Hello! I just found this TR a few days ago and am all caught up now. My best friend and I are taking our first trip to DL in May, also staying at PP in a concierge theme park view room. We're WDW vets; I'm a former CM there and he's a current CM. I really like your report-the alternating story telling is great.
I missed the cool facts but seeing the park was worth it. 
So the big question What was I up to that morning?!
When we began our research on the DL hotels we found out that the Grand Californian offered a lot of fun activities and as long as you were a guest at a Disney hotel you could participate! There were a ton of activities but the two the interested me were the Yoga/Pilates hybrid class and the walking tour of California Adventure. Unfortunately the hybrid class wasn't available on days that we weren't in the park but this morning they offered the walking tour! Since we were having a relaxed day and just heading to LA we could afford the time for me to go! The best part of this is it's completely free!
When I split up with mom and dad I headed to the special entrance from the Grand Californian to California Adventure. It took a while for everyone to show up and there were about 6 people including the instructor. The purpose of the tour is for you to get a look at the park before anyone else is allowed in! It was so cool seeing California Adventure for the first time without any other guests in it!
The video I will post shows that you are supposed to sort of get a description of what your seeing and get special facts but our group ended up arguing about whether DL or WDW was better.
I was the only person who hadn't been in the park before and when our walk took us to Carsland my jaw dropped! It was just gorgeous! Everyone looked at me and laughed and was excited for me.
It was a great experience and I would recommend it to everyone! The group can either choose to slow down or walk faster depending on the type of tour you're looking for. It also takes you all around the park from the Grizzly River Rapids area through the Boardwalk area through Bugs Land and through Carsland. It's an awesome experience! This was probably one of my favorite parts of the trip and if I could have done it again I would have! Be sure to have good walking shoes and no cameras allowed!
Walking tour video
That sounds pretty cool!
Too bad about the argument, but glad to hear you enjoyed it anyway.
No cameras? That seems odd.
Must've been torture for you!
I'm at work, so I can't see the vid.
I'll check it out at home, later.
Love the details of the Storyteller restaurant!! The character interaction did look so cute!
And what a cool thing to offer...power walking pre-park opening! I would sign up for that!!
Everybody (including me) does that.
The ride wasn't working that day though
I had to pose with Mickey!
I feel like such a twit!
Not once did I think about Hollywood.
LA. Yup.
But Hollywood?
If I'd gone to DL and not thought of Hollywood until after, I would've clubbed myself over the head!
It was on my to do list! We didn't know when we would be back to DL so I wanted to get there! Although we may be going back after all
And you still do, don't you.
a little!
It's like, "Look everybody! I'm posing with a car that I don't own!"
Is that normal?
I don't think I've ever parked anywhere where I had to leave my keys.
(Except valet, of course)
It was weird but they needed the keys so they could move the car around and pack in as many as possible.
I don't blame you. I would be too!
Locals must get awfully tired of navigating around tourists who all have their collective heads down.
Yeah I can't imagine living somewhere like that and just thinking it's a normal street
But of course.
Probably down for re-furb.
So who's the best photo bomber?
The girl with the sunglasses?
The guy in the orange shirt?
Death?
The dog?
(I vote for the dog)
Well I had to catch up with my old co star so he wasn't technically photo bombing. It's hard to get a solo pic in Hollywood!
Geez, that makes me sad.
When she put her hands there, she was only six years old.
That's cool.
In Hollywood! <shock!>
I bet! We've all seen it... tons... on video. But to see it in real life?
Awesome.
It was a great experience!
Sounds good! Thanks for posting!
Awesome!
What a fun morning in Hollywood. Can't wait to see the soda shop.
And who IS that guy in the dark robe? Darth Vader?
Fun pics!
