ABD Backstage Magic 2/20 - 2/25/11 *** Close to Selling Out***

[skunkvette]

Good morning everyone. I just went on the DU website and paid off the balance on the trip.

Now I am wondering about what is NOT included? How much should we budget for shopping at Mickey's of Glendale? LOL

I know that when we were there in April, we spent almost $500 in 20 minutes, and were later regreted not buying some of the items we were considering.

Mickey's of Glendale is incredible.

Frank

 

[stitchlover]

If I remember correctly we don't have to tip the drivers that take us to and from the airport, right? But we do need to tip our ABD tour guides, right? I bet if I look in the paperwork it will give me that information BUT I'm being lazy. Anyone remember what we should be tipping the tour guides?

 

[skunkvette]

If I remember correctly we don't have to tip the drivers that take us to and from the airport, right? But we do need to tip our ABD tour guides, right? I bet if I look in the paperwork it will give me that information BUT I'm being lazy. Anyone remember what we should be tipping the tour guides?

The only tipping involved as related to the tour is for your tour guides.

Drivers, bell hops, waitstaff are all covered in the ABD package.

Obviously if you do something on your own like dinner out, that is not included. We tipped Mousekeeping on our own.

There are recommendations in the itinerary booklet you will receive prior to the trip, I think they give you an amount to tip per person per guide.

Edit: I checked the book we received on our tour in April :

"Gratuities for you Adventure Guides are not included. If you feel that your Adventure Guides have provided excellent service, we suggest the following gratuity. Please note that this is for each member of your traveling party, per Adventure Guide, per day.


PER GUEST/PER ADVENTURE GUIDE/PER DAY - $6-9 USD."

 

[mikelan6]

stitchlover and I were wondering what everyone's plans were for dinner on Wednesday night. What is traditionally done on this night? Should we make a group dinner reservation somewhere?

 

[mikelan6]

Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! Joyeux Noël! Buon Natale!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Hey all!

I won't be going on the ABD trip, but hope to meet up with you all when you come out to LA. I know some of you already, and am looking forward to meeting the rest of you.

Since I'm a local and live just 15 minutes from LAX, I'm happy to answer any questions, and hopefully we can get together before you all go off on your fab tour (or afterwards).

Mary Jo
(one of the DISneyland bunch )

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Since MJ posted up, I'll add my two cents. Looking forward to meeting up with y'all. Some of you I already know and some will be new friends!

I plan on doing my usual meet-up during the Hollywood portion - since I live less than 3 miles from your hotel. If anyone wants to join us, I'll probably be with a group for either dinner the night before or during "free night". Mary Jo joined us during the first ABD trip and can probably be coerced into doing it again. We did sushi at Yamashiro - high on the top of the Hollywood Hills, the first time.

Let me know if anyone needs anything (or forgets something and needs it brought to them).

BTW - just found out your Goofy's kitchen dinner will be in the newly refurbished restaurant. They are doing the buffet in one of the ballrooms right now, until the end of January!

Nancy

 

[skunkvette]

Reminder for anyone who would like to join the Universal VIP tour, we are planning prior to our ABD tour on Saturday 2-19-11.

From October 4 post -

DIS ADVENTURERS UNIVERSAL VIP TOUR 2-19-11 INFORMATION

10 AM Tour - $239.00 per person includes valet park and lunch.

If we gather six or more people the rate drops ten percent for each person.

Tour will be semi private unless we gather fifteen or more people, then they would do a private tour. Max is twenty four spaces.

Credit card holds reservation, charged 48 hours prior to tour, thus cancellation is up to 48 hours prior.

If you are booking this tour, PM me for my confirmation number which is the group's reference number.

Tour reservation phone number is 818-622-5140.

ATTENDING:

Frank and Cathy
JJ
Becky and John
Jenn and Brian

************

Frank

Hope you can join us!

 

[mikelan6]

Let me know if anyone needs anything (or forgets something and needs it brought to them).

So let's say I forgot to bring my Prada leather jacket, you can pick one up for me at the store on Rodeo Drive?

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Um - no. My credit cards aren't good enough for Rodeo....

BTW - if you want a true studio tour, the Warner Brothers one is pretty darn fantastic. I did it several times when my husband was an employee at the WB network. It really is a working studio tour and is best taken on weekdays, if anyone is in town early. You would actually be able to see some live filming, as most of the shows are "in house" at that time of year.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

You'll know Nancy right away. Her hanging out her car window chasing down the tour bus is a dead giveaway.

 

[mikelan6]

You'll know Nancy right away. Her hanging out her car window chasing down the tour bus is a dead giveaway.

I've met Nancy and she's a sweetheart, and yes I agree about the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. I did this one many years ago and got to see George Clooney filming a scene from ER.

 

[stitchlover]

Poor Nancy, she gets picked on so much. LOL!

I will be there Saturday but too late to join the Universal Tour. I have tentative plans to hang with Nancy during the day on Saturday, if that offer iis still open. I am open for dinner Saturday night if everyone is getting together.

 

[mikelan6]

I will be there Saturday but too late to join the Universal Tour. I have tentative plans to hang with Nancy during the day on Saturday, if that offer iis still open. I am open for dinner Saturday night if everyone is getting together.

While I would have loved to hang out with all of you, my plans at the moment are to spend the Saturday and Sunday morning with my family who live in the area.

 

[planaholic]

As a solo traveler, I'm down for any group meals folks are planning during "free time." However, I'll only becoming in for the trip days - Sun-Friday, so I won't be able to join the crew at US on Saturday.

As for the WB Tour, I just went on it on December 10th, and it was definitely a highlight of the trip! I went on a Friday, so there was no filming, but our guide took us on Ellen's stage and to Chuck's apartment. I would've given my right arm to see the set of Big Bang Theory, but our guide works on Ellen and liked to take people to sets that don't allow a live audience so the tour is the only way the public can see the set (like Chuck). They also had a nice prop museum, including a special exhibit for Harry Potter - which I love! Worth every penny & the tip I forced on the guide

Another thing I loved in LA was going to It's a Wrap - the store were you can buy the wardrobes from TV & Movie costume departments. They have 2 locations, I preferred the original location in Burbank. I bought some jewelry from some CW series that were 25% of the cost for the items at anthropologie (where I had been eyeing some earrings for quite some time). I've debated canceling my ABD airport pickup and renting a car just to go there...but that would be a bit overkill to do a little shopping

I'm sure you all going early will have a wonderful time in the LA area - I loved it!

Can't wait to meet you all in February!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Lindsay,

We go to It's a Wrap a bunch - just 2 blocks up the street from our house! Just another fun part of living in LA!

Suzette - we are still on, babe! Anyone who wants to join us is more than welcome!

 

[stitchlover]

Suzette - we are still on, babe! Anyone who wants to join us is more than welcome!

Great! My flight is scheduled to land around 11:00. I'm sure we can make plans to meet up at the hotel in the afternoon sometime.

Can't wait to meet everyone.

Suzette

 

[mikelan6]

Since I currently plan to visit family on my pre-ABD day (Saturday), I am planning of renting a car. Originally, I was thinking of returning the car at LAX airport on Sunday and taking the ABD transfer to the Renaissance. Now, I see that Hertz has a location at the Renaissance and I could return it there on Sunday afternoon.

I have two questions:

Should I stick to my original plan and do the ABD transfer or return the car at the hotel? Which is easier?

For those that have done the tour before, do you remember where in the hotel the Hertz location was?

Thanks!

 

[skunkvette]

Since I currently plan to visit family on my pre-ABD day (Saturday), I am planning of renting a car. Originally, I was thinking of returning the car at LAX airport on Sunday and taking the ABD transfer to the Renaissance. Now, I see that Hertz has a location at the Renaissance and I could return it there on Sunday afternoon.

I have two questions:

Should I stick to my original plan and do the ABD transfer or return the car at the hotel? Which is easier?

For those that have done the tour before, do you remember where in the hotel the Hertz location was?

Thanks!

Michael,

We did the tour in April of 2010, but don't recall where the rental car counter was, I was just happy to find the Starbuck's on the lobby!

We are dropping our rental off at the airport on Sunday and taking the ABD transportation back. Kevin set us up for the noon return trip.

Frank and Cathy

 

[bkoehl]

Michael,

We did the tour in April of 2010, but don't recall where the rental car counter was, I was just happy to find the Starbuck's on the lobby!

We are dropping our rental off at the airport on Sunday and taking the ABD transportation back. Kevin set us up for the noon return trip.

Frank and Cathy

My husband John and I are doing this as well.