April 2010 ABD Backstage Magic : California Here We Come!!!

[slapwhitey]

The description was very nauseating. "Lemon Sweat" Yum! Yum!

Thanks for the info! I am sure I made the right decision with the cancellation. Dining at Disney can get VERY expensive, especially when we'll be there for two weeks with a family of five (also, my nephew and mom are coming along for the second week!). I would have been really upset with a very subpar meal for the price. It's a shame they closed Spoodles. We ate there a few times and really liked it. The pasta with sausage was yummy and the flatbread pizza appetizers were great!!!! I do remember the hostesses and wait staff were NOT very good. From the review, it sounds like the staff might be the same from Spoodles.

Thanks again for the info!

Jennifer

Disney dining can get pricey. Not sure if you have a car when you go but there are a ton of options at the Crossroads area. A couple of our favorite offsite is Celebration Town Tavern (appetizers are awesome) and we LOVE Sweet Tomatoes. Great value and fresh food. We tend to look forward to the offsite meals moreso than the onsite meals at this point in time.

 

[tmli]

I definitely didn't leave the restaurant hungry. I am a very basic eater which is why I stuck with the flank steak. It was tasty and I ate it along with the tasty little potatoes. The steak, however, was overcooked and the presentation very bland.

There was a couple of reasons why I wouldn't go back....I felt for the money there are better meals to be had elsewhere. The biggest reasons were the noise and service. I found it VERY loud and distracting in the restaurant, I think this is because of the high ceilings and open concept of the restaurant. The service was SLOW, it took quite a while to be seated even though the restaurant wasn't full. It then seemed like the server would disappear for long periods of time.

I agree with the poster that said give it a try if you want to. We all have different likes and dislikes. There have been negative reviews done by the team of places that I enjoy.

Now to get back on topic....we just booked our flights with Southwest. We have changed our minds again and decided to come into Los Angeles for the few days before. Unless we can get Garth Brooks tickets in Vegas for the weekend before, then we will be making a stop on the way!!!

 

[Circusgirl]

HELP!!!

Fuzzy Disney Math is at work in my brain...

Since someone took pity on me (thanks Heather!) I am now saving the single person supplement on the ABD trip. YEA!!

My kids are leaving to Hawaii in January for a week with their dad's family. My DH and I are going to be childless for the first time pretty much ever. I was thinking at work today that I really need a vacation. I just got back from one 2.75 weeks ago, but that is really not important... BTW, the cruise was so relaxing!

I am just thinking with the money that I saved thanks to Heather and that I could just not come to the ABD trip early (thus saving potential hundreds), I could squeeze in a trip to WDW. I have already been pricing. I have a single day ticket left over from the last trip, I could use that as a "down payment" on our tickets. We don't need DDP, so could go room only. A discount for the room may come out. Churros, Dole Whips, and Mickey Bars (the Mickey Bars are for my DH, I am only looking out for him) would make great meals.

2 trips for the price of 1. Right?

Any thoughts?

I love Disney math! What a great idea! It is also only fair to score a trip for your sweet hubby who was so supportive of your having the Adventure trip.

Hello everyone! I'm Matthew (MatthewT212) and I wanted to introduce myself to all of you and like all of you I'm VERY excited about the Adventures by Disney Backstage Magic trip in April.

Not only will this be my first trip to Disneyland but I've also decided to extend the trip so we can visit the Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.

I've never been with a group of people who love Disney as much as I do and on top of that having some of the DisUnplugged team with us makes this trip even more enjoyable.

I know this is sort of a ramble but I wanted to say Hi to everyone and that I'm looking forward to meeting all of you. I hope we can get to know each other before our trip and a HUGE thank you to Kevin for all his help! There are a lot of firsts for me with this trip and Kevin is making it a VERY smooth trip!

Thank you and looking forward to meeting all of you SOON!

Matthew
(MatthewT212)

WELCOME TO THE PARTY, MATTHEW!!!

 

[DisneyKevin]

Welcome aboard Matthew!!!!!!

We have purchased airfare via Southwest.

This makes it seem very reall all of a sudden.

I know it was all real before, but it seemed to be "in the future".

Now it seems like it's around the corner.

WOOHOO!!!!!

 

[katscradle]

Hello everyone! I'm Matthew (MatthewT212) and I wanted to introduce myself to all of you and like all of you I'm VERY excited about the Adventures by Disney Backstage Magic trip in April.

Not only will this be my first trip to Disneyland but I've also decided to extend the trip so we can visit the Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.

I've never been with a group of people who love Disney as much as I do and on top of that having some of the DisUnplugged team with us makes this trip even more enjoyable.

I know this is sort of a ramble but I wanted to say Hi to everyone and that I'm looking forward to meeting all of you. I hope we can get to know each other before our trip and a HUGE thank you to Kevin for all his help! There are a lot of firsts for me with this trip and Kevin is making it a VERY smooth trip!

Thank you and looking forward to meeting all of you SOON!

Matthew
(MatthewT212)

Welcome Matthew!
We are going to have so much fun!
I am going to try and set up a night we can use the chat room so we can get to know each other.
I am Katherine and my DH is John he is 3guysandagal on the boards.

 

[Dodie]

Welcome to the band of adventurers Matthew!

Welcome aboard Matthew!!!!!!

We have purchased airfare via Southwest.

This makes it seem very reall all of a sudden.

I know it was all real before, but it seemed to be "in the future".

Now it seems like it's around the corner.

WOOHOO!!!!!

I'm so glad that you guys are as excited about this trip as we are, Kevin!

Welcome Matthew!
We are going to have so much fun!
I am going to try and set up a night we can use the chat room so we can get to know each other.
I am Katherine and my DH is John he is 3guysandagal on the boards.

If that won't work, remember that Chatzy chat room that DISers set up back when there were problems with the DIS chat? We could use that at ANYTIME. We'd just need to send people the link and get them all signed in.

 

[columnwest]

Hey Matthew. Welcome aboard!

This is shaping up to be an exciting trip. I feel a little sorry for the ABD guides we're gonna have. Don't know if they really know what's in store for them. I think we're going to be a.. uh... "unique" group.

I've been trying not to read too many trip reports or details about the trip 'cause I want to be surprised myself. However, the itinerary description has a "welcome dinner" the first night with a Disney trivia game included. Considering the kind of minutia most of us know about all things Disney, I think they may have to come up with some advanced questions for us!

-- Chris

Hello everyone! I'm Matthew (MatthewT212) and I wanted to introduce myself to all of you and like all of you I'm VERY excited about the Adventures by Disney Backstage Magic trip in April.

Not only will this be my first trip to Disneyland but I've also decided to extend the trip so we can visit the Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.

I've never been with a group of people who love Disney as much as I do and on top of that having some of the DisUnplugged team with us makes this trip even more enjoyable.

I know this is sort of a ramble but I wanted to say Hi to everyone and that I'm looking forward to meeting all of you. I hope we can get to know each other before our trip and a HUGE thank you to Kevin for all his help! There are a lot of firsts for me with this trip and Kevin is making it a VERY smooth trip!

Thank you and looking forward to meeting all of you SOON!

Matthew
(MatthewT212)

 

[tmli]

Welcome Matthew!

 

[katscradle]

Welcome to the band of adventurers Matthew!


I'm so glad that you guys are as excited about this trip as we are, Kevin!



If that won't work, remember that Chatzy chat room that DISers set up back when there were problems with the DIS chat? We could use that at ANYTIME. We'd just need to send people the link and get them all signed in.

Thanks Dodie!
I however don't know how to do this.
Do you?

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

The things we do for our children ... we are going to the Miley Cyrus concert in Dallas tonight. I am off to buy some earplugs. Seriously!!! We went to a Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus concert back in 2008 and those little girls can scream.

Lord help us!!!!!!

Jennifer

 

[macman752]

Welcome Matthew! Sally and I are looking forward to meeting you.

We booked our flights with Southwest last week. Unfortunately, Southwest offered no direct flights from Tampa to LAX. On the way out we change planes in Vegas. On the way home we change planes in Nashville.

We spent Friday & Saturday at Epcot for Food & Wine. Had a great time sampling the food and people watching.

 

[klam_chowder]

Matthew

Make it a great week all!

cheers,

 

[DisneyTaylors]

Hey, does anyone know what time breakfast is at Storyteller's Cafe on the last day? We are trying to plan our flight home and wanted to enjoy a lttle more paradise before departing without having to rush. Thanks in advance!

- Bill

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Hey, does anyone know what time breakfast is at Storyteller's Cafe on the last day? We are trying to plan our flight home and wanted to enjoy a lttle more paradise before departing without having to rush. Thanks in advance!

- Bill

I'll answer Bill's (DH's) question ...
(Yes, we live in the same house and have to communicate on the internet. Actually, I asked him this question the other day and found the answer. )

After looking at some past Trip Reports, it looks like Sunday is a come as you wish breakfast at the Storyteller's Cafe. There is no set time.

We still have not booked our flight. Initially, we wanted to book through Southwest. We just like the planes and their service better than American Airlines. However, there aren't any flights coming home that fit our criteria. It stinks living near Dallas because we can't take Southwest directly from Dallas to LA. We have to take Southwest from Dallas Love Field Airport to another airport in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Alabama, Kansas or Mississippi and then to another state outside of the "approved" area like California. Of course this means additional money because of the extra flight. It is because of some ridiculous thing called The Wright Amendment. 2014 can't come soon enough!!! That is when the ban is lifted and Southwest is free to fly anywhere in the US non-stop from Dallas. We can't wait!!!!!

For now, we may just fork over the extra money and take American Airlines. Bill (DH) is still trying to work the flights, so we can spend Sunday morning and early afternoon at Disneyland before heading home. Since we'll still have one last day on our park ticket through ABD, I want to take advantage of it and make the most of the Sunday. It might be nice to leisurely walk around Disneyland park one last time. Who knows when we will be back ... Then again, we are already talking about heading to DLR in December 2010 to let the kids see The Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Mansion and all the park decorations. We plan to do the Give a day, Get a day volunteer program next year. That park ticket would work out nicely for a DLR trip. Okay, I am getting ahead of myself. Let's get this trip finished first.

I assume we are late to the game. Does everyone have their flights booked already???? The prices are NOT that great right now. Where are all these great rates I kept hearing about on the news?!?!?! We just can't find them! Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Jennifer

 

[katscradle]

We don't have our flights booked yet!The rates from here are not good right now either. DH is checking almost daily now, so hopefully soon.

 

[spokanemom]

I have my ticket home booked! I was able to use Thank You points for one of my tickets. I received an email from them showing my point balance and I wondered what I could buy with the points. Honestly, I really didn't know much about it, it was just set up with the mortgage company when we pay our payment each month, we get points. Nice, huh? So after looking around on the site, I saw that they offered flights. I only had enough for one flight, so I booked the SNA flight home since it will be more than the LAX flight there. Nice!

Now, I just need to book a flight there. I will most likely use Southwest, but at 134 a ticket (which I know isn't much) I know that it will drop as we get past the holidays. There are DINGS to LAX from Spokane all the time for about 80ish dollars. I will hold out for awhile, I can always just get credit for another flight if I get too antsy and can't wait.

I did book a pre-stay hotel though. I was thinking of staying at the Renaissance, but I need 3 nights early, not just 2, and I found a place in Burbank that has good reviews and won't break the bank, the Portofino Inn Burbank. I would prefer to stay at one of the Universal Studios hotels (Sheraton or Hilton) or the BW Media Center location, but the reviews are not as good compared to the place I booked and it is quite a bit less. If the price comes down on any of those 3, I will probably change, even if it is still more, but I would just feel better with interior corridors since I will be travelling alone on this part of the trip.

About the Portofino Inn, it is supposed to be not so pretty to look at from the outside, but the rooms are supposed to be quite nice. They no longer have a pool, and while I probably would not have used it anyway, it might be nice to have someplace to sit outside in the evening. Also, again the interior corridors really have me questioning my choice. I know that I will probably be fine, but I can really work myself into a tizzy. NO scary movies for me PLEASE!

And I have my car rental. I will pick up at LAX and drop off at LAX. I was going to fly into Burbank and then drop off at LAX, but for the car rental price for a one way, I could have purchased a small village. I would rather buy cool Disney stuff then just pay for a car!

So, I am doing pretty good I think! I know that I want to go to USH to play and WB for the tour. And I love zoos. The LA zoo is not far. I may try to squeeze that in too. I really need about a month for this trip. I really may need to win the lottery too.

Now, I have to go. I need to bathe and head to work. They prefer that we don't stink...

 

[slapwhitey]

We booked ours with Southwest. We got roundtrip from Buffalo for about $250 I believe. My DW would know for sure, she's the travel agent of the family. We thought that was really good....beats Toronto.

 

[Carolinagal]

Hi all -

I hope you are all well on your way to enjoying your weekends!

Matthew!!

I have not yet booked my airfare - I keep dithering about days before and after - what to do, what to do!?!

Say Kevin? Saw a tweet earlier today "Book an Adventures by Disney trip for 2010 and get a FREE 3-Night Disney Cruise! " Any truth to this? are we eligible?

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

[katscradle]

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Our airfare is booked! We decided to drive down to Austin, TX and fly directly from Austin to LAX on Southwest. It will be about a three hour drive. But, the money savings will be well worth it. We fly in on Sunday (April 11th) and out Sunday (April 18th). One full week in sunny Cali.

I can't wait!!!!

Kevin,

I will get the flight itinerary to you as previously requested. Do you forward it on to ABD or do we do that on our own?
I look forward to your reponse.

Jennifer