ABD Backstage Magic 4/17 - 4/22/11

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Thanks! I know for certain we want to see the ocean. We've been very bad parents and never took our kid to the ocean during the zillion times we've been to Florida or last year when we went to CA. So we are going to make an effort to do that. I liked the idea of the Santa Monica pier because then we can do a few rides too. Do you have another suggestion for an "ocean view"? Or do you think we should skip the Tar Pits and do something else in that area? I'd like to do both, do you think it's doable or too hectic?

Thanks!

If you get to the Tar Pits at opening, you should be fine to do both. The Page Museum takes about an hour and a half to go through and then another hour to walk the grounds. You could be done by noon and off to the pier. It's not hard to get to Santa Monica and you just stay on Wilshire all the way to the ocean and turn left. (The Tar Pits are on Wilshire.) Allow about an hour for stress-free traffic. You can even stop for a nice meal along the way.

Venice Beach is just down the beach from Santa Monica beach - we've actually rollerbladed from one to the other within 20 minutes easily.

 

[oilheadbob]

Welcome aboard Karen!!

 

[DSNYDREAMER]

Looks like my son (14) and I will also be attending this adventure! I was on the first ABD trip with Jason and I am very excited to do it again!!

Chris (dh) can't make it this time around but my son is very excited to fill in!

The great part is since I am such a late addition I don't have too long to wait.

The last time we did the trip we added on a few nights before and after, this time we are just coming in on the Sunday and leaving on the Friday. Really hoping something good is playing at the El Capitan, we didn't get to see a movie there the last time.

Looking forward to seeing old friends again and meeting some new ones!

 

[rchristiansen]

Looking forward to seeing old friends again and meeting some new ones!

Nice to meet you!

 

[bigmoonmullen]

Looks like my son (14) and I will also be attending this adventure! I was on the first ABD trip with Jason and I am very excited to do it again!!

Chris (dh) can't make it this time around but my son is very excited to fill in!

The great part is since I am such a late addition I don't have too long to wait.

The last time we did the trip we added on a few nights before and after, this time we are just coming in on the Sunday and leaving on the Friday. Really hoping something good is playing at the El Capitan, we didn't get to see a movie there the last time.

Looking forward to seeing old friends again and meeting some new ones!

Welcome aboard Tracey...

Mark

 

[thekylers]

Looks like my son (14) and I will also be attending this adventure! I was on the first ABD trip with Jason and I am very excited to do it again!!

Chris (dh) can't make it this time around but my son is very excited to fill in!

The great part is since I am such a late addition I don't have too long to wait.
The last time we did the trip we added on a few nights before and after, this time we are just coming in on the Sunday and leaving on the Friday. Really hoping something good is playing at the El Capitan, we didn't get to see a movie there the last time.

It is going to be fun! How did you get your 14 year old to travel with you? That's amazing!!!!

 

[JWren1234]

Looks like my son (14) and I will also be attending this adventure! I was on the first ABD trip with Jason and I am very excited to do it again!!

Chris (dh) can't make it this time around but my son is very excited to fill in!

The great part is since I am such a late addition I don't have too long to wait.

The last time we did the trip we added on a few nights before and after, this time we are just coming in on the Sunday and leaving on the Friday. Really hoping something good is playing at the El Capitan, we didn't get to see a movie there the last time.

Looking forward to seeing old friends again and meeting some new ones!

Hi Tracey! I'm very excited that you are going to be on the trip!

Jason

 

[Yvet]

Welcome Tracey!!!

It's going to be soooo much fun.

 

[DSNYDREAMER]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!! I can't wait to do this tour again. I hope we get Michael and/or Jamie for our guides again.

It was surprisingly easy to get my 14 year old on this trip, he was so mad at us for doing it without him the first time! I think the cool factor of saying I am going to Hollywood out weighs the fact he is travelling with his mom.

Yvet -- those snack cakes you left for me on the cruise were incredible!

Jason--thanks so much! This will be 3 years in a row we have had vacations together (including PCC 3.0 next year)...I think that's how rumors get started!

 

[JWren1234]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!! I can't wait to do this tour again. I hope we get Michael and/or Jamie for our guides again.

It was surprisingly easy to get my 14 year old on this trip, he was so mad at us for doing it without him the first time! I think the cool factor of saying I am going to Hollywood out weighs the fact he is travelling with his mom.

Yvet -- those snack cakes you left for me on the cruise were incredible!

Jason--thanks so much! This will be 3 years in a row we have had vacations together (including PCC 3.0 next year)...I think that's how rumors get started!

I've been wondering about who our guides will be too. It would be great if Michael or Jaime will be our guides this time!

Jason

 

[rchristiansen]

I think the cool factor of saying I am going to Hollywood out weighs the fact he is travelling with his mom.

Probably -- We went last year (not an ABD tour, but just ourselves) and our daughter loved talking about going to Hollywood to friends. Some of them didn't believe her!!! It's probably even that much cooler for teenagers.

Did you read any of those books on the "suggested reading" list? Stephanie is reading the Jim Henson Works one now. She is really fascinated by behind the scenes stuff, cartooning, and Hollywood in general.

 

[DSNYDREAMER]

I was looking for my paperwork from last trip but can't find it. I couldn't remember when we got the suggested reading list before. I am guessing I will get an info pack in the upcoming weeks.

Anything on the list that would be good for a 14 yr old that loves to read?

 

[bigmoonmullen]

Hi all,

I'm willing to put together a list of everyone's email address that is going so that we can discuss other items, off board.

i.e.

Who all wants to eat at Napa Rose for Dinner on Wednesday 4/20/2011? Early seating so we don't miss much... We understand this is not for everyone.

Steakhouse 55 on Friday 4/22/2011 for those of us staying an extra day?

I'm willing to make the reservations.

Send me your email address if you want to be included either by PM or to bigmoonmullen@sbcglobal.net

See you all real soon.

Mark

 

[FFToolboxGuy]

I was looking for my paperwork from last trip but can't find it. I couldn't remember when we got the suggested reading list before. I am guessing I will get an info pack in the upcoming weeks.

Anything on the list that would be good for a 14 yr old that loves to read?

These were listed as "Essential"

Fodor's Los Angeles' 25 Best

The Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland, An Imagineer's-eye Tour

The Story of Hollywood, An Illustrated History by Gregory Paul Williams

Los Angeles Map - Rand McNally

These were listed as "Also Recommended"

The Illusion of Life, Disney Animation by Frank Thomas & Ollie Johnson (We got this one from our library -- it is a really cool coffee table book with tons of sketches and drawings)

The Disney Mountains, Imagineering at Its Peak by Jason Surrell

The Art of Finding Nemo by Mark Cotta Vaz

Jim Henson, The Works by Christopher Finch (We also got this one from the library, it's facinating)

The J. Paul Getty Museum and Its Collections: A Museum for the New Century
by John Walsh & Deborah Ann Gribbon

The Golden West, Hollywood Stories by Daniel Fuchs

The Day of the Locust by Nathaniel West [Novel]

---
If your son likes/appreciates the Muppets and/or film-making, then I think he'd like the Jim Henson book.

-Jeff

 

[DisneyKevin]

Hi all,

I'm willing to put together a list of everyone's email address that is going so that we can discuss other items, off board.

i.e.

Who all wants to eat at Napa Rose for Dinner on Wednesday 4/20/2011? Early seating so we don't miss much... We understand this is not for everyone.

Steakhouse 55 on Friday 4/22/2011 for those of us staying an extra day?

I'm willing to make the reservations.

Send me your email address if you want to be included either by PM or to bigmoonmullen@sbcglobal.net

See you all real soon.

Mark

This sounds like something many people would be interested in reading about, whether they want to participate or not.

This is the reason we set this board up....for people to discuss their plans.

It would be great if you would continue to share this with everyone.

 

[bigmoonmullen]

This sounds like something many people would be interested in reading about, whether they want to participate or not.

This is the reason we set this board up....for people to discuss their plans.

It would be great if you would continue to share this with everyone.

It's most certainly my intentions to continue participating on this thread.

I thought it might me easier, maybe I'm wrong, to determine who is interested in Disneyland dinner reservations that I think we will need to make in advance.

Mark

p.s. Hey there fellow ABD'ers... another option I have is to update s specific post# with who is in for Napa Rose for 4/20 and/or Steakhouse 55 on 4/22. What does everyone prefer?

 

[DSNYDREAMER]

Thanks so much Jeff for taking the time to write out that list!

Some of those we have in our library, but I think you are right about the Jim Henson book being a good option.

 

[rchristiansen]

YAY! We're staying Friday night too! Just reserved and paid for it. Woot. Also I will give props again (just like their silly commercials) to Southwest airlines for letting me switch my flight from Friday to Saturday. Not only was there NO CHANGE FEE, but I got a $36 credit! Double woot.

Our plans that day after the farewell breakfast are to take Stephanie to Studio Disney 365. She has a huge 3 month chore chart she has been working on since the beginning of the year to earn a full blown makeover package there. So if you see a tween diva walking around that day, you'll know who it is. Then our plans are to enjoy the parks all day.

Not sure yet about Steakhouse 55 that night, but we're in for Napa Rose on Wed! Triple Woot.

 

[bigmoonmullen]

Hi all,

I'll keep track of it here. Even though I asked previously asked... and maybe I should try and find the initial post. Let me ask everyone again. Yes, No or not sure yet. We understand that this may not fit into everyones plans.

I'll be happy to make the reservations for the group.

Mark


UPDATE: We have a reservation for 5:30PM at Napa Rose on Wednesday 4/20/2011 for up to 20 people. I had two choice for their large table 5:30PM or 8:30PM - Napa Rose direct phone number is 714-300-7170 (not part of the World of Color Dining Packages). I just need to call shortly before the trip and give them a number update.


Louise & Mark - Yes
DeAnn - Yes
Robin - Yes
Nancy & Bob - Yes
Beck & Jeff - Yes
Yvette & Emiel - Yes


Steakhouse 55 - Friday 4/22/2011 - Early Dinner (This one we "might" be able to wing it on that day)
Louise & Mark - maybe
Becky & Jeff - maybe
DeAnn - maybe
Robin - maybe
Yvette & Emiel - maybe

I updated this based on post from pages 48 & 49... If your plans have changed just let me know and I will make the revisions.

3/8/2011 - Updated - Reservation now at 6:00PM for 10. Openings still available.
Thanks everyone. Mark

 

[thekylers]

Hi all,

I'll keep track of it here. Even though I asked previously asked... and maybe I should try and find the initial post. Let me ask everyone again. Yes, No or not sure yet. We understand that this may not fit into everyones plans.

I'll be happy to make the reservations for the group.

Mark

Napa Rose - Wednesday 4/20/2011 - Early Dinner
Louise & Mark - Yes
Becky & Jeff - Yes

Steakhouse 55 - Friday 4/22/2011 - Early Dinner
Louise & Mark - maybe
Becky & Jeff - maybe

Mark,

Put Shawn and I on the maybe list for Napa Rose, will we have the final itinerary, before the 60 day window? We have some friends in LA who might be meeting up with us on our free nights, but not sure which night the 18th or 20th yet.