ABD Backstage Magic 2/20 - 2/25/11 *** Close to Selling Out***

[Merry Mousketeer]

I am still interested in sitting at Walt's table for dinner at the Tam. I suspect we'll be in a private area with ABD and with a limited menu. Carol said she won't join us for dinner, so that frees up a space at Walt's table.

I'm not sure about the 9:30 pm movie since we have to pack up and move hotels, but I would be interested in having dessert at the Disney Soda Shop next door to the El Capitan.

 

[stitchlover]

I'll take Carol's seat at Walt's Table!!! LOL!
Hope everyone is having a good day.

 

[DisneyKevin]

More new information.....

Because of Jimmy Kimmel deciding he needed a vacation, there are some other changes.

I've already told you about lunch at the Tam O'Shanter.

In addition, ABD has scheduled a guided tour of Beverly Hills and the homes of the stars. From what I understand, this is quite fun.

Also, the tour of Henson Studios has also been moved to day three. This will now be done in the morning with Imagineering in the afternoon.

Also....each guest will now get a gift card for lunch in the Magic Kingdom instead of lunch at Hillbilly Hootenanny or Hillbilly Hooters or Hillbilly Hoedown. This is the place where your food is served in a bucket and you sit at picnic tables. Personally.....I think the gift card for lunch on your own is an UPGRADE!!!

That's it for now!

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

Hi Kevin,

Welcome back! Thank you for the updates. I told Carol that ABD would substitute something else other than the TamO'Shanter lunch. I think the tour will be fun. I'm trying to remember which movie star's garden wall Lucille Ball climbed over to get the grapefruit on "I Love Lucy".

Billy Hill and the Hillbillies in the Golden Horseshoe is one of our favorite shows at Disneyland. We never miss them! I'm sorry we won't get to see them, but it is nice that ABD is giving us a dining gift card. I highly recommend Billy Hill - he and his brothers (Billy and Billy) are a hoot!

Michael

P.S. I just called Carol and told her about the tour and she is VERY excited. She has always wanted to see the homes of the stars.

 

[mikelan6]

Thanks for the update, Kevin! I hope you had a great cruise.

I think it's great that ABD has added a Beverly Hills and Stars' Homes tour. This got me thinking. Would it be possible to request a special stop? I know this may sound creepy, but I've always wanted to see Walt's final resting place in Forest Lawn and I could never go alone, but going in a group might be ok. I just thought it would be fitting for us, huge Disney fans to pay our respects to the man who dreamed it all.

Also, I'm a little confused with the lunch at Disneyland. The ABD itinerary quotes lunch at Cafe Orleans on day 4. I don't recall reading anything about Billy Hill in the itinerary. Does this mean we will not be eating as a group that day? Not that I care where we eat, I just wanted to all be together.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I'm trying to remember which movie star's garden wall Lucille Ball climbed over to get the grapefruit on "I Love Lucy".

I think it was Richard Widmark.

Billy Hill and the Hillbillies in the Golden Horseshoe is one of our favorite shows at Disneyland. We never miss them! I'm sorry we won't get to see them, but it is nice that ABD is giving us a dining gift card. I highly recommend Billy Hill - he and his brothers (Billy and Billy) are a hoot

I'm guessing that you can use your gift card there. Maybe we had an "off day" or an "off server". It would never be counted among my favorites. I'm just not a "picnic table" kinda guy.

I think it's great that ABD has added a Beverly Hills and Stars' Homes tour. This got me thinking. Would it be possible to request a special stop? I know this may sound creepy, but I've always wanted to see Walt's final resting place in Forest Lawn and I could never go alone, but going in a group might be ok. I just thought it would be fitting for us, huge Disney fans to pay our respects to the man who dreamed it all.

I'm not an expert in LA geography by any means....but I think Forest Lawn is closer to the studios of Griffith Park. I remember seeing the sign and asking about it and I think the answer was that Forest Lawn is a private cemetery and doesnt allow tour groups.

Also, I'm a little confused with the lunch at Disneyland. The ABD itinerary quotes lunch at Cafe Orleans on day 4. I don't recall reading anything about Billy Hill in the itinerary. Does this mean we will not be eating as a group that day? Not that I care where we eat, I just wanted to all be together.

Cafe Orleans was under renovation when we were ther in April and this was a substitute. If that's not the reasoning.....then I'm not sure why this is being done this way.

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

I've always wanted to see Walt Disney's final resting place, but it's my understanding that he is in a private section of Forest Lawn not open to the public.

I'd also enjoy driving by his home in Holmby Hills, but after Lillian's death the house was sold to help pay the inheritance taxes. The new owner fully intended to raise his family in the Disney home, but during the inspection he was told the house had lead pipes, asbestos and other issues that made it too expensive to repair. So, the house was torn down and replaced. All traces of the backyard railroad are also gone. So, I don't know if there's any point. Although Michael Jackson passed away just a few houses away from the Disney home.

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

I'm guessing that you can use your gift card there. Maybe we had an "off day" or an "off server". It would never be counted among my favorites. I'm just not a "picnic table" kinda guy.

Billy Hill and the Hillbillies are in the Golden Horseshoe where guests sit in small chairs at small round tables. It is a bit crowded. The Big Thunder Ranch BBQ has the picnic tables. There is an outdoor stage where they used to have a western-style musical show, but now I think there's a Woody's Roundup kind of show followed by a Meet & Greet.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Billy Hill and the Hillbillies are in the Golden Horseshoe where guests sit in small chairs at small round tables. It is a bit crowded. The Big Thunder Ranch BBQ has the picnic tables. There is an outdoor stage where they used to have a western-style musical show, but now I think there's a Woody's Roundup kind of show followed by a Meet & Greet.

Maybe I mixed two different things into one memorable (for all the wrong reason) event.

We ate at the BBQ thing with the 2nd string cast of Hee Haw and cold ribs and chicken served in silver pails at picnic tables.

There was a good deal of "yeehawing", "whoopin and hollerin" and 'Y'all havin fun????"

I'all wasnt.

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

You're right! Carol and I didn't enjoy the show much more than you did. That's probably why they replaced it with a Meet & Greet.

 

[Disney Enabler]

Michael thought some of you might want to eat at the Blue Bayou.

That morning we are eating at a breakfast buffet. I know where I am hoping and it is upstairs. Since we are eating at a buffet I am not sure if you would want a big lunch or a smaller lunch and a bigger dinner.

For Blue Bayou we would definately need a reservation which I bet ABD could help us secure - maybe even by the water. I looked up the lunch menu. I am not sure how much the lunch gift card will be but if this somewhere as group we would like to go we would need to throw in some cash since the entrees range from $25.99 - $36.99. The funny thing is the dinner menu ranges from $29.99 - $43.99.

It is just something to think about. Michael and I haven't eaten there in years. Just throwing it out there for discussion.

Carol
It's a great day to be alive!!!

 

[mikelan6]

I ate at the Blue Bayou at Tokyo Disneyland and it was ok. Overpriced in my opinion, kinda dark and a little noisy.

I also like Carol's suggestion of a place "upstairs" or maybe even an elevator ride up.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I ate at the Blue Bayou at Tokyo Disneyland and it was ok. Overpriced in my opinion, kinda dark and a little noisy.

I also like Carol's suggestion of a place "upstairs" or maybe even an elevator ride up.

I'm working that angle daily.

Patience grasshopper.

 

[skunkvette]

Thanks for the update Kevin, it sounds like the tour this time will be different from our experience last spring - that's a good thing!

Glad they dropped the BBQ experience, that was atrocious last time.

Curious that they moved Henson Studios to the third day, that means both Kimmel and Henson's are off the schedule for the second day, interested in seeing how the fill all that time, but I am sure they will.

 

[Puffpatty]

Mr. Puffpatty is very concerned about how all these changes will affect our Disney experience...so am I, although I know that the ABD CM will do their best to give us magic
(and I have complete confidence that Kevin will give them all he!! )

I understand how some of the substitutions work, but maybe we can iron out some of the kinks during chat tomorrow? (which I finally set on my phone alarm. I apologize for missing them thusfar)

Among some of the questions we have about this rescheduling:

-Does the exit of the JK tour mean no tour of the El Capitan at all? No organ demo?

- We'll have time to do Henson, Imagineering and the Archives in one day as opposed to a day and a half, as originally scheduled? Are we pushing everything back then timewise or shortening each tour? Slicing into Mickey's of Glendale time? (Mr. P is going to be so sad if we cut into the Muppets...that's the main reason why we booked this trip; he's a huge fan)

We didn't put ourselves down for the dinner at Tam (which works out now I guess since we are now going as a larger group)...but I wanted to speak on Mr. Puffpatty's behalf to say he wants dessert at the soda shop too during the free evening. Ice cream lovers unite!!!

As a side note, I can't wait for California weather...it's currently hailing/sleeting in NJ/NYC. blegh

 

[skunkvette]

Mr. Puffpatty is very concerned about how all these changes will affect our Disney experience...so am I, although I know that the ABD CM will do their best to give us magic
(and I have complete confidence that Kevin will give them all he!! )

I really believe you will not even notice any changes, the tour guides are fantastic, there is tons of things to experience and their work in coordinating all of our activities is seamless.

Each adventure is characteristically different and special, which is one reason that we booked again for the Backstage Tour in less than a year.

Looking forward to having fun in LA (as I watch another 10 to 15 inches of snow fall outside).

 

[Puffpatty]

Looking forward to having fun in LA (as I watch another 10 to 15 inches of snow fall outside).

oh where are you?

 

[mikelan6]

We didn't put ourselves down for the dinner at Tam (which works out now I guess since we are now going as a larger group)...but I wanted to speak on Mr. Puffpatty's behalf to say he wants dessert at the soda shop too during the free evening. Ice cream lovers unite!!!

ice cream??? Count me in!

 

[planaholic]

okay...there has been quite a lot of activity this afternoon.

1: Michael B. & Suzette, you two are definiately on my Walt's Table list for Monday night dinner. There is still room for one more at the table...and anyone else who care enough to eat at the Tam twice in one day at any of the other tables

2: I suppose I can pass up a flick at the El Cap, as I have been recently. Sounds like we should keep the 7pm ressie then meet up for 'zert at the soda fountain.

3: I can't even begin to follow the schedule changes (obviously, I never really read a schedule to begin with...but as long as we get to see henson studios & imagineering, I will withold complaints.)

4: I REALLY want to go to the Blue Bayou! I was going to make myself a reservation for Friday lunch (since I will be staying in DLR until late that night), but I would love to dine with other people during our tour. Let me know if there is something I should do about that reservation as I'm not sure what date our free lunch will be.

PS - has anyone noticed that the voice menu for DLR dinning/tour reservations sounds like it was recorded by a high schooler on 1993 answering machine? The audio quality is painful when they put me on hold, even the music is scratchy.

 

[jennselke]

All this planning makes my head spin. I have a friend who lives in Burbank and I am trying to set up dinner. It looks like Monday is on our own. Is that still the case. He was on Heroes (Puppetmaster) and an announcer on the price is right so I guess of any more of our trip gets re-arranged/cut maybe I can ask him to do a lecturette or tour. J/K - I am sure ABD works with changes all the time and still pulls of fabulous.