Hollywood Help??????

[frank2271]

Hello,

I'm heading out to California from Florida next month and as well as Disneyland I also plan two nights in Hollywood.

I made a reservation at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel. It's on the corner of Hollywood and Highland. I guess it's attached to the Kodak Theatre. Can anyone tell me about this area?? From what I read on the net there is a shopping and entertainment area next door.

Any and all the info you can give me will be really appreciated.

Thanks

Frank

 

[ceejay13]

We have been to the Hollywood and Highland center twice in the last year. It is a very nice shopping and entertainment complex. It includes the Kodak theater which is where the Academy Awards are now held. We have driven past the hotel as the parking garage is to the side of the hotel. It looks very nice from the outside but haven't been in. The complex is actually very new, only having been open for a couple of years. It is across from the Pantages theater, where The Lion King is now playing. It is also next to Grauman's Chinese theater and part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame runs down the block. It is full of history. Just so you know, however, it is in the middle of Hollywood which is not the best area in LA. It is pretty old and there are some questionable businesses in the area. The Hollywood and Highland complex is very safe and very nice but the surrounding area is what I am referring to.

 

[frank2271]

I had heard that the area wasn't the best, I don't think that we will be going out walking too much at night. Atleast not outside complex.

I appreciate your comments, ceejay, Thank You.

There must be someone on this board that has stayed at this hotel.

Any comments about the hotel and the area will be helpful.

Thanks

Frank

 

[CruellaDuVille]

To put it bluntly, the area sucks! "Hollywood" should be seen by all, including Rodeo Drive (storefront facades in another crumby neighborhood, another "movie set" IMO) and the "homes to the stars" (overpriced houses butted up against each other, frontrooms just feet from the street, no yards).

I went, I saw, I was afraid to leave my rental car for very long. It was filthy (in every sense).

IMO, "Hollywood" is one of the biggest dupes that "Hollywood" has ever projected onto the American (read that World) public. It may have been nice 40 years ago, but no longer.

I'd be VERY careful around there at night.

 

[pkmingo]

If you do not stay at that hotel, how hard is it to still visit this to see the walk of stars (parking, etc.) during the daytime hours?

 

[ceejay13]

It is very easy to see during the day. There is a parking garage attached to the Hollywood and Highland complex that is accessible off of Highland. For all of you interested in the complex, they do have a website www.hollywoodandhighland.com.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

It is very easy to park there - I recently took my friends who came to visit - I must agree with what has been stated - It really is a bad area - There are plenty of other things to do here in Southern California than to spend it there -

It is something to see - but you could do it all in a day and then return back to your safe hotel -


Karen

 

[almostGoofy]

Originally posted by ceejay13
The complex is actually very new, only having been open for a couple of years. It is across from the Pantages theater, where The Lion King is now playing.

Actually, the Pantages is further down Hollywood Blvd. It's across from the El Capitan Theater which is currently showing "Treasure Planet" with the added feature of an interactive area which can be visited immediately after viewing the feature film. It's included in the price of the film.

As for the area, it's often refered to as Holly-weird. You do get some strange types hanging around but I would say that immediate area where the hotel is relatively safe during the day. I've taken my kids to see other Disney films at the El Capitan. I do agree with the others though: you could see it in a day and drive back to a nicer area.