Any recent backstage magic-ers?

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I'm thinking about booking a last minute trip, and would love to hear from anyone that's gone on BSM lately. The last trip report I read was from last summer. Best part of trip? Worst part? "Worth" it?

 

[tstidm1]

The trip hasn't changed a ton from then. Club 33 isn't a guarantee and shouldn't be expected with the renovations going on at the moment. Skier Pete did his report and it gives a good idea from reading the itinerary. I hope to do one after my trip in july because of that TR. Reading his report was what made me really excited about this trip when I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy it late last year. If your a Disney fan, I would pay for the ABD Backstage Magic in a heartbeat.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

The trip hasn't changed a ton from then. Club 33 isn't a guarantee and shouldn't be expected with the renovations going on at the moment. Skier Pete did his report and it gives a good idea from reading the itinerary. I hope to do one after my trip in july because of that TR. Reading his report was what made me really excited about this trip when I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy it late last year. If your a Disney fan, I would pay for the ABD Backstage Magic in a heartbeat.

Thanks so much for the reply. I knew about Club 33, and the no guarantee. It was originally supposed to open back up on July 1st, but I haven't heard an update on whether that is still "the date." I assume it will be flooded when it opens back up. If it was back on the list for the tour, that would probably push me over the edge (as its on the bucket list), but right now I'm still wavering. Skier Pete's report was great, but he did point to a couple of places in the itinerary that I was hoping they might have improved (El Capitan theater and Muppets tour). We are big Disney fans, and go to DL & CA all the time (DVC GCV owners), and I'm sure it would be great.

 

[chirurgeon]

When are you looking to go on the tour? The DIS sponsored BSM is coming up in July. I'd be happy to get you more info after the tour. Also, I have heard the El Capitan has been removed from the tour. Don't have any info on what has been added in its place. Something in Hollywood, possibly a walking tour of the area.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

When are you looking to go on the tour? The DIS sponsored BSM is coming up in July. I'd be happy to get you more info after the tour. Also, I have heard the El Capitan has been removed from the tour. Don't have any info on what has been added in its place. Something in Hollywood, possibly a walking tour of the area.

Thanks so much for the update. I'd wondered about the theater tour. Hopefully they replaced it with something better. I think I'd rather do a bad theater tour than a walk around Hollywood!

I thought the website said the July tour was sold out already? Shoot. Wish I'd known! We're focusing on the July 13 trip right now, but I'll definitely let you know if we change our plans and could work in the week earlier. Are there any different activities planned for the podcast tour?

 

[chirurgeon]

I am 99.9% sure the trip the first week in July is out. Sorry.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I am 99.9% sure the trip the first week in July is out. Sorry.

No problem, that's what I thought. I think we're going to do the July 13th one anyway--works out for us better timing wise.

 

[happymomof1]

I did this trip 3 yrs ago and loved it! Whete can I find Skier Pete's report? I'd love to hear what's new, thinking about taking it again!

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I did this trip 3 yrs ago and loved it! Whete can I find Skier Pete's report? I'd love to hear what's new, thinking about taking it again!

It's in the trip report links on the last page. Here's the post with the link: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=48967658&postcount=66

 

[sewingmolly]

I'm just back from the ABD Backstage Magic Tour and will be glad to answer any questions. We had a tour of Grauman's Chinese Theater on Monday morning. I enjoyed it since I'm an old movie fan and the guide was very interesting.

 

[Cousin Orville]

I'm just back from the ABD Backstage Magic Tour and will be glad to answer any questions. We had a tour of Grauman's Chinese Theater on Monday morning. I enjoyed it since I'm an old movie fan and the guide was very interesting.

Was the Graumans tour apart of ABD or something you arranged on your own?

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Welcome back! I'd love to hear your overall impressions of the trip--the highs and the lows. I'm also interested in whether the tour was on your own or a substitute for the Hollywood walking tour mentioned on the itinerary. Also, was Club 33 open for you guys? I know they've been done work, but I hear it was supposed to open back up on the 1st.

 

[sewingmolly]

The Grauman's tour was part of the ABD. It was Monday morning. We walked over to get a view of the Hollywood sign and then went to the theater. I enjoyed it, but I don't know that everyone would agree. I'm not sure that the kids got much out of it. It was focused on the glamorous Hollywood of the '40s and we didn't go backstage.

I was really surprised by the demographics of our tour. I thought that this was a tour for Disney geeks. We had one family that had never been to a Disney Park.

 

[Cousin Orville]

I was really surprised by the demographics of our tour. I thought that this was a tour for Disney geeks. We had one family that had never been to a Disney Park.

Really?! I would have thought the same thing. Did they enjoy it?

 

[sewingmolly]

We didn't get to go to Club 33. I was hoping for an early soft opening and maybe touring it, but the construction has been delayed. New Orleans Square is full of construction walls. We talked to the CM in the perfume shop and he was hoping that they would be down in late July.

I'm hesitant to say too much because some people like surprises. I'm just the opposite. I wanted to know everything, before I booked this trip. For me it's too expensive to not know if it was the right choice for us.

We had 5 kids under 12 on this trip. I wouldn't recommend this trip for anyone under about 10. One of the 2 kids under 7 said that playing a card game with one of the guides was his favorite part of the trip. He was in the family that had never been to a Disney park. They had been on a Disney cruise and loved it. I think they were really looking for the VIP tour of Disneyland rather than Backstage Magic. I think that the mom had a good time, but not the dad. The kids, 6 and 8, had a good time thanks to the guides being very good with kids and making it fun. There is a lot of standing around listening to people talk for younger kids.

As far as the highs and lows, it kind of depends on expectations. I had really low expectations for Monday, but it more interesting and fun that I thought it would be. I was probably a little disappointed in the Studios, because my expectations were so high. I'm a real planner and I was seriously out of my comfort zone leaving everything to the guides. The guides were definitely one of the highlights of the trip. This trip was a combination 18th birthday and high school graduation present for my niece. She's a real Disney geek and loved getting to talk to the guides about their experiences with Disney. The guides had some real challenges on our Disneyland day because there were a lot of Disney VIPs there for a meeting. They were having some the same experiences as us, so the guides had to juggle the schedules. I don't think anyone else noticed, but I have control issues. The dream suite was a highlight. The VIPs had a Fantasmic watching party there that night. We passed by on our way to Splash during Fantasmic and saw John Lasseter on the balcony.

The trip was a success for us, because it was a great fit for my niece and we all liked the backstage areas and info.

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

I too am just recently back from the BSM (June 8-13). My tour was the adult exclusive and there were 25 people on the tour. We had people on the tour that had never been to Disneyland but had been to WDW...We got a tour of the Dolby Theatre not the Grauman's Theatre but I wonder if that was because something was going on at the Dolby Theatre (like America's Got Talent, which recently filmed there)....I too am the planner of all of our vacations and while it was tough to surrender to the guides and not know what was going to happen next, I loved all the little surprises and now I am hooked on ABD and have already booked 2 more adventures!!!!!

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Thank you both for your reports!

We didn't get to go to Club 33. I was hoping for an early soft opening and maybe touring it, but the construction has been delayed. New Orleans Square is full of construction walls. We talked to the CM in the perfume shop and he was hoping that they would be down in late July.

I'm hesitant to say too much because some people like surprises. I'm just the opposite. I wanted to know everything, before I booked this trip. For me it's too expensive to not know if it was the right choice for us.

We had 5 kids under 12 on this trip. I wouldn't recommend this trip for anyone under about 10. One of the 2 kids under 7 said that playing a card game with one of the guides was his favorite part of the trip. He was in the family that had never been to a Disney park. They had been on a Disney cruise and loved it. I think they were really looking for the VIP tour of Disneyland rather than Backstage Magic. I think that the mom had a good time, but not the dad. The kids, 6 and 8, had a good time thanks to the guides being very good with kids and making it fun. There is a lot of standing around listening to people talk for younger kids.

As far as the highs and lows, it kind of depends on expectations. I had really low expectations for Monday, but it more interesting and fun that I thought it would be. I was probably a little disappointed in the Studios, because my expectations were so high. I'm a real planner and I was seriously out of my comfort zone leaving everything to the guides. The guides were definitely one of the highlights of the trip. This trip was a combination 18th birthday and high school graduation present for my niece. She's a real Disney geek and loved getting to talk to the guides about their experiences with Disney. The guides had some real challenges on our Disneyland day because there were a lot of Disney VIPs there for a meeting. They were having some the same experiences as us, so the guides had to juggle the schedules. I don't think anyone else noticed, but I have control issues. The dream suite was a highlight. The VIPs had a Fantasmic watching party there that night. We passed by on our way to Splash during Fantasmic and saw John Lasseter on the balcony.

The trip was a success for us, because it was a great fit for my niece and we all liked the backstage areas and info.

Bummer about Club 33. We'll be there in about 10 days, so it sounds like it won't be in the cards for us. Oh well. I'm sure the substitute will be great. Very interesting about young children. Fortunately my kids are teens, so hopefully they won't be too bored with all the talking We go to Disneyland all the time, so I hope the VIP/backstage aspect will make it feel different enough. We actually did a VIP tour last Disneyland trip, and it will be interesting to compare.

I too am just recently back from the BSM (June 8-13). My tour was the adult exclusive and there were 25 people on the tour. We had people on the tour that had never been to Disneyland but had been to WDW...We got a tour of the Dolby Theatre not the Grauman's Theatre but I wonder if that was because something was going on at the Dolby Theatre (like America's Got Talent, which recently filmed there)....I too am the planner of all of our vacations and while it was tough to surrender to the guides and not know what was going to happen next, I loved all the little surprises and now I am hooked on ABD and have already booked 2 more adventures!!!!!

Funny that they seem to have a problem sticking with something to do on Monday--that day seems the most changeable. My expectations for that day are pretty low, so we'll see what we get. Congrats on your 2 ABDs. We've done two (BSM will be our third) and have our fourth booked for next year in conjunction with our Baltics cruise.