My D23 Disney Studio Lot Tour Experience! #HolidayGiftGuide #Feature #Disney #D23

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Hey All!

I recently had the amazing opportunity to take a fabulous tour of the Disney Studio Lot and see all the amazing places Walt Himself used to walk himself. I also got the opportunity to chat with the former Disney Geek Himself Jeffrey Epstein and…

The Disney Archives Founder and author of Disney Trivia from the Vault: Secrets Revealed and Questions Answered Dave Smith!

Dave showed us some amazing rare finds in the archives! He showed us what could very well be Walt Disney’s Last signature on a paper for a sale of stock that Walt Sold!

He signed this Walt E. Disney which makes it even more rare since he usually never signed it this way!

This is Dave’s personal autograph that Walt sent Dave after he met Walt when he was taking a stroll through Disneyland!

He also pointed out that these Mickey Portraits were made to mark a special anniversary and birthday of Mickey Mouse like 50 years old etc.

This tour is the same tour Disney D23 Members Receive! I am proud to be a card carrying member member and huge Disney Fan so this is just one of the amazing countless opportunities you get by becoming a member.I actually just renewed my membership and the package just came in the mail with my renewal gift pink and calendar!

I love showing off my adorable membership card! I digress…

You never know who you will get to give your your amazing tour with D23 on the lot! Jeffrey actually gave us ours and you never know if you might take a tour with the Original Disney Geek! And trust me he is a fabulous tour guide and loves giving tours to D23 Members! He gave us an amazing tour complete with secret passage ways, details about the complex ventilation systems used to maintain the animation cells as they worked back than, as well as the history of all the buildings on the lot!

You can see in the pictures above and below legends plaza! All the disney legends have their plaques of footprints and signatures here! You can see like the voice of Goofy and some of your favorite Disney Celebs here! You can also get the rare opportunity to take a picture with a Walt and Mickey Statue like those seen in the parks. This is the only place you can actually do this!

As I mentioned earlier, D23 Members have the opportunity to enjoy this two-and-a-half-hour tour that takes you through not only The Walt Disney Studios, but you also get to go to the Walt Disney Archives and see some amazing rare Disney Items with the D23 and the Archives staff.

The archives are actually 2 floors! The 1st floor entrance is seen about and the second floor is seen below.

When you enter the 1st floor you see this amazing sign.

They have everything from the Huge Wooden Wardrobe from the film “Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe” to the actual Snow Globe used in Mary Poppins on display!

You can even see my favorite…The hat used in Tron!

Or one of the original microphones from the Mickey Mouse Club!!!

This grumpy statue was just added since it was from the original Snow White ride in Walt Disney World, that has been closed down and remodeled due to the new Fantasy land.

You’ll also have the chance to see and visit many of the stages and see the remaining backlot street used in the taping of some amazing ABC Shows and Disney Classics such as ABC’s Brothers & Sisters, No Ordinary Family, Body of Proof, and GCB! The historic soundstages used for filming such Disney live-action movie classics as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Mary Poppins, and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

There is actually a sound stage dedicated to Julie Andrews since she first shot Mary Poppins in it and then came back o shoot the Princess Diaries in it years later. You’ll have to take the tour to find out which stage it is!

You also see this amazing Mickey Avenue/Dopey Drive sign used in The Reluctant Dragon! The corner is actually labeled Pluto’s Corner!

And even has Pluto’s Paw prints in the cement!

How adorable is that!!!

You’ll also get an up close and personal look at the impressive Disney Studios water tower (and find out why it has six legs!)

You’ll get to see where Walt’s office was…

Se the amazing lot theater where they screened so many classics…

And see and enter some of the amazing buildings where your favorite Disney classics were made!

Jeffrey again was an amazing tour guide and he even sat down with us after the tour to share some great things happening with D23.

Here are just some of what he shared with us:

This August, the third D23 Expo brings the entire world of Disney under one roof to Anaheim, CA… it’s the biggest Disney fan event in the world! D23 Members get special ticket discounts and additional perks at this astonishing event. They are doubling the sizes of the event areas and of the exhibit hall so you can imagine how amazing it’s going to be!
They may or may not be doing a tour of the Disneyland Dream Suite and dinner at the famous Club 33! You have to watch like a hawk for that event if it happens. I know I will.
D23 will be partnering with The Muppets in The Muppets Take Disney Store Manhattan! If I was in NYC you know I would be there!
D23 is partnering once again with Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen to have an event to make Gingerbread houses. Sadly this event is now sold out.

He wanted to point out that most Special Member-Only Events come with the option of bringing a non-member guest or some you can even bring 4 guests with you so the whole family can attend these events! – D23 Members also get signature events at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort, special film screenings and opportunities to see Disney movies before the general public, and many other events throughout the country and throughout the year. These one-of-a-kind experiences are created specifically for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club!

D23 is the world’s only official Disney fan club! And a Gold ($74.99) or Silver ($34.99) membership is a the PERFECT gift idea for any Disney Fanatic! Taking its name from 1923, the year Walt Disney founded his world-famous company, D23 brings its members a host of exclusive benefits.

Some MORE highlights of the memberships include:

Disney twenty-three Magazine – Our stunning, oversized, quarterly publication is included with all D23 Gold Memberships

Annual Member Gift – Each new and renewing D23 Member receives a special collectible gift from The Walt Disney Archives Collection. Gold-level D23 Members receive an extra four gifts a year that get sent with their copy of Disney twenty-three Magazine.

D23 Special Discounts and Offer – D23 Members can save hundreds of dollars by presenting their D23 Membership cards at dozens of select retailers and attractions (details can be found at www.Disney.com/D23Discounts).

D23 Website D23.com features Disney breaking news and behind the scenes exclusives from the Walt Disney Archives among many other perks!

I’ve shared time and time again how much I love being a member and if this post and tour showcased anything, I hope it showcased how amazing it is to be a member of D23! It does truly bring you some once in a life time experiences and memories that will last forever. I hope you’ll join me this holiday season in becoming a member of D23 or gifting someone this amazing opportunity to experience the magic of Disney in the most unique way! Come take a tour and experience the magic of Walt Disney!

I thought this would make an amazing gift this Holiday Season hence why it’s a perfect edition to this years Holiday Gift Guide!

You can also check out all my amazing photos of this fabulous tour in my Google Plus Album Here!

***Disclosure: I was not compensated or paid in any way for this post. I paid to be a member of d23 myself and was invited to take this tour and I am sharing this for the benefit of my readers. All opinions are my own.***