WOW!!! Had a great time and highly recommend for your first ABD. Before I go into details, I would like to recognize three groups that made this adventure special.
First - the guides and fellow ABD'ers. Our travel guides were Natalia and Andy - they were awesome. Our group had a total of 23 and all got along very well.
Second, I want to recognize Kevin Klose at Dreams Unlimited (DU), Kevin was our travel agent and, as a first time ABD'er and a total planner, was able to answer all of my questions and was always quick to respond and had complete and thorough answers. The DU "rebate" is well worth booking with them.
Third, I really appreciate all of the previous trip reports. I learned a lot from your experiences and was able to learn from your adventures.
PRE-TRIP - This was our first ABD and I booked thru Disney initially and then transferred my reservation to DU to get the rebate (as well as their reputation - I encourage everyone to look at their You Tube videos). My cost was $5,798 for the ABD plus $358 for one pre-night less $350 DU rebate for a total of $5,806.
After reading the previous trip reports and as a veteran traveler, I realize the time change from the east coast (we are from Florida) could impact the experience - so we spent a few days in Las Vegas before we went to Hollywood. There are many things to do in Las Vegas for kids and teens - we went to the Hoover Dam and went to several restaurants (my son is a foodie). This also enabled us to get used to the time change and we took a Saturday flight to LAX so we could see Hollywood and have a pre-day to see the area.
When we landed the driver was at baggage claim waiting for us. We went to the Loews Hotel - about 45 minutes - and we immediately got in our room at noonish. As soon as we said we were with he Disney ABD group, our room was ready (not sure if this was just luck or part of the magic).
The room was fine (not as good as the Bellagio in LV or the Grand California). After we got set in our room, we walked around Hollywood Boulevard - we wen to the Studio Store and had an Incredible Sundae and saw the Incredibles 2 movie at El Capitan. I HIGHLY recommend seeing a movie at EC - the cost was $56 for VIP seats (includes a drink and a souvineer popcorn bucket). The EC has a pre-show organ that plays Disney songs (totally awesome) and a short show (we had the incredibles - Mr and Mrs and Frozone and Edna) before the movie. There are less expensive options too.After the movie we just walked around the mall and had a relaxing evening. We also got a call from Natalia (ABD guide) who sent up a gift (a bag) and told up about the registration on Day 1 (meet at 10-11 or 2-3).
DAY 1 - we got up early and went to Roscoe's (one of the highly recommended places from the Food Channel). Was a $7 Uber ride and was good - but would not go again. Then we went to the Grove and the Farmers Market (thanks to Dis Unplugged) and had Bob's Donuts. AWESOME!!!!. If I would go again, I would go to the Farmers Market and eat there - really good. Then we took an Uber back to the Loews ($8) and got ready for the ABD dinner. We also met Andy and Natalia for the first time during registration - pretty simple and only action of significance is to pick your choice of a menu item for Tam O'Shanter.
We has the welcome dinner at 5:30 at the hotel. The welcome started with each family introducing themselves and playing a trivia game to see who gets pictures and dinner first (we were last and it took about 10 minutes - so no long wait). After dinner, we had a few "games", got instructions for Day 2 (breakfast at 7 and meet in Lobby at 8:15), got the Day 1 pin and Lanyard), and an "optional" activity to see the show at the Chinese Theatre (at 8 or 830 - they show images of movie stars on the front of the Chinese theatre - lasts about 10 minutes).
First - the guides and fellow ABD'ers. Our travel guides were Natalia and Andy - they were awesome. Our group had a total of 23 and all got along very well.
Second, I want to recognize Kevin Klose at Dreams Unlimited (DU), Kevin was our travel agent and, as a first time ABD'er and a total planner, was able to answer all of my questions and was always quick to respond and had complete and thorough answers. The DU "rebate" is well worth booking with them.
Third, I really appreciate all of the previous trip reports. I learned a lot from your experiences and was able to learn from your adventures.
PRE-TRIP - This was our first ABD and I booked thru Disney initially and then transferred my reservation to DU to get the rebate (as well as their reputation - I encourage everyone to look at their You Tube videos). My cost was $5,798 for the ABD plus $358 for one pre-night less $350 DU rebate for a total of $5,806.
After reading the previous trip reports and as a veteran traveler, I realize the time change from the east coast (we are from Florida) could impact the experience - so we spent a few days in Las Vegas before we went to Hollywood. There are many things to do in Las Vegas for kids and teens - we went to the Hoover Dam and went to several restaurants (my son is a foodie). This also enabled us to get used to the time change and we took a Saturday flight to LAX so we could see Hollywood and have a pre-day to see the area.
When we landed the driver was at baggage claim waiting for us. We went to the Loews Hotel - about 45 minutes - and we immediately got in our room at noonish. As soon as we said we were with he Disney ABD group, our room was ready (not sure if this was just luck or part of the magic).
The room was fine (not as good as the Bellagio in LV or the Grand California). After we got set in our room, we walked around Hollywood Boulevard - we wen to the Studio Store and had an Incredible Sundae and saw the Incredibles 2 movie at El Capitan. I HIGHLY recommend seeing a movie at EC - the cost was $56 for VIP seats (includes a drink and a souvineer popcorn bucket). The EC has a pre-show organ that plays Disney songs (totally awesome) and a short show (we had the incredibles - Mr and Mrs and Frozone and Edna) before the movie. There are less expensive options too.After the movie we just walked around the mall and had a relaxing evening. We also got a call from Natalia (ABD guide) who sent up a gift (a bag) and told up about the registration on Day 1 (meet at 10-11 or 2-3).
DAY 1 - we got up early and went to Roscoe's (one of the highly recommended places from the Food Channel). Was a $7 Uber ride and was good - but would not go again. Then we went to the Grove and the Farmers Market (thanks to Dis Unplugged) and had Bob's Donuts. AWESOME!!!!. If I would go again, I would go to the Farmers Market and eat there - really good. Then we took an Uber back to the Loews ($8) and got ready for the ABD dinner. We also met Andy and Natalia for the first time during registration - pretty simple and only action of significance is to pick your choice of a menu item for Tam O'Shanter.
We has the welcome dinner at 5:30 at the hotel. The welcome started with each family introducing themselves and playing a trivia game to see who gets pictures and dinner first (we were last and it took about 10 minutes - so no long wait). After dinner, we had a few "games", got instructions for Day 2 (breakfast at 7 and meet in Lobby at 8:15), got the Day 1 pin and Lanyard), and an "optional" activity to see the show at the Chinese Theatre (at 8 or 830 - they show images of movie stars on the front of the Chinese theatre - lasts about 10 minutes).
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