Trip Report - Backstage Magic - Feb 20, 2011

[mikelan6]

I just got back from an amazing ABD trip with some of the DIS Unplugged podcast crew and would like to share some photos with you all.

Enjoy

I flew from Miami to LAX on American Airlines

The ABD backpack came in very handy for the flight

Breakfast served in First Class

AA's First Class entertainment system

I met with my family one day before the tour. Yes, my cousin is eating Lox!

He's such a cutie.

The tour began at the Renaissance in Hollywood. Great location. Nice rooms.

I met my roommate Suzette for the first time there. She was wonderful.

A group shot on Day 2 at the Kodak Theater

The Kodak Theater on Hollywood Blvd one week before the Oscars

Roy O Disney's star on the Walk of Fame

Mickey Mouse right in front of Disney's Soda Fountain

After breakfast, we got a tour of the El Capitan Theater

We also got a tour of the Stars Homes and Beverly Hills. I wouldn't do the tour again.

Myself and Suzette enjoying the warm California sun.

Guess who's home ... wire hangars NOT included.

A brief drive through Rodeo Drive

We had a convenience break in Beverly Hills. We saw a homeless person's shopping cart there, but he/she must have been wintering in Malibu.

The Iron Man House

Puffpatty with the Hollywood Sign in the background.

We were treated to lunch at the Tam O'Shanter - one of Walt's favorites

Walt's Table

The Manager showed us some Disney history
​

More to come .....

 

[mikelan6]

Tour guide Christian welcoming us to Walt's Barn

Walt's Barn had fascinating Disney train memorabilia

ABD provided snacks and cold drinks throughout the tour

Some of rode on this amazing miniature train

One of the last remaining pieces of Walt's track

Planaholic, MerryMouseketeer and I had dinner at the Tam O'Shanter and sat at Walt's Table

Day 3 took us to The Jim Henson Studios

Which of course, used to be the Charlie Chamblin studios

We got our photos taken with Kermy ...

... and with Emmy

Myself with Puppeteer Grant

I loved this wall

The little frogs room ...

... and the big pigs room

Our group at Jim Henson's Studio ... we are the world ... we are the children ...

I took MerryMouseketeer's pic at Imagineering before they made us put our cameras away

Next stop ... The Walt Disney Studios

Safety First!

Disney Dollar Machine

St Joseph's Hospital right across the street - where Walt passed

We had a quick lunch at the Disney Studio Commissary

Tour guide Michael at the iconic street sign

Myself at the iconic sign

Plutos's corner and the iconic sign​

More to come ....

 

[mikelan6]

Then came a marathon walk through the old Animation Building

Disney artwork was seen on the walls

The doors opened to Production offices

We had a nice time at the Disney Archives

We saw lots of Disney memorabilia

Just across the way was the Michael Eisner Team Disney Building

Myself at the Legends statue

At the Partners Statue

An homage to Roy O Disney

The iconic water tower​

 

[mikelan6]

Mr Plutes, Mr PuffPatty and Cat. Steamboat Willie sporting their WED jackets

Day 4 brought us to Disneyland

We walked up an empty Main Street before the park opened

Mr Puffpatty and the gang

Tour guide Christian at Sleeping Beauty Castle

Beautiful Sleeping Beauty Castle

Our group

Welcome to Disneyland

We were treated to breakfast at Club 33

Everything was delicious

Myself at the Club 33 balcony

The Mary Poppins Table at Club 33

Going backstage

Sorry ... no photos allowed backstage​

 

[mikelan6]

Some of us had lunch at Carnation Cafe, where we met Chef Oscar Martinez, a cast member since 1955

We got to ride in the Lilly Belle Presidential Parlor Car

Inside the Lilly Belle

We then got to tour Walt's apartment above the Fire Station

We weren't allowed to take photos, so here's a photo of a photo of the apartment

We were then shown the Disneyland Dream Suite

The suite's living room

Walt's Bedroom

Myself in the second bedroom

The Hallway

Then we went on some rides with our fast passes.
stitchlover, Plutes, Mr Plutes and myself on iasw

Mr Plutes and Plutes on Roger Rabbit

Most of us had dinner at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen​

 

[mikelan6]

Day 5 began with breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen in the Disneyland Hotel

The Puffpattys with Mulan

The Plutes with Dale (much nicer than Chip)

Stitchlover and myself with Dale

We then entered an under refurbishment DCA

We were welcomed in style

Some of us rode on Tower of Terror ...

... but did not survive

I met up with macman at DCA!

Myself and Stitch

The DIS treated us to lunch with Marty Sklar!

Myself with Marty Sklar​

 

[mikelan6]

We then had the afternoon free.

MerryMouseketeer, Jenn and Brian on Alice


Then I saw some new candy boxes I had to photograph ...

My favorite

I thought of Teresa with this one

The PuffPattys at World of Color ... what an amazing show
​

 

[mikelan6]

The farewell breakfast was at Storyteller's

Tour guides Michael and Christian made sure I left safely.

My private limo to LAX. Nice!

At LAX ... my first sighting of an A380

At the American Airlines Admiral's Club

Myself at the Admiral's Club

My Boeing 767-300 took me home to Miami

First Class Dinner ... yumm

And a happy ending to a happy trip ... a sundae!
​

I hope you enjoyed the report!

 

[sayhello]

Looks like a fabulous trip! Glad you had such a great time (looks like you had fabulous weather, too!) Thanks for sharing!

One of these days, I may take this trip...

Sayhello

 

[apurplebrat]

Awesome pictures!!!

 

[safetymom]

Thanks for the great trip report. I can't wait to go! I am glad you had a great time.

 

[Cyrano]

Mike great photos and a very enjoyable trip report.
Thank you for sharing

 

[cannp123165]

Great pictures - it looks like an amazing trip!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Thanks so much for sharing your pictures Mike! I loved following along.

 

[thekylers]

Mike,
OMG, the trip looked awedome. I hope we get to do all the cool stuff you guys did. If our trip in April gets to eat at Club 33 I think I will pass out!! Glad you had a great time!

 

[lb4747694]

Great Report! Thanks for the pics!

 

[Aunt Cawa]

Great report! Your photos are wonderful. We had Grant as our guide to the Henson studios too. He was so much fun!

 

[LovelyPrincess]

I would love to do that Adventure tour! Thanks for sharing all those photos.

 

[Jeff & Stacy in NYC]

Mike, thanks for sharing your pictures and for the great report! It looks like you all had an awesome time!

 

[macman752]

Mike, it was nice to catch up with you at CA. We enjoyed hearing the details of your Adventure.

Hope to see you again soon!

Dave & Sally