Anaheim, Hollywood, Long Beach and Mariner – Hollywood 01

[carolynn38]

Before we had come away we read that there was a Mimi’s café near Disney and it was meant to be very good. On their website (if you sign up) there was an offer for a free breakfast entrée so we had signed up and got the voucher.

As we had just about used up our free credit at the Sheraton Park, we decided to check out and head over here for breakfast on the way to Hollywoof (what a couple of cheapskates we are! )

Anyway, how glad were we that we did this as the breakfast was superb, and even though we were only paying for 1 it was sooooo cheap anyway. I highly recommend anyone to do this. If it had been nearer it may have been nice for us to go here for dinner.

So both fully fed, we headed out to Hollywood and the Renaissance.

Unfortunately we didn’t have free parking here, but we had heard it was quite cheap to park at the adjacent Hollywood and Highland centre so we headed there. I unloaded at the front of the hotel and checked in whilst Tony drove round and parked the car.

I did ask again for a high floor room, king bed with Hollywood sign view, but didn’t get the view unfortunately. We did get a disabled room though, so the bathroom was huge. The room was lovely, nicely decorated, very clean with quite contemporary fittings. Loved the huge windows.









We quickly unpacked and headed out. The plan was to try and get on a Starline tour to see the homes of the Celebs. We figured this 2 hour tour would also give us a quick insight into downtown Hollywood – where everything was etc. The office was located just outside the hotel. The hotel itself is actually attached to the Kodak Theatre and the Hollywood and Highland Shopping Centre – very handy and central.

We were really lucky as there was a tour leaving in the next 15 mins and in an open top van also – excellent as it was really nice and warm.

While we waited we had a quick look round the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre next door, and had a nosey at the hand and footprints.

[carolynn38]

The bus was full with a mixture of nationalities, and we had a lovely lady driver who told us she was actually a comic in ‘real life’.

So off we set to see where all the stars lived…

I have loads of pics taken on this tour, and it’s a bit of a muddle which is whose home, so I will just put down the ones I’m sure of

This house was used in the making of "Father of the Bride" and "Father of the Bride II" – it looks so much smaller in real life.



The Laugh Factory



The Hyde Lounge where quite a few scenes are set from the TV series Entourage (one of our favorites)



Chateau Marmont



The Standard Hotel – used by Brad Pitt in Oceans 11



Saddle Ranch – this is where Susan got drunk and rode the Bull in Desperate Housewives



Comedy Store





Dan Ackroyd’s House of Blues – apparently he had to pay a stupid amount of money to be able to have the place look like this.



Mel’s Drive In

[carolynn38]

Ketchup owned by Ashton Kutcher



The Viper room which was owned by Johnny Depp and where River Phoenix died.



Apartment building where Elton John owns the entire top floor and where Matthew Perry lives.



Then it was into Beverly Hills…



Gates and gatehouse used in many films inc Batman.





The main house was also used in many films, including X Men.



Sharon and Ozzys gates from the house which was used in the filming of ‘The Osbournes’. The guide told us Ozzy often came out to say hello.



This was the house of ‘Dr Phil’. Can you see the car that has just pulled inside. Well before the gates closed he got out of the car (with his little dog) and waved at us – it may have been more exciting if we had known at the time who Dr Phil was. We did actually see his TV show a few nights later.



Fresh Prince of Bel Air House

[carolynn38]

Posh and Becks house



And of course the house of Michel Jackson where he died. This is the driveway the ambulance was pictured leaving. In fact a Starline tours bus was here when it happened and you can actually see it in some of the news reports.





Entrance to Hugh Heifner’s Playboy Mansion.



This house is currently on sale for $500 million – it is owned by the Widow of the famous TV producer Aaron Spelling (father of Tori). Apparently the owner doesn’t know exactly know how many rooms it has, but it does have a room dedicated to gift wrapping.



Old home of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston



Nicholas Cage – this is apparently up for sale.



Home of Nancy Reagan – she still has special services protection and the gate house window is made of bullet proof glass.



Jennifer Lopez (who is next door to the Jona Brothers



Beverly Hills Hotel

[carolynn38]

Rodeo Dive – this is the actual shop where Julia Roberts went in and said ‘big mistake!’ – bet they get sick of people saying that now![IMG] [/IMG]








Hotel in the background is the Beverly Wiltshire – where Julia Roberts stayed with Richard Gere in Pretty Woman.





House on the top of the hill which has been in many movies – this was Tony Starks house in Iron Man, although the surrounding area was changed to a beach location.



Back of the hotel driving back.



Magic Hotel

[carolynn38]

After the tour we walked up and down looking at the stars at the Hollywood Walk of Fame and back to the Chinese theatre.





We then wandered around the H&H centre for a while which is really nice with dancing fountains in the middle.











Disney Soda and Fountain shop opposite, with the theatre next door.



We then went back to the hotel for a wander round and a rest before dinner.

Pool at the hotel





On the way back out, we went for a quick drink at Mel’s, before heading back to the H&H for a quick bite to eat at the California Pizza Kitchen. This was nice and convenient as it was so close, and we were knackered by now. It was also an early start the next day as we were going to Universal.

[Guest]

Love the sound of the Star tour! Great photos!

[huneybunny17]

great tour xx

[anji]

Fab photos!