Hollywood and Disneyland Tour 2025 Adults

[Grifdog22]

We did a terrific ABD Egypt trip in February and an outrageously cool Tauck midwest tour in April. We've just booked our 11th ABD trip as one we can't do anywhere else - going to the heart of the Disney empire- Disneyland. We will take a four day transcontinental Amtrak trip from Washington DC to LAX, on the Cardinal and the Southwest Chief. We arrive about 12 block from the hotel on day 1 at 8 am, freshly showered, rested and fed. We are on the Adults May 11 2025 trip. We again did not purchase ABD insurance due to all of the exceptions in the policy, and a policy from insure my trip was about 15% cheaper. (In the ABD policy, "civil war" is an exclusion for any coverage. Maybe it's always been there, but good gosh, what can I say?) We are adding a post night since the trip ends with a full ticket to the park, we want to use it. ($550 for the night and no breakfast, so at that price my expectations are very high). We will fly home the following morning. We are very much looking forward to the history, the background stories, and the "backstage" aspects of the trip.

I've read lots of threads on past trips here but for this adventure I'm left with more questions than answers, so please share your thoughts. "You're going to love this" doesn't give me any facts or foundations on the trip! The 2024 and 2025 itinerary appears to be the same.

While in Hollywood on day 2 there is a "special afternoon outing" after the Tam O'Shanter lunch - it would be helpful to have an idea of what this is so we don't duplicate it on our first arrival day. Since that afternoon and evening are otherwise on our own, what great things did you do that you would recommend? Since so much has changed since COVID I'm not sure that recommendations from 4 years ago are still available.

Day 3 includes "Walt Disney Imagineering Tour." Since I understood a couple of years ago the Imagineers were moved to Florida - what exactly did you tour? Are they still there or back?

It's been awhile since we were at Disneyworld, back then they had just introduced the magic bands. It looks like everything we need is loaded into an app on our phones - is that correct? DW REALLY wants to experience the Rise of the Resistance - does this happen on the trip? It always appears sold out/booked. Any suggestions on making sure this can happen for DW?

What was posted a couple of years ago may still be true - for the meals on our own, which are many, how do you make a dining reservation? To make one we have to have a trip reservation number, and there isn't one for us on these. What did all of you do for arranging dining reservations?

For the early admission (30 minutes) for the park, were there many things open? Anything we should aim for? What is the one thing you recommend we absolutely should not miss?

Thanks, Adventurers, for sharing.

 

[jimmymc]

The special afternoon outing on day 2 is something you are very unlikely to schedule on your own, since it's only open to the public once a month outside of the ABD tours. If you really want to know:

Spoiler: Spoiler

You visit Walt Disney's train collection in Griffith Park

An easy activity on the second evening is to see a movie at the El Capitan or Chinese Theater. If that doesn't sound appealing, there are plenty of other restaurants and bars in the area. You can take a cab to the Farmer's Market or see if there are any shows in the area. The Comedy Store and Laugh Factory are both nearby.

Imagineering's move to Florida was either cancelled or postponed indefinitely, I'm not sure which. All the things you would see in the past are still in California.

For your Disneyland ticket, you will get a paper ticket on the bus ride from Imagineering to Disneyland. You can add this to the app and manage everything in there. You can also use Magicband+, but you don't need to.

Rise of the Resistance wasn't part of the guided portion of my trip, but there is enough free time in the parks that you can book a lightning lane or wait in the standby queue. The line gets much shorter in the evenings.

We never actually used the early admission. On the two full theme park days, we were escorted into the park by the guides for special tour activities. And on the final day, we did breakfast in Goofy's Kitchen.

 

[Grifdog22]

The special afternoon outing on day 2 is something you are very unlikely to schedule on your own, since it's only open to the public once a month outside of the ABD tours. If you really want to know:

Spoiler: Spoiler

You visit Walt Disney's train collection in Griffith Park

An easy activity on the second evening is to see a movie at the El Capitan or Chinese Theater. If that doesn't sound appealing, there are plenty of other restaurants and bars in the area. You can take a cab to the Farmer's Market or see if there are any shows in the area. The Comedy Store and Laugh Factory are both nearby.

Imagineering's move to Florida was either cancelled or postponed indefinitely, I'm not sure which. All the things you would see in the past are still in California.

For your Disneyland ticket, you will get a paper ticket on the bus ride from Imagineering to Disneyland. You can add this to the app and manage everything in there. You can also use Magicband+, but you don't need to.

Rise of the Resistance wasn't part of the guided portion of my trip, but there is enough free time in the parks that you can book a lightning lane or wait in the standby queue. The line gets much shorter in the evenings.

We never actually used the early admission. On the two full theme park days, we were escorted into the park by the guides for special tour activities. And on the final day, we did breakfast in Goofy's Kitchen.

Thank you very very much. I didn't click the spoiler based upon your answer - and I thank you for that as well. As usual, you folks are an amazing group that really makes these trips more fun.

 

[Mathmagicland]

What was posted a couple of years ago may still be true - for the meals on our own, which are many, how do you make a dining reservation? To make one we have to have a trip reservation number, and there isn't one for us on these. What did all of you do for arranging dining reservations?

For the early admission (30 minutes) for the park, were there many things open? Anything we should aim for? What is the one thing you recommend we absolutely should not miss?

I can maybe help with a couple of these from a frequent visitor perspective-

Dining reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance, no park reservation or trip reservation number needed to do so. You can use either the D-Land website or the app, you will need to be logged in to your Disney account.

For early admission, it will be one of the parks each day. For D-land, they open most of Fantasyland and most of Tomorrowland. For Calif Adv, it is usually Carsland, Guardians of the Galaxy, I think WebSlingers in Avengers Campus. I will be there in a couple of weeks and can confirm.

 

[jimmymc]

Thank you very very much. I didn't click the spoiler based upon your answer - and I thank you for that as well. As usual, you folks are an amazing group that really makes these trips more fun.

You're welcome! And on the dining reservations, they are way less competitive than at Disney World. Just go online 60 days from the day you want to dine and there should be plenty of availability. Aside from your final day in the park, I think the only meal you would really need a reservation for is dinner on the full Disneyland day. All three mornings include huge breakfasts.

 

[Mathmagicland]

One dining reservation very hard to get is for Blue Bayou. I haven’t been able to snag one in the past two years! Carthay Circle can be tough at times, but I find availability there every once in a while, depends on time of year.

 

[AquaDame]

Trader Sam's is another that is rough; either you're ready when they drop or you have to luck out later with a random cancellation or try walk up.

 

[OKW Lover]

A very special dining reservation that is popular is the Chef's Counter at Napa Rose. Limited availability and it books quickly.

 

[Rowlf the Dog]

Took the trip last October. For early entry there was no time but also no need. One the first full day in DL, we all met early in the lobby for our DCL visit including breakfast, driving 1-2 rides together and a behind the scene look of one attraction. Day 5 you will be in the parks before everybody else and will hit most of the Fantasyland-rides before a breakfast and going backstage again. On day 6 you have the farewell-breakfast. You get plenty LL-passes per day, valid for all rides except RoR, so you can easily fit in all rides

 

[Grifdog22]

I'm now more than a little concerned that this trip may be a mistake. Apparently this Adults only ABD trip beginning May 11 takes place during the California Disneyland graduation days/nights. One park closes early for their private party and otherwise tickets allow a deluge of teenagers across the parks. I understand from reading up on this that it is as crowded and unruly as any high holiday.

I knew nothing about this when I booked this trip, and my very limited conversation with ABD was that I did not purchase cancel for any reason insurance and the reservation doesn't move. I also did not realize how very few adult only trips were out there.

I have no knowledge of what the parks are like during these events - perhaps I am overthinking it remembering how Disneyworld was at Christmas and New Year's Eve some years back...If anyone has been on a mid-lateABD trip and encountered these events, please share with me your thoughts and comments.

In less than two weeks my transcontinental booking on Amtrak will convert to a regular booking and I cannot then make adjustments on the dates, so I really have a limited window to address all this.

Once again, I call on the experts, one of which has alerted me to this problem and strongly suggested we move the reservation. That isn't apparently as easy as it used to be.

Thanks, once again, for your help.

 

[sayhello]

I'm now more than a little concerned that this trip may be a mistake. Apparently this Adults only ABD trip beginning May 11 takes place during the California Disneyland graduation days/nights. One park closes early for their private party and otherwise tickets allow a deluge of teenagers across the parks. I understand from reading up on this that it is as crowded and unruly as any high holiday.

I knew nothing about this when I booked this trip, and my very limited conversation with ABD was that I did not purchase cancel for any reason insurance and the reservation doesn't move. I also did not realize how very few adult only trips were out there.

I have no knowledge of what the parks are like during these events - perhaps I am overthinking it remembering how Disneyworld was at Christmas and New Year's Eve some years back...If anyone has been on a mid-lateABD trip and encountered these events, please share with me your thoughts and comments.

In less than two weeks my transcontinental booking on Amtrak will convert to a regular booking and I cannot then make adjustments on the dates, so I really have a limited window to address all this.

Once again, I call on the experts, one of which has alerted me to this problem and strongly suggested we move the reservation. That isn't apparently as easy as it used to be.

Thanks, once again, for your help.

They won't let you move the reservation? They used to allow you one move of a reservation before Paid in Full. When did that change??? I am livid that nobody told you about it being Grad Night when you inquired about the trip. Honestly, I can't understand why they would even *offer* the trip during Grad Night! That really is just ridiculous. Seriously ridiculous. ABD is seriously doing their best to turn us off to doing their trips!! But I guess they just don't care....

Sayhello

 

[jimmymc]

I'm now more than a little concerned that this trip may be a mistake. Apparently this Adults only ABD trip beginning May 11 takes place during the California Disneyland graduation days/nights. One park closes early for their private party and otherwise tickets allow a deluge of teenagers across the parks. I understand from reading up on this that it is as crowded and unruly as any high holiday.

I knew nothing about this when I booked this trip, and my very limited conversation with ABD was that I did not purchase cancel for any reason insurance and the reservation doesn't move. I also did not realize how very few adult only trips were out there.

I have no knowledge of what the parks are like during these events - perhaps I am overthinking it remembering how Disneyworld was at Christmas and New Year's Eve some years back...If anyone has been on a mid-lateABD trip and encountered these events, please share with me your thoughts and comments.

In less than two weeks my transcontinental booking on Amtrak will convert to a regular booking and I cannot then make adjustments on the dates, so I really have a limited window to address all this.

Once again, I call on the experts, one of which has alerted me to this problem and strongly suggested we move the reservation. That isn't apparently as easy as it used to be.

Thanks, once again, for your help.

Did ABD confirm they can't move the reservation? I'm very surprised that's an issue this early.