El Capitan Theatre Help

[tinker3]

On our next Disneyland trip we wanted to go to the El Capitan theatre in Hollywood. We have never been there or to Hollywood. It will be mid October, mid week and they will be showing Secretariat. Do you recommend buying tickets ahead of time (more expensive) with package, or trying to just get tickets that day? Any part of the theatre you recommend? Also, anything else to do or see in Hollywood that is nearby. We are a family of 5, me, hubby 3 boys ages 12, 9, 6. Any advice is appreciated . Thanks!

[Niwel]

Hollywood and Highland is across the street -- fun place to walk around, and you'll likely park there.

There really isn't a bad seat in the theater -- but if you do the VIP reserve, you get center seats on the first or second level.

Make time to grab some ice cream at the soda shop, too.

[CariBelle]

I agree with Niwel, the Disney soda shop is fun!
Next to Hollywood & Highland (a shopping/restaurant center) is Grauman's Chinese Theater which is where all those famous handprints in cement are. Running along the front of that and the El Cap is the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Hollywood sign is also visible from Hollywood & Highland. Just by parking in that little area I would say you can make a nice afternoon of it!

[cstephens]

On our next Disneyland trip we wanted to go to the El Capitan theatre in Hollywood. We have never been there or to Hollywood. It will be mid October, mid week and they will be showing Secretariat. Do you recommend buying tickets ahead of time (more expensive) with package, or trying to just get tickets that day? Any part of the theatre you recommend? Also, anything else to do or see in Hollywood that is nearby. We are a family of 5, me, hubby 3 boys ages 12, 9, 6. Any advice is appreciated . Thanks!

If you're going mid-week, I doubt that "Secretariat" will sell out, so you don't have to worry about not being able to get into a showing. Whether you want to buy the VIP package is another thing. We generally go VIP for shows there (we do general admission only under very specific circumstances) because we know what seats we like, and those seats happen to be VIP only, but it also means we don't have to get there really early to stake out seats that we'd want. We can show up right before the movie starts, and our seats are open for us. They are quite a bit more expensive, and with 5 of you, it'll be considerably more money for VIP than for general admission, so it depends on whether having a particular seat and not having to wait is worth it to you. With VIP, you get popcorn and a drink as well, but that's not enough reason to do VIP.

We like to sit in the balcony area since we think it's a better view than orchestra. The screen is pretty huge, so looking a little down at the screen is better than staring up at the big screen. One advantage to sitting in the orchestra area would be if they have a stage show since you'd be closer to that, but I don't think they have a stage show for "Secretariat".

I agree with Niwel to visit the Disney Store and Soda Fountain next door. They have a little cafe there with a fairly limited food menu, but you could definitely have a meal and/or dessert either before or after the movie. It's nicely decorated with animated movie stills up on the ceiling and pictures of famous Disney personalities on the walls. The Disney Store also usually has some kind of merchandise related to the film being shown next door.

Have a great time!

[kiowa]

If you want discount tickets, goldstar.com sells them for the El Capitan.

Hollywood and Highland is just a shopping complex, most stores you can find at any mall.

Strolling the Blvd and checking out the Stars on the Walk of Fame is good. Hand prints at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. If you want a good view of the HOLLYWOOD sign, top floor of Hollywood/Highland north side of the center court and you'll get a picture perfect view.

Do you plan on staying up there for a day or just a few hours?

[tinker3]

^ We will be able to stay for most of the day.

Great advice everyone, thank you so much .

[Z BRER FOX]

When you go to the ElCapitan sit in the balcony the seats have a great view and you do not need to pay the primium price to sit in the center of the theater..

Best time to see a movie there is when POTC comes out. Seen the past 2 there and they have a guy dressed up in a pirates costume playing a huge organ on the stage..

[cstephens]

Best time to see a movie there is when POTC comes out. Seen the past 2 there and they have a guy dressed up in a pirates costume playing a huge organ on the stage..

FYI, the organist is playing before every show. That Wurlitzer is pretty awesome, as is the organist.

[CMHusband]

I doubt it will be sold out. We went to see Toy Story 3 and the place was practically empty. By the way, its beautiful, also there is lots of historic photos upstairs in the lobby - In the heyday of Hollywood there were many premiers held there.
here's a few photos I took when we went.


ooops. see below. I made a boo boo.

[CMHusband]

[QUOTE=CMHusband;1589599]I doubt it will be sold out. We went to see Toy Story 3 and the place was practically empty. By the way, its beautiful, also there is lots of historic photos upstairs in the lobby - In the heyday of Hollywood there were many premiers held there.
here's a few photos I took when we went.





The Ceiling


The organist plays all the Disney Classics while waiting for the movie to start. then the organ sinks into the floor of the stage and disappears.

[DLANDLUVR]

Oh Im so excited for you to go to Hollywood for the first time! The El Capitan is beautiful....Its so cool. Im sure you'll love it. And I agree that you should go to the Disney Soda fountain right next door (Its basically attached). And have some yummy ice cream....Across is the Manns Chinese Theater which is so much to be around. There are some people hanging out in costumes there though that can get creepy so beware! haha.
Have fun and be sure to write about it....
First time. Wow....Ive lived here my whole life and always take it for granted...

[Sansarc]

There is lots to see on Hollywood Blvd., such as the Roosevelt Hotel (down the street from the El Capitan) where the first Academy Awards were held (1929). Also Ripley's Believe it or Not, Madame Tussard's, a Guinness World Record museum . . . those might be appealing for your boys? I find the "characters" parading in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater too aggressive, but you can easily get around them and tour the hand/food prints across the street by the theater. There are some nice places to eat in the Hollywood & Highland Center, too. Plus, there are some fun fountains and other things to look at there.

Also, on Hollywood Blvd., there are some truly classic "old Hollywood" restaurants, like the Pig 'n Whistle (dates back to the 1930s), and Musso & Frank's Grill (dates back to 1919). I'm not sure how close those are to the El Cap theater, though. You might have to drive and park again. However, if you're there for the whole day, it might be fun to see that end of Hollywood Blvd. There's also the Pantages Theater, another site for the Academy Awards (1949-1959) and a great Art Deco masterpiece, too.

[kiowa]

The Characters on Hollywood Blvd have been arrested and banned. There was a big round up a few months ago and while they try to come back I've seen police on numerous occasions approach them.

Hollywood Characters Banned

[CariBelle]

The Characters on Hollywood Blvd have been arrested and banned. There was a big round up a few months ago and while they try to come back I've seen police on numerous occasions approach them.

Hollywood Characters Banned

I was just there two weekends ago and they were out in full force. Spiderman on a lightpole, Batman, Jason Voorhies, Tinkerbelle, Jack Sparrow, etc.

[Marion Ravenwood]

Unless it's changed since a few weeks ago when I bought Secretariat tickets online, you can get regular/non-VIP seats ahead of time for the same price as walk up. Although, like others have said, I doubt waiting until you get there will be a problem.

I LOVE the El Cap! It's the place to see a Disney movie. You'll have a great time. My favorite place to eat is Mel's, which you can easily walk to from the theater. It's next door to the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum (hard to miss - there's a giant t. rex head sticking out of the top of the building). Someone else mentioned Musso & Frank's, my other favorite place to eat in Hollywood, but you would have to drive to get there, and Mel's is much more casual and low-key and kid-friendly than Musso's.

If you do end up at Musso's, sit at the counter, say hi to Manny, and order the tomato soup!

[cstephens]

Unless it's changed since a few weeks ago when I bought Secretariat tickets online, you can get regular/non-VIP seats ahead of time for the same price as walk up.

I just went to look. It lists the price of the ticket and then a charge of $2 listed under "fee". Did you get that as well?

[Bytebear]

We usually go to Mel's diner when we are up there. It's also in the original Max Factor building dating from the 1920s which also houses a Hollywood museum.

I found a photo tour of Hollywood, which can show you some of the highlights in the area. Most are within walking distance.

http://golosangeles.about.com/od/lap...od-Photo-Tour/


And I agree about the celebrity costume people. They are creepy and annoying.

[DLANDLUVR]

The Characters on Hollywood Blvd have been arrested and banned. There was a big round up a few months ago and while they try to come back I've seen police on numerous occasions approach them.

Hollywood Characters Banned

Oh believe me....They're just like a fly that wont die.
They will never go away.
Ever.

[tinker3]

WOW! What great advice, tips and beautiful photos. Can't wait! I think we will do lunch at Mels and get ice cream later at the soda fountain .

What do the costumed people want?? Are they selling something, or just there to entertain?

[cstephens]

What do the costumed people want?? Are they selling something, or just there to entertain?

They generally ask for a "donation" if you want to take a picture with them or want any of their wares. There is/used to be a VERY OLD Cinderella making fake flower bouquets. Most will stand there and wait for someone to come up to them, but others will approach people, and they can sometimes get aggressive.

[Sansarc]

Most will stand there and wait for someone to come up to them, but others will approach people, and they can sometimes get aggressive.

My family saw "Oceans" at the El Capitan this year, but I actually opted to explore the Hollywood/Highland Complex and Grauman's Chinese across the street rather than see the movie. And YES, I agree, those costumed characters were VERY aggressive. One of them followed me, almost like a mime. I'm not very tall, so I found this kind of frightening. They seem like badly decorated pan-handlers to me. Plus, they make the sidewalk more congested. And they call out to you -- which is also distressing. I think there's a way to actually enter the Hollywood/Highland shopping mall from the second floor and then follow a ramp down to Grauman's Chinese, so that you can avoid some of the characters.

Plus, park at the Hollywood/Highland Center and get your ticket validated at the El Capitan.

[kiowa]

Oh believe me....They're just like a fly that wont die.
They will never go away.
Ever.

Oh believe me I live in Los Angeles and work across the street and they are no longer around like they used to be.

[Marion Ravenwood]

I just went to look. It lists the price of the ticket and then a charge of $2 listed under "fee". Did you get that as well?

Oh man, my bad. I think what I was looking at was the screen after that one, which lists the normal price, but then after that in small print says "does not include taxes and fees." So it is an extra $2 per ticket online. Sorry for the bad info!