Circusgirl
Queen of the Moisture Festival. Allora!
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2007
- Messages
- 1,726
Personae:
Im a Disney happy, Cancan dancing, trombone playing veterinarian going on a super swift trip with my Disney tolerant DBF who is being totally game for my wild idea.
Mission:
Fly to Los Angeles from Seattle, staying for just under 24 hours, in order to see the free to D23 members showing of Up just before it opens to the regular public.
Background:
When D23 was first announced, after an extensive ramp up to the revelation of its secrets to the ranks of avid Disney enthusiasts, you could hear the air go out of the tires of the fanmobiles with a sad little whuff. The announcement of a club for the most loyal of fans that featured a hefty fee and uncertain benefits left even some of the most dedicated Disney devoted underwhelmed with excitement.
There was scorn for the expensive D23 members only merchandise and a general feeling that Disney had missed the boat on this one. There were people who felt like they shouldnt join just to make a statement about how disappointed they were, and people who were genuinely excited about it.
I didnt rush to join. I pondered the argument that the fancy glossy magazine/book that would come out four times yearly as part of the benefits would cost almost as much as a membership if purchased separately (available at your bookstore) leaving a small fee for the joining gift and any other special goodies that might flow from the membership. I dont know what exactly finally tipped me over into signing up. Since I would probably indeed buy the magazines separately I decided to try it for a year so as not to miss out on anything should something cool be offered. Its a small example of what my friend Christine (2xcited2sleep) calls Disney Math and also represented a hope that Disney would come up with something extra special along the way.
So far Ive gotten a poster and a certificate (a Disney version of signing up for a fan club in a teen magazine), two glossy magazines, and a reproduction of a souvenir fan from 1955. The high production value magazines feature a hefty variety of articles and lots of historical pictures, artwork and information. The souvenir fan has original art work and conjures up another time at Disneyland.
The enrollment fee still seemed a little high for what had happened so far, but then an e-mail arrived with a list of the events for members that were being scheduled for the summer. From two projected dates to tour the Disney Studio and Archives and a members preview of the Walt Disney Family Museum, to the first item which caught my eye, a members screening of Up at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood the evening before it officially opens, there were some great things on the list. The primary problem with all these great events is that they are to take place far away from where I live. In addition, the Studios and Archive Tours have dates but are not open for sign ups yet, while the date of the Museum preview is not even set yet. The Up event, on the other hand, turned out to be on the first of my two days off for the week of May 25th. It would be possible for us to fly down for the day, take in the event (which is promised to include popcorn and soda, Disney songs played live on the theatre organ, a stage show, special guest appearances and a few magical D23 touches along the way), sleep over briefly then have until the next afternoon to do something else fun before flying back to Seattle.)
Im not sure that I would have been so enchanted with this concept except for the fact that I recently developed a fascination with the Backstage Adventures Tour of Hollywood and Disneyland after reading about it here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2035488
When I first heard about this tour on various pod casts, I thought it sounded terrific but undoubtedly way out of my price range so I never even looked up the details. When I read the TR, I went from theoretical to concrete and started scoping out dates and wondering whether I should try to do it during the holidays, or just as soon as I could manage it. As it turns out, wanting to make it real doesnt have anything to do with affordability (Chapter 2 of Disney Math).
Because of reading about the tour, which goes to the El Capitan Theatre and Disneys Soda Fountain and Studio Store, I had an immediate image of going to this particular party. We could fly in, check into a hotel, eat dinner at the Soda Fountain and then go to the movie.
Astoundingly enough, my DBF was immediately willing to go along with the adventure. He knows I love to run with a concept and he was willing to support the part of me that was enamored with the craziness of going to LA to see a movie. It was a few days after the original e-mail came that I realized I was not working the day of the event and therefore was free to imagine going. When I brought it up late on a Saturday night, he immediately checked into airfare on Farecast, and found the cheapest of all cheap flights available into Long Beach. I didnt know if tickets to the event would still be available, so I set my alarm to get up at the open of business the next morning to see if there was any reason to buy an airline ticket.
I got out of bed when the alarm went off at 8:00, only to discover the ticket line didnt open until 8:30 on Sundays. I got back in bed and pretended to sleep, then called right at 8:30. Twenty minutes of Disney hold music and encouragement to hang in there from the recorded Disney voice later, a nice human came on the line. I signed us up and went back to bed.
The weekend was super busy and we didnt get back to the actual planning for a few days. My DBFs desire was actually to be really crazy and go down, see the movie and go right back to the airport for a morning flight without actually sleeping in a bed. I wasnt willing to forgo actual sleeping and took the position that the trip would be more fun with a hotel involved. My first thought had been to stay at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, where the Backstage Adventures tour bunks down, but even their cheapest room was too pricey for these purposes. Some brief looking in the neighborhood turned up The Hollywood Celebrity Hotel, featuring a good price, proximity to the theatre, free parking and complimentary continental breakfast. The trip advisory sorts of sites had mostly good things to say about it. The confirmation message from the hotel had some very enthusiastic verbiage:
HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITY HOTEL is set in the Entertainment Capital and Theatre District of the vibrant Hollywood !!! The newly renovated HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITY HOTEL Management & Staff redefined its Personalize and "VIP" treatment to our Valued Guests. Feel like a "STAR" with the unparallel accommodations & quality services!!! The picturesque ambiance of the hotel depicts comfort and in-style living of Hollywood!!! We are strategically located in the vicinity of entertainment & businesses. The comfortable, convenient room wall art flawlessly blend with the classic and the present Hollywood Lifestyles.
In fact, Im especially looking forward to the comfortable, convenient room wall art flawlessly blending with my new Hollywood lifestyle.
We looked at the airfares again, and Farecast said they were about to go up (64% certainty) so we realized we were at the true decision point. The on airport rental cars were looking ridiculously expensive ($80.00 for a day, fer cryin out loud!) but we didnt have enough time in the schedule to chance an off property company. We balked when we really totaled up the cost of the day with the rental car included, and when I stalled and couldnt make up my mind about whether spending the bucks was actually the right thing to do, DBF just said to surprise him and that he would go if I wanted to.
I went all the way through Jet Blues reservation process, getting seats and punching in all my credit card information, still not knowing if I could really push the button on the trip, when Jet Blue offered me a better price on a rental car from Hertz than the lowest one we had found with Enterprise. Hmmmm. I went back to the D23 site and looked at the information about the event again. I thought about how I would feel if our plane was delayed or we got stuck in hideous traffic and missed the event. Imagined waltzing down the streets of Hollywood. Thought about what I would wear. Started wondering if we could fit in a trip to Universal Studios the next day before going to the airport at 3 pm.
In the end, because its best when life is filled with surprising, ridiculous, wonderful things I hit the pay button and signed us up for a trip to the movies.
Im a Disney happy, Cancan dancing, trombone playing veterinarian going on a super swift trip with my Disney tolerant DBF who is being totally game for my wild idea.
Mission:
Fly to Los Angeles from Seattle, staying for just under 24 hours, in order to see the free to D23 members showing of Up just before it opens to the regular public.
Background:
When D23 was first announced, after an extensive ramp up to the revelation of its secrets to the ranks of avid Disney enthusiasts, you could hear the air go out of the tires of the fanmobiles with a sad little whuff. The announcement of a club for the most loyal of fans that featured a hefty fee and uncertain benefits left even some of the most dedicated Disney devoted underwhelmed with excitement.
There was scorn for the expensive D23 members only merchandise and a general feeling that Disney had missed the boat on this one. There were people who felt like they shouldnt join just to make a statement about how disappointed they were, and people who were genuinely excited about it.
I didnt rush to join. I pondered the argument that the fancy glossy magazine/book that would come out four times yearly as part of the benefits would cost almost as much as a membership if purchased separately (available at your bookstore) leaving a small fee for the joining gift and any other special goodies that might flow from the membership. I dont know what exactly finally tipped me over into signing up. Since I would probably indeed buy the magazines separately I decided to try it for a year so as not to miss out on anything should something cool be offered. Its a small example of what my friend Christine (2xcited2sleep) calls Disney Math and also represented a hope that Disney would come up with something extra special along the way.
So far Ive gotten a poster and a certificate (a Disney version of signing up for a fan club in a teen magazine), two glossy magazines, and a reproduction of a souvenir fan from 1955. The high production value magazines feature a hefty variety of articles and lots of historical pictures, artwork and information. The souvenir fan has original art work and conjures up another time at Disneyland.
The enrollment fee still seemed a little high for what had happened so far, but then an e-mail arrived with a list of the events for members that were being scheduled for the summer. From two projected dates to tour the Disney Studio and Archives and a members preview of the Walt Disney Family Museum, to the first item which caught my eye, a members screening of Up at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood the evening before it officially opens, there were some great things on the list. The primary problem with all these great events is that they are to take place far away from where I live. In addition, the Studios and Archive Tours have dates but are not open for sign ups yet, while the date of the Museum preview is not even set yet. The Up event, on the other hand, turned out to be on the first of my two days off for the week of May 25th. It would be possible for us to fly down for the day, take in the event (which is promised to include popcorn and soda, Disney songs played live on the theatre organ, a stage show, special guest appearances and a few magical D23 touches along the way), sleep over briefly then have until the next afternoon to do something else fun before flying back to Seattle.)
Im not sure that I would have been so enchanted with this concept except for the fact that I recently developed a fascination with the Backstage Adventures Tour of Hollywood and Disneyland after reading about it here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2035488
When I first heard about this tour on various pod casts, I thought it sounded terrific but undoubtedly way out of my price range so I never even looked up the details. When I read the TR, I went from theoretical to concrete and started scoping out dates and wondering whether I should try to do it during the holidays, or just as soon as I could manage it. As it turns out, wanting to make it real doesnt have anything to do with affordability (Chapter 2 of Disney Math).
Because of reading about the tour, which goes to the El Capitan Theatre and Disneys Soda Fountain and Studio Store, I had an immediate image of going to this particular party. We could fly in, check into a hotel, eat dinner at the Soda Fountain and then go to the movie.
Astoundingly enough, my DBF was immediately willing to go along with the adventure. He knows I love to run with a concept and he was willing to support the part of me that was enamored with the craziness of going to LA to see a movie. It was a few days after the original e-mail came that I realized I was not working the day of the event and therefore was free to imagine going. When I brought it up late on a Saturday night, he immediately checked into airfare on Farecast, and found the cheapest of all cheap flights available into Long Beach. I didnt know if tickets to the event would still be available, so I set my alarm to get up at the open of business the next morning to see if there was any reason to buy an airline ticket.
I got out of bed when the alarm went off at 8:00, only to discover the ticket line didnt open until 8:30 on Sundays. I got back in bed and pretended to sleep, then called right at 8:30. Twenty minutes of Disney hold music and encouragement to hang in there from the recorded Disney voice later, a nice human came on the line. I signed us up and went back to bed.
The weekend was super busy and we didnt get back to the actual planning for a few days. My DBFs desire was actually to be really crazy and go down, see the movie and go right back to the airport for a morning flight without actually sleeping in a bed. I wasnt willing to forgo actual sleeping and took the position that the trip would be more fun with a hotel involved. My first thought had been to stay at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, where the Backstage Adventures tour bunks down, but even their cheapest room was too pricey for these purposes. Some brief looking in the neighborhood turned up The Hollywood Celebrity Hotel, featuring a good price, proximity to the theatre, free parking and complimentary continental breakfast. The trip advisory sorts of sites had mostly good things to say about it. The confirmation message from the hotel had some very enthusiastic verbiage:
HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITY HOTEL is set in the Entertainment Capital and Theatre District of the vibrant Hollywood !!! The newly renovated HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITY HOTEL Management & Staff redefined its Personalize and "VIP" treatment to our Valued Guests. Feel like a "STAR" with the unparallel accommodations & quality services!!! The picturesque ambiance of the hotel depicts comfort and in-style living of Hollywood!!! We are strategically located in the vicinity of entertainment & businesses. The comfortable, convenient room wall art flawlessly blend with the classic and the present Hollywood Lifestyles.
In fact, Im especially looking forward to the comfortable, convenient room wall art flawlessly blending with my new Hollywood lifestyle.
We looked at the airfares again, and Farecast said they were about to go up (64% certainty) so we realized we were at the true decision point. The on airport rental cars were looking ridiculously expensive ($80.00 for a day, fer cryin out loud!) but we didnt have enough time in the schedule to chance an off property company. We balked when we really totaled up the cost of the day with the rental car included, and when I stalled and couldnt make up my mind about whether spending the bucks was actually the right thing to do, DBF just said to surprise him and that he would go if I wanted to.
I went all the way through Jet Blues reservation process, getting seats and punching in all my credit card information, still not knowing if I could really push the button on the trip, when Jet Blue offered me a better price on a rental car from Hertz than the lowest one we had found with Enterprise. Hmmmm. I went back to the D23 site and looked at the information about the event again. I thought about how I would feel if our plane was delayed or we got stuck in hideous traffic and missed the event. Imagined waltzing down the streets of Hollywood. Thought about what I would wear. Started wondering if we could fit in a trip to Universal Studios the next day before going to the airport at 3 pm.
In the end, because its best when life is filled with surprising, ridiculous, wonderful things I hit the pay button and signed us up for a trip to the movies.
