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

[SailingBeagle]

I need some suggestions for what to do the first day that we can get to from the Hotel without a car.
We are arrving from the east coast and should hit the Hotel around 11am.

It would be great if they let us check in then...but something tells me that might not happen. I don't want to sit in the lobby till we can check in.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I've done Universal Studios Orlando, more then once, so unless thats really different I don't think its an option.

Thanks for any help

 

[bradk]

see some of the links I posted in the first post.

for starters, the hotel is right in the middle of it all. even if the tour does go on it, I don't think you'll lose anything by visiting the grauman's chinese theatre. the kodak theatre is right there (where the academy awards are held and american idol finals used (?) to be) and they offer tours. there's lots of shopping, the el capitan theatre, the disney studios ice cream shop. lots of things at the hollywood & highland center where the hotel is.

there are a few museums around the way, i like the ripley's believe it or not museum.

and LA has a good mass transit system so many other things are easily accessible.

as for universal, it's completely different. USH is built on an actual live studio (and universal is one of the larger studios, even disney does a lot of filming there). mind you that as a customer, you're restricted to mostly the attractions which orlando does share to some extent, but there's a lot of other things different about it, including the tram tour which does combine mini-attractions with actual sets.

but i don't know if it's worth going there just for a few hours. the price that is. it does have citywalk too, but even so, I think there's plenty going on right by the hotel.

 

[hack2112]

I need some suggestions for what to do the first day that we can get to from the Hotel without a car.
We are arrving from the east coast and should hit the Hotel around 11am.

It would be great if they let us check in then...but something tells me that might not happen. I don't want to sit in the lobby till we can check in.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I've done Universal Studios Orlando, more then once, so unless thats really different I don't think its an option.

Thanks for any help

They will probably check you in when you get to the hotel. At the hotel you'll also meet your Adventure Guides and check in with them. Remember, dinner starts at 4:00, so plan accordingly!

Max

 

[Politzania]

You will most likely not have time for storytellers, and will probably be on your way to LAX at 6:30.

I just called AbD on the off-chance that we could get our Storytellers breakfast switched/swapped for the "dinner on your own" on Friday due to having to leave for the airport so early on Sunday -- unfortunately, the Guide I talked with (Maurice/"Mo") said the scheduled meals were pretty much locked in for the tour.

However, he said he thought that Storytellers opened at 6am, and we just might be able to squeeze in a quick visit with Chip & Dale and grab something to eat on the way... guess we'll check with our Guides once we get there. :: crosses fingers::

 

[inkkognito]

Did anyone get a call from ABD today? They called just to see if I had any questions and were able to give me some guidance on when our tour would be done on the second day...it's not written in stone, but it was enough to give me an idea of when to make my dinner ressie. She said we should have gotten our box and bags, which we did.

 

[jacksparrowfan]

No phone call from ABD. But interesting, as I did call them this morning. I wanted to make sure everything was in order. And, if there was anything else we should watch for in the mail. (Nothing more.) She also double checked that we received our bag, etc. She said it was still a go and if there are any issues, we would receive a phone call. I asked if I could find out how many people, and she said "just under 40".

We are ready! Let's go and have some fun!!!!

 

[inkkognito]

Just under 40...whew! We're going to be quite a gang!

 

[MagicalPins]

Ok, its offical! Im crazy. I am now booked for the Sept 2nd tour. The one with extra goodies for the DVC members. I loved seeing hack2112's trip report so far with the preview tour and I can't wait to hear from the first offical tour!

It will be an interesting tour for me since I have already done most of the things on the tour. Most of my friends think Im crazy becuase I have already done so much of it but I can't wait.

 

[Mickeyfans4ever]

Thanks goes to all of you who have posted. The three of us have June 22 tour paid in full. We are learning so much from this site and hope to learn more as you go on your trip. Can't wait for your reports on the trip and what everyone did before and after their official tour. Coming in the day before from east coast and also want to see as much as we can while we are out there. Counting on your posts to let us know what worked and was the best of your trip before we make our plans. This is our first ABD tour and passed up staying at Comtemporary Resort for this tour. If this works out we are doing the Italy trip next.

 

[MagicalPins]

I just saw an article in the LA Times about VIP Fastpasses.

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/?p=1683

I wish we got these FastPasses on the tour! I guess Disney dose not consider us “extremely high-profile guests”

It says "the “Multiple Attraction FastPasses” are good for unlimited, all-day, front-of-line admission to popular rides like Indiana Jones Adventure, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters."

They were talking about politicians and the passes and stated "Because the Multiple Attraction FastPasses have no face value and can’t be purchased by the general public, politicians are not required to report the perk as a gift and Disney does not report the tickets as lobbying expenses, Nicoletti said."

So come on Adventures by Disney! Can't you just give us ONE Fastpass of a differnt kind instead of the 3 from the preview tour? They have no face value so your not out anything and we are not gaining anything!

 

[bradk]

that's actually nothing.. and as i've posted elsewhere someone pointed these articles out, disney has always had a system with colored cards that allow high profile visitors to skip lines. not that all do, but because disney relies on celebrities as a form of publicity, they want to ensure that celebrities aren't put off by the disney experience. it's just capitalism at work.

for the regular folk, however, AAA used to offer enhanced fastpasses for their customers. these tickets would allow you to get FPs from each attraction without regard to the time restrictions (so you could get FPs for Big Thunder and then go get FPs for Space Mountain immediately after for example).

that would have been nice.

but considering i'm not taking the tour because of the FP, i'm not upset with what they're doing with it. i do still believe they entirely gave the wrong impression of what the FP would be in their promotional material, but it's not a selling point for me anyhow.

i'd have to go to disneyland anyway with the regular system so anything above that is still a definite plus.

 

[MagicalPins]

Me personally, I don't care about the Fastpass. But that is becuase I live less than a mile from the park and Im there 2-3 days a week. At previous special events when they given special FastPasses, I always kept them as a cool special FastPass instead of using them as a souviner. But it would be awesome to get the really cool one so I could just have the power for one day and then get to keep it without having to giving it up.

 

[bradk]

by the way

HAPPY SINGLE DIGITS!​

 

[jacksparrowfan]

WAHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SailingBeagle]

Wishing all of the 4-22 group the most magical of times.
Remember many of us will be awaiting your "spoiler " trip reports.

Have a Blast

 

[stenogoddess]

Have a wonderful time. I can't wait to see pictures and trip reports!

 

[TessRC]

I also really can't wait to hear your trip reports, my husband & I are on the fence about signing up for this tour and any specifics you can give could really help us make a decision! Have a great time!

--Tess

 

[inkkognito]

I intend on posting the good, the bad, and the ugly! I can't believe it's getting so close now...woo hoo!!

 

[hack2112]

For those fo you who think I've fallen off of the face of the earth, I haven't. I'll have some more of the trip up tonight. Promise.

 

[konslerg]

I intend on posting the good, the bad, and the ugly! I can't believe it's getting so close now...woo hoo!!

Oh, hopefully there won't be any "ugly," maybe just one or two things that don't rate 5 stars ;-)

I sure hope all these airline inspections don't foul up anyone's flights.

Have a wonderful trip, everyone! I know how exciting "maiden voyages" can be and I know you'll have the best of best times.