This wonderful Hollywood theater is a flagship THX / Dolby Digital movie house run by the Disney Co. under a contract with Pacific Theaters. It hosts all of the latest Disney features, with elaborate pre-shows and exhibits, or interactive play experiences next door for the major Summer animated and Christmas releases. (Even a regular non-animated film opening is sometimes accompanied by a creative press event that is usually open to the public - dog sled races, on real snow right on Hollywood Blvd. for "Iron Will" for example.) A new theater organ has been installed and also gets used for special events, and this theater tends to digitally project films on the newest releases - making for a spectacular on screen picture. The recent retrofitting and earthquake rehab allows the theater to be used to present other Disney events besides movies. (The Disney Co. also uses the Crest Theater in Westwood as a showcase, but this facility does not allow for the types of events that are staged in Hollywood.) The theater now has its own WEBSITE where you can find out what's playing, and even order and print out tickets for the current feature. Or you can call 1-800-DISNEY6 [1-800-347-6396].

TIP: This area of Hollywood can be a little frightening in the later evening hours. Make sure to be extra cautious when in this area after dark. If you have a few extra moments during your visit it's well worth the walk across the street to view the many famous movie-star cement imprints in the courtyard of the world famous Mann's Chinese Theater.

Coming to the El Capitan:

Wahoo Wagon

A live children's show, followed by a classic Disney animated feature - 10 AM on Saturdays.

Winnie the Pooh: Jan. 27th - Feb. 24th

Peter Pan: Mar. 3rd - 31st

Alice in Wonderland: Apr. 7th - 28th

Evita Sing-a-long

Sing along, and come dressed as your favorite character from the movie - 10 PM Fri. & Sat. nights (Special premiere Jan. 25th at 7 PM)

Jan. 25th - Feb. 24th

Disney's Recess (Movie)

Feb. 16th - Mar. 15th

Hitchcock Film Festival

Thursdays in Mar. 7 PM

Notorious - Mar. 1st

Spellbound - Mar. 8th

Rebecca - Mar. 15th

The Paradine Case - Mar. 22nd

Mary Poppins Sing-a-long returns

Mar. 16th - 25th: 10 AM, 1, 4 & 7 PM (Midnight Fri. & Sat.)

Organ concerts

Rob Richards organist

Jan. 21st. - Classic Mickey Mouse shorts & special guest appearances: 9:30 AM

Apr. 21st. - Peter Pan (1924 Silent): 7 PM

More details to follow as available.

THE DISNEY STUDIOS can be seen from outside the property at 500 S. Buena Vista in Burbank. But other than the clever architecture of the main building, (which is the worldwide Team Disney executive offices with the 7 dwarfs holding up the roof - facing south) there isn't any regular way to take a tour or visit the facilities. But you can gawk at the stunning new animation building landmarked by Mickey's Sorcerer's Cap, which is home to one of Roy Disney's offices and used for press interviews. Some television shows tape on the lot - if you do get tickets for a taping you may be able to visit the site in a limited manner.

RAY PARKER, was kind enough to offer the following info on how to also visit the studio:

There is in fact a way you can sort of tour the grounds and some of the buildings. On the first Saturday of December, there is a Christmas Craft Fair at the studio. For the cost of $5-$8, you can roam the grounds (with a few exceptions) to your content. There are people selling hand made (supposedly) Christmas Crafts.

Some of the highlights are:

1) Throughout the day, the theater on property is showing Christmas films and cartoons for free. Very nice theater with VERY large seats. Note the center section where all the VIP's sit.

2) There are usually 2 areas where you can have your picture taken with Mickey, Minnie or Donald. (The rain deer form the Disneyland Christmas parade are usually walking around...so if you don't want to wait on line for the official photo, you can usually get them to have a picture taken with them)

3) The best part of the fair is the sweat shirts that are for sale. They usually have a very good Disney graphic on it. The graphic/picture on it changes every year and this is the only time they sell them. These sweat shirts are only sold one day a year and change every year. What a great gift (for yourself or maybe for someone else) and what a collector item. The colors of the shirts rotate also. One year they will be white and the next year will be a choice of red or green. The long wait is well worth it.

One note......get there early. If you do, you can park on property....if not....you'll have to park on the street and a open parking spot is as scarce as hens teeth.

DISNEY STORE OK, so you have one in your mall at home. BUT there is a unique Disney Store nearby to the park that may be worth a visit if you want to see something a little different.

The very first WALT DISNEY GALLERY store is adjacent to a Disney Store in the MAIN PLACE MALL just down the freeway from DL. This unique prototype store - almost hand-built by Imagineering, showcases lots of ultra rare (and ultra expensive) Disney collectibles. Well worth a visit for the decor alone, the white gloved Mickey Mouse hands holding up the ceiling are a particularly nice touch. A shuttle is available from the Disney hotels for a small fee. If you drive yourself - head down South the I-5 Fwy from DL and take the 22 Garden Grove Fwy. heading East. Exit Main St. then turn right on Town & Country to MAIN PLACE MALL.

Dinner at WDI designed "Encounter" at LAX

I love lava lamps, don't you?

If you are flying into LAX, or are leaving through this airport, try and plan a couple of extra hours to visit Walt Disney Imagineering's latest themed project, "Encounter." It's a new restaurant in the very 1960's Paul Williams-designed space-age landmark building located in the center of the airport, which you can either drive up to and get valet parking at, or just amble on over from any of the terminals to visit. You can't miss the exotic colors it gets bathed in with special lights all night long - lurid magentas and breathtakingly lime colored green lights are projected all over it.

First of all, don't let the dowdy lobby get you down - it's still untouched by WDI. But once the silver garbed hostess has greeted you, (who will offer to check any luggage you may have) and then leads you to the elevator, you're on your way to something fun. The fun starts when you realize that each elevator has music piped in, with the exotic space-age sounds of Esquivel or Martin Denny to put you in the mood. [Different selections are timed to the length of the ride - yes we rode up and down a few times to try them all on our way out]

When the doors open, you'll first see a woggle-shaped inlaid bar that lights up with special effects and sounds each time a drink is poured. Then you notice the room's un-encumbered floor to ceiling glass walls, which wrap all around the room presenting a spectacular view of the airport. The neon-accented decor throughout is straight out of the Jetsons, with iridescent mounds holding up railings and silver fabric seats throughout the entire place. Giant lava lamps abound among the turquoise & coral color accents - kidney pool-shaped design elements are inlaid everywhere, highlighted with Walnut veneers. The view of the airport comings and goings, along with a ping-pong stereo early '60s campy soundtrack makes for a delightfully surrealistic experience.

The new owner, John Sedlar, and his executive chef, Patrick Glennon are famous for previous Santa Monica restaurants Bikini and Abiquiu, which I enjoyed when they were open a few years ago. They specialize in a very ambitious menu, mixing all types of foods, flavors and spices. A fair warning, if you're just a steak and potato type of person I'd recommend you visit only for drinks.

We arrived late - about 9:30 PM, and the kitchen was closing at 10 PM, so we got in our orders promptly. [They are open daily, 10:30 AM to 4 PM for lunch 5 PM to either 10 PM or Midnight, depending on the size of the crowds and what night it is for Dinner.] For appetizers I had the calimari with a spicy dipping sauce. My guest had soup, presented in a bowl with the restaurant's logo sprinkled out in spices, and then poured. I then had the Filet Minion and my guest had the Lamb Shank. Both were presented very creatively - lots of flourishes like wire thin bread sticks poking out of unusually shaped potatoes and such.

We had to agree with the same week's L. A. Times review that they are still settling down on the menu - but it was good and filling, if a tad uneven, [to be expected in a new restaurant] and if you love adventuresome food you can't go wrong. Service was attentive and friendly everywhere, but despite what the server said they do need steak knives, the meat wasn't that tender. A gift shop is promised soon at the entrance, where you'll be able to buy the neat enamel pins the servers wear, along with the traditional T-shirts and baseball cap type of souvenirs. We also hoped that with the spectacular view, they will clean the outside windows a little more often.

The crowd is trendy and fun, (it hasn't been totally invaded yet by pony-tailed entertainment execs and sports just a little Euro-trash) and it's well worth a visit, even if just for drinks with spectacular views or to kill a little time before or after your flight. And yes, even the bathroom is themed. Someone will have to write up the ladies room separately. :)

Info: Encounter Restaurant is located at LAX. (209 World Way, Los Angeles.) Phone (310) 215-5151. Reservations are recommended for peak dinner times, Friday thru Sunday Brunch. It's a good idea to call ahead if you don't have reservations just to make sure. Major credit cards accepted. Valet Parking. Appetizers run $6 to $13 - entrees run $16 to $30+. All ages, no cover is charged.

L.A. - EL CAPITAN THEATER

BURBANK - THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS

DISNEY STORES

LAX AIRPORT - ENCOUNTER RESTAURANT