The Fabulous Disney Babe
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After the interviews, we wandered from autograph table to autograph table, taking photos of the stars with their fans. There wasn't a dud, personality-wise, in the bunch. We kept seeing the same thing over and over: stars being dragged to the next place they had to be because they couldn't stop greeting their fans - especially Susan Lucci, who plays Erica Kane on All My Children.
Jill Larson (Opal Cortlandt)
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Autograph sessions
If you want a minute or so for an autograph, hug and quick word (there's a hundred people
in line behind you and the star has to go to the next job, with little break time actually
taken in between) with your favorite, favorite star, the autograph sessions are
your best bet. Wear a hat and sunscreen even if it's overcast and drink plenty of water.
The waits can be long and the California sun can bake you to a lovely shade of pink, even
on an overcast day.
The Autograph Locations:
#1 ABC Soap Opera Bistro Entrance: just to the right of the restaurant entrance, they have a table set up. Just look for the blue umbrellas and long queues and you've found the signing. The queue stretches out through the side gate of the Hollywood Pictures Backlot entrance and out toward the backstage gate next to the Sun Plaza. The stars in the most demand are usually, usually at Soap Opera Bistro, Paradise Pier Bridge and Paradise Bay. The nearest restrooms are inside Soap Opera Bistro, but don't try to use them. It's a madhouse in there, and they won't let you in without a reservation - even if you are working press. Do yourself and everyone else there a favor and use the restrooms between SoapLink and Drawn to Animation.
Here is an example of last weekend's schedule for the Soap Opera Bistro autograph area. As you can see, if you miss Saturday, you can usually meet the star you want to meet on Sunday, with very few exceptions. (For example, Cameron Mathison, who plays extremely popular hunk Ryan Lavery, was only able to come on Sunday.) But try to see him or her on Saturday if at all possible. Saturday is an Annual Passport blackout day, and that may make the difference of the two more people in line in front of you that closes it. Also, there were one or two less autograph sessions on Sunday.
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#2 Soap Link: Directly in front of the store window. The queue area is in the Frank Lloyd Wright Courtyard in front of the restrooms, phones and ATMs. The people I spoke to in line said that if you have a choice when planning to meet your favorite, this queue is the best. It has the most shade, more places to sit, or, rather, lean, and close proximity to restrooms and water as well as Award Wieners across the street if you begin to feel weak from all that waiting.
#3 The Sun Plaza: If you stand in the dead center of the Sun Plaza, facing the Sun Fountain, turn right and you'll see the signing area. It's right between where two planters curve along, and the queue goes toward Condor Flats, then curves along the planters, so there are some spots to lean and sit, but not many, and almost no shade. The closest restrooms are either just to the right of the main entrance or through the entrance to Condor Flats and to the left as you pass Soarin' Over California. There are refreshment carts in the plaza.
#4 Golden State: Just to the left of the entrance to Condor Flats, backed up against the half-buried mammoth and saber-toothed cat. See above for restroom and refreshment information. There is no seating and no shade.
#5 Pacific Wharf #1: Almost directly across from the stairs leading up into the winery. The queue follows the fence overlooking the water. Again, there is standing and leaning room, but little shade. The nearest restrooms are in the winery area.
#6 Pacific Wharf #2: These are not in the Pacific Wharf area, but rather on the promenade overlooking them. Between the Golden State signing area and the bridge entering Paradise Pier, across from the Trattoria seating area of the Winery. Conditions are almost identical to the Golden State signing area.
#7 Paradise Pier Bridge: This is just outside the North entrance to the Treasures in Paradise shop, across from the entrance to Avalon Cove. Again, there is little or no shade. However, Catch a Flave is just around the corner, and this is a "most wanted star" location. The nearest restrooms are in Avalon Cove.
#8 Paradise Bay: across from the Golden Dreams mural, practically backed up against the standing room viewing area for the Pine Valley/Llanview/Port Charles Live! show. The nearest Restrooms are in the San Francisco area, and there are several refreshment carts nearby. There is no seating in the queue area.