Dave and Allie's Excellent Adventure!: May 2020

In the words of Rapunzel "Best day ever!!"

Today is our 3rd day of touring with Disney and it is also Allie's birthday.

We start the day off by going to Starbucks in the hotel lobby to get a wake me up/pick me up drink. Allie is wearing her birthday button and the barista asks if it is really her birthday. Allie says yes and gets her drink free along with a birthday message on her cup.

After hanging around the lobby for what seems like forever, it is finally time to board the bus for the most action-packed tour day of the trip. Allie is surprised that the bus is decorated for her birthday, oh other people have August birthdays it's not just for me she tells Dave. However, she is then presented with a tiara and a birthday card that confirms it is all for her.

Our first stop of the day is Disney Studios in Burbank. This is another exclusive to Adventures by Disney unless you are a D23 member and are able to get into one of the few day tours that are offered sporadically throughout the year. We are given our credentials for the day and a voucher to get breakfast at the Commissary. Dave is ready to eat, but Allie want's to shop first...so we shop and then go to the Commissary to grab a bite to eat. Dave opts for a fruit salad while Allie gets a chocolate muffin.

While we wait for the tour to meet up we take this opportunity to get a few photos, including one of the 2 flag poles at the studios from the 1960 winter Olympics. Walt was gifted with one for being the chairman of the Pageantry Commitee, meaning he was responsible for the opening and closing ceremonies. The other flagpole was purchased by the Disney Company at a later date. We also took photos with the Mickey topiary and in front of the Hyperion Bungalow. This bungalow was originally located at the Disney's Hyperion Studios but was transported to Glendale when Walt and Roy brought the bigger studio lot with the profits from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves...meaning Snow White and classic Mickey shorts were both animated in here...ooh the history.

On the tour we passed in front of the Sherman Brothers Stage (aka Stage 2, where scenes from Mary Poppins were filmed) and took a couple photos.

We then came upon the animation building and were able to walk the hallways and see the artwork from past Disney productions that were proudly on display.

Next up was the Archives building, where we were able to see the multiplane camera that was used on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs up close.There are multiple versions of a multiplane camera by different inventors, however Disney's multiplane camera used up to seven layers of artwork (painted in oils on glass) shot under a vertical and moveable camera, giving a more sophisticated and refined look.

At the time of our visit, the Archives Lobby had a display on footwear used throughout Disney productions (the display changes every so often). Dave wanted a picture with some decked out roller blades, while Allie was more interested in getting photos with Walt pictures.

After hanging around in the After hanging around in the After hanging around in the Archives Lobby we were able to enter the Archives office and look around and take photos. At the time of our visit, the archives display in the office was Space/Future. We had a look around and were able to view the Disney Legends award and take photos with one of Disney's many Oscars.

It was then off to the Legends Courtyard located in front of the Michael Eisner Building (this is the building held up by the Seven Dwarfs), which has a Partners statue you are able to get up close to, a Roy and Minnie statue, tiles of all the past Disney Legends winners (including their hand prints if they were still alive to contribute these), and a lifesize Disney Legends Award Statue. The Legends Courtyard is Allie's favourite thing to do on the Studio Tour as she loves (slightly obsessed with...) the Partners Statue.

We were then back on the bus, heading a short drive away to Disney Imagineering (only available to tour with Adventures by Disney). We first head to the Grand Central Air Terminal to have our lunch. Lunch is set up on a table with a make your own set-up. Allie makes a roll while Dave creates a salad. Allie also grabs a slice of chocolate cake...which will end up being a mistake because....

Surprise!! Dave organised a birthday cake surprise for Allie (hence leaving her yesterday at Walt's table to take the phone call). He even secretly purchased a Donald Duck toy yesterday at the ice-cream social to decorate the cake with. Allie cuts up her cake and shares with the rest of the group. She manages a few bites but the cake is mostly wasted...but it was a sweet surprise from Dave and it was appreciated.

Due to industry secrets, no photos are allowed on the next portion of the tour but the guides are able to take a few in the statue room. We were given a tour of the Dish, a virtual room where the imagineers can test their rides virtually. We were able to experience Radiator Springs back when the imagineers were testing layout ideas. In another part of the Imagineering building, we were able to speak to an imagineer who worked on Mystic Manor in Hong Kong and shown a rough cut video of the ride. To end the day at Imagineering, we were taken to Mickey's off Glendale to shop. This store has exclusive merchandise for imagineers and is not able to be purchased elsewhere (except at the D23 expo that is held every 2 years).

We then boarded the bus, to head to Disneyland and our hotel for the duration of the tour Disney's Grand Californian Hotel. The day was catching up with Dave as he had a little snooze on the way.

Upon arriving, we checked into our room and were greeted with a pool view. Dave took the little leisure time we had to go down to the pool for a quick dip, while Allie watched from the balcony.

We then met the rest of the group in the hotel lobby and were given our Disneyland entry tickets to use for the next few days. We then all walked to Disneyland and headed to the French Market Restaurant, located in New Orleans Square for dinner. Allie for some chicken and rice dish and a few cakes, while Dave opted for fruit salad instead of cake. We were then able to ride Pirates of the Caribbean and have a look around the park before meeting back up with the group for that nights Fantasmic viewing. Fantasmic is a night time spectacular that takes place on the Rivers of America and features Mickey Mouse taking on the Disney Villains who have come to turn his dreams into nightmares. Afterwards, we headed out of Disneyland and back to the hotel to get some much needed rest before tomorrow's early wake up call.