DISNEY SURE KNOWS HOW TO THROW A PARTY

Thursday, we drove up to Hollywood to go to the movie theater owned by Disney, The El Capitan. We were going to see Toy Story 3 in 3D.

I love going to this theater to see movies. Of course, they are all Disney or Pixar movies. So it's always fun for the whole family.

Trinity took her best friend, Jesse with her. If you remember being a kid, no matter what you do, it's always twice as fun if you have your friend with you.

We had to wait outside to get in. The line was long and it was hot out. We did have a great place in line though as we got there early. So we, got to sit while we wait.

The girls had matching shirts with Jesse on them and GIRLS RULE, which is their favorite saying.

Inside the theater was a cute photo op they had set up. You could climb inside the large box and become the Newest Action Figure from Toy Story.

Going inside the theater is fun. It's an older theater and so they kept a lot of the old charm from the Good Ol' Days. Like the man playing the organ before the movie starts. They also showed a short animation that reminded me of the days they always had a cartoon before the actual movie.

There is a balcony and also side box areas. Sometimes, they have a show before hand with Disney characters and they will show up here.

No pre show this day though. They had a special thing planned for after the show. We couldn't wait to see what it was.

Before the show starts, the organ disappears down into the stage, the lights go dim and the curtains start to open. Several layers of curtains appear and each one has a pretty light show.

They showed some fun previews. Then it was time to put on the 3D glasses and enjoy the show. It was a great movie. Very cute and even a bit sad.

After the movie we were lead outside and over to Hollywood High School across the street to the Fun Zone.

Everything there was included in the price of the movie ticket, with the exception of any food or drinks you may want or things you may want to buy in the gift shop.

The shows, rides, games and activities were all there to enjoy, over and over.

Even the stars of the shows were there. Here is my sister, Patty hobnobbing with cast. They welcomed her into their group like she was one of the family.

The Fun Zone is open to everyone who sees the show for 2 1/2 hours. Then you must leave and the next group of movie goers get to have fun.

By doing this, the place is never overly crowded and there is plenty of time for everyone to have lots of fun.

You could race a Slinky over at The Slinky Dog Super Steps. Even I had fun playing around here.

Crazy tall man was walking around making everyone laugh.

All the games had a theme of something from the movie.

The way they set things up was really great and everything was decorated so cute. They really outdid themselves.

Rex's Race was one of the more popular places. Friends and family would race each other on tricycles and whoever won got a free ice cream.

The biggest draw was Bullseye's Bungee Jump. Of course this is where Trinity and Jesse wanted to go first.

Trinity shot up in the air so high it looked like she could hop off onto the top of Hollywood High's roof.

Jesse went way up too. You can see the Roosevelt Hotel in the background.

We took in a show called Dancing with with the Toys. At the end, everyone gets up and dances too. Lots of fun seeing all the kids dancing and having a blast.

Tons of toys to play with got the attention of most of the kids. Here Jesse and Trinity is playing with LEGOS. Is there any kid that doesn't love LEGOS?

Sunnyside Daycare is where the Toys (in the movie) were sent and they try to escape. So there was a big area set up with that theme too.

They had things like a Maze and things that the kids had to go through, under, over and around in an effort to escape Sunnyside Preschool.

Each area was named after one of the Toys at the school. Like Big Baby's Bumpers.

The girls doing a great job of getting across without touching the ground.

Swinging on a rope to jump from one area to another without falling in the "pit" was a great place to watch big smiles on the children's faces.

There was even a playground set up with swings and slides. Just like the kids in the movie had.

Oh my! It appears my sister, Maureen, may have found a date for this weekend. Why that's Ken! I wonder if Barbie and Maureen's husband know about this?



Of course, being the animal lover that I am, I enjoyed my time with Rex and Bullseye.



Somehow, Maureen, got talked into the Rex Race with the girls. Here they are with their bike helmets on waiting for their turn.



And...they're off! They raced around the course and Jesse was the winner. Way to go Jesse!

It was then time for the Ferris Wheel.

I love Ferris Wheels. They remind of Summer fun and being a kid. I enjoy going to top and getting to look around. I was always happy when someone on the opposite side from me had to get off and I would get to stay on top for an extra minute while they got off.

The girls did everything there was to do there. They even made a visor to take home. We enjoyed a snow-cone and by the time our 2 1/2 hours were up, we were all ready to go.

We had a blast and were all tired.

Since we parked over at the Kodak Theater, the girls had to stop in Build A Bear at the attached mall. They both got a big animal and a small one to take home.

We ate dinner in an effort to let the traffic die down before we headed home. It was a great way to rest up and talk about the fun we had.

I took this final picture outside the restaurant and then we left. Good bye Hollywood. We will be back soon!

AWARD SHOW PARTY

With all the award shows that have been going on and of course the Academy Award Show coming up I thought I would show you one of my Academy Award parties.

Maybe you can use some of these ideas for your own up coming party.

I believe the fun of the party really starts with the invitation to the event. Sadly I didn't take a picture of my invitation. I wasn't blogging yet. You can be sure I will from now on. LOL

Get your guest in the mood as soon as they pull up. I had a sign in front of our house saying "Star Limo Parking Only".

I didn't have a red carpet and it was way to costly to buy one so I just got a red paper carpet. The front door was also decorated.


Inside the guests were treated to chocolate dip strawberries decorated to look like they were wearing a tux. Very easy to do and very yummy!

Decorate the area where the Award show will be watched. You can buy cut outs at most party supply stores or on line.

We also had our own Hollywood Walk of Fame. I purchased these tiles that look like the stars have in Hollywood. You get some gold stickers with them so you can put the name of your guest, the names of your family members or even real star names.

I made a "Hollywood" museum in one of our cabinets. I put out videos or DVDs of some popular movies and then added "props".

I know it's hard to see but the top is Gone With The Wind. The "prop" was a vintage hankie. The photo shows Scarlett using a vintage hankie.

Then there was Sideways and a "prop" bottle of wine. Next to that was Starship Troopers (have you even heard of that movie) and the prop was a REAL prop from the movie. Patty and I were extras in that movie and took the pom poms we used in our scene.

Next there was the movie Casino and the props were cards, dice and a glove that they used hand out in Vegas so you don't get dirty handling all the money from the slots.

Below that was Titanic and fancy earrings were the prop. Along with Casablanca and bar glasses for the prop.

The last was Sisterhood and a T Shirt that was given to all the actors in the movie. Again that was real as Patty and her friend Julie were the Stars, oops I mean, extras in that movie.

The table held the "Swag" bags for each guest.

Lots of little Oscar statutes were made from white chocolate and then painted with edible gold.

Each person got one of the Oscars with their cheesecake that was served with a HOLLYWOOD sign written in chocolate.

As the guests left for the evening they were each given a goodie bag full of candy, a bag of popcorn, a movie gift certificate, a Hollywood clap sign key chain and a pin in the shape of the pink stars on Hollywood Walk of Fame.

We also played games. We did bingo with things that could happen at the award show. Things like, a star trips as they go up to accept the award, a star thanks their mother and so on. Then we had a "Hollywood" trivia game and of course who picks the most winners. Whoever won got a movie pass/gift certificate.

I'm already planning for this years Academy Award Show party. How about you? Do you throw a party for any of the award shows?

HURRAH FOR HOLLYWOOD!

This is the famous Hollywood sign up in the hills. It can be seen for miles and miles away.

It stands watching over the City. You can almost hear it speak, as it calls your name, bring you closer and closer, on your search for the Glitz and Glamour of the by-gone days of HOLLYWOOD!

As you drive down the 101 Fwy if you look to the right you see the Hollywood sign. Look to left and you see the high rise buildings that make up the skyline of Los Angeles.

It's not as impressive as the New York skyline, but, it still makes your heart beat a little faster as you know you are about to hit the City that has so much to offer you. The City where all your dreams can come true...if, you are one of the few lucky ones.



Once you get off the freeway, onto Hollywood Blvd, you will see some of the fun places to stop at. Places like Ripley's Believe it or Not museum.

If you enjoy seeing world records being set then you must stop at the Hollywood Guinness Museum. Here you find some of the many things that have been done in order to get into the Guinness World Record Book.

If you enjoy watching plays or musicals then you would enjoy a trip to the Pantages. This beautiful theater has been redone and is a sight to see on it's own. Let alone the great stage shows they present.

This is where many of stars go.

As you can see WICKED is playing now.

Across the street from Grauman's Chinese Theater is The El Capitan Theater. This is owned by Disney and shows only Disney and Touchstone movies. Before the show there is a live performance by some of the Disney characters. Often downstairs in the basement you will find movie props or drawings from the movie that is being shown.

Next door to the El Capitan is the Disney Soda Fountain. Here you can can sit down and have lunch or a yummy ice cream sundae. There is also a gift shop full of fun Disney items that you can't anywhere else.

We parked at the Kodak Theater. This is where the Academy Awards are held. Last year's American Idol's final show also took place here. It is attached to a large mall with lots of shops and places to eat.

This is where you enter into the Theater. Think of how many stars have walked this same path. I bet some of your favorites have walked through those doors.

This is Grauman's Chinese Theater. Movies are still playing here. I've never been inside but I hear it's a very large movie theater just like they used to have. Many premieres have been held here.

Outside the theater is where the stars foot and hand prints can be found as well as several people dressed up as old time movie stars or characters. You can pay them $5.00 if you want a picture with them.

Looks like someone forgot to tell these girls that Marilyn Monroe was NOT a twin.

There are many many people walking around. They want their pictures taken of themselves as they step in the foot prints or place their hands on the same spot as their favorite stars.

On the sidewalk, next to the foot and hand prints you will find the Stars Walk of Fame. These stars line the streets for miles.

Did you know, that before anyone could get their own star, someone who already has a star has to nominate them. Then they have to pay thousands to have a star made up before they could be honored and recieve their own star on the Walk of Fame? I wonder who the first person was who got their star. Do you know?

Here is Halle Berry's star. Due to the sun shinning, it was hard to get pictures of the stars without a glare or shadows.

Here is Johnny Depp's hand and foot prints. All the blocks are signed and dated by the stars.

New blocks are roped off for several weeks so people don't stand on them until they are completely dry.

Here is Ol' Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra's prints.

Kevin Costner's print had several men trying to see if their hands and feet were the same size as his.

Joan Crawford made this one back in 1929. The women's feet all look so small back then. I think it's because they all wore high heals tried to squeeze their feet into smaller size shoes. For some reason they thought smaller feet looked more feminine back then. I say they were foolish! High heals hurt enough without getting the shoe to small to begin with.

The Roosevelt Hotel is where the first Academy Awards were held. Many of the stars used to live in the Hotel. Stars like, Carol Lombard and Clark Gable had a suite there. They still have it named after them and you can now sleep where they did.

This Hotel is said to be haunted by the ghosts and spirits of some of the rich and famous guests that stayed there. They say, such good times were had here that some of those who died refused to leave the Hotel.

Those who believe these stories claim they are all true. Those who don't believe, just laugh and roll their eyes.

What about you? Do you believe?

This is one of large rooms where the rich and famous would hang out, have drinks and dance the night away.

As I stood in this room, I felt a sense of others being in there with me, yet I didn't see any ghosts or anything that lead me to believe anyone else was there with me.

However, when I got home, I looked at the photos I had taken of the day and this one is the only one that had an orb in it.

Now it could just be a coincidence or it could be the presence I felt? What do you think?

This is part of the main lobby.

Another part of the big lounge.

This is where you check in. I hear it cost several hundreds of dollars to stay here.

I guess if you are a big fan of the Golden era, you would think it was worth it.

I hope you enjoyed your walk around Hollywood today. Tomorrow we are going to Rodeo Drive. This is a famous spot where many of the rich and famous shop. Who knows if we will run into any stars there. One never knows.

Hugs,

Joanne