Dave and Allie's Excellent Adventure!: Adventures by Disney

Today is the first day of our second USA vacation together, and David's first time doing the Adventures by Disney tour. We are flying Qantas yet again (Allie refuses to fly another airline) from Melbourne direct to Los Angeles. While waiting for our flight, we grab a light breakfast at Hungry Jacks. A couple of hours of boredom pass and then it is time to board the 14 hour flight. We were lucky enough to have a row of 3 to ourselves so were able to spread out a little...which was a much needed relief.

As mentioned above, we will be guests on an Adventures by Disney Tour. Adventures by Disney are a travel company operated by Disney, offering tours across America and the world. Not all tours encompass the theme parks but you do get that Disney quality service they are known for, and experienced tour guides to show you around. The tour we are participating in is the Southern California tour (aka Backstage Magic) that goes for 6 days/5 nights and is very Disney-centric (our favourite thing).

Upon arrival in Los Angeles, we are met by a town car (organised by Adventures by Disney) to take us to our hotel for the next few days, Loew's Hollywood Hotel. This hotel is located in Hollywood right near Hollywood Blvd (famous for the walk of fame). We check in to our room and have a nice view of the swiming pool and the Hollywood Highland Shopping Centre.

The tour does not officially start until later this afternoon but you are able to meet the tour guides earlier (they have a little set-up). We decide to head down to the Adventures by Disney desk and say hello...and also to see if we have Michael as a tour guide. He was one of Allie's guides on her first tour back in 2009 and they have stayed in touch. Our tour guides for this trip are (drum roll please)....Sammy and Michael!!

We then head out on to Hollywood Blvd to look at the important stars, on the way stopping for a photo with the Hollywood sign in the distance (viewable from the Hollywood and Highland Centre) as well as a photo withh the El Capitan Theatre (owned by Disney and only play's their movies)...now on to a few select stars. Walt Disney actually has 2 stars, one for movies and the other for TV, while Disneyland has an honorary star dedicated for the parks 50th.

We then walked a few minutes off Hollywood Blvd for some In 'n' Out. You may remember we had this last year on our way back from Yosemite to San Francisco. Mmm, fries and burgers all round (although Dave's burger was Protein style, aka. lettuce wrap/no bun)

Michael had told Dave about an exhibit happening nearby, where a guy was displaying and then auctioning off his Disneyland props and goodies purchased throughout the decades. We decided to take a taxi and check it out. The lines were long to get in with the sun beaming down on us. Once inside we were met with photo opportunities with ride vehicles but more importantly air conditioning.

We then hopped in another taxi and headed back to our hotel to rest up before this afternoons official tour starts with dinner.

The nights festivities were held in a private room at the hotel. The room was decorated with 2 photos of Walt and a makeshift photobooth was set up for groups to take photos...Allie was more interested in getting a photo with the Walt photos then the photobooth but she'd have to wait. Everyone went around introducing their group and then dinner was served, buffet style. After dinner, we headed back to our hotel to rest up before tomorrows early start.