Trip Report!! ABD Disneyland Resort & Southern CA - 4/20 - 4/25/25 Updated 6/8/25

[sayhello]

It had turned into quite a lovely day, so I decided to do some serious walking and check out something I'd noticed on the map when scoping out the area - The Magic Castle - which, it turns out, is only just around the corner from the hotel! For some reason, I'd always thought it was *way* up in the Hollywood Hills, and didn't realize it was right there, off of Hollywood Blvd.



For those not familiar with the Magic Castle, it is a private club where most of the members are either professional or amateur magicians. They put on what I understand to be pretty elaborate magic shows, plus you have dinner there. It's very hard to get in (sort of like Club 33) and has a very strict dress code. To get in, you either need to be a member or know a member or stay at the small but very pricey hotel next to the Castle. I may have to give that a go next time I'm in Los Angeles. I'd been there once, MANY years ago, in the late 1980's. I don't recall how we got an invite, but I, my then boyfriend, and a few other friends went there. We did not stay long, because my idiot, moody boyfriend was "bored" and didn't want to stay. We'd all ridden there together, so I was out of luck (and young and stupid). I've always regretted leaving. Someday, I'll get to go back!

Anyways, I was able to walk around the perimeter, and get a few shots of the place.







I then headed back to Hollywood Blvd.



I wanted to check out the area in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre. Normally, a private tour of the Chinese Theatre is included as a part of the ABD, but since Hollywood was hosting the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) Classic Film Festival the day after we were to leave Hollywood, and the Chinese Theatre was a major venue for that, they were closed, and we could not do the tour. So I wanted to a least check out the foot and hand prints in front. (I was surprised to learn that "TCL" had nothing to do with "TCM", but instead refers to "The Creative Life," which is 'the name of the Chinese electronics manufacturer that purchased the naming rights to the theatre in 2013').











Continued in next post.

 

[sayhello]

After I finished up at the Chinese Theatre, I walked just a bit down to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. I hadn't been to a Wax Museum in a long time. I *had* been to the Madame Tussaud's in London - but that was over 30 years ago! I had plenty of time before I had to get back for the Welcome Dinner, and the guy taking tickets confirmed that it was more than enough time to see all the exhibits (about an hour and a half). So in I went!

The quality of most of the Wax figures is really quite phenomenal, and the settings are well done.















They also had a 3-D movie of Marvel Super Heroes that was really pretty cute!



I then headed back to Loews to get ready & head up to the 19th floor for our Welcome Dinner.



Continued in next post

 

[dizneedoll]

Following along! I'm thinking about putting a deposit down on this trip for next year. It would be my first ABD!

 

[sayhello]

The Welcome dinner was in a conference room high up in the Loews Hotel. It had a sweeping wall of windows with a great city view.



You can see the Magic Castle down towards the left-hand corner. It really was just around the corner from the Hotel!



Our servers. They obviously knew Dean well, and had worked with him many times! Dinner was a pretty typical but very tasty Hotel buffet, with what I recall as a really nice selection of food, although I really couldn't tell you specifically what any of it was!



The room had a mix of a "Hollywood" and an Easter theme, due to it being Easter Sunday. There was a ton of candy on the tables, along with little Mickey eggs that we were allowed to keep.





Such a pretty twilight! That's Yamashiro Hollywood, a well-known Japanese restaurant in the hills above the Magic Castle. I've heard it's really expensive, but not nearly as good as it used to be.




Me and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.







Dean also done up for Easter!



Up Next: Day 2: Lights, Camera, Adventure! - Touring Hollywood.

Sayhello

 

[Kit Jackson]

I have done the tour of the TCL Theatre on my own when I was in the area for something else. I was little disappointed by the tour. It was okay, but it felt overpriced. You were absolutely right to see the forecourt. That was a fantastic experience for me.

 

[sayhello]

Following along! I'm thinking about putting a deposit down on this trip for next year. It would be my first ABD!

Welcome! Let me know if you have any questions at all, I'd be happy to answer them! Just be aware - ABDs can be addicting!!

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

I have done the tour of the TCL Theatre on my own when I was in the area for something else. I was little disappointed by the tour. It was okay, but it felt overpriced. You were absolutely right to see the forecourt. That was a fantastic experience for me.

Since we didn't do it, I have no idea if the tour that ABD does is any different from the one you can do on your own.

Sayhello

 

[Kit Jackson]

Since we didn't do it, I have no idea if the tour that ABD does is any different from the one you can do on your own.

Sayhello

That's a valid point. I wonder if someone who has done both (the regular tour and the version done through ABD) can comment.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

So cool about the Magic Castle. I never knew what that was and when I lived in LA there was no such thing as google to look it up. Looks like trip is off to a great start. We did it way back in 2012, I think.

 

[sayhello]

So cool about the Magic Castle. I never knew what that was and when I lived in LA there was no such thing as google to look it up. Looks like trip is off to a great start. We did it way back in 2012, I think.

How did we live before Google?

Sayhello

 

[Eastridge]

Thanks for doing this report!

At first I thought your train route followed Route 66, but I looked at a map of Route 66 and it differs significantly.

I'm surprised that ABD ran this trip with only 11 people. Maybe they have lower minimums on adult-only trips?

I'm also surprised your travel agent was able to talk ABD into picking you up at the train station. I thought they normally only pick up at airports, or at the Grand Californian for people who drive.

 

[Eastridge]

It's been a long time since I went into the Magic Castle. It's easier to get into there than inside Club 33, unless your friend group includes Club 33 members... If you contact magicians and ask, there's a reasonable chance of getting a pass. Or you can stay at their hotel, as you mention.

The dress code for the Magic Castle is pretty strict, however.

 

[Chirple]

Loving this report. Dean was one of our guides; we thought he was phenomenal. I would definitely repeat this ABD.

 

[JAM9842]

Loving this report. Dean was one of our guides; we thought he was phenomenal. I would definitely repeat this ABD.

We had Dean also when we did this one. He was amazing!

 

[jimmymc]

Since we didn't do it, I have no idea if the tour that ABD does is any different from the one you can do on your own.

Sayhello

It's pretty much the same, except you also get to explore the courtyard and handprints before it opens to the public. They have it blocked off.

 

[jimmymc]

Great report so far!

The welcome dinner is simple but nice. I remember they had steak and mac n cheese, plus wine and beer were included. The guide meeting you at the sidewalk also happened to me on my first trip, since I was flying in the morning of.

Next time I do this trip, I might book the Magic Castle hotel for 1 or 2 pre-nights. It's not cheap, but the smaller rooms are usually less than the Lowe's on weekends, and I would love to see the shows.

 

[sayhello]

Thanks for doing this report!

At first I thought your train route followed Route 66, but I looked at a map of Route 66 and it differs significantly.

I'm surprised that ABD ran this trip with only 11 people. Maybe they have lower minimums on adult-only trips?

I'm also surprised your travel agent was able to talk ABD into picking you up at the train station. I thought they normally only pick up at airports, or at the Grand Californian for people who drive.

I think there were bits of the train route along Route 66, but not much. It takes a good dip south.

I've had a couple of Adults-Only trips go with small numbers, but those were quite a few years ago. I'm not sure what the threshold is for 1 Adventure Guide vs. cancellation, but I'm glad we got the 1 Guide option.

I know they're not fond of the train option, especially in Europe, where the very large train stations can have multiple exits, making finding you pretty difficult. Union Station in Los Angeles is not *that* large, and the exit doesn't dump out directly into the middle of an urban setting like a lot do. That might be part of why? I'm not sure. I'm just glad they did.

It's been a long time since I went into the Magic Castle. It's easier to get into there than inside Club 33, unless your friend group includes Club 33 members... If you contact magicians and ask, there's a reasonable chance of getting a pass. Or you can stay at their hotel, as you mention.

The dress code for the Magic Castle is pretty strict, however.

That's interesting about contacting a magician. Hmmmm... And yes, when I did some reading on it, I did find that the dress code is really strict. *Really* strict!

We had Dean also when we did this one. He was amazing!

He really is amazing!

Loving this report. Dean was one of our guides; we thought he was phenomenal. I would definitely repeat this ABD.

Thanks! So glad you're enjoying it! Dean was so great!

It's pretty much the same, except you also get to explore the courtyard and handprints before it opens to the public. They have it blocked off.

Thanks for that.

Great report so far!

The welcome dinner is simple but nice. I remember they had steak and mac n cheese, plus wine and beer were included. The guide meeting you at the sidewalk also happened to me on my first trip, since I was flying in the morning of.

Next time I do this trip, I might book the Magic Castle hotel for 1 or 2 pre-nights. It's not cheap, but the smaller rooms are usually less than the Lowe's on weekends, and I would love to see the shows.

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying the report.

This is my first ABD where I've arrived morning of, so I wondered. I still wonder if it's done for other trips besides the Southern CA one.

If I ever do this trip again, I would definitely look into booking their hotel. It would certainly be easy to transfer hotels!

Sayhello

 

[aggiedog]

I had to look up the dress code for the club. I'm laughing at their issue with mock turtle necks over real ones. LOL I also like their pictures illustrating what is not allowed.

The dress code would make many cruisers thrilled. The discussions on forums over whether jeans, nice ones, should be allowed in dining rooms is continuous and borders on existential.

https://www.magiccastle.com/dresscode/

 

[Chirple]

I had to look up the dress code for the club. I'm laughing at their issue with mock turtle necks over real ones. LOL I also like their pictures illustrating what is not allowed.

The dress code would make many cruisers thrilled. The discussions on forums over whether jeans, nice ones, should be allowed in dining rooms is continuous and borders on existential.

https://www.magiccastle.com/dresscode/

They really dislike mock turtlenecks.

 

[Eastridge]

This is my first ABD where I've arrived morning of, so I wondered. I still wonder if it's done for other trips besides the Southern CA one.

I did the short escape version of this trip, which started at the Grand Californian rather than the Loews hotel. An Adventure Guide met us at the entrance when our limo arrived at the hotel.

That's the only ABD trip I've been on where a guide met us upon arrival. I've arrived in the morning for other trips.