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

[bkoehl]

Gifts....FUN!

Hope I make chat tomorrow but will be in WDW and may still be out to dinner. If not hopefully we'll have another before the trip...

 

[Circusgirl]

Bannermouse - I'm sorry that making wise choices about the future had to get in the way your making this journey, but glad your long term plan is in motion. There will be many fine opportunities for special times ahead!

Hope everybody is beginning to recover from the killer virus. I'm at 2 1/2 weeks and am still not fully over it. I'm attending a conference in Orlando starting late next week, and I want to be full of vim and vigor for the trip. As a recreational aside, I'm signed up for one of the Wild Africa Treks while I'm there, and especially want to feel terrific that day.

It's incredible that our trip is suddenly so soon! I may not be able to make it into chat tomorrow. Feel free to talk about me.

 

[stitchlover]

Tonight is our official first ABD Chat. I am going to try to make it. I am dropping my daughter and her friend off to see Tangled at the 6:45 show. So I will come home, participate in chat for a while and then go back to pick them up. Looking forward to it!

 

[planaholic]

Hi Guys,

As I promised in chat Thursday, I called Tam O'Shanter's to figure out how we can book the Walt Disney Table.

The 411:

• Tam O'Shanter is a scottish pub restaurant in LA that used to be frequented by Walt Disney & his 9 Old Men.
• 13 minute drive from our hotel
• We can reserve Walt's Table 30 days out. I will call.
• Table only seats 4. I remember from chat that Michael & Carol and Michael Landman were interesting in going (with me, of course!). That is already 4, but I think just going to the restaurant is also exciting - so I made sure we can request other tables near Walt's if more people want to come.
• Those of you more researched on the trip that I am, please let me know which day will be our "free" night so I can make the reservation on the right day. I'm really don't want to read trip reports or research too much about the trip itenerary.
• Everyone, let me know/confirm if you would like to go on the free night.
• We will sort out transportation some how, so don't worry about that logistic just yet.
• If you are bent on sitting at Walt's Table, and you will be staying in LA before or after our trip - you just need to call 30 days out and request his table. If you want to go Feb. 19th, call January 19th.

Restaurant Website: http://www.lawrysonline.com/tamoshanter_gen_info.asp

Trip Advisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...ews-Tam_O_Shanter-Los_Angeles_California.html

I've went there recently for Sunday Brunch & enjoyed the experience. Even my sister liked going, and she didn't really care about the Disney-aspect. Side note: If you will be in town Sunday morning, they serve brunch until 2 or so (I went after hitting up the Farmer's Market). I enjoyed the brunch fare & $6 bellinis (they had the cheapest alcohol I saw anywhere, if you enjoy that kind of thing ). I highly recommend it!

 

[stitchlover]

Man you have to leave chat to go pick up your kid and everyone plans dinner without you! LOL!

Lindsay-according to the daily schedule on the ABD website everyone is on their own for dinner Monday night (3/21) and Wednesday (3/23). Hope that helps with your planning.

Oh and one more thing...
43 days!

 

[jennselke]

You mean 2/21 and 2/23 right?

 

[stitchlover]

Duh...yes. Sorry!

 

[mikelan6]

Lindsay, I think going to the Tom O'Shanter would be an excellent option, but from reading some of the reports, that is the night they offer us ticket to see JKL, which I would prefer to see, but I guess we won't know that till the day of ... right Kevin???

 

[DisneyKevin]

Lindsay, I think going to the Tom O'Shanter would be an excellent option, but from reading some of the reports, that is the night they offer us ticket to see JKL, which I would prefer to see, but I guess we won't know that till the day of ... right Kevin???

JKL tickets are not a sure thing.

On our trip of 44 people, I believe there were 12 made available.

They were offered in a lottery type system and luckily, the people that really wanted them, got them.

This is one of those "wait and see" type things.

Sorry I cant offer a more solid answer.

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

Linday,

Thank you so much for researching this. Yes, Carol and I are definitely interested in going on one of our free nights.

Here's a Tam O'Shanter receipe folks might be interested in.

http://d23.disney.go.com/recipes/1102909_TT_Recipe_TamBeef.html

The Disney Twenty-Three Winter 2009 issue had a good article on the Tam O'Shanter. The cover had a picture of The Princess and the Frog.

We're looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

Michael

 

[planaholic]

Suzette - did you want in? I don't think I realized that discussion was after you left...I was wondering why I didn't recally you wanting to join in!

Michael L. (& everyone really) - I'm going to go ahead and book Walt's table since I know I'd rather do that than JKL, and I'm sure no matter how the JKL thing turns out we will have enough ppl to go to Tam's. And having been there before (it wasn't busy), I would not feel bad if we reduced the number of folks going on the day of as long as we don't book then cancel Walt's table.

43 days is so soon!

 

[stitchlover]

Suzette - did you want in? I don't think I realized that discussion was after you left...I was wondering why I didn't recally you wanting to join in!!

I am not a huge JKL fan but if tickets are made available I would like to go. So at this point I would say don't include me in the dinner. Hopefully if tickets are not made available I would be able to tag along.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. We had snow earlier today but nothing really stuck to the ground in our area. I've seen news footage that shows that Dallas County and further east has a pretty good coating. Our only concern at this point is that as the temperatures continue to head into the 20's tonight if the roads will ice tonight. I think our high today was 36 degrees. We hit the grocery store this morning to stock up on food in case we get stuck at home for a few days.

 

[jj73wdw]

Lindsay,
I was off chat before this was discussed as well... I'm interested in joing you at the Tam. Count me in for dinner on whatever night it actually is, lol.

What is "JKL"?

I have not looked at any trip reports either so not to spoil the surprise... Kinda clueless over here. . .

 

[stitchlover]

What is "JKL"?

I haven't read any of the trip reports either and it took about 15 minutes of me thinking JKL, JKL, JKL. What does he mean by JKL? Then it hit me. I'm pretty sure he means Jimmy Kimmel Live.

 

[planaholic]

I haven't read any of the trip reports either and it took about 15 minutes of me thinking JKL, JKL, JKL. What dies he mean by JKL? Then it hit me. I'm pretty sure he means Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Yes, Jimmy Kimmel Live. We go there on our tour, but not to a taping. Apparently, in the past the tour guides have been able to get a hold of a few tickets to that nights taping on the Monday of our tour. I believe Kevin said last time they had 12 tickets that were "raffled" out to those members of the tour that were interested. So not everyone would be able to go even if tickets are available during our trip.

 

[stitchlover]

Not a huge fan...can probably count on one hand the number of times I have watched him. But attending a live taping could be fun. So if tickets are made available and I am able to go I probably would do that. But I'm hoping if tickets aren't available or that I'm not selected to go I might be able to tag along on your reservations. Certainly not Walt's table since that only seats 4 but if more than one table is going maybe I could be accommodated on another portion of the reservation. Guess it will be a wait and see event. If nothing else maybe I could try In and Out burger that evening!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

The Tam is a very good restaurant. We've eaten there a few times and have friends that are regulars. You won't be disappointed if you make this your choice for the night! That's my daily freeway exit, so I can tell you that it is extremely easy to find, too.

Can't wait to see you guys!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Oh - and I also wanted to say that the weather has been extremely chilly in the evenings these days. I'm hoping this high 30's/low 40's will break before y'all get here. No guarantees, though, the way the weather has been going....

 

[stitchlover]

Oh - and I also wanted to say that the weather has been extremely chilly in the evenings these days. I'm hoping this high 30's/low 40's will break before y'all get here. No guarantees, though, the way the weather has been going....

Note to self: Pack thermal underwear. Is that TMI?

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

I've only seen JKL once when he did a special show for the "Lost" finale. Carol has watched it several times. For me, I'd prefer to go to the Tam O'Shanter and sit at Walt's booth. Not just for the historic and Disney experience, but so a fan of JKL has a better chance to see the show.

If anyone is interested, I'll try to remember to bring my copy of the D23 magazine with the Tam O'Shanter article.

And I did wear thermal underwear pre and post PCC 2.0 cruise. It's the only way I survived those cold evenings in the parks!

Mouseketeer Michael