Backstage Magic Tour 4/22 - 4/27 - 1ST POST UPDATED 4/15

[dingoballs]

It was delivered "UPS next day air saver". It was shipped from Orlando, FL. We live in Northern CA. It has the same detail as we see on their website. Maybe we will receive our detailed itineraries in our room each night? Might make it more of a surprise. There is also a card that talks about expecting an additional surprise prior to our departure. I love this!!! I'm ready to go now!

Did you also receive your backpacks?

 

[jacksparrowfan]

Did you also receive your backpacks?

No, we did not. Maybe it's the extra surprise to receive before we depart.

 

[bradk]

yeah i have a feeling the itinerary isn't available yet. like i said, buying time since they initially said 45 days.. then 30-45 days.. it's fair enough i guess because they need to make sure they have everything confirmed.

 

[inkkognito]

Wow, this means I'd better get to our Pak Mail box tomorrow...sure hope I have something waiting there for me! I'm a little disappointed it's not the backpack tho'. Dare I say it sounds like this trip is going to be a little...uh...disorganized? Our April 22 group will be the guinea pigs I think!

 

[bradk]

oh, it gets worse... they answered my question on the ABD forum about the FP:

Hi, you will receive 3 Fastpasses on Day 4 and 3 Fastpasses on Day 5 and they are valid on our Fastpass attractions. Remember that you can also use your park ticket to acquire additional Fastpasses and you will receive a privately-guided backstage tour through the park (not open to the general public).

not really sure what that means.

no mention on nemo.

 

[MJGirl]

oh, it gets worse... they answered my question on the ABD forum about the FP:



not really sure what that means.

no mention on nemo.

Brad ... How long did you have to wait to get an answer? I posted a question earlier this week and haven't heard back yet. Do they email you an answer, or do you have to check out their site for your answer? Thanks for your help!

 

[bradk]

it was a bit more than a week i think... i was pretty sure they were not answering it since there were several days that no new questions had been answered

 

[inkkognito]

Gack...for what we're paying, I think we should get the Mega-Unlimited-God-of-the-Universe Fastpass! I will not be happy if it's only three, since that means we won't even get to do each of the FP rides with the "special" FP. I thought that was part of what we were popping the big bucks for. More and more I don't think they thought this trip through very well. I suspect it will improve with the later offerings, but the first group is going to be a mess.

 

[bradk]

well, my point is, i've gotten like 15 different answers. and i don't think they really know. going back on previous answers with the ABD forums, it's mentioned repeatedly that the 'special fastpass' is good for 2 days, which doesn't really jive with what my response was.

it's also possible that what my response might be talking about are dream fastpasses. so you get 3 dream fastpasses for example, which would allow you to visit each FP enabled attraction 3 times that day. which would sound better given that there's still a limited amount of free time anyway.

bottom line, i don't think we're going to know anything until april 25 and even then, i'm not sure how clear it will be.

but at least CMs will know how to deal with dream FPs.

 

[jacksparrowfan]

oh, it gets worse... they answered my question on the ABD forum about the FP:
"Hi, you will receive 3 Fastpasses on Day 4 and 3 Fastpasses on Day 5 and they are valid on our Fastpass attractions. Remember that you can also use your park ticket to acquire additional Fastpasses and you will receive a privately-guided backstage tour through the park (not open to the general public). "

not really sure what that means.

no mention on nemo.

With the length of the tour, and behind the scenes, each day at the parks, I am thinking there may not be that much time to be on our own? With fireworks, fantasmic and parades (shopping) there is so much to do in the little time we have alone. A few a day may be good so we can ride other rides and see/do other things. I love the art and detail of the parks that I tend to walk around and take in all the little details. Gotta love those Imagineers!!! I think we are in for a big treat. I keep reading about daily surprises on other trip reports. Let's see what they have for us. I can't wait for the surprises. I especially can't wait to see Walts Apartment and the Dream Suite. I will be sad if it doesn't happen, and I know it's a possibility. I'm trying to keep an open mind so I won't be too disappointed and enjoy what they will show us. Unfortunately, we are the guinea pigs and I know with the price we paid, we want the best. If they don't have their act together on this, I am sure there will be 40 people sending in complaints big time. I seriously can't wait! The countdown is going so slowly for me.

 

[Aunt Cawa]

It has the same detail as we see on their website. Maybe we will receive our detailed itineraries in our room each night?

Last year on Southwest Splendors, we received a detailed itinerary for the whole trip at the Welcome dinner. I am guessing that they may do the same for this trip. Can't wait until you return from your trip. We are booked on the June 3 trip.

 

[inkkognito]

We picked up our box at our mail drop today. I would have liked more detail, but it was still exciting...if nothing else, just seeing Walt's apartment and the studios will be worthwhile. Fortunately we've been to DL/DCA once before and we got to do everything then (although they've added a few things like Nemo and ToT), so we can focus on the new things and still not feel like we missed too much.

I wonder if the guides will be able to get us into the Grand Californian restaurant or if I should be worrying about that myself now. We met the manager on our transatlantic Disney cruise, as he did a number of wine tastings, so we definitely want to look him up and try the cuisine there. The wines he brought were fantastic, and he had a slide show at each tasting showing the actual vineyards where the grapes had come from.

 

[jacksparrowfan]

I wonder if the guides will be able to get us into the Grand Californian restaurant or if I should be worrying about that myself now. We met the manager on our transatlantic Disney cruise, as he did a number of wine tastings, so we definitely want to look him up and try the cuisine there. The wines he brought were fantastic, and he had a slide show at each tasting showing the actual vineyards where the grapes had come from.

You can call the Disney Dining line at (714) 781-DINE (3463. At least you will be set for dinner and you can always cancel if something else comes up. You are probably writing about the Napa Rose.

 

[inkkognito]

Thanks for the number! Yep, it's Napa Rose. The name was escaping me, but I knew it was in the hotel.

 

[bradk]

in case i haven't posted it, as tickets for tv tapings (which are always free but time consuming) start to get released about 30 days out:

http://www.ocatv.com
http://www.1iota.com
http://www.tvtickets.com
http://www.tvtix.com

and a couple of other sources: http://www.seeing-stars.com/Tapings/index.shtml

 

[inkkognito]

OMG, I LOVE the logo!!

 

[bradk]

heh, thanks.. i just threw it together last night.. feel free to use it. i actually probably should add it to my blog

the original is 3340x1336 if you need larger

ETA: actually, here's a larger version. i hate how a lot of detail is lost in the sig version

 

[Phil1019]

Hi, You are indeed right about getting tickets to tapings of shows. About 4 years ago I actually got tickets to Jay Leno and King of Queens. Even though you have tickets it doesn't guarantee that you will get in to see the show. For Jay Leno we had to get there at 9am and stand in line till about 1pm. We did get in to see him and it was great! Now, King of Queens was a different story. When we arrived the line was blocks long . We were given name bands to enter the theatre but were turned away despite having tickets and name bands since they give out more tickets to the public than there are actual seats. This is to insure they have a full audience.

 

[Politzania]

The El Capitan Theater is showing The Little Mermaid from April 18 - May 11 -- "Sing-along at every show" and a live appearance by Ariel.

Info on ticket prices & showtimes is at the website - I don't have enough posts here to link it - but google "el capitan los angeles" to get there.

Scott and I went to PotC III: At World's End during opening weekend at El Capitan - they decorated the theater in an underwater motif and had the organist playing selections from the previous movie soundtracks - the VIP tickets were worth it - we were front row balcony!

 

[Phil1019]

Hi, I have not received the white package that everyone is talking about. Apparently it is delivered via UPS. I live in Massachusetts. Is there anyone else who has not received it? I am getting worried!