that Hollywood sign!

Or at least try...

[MEK]

Can I just say how excited I am to see an update from you! The only bad thing is I can't see your pictures and I really need to. I have never been to Hollywood. The only place I have ever been in California is LAX and Venice beach. Sad, I know.

But do not fear. I already have thoughts of a 2014 California trip spinnin around in my head thanks to all the fun DL TRs I have been reading.

So excited for F&W in 11 days!

[jenseib]

So I am confused...the stars and the hand prints are near the chinese theatre? I thought just the hand prints were and th stars were somewhere else? Of course I amust be wrong.

I also heard that some of the stars and or hand prints do occasionally get moved further out when a bigger star needs to be closer to the theatre. Not sure if that is true either.

What an awesome experience though.

I have lived in a trailer park before...we surely didn't have that view.

And now I am gonna ask a dumb question...What is Hookah?

[eandesmom]

dun dun dun!

Ah, the joys of driving in LA.

I am that you didn't lock the car.

That soda shop is adorable, who knew?

[Tiggerrn2]

Yay!! You are writing again! We've missed you.
Great update. We walked from Farmers Market to Hollywood Blvd.We were told it wasn't all that far! But it was a funny, eye-opening experience to be sure. My poor DS got his first look at a drag queen and a bum. Some guy was walking down the sidewalk with his worldly possessions in a shopping cart and my DS asked why he would have all that stuff in a shopping cart walking down the street. I had to explain that he was a HOBO, and when he asked what that was I was like, "he's a bum-he's homeless and takes all he has with him". My poor naive little boy. He was just so beside himself that people would have no place to go. Maybe he will try to save the world one day.

[Lovemy3babes]

What a super cool update! I am not a fan of big cities so driving there would have really freaked me out. Sounds like you did great though! We don't have much traffic in small town Minnesota.

My daughter wants be a rock star and has begged me take her to see Capitol Records because that's who signed Katy Perry. Oh the dreams of a twelve year old girl.

Love all the pictures Brook!

[glennbo123]

Great to see you Brook! Thanks for the tour of Hollywood....I've never been there, so this is great. It looks kind of different than the Disneyfied DHS version.

Finding the Hollywood Sign....how hard could that be? It's right over thataway. Great big letters. On the hillside.

[Flossbolna]

Wonderful to see you back here!!

When I was in California we actually stayed right in that area for three nights before moving to a hotel in Anaheim. It was right behind the mall (we used the parking garage of the mall as a shortcut). We never ventured out late at night, but during the day we felt totally safe in that area. Do you realise that the "mall" is also home to the former Kodak Theater (no idea what the name is now) where they have the Oscar ceremony? The red carpet is actually along Hollywood Boulevard in front of the mall.

[Millie12591]

Yeaaaah, Brook is back!!

I actually read and caught up while you were away.

I lived in Orange County (no, not the one you see on t.v. with all the housevwives ) and never, not once, went to that part of Hollywood. HOw sad is that?!?
I did however make it to Rodeo Drive, baby! Where a pair of fancy designed pantyhose (yes, they were very popular back then-1989 just graduated high school) cost you $45. Now they would probably cost you $145.
The only "star" I saw was Mike Tyson crossing the street, later on I was actually hit on by his bodyguards. while they were stading guard outside the store Mr. Tyson had gone into.
The sad part was they just saw me walk by with my family and baby sister not even five minutes before, I had to walk back by them to go back to the ice cream store to get napkins for my little sister. I was never so scared in my life!! They were some BIG boys!!

So great to see all the Disney stars!! I love that they have stars for the characters, especially Tinker Bell since she's my favorite.

Can't wait to read more!!

[KatMark]

So glad to read an update, Brook. And a great one too. I'm so glad you got to go to Hollywood and love the pictures of all the stars on the sidewalk. Henry's ice cream looks really yummy.

[SoonerGirl]

So excited to see that you updated today!!

That soda shop is too cute, I think I need to see that for myself

I'm guessing the search for the Hollywood sign didn't go as planned.......

[Timon]

Great update Brook!

I remember our first time visiting Hollywood on our honeymoon...we both said, at the same time, "This is IT???"

Every two blocks, people were trying to sell us oranges and wipe our windshield

Looking forward to the rest...dun dun dun!

[3inthefamily]

I've been lurking all summer to prep for our first visit to SoCal and Disneyland. We went at the end of August and reading your impressions of Hollywood had me laughing. Coming from NY...I was not as impressed as I thought I would be. I guess Pretty Woman and the original 90210 had me ruined...my dreams were much better than the reality! Don't get me wrong, I was glad to see it all but really looked forward to getting back to our Disney bubble at the Grand Californian.

Quick story because I just haven't mustered the strength to write my own trip report. I was really excited to see Grauman's Chinese Theater. I've been dreaming of that since I was a little kid. When we went over there it was closed for the premiere of the Oogieloves movie. WHAT?!?!?! So my husband promised we would hit it again 2 days later.

2 days later....went back at dinnertime for a quick peek with a hungry and crabby 9 year old boy. Guess what? CLOSED AGAIN!! Covered with a pink carpet and lines of women. Apparently it was a Skinny Cow hosted event. The 25th anniversary of DIRTY DANCING!!! WHAT!?!?! The movie I saw 3 times in the theater the summer it came out? The movie I knew every line to?

I try not to lose it and turn away to go find somewhere to eat dinner when my husband tells me to stay right there and not move. 10 minutes later someone is putting a bracelet with drink tickets on our wrists and leading us in. Yes...we crashed the Dirty Dancing party. Free ice cream, Jennifer Grey, movie, afterparty and swag bag. Now THAT was Hollywood!

Other than that my favorite place was the cemetery where Marilyn Monroe was buried!