Backstage Magic 2012

[Skatetigger]

Went to the website this morning and found half of them already booked and on waiting list. Could this be true?

Also did they do away with the adult only departures for Backstage Magic, it didn't appear that there was one.

We're looking to book but were going to wait a bit before doing it. The dates that I think we'd want in October are still available as of now though so that's good.

 

[Computer Magic]

I was notincing that as well. Were people allowed to book before today?

I have been eyeing this trip for some time. I think anyone first trip to DL should be done like this. All the VIP treatment.

I only hope they offer Club 33 for breakfast as they did on a few trips last year.

 

[Skatetigger]

Yeah the "insiders" and those who had been before I think were able to book starting a couple days ago. What i am bummed about is that we did AbD last Sept and got no emails inviting us to rebook early.

 

[corky441]

This trip in particular has become a favorite of various Disney Podcast groups / travel agencies, in addition to the one that runs these forums.

Group trips are booked quickly and when dates open up, many are already taken for these special group trips.

I've also noticed that on a lot of the trips there are far fewer Adult Only options available

 

[rchristiansen]

I just looked it up to check it out myself. We went this April with the Dis and am really glad we did! They took off a bunch of stuff for day two in 2012 - including backstage at El Capitan & Jimmy Kimmel, that was a highlight of our trip. Also there is no mention of a visit to Walt's Barn/Train, unless that is supposed to be a "surprise". Any thoughts on this?

 

[Tozzie]

I just looked it up to check it out myself. We went this April with the Dis and am really glad we did! They took off a bunch of stuff for day two in 2012 - including backstage at El Capitan & Jimmy Kimmel, that was a highlight of our trip. Also there is no mention of a visit to Walt's Barn/Train, unless that is supposed to be a "surprise". Any thoughts on this?

The barn/train has never been listed on the itinerary, that is because it is run by volunteers so they can't guarantee it will be a go.
They did add the Hollywood tour on day 2 which wasn't a part of the tour when I went. They also added a special VIP viewing area for World of Color. One change for the better is lunch on day 2 is not at the Jim Henson Studio, the food was horrible, I think that is a change for the better.

This is one tour I would do again, and to be quite honest the Backstage at Jimmy Kimmel really wasn't that special to me. It would be fun to do it again wiht the changes added.

It might actually work out for me, I am doing the DCL pacific coast cruise from October 7-14 and I could do the BSM tour that starts on the 14th of October. I was going to stay a few extra days and come home on the 18th so the 19th wouldn't be that bad. Hmm something to think about.

 

[rchristiansen]

They did add the Hollywood tour on day 2 which wasn't a part of the tour when I went. They also added a special VIP viewing area for World of Color. One change for the better is lunch on day 2 is not at the Jim Henson Studio, the food was horrible, I think that is a change for the better.
.

Interesting, because back in April we did have a Hollywood tour before Jim Henson and we did have the VIP Viewing area for World of Color. For what it's worth, we all loved the lunch at the Jim Henson studios, it was so cool to have lunch inside that sound stage.

DH and I just discussed this last night and we both feel that too much of the itinerary for 2012 is something I could book my own while visiting Hollywood - bus tour, lunch at a restaurant, etc. I can't go backstage to a TV show or historic theater or eat lunch on a soundstage on my own. I feel since it's called the "Backstage Magic" tour more should be more "backstage access"

 

[Computer Magic]

The barn/train has never been listed on the itinerary, that is because it is run by volunteers so they can't guarantee it will be a go.
They did add the Hollywood tour on day 2 which wasn't a part of the tour when I went. They also added a special VIP viewing area for World of Color. One change for the better is lunch on day 2 is not at the Jim Henson Studio, the food was horrible, I think that is a change for the better.

This is one tour I would do again, and to be quite honest the Backstage at Jimmy Kimmel really wasn't that special to me. It would be fun to do it again wiht the changes added.

It might actually work out for me, I am doing the DCL pacific coast cruise from October 7-14 and I could do the BSM tour that starts on the 14th of October. I was going to stay a few extra days and come home on the 18th so the 19th wouldn't be that bad. Hmm something to think about.

I actually enjoy the change of removing Jimmy Kimmel. That was the main reason my wife didn't want to do the trip in the past. The VIP World of Color is a nice touch.

 

[Computer Magic]

Interesting, because back in April we did have a Hollywood tour before Jim Henson and we did have the VIP Viewing area for World of Color. For what it's worth, we all loved the lunch at the Jim Henson studios, it was so cool to have lunch inside that sound stage.

DH and I just discussed this last night and we both feel that too much of the itinerary for 2012 is something I could book my own while visiting Hollywood - bus tour, lunch at a restaurant, etc. I can't go backstage to a TV show or historic theater or eat lunch on a soundstage on my own. I feel since it's called the "Backstage Magic" tour more should be more "backstage access"

Seems like the Backstage Magic is meant for Disneyland. They have more control over Backstage at DL.

 

[Tozzie]

Interesting, because back in April we did have a Hollywood tour before Jim Henson and we did have the VIP Viewing area for World of Color. For what it's worth, we all loved the lunch at the Jim Henson studios, it was so cool to have lunch inside that sound stage.

DH and I just discussed this last night and we both feel that too much of the itinerary for 2012 is something I could book my own while visiting Hollywood - bus tour, lunch at a restaurant, etc. I can't go backstage to a TV show or historic theater or eat lunch on a soundstage on my own. I feel since it's called the "Backstage Magic" tour more should be more "backstage access"

Different Strokes for Different folks, I did the tour in 2009 so that might be the difference. On day 2 for my tour was Breakfast at the Soda Shop, the El Capitan Theater, Jimmy Kimmel then the Jim Henson Studios and Griffith Park for the train/Barn. World of Color was being built when I was there.

 

[rchristiansen]

Different Strokes for Different folks, I did the tour in 2009 so that might be the difference. On day 2 for my tour was Breakfast at the Soda Shop, the El Capitan Theater, Jimmy Kimmel then the Jim Henson Studios and Griffith Park for the train/Barn. World of Color was being built when I was there.

Yeah, that's what we had too, plus an hour tour of Hollywood on our bus. This new itinerary, compared to what it was for us in April, seems that they are taking out a lot of the Hollywood aspects of the trip and not replacing it with the same value. Hoping to see changes to the 2012 itinerary, I was really hoping to see more of backstage at current Disney productions - Radio Disney, Disney Channel, ABC TV Shows. Bummer.