Celebrating the Holidays at Walt Disney Studios Hollywood
A couple weeks ago, my parents and I attended D23's "Light Up the Season" event at the Walt Disney Studio in Burbank, CA. The Studio isn't open to the public very often, so I wanted to take advantage of an opportunity like that.
For those who aren't familiar with it, D23 is the ultimate Disney fan club. It's essentially a community for all of the Disney fans, including special events, the Expo in August and other exclusives, like newsletters and merchandise.
Due to the weather, plans changed a bit and they would start letting us into the studio by 1 p.m. We had lunch before we arrived, then got there as soon as possible. The weather was rainy and cloudy when we arrived, which wasn't fun, but we came prepared with umbrellas. We thought they'd already let everyone inside, so we went to the check-in table, where they were able to help us check in early. They scanned our tickets, gave us wristbands and also gifted us with a special D23 ornament.
After waiting in line for about 20 minutes or so, they let us in.There were game booths lined up upon entering, so we played a few of those - trying to knock down Christmas trees or land a ball in the correct basket for a prize. At the end of the row, you could take a picture with Homer and Marge Simpson with a cartoonish backdrop that resembled the inside of their house.
Along another stretch, there were other booths set up with crafters and more exclusive items to buy, such as Disney makeup, Marvel jackets and more. Being that it is Christmastime, I wanted to buy all of the things for my friends and family, but alas, that was impossible. There was also a hot cocoa and cookie bar for a special treat.
The iconic stage 2 was host to a myriad of activities, including carnival type food, a carousel ride, photo opportunities and even meeting the famous mouse himself. There was even a line to spin a wheel and get a special prize. You could also get a picture in a Frozen 2 decorated set, so of course we did. Disney really has a way with the details, and no matter how old you are, you feel just like a kid again, in awe and wonder with the magic in front of you.
Once we'd wandered for a bit, and made an Olaf gift bag in the craft corner of the lot, I wanted to look in the employee only store.
In the employee only store, there where there were many items only available to employees. We waited a bit and then realized it was going to take much longer than we anticipated. We'd waited an hour-and-a-half, barely making it to the end of the lot street. It took us three hours in total to get inside. It was cold, our legs were restless and we were growing impatient. But, we had some fun people in our line to keep us company. There were a lot of items from Marvel, Star Wars and general Disney items to purchase. It was extremely packed, so we basically just got in line and made our way through the store, picking up items here and there as we saw them.
By the time we got in the store, it was dark. We missed the tree lighting, but were able to hear the music, the dj and see bits and pieces of the light show. So, was it worth it for the exclusive employee only Snow White backpack? Absolutely.
Once we finished at the store, we stopped by the Christmas tree to get our picture in front of it and watch the light show a little closer. Watching the snow fall, which I'm fully aware was just bubbles flying out of a tiny machine, was still so magical. Like everything in the world just went away for a minute, and it was only me, not worrying about what my life was going to become, just accepting what it was for that moment.
There were rides, photo ops, treats galore and screenings of Disney holiday shorts. While we saw most of it, we probably did skip a few things, like missing our photo with Santa Goofy, because we spent so much time in the employee store. But, it was still fun.
Before we left, we walked through the commissary to use our $6 voucher for a snack. I got a mini pecan pie and an iced tea, then we decided it was time to head home, since the event was winding down.
There's just something about walking through the studio lot with all of the lights and Christmas decorations aglow that really makes you feel like you've really experienced a special moment.
BONUS: One of my very favorite parts of the studio is seeing all of the Disney Legend honored near the entrance of the lot with handprints from some of the coolest people around, including Oprah Winfrey, Garry Marshall and Elton John. I also was able to see the studio where they filmed Home Improvement. That was very exciting!
All in all, an extremely fun time and makes me want to participate in other D23 events in the very near future. If you have an opportunity to visit the Disney Studio in Burbank, take the opportunity!
That's all for now,
Shelby