Questions about ABD California Backstage Magic

[myladyfae]

Is the theater within walking distance of the Loews?

Can anyone advise if it is worth staying 2 nights pre-ABD in Beverly Hills? Or are we better off at the Loews?

I would not suggest Beverly Hills unless you are planning to rent a car during your 2 pre days. I've stayed all over the LA area, and Hollywood is the only place you can really get away without one.

We are spending our 2 pre days at the magiccastlehotel.com, which is a block from the Loews but half the cost. It also lets you visit the Magic Castle private club which is flat out amazing in my mind! .

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

What are you planning to do during your pre-stay? Are you interested in only Beverly Hills, or did you want to see other places as well?

I'm a bit of a foodie so I wanted to try a few of the high end restaurants.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Is it feasible to get a taxi from Hollywood to Beverly Hills to eat, then head back? Or would there be horrendous traffic and a high cost for the cab?

 

[myladyfae]

Is it feasible to get a taxi from Hollywood to Beverly Hills to eat, then head back? Or would there be horrendous traffic and a high cost for the cab?

It is about a 25-30 minute drive away after traffic.

Personally, I'd get a 48 hour hop on hop off ticket for starline tours http://www.starlinetours.com/los-angeles-tour-HOHO.asp

You can use it to get around during the day, have it drop you in Beverly hills early evening for dinner, then take a taxi back! It goes directly from Hollywood to BH, so you could even have time to go back to the hotel and change. The starline tickets give you a discount at a bunch of *other* attractions as well.

 

[myladyfae]

I would suggest checking the schedule for anyone not booking during the summer months! Our trip starts October 11, and it is open only on Sunday October 11 during our Hollywood time, and we only do dinner that night. The next day it is open is Oct 15, we will be in DL. https://elcapitantheatre.com. I did not expect it to be closed, but they are not showing anything on the schedule when we are there.

They are showing Aladdin till October 4 then closed till October 8-11 for Hocus Pocus. Their next open day is Oct 15, showing The Black Caldron till the 18th. I was thinking of getting tickets before the tour starts but I doubt I can convince my hubby to sit through Hocus Pocus...lol!

Also, some of the in-park things could change, so don't read too many spoilers...we probably won't see fantasmic because it is not on the DL schedule for our park day...it is a Halloween Party night, in fact it is only showing once during our stay, which is on the CA night. Also because of the Halloween party, the in-park Disneyland dining might be at the hotel instead, it all depends on the schedule.

We might get other "surprises" or do different things because of he schedules. Hubby is really looking forward to Henson Studios, so if that was closed, we would not be going on the trip! He is a big Muppets fan...and yes I am looking forward to that too. I had fond memories of being allowed to stay up to watch the muppets!

Since we have not seen the theater I guess we won't know what we are missing!

White Rose, too bad we aren't on the same ABD- I too am a huge Henson nerd!!!

The Henson studio visit is the top reason I decided to do the trip. Also, if the new Muppet show does well, maybe we can visit the set at Disney studios >.>

 

[White Rose]

White Rose, too bad we aren't on the same ABD- I too am a huge Henson nerd!!!

The Henson studio visit is the top reason I decided to do the trip. Also, if the new Muppet show does well, maybe we can visit the set at Disney studios >.>

I am hoping to see that in oct! Fingers crossed it is there!!

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

What were the optional activities?

The optional activities on our California Adventure day were tickets to see Aladdin and the Frozen Sing-A-Long. We had just seen the Broadway Aladdin during it's Toronto run leading up to it's Broadway premiere so didn't really see the need to see the shortened version and with all the Frozen stuff offered at Disney World we were "Frozen"ed out. Also the one ride I REALLY wanted to go on and had been talking about since we booked the trip was California Screamin'. We opted to spend the time in the afternoon using our fastpasses and enjoying some of the rides. We actually rode California Screamin' twice in a row we loved it so much. We didn't find missing the optional activities to detract from our trip enjoyment at all.

Looking back if I was to do this trip again, I would skip these optional activities again as well as the wax museum on the first night.

 

[myladyfae]

Soooo with the news that a good portion of DL will be closing...2 weeks before our ABD! It got me wondering about if any of the BSM ABDs have ever gotten to go behind the scenes during construction there?

I have this faint hope that since we are with that group we'll still get to *see* the LillyBelle traincar wherever it is parked during construction! Heh.

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

Soooo with the news that a good portion of DL will be closing...2 weeks before our ABD! It got me wondering about if any of the BSM ABDs have ever gotten to go behind the scenes during construction there?

I have this faint hope that since we are with that group we'll still get to *see* the LillyBelle traincar wherever it is parked during construction! Heh.

Actually it's my understanding that really not all that much is shutting down. Big Thunder Ranch is closing permanently, the Riverboat, the Sailing Ship Columbia, the canoe boats, Tom Sawyer Island, Fantasmic and the train, nothing that's really Major, like a major attraction like Space Mountain. That's only at Disneyland, not California Adventure. When I went in February 2015 we had the Matterhorn down, Peter Pan, Splash Mountain, Winnie the Pooh and the everything having to do with Sleeping Beauty Castle as it was covered in Scrims. Also, World of Color wasn't showing at California Adventure, we had no nighttime parade at Disneyland and no fireworks. I was there when they were preparing for the Diamond Celebration.

Don't expect to see behind the construction walls. They had Critter country walled off and we didn't get to see back there. Also when we were at Imagineering, they have big black walls every where to prevent anyone seeing what they were working on.

 

[OKW Lover]

It got me wondering about if any of the BSM ABDs have ever gotten to go behind the scenes during construction there?

Usually safety considerations will prevent groups from going to a construction area.

 

[myladyfae]

It's all a matter of perspective I guess- I rarely go to the Mountains, But I *love* the railroad and TSI! Still I'd probably not be as sad if I didnt know those would be returning changed forever heh.

I could see safety keeping ABD out of the active construction areas, but not necessarily the docking areas? Ah well.

I am rather sad to hear that the imagineers cover everything up for visits though . I did sort of assume we'd get some sort of peek at what is up and coming.

 

[Cinderella's Slipper 2015]

We were told after the fact that they were working on Pandora for Animal Kingdom, hence all the secrecy. Only our guides were allowed to take pictures and only in certain areas.

As a side note, we also had Soarin', Grizzly River Run and the walking trail in Grizzly Peak closed at DCA park.

We only rode the train for a very short amount of time and it was to go from Toon Town to Main Street and we passed through the dino diarama area which was behind boards. We didn't see much of backstage beyond the 2 areas that we were taken to and neither one was anywhere near the train barn.

 

[OKW Lover]

I am rather sad to hear that the imagineers cover everything up for visits though . I did sort of assume we'd get some sort of peek at what is up and coming.

Keep your eyes open the whole time. Don't be afraid to look through partly opened doors or curtains that aren't fully closed.

 

[meryll83]

Thinking of also doing the Happiest Haunts tour while we're there next year, has anyone done this before/after the ABD this year and do you see enough different things that it's worth it?

And we're ABDing 9th Oct next year, did this weeks/next weeks ABD this year get MNSSHP included?

 

[meryll83]

Anyone?

 

[White Rose]

Thinking of also doing the Happiest Haunts tour while we're there next year, has anyone done this before/after the ABD this year and do you see enough different things that it's worth it?

And we're ABDing 9th Oct next year, did this weeks/next weeks ABD this year get MNSSHP included?

I want to make sure I am answering the right question.

MNSSHP is FL. I assume you mean mickey's halloween party in CA. Yes it is included this year! We are going tonight.
Every Trip Can Be different. I suggest calling next July or August to see if it is included or if there is one scheduled during your trip.

Sorry...been so busy having fun we have not had time to check the boards. What an amazing trip so far! Today is Disneyland. We just stopped for lunch...having a blast

 

[meryll83]

I want to make sure I am answering the right question.

MNSSHP is FL. I assume you mean mickey's halloween party in CA. Yes it is included this year! We are going tonight.
Every Trip Can Be different. I suggest calling next July or August to see if it is included or if there is one scheduled during your trip.

Sorry...been so busy having fun we have not had time to check the boards. What an amazing trip so far! Today is Disneyland. We just stopped for lunch...having a blast

Glad you're having an awesome time!

Didn't realise the parties were called slightly different things coast to coast - thanks for the education!

 

[White Rose]

Glad you're having an awesome time!

Didn't realise the parties were called slightly different things coast to coast - thanks for the education!

Sorry. Just wanted to make sure I answered the right question.

There are lots of slight differences that are awesome, and will throw you off if you are very familiar with one park over the other.

BTW... it is extremely out of control hot here. I mean HOT. Today was a "cooler" day, upper 80s. Ugh....and no afternoon rainstorm to cool it down. It seems more ride queues are uncovered for part of the way, or more outdoor time like splash and it's a small world. I would expect when it is not a heatwave, it is very very lovely. Last time we came in October the weather was much cooler and chilly at night. When it gets close to your trip watch the weather forecast closely when deciding what to bring.

 

[White Rose]

White Rose, too bad we aren't on the same ABD- I too am a huge Henson nerd!!!

The Henson studio visit is the top reason I decided to do the trip. Also, if the new Muppet show does well, maybe we can visit the set at Disney studios >.>

We did not visit any Soundstages, btw.

 

[meryll83]

Sorry. Just wanted to make sure I answered the right question.

There are lots of slight differences that are awesome, and will throw you off if you are very familiar with one park over the other.

Don't apologise, I would have carried on calling it the wrong thing and I have been known to correct people who are going to "Disneyland, Florida" so need to make sure I know my stuff if I'm going to critique others!