D23 Expo: The “All Lines, No Rides” Disney Experience! FINISHED at Last!

[lurkyloo]

After 2 years :scared:, I have finally finished my report on the inaugural D23 Expo.... just in time for D23 Expo 2011!

If you read up through the first half of Day 3 and want to go straight to the new part, click HERE (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p= 42293483#post 2286071
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p= 42293483#post 2286071
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p= 42293483#post 2286071).

If you're curious what to expect at D23 Expo 2011, click HERE (http://disneytravelbabble.com/what-to-expect-at-d23-expo-2011/).

And if all you want to know about is the food options at D23 Expo 2011, click HERE (http://disneytravelbabble.com/where-to-eat-at-d23-expo-2011/).

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I’m not sure what I expected D23 Expo to be like, but it never occurred to me that even Disney can’t transcend most aspects of the typical convention: the bland, greasy food; the soul-sucking fluorescent lighting; miles of endless halls to traverse; and lines, lines, and more lines.

Don’t get me wrong—we had some great experiences at D23 Expo (hello, Johnny Depp 20 feet away!), and sometimes it was a lot of fun. But I was totally unprepared for the enervating experience it turned out to be. I guess I thought it would feel like a Disney vacation, but it felt more like work (and I wasn’t even officially on the job representing PassPorter)!

I’ll just pontificate a bit more before jumping into the report: The thing that was most frustrating to me was that the head of D23 said they purposely counter-programmed hot-ticket sessions to make Expo-goers feel like there was just too much good stuff to see and do. Call me Type A, but I HATE feeling like there is just too much good stuff to see and do! The first few days of the Expo, DH and I were running around like chickens with our heads cut off trying and failing to make all the good sessions and feeling totally cheated that we hadn’t even had time to explore the booths on the show floor yet.

The next-most-frustrating thing was the endless queuing. OK, I know – many people told me over the course of the Expo that Comic Con is 10 times worse and you basically can’t get into any of the sessions unless you camp out for 3 days or something. Whatever. This is Disney. They invented the FastPass. Surely they can come up with something better than standing in a 2 1/2 hour line just to see an hour-long presentation that starts an hour late with no explanation. DH thinks there should be Convention FastPasses, but I think then people would just form snaking lines for those... His other idea was for Disney to have something interesting for us to see/do in all these queues, and I agree. Heck, even ODV carts selling $2 apples would give us some entertainment, but what about characters who pass along the lines or trivia questions projected on the walls or something?

OK, maybe I’m mostly focusing on the negative stuff because so many people are online raving about D23 Expo. I have to say, for a first-time event, it went really smoothly. And the tickets were relatively reasonably priced. And there were a few genuinely "wow" aspects. But of the reports I’ve read so far, I think Deb Wills’ in this week’s All Ears newsletter pretty much captures the experience best – she praises the things Disney did right but isn’t afraid to call them out on things that were mishandled.

So, without further ado... for the moment... until I start ado-ing among the reporting.... I give you....

D23 Expo Day 1: Thursday

We got up before dawn and hauled ourselves down to Anaheim to check into the Hilton around 6am (the Expo opened to D23 members at 8am). Initially we had booked 4 days at the Disneyland Hotel, just in case. Then it shrank to 2 days. Then I found out I could get Thursday and Friday off, so we needed to add a 3rd day, but the Disneyland Hotel was sold out, which is where the Hilton came in. It is across the sidewalk from the Anaheim Convention Center, and it had a $107/night pre-paid rate... what could be bad? I was worried I would miss staying at a Disney hotel, but as it turned out, we would have preferred to stay at the Hilton the whole time.

Not only did they have a room ready for us at 6am, but it was a ginormous, if oddly laid out, corner room with floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out on California Adventure and Disneyland.

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Not pictured is the strange, empty anteroom between the door and the bedroom. It wasn't enclosed enough to be a separate room but it was big enough to be a seating area or something. We thought about calling room service to ask for some extra pillows, a sofa and a couple of end tables or something...



Our view of the convention center arena
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Zoomed-in view of the parks:

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The Hilton is decorated in Seventies Fabulous. Sure, they've had a few refreshes over the years, but I mean, look at this...

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC03952.jpg


Or how 'bout this?

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Mmmm.... mosaic...

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Infinite Hallway!

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At about 6:45am we went down to join the line that had started forming outside the convention center at 4am. Employees pushed outdoor vending carts bearing $2 apples and $3 bottles of water up and down the line. The convention center is really cool-looking, and they had ginormous D23 Expo banners up.

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[lurkyloo]

Registration was really well managed, with tons of CMs to make the process go smoothly. We got our silver 4-day-pass wristbands shackled on (I accidentally made mine too tight, but there was no turning back!) and picked up our soon-to-be-ubiquitous brown Adventures By Disney totebags. Then DH went to stand in the pre-queue for Bob Iger's keynote address, while I stood in a line three times as long to get pieces of paper that entitled me to purchase things... said things would also turn out to be ubiquitous by the end of the Expo. But I had 90 minutes to kill, so what the hey?

I also learned a valuable lesson: Never trust the random strangers in line ahead of you to hold your place while you go ask a CM what the heck you're standing in line for, because as you make your way back you will see them wandering around out of line and have them tell you the woman in front of them who you don't even know what she looks like is now holding your place. Fortunately another random stranger took pity on me and let me join her in line, and we ended up being Expo buddies as our paths crossed over the next four days.



Registration area:

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This escalator provided me and DH with many fine smooching opportunities over the course of four days
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Eventually DH was moved from the pre-queue to the actual queue, a labyrinthian corral. By this time, we'd been at D23 Expo for almost 2 hours and had done nothing but stand in a series of lines.

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I decided to see how much I could see before joining DH to go in to the arena. This is what I saw:


My beloved Olszewski miniature Disneyland...
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...And Olszewski himself!
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The line for the Expo store... if only they knew that it held all the same generic junk you can find at World of Disney!
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Hey, it's PUSH the Talking Trash Can! Apparently he's overcome his disdain for California evident in our conversation last May...
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At this point, I did a really dumb thing. I could see the line starting to go into the arena, so I ran over and met DH right before he was about to surrender his camera and phone to the camera & phone check (the bane of our D23 Expo existence). I panicked and decided I didn't want to leave my precious iPhone and my ID in a Ziploc bag piled in a heap with everyone else's, so I told DH to go in and that I would take our illicit electronics to his uncle's vendor booth (his uncle is a Disneyana dealer who had a booth in the Fan Forums) and then meet him in the arena. Except that when I came back 20 minutes later, the line hadn't died down, as I'd expected. It had gotten longer, to the point where people in it weren't sure they'd be admitted at all, and I was trapped in it with no way to contact DH. 45 minutes later, I got up to the front and heard that no one would be admitted without an ID. DH had my ID. I started to freak out and made a total fool of myself as I nearly burst into tears. Then the crowd parted, and there was DH come to rescue me and usher me inside the arena.

After that we vowed never to split up again (well, at least not without cell phones).

The arena is HUGE, and D23 only used part of it - enough to seat 4,000 people. The show started late because the camera check was taking so long (well, duh!). Our seats were in the back of the section on the floor, which told us we'd better line up even earlier for future arena shows if we wanted to actually be able to see. I don't remember much about Bob Iger's keynote speech, except that I decided I liked the cut of his jibb. He came off as self-assured but humble and seemed to have a decent sense of humor.

I got this photo from the Internets. If Disney is going to take away our cameras, they'd better be prepared for us to borrow their official pictures when we write our trip reports!
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When we found out we were going to get to see 30 minutes of The Princess & the Frog, DH and I panicked. We're the type of moviegoer who likes to be surprised when we walk into the theater, and we even go so far as to cover our eyes and ears during trailers for upcoming movies we know we want to see (i.e., we are nerds).

But they showed us the first 30 minutes of the movie straight through, so we just rolled with it. I'm not sure how I feel about the movie yet, but I'll spare you the review in case you want to be surprised too! The presentation was basically just a general overview of what the company's up to, with the screening plus a short performance by Anika Noni Rose, the voice of The Princess.

I took this picture with my iPhone. Just kidding! I borrowed it from Disney!
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Iger also had a chat with the mayor of Anaheim (who deadpanned that if Rose was the Princess, that must make him the frog) and a giveaway of a night in the Disneyland Dream Suite. The guy who won was in shock, and when he said that his love for Disney started because his dad had worked as a Disneyland street sweeper, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

Another oh-fish-all Disney pic... Guess which guy is the mayor. Just guess!
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After that most of us stayed in our seats for the Disney Legends induction ceremony, which has never been open to the public before... and now we know why. J/K! It was neat to see it happen, but it kinda dragged, and, you know, these people aren't being given the award for public speaking. I was glad to be there, though, because I love the Golden Girls and I loved seeing Betty White in person. And we got to hear the voice of Donald and then the voice of Goofy do the voices live in their acceptance speeches! Oh, and Robin Williams gave a predictably unpredictable speech, and we got an inside look at the Disney Company courtesy of the other winners.

You can see clips of Iger's introduction and Betty White's and Robin Williams' acceptance speeches here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUJbPbmy-jI

And you can see what turns up in a YouTube search for "D23 Expo Iger" here (hint - it involves a hedgehog!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG6T290YKJM


After the keynote ended, it was time to go stand in the next line of the day, this one for the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives book, which was a must because at the last minute they switched the policy from "no *flash* pictures in the Archives" to "no pictures period"—boooo! The folks on MiceChat.com's D23 forum got me worked into a tizzy over this book because there were to be only 500 hardcovers and "only" 1,000 softcovers released. Because the Disney Legends ceremony got out so late, I had to literally run up to the second floor to get in line to buy the book, which had gone on sale at noon. I stood in line wheezing and trying to keep my lungs from exploding while still managing to give the evil eye to the people in front of me who bought more than one copy of the book.

But when I got up to the counter and learned there were still some left, I ended up buying 2 hardcover copies just because I could. It's a kind of buying mania that takes over you at these things. Heck, earlier I'd even taken a voucher to buy a PIN! Me! The disparager of pin trading and all it represents! Of course when I went back to the Archives on the last day of the Expo, there were still plenty of softcover versions of the book left, and they told me that the hardcover would soon be re-released to the masses. I should have known - this seems to be the pattern with all of D23's "member-exclusive" or "limited-edition" merchandise. Really the only exclusive is getting the thing 2 weeks before the general public... Fortunately, the books were only $35, and they have three illegible autographs in them (I'll have to look on eBay to find out whose they are!).

Our next line of the day, which DH was standing in while I was trying not to pass out before I got my precious book, was for the "Wonderful World of Vintage Disneyland" presentation. This turned out to be a free-wheeling travelogue of pre- and post-opening day footage of Disneyland narrated by Imagineer Tony Baxter and media preservationist (and humorist in the making) Ed Hobelman.

Sorry the pictures are blurry - we had to use our old camera for this one:

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They basically just sat on stage an narrated an hour's worth of color footage, culled from something like 500 hours of previously unseen film. It was fun to hear little behind-the-scenes stories and have Ed point out the hilarious stuff happening in the back of certain shots. We got to see stuff like a construction worker doing donuts in a piece of heavy equipment out of sight of his boss and a giant boat of a Plymouth or a Buick or something driving down what was to be the rivers of the Jungle Cruise.

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Our last line of the day was for "An Afternoon With Imagineering Legends." It had been hours since we'd wolfed down something resembling lunch while one or the other of us stood in the previous line, and I was getting cranky, so DH found me a Mickey head cookie! And not just any Mickey head cookie - this was The Most Expensive Mickey Head Cookie On The Planet! If you think Disney park prices are high, wait til you see Disney *convention* prices!


$10 Worth of Sugar
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After we were herded into the room, we had a few minutes to kill, so I left to use the restroom. When I returned, I discovered that getting back in was like trying to bust into Fort Knox. I talked to a series of red-shirted cast members until I found one who told me to follow him... to the end of the line of people still waiting to get in. And who should be the last person in line be but the DIS' very own HandBag Lady! We were just getting acquainted when Red Shirt told me to follow him again and whisked me off to another door.

Let me pontificate about the staffing of D23 Expo for a moment: There were hundreds of Cast Members and convention center staffers working the event, all with varying levels of cluelessness. The hierarchy seemed to go about like this: Black-clad convention center employees knew the least and would wand you with a metal detector at the slightest provocation (Need a restroom? Wanded! Can't find the elevator? Wanded! Want to know where the Radio Disney booth is because you have temporarily lost your hearing? WANDED!!!).

Red-shirt-wearing Cast Members bused over from Disneyland could direct a line like nobody's business but were basically clueless about what was happening at any given moment. Blue-shirted D23 employees knew only a little bit more and A) were happy to admit this and B) usually helped you find the holy grail of information: A Suit. These were people in business attire with multiple badges and a walkie talkie. If you found one of them, you usually got the right answer. However, the Suit-to-CM ratio was not in our favor. One time I approached a line of Red Shirts to ask a question and actually went from CM to CM asking the same question (and getting different answers from each) until the fourth CM walked me over to a Suit. Sheesh!

Back to "An Afternoon With Imagineering Legends." As we always seem to at these kinds of events, we ended up sitting smack behind this guy...

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/IMG_1809.jpg

This had all the makings of a great panel: six first-generation Imagineers reminiscing about the good old days and sharing funny stories. The participants were X Atencio, Alice Davis, Blaine Gibson, Bob Gurr and Don Iwerks, and the moderator was recently retired Imagineering head Marty Sklar. Although I've heard a funny story about the time Sklar fell asleep at a meeting for the nth time and everyone put skeletons in their chairs and left the room as a joke, he was the liveliest of the bunch (except for sparkplug Bob Gurr) and kept the presentation moving. Which turned out to be quite necessary at a panel of six first-generation Imagineers reminiscing about the good old days. Poor Alice Davis looked like she was about to nod off any time she wasn't speaking (Disney drags her out at so many of these things, it's no wonder she's pooped!) but told some fun stories on Walt, and X Atencio gave nothing but hilariously grumpy one-liners in response to every question. (When asked "What project are you most proud of?" he snapped "I dunno...")

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Marty Sklar: "Is it me, or is it blurry in here?"
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Bob Gurr is our favorite—we got to meet him and hear him talk at the Carolwood Pacific fundraiser a few weeks ago, and we just love his vim and vigor. He's so enthusiastic, tells great stories, and has a wonderful sense of humor. I hope we're that sharp when we're his age. Of all the Imagineers, he had the most forthright answer to the "What project are you most proud of?" question: "That's easy—the Monorail!" Sculptor Blaine Gibson said some wonderfully touching and humble things about having the chance to be a part of something bigger than he. In fact, all the Imagineers seemed to have this lovely sense of humility and gratefulness to have been able to work with Walt Disney on something that turned out to be so significant.


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"Nope... it's definitely blurry in here..."
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[lurkyloo]

The Imagineering panel lasted about two hours, and by the end we were beat. We decided to skip the panel and screening for The Boys: The Sherman Brothers, since we'd already seen the movie, and treat ourselves to a nice dinner out. We checked out a restaurant in the neighboring town of Stanton called Park Ave., which had made it into my fave LA Times restaurant reviewer's column a few weeks ago. They do modern versions of comfort food in a retro-chic converted coffee shop, and it turns out the maître d' lives a few blocks from us in LA but commutes to Orange County!

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While we waited for our table we got to check out the huge kitchen garden they keep out back, behind a garage that's been converted into special-event space.

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The rolls were nice, but the home-made crackers were even better!

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We started with the Grilled Calamari and Artichoke with Garlic and Lemon Sauce. The calamari was incredibly tender, but the artichokes were water-logged.

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For dinner we split the bone-in 14oz. Rib Eye with cheddar mashed potatoes and broccolini. Tasty, if not exactly subtly executed (we're talking ropy melted cheese plunked on top of mashed potatoes...)!

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Dessert was amazing - they make their own ice cream! DH had a warm peach crumble with vanilla ice cream...

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...And I had a hot fudge sundae made with peanut butter ice cream, toffee chunks and fresh whipped cream. >drool<

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After that we went back to the hotel and put a few extra holes in our belts.


Up next: Friday - Our Best Day at D23 Expo!

[LexisAuntieLala]

Wow! I am the first to get to post on your Expo adventures. I love to read your descriptions ...even if there were no photos, I can totally picture what was going on. Plus you are "wicked" funny (Boston term)

[Handbag Lady]

I’m not sure what I expected D23 Expo to be like, but it never occurred to me that even Disney can’t transcend most aspects of the typical convention: the bland, greasy food; the soul-sucking fluorescent lighting; miles of endless halls to traverse; and lines, lines, and more lines.

Don’t get me wrong—we had some great experiences at D23 Expo (hello, Johnny Depp 20 feet away!), and sometimes it was a lot of fun. But I was totally unprepared for the enervating experience it turned out to be. I guess I thought it would feel like a Disney vacation, but it felt more like work (and I wasn’t even officially on the job representing PassPorter)!

I’ll just pontificate a bit more before jumping into the report: The thing that was most frustrating to me was that the head of D23 said they purposely counter-programmed hot-ticket sessions to make Expo-goers feel like there was just too much good stuff to see and do. Call me Type A, but I HATE feeling like there is just too much good stuff to see and do! The first few days of the Expo, DH and I were running around like chickens with our heads cut off trying and failing to make all the good sessions and feeling totally cheated that we hadn’t even had time to explore the booths on the show floor yet.

The next-most-frustrating thing was the endless queuing. OK, I know – many people told me over the course of the Expo that Comic Con is 10 times worse and you basically can’t get into any of the sessions unless you camp out for 3 days or something. Whatever. This is Disney. They invented the FastPass. Surely they can come up with something better than standing in a 2 1/2 hour line just to see an hour-long presentation that starts an hour late with no explanation. DH thinks there should be Convention FastPasses, but I think then people would just form snaking lines for those... His other idea was for Disney to have something interesting for us to see/do in all these queues, and I agree. Heck, even ODV carts selling $2 apples would give us some entertainment, but what about characters who pass along the lines or trivia questions projected on the walls or something?


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I am in total shock. You, word for word, have just posted my same opinion. Yes, I do realize that this was the first ever for Disney. But, I don't DO conventions so I felt like I had to literally choose between two things that I REALLY wanted to see. I don't understand how the D23 people could think this was a plus, to leave people feeling like they missed something.

Case in point. I really wanted to see Lasseter's morning presentation on Sunday. In order to do this, we HAD to miss the Muppets presentation that followed. We just can't be in two places at once and it left us kinda down. By the time we got out cameras and cell phones, we missed the Muppet line's closure.

And I don't give a hoot about what happens at other conventions.

[Handbag Lady]

One LAST opinion from yours truly so that I don't totally bogart your report: They need to put in risers for the presentations.

I am 5' 2" and I couldn't see anything at the Imagineering Legend's presentation.

[LittleStinkerbelle]

I'm in for your TR!!! I'm glad that I can experience this vicariously through you because I don't think I have what it takes to wait in all those lines:rotfl:.

[mla1977]

Hi!!! I'll come back tonight to catch up on what you've written.

[NeverlandClub23]

Yet another AMAZING TR! :goodvibes

Can't wait for more! And what a cute restaurant!

[Aburns8]

Boy, what an amazing and long day! I think that you should write a guide for those who will attend next year!

[MiaBella05]

popcorn:: joining in popcorn::

[mla1977]

Oh yum! That dessert made me want to jump up and make a sundae for myself!

[A-T-G]

Oh yum! That dessert made me want to jump up and make a sundae for myself!

I am TOTALLY craving a sundae now! I want ice cream sooooo badly, right now! If she starts posting cakes, I'm doooomed!

[Pooh_Girl]

Yay!!! One more thing I can say I lived vicariously through you!! :lmao: I wanted to go SO bad!! Thanks for letting us really know how it was there with the lines and everything though. That really let me know how it will be if I can talk hubby into going next year. That plan is going well so far!! :thumbsup2 Can't wait to read more!!

[SleepingBeautyOH]

Subbing in!

I love the 70s vibe of the Hilton, makes me giggle a little bit:)
and is that a hidden mickey I see in the mosaic?:rotfl2:

[PryncessChrysty]

OK, I'm still in the middle of the report (which I am loving), but when I got to this part I had to stop & respond because I'm totally cracking up:

When we found out we were going to get to see 30 minutes of The Princess & the Frog, DH and I panicked. We're the type of moviegoer who likes to be surprised when we walk into the theater, and we even go so far as to cover our eyes and ears during trailers for upcoming movies we know we want to see (i.e., we are nerds).

DH2B and I do the EXACT same thing!!!! At home, we just hit mute or change the channel when a commercial comes on. But if we're in the theater and a trailer comes on for something we really want to see, we'll cover our ears, slump down, turn into face each other and (quietly) make jibberish sounds so we don't hear or see it. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: I think that may have just *officially* made us bigger nerds. :3dglasses

[PrincessShea]

So glad I found this! The Fantasyland expansion news excited me and of course seeing Johnny Depp would be awesome, but thanks for your honest perspective. Whenever people spend money on something, they always sugarcoat it as if to justify the cost to themselves.

I've been a few cons in my time, and boy do I understand the pain of the lines. A lot of the time I feel like "wow, all this waiting and aggravation and the info is gonna be online in a couple minutes anyway; and video will be on youtube tomorrow...so what exactly is the point of this?"

If (when?) they move this to Orlando, then I would consider going. :thumbsup2

That restaurant you went to is so cute!!

[MEK]

Oh Carrie....

This review is so interesting, even with the transparent pictures that plague my work computer. :rotfl: I sincerely hope I get some free time to view your pics tonight, Your report is hysterical. I honestly feel like I am there with you! And dinner.....yum!

[Disneygrl36]

I'm here too........
Love that you got to see the Imagineering legends even if it was through the guy in front of you had a big fat head.:lmao::rotfl: You got to see a lot of really cool people in one day. Those lines would have been frustrating though. I love that Patrick came to your rescue just as you were about to burst into tears.
Thanks for writing this up & can't wait to hear more.:cool1:

[Donald'sGirl]

Carrie loving the TR! I am so glad you are talking about all the good and bad things that happened. It feels like I am walking or running around with you. :thumbsup2

That sundae looks to die for!!! you are making me hungry! :rotfl2:

[mickeystoontown]

I'm signing on for more. Now, I gotta go back and catch up with what I've missed so far.

[lurkyloo]

Wow! I am the first to get to post on your Expo adventures. I love to read your descriptions ...even if there were no photos, I can totally picture what was going on. Plus you are "wicked" funny (Boston term)

:cutie: Thanks for reading along!



Case in point. I really wanted to see Lasseter's morning presentation on Sunday. In order to do this, we HAD to miss the Muppets presentation that followed. We just can't be in two places at once and it left us kinda down. By the time we got out cameras and cell phones, we missed the Muppet line's closure.

Exactly! And we missed Lasseter's morning presentation because we knew it was the only way to get into the Muppet thing.

I sure hope D23 sends out those surveys they were collecting email addresses for....


I'm in for your TR!!! I'm glad that I can experience this vicariously through you because I don't think I have what it takes to wait in all those lines.

Totally! In fact, maybe next year I'll send a surrogate and do all my reporting from the comfort of my own home! :lmao:

Yet another AMAZING TR! :goodvibes

Can't wait for more! And what a cute restaurant!

It was cute! And definitely a find in an otherwise snoozy part of Orange County.

Boy, what an amazing and long day! I think that you should write a guide for those who will attend next year!

Hmmm... that's a good idea! of course, with luck, they will have fixed things by then and the experience will be different.

popcorn:: joining in popcorn::

Hi! :wave2:

Oh yum! That dessert made me want to jump up and make a sundae for myself!

Me too! :)

I am TOTALLY craving a sundae now! I want ice cream sooooo badly, right now! If she starts posting cakes, I'm doooomed!

So far no cake, but watch out for.... FUDGE!!!! :laughing:

Yay!!! One more thing I can say I lived vicariously through you!! :lmao: I wanted to go SO bad!! Thanks for letting us really know how it was there with the lines and everything though. That really let me know how it will be if I can talk hubby into going next year. That plan is going well so far!! :thumbsup2 Can't wait to read more!!

Yeah, I think if you know what to expect, it isn't so bad. Friday was much better than Thursday for us because we were prepared.

Subbing in!

I love the 70s vibe of the Hilton, makes me giggle a little bit:)
and is that a hidden mickey I see in the mosaic?:rotfl2:

OMG - I see it too! What does that say about us...?


DH2B and I do the EXACT same thing!!!! At home, we just hit mute or change the channel when a commercial comes on. But if we're in the theater and a trailer comes on for something we really want to see, we'll cover our ears, slump down, turn into face each other and (quietly) make jibberish sounds so we don't hear or see it. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: I think that may have just *officially* made us bigger nerds. :3dglasses

Whohoo! We're not alone! I mean, do you remember a time before movie trailers gave a way the entire plot? I do, kinda... The MPAA is always moaning about how nobody goes to the movies anymore and they think it's b/c of online piracy (which most of us wouldn't have a clue how to do). I say it's because the trailers give so much away, you don't even have to see the movie anymore.

Whenever people spend money on something, they always sugarcoat it as if to justify the cost to themselves.

That's what it is, isn't it? Add in the "Disney can do no wrong" ethic that is so prevalent among fans, and you never seem to get an accurate picture.

People complain about online pundits like Al Lutz at Mice Age or even the DIS's own Podcast Team, asking how they can call themselves Disney fans when they're constantly pointing out the flaws. But I think that's a healthy part of being a fan because we know Disney can do so much better and want to show that some of us won't accept lowered standards and raised prices.

....Gee, where'd that soapbox come from...? :rotfl:


Oh Carrie....

This review is so interesting, even with the transparent pictures that plague my work computer. :rotfl: I sincerely hope I get some free time to view your pics tonight, Your report is hysterical. I honestly feel like I am there with you! And dinner.....yum!

Seriously, you HAVE to find another job! :rotfl2:

I'm here too........
Love that you got to see the Imagineering legends even if it was through the guy in front of you had a big fat head.:lmao::rotfl: You got to see a lot of really cool people in one day. Those lines would have been frustrating though. I love that Patrick came to your rescue just as you were about to burst into tears.

Yeah, it was almost a movie moment! :goodvibes Fortunately I managed to keep it together for most of the rest of the Expo... :teeth:


Carrie loving the TR! I am so glad you are talking about all the good and bad things that happened. It feels like I am walking or running around with you.

Oh good! I don't mean to be Statler & Waldorf about the whole thing, but I do want to share what we really thought! :thumbsup2

I'm signing on for more. Now, I gotta go back and catch up with what I've missed so far.

Hi! So far all you've missed is a whole lotta complaining... :lmao:

[PrincessV]

This is great Carrie! :thumbsup2 I've never been to a convention and had NO idea what the D23 could possibly be like. Frankly, I'm more than a little intimidated at this point! :eek:

[GreatBiscuit]

Awesome TR LurkyLoo! Looks like a mighty nifty time. The description of the color coded hosts had me cracking up. I'm glad Patrick managed to rescue you from the despair of entrance denial and provide you with much needed, yet over priced sculptured confectioneries. Can't wait to read more!

[lurkyloo]

This is great Carrie! :thumbsup2 I've never been to a convention and had NO idea what the D23 could possibly be like. Frankly, I'm more than a little intimidated at this point! :eek:

Oh dear - well, I don't mean to dissuade you.... think of it as being prepared! ;)

Awesome TR LurkyLoo! Looks like a mighty nifty time. The description of the color coded hosts had me cracking up. I'm glad Patrick managed to rescue you from the despair of entrance denial and provide you with much needed, yet over priced sculptured confectioneries. Can't wait to read more!

:cutie: Thanks for reading along! More despair to come... j/k!

[lurkyloo]

I'm going to break Friday into parts so I can get something posted for you today! :thumbsup2

Friday, Part One: Dick Cook's Disney Studios Presentation


On our second day at the Expo, we were a little more prepared. Originally, I'd had no interest in seeing Dick Cook talk about snoozerific future flicks like "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and "Old Dogs" at the Disney Studios presentation. But then one of Swazzle's puppeteers became the new voice of Kermit the Frog, and we found out that the entire Muppet crew would be making a surprise appearance at the presentation on a replica of the Mark Twain, so we had to go. DH got in line outside the convention center at 6:30am while I finished packing and checked us out of the Hilton. I left our cameras and cellphones with his uncle and joined DH in the queue area, where he was about 15 people from the front. He'd struck up a conversation with a kid who works as a Submarine ride op at Disneyland, and we exchanged secrets (we told him about the Muppet appearance, he told us that the new Star Tours film will have 25 beginnings, 25 middles, and 25 ends randomly chosen so that virtually no two rides will be the same - let's hope he's right!).

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/photo-41.jpg

Because we didn't have any electronics to check we ended up at the front of the queue to be wanded by the security guards, and as soon as that indignity was over, I was off into the arena like a shot. We got what amounted to front-row center seats in the 2nd row because the very first row was reserved for a gaggle of bored-looking girls who we suspect were F.O.M. (Friends of Miley). DH's brother, Sean, and SIL, Victoria, and pals Anita & Jeff joined us, and we entertained ourselves by imitating the Disney two-fingered point (plus, I invented what I like to call "The Disney Bird," a two-fingered gesture of another kind...). When we struck up a conversation with the people behind us, we discovered that one of them was in charge of merchandise for all the Disney parks. Immediately I went into nerd mode and asked if she could confirm the DIS Weddings & Honeymoons board rumor that the bride ears headband and groom ears top hat were being discontinued. She looked concerned and said she'd never heard anything about that, while the guy next to her went, "They're some of our most popular items!" Hooray! Myth debunked!

Once again, I have no pix to show you, but I'll steal some from the InterWebz.

So the presentation started with a fantastic montage of Disney (and its assorted subsidiaries') movie clips accompanied by a LIVE orchestra and LIVE singing. The singers even synched up with the actors singing on the screen - it was really impressive and stirring and got the whole crowd excited. Dick Cook came out and started talking about each of the upcoming projects and introducing their accompanying stars, sequenced in order of impressiveness. Oh, but first he showed us a bunch of trailers we coulda seen online. OK, so then he brought out John Travolta and Kelly Preston and their daughter (all of whom star in "Old Dogs" with Robin Williams), and they got the first and really the only warranted standing ovation of the day. (From then on, everyone who came out got a Standing O.)

Next up was Robert Zemeckis flogging his latest motion-capture atrocity, A Christmas Carol (sorry, but Jim Carrey is creepy enough on his own without being rendered in THE creepiest-looking kind of animation going). I love how in all the clips, Zemeckis says that modern animation has allowed them to finally present A Christmas Carol in the way Dickens originally intended - cuz obviously Dickens went to his grave wishing it were possible to show Scrooge sliding under and getting whacked in the face by a series of icicles hanging from the eaves... Patrick calls the look of the movie "Thomas Kinkade by way of Fangoria magazine," and I told him if anyone reading my trip report has actually heard of Fangoria magazine, he gets a prize.

After that they dragged Tim Burton on stage and he shuffled around and mumbled answers to Dick Cook's questions about Alice In Wonderland. My favorite part was when he said his motivation for making the movie was never having seen a film version of the book that he liked, adding "No offense!"


Looks like Zemeckis and Burton both got the sport-coat memo!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/D23BurtonZemekis.jpg


Next up was Nicolas Cage sporting quite a coiffure and spouting what sounded like a memorized speech about loving the magic of Disney, or something. Whatever happened to the Raising Arizona-era Nick Cage we knew and loved? He seemed so real and relatable back then...

Nick Cage before... (at Disneyland on 9/9/09 - actually, he looks quite like his character in Raising Arizona here!)
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/NicCage.jpg



...and after, with John Travolta!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/D23CageTravolta.jpg



After that was Jerry Bruckheimer, who, in addition to turning Nick Cage into an action star, has done a few movies here and there for Disney... He talked up Prince of Persia while those of us in the second row thought to ourselves "C'mon, c'mon - get to the Muppets!!!"

And then...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVCSFGvMdxA


The instant the curtain drew back on the front of the Mark Twain with Fozzie, Gonzo and Pepe, the crowd went wild (you can't hear it on that video clip, but trust me!). Then, when the boat turned and you saw the rest of the characters, there was another huge reaction. This got louder when Piggy started singing, and by the time Kermit appeared, the audience was practically foaming at the mouth (or maybe it was just the six of us...)


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/MuppetsShowboat.jpg


You also don't get to hear much of Kermit's new voice in the video, but let me tell you, he sounds SO much more like Jim Henson than the fellow who's been doing it since Henson died. In fact, some of the fanboys on the various Muppet discussion boards actually think they played a recording of Jim Henson for the D23 Expo appearance! Plus, the way he manipulates the puppet shows subtleties that Henson used to do (like the way Kermit looks down at his banjo while plucking it). This guy was *born* to play Kermit. When he was a kid, his teacher asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, and he said "Ernie!" When his teacher told him that he couldn't be Ernie, but he could be a puppeteer, he made up his mind to do it, and now all his hard work has paid off.

Later we spoke with one of the other puppeteers who worked the show and heard that, while the puppeteers had been strictly instructed not to bother the stars backstage (what..? Like they haven't worked with tons of stars before?!), it was the stars, including Miley Cyrus and Johnny Depp, who kept coming up to the puppets and puppeteers!

After the Muppets sailed backstage, we were treated to a surprise live set by Miley Cyrus, including complimentary laser eye surgery courtesy of her stage lights! Unfortunately, the 3D glasses they'd given us for the trailers weren't much protection against the rows of swiveling klieg lights beaming out from behind Miley and straight into our brains. I have to say I never thought I'd have second-row seats at a Hannah Montana concert - I'll be the envy of the Sunday school kids when I tell this story!

Miley appeared to have come directly from Flivver McGee's Olde-Tyme Gibson Girl Pole-Dancing Revue, sporting a white romper that looked like the underwear they used to wear beneath corsets.


Hopefully Kelly Preston gave Miley Cyrus some fashion tips before releasing her back into the wild
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/90506607_EC022_thumb.jpg


Then, just when we thought things were winding down, smoke began curling around the stage, and the curtain rose to reveal...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM6Batk62cA

And the crowd went wild! (I read there was even fainting...) We leapt to our feet and screamed our heads off as Captain Jack Sparrow appeared not 20 feet from us.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/jacksparrow3.jpg

As Dick Cook tried to "interview" him, Captain Jack kept asking where the frog had gone - highlarious! The whole thing was very exciting - much more exciting than if Johnny Depp had just walked out on the stage in a suit and chatted about the next Pirates movie. I could barely even understand what he said, besides the frog thing, but who cares? It was Captain Jack Sparrow! All too soon, the presentation was over, and we ducked out the back of the arena to avoid the electronics check.

Up Next: The Rest of Friday!

[NeverlandClub23]

The MPAA is always moaning about how nobody goes to the movies anymore and they think it's b/c of online piracy (which most of us wouldn't have a clue how to do). I say it's because the trailers give so much away, you don't even have to see the movie anymore.


That and the great movie to bad movie ratio is about 1 to 100 :rolleyes1 I need more than Megan Fox rolling around half naked (although my bf surely doesn't) and remakes of every show/movie I watched growing up to make me want to drop an Andrew Jackson (or Thomas Jefferson? Who is on a ten dollar bill? :rotfl2:).

And you're right about online piracy. I could barely figure out how to make online ADR's for WDW.

Edited to Add: Great update! What an AMAZING experience!! I mean the great Miley just feet in front of you?! ;) I'm surprised her Dad wasn't out there trying to get a piece of the action.

I would've been one of the ones that fainted. I don't find Johnny Depp particularly attractive but as Capt. Jack Sparrow :faint:!!

Oh, and I have no idea what Fangoria magazine is. I could cheat and google but that would mean I would have to not be lazy. And I was already too lazy to google who was on the ten dollar bill.

[Lorelei528]

Hi!
It's me!
I know, I know, I'm suppossed to be working and also preparing for my trip, but I had to read what you had written so far! Excellent job! I don't know if I could handle the expo, so I'm glad you're telling us all the good along with the bad...

Anyway, 2 things:

1. I have heard of Fangoria magazine. (but you probably knew that already I bet!)
2. I miss the Nicholas Cage circa Valley Girl days...he was awesome in that movie (yes, I'm serious). It actually was a very realistic 80's film and I believe it was pre-John Hughes movies...

Ok, back to work for me!

At least now I'm subbed so I won't miss a thing in this TR! ;)

[NeverlandClub23]

2. I miss the Nicholas Cage circa Valley Girl days...he was awesome in that movie (yes, I'm serious). It actually was a very realistic 80's film and I believe it was pre-John Hughes movies...


This was on the other night at like 2 a.m. (I couldn't sleep) and it was actually the first time I've ever seen it! I agree, I thought it was a pretty good movie (that may discredit everything I just said about my 1 to 100 ratio :rotfl:) and loved Nic Cage in it.

[Handbag Lady]

Not only have I heard of Fangoria! mag, but I attended their convention.

It was ugly. But fun.




As to our dear JD and Captain Jack Sparrow, let's just say that if I was there, I probably would have fainted too.

[MrsSpratt]

Too late to get the prize. Wah!

[MEK]

:


Seriously, you HAVE to find another job! :rotfl2:





:lmao::rotfl::lmao:

Yeah .....I can just see that interview now.

Interviewer: "Do you have any final questions?"

Me: "Uhmm....yes, just one. Does your internet network support photobucket pictures?" (because I need my daily dose of the DIS)

Nice pics, by the way~

[Shyvioletisme]

. Patrick calls the look of the movie "Thomas Kinkade by way of Fangoria magazine," and I told him if anyone reading my trip report has actually heard of Fangoria magazine, he gets a prize.

[/b]

I haven't finished this day yet...but Patrick gets a prize..DH and I are long time readers of Fangoria! :thumbsup2

[SleepingBeautyOH]

Oooh. So cool that you got to see Captian Jack and Kermit in the same venue :) Maybe they'll collaborate on something in the future:rotfl2:
Sounds like a neat day so far, can't wait to hear more!

[romymichelle21]

Carrie, I have to confess, I've avoided your trip report until now because I just recently stopped being so pissed that Will and I missed the expo! :headache:

Seriously, we were so mad. I mean, "called people up and posted it all over the internet just to rant at someone" mad. When I saw that Jack had showed up?? In costume?? Talking about rum?!?! It was over. (I called Will just to whine, and when I mentioned rum, he was like, "WHAT?? We missed that??").

Phew. Anyway. We're ok now.

However... until this point, I had no idea that Robin Williams and Nicholas Cage were there too. Plus Tim Burton (that one I knew).

Next year - we're going! And you know what? We're going to DL on the day they premiere Pirates 4, too. You should come! It'll be madness! (So therefore a fun trip report, no? ;)).

Anyway, I looooove your trippies, and I'm done hogging the reply box now! :goodvibes

[lazydoxy66]

Carrie,

You better pay up, I've heard of Fangoria magazine also. My DH loves all things gory and weird.

I am loving this D23 report. Thanks so much for doing it.

Seeing Captain Jack would have made every 2 hr line worth the wait.

[Becx N Gav]

Oooh. So cool that you got to see Captian Jack and Kermit in the same venue :) Maybe they'll collaborate on something in the future:rotfl2:
Sounds like a neat day so far, can't wait to hear more!

Muppets of the Caribbean :thumbsup2

Great report, I was really enjoying following your blog. So it looks like it's not worth planning a last minute trip to CA for something like this? It's such a shame they couldn't have scheduled things better.
So overall are you glad you went? Sounds like a bit of a kerfuffle getting into the venues if you had a phone/camera (who doesn't these days :confused3).
Which was the best presentaion/event you did? Were there any you were really torn by (on at the same time) I know I would have kicked myself if I had missed the Muppets et al.

[PrincessV]

Patrick calls the look of the movie "Thomas Kinkade by way of Fangoria magazine," and I told him if anyone reading my trip report has actually heard of Fangoria magazine, he gets a prize.
:rotfl2: Okay, I've never heard of Fangoria, but Googled it after reading this yesterday. Then, lo and behold, a trailer came on TV for the stupid movie... I think Patrick's spot-on with that one!

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Wow! What a presentation. Loved the Muppets and Captain Jack's entrance.

[Disneygrl36]

Loved the Muppets aboard the Mark Twain!!!! And the back story that you know the guy who does Kermit now....I bet he is over the moon to get to play such a character.

Johnny Depp's entrance was wonder-ball!!!! He is so great as Captain Jack & that was a great surprise.:worship:

[Donald'sGirl]

Carrie another fantastic installment! I love the Muppets, it so cool to see them on the Mark Twain.

On the whole JP/Captain Sparrow thing - gag me! I can't stand him! I would however have been estatic to see Nick Cage and John Travolta! :cool1:

Can't wait for more!

[rentayenta]

That Hilton looks really nice. I think there are a few Hiltons in the area- what was the exact name? I am thinking of taking the kids to Disneyland for a quickie trip to Disneyland next June but won't be staying DVC and looking for a less expensive off property hotel than the DLH or PPH. :thanks:

[DisneyJo]

Loving your honest report of the Expo, I didn't realise so much queueing was involved :faint:

[Handbag Lady]

I know I am not Carrie, but I would seriously go again. Even with the lines and having to miss some things due to capacity, I had a great time.

There were a few things that I saw that I was THRILLED to see. It is worth the trip if they do a D23 expo again.

Plus, they let the imagineers out. That never happens in a public area. I got to meet Burny Mattinson, I was so thrilled. You could just walk up to them and say, "Hey, I LOVE your work. May I have a picture?" and they all said yes.

[lurkyloo]

That and the great movie to bad movie ratio is about 1 to 100 :rolleyes1 I need more than Megan Fox rolling around half naked (although my bf surely doesn't) and remakes of every show/movie I watched growing up to make me want to drop an Andrew Jackson (or Thomas Jefferson? Who is on a ten dollar bill?).


:rotfl: Good point! But I'm jealous that you can see a movie for a mere Alexander Hamilton. Around here we're lucky if we only have to throw in an Abe Lincoln with our Hamilton, but for 3D movies there are usually a few George Washingtons on top of all that!

Oh, and I have no idea what Fangoria magazine is. I could cheat and google but that would mean I would have to not be lazy. And I was already too lazy to google who was on the ten dollar bill.

:rotfl2:



1. I have heard of Fangoria magazine. (but you probably knew that already I bet!)

Yes. Yes, I did... ;)

2. I miss the Nicholas Cage circa Valley Girl days...he was awesome in that movie (yes, I'm serious). It actually was a very realistic 80's film and I believe it was pre-John Hughes movies...

Oh yeah, that one too! I just loved his whole look in Raising Arizona - the perpetually mussed hair, the droopy eyes and half-wit expression.... comedy gold!


Not only have I heard of Fangoria! mag, but I attended their convention.

Awright, Prize #1 for Patrick....


Too late to get the prize. Wah!

Dang - now I owe him TWO prizes!!!



Yeah .....I can just see that interview now.

Interviewer: "Do you have any final questions?"

Me: "Uhmm....yes, just one. Does your internet network support photobucket pictures?" (because I need my daily dose of the DIS)

Nice pics, by the way~

:rotfl: Thanks!

I haven't finished this day yet...but Patrick gets a prize..DH and I are long time readers of Fangoria!

Prize #3.... I have a feeling all of DH's prizes are gonna end up being smooches, cuz I can't afford to buy this many! :lmao:

Oooh. So cool that you got to see Captian Jack and Kermit in the same venue. Maybe they'll collaborate on something in the future

That would RULE! :thumbsup2

Carrie, I have to confess, I've avoided your trip report until now because I just recently stopped being so pissed that Will and I missed the expo!

Oh no! I'm so sorry you were bummed out! :sad2: Here, just think of all the crummy stuff you missed: standing in lines, getting turned away from presentations even after standing in line, waiting in a sheep herd to fork over your electronic devices for hours, waiting in another herd to pick up your electronic devices, eating greasy burgers three meals a day, or missing meals because you're in line/in a presentation, getting wanded, spending way too much money on any tchotchke that said "D23" on it, standing in line to spend money on said tchotchkes, going without sleep in order to see everything you wanted to see.... am I making you feel any better...? :hug:


Next year - we're going! And you know what? We're going to DL on the day they premiere Pirates 4, too. You should come! It'll be madness! (So therefore a fun trip report, no?

Oooh, now that would be interesting. I dunno, though - I don't do well with crowds and standing in line (as we've all seen in this report). But then maybe it would make for a funny trip report... ;)

Carrie,

You better pay up, I've heard of Fangoria magazine also. My DH loves all things gory and weird.

Prize # 4 for DH - dear lord! Do you think he'll accept origami boulders as prizes?

Muppets of the Caribbean :thumbsup2

LOVE it!!! :banana:

Great report, I was really enjoying following your blog. So it looks like it's not worth planning a last minute trip to CA for something like this? It's such a shame they couldn't have scheduled things better.
So overall are you glad you went? Sounds like a bit of a kerfuffle getting into the venues if you had a phone/camera (who doesn't these days :confused3).
Which was the best presentaion/event you did? Were there any you were really torn by (on at the same time) I know I would have kicked myself if I had missed the Muppets et al.

Let's see... I don't know if I would plan a trip to CA from England for it... maybe from, say, Oklahoma, though. :teeth: I think I am glad I went overall - that Disney Studios presentation was worth it right there, and it was definitely the best presentation. This is embarrassing, but as you'll see later in the report, I actually started to fall asleep in most of the other presentations we went to! I think I was so tightly wound and anxious about standing in line, that when we finally got in and didn't have to wait anymore, I relaxed so much that I just kinda shut down... :rolleyes1

The one I was most torn about was the Disney Parks presentation being pitted against the Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings one. I picked the parks one, and now I totally regret it b/c they didn't announce anything new and I feel guilty for being the Disney wedding book author who didn't even go to the Disney wedding seminar! :sad2:

:rotfl2: Okay, I've never heard of Fangoria, but Googled it after reading this yesterday. Then, lo and behold, a trailer came on TV for the stupid movie... I think Patrick's spot-on with that one!

:thumbsup2 I'll let him know!


Wow! What a presentation. Loved the Muppets and Captain Jack's entrance.

Totally! I have no idea how they'll top that if they hold an Expo next year...

Loved the Muppets aboard the Mark Twain!!!! And the back story that you know the guy who does Kermit now....I bet he is over the moon to get to play such a character.

Johnny Depp's entrance was wonder-ball!!!! He is so great as Captain Jack & that was a great surprise.:worship:

Here here! pirate:

Carrie another fantastic installment! I love the Muppets, it so cool to see them on the Mark Twain.

On the whole JP/Captain Sparrow thing - gag me! I can't stand him! I would however have been estatic to see Nick Cage and John Travolta!

Wowza! I have to say I've never met someone who can't stand Cpt. Jack Sparrow before, but I totally respect that. It must also save you a lot of money on Pirates merchandise... :thumbsup2

That Hilton looks really nice. I think there are a few Hiltons in the area- what was the exact name? I am thinking of taking the kids to Disneyland for a quickie trip to Disneyland next June but won't be staying DVC and looking for a less expensive off property hotel than the DLH or PPH. :thanks:

It is... the Hilton Anaheim Hotel, 777 Convention Way, Anaheim, California, United States 92802. It's on the property of the convention center, and about a 20-minute walk from Disneyland.

You might check out the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel, which everyone seems to love and has all kinds of discounts thru www.mousesavers.com and other Disney sites.

The very closest hotel to the gate at Disneyland (even closer than the Grand Californian) is the Best Western Park Place Inn & Mini Suites (*not* the Best Western Anaheim Inn, which is down the street). But it's not always a bargain. Sometimes you can get a lower rate by calling though.

And the absolutely cheapest accommodations we've had were through Priceline, which only works if you have a car, in case it's far. We got the Doubletree for $55/night, but it was 10 minutes' drive away.

Loving your honest report of the Expo, I didn't realise so much queueing was involved :faint:

Hi Jo! :wave2: I think I may know you from PassPorter.com too!


Plus, they let the imagineers out. That never happens in a public area. I got to meet Burny Mattinson, I was so thrilled. You could just walk up to them and say, "Hey, I LOVE your work. May I have a picture?" and they all said yes.

That was one of the highlights, I have to admit... ;)

[rentayenta]

It is... the Hilton Anaheim Hotel, 777 Convention Way, Anaheim, California, United States 92802. It's on the property of the convention center, and about a 20-minute walk from Disneyland.

You might check out the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel, which everyone seems to love and has all kinds of discounts thru www.mousesavers.com and other Disney sites.

The very closest hotel to the gate at Disneyland (even closer than the Grand Californian) is the Best Western Park Place Inn & Mini Suites (*not* the Best Western Anaheim Inn, which is down the street). But it's not always a bargain. Sometimes you can get a lower rate by calling though.

And the absolutely cheapest accommodations we've had were through Priceline, which only works if you have a car, in case it's far. We got the Doubletree for $55/night, but it was 10 minutes' drive away.





:thanks:



I am from So Cal, Cypress, about 10 minutes from Disneyland but because we lived so close, we never needed a hotel. We have stayed at all of the Disney properties and the HoJo but that Hilton looks nice. Since DH won't be with us, I might have to order a little room service for breakfast in the morning. pirate: I liked the HoJo well enough but those Hilton beds look comfy. My friend also gets a discount at all Marriotts and Hiltons. :thumbsup2 The BWPPI looks iffy but I have read some good things.


Ideally, DH would buy me those 100 DVC points at the GCV and this would be a moot point. :cloud9:

[romymichelle21]

:Oh no! I'm so sorry you were bummed out! :sad2: Here, just think of all the crummy stuff you missed: standing in lines, getting turned away from presentations even after standing in line, waiting in a sheep herd to fork over your electronic devices for hours, waiting in another herd to pick up your electronic devices, eating greasy burgers three meals a day, or missing meals because you're in line/in a presentation, getting wanded, spending way too much money on any tchotchke that said "D23" on it, standing in line to spend money on said tchotchkes, going without sleep in order to see everything you wanted to see.... am I making you feel any better...? :hug:

Oooh, now that would be interesting. I dunno, though - I don't do well with crowds and standing in line (as we've all seen in this report). But then maybe it would make for a funny trip report... ;)

Oh no myself! I just realized what a whiny downer I sounded like! :sad2:

It was mainly sarcasm, though - although I was bummed after I found out Jack was there, I was still very excited for you and Patrick all weekend! ;) I'm glad you guys had a (overall) great time.

Next year we will go, so no biggie. But yes, I think the premiere would be awesome! I always wished I'd known about the others before they happened, so I'm hoping they do the same thing for this one. I'd love to be at the park and catch a glimpse of Jack and Barbossa! :goodvibes

[DisneyJo]

Hi Jo! :wave2: I think I may know you from PassPorter.com too!
I don't post there but I did read and post on your TR, I'm also on the Moms Panel so you may have seen photos of me around :goodvibes

[Beka]

Next up was Robert Zemeckis flogging his latest motion-capture atrocity, A Christmas Carol (sorry, but Jim Carrey is creepy enough on his own without being rendered in THE creepiest-looking kind of animation going). I love how in all the clips, Zemeckis says that modern animation has allowed them to finally present A Christmas Carol in the way Dickens originally intended - cuz obviously Dickens went to his grave wishing it were possible to show Scrooge sliding under and getting whacked in the face by a series of icicles hanging from the eaves... Patrick calls the look of the movie "Thomas Kinkade by way of Fangoria magazine," and I told him if anyone reading my trip report has actually heard of Fangoria magazine, he gets a prize.

Give him a prize, cuz I know Fangoria magazine! It used to both scare & fascinate me.

[PryncessChrysty]

Hi Carrie! I was just wondering if you happened to hear what the release date is for the Pook*a*looz that they had on display? I didn't think to ask anyone at the booth when we were there :headache:, and now I can't find any info on line about their release.

[romymichelle21]

:rotfl: I just Googled Pook-a-Looz, and found Patrick's Swazzle blog!

(Or, actually, it says Sean... does Patrick have a brother?)

[Ciciwoowoo]

I love reading your trippie on the convention and wish I was there!

And...I've heard of Fangora too. Dated a guy who was massively into zombies and b horror movies. :rotfl2:

[lurkyloo]

Ideally, DH would buy me those 100 DVC points at the GCV and this would be a moot point.

:rotfl: I gotta agree with you there!



Next year we will go, so no biggie. But yes, I think the premiere would be awesome! I always wished I'd known about the others before they happened, so I'm hoping they do the same thing for this one. I'd love to be at the park and catch a glimpse of Jack and Barbossa! :goodvibes

I'll bet they'll do the same kind of premiere - Disneyland has them down to a science!

I don't post there but I did read and post on your TR, I'm also on the Moms Panel so you may have seen photos of me around :goodvibes

That must be it! :goodvibes

Give him a prize, cuz I know Fangoria magazine! It used to both scare & fascinate me.

Oh my gosh - now I owe him, what, six prizes! :scared1:

Hi Carrie! I was just wondering if you happened to hear what the release date is for the Pook*a*looz that they had on display? I didn't think to ask anyone at the booth when we were there :headache:, and now I can't find any info on line about their release.

As far as either of us can recall, they just said "2010" - the only month I remember hearing was February for the Muppet Vinylmations. I think the Pook*a*looz might be further out....

:rotfl: I just Googled Pook-a-Looz, and found Patrick's Swazzle blog!

(Or, actually, it says Sean... does Patrick have a brother?)

Yes, Sean is Patrick's twin! (hint: Patrick is the one with a beard) :thumbsup2

I love reading your trippie on the convention and wish I was there!

And...I've heard of Fangora too. Dated a guy who was massively into zombies and b horror movies. :rotfl2:

Wowza! So I guess this means I owe DH about seven prizes now.... :rolleyes:

[Donald'sGirl]

Wowza! I have to say I've never met someone who can't stand Cpt. Jack Sparrow before, but I totally respect that. It must also save you a lot of money on Pirates merchandise... :thumbsup2


Don't get me wrong I LOVE the POC ride but can't watch the movies because of JD. I can't look at him he grosses me out. However my DS and DF both love the movies so we do actually have some POC merchandise. :rolleyes:

[lurkyloo]

Originally we'd planned to go next to the Haunted Mansion presentation, followed by "The Making of The World of Color" and then split up so I could go to "We Make the Music: Disney Theme Park Music" and DH could go to "The Evolution of Mickey Mouse" (to ask why Mickey's hands and feet are so huge and bloated in all the illustrations these days). However, each presentation ended only 30 minutes before the next (meaning there was no way we'd get in line in time to get a seat). We were so burned out from the previous day that we bagged all our plans for the rest of Friday so we could go at our own pace and not be enslaved by the schedule. So there ya go, Steven Clark - when you give people too much good stuff to see and do, they give up and don't get to see any of it.

The first order of business was lunch. On Disney's Expo map, the Aramark-serviced convention food counters were given cute names like "Walt's Diner" and "Woody's BBQ," and they even made up distinctive-sounding menus for each place: Soup, pizza, calzones, stromboli, and parmesan chicken sandwiches at Stromboli Trattoria, and chicken fajitas, taco salads, and carne asada tortas at Caballeros Cafe. I say "made up" because when we got to each of these counters (which had no signage identifying them by their Disney names, so you never knew where you were) all they offered were pre-cooked burgers, fries, and assorted soggy cold sandwiches, salads and wraps.

We didn't know any better, so we grabbed lunch at Caballeros Cafe (formerly known as "Aramark Slop Trough #351A.6"). I watched in horror as they pulled a pre-cooked burger from a metal tub of grease and smashed a plasticky square of cheese on top of it - guess I needn't have specified "medium rare"! At least we had sense enough to bypass the sad, fluorescently lit jumble of a seating area and head over to the D23 Member Lounge with our food. Earlier I'd spotted a few nice sets of tables and chairs scattered among the plush couches and armchairs within its invisible walls (sorry, but an overhead banner and a carpet border do not make it an exclusive area!).

Ooooh! Exclusive!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/DSC04484.jpg


Non-members stood at the edge of the black carpet and pressed their noses against the invisible walls longingly...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/DSC04485.jpg


Try not to look too long or you'll need clinical-strength depression medication
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/photo-44.jpg


The one bright spot in our lunch was the brick of fudge I'd grabbed on impulse. It turned out to be another treat shipped in from the parks and HOLY CRAP was it delicious! Now I know why everyone on MousePlanet was so sad when Disneyland temporarily stopped making its own fudge - that stuff is WAY better than Disney World fudge! I'd picked up the chocolate cookies & cream kind, but at that moment I vowed to try as many varieties as I could before Expo's end.

Don't worry, those aren't teeth marks...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04008.jpg


While we were eating, one of the few fans dressed in costume came by — The Rocketeer! It's one of my all-time favorite movies, and the guy's costume looked really good (he also looked super-familiar, but I couldn't quite place him...), so I asked for my first-ever picture with a costumed fan.


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04012.jpg



He also did his special Rocketeer pose for us, and he taught DH to do it too!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04009.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04013.jpg




The helmet was amazing! We saw the actual Rocketeer costume later in the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit, and this guy's get-up was spot-on!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04011.jpg


After lunch, we headed into what turned out to be hands-down the best exhibit at the Expo, the Disney Parks & Resorts area.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04342.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04341.jpg

Just like at an actual theme park, the experience started with a queue, then proceeded to a pre-show before we were let into the exhibit.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04138-1.jpg

I loooove old attraction posters!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04139-1.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04140-1.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04312.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04313.jpg


When you stepped into the curtained preshow area, there was a huge screen with a projection on it that made it look like a big old-fashioned TV.


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04314.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/IMG_2037.jpg



I know this is just a little thing, but I got really excited when the video switched to ginormous images from the theme parks - you could almost reach out and touch the castle!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/IMG_2038.jpg



But the coolest part was the way the screen split like a Z and opened to reveal the inside of the exhibit.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/IMG_2039.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04315.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/IMG_2040.jpg

[lurkyloo]

Stepping through this magic portal brought you smack into Carsland.


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04316.jpg


On display were the small overview model and the large Radiator Springs Racers models (DH asked what the scale was for each of them, but I forget what they said.) There were real-live Imagineers stationed at each exhibit to answer questions (some more effectively than others - we must've caught one lady right before her lunch break - all we got were "yes" and "no" answers). At the time we went, the guy who was in charge of building the models was actually there, so DH had plenty of questions for him.

Overview Model:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04049.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04050.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04030.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04052.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04031.jpg





Radiator Springs Racers Model:


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04024.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04029.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04027.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04028.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04026.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04025.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04023.jpg



To give you an idea what the ride will be like, here is video DH shot of the snippet of Radiator Springs Racers ride previsualization that was shown at Saturday's Parks & Resorts presentation by Jay Rasulo:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/th_MAH04470.jpg (http://s157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/?action=view&current=MAH04470.flv)



To the left were life-size (I think - with no humans in the movie, who can tell?) figures of Guido and Luigi that you could pose next to (Luigi is my favorite character in the film, so I was sure to take a terribly unflattering picture with him that you will never see!).


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04022.jpg


To the right was another mind-boggling accomplishment - a talking Lightning McQueen. His mouth is projected from inside his body, and the effect is astonishing, it's so real.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04036.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04047.jpg


Here's video DH shot - no sound on him yet...

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/th_MAH04044.jpg (http://s157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/?action=view&current=MAH04044.flv)



Up next: Naked Abe, Meeting Lucky the Dinosaur and Wall*E, pix of DVC's Hawaii resort model, and concept art and models from Hong Kong Disneyland!

[lurkyloo]

Don't get me wrong I LOVE the POC ride but can't watch the movies because of JD. I can't look at him he grosses me out. However my DS and DF both love the movies so we do actually have some POC merchandise. :rolleyes:

That's true... if I ran into a real-life Cpt. Jack Sparrow in a dark alley, I would run the opposite direction - he's totally gross! :lmao:

[Disneygrl36]

I love the Rocketeer!!!!
And, I got to see the big model of Radiator Springs & the Cars ride being worked on & built when we went to Imagineering so that is really cool to see how it turned out. Love all the details in those models, they really are amazing pieces of art. That ride looks so cute & amazing.:worship:

[Donald'sGirl]

OMG I can't believe they are going to have a Cars ride at DL but not WDW! I want to go on it sooooo bad!!! Guess it means I just have to come to CA! :cool1: DS's favorite character in cars is Luigi he would have killed to have his pic with him!

[LittleStinkerbelle]

(sorry, but an overhead banner and a carpet border do not make it an exclusive area!).



:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:


The one bright spot in our lunch was the brick of fudge I'd grabbed on impulse.

Don't worry, those aren't teeth marks...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04008.jpg




Oh man, that looks goooood! Bright spot indeed:thumbsup2.

[Handbag Lady]

I had no idea that was a D23 exclusive area. I sat there a few times and gasp! I am NOT a D213 member.

I feel so naughty now! :rotfl:

[SleepingBeautyOH]

Awesome update!
Cars Land looks super cool.. I guess this is another reason I need to make the voyage to Disneyland:)
The talking Lightning McQueen is.. WOW. So realistic!

[NeverlandClub23]

Non-members stood at the edge of the black carpet and pressed their noses against the invisible walls longingly...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/DSC04485.jpg


That guy on the couch is so "peeping": "There's this girl who thinks this area is so exclusive and cool she's taking pictures of it."

Great update!! :goodvibes I wonder where the "real" food described on the menu was :confused3.

Talking Lightning McQueen was AMAZING! I showed it to my Dad last night and he was in awe.

[A-T-G]

I really loved that "Parks & Resorts" area! When DH & I filled out our surveys, we heaped praise on it!

[lurkyloo]

I love the Rocketeer!!!!
And, I got to see the big model of Radiator Springs & the Cars ride being worked on & built when we went to Imagineering so that is really cool to see how it turned out. Love all the details in those models, they really are amazing pieces of art. That ride looks so cute & amazing.:worship:

Yay! Don't you think The Rocketeer is one of the best movies EVER? It has everything - action, suspense, comedy, romance, and a blow-out fight with mobsters and G-men teaming up against the Nazis!!!

That's cool you got to see Imagineers working on the model in their natural habitat! :thumbsup2

OMG I can't believe they are going to have a Cars ride at DL but not WDW! I want to go on it sooooo bad!!! Guess it means I just have to come to CA!

Yes, yes it does! :teeth: Also, your DS has great taste!



Oh man, that looks goooood! Bright spot indeed

Really, every day should have a little fudge in it! :cutie:

I had no idea that was a D23 exclusive area. I sat there a few times and gasp! I am NOT a D213 member.

I feel so naughty now! :rotfl:

Shame on you! SHAME. ON. YOU! Couldn't you tell by the variation in carpet color that you were not allowed in that area?! :rotfl:

Awesome update!
Cars Land looks super cool.. I guess this is another reason I need to make the voyage to Disneyland:)
The talking Lightning McQueen is.. WOW. So realistic!

Totally! It was funny how the Imagineer was saying he's an early prototype and still has problems - we were like, "What problems?" Apparently the area around his mouth and eyes isn't the right shade of red... :confused3

That guy on the couch is so "peeping": "There's this girl who thinks this area is so exclusive and cool she's taking pictures of it."

Lurkyloo: @ThatGuy So where's *your* D23 Member Card, Mister Smartypants?!!

I really loved that "Parks & Resorts" area! When DH & I filled out our surveys, we heaped praise on it!

You both got surveys?! :headache: I never got one - only Patrick did. Considering that DFTW never sent me a post-wedding survey, I'm starting to get a persecution complex! :lmao:

[Handbag Lady]

You both got surveys?! :headache: I never got one - only Patrick did. Considering that DFTW never sent me a post-wedding survey, I'm starting to get a persecution complex! :lmao:

We didn't get them either. I'm still waiting because I have a lot to say, both good and bad.

[A-T-G]

We both got one. DH and I each filled one out. We tried to hit a few of the same points but, make them different enough - so we didn't sound suspiciously similar.

[lurkyloo]

OK, so the next area of the Parks & Resorts Pavilion had exhibits about AudioAnimatronics, including this nekkid Abe Lincoln figure!


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04064.jpg


They also had an area devoted to concept art for some of the mobile animatronic projects, like the Muppet Mobile Labs:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04071-1.jpg


And there was a small stage with a demo of a next-generation animatronic character and a talking bird sidekick. I didn't really pay much attention to that because right next to it was... LUCKY!!!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04061.jpg

I never got a chance to meet Lucky the Dinosaur when he was at DCA, so I was very excited to see they had a queue and were doing meet 'n' greets, complete with PhotoPass photogs. I was surprised how soft he was (and that they let us pet him) - I guess I thought he'd feel all rubbery, but he felt like a Nerf football. And he was so cute and friendly! I'm sure I looked like a total goon cuz I felt like I was interacting with a real animal.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04063.jpg


While we were with Lucky, a camera crew was there filming us. They had us sign waivers, but if the footage makes me look as bad as the PhotoPass pictures they took did, I hope to gosh they never use it!


Then we found out that they rotated appearances by Lucky and the Wall*E, so we stuck around for that too. Meeting Wall*E was also exciting, since he'd never been anywehre we could see him in person—DHS only had a cardboard cutout to pose with when we were there.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04090.jpg


He is so realistic, you almost take it for granted that you're hanging out with the real Wall*E. He kept trying to make friends with people's ECVs...

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/th_MAH04084.jpg (http://s157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/?action=view&current=MAH04084.flv)


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04087.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04088.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04091.jpg




The next thing you came to was a surprisingly small exhibit on DVC and the Disney Cruise Line. There was a lounge-y area done up like the new Villas at the Grand Californian and a model of the Ko Olina resort in Hawaii, but not much else.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04340.jpg

Here are a ton of model pix, for anyone who's interested....


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04329.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04317.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04318.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04319.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04320.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04321.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04322.jpg


There will be no giant read people looming over the actual resort
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04323.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04325.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04326.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04327.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04328.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04330.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04331.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04332.jpg


I couldn't figure out where the weddings would be held, but DFTW's Marketing Director said they will definitely be doing weddings there!

[lurkyloo]

We took a pic of Admiral Donald (Commodore Donald?) for Wazzo:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04335.jpg



...and the model of the new ship...

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04337.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04338.jpg



The last area of the pavilion contained models of the expansion at Hong Kong Disneyland.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04095.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04104.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04111.jpg


Grizzly Gulch
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04099.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04105.jpg



Mystic Manor looks like it's going to be COOL!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04096.jpg


They had a mockup of the Mystic Manor ride on display. The eager young WDI intern standing next to the model asked if anybody had any questions, and I made the mistake of asking how the ride was gonna go. Turns out it's one of those "you just had to be there" stories, because we practically fell asleep during the 20-minute schpiel along the lines of "...and then your ride vehicle enters this room and things go terribly wrong... and then you enter *this* room and things go terribly wrong... and then you enter THIS room and things go terribly wrong..."

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04112.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04114.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04116.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04119.jpg



Concept art of things going terribly wrong...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04122.jpg


We slowly edged our way to the fringes of the crowd of people nodding off to the story of Mystic Manor and escaped the pavilion to hit the Dream Store. The area next door was a display on... technology, or something — they had an ABC news van you could climb inside (we definitely missed some hilarious photo ops there!) and a float from the Electrical Parade complete with PhotoPass photographer.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04137.jpg


Somewhere between there and the Dream Store we ran across The World's Largest Vinylmation. Either that, or DH decided to do some trick photography.


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04136.jpg

In fact, I'll just throw in all the Vinylmation shots he took at the Expo - they had a ton of prototypes on display:


Muppet Vinylmation - due out in February 2010!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC03998.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC03999.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04000.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04002.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04005.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04003.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04004.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04007.jpg

[lurkyloo]

By this time the D23 Expo Dream Store didn't have a line to get in—and thank goodness, cuz it was totally not worth standing in line for!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04129.jpg


The Peter Pan ride vehicle that was auctioned off for $35,000

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04128.jpg



I guess I expected the Dream Store to be a little bit more interesting than, oh, say, your local Disney Store at the mall. But except for about three racks displaying just two different styles of D23 Expo-exclusive merchandise (Sorcerer Mickey look or Classic Mickey look), the rest of the merchandise was the same stuff you see everywhere: generic T-shirts, hats, pin sets, and bags; princess costumes; bad, overpriced art glicees... oh, and TONS and TONS of leftover "exclusive" D23 Vinylmation figures.


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04130.jpg


You won't find these babies anywhere else on this block in Anaheim
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/photo-45.jpg


Minnie's Mahnolos
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/photo-44.jpg


Good thing I waited in line for an hour to get a voucher to buy one of these...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/photo-48.jpg



Yup, good thing...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/photo-46.jpg


WHAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/photo-47.jpg



I've been waiting forEVER for them to make a stuffed animal of Presto, but I wasn't gonna buy $$$-worth of cheesy "inspired by" art prints to get him free in their promo offer.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04131.jpg


Besides, SOMEone says she can get me one at Pixar... :rolleyes1


Anyway, I did end up getting one cool thing, and that was a prize for my 100th Twitter follower, annewjerz! I was sorry to see the Dream Store didn't have anything as cool as a flashing-color bouncy eyeball (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=30908373&postcount=753), but since I know she's a pin collector, she was easy to shop for!


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/D23ExpoPin.jpg


After escaping the Dream Store with our bank account virtually untouched, we enjoyed some quality wandering time on the show floor—it was so nice to have nowhere to be and nothing to stand in line for! Here's what we saw:


(Expo-goers to be Photoshopped in later...)
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04142.jpg


'Nother Donald for Wazzo - this one was DH's favorite entry in the D23 Fan Art Contest.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04146.jpg



Oh lordy - another variant of the Cars toys DH collects! Fortunately, he's picky...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04153.jpg



There was one really neat booth of Vinylmation-esque Stitch big figs that had been made over by different artists. Some of them were cool, some were creepy, and some were just puzzling.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04173.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04168.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04160.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04154.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04157.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04158.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04159.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04162.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04163.jpg


(Sorry - DH spent a LOT of time here snapping pix...)


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04165.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04172.jpg

[lurkyloo]

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04171.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04169.jpg


My favorite
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04170.jpg


For some reason, only these were for sale... I didn't really pick up on the sales model here—I would much rather buy one of the big figs!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04174.jpg



Across the aisle was the Pook*A*Looz booth ( I hope I got enough asterisks in the name there...). I have never heard of these things, but I guess they're sort of a stab at capturing the Ugly Doll/Anime market?

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04177.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04180.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04182.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04176.jpg


I love this guy's design!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/photo-45.jpg



Around the corner was the eFX Collectibles booth, featuring replicas of Kermit and Rizzo. DH says the Kermit looks off, but he'd buy Rizzo.


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04185.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/photo-46.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04186.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04187.jpg



....And then there was a display of Disney-inspired art (again, usually not my thing, but they had some pretty cool pieces....)

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04189.jpg



... plus some weird ones...

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04195.jpg



...And then I was killed by a pillow in the Walt Disney Signature Furniture Collection display!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04192.jpg


...And then we were compelled to take a picture of this giant green alien bean bag in the kids' room display for our pal who does the green aliens' voice. Poor guy - he prolly has a whole closet full of green-alien junk people give him!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04193.jpg


...And then we ran across Patrick's brother and sister-in-law doing crafts in the Crayola booth...

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04200.jpg


...with A-T-G!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04198.jpg



... Then we saw the queue for "The Disney Store: The Magic is Back!" presentation... (just kidding!)

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04201.jpg



... And then we popped into the Fan Forum seller area. We saw some neat Cheshire cats repainted in team colors....

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04208.jpg


...And this A-FRIGGIN-MAZING Amanda Visell set-up:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04210.jpg

...And DH met Mice Age's Al Lutz! (He's the guy we invoke whenever we see "bad show" at Disneyland: Ride broken down? Call Al Lutz! Trash on the ground? Call Al Lutz! Lunch overpriced? Call Al Lutz - no wait, call Kevin Yee for that one....)

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04227.jpg

[lurkyloo]

I was drawn to the Olszewski Studios booth again, like a moth to a flame or a lovebug to some people, so DH could get pictures of the complete Disneyland setup (and Magic Kingdom too) for me to put under my pillow at night and dream about.


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04213.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04214.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04215.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04216.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04217.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04218.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04220.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04221.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04222.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04223.jpg


Apparently you can contact somebody who will mechanize the teacups and Dumbo for you so they spin!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04224.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04225.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/th_MAH04226.jpg (http://s157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/?action=view&current=MAH04226.flv)



As DH was shooting and I was drooling, we heard somebody say "Shouldn't the Roots be taking those pictures for you?" It was the Haupt Family, who turned out to be longtime lurkers on Lurkyloo trip reports! In fact, they may be lurking here at this very moment! Hi Haupts!!!! :wave2:

We got a picture together - a picture which also should have been taken by the Roots!


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04219.jpg


OK, one last thing we saw - they were building a Lego mosaic over the course of the Expo. Here's the first day...

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC03965.jpg


...and here's the second day... (we were too busy waiting in line for the rest of the trip to get subsequent pictures).

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04233.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04304.jpg


Tomorrow: The part where I FINALLY finish recapping Friday!

[A-T-G]

Great update! As I was scrolling and reading your TR, I got to the pic of your BIL & SIL drawing, and didn't see me. I thought to myself "hey! I was sitting right across from those guys attempting to draw a very poor pic of Pooh". I scroll down farther and PRESTO there I am! Rockin' my vintage Kermit hair clips. Fab angle too :-P

I may have a bit of PRESTO fer ya this weekend. I just hope I can fit it into my luggage. Maybe I'll squeeze it into a HAT instead...

[inkedupmomma]

this whole report makes my heart smile!

[Aburns8]

Love the update! I was able to meet Lucky last December on my ABD - Backstage Magic. He is really cool! I can't believe that you got to meet Wal-E that is awesome!

[Donald'sGirl]

Carrie another great installment! I love all the pics and like the poster above me it makes me smile! :)

[Wazzo]

We took a pic of Admiral Donald (Commodore Donald?) for Wazzo:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04335.jpg

...and the model of the new ship...

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04337.jpg


'Nother Donald for Wazzo - this one was DH's favorite entry in the D23 Fan Art Contest.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04146.jpg


Hooray!!! Thank you for the loverly pictures! :hug: I love it when you go Donald (and now new ship) hunting for me! :lovestruc

[yyx99]

great report

[PrincessV]

Sorry - clever words are escaping me. Really, this was just COOL, COOL, COOL!!! :thumbsup2

[Disneygrl36]

I was totally mesmerized by Lucky when we got to meet him at Imagineering so I can relate. Wall-E is A-dorable.
So many neat things in this update. It was jam packed!!!!
Loved the huge Vinylmation Mickey themed as Sorcerer Mickey.
Those poke*a*loz (or whatever they are called) things are kinda cute too!!!!
Disney signature furniture line.....Wow!!!!
Can't wait to hear more.

[NeverlandClub23]

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04157.jpg

Wow. I don't even know what to say.


What a busy, awesome day! I'd probably have taken a nap on that couch! (Also, I'm pretty sure a pillow has to be over your face for it to kill you :laughing:).

[princess_momma]

I'M LOVING this tr!! I've actually lurked on most of yours...:goodvibes they're great. I just got all caught up. And I just love your commentary. I feel like I was there!!

Must say :scared1: about the NOT discontinuing the headband bride ears. I haven't even found my prince yet and heard that rumor and snagged some off ebay! Then I went to WDW (while you were at this expo, I might add) and saw them and thought "oh hmmm ebay wasn't nessacary!" and then I hear this!! Oh well. At least I got them!!

[lurkyloo]

Great update! As I was scrolling and reading your TR, I got to the pic of your BIL & SIL drawing, and didn't see me. I thought to myself "hey! I was sitting right across from those guys attempting to draw a very poor pic of Pooh". I scroll down farther and PRESTO there I am! Rockin' my vintage Kermit hair clips. Fab angle too :-P

I may have a bit of PRESTO fer ya this weekend. I just hope I can fit it into my luggage. Maybe I'll squeeze it into a HAT instead...

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! :hyper: Also, I lurve those Kermit hair clips!

this whole report makes my heart smile!

:goodvibes What a sweet thing to say! Apparently you like nonstop complaining... which is good, cuz there's more on the way! :rotfl:


Love the update! I was able to meet Lucky last December on my ABD - Backstage Magic. He is really cool! I can't believe that you got to meet Wal-E that is awesome!

Ooooh! That Backstage Magic tour sounds so fun - were you on the same one as Disneygrl36?

Carrie another great installment! I love all the pics and like the poster above me it makes me smile! :)

Thanks for reading! :flower3:

Hooray!!! Thank you for the loverly pictures! :hug: I love it when you go Donald (and now new ship) hunting for me! :lovestruc

Well you've given me a fun lil' "hook" for our trips, the way some people look for hidden Mickeys or, uh, drinking fountains.... :cutie:

great report

Thanks for reading! :wave2

Sorry - clever words are escaping me. Really, this was just COOL, COOL, COOL!!! :thumbsup2

Yay! :banana: I'm glad you enjoyed it!

I was totally mesmerized by Lucky when we got to meet him at Imagineering so I can relate. Wall-E is A-dorable.
So many neat things in this update. It was jam packed!!!!
Loved the huge Vinylmation Mickey themed as Sorcerer Mickey.
Those poke*a*loz (or whatever they are called) things are kinda cute too!!!!
Disney signature furniture line.....Wow!!!!

Yeah, I actually kinda dig the Disney Signature furniture line, and if I were classy (and wealthy) enough to have all one style of decor, I'd prolly go for that '30s Deco look. As the moment, I can only afford "Ikea Eclectic"! :lmao:

Wow. I don't even know what to say.


What a busy, awesome day! I'd probably have taken a nap on that couch! (Also, I'm pretty sure a pillow has to be over your face for it to kill you :laughing:).

Oh whew! I was pretty sure I died back there - good to know. Also, I'm with you on that Stitch - in fact, most of them were just tooooo creepy for me...

I'M LOVING this tr!! I've actually lurked on most of yours...:goodvibes they're great. I just got all caught up. And I just love your commentary. I feel like I was there!!

Must say :scared1: about the NOT discontinuing the headband bride ears. I haven't even found my prince yet and heard that rumor and snagged some off ebay! Then I went to WDW (while you were at this expo, I might add) and saw them and thought "oh hmmm ebay wasn't nessacary!" and then I hear this!! Oh well. At least I got them!!

Welcome out of lurkdom! :yay: I think it's OK you got the ears - now you won't have to stress about it when the time comes.... you can stress about a bunch of other things! :thumbsup2

[lurkyloo]

Things were winding down on the show floor at that point (yes, the show floor only stayed open til 5pm. Apparently Comic Con's is open til something like 7pm, and it sure woulda been nice to have something to do between 5pm and the 10pm movie screenings they held. I wish I'd remembered to mention this when I filled out DH's Expo survey...). We'd made plans to go to dinner and see Walt & El Grupo at Downtown Disney with Sean & Victoria and A-T-G & Mr. A-T-G, but Mr. A-T-G was still in the Tron presentation and screening. So we kidnapped A-T-G and took her with us to check in at the Disneyland Hotel (she likes to pull my suitcases. No, really!), then walked over to Downtown Disney to meet the rest of the group. (And by "walked" I mean "got pulled by A-T-G in a rickshaw"... no, really!)

We met at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen, which I love for its decor. The food is good but overpriced.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04246.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04239.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04250.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04243.jpg


I'm a sucker for New Orleans atmosphere, and I like how each room is themed differently. We were seated in the Parlor.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04240.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04241.jpg

One good thing about going with a big group is you get to take lots of food porn!

French Quarter Salad - Mixed greens with a cider vinaigrette, candied pecans and cherry tomatoes.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04256.jpg


A-T-G and I started with the Soup of the Day, which was an amazing baked potato soup with bacon and cheese!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04257.jpg


Baby Arugula & Goat Cheese Salad - yellow teardrop tomatoes, fried goat cheese, watermelon croutons, lemon-thyme vinaigrette
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04255.jpg


For dinner, DH and I split the Bourbon Street Sampler for two - A taste of New Orleans with our BBQ pork sliders, Creole calamari, blackened chicken spring rolls and coconut shrimp
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04259.jpg


A-T-G had the Panéed Chicken & Grits - Parmesan-herb crust, ham, smoked mozzarella cheese, poached asparagus, bourbon-Creole mustard reduction
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04260.jpg


Mr. A-T-G had the Grilled Chicken & Penne - Pancetta, caramelized onions, basil, Asiago cheese, pink vodka sauce
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04261.jpg


And Sean & Victoria had the Grilled Medallions of Beef - Filet mignon, crawfish mashed potatoes, bacon & pecan-crusted green beans, zinfandel reduction (we've had this before, and it's pretty dang good.)
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04258.jpg


After dinner we walked over to the AMC at Downtown Disney to see the new documentary Walt & El Grupo, which uses lots of never-before-seen footage and covers Disney's South American goodwill tour, which inspired Saludos Amigos and The Three Caballeros. It also changed the lives of many of the illustrators and animators Disney took with him—most notably Mary Blair, whose illustration style went from being a near mirror of her husband's to something completely new and fresh and made her one of Disney's favorites for many years. She's most famous for conceptualizing it's a small world, but she also did lots of gorgeous conceptual artwork for classics like Peter Pan and Cinderella. She's one of my favorites!

By showing our D23 Expo wristbands to the ticket-taker, we each got a pin of the movie's poster.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04266.jpg


For some reason, although there was a discussion of the movie and a screening of Saludos Amigos at the Expo, they didn't show the film - maybe cuz they'd convinced the AMC to run the movie at regular intervals every day of the Expo (a pretty big deal, since it's being show in only a handful of other cities across the US and usually as a one-off presentation - see the schedule here: http://www.waltandelgrupo.com/). The documentary was directed by Theodore Thomas, son of Frank Thomas, one of Walt's Nine Old Men and director of Frank & Ollie - a wonderful, touching documentary about the two animators' friendship.


Which is all to say that I expected "Walt & El Grupo" to be fascinating, edifying, and insightful. Instead - I almost fell asleep three times! I felt terrible - here was all this rare footage, some of it shot by Walt Disney himself, and I could not keep my eyes open to look at it! I thought maybe it was cuz we got up at 5:30am, or maybe cuz we'd just eaten dinner, but when the 6 of us talked about the movie afterward, I discovered that it wasn't me—the movie was just really boring! (Patrick dubbed it "Walt & El Snooze-o"!) For one thing, there was no narrator providing continuity and context. Clips played too long and sometimes were just not that interesting. There were interviews with people who remembered that time, but a lot of the subjects didn't have much to say. Thomas also had people read the animators' letters to home from the trip, but, again, some of them were just kinda dull. Another thing that drove me nuts—and maybe it's just because I'm an editor—is they introduced something as being one of three reasons that something important happened and then never told us what the other two reasons were - ARRRRRRRRRRGH! Really, it felt kinda like a student film, which is weird, because Frank & Ollie was so polished.

Anyway, don't listen to me... go see it if it comes to your town—you might like it!

After the movie we went back to our room in the farthest tower at the Disneyland Hotel, and I made DH take pictures while I propped myself up against a wall and rested my eyes for a bit.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04273.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04274.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04276.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04277.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04587.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04584.jpg

Um, okaaaaay DH...? Oh, I get it - it's the Kleenex dispenser built into the sink!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04586.jpg


So, it looks pretty nice in these pictures, but we were kinda shocked by the rundown condition of the room - most notably the huge swatch of peeling, mildewed wallpaper in the bathroom:


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04275.jpg


There were also big scuffs and badly patched paint on the doors and door jambs, the towels were thin and worn—some even had holes in them!—and in general the room felt more "motel" than "hotel" in its upkeep. It seemed like they'd decided to stop maintaining the place in anticipation of the makeover, but 3 years out seems a leetle bit early for that. Also, some of the fundamental problems with this 59-year old hotel will not be addressed by the cosmetic enhancements, like the paper-thin walls that allowed us to hear everything going on in the room next door. Originally the plan was to demolish the hotel one tower at a time and build a completely new one, but now they're just going to give them a facelift.


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/DLH1-061609-Disney.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/DLH3-061609-Disney.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/DLH4-061609-Disney.jpg


At least the rooms will look nice, in a dark, heavy sort of way.... and there will be fiber-optic fireworks in the headboard... I just wish our Disney hotels had themes, like the ones at WDW.


OK, enough complaining for today - next up Saturday at D23 Expo!

[Donald'sGirl]

Carrie that food looks sooo good and you are right the decor in there is beautiful! Sorry the movie wasn't good. Wow :eek: I am shocked at the condition of the room you were in! The make over that they are planning looks to be fantastic but still you can't wait 3 years for that. That should be fixed now and not left for guests to see. :sad2:

[Aburns8]

Yep, I was on the same Backstage Magic tour as Disneygrl36! We still keep in touch. I was jealous that she got to meet you!

[Sleepingbooty]

Ooh this is fun. I think my favorite part so far has been your shot of that wall covered with the vintage park posters - I'm drooling over those!! Why don't they make them available again???

[OhioDisneyLover]

I'm really loving your report. I cannot wait to see the Muppet Vinylmations, popcorn::

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Just getting caught up. I'm drooling over your dinner photos -- looks delish!!! Sorry about the condition of your hotel room, that's a downer:sad1:.

[Sleeping*Beauty]

I can't believe it took me so long to get over here. This report is amazing, I love all of your pictures!!

[SleepingBeautyOH]

I Love Love Love the Muppet Vinylmations!
Great update, you are so lucky to have see so much cool stuff!:)

It's funny you should say that you wish Disneyland Hotels had themes like Disney World hotels, and at the first picture you posted, I gasped and said "I wish Disney had a Disney themed hotel! I guess people always want what they can't have!

Can't wait to read about Saturday:woohoo:

[princess_momma]

That food looks yum! I must say...I want a headboard with fiberoptic fireworks! I might have to go stay there in 3 years just for that!

[lurkyloo]

Carrie that food looks sooo good and you are right the decor in there is beautiful! Sorry the movie wasn't good. Wow :eek: I am shocked at the condition of the room you were in! The make over that they are planning looks to be fantastic but still you can't wait 3 years for that. That should be fixed now and not left for guests to see. :sad2:

Totally! And there was no followup from the hotel - I told the front desk, I called Mousekeeping, and I wrote about it on the comment card in the room. Nuthin'...

Yep, I was on the same Backstage Magic tour as Disneygrl36! We still keep in touch. I was jealous that she got to meet you!

:cutie: That is so cool - you guys got a very special experience. That tour sounded amazing!

Ooh this is fun. I think my favorite part so far has been your shot of that wall covered with the vintage park posters - I'm drooling over those!! Why don't they make them available again???

You know, they are available! Well, the Disneyland ones. You can get them at the Print-on-Demand kiosk in World of Disney and (soon) at the Disney Gallery that will be opening in the Bank of Main Street building at Disneyland. Of course, that means a trip out to Disneyland.... ;)


We have an entire wall of the living room full of them!

I'm really loving your report. I cannot wait to see the Muppet Vinylmations, popcorn::

Hi! :wave2: I feel like I know you vicariously thru InkedUpMomma!

Just getting caught up. I'm drooling over your dinner photos -- looks delish!!! Sorry about the condition of your hotel room, that's a downer:sad1:.

Yeah, kinda shocking for a Disney hotel - you usually see that sorta thing in chain hotel reviews on Tripadvisor.com!

I can't believe it took me so long to get over here. This report is amazing, I love all of your pictures!!

Glad to see you! Thanks for joining in!

I Love Love Love the Muppet Vinylmations!
Great update, you are so lucky to have see so much cool stuff!:)

It's funny you should say that you wish Disneyland Hotels had themes like Disney World hotels, and at the first picture you posted, I gasped and said "I wish Disney had a Disney themed hotel! I guess people always want what they can't have!

That's so funny! I never thought of it that way... it's not un-themed - it's themed to Disney in general!

That food looks yum! I must say...I want a headboard with fiberoptic fireworks! I might have to go stay there in 3 years just for that!

Yes! By that time, I'm sure all the mildewed wallpaper will have been replaced. :rotfl:

[A-T-G]

Just got back from my SoCal adventure (We seriously need to have a day in the parks together! The last TWO times have been without you - tragic!), and HAD to read up on your report. What are you doing to me?! I am now craving that soup like mad. It's 2 in the morning and I WANT that soup! Or those yummy grits. I really think I had the best plate of the place...

I totally agree with your comments on the movie, and I love Patrick's name for it! It wasn't what I wanted it to be but, I don't want to discourage anyone else from checking it out!

I can't wait to hear about Saturday! DH and I skipped the expo and spent the day gobbling up Dole Whip Floats at Disneyland!

[LittleStinkerbelle]

You know, they are available! Well, the Disneyland ones. You can get them at the Print-on-Demand kiosk in World of Disney and (soon) at the Disney Gallery that will be opening in the Bank of Main Street building at Disneyland. Of course, that means a trip out to Disneyland.... ;)


We have an entire wall of the living room full of them!


They used to have the print-on-demand kiosk (and some smaller already printed and matted copies) at Art of Disney in DTD but we checked on our trip this year and it was gone (or at least we couldn't find it):sad1:. Maybe we need to plan a shopping trip to Disneyland:rotfl:. About 10 years ago we bought the full size version of the HM Disneyland poster at WoD in NYC. That sucker is huge (like 3ft by 4ft) -- this is before we realized they made the smaller versions. But DH loves it so that's what counts!

[DisneyJo]

That fudge looks amazing, yes I know you took photos of so many things and I comment on the fudge, sorry :rotfl:

[Amy7979]

I'm in - love your reports. :)

[inkedupmomma]

OHH-EMM-GEE!!! I want a fiber optics disney headboard!! that was amazingggg! or will be amazing! but that nasty mildew not so much.. I am assuming you wrote them a letter and included pics?? That's the nartseys and I'm sorry, just unacceptable! I'm bummed the movie blew, but stoked P was able to get a cool one of a kind pin out of it!

Oh to live your life for one day, would make my heart happy! Thanks for making it vicariously happy!

[mmounsey]

Loving the report so far! But those Stitch figures?!? eek! :eek:...I think I might have nightmares from some of those!

Sorry for the mildew-y room...that is just 'ick'. But those updates coming soon?!?! Love it!! :yay:

And now I'm completely dying for some potato soup! I need to make some this week for sure! Luckily most of those pictures can be easily found or duplicated over here! But it is not good with my midnight munchies in full effect right now! popcorn::

Ready for more...oh, and loving the DL live report tonight! :cutie:

[AlohaPolynesian]

Just joining in. Thanks for sharing with us - everything looks awesome!

[lurkyloo]

Just got back from my SoCal adventure (We seriously need to have a day in the parks together! The last TWO times have been without you - tragic!), and HAD to read up on your report. What are you doing to me?! I am now craving that soup like mad. It's 2 in the morning and I WANT that soup! Or those yummy grits. I really think I had the best plate of the place...


I'll bet you could figure out how to make it! :thumbsup2

They used to have the print-on-demand kiosk (and some smaller already printed and matted copies) at Art of Disney in DTD but we checked on our trip this year and it was gone (or at least we couldn't find it):sad1:. Maybe we need to plan a shopping trip to Disneyland:rotfl:. About 10 years ago we bought the full size version of the HM Disneyland poster at WoD in NYC. That sucker is huge (like 3ft by 4ft) -- this is before we realized they made the smaller versions. But DH loves it so that's what counts!

Hey, bigger is better when it comes to artwork, IMHO. Do you guys have it hanging up? I have so much Disney concept art that's in storage - I wish I had a bigger house so I could display it!

That fudge looks amazing, yes I know you took photos of so many things and I comment on the fudge, sorry :rotfl:

Well the fudge was definitely a highlight of the entire Expo! :cutie:

I'm in - love your reports. :)

Thanks for signing on! :goodvibes

OHH-EMM-GEE!!! I want a fiber optics disney headboard!! that was amazingggg! or will be amazing! but that nasty mildew not so much.. I am assuming you wrote them a letter and included pics?? That's the nartseys and I'm sorry, just unacceptable! I'm bummed the movie blew, but stoked P was able to get a cool one of a kind pin out of it!

Oh to live your life for one day, would make my heart happy! Thanks for making it vicariously happy!

:teeth: Yeah, OK, a fiberoptic headboard would be pretty dang cool. But, if you can believe it, I didn't write a letter! For some reason, I just didn't get worked up to my usual fever pitch over the mildew issue... maybe I'm losing my touch! :lmao:

Loving the report so far! But those Stitch figures?!? eek! :eek:...I think I might have nightmares from some of those!

Yeah... I felt like so many of them were being creepy just for creepy's sake.


And now I'm completely dying for some potato soup! I need to make some this week for sure! Luckily most of those pictures can be easily found or duplicated over here! But it is not good with my midnight munchies in full effect right now! popcorn::

Ready for more...oh, and loving the DL live report tonight! :cutie:

Glad you liked the live report! So have you made the soup yet..? :rolleyes1

Just joining in. Thanks for sharing with us - everything looks awesome!

Hi! :wave2: Welcome aboard! :sail:

[lurkyloo]

On Saturday we got to sleep all the way in til 7am. We awoke to our glamorous parking lot view...

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04279.jpg


We could also see the building with the DVC model rooms in it - I hope that didn't cost extra!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04280.jpg



To save time, we ordered room service breakfast. As usual, this was a big mistake.


$17 Huevos Rancheros
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04282.jpg


$17 Spanish Omelette
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04281.jpg


I thought it would be impossible to screw up Mexican food, but I was wrong - mine just tasted like spicy on top of bland. DH thought his was OK.


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04283.jpg



We had a fairly full schedule of presentations we wanted to hit at the Expo that day, so we decided to take it easy that morning and not line up early for the big Parks & Resorts presentation in the Arena at 11am. Instead we poked around the show floor.


What we saw:


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04299.jpg




http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04311.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04310.jpg



The Little House (http://www.amazon.com/Little-House-Virginia-Lee-Burton/dp/039525938X) is my all-time favorite children's book, and Mary Blair's concept art for the Disney short is dreamy! I took a picture cuz I couldn't afford the real thing!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04309.jpg



Of course we ended up back here...

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04308.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04306.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04307.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04305.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04343.jpg



We took a smoochtastic escalator ride up to the second floor to see the Treasures of the Disney Archives Exhibit.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04355.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04344.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04353.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04354.jpg


They had a Herbie...

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04345.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04346.jpg


...And some costumes from Babes in Toyland...

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04349.jpg


...And some sleigh...

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04350.jpg


... And OMG - there's a wedding dress from the Kirstie Kelly fashion show randomly hanging outside one of the conference rooms!!!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04348.jpg

[lurkyloo]

OK, so the Expo's official program said only that *flash* photography was not allowed in the archives, which makes sense cuz it's bad for the artifacts. But when we got there, we were told that *no* photography was allowed— even from a flash-less iPhone. Not coincidentally, they were selling a flimsy print-on-demand-looking book full of pictures of the exhibits in the archive, so the only way you could get an image of anything in the archives was to spend $20 or $35 on a book. LAME! (OK, so, yeah, this is the book I raced upstairs to purchase on Thursday, but I was kinda disappointed when I saw how few pages it is. At least it was less than 50 bucks...)

So, in order to give you a taste of the exhibits, I have swiped some photos taken by MiceChat's Fishbulb:


Some of Walt's desk items

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/P1017305.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/P1017306.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/P1017307.jpg



Original Mouseketeer costumes

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/P1017337.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/P1017331.jpg



The book from the opening credits of Sleeping Beauty

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/P1017348.jpg





http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/P1017365.jpg


Michael Jackson's Captain EO costume.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/P1017372.jpg


I love how some of the details are really chintzy-looking closeup but read well on the screen. I guess that's common with many screen costumes.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/P1017370.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/P1017368.jpg



Susan Sarandon's crown from Enchanted

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/P1017387.jpg



Meticulously preserved costumes from the Princess Protection Program and High School Musical movies - one would scarcely believe that some of them are as many as three years old!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/P1017388.jpg



Mary Poppins! I couldn't get over the wisp of a scarf - it looks much more substantial in the film!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/P1017392.jpg


This TRON costume is another one that is fun to see up close because you realize how jerry-rigged it is. It looked like they just drew on a body suit with a Sharpie!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/P1017401.jpg


And who knew that disc was just a glorified Frisbee?

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/P1017403.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/P1017405.jpg



Next we ambled down the hall to check out the live auction preview room. It was funny cuz so many of the lots were experiences that most of what was on display were placards describing the lot, not actual stuff to win.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04356.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04372.jpg



Kevin Kidney & Jody Dailey's life-size Hatbox Ghost figure was definitely the coolest lot in the auction. It sold for $9,300.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04357.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04358.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04359.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04360.jpg

[lurkyloo]

The lot of mouse ears customized by famous designers went for $3,500, and 5 of them were modeled by original Mouseketeers at the auction.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04361.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04364.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04371.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04368.jpg






This sold for $3,100.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04369.jpg



The Haunted Mansion O-Pin House pre-production pin set with poster and figures collection went for $5,100

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04367.jpg



The lot of 5 Kirstie Kelly bridesmaids gowns was a steal at $900, and the Snow White bridal gown was a similar bargain at $1,400 (the retail markup on the Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings gowns is huge).

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04365.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04366.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04362.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04363.jpg


Originally I had intended to attend the auction, even if I couldn't afford the prices stuff was sure to go for. But when they released the merchandise info, I knew I could save my $40 (for the chance to bid) and didn't even need to sit in the peanut gallery for free to watch the proceedings. Most of the experiences were ho-hum or things we could do ourselves for a lot less. The prime example of this was a progressive dinner at Downtown Disney where you eat each course at a different restaurant. It sold for $2,200 - I can do that on my own for just the cost of food! We are also fortunate to already have had the chance to do some of the other experiences they were selling. Judging by the final selling price, our free D23 Disney Studio Tour was worth $13,000. And apparently we should start charging for the LA Disney tour we took cdotla on a few weeks ago, cuz a similar one sold for $5,200! Of course, ours didn't have Dave Smith leading it...

For a great overview of the auction, including pix of some of the lots and selling prices for all of them, check out this guy's trip report: http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:1_Ob0avw80sJ:****************/forums/showthread.php%3Ft%3D28619%26page%3D2+D23+expo+auc tion+results&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari


Next we wandered the third floor looking at the exhibits:


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04373.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04375.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04377.jpg




http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04381.jpg



Johhny Depp sat here...
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04382.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04383.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04384.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04385.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04386.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04387.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04388.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04389.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04390.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04392.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04393.jpg

[lurkyloo]

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04394.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04395.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04396.jpg



http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04397.jpg



Huh. They paid all that money for CG in Prince of Persia and the actors still had to wear actual clothes?

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04398.jpg


The dragon from the soon-to-be-not-famous Chinese New Year scene of the soon-to-be-forgotten Sorcerer's Apprentice

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04401.jpg



There was also a room devoted to Disney Home Video, or whatever they're calling it these days, including screenings on a way-cool 3D TV of various Pixar shorts and 3-D Disney movie trailers, a Disney Movie Club area manned by rapacious ladies pushing free Disney Movie Club tote bags, and a hermetically sealed display case containing a $500 set of every Disney Treasures DVD ever released (which D23 members have the exclusive right to empty their wallets for a few weeks before the general public does).

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04403.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04404.jpg



A little further down the hall was an alcove set up where you could watch an artist at work and check out some maquettes from The Princess & the Frog.


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04410.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04417.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04418.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04411.jpg


Future Disney Archives artifacts - take pictures while ya still can!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04405.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04406.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04412.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04415.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04416.jpg


Coming Up Next: The Anti-Climactic Disney Parks Presentation!

[OhioDisneyLover]

Awesome updates. Thanks for sharing.

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Hey, bigger is better when it comes to artwork, IMHO. Do you guys have it hanging up? I have so much Disney concept art that's in storage - I wish I had a bigger house so I could display it!




We do! It's gone through its periods of having to be in storage -- when we were in a small apartment, when DD was born and the room it was displayed in needed to turn into a nursery (the nerve!:lmao:) etc. but right now it has a perfect home along with two of the smaller ones.:goodvibes

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Great update -- how cool to see all those items from the archives.

$17 for eggs -- holy canoli:scared1:!

[8disneyfans]

I really enjoyed reading this report!
I love, love, love (did I say love?) the Mickey ears. I collect them and never really thought of making a custom pair...hmmm, I think I might need to.
I thought it was amazing that you got to see so many cool things. I like the Alice in Wonderland stuff, it looks like a very interesting movie. I can't wait to see it!!! One question...what is that axe thingy, it looks scary?

[Disneygrl36]

OMG Carrie.......Mary Poppins actual costume. :worship:
I love the Mickey ears all covered in buttons.....so cute.
I cannot wait for Alice in Wonderland. It just looks so Tim Burtony good!

[Handbag Lady]

Nice update!

We were disapppointed in the amount of things that the archives displayed. Yes, the things they had there were great and fabulous, but there were too few of them.

But, they had many of them in the round, and that was just great. You could see all the way around Mary Poppins' costume, for example.

But all of those costumes from such recent movies didn't hold my interest.

Overall, I thought it was a nice display, but they should have let us take pictures.


At the auction, I died when the hats were up. I collect Mouse Ear hats and I fell in love with the one that had pearls draped on it (not the one covered in all pearls).

But, I was just watching it and not bidding. Plus, I didn't want to get divorced. :thumbsup2

[DWGal210]

Shut the front door!!! I LOVE the Toy Story Legos - those are just wonderful!!

And seeing all those costumes...sigh...how fun is that?!

Thanks for the great pictures and TR!

[A-T-G]

Oh boy! Saturday is starting! DH and I skipped the Expo and ran over to DL instead - so I am eager to hear about what I missed.

We really loved the 'Treasures' exhibit. We just wish it had been much, much larger. I was very bad and snapped iPhone pics of several pieces. They busted me before I could grab one of the "Sleeping Beauty" book! The "Mary Poppins" costume was the last thing I got before I heard the dreaded "excuse me!" from right behind. I played innocent "Oh sorry! The booklet just said no FLASH photography..."

MORE! I want to hear all about the rest of it!

[Donald'sGirl]

Awesome update Carrie! I love those Toy Story Legos! I am going to have to check DTD for them the next time I am there. Love all the old artifacts/treasures. I would have died to get the Kristi Kelly dress for only $1400 - well that is if I didn't already have mine! :)

[PrincessV]

We could also see the building with the DVC model rooms in it - I hope that didn't cost extra!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04280.jpg
Would that be a "Disney view"?! :rolleyes:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04348.jpg
Are they on.... wire hangers?!?! :faint:

The lot of mouse ears customized by famous designers went for $3,500, and 5 of them were modeled by original Mouseketeers at the auction.
Oooo, those are neat!

[MyMuse]

Finally here!

I meant to read this earlier, but life got in the way. :rolleyes::goodvibes

Anyhoo, the TR and pictures are awesomesauce! (my new word from twitter...lol).

I really wanted to go to the Expo and I religiously did the contest but no dice for the mice. I had the twitters from you and AllEars, so all was well. I am looking fwd to visiting someday.

Those Vinylmations are just great! I'm really trying not to get overly involved in collecting (the miniatures - WOW!!!) because I will hunt for each and every piece and drive myself crazy in the process. :rotfl: Not a good look on me!
So, I settled for the mystery pins the last time I was at Disney. Though, I did pick up "design your own" vinylmations at the NYC WoD store earlier this year.

I see the D23 vinylmation in a canster thing on Ebay. Are they worth getting? :confused3

I also missed out on getting the D23 socerer mickey expo pin from the D23 store, though I did order a charter member pin and a t-shirt. I may or may not return them, since I'm not feeling the D23 love right now. :rolleyes: :sick:

I am going (think I am anyway) to the Christmas Carol Train tour & movie. I hope Jim Carrey is decent. I usually do not like his slapstick crap. I'm hoping a cartoon version will be less annoying.

What did you think of Princess & the Frog? I know you were closing your eyes at the trailers. Did you hear any buzz?
I bought tickets to the NYC screening. I hope it's decent! It comes with "disney fun" afterwards. :lmao:

Thank you for your TR. I'm really enjoying reading it. Takes my mind off other stuff. Look forward to more! :goodvibes

[lazydoxy66]

OK, now I'm finally caught up on this one too!

It is all very entertaining.
I love the videos.
That DVC resort in Hawaii will be fabulous!
Oh and the food porn is divine!

[cdotla]

Carrie - I am sooo late to the party, but thoroughly enjoying your review of the Expo, even if I did get the abbreviated version firsthand.

And apparently we should start charging for the LA Disney tour we took cdotla on a few weeks ago, cuz a similar one sold for $5,200! Of course, ours didn't have Dave Smith leading it...


:rotfl:

I knew at some point you were going to figure out what that tour was worth! Can we call it even if I ship you out another spicy peanut sauce?:laughing:

[lurkyloo]

Awesome updates. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for reading! .... 2 years ago... :rotfl:

We do! It's gone through its periods of having to be in storage -- when we were in a small apartment, when DD was born and the room it was displayed in needed to turn into a nursery (the nerve!:lmao:) etc. but right now it has a perfect home along with two of the smaller ones.:goodvibes

Fantastic! :thumbsup2


I really enjoyed reading this report!
I love, love, love (did I say love?) the Mickey ears. I collect them and never really thought of making a custom pair...hmmm, I think I might need to.
I thought it was amazing that you got to see so many cool things. I like the Alice in Wonderland stuff, it looks like a very interesting movie. I can't wait to see it!!! One question...what is that axe thingy, it looks scary?

Well, you've prolly seen the movie by now, so you know what the axe thingy is. :lmao: Did you like it? Did you ever make custom Mickey ears?

OMG Carrie.......Mary Poppins actual costume. :worship:
I love the Mickey ears all covered in buttons.....so cute.
I cannot wait for Alice in Wonderland. It just looks so Tim Burtony good!

I hope you liked the movie too! :cutie:

Nice update!

We were disapppointed in the amount of things that the archives displayed. Yes, the things they had there were great and fabulous, but there were too few of them.

But, they had many of them in the round, and that was just great. You could see all the way around Mary Poppins' costume, for example.

But all of those costumes from such recent movies didn't hold my interest.

Overall, I thought it was a nice display, but they should have let us take pictures.


At the auction, I died when the hats were up. I collect Mouse Ear hats and I fell in love with the one that had pearls draped on it (not the one covered in all pearls).

But, I was just watching it and not bidding. Plus, I didn't want to get divorced. :thumbsup2


:rotfl2: Good thinkin'.... So this year you'll be happy to know that they've doubled the size of the Archives exhibit! Lt's just hope they aren't devoting all that new space to the entire costume collection of High School Musical XVII: The Reckoning...

Shut the front door!!! I LOVE the Toy Story Legos - those are just wonderful!!

And seeing all those costumes...sigh...how fun is that?!

Thanks for the great pictures and TR!

Sure thing! Sorry it took me so long to finish it (see below...)

Oh boy! Saturday is starting! DH and I skipped the Expo and ran over to DL instead - so I am eager to hear about what I missed.

We really loved the 'Treasures' exhibit. We just wish it had been much, much larger. I was very bad and snapped iPhone pics of several pieces. They busted me before I could grab one of the "Sleeping Beauty" book! The "Mary Poppins" costume was the last thing I got before I heard the dreaded "excuse me!" from right behind. I played innocent "Oh sorry! The booklet just said no FLASH photography..."

MORE! I want to hear all about the rest of it!

Coming right up! ;)

Awesome update Carrie! I love those Toy Story Legos! I am going to have to check DTD for them the next time I am there. Love all the old artifacts/treasures. I would have died to get the Kristi Kelly dress for only $1400 - well that is if I didn't already have mine! :)

Can you believe it's only 2 years later and Disney's already dropped Kirstie Kelly like a hot rock?! They aren't even doing a DFTW booth at this year's expo.

Would that be a "Disney view"?! :rolleyes:

Yes. Yes it would. :rotfl:



Finally here!

I meant to read this earlier, but life got in the way. :rolleyes::goodvibes

Anyhoo, the TR and pictures are awesomesauce! (my new word from twitter...lol).

I really wanted to go to the Expo and I religiously did the contest but no dice for the mice. I had the twitters from you and AllEars, so all was well. I am looking fwd to visiting someday.

Those Vinylmations are just great! I'm really trying not to get overly involved in collecting (the miniatures - WOW!!!) because I will hunt for each and every piece and drive myself crazy in the process. :rotfl: Not a good look on me!
So, I settled for the mystery pins the last time I was at Disney. Though, I did pick up "design your own" vinylmations at the NYC WoD store earlier this year.


What did you think of Princess & the Frog? I know you were closing your eyes at the trailers. Did you hear any buzz?
I bought tickets to the NYC screening. I hope it's decent! It comes with "disney fun" afterwards. :lmao:

Thank you for your TR. I'm really enjoying reading it. Takes my mind off other stuff. Look forward to more! :goodvibes

Thanks for reading! So, I'm afraid to ask, but... did you eventually dive in and start collection Vinylmations? They are SO dangerous for completists, cuz there are just so dang many of them!

OK, now I'm finally caught up on this one too!

It is all very entertaining.
I love the videos.
That DVC resort in Hawaii will be fabulous!
Oh and the food porn is divine!

Yay! Glad you liked it! :yay:

Carrie - I am sooo late to the party, but thoroughly enjoying your review of the Expo, even if I did get the abbreviated version firsthand.



:rotfl:

I knew at some point you were going to figure out what that tour was worth! Can we call it even if I ship you out another spicy peanut sauce?:laughing:


TOTALLY! I will always accept President's Choice Peanut Sauce as a form of payment. :lmao:

[lurkyloo]

At this point I abandoned my D23 Expo trip report cuz it was just getting kind of boring (something I've obviously had no qualms about in subsequent reports!). Since the latest Expo is coming up in a few days, I thought I'd finish this one up as quickly as possible, if only to get the photos published. It's gonna be light on commentary, though—two years later, all I have to go on are a few chicken scratches in my journal from each night. Sorry about that!

OK, so after we checked out the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit, we went back downstairs to see the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts presentation in the arena.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04419.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04420.jpg



This time we only waited in line a short while because we didn't need to be in the first few rows. We ended up in the balcony area with a decent view.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04421.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04426.jpg

The Parks & Resorts presentation was the big spectacle I was most looking forward to, but it turned out to be kind of a dud—all the "big" announcements were just confirmation of rumors that had been making the rounds online for at least a month. Actually, now that even Disney seems to have acknowledged how underwhelming those plans for New Fantasyland were by scrapping half of them, this look back at their initial ideas is ironically amusing.

Don't get excited—it's just part of the screensaver they ran before the show started…
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04428.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04429.jpg



Jay Rasulo: "Oh man… they are totally gonna egg me when they realize I'm not announcing anything new!"
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04431.jpg



"So… uh… Who here likes Fantasyland?"
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04433.jpg



"That's right—Disneyland has one… [counts on fingers] two, three… uh, FOUR lands. And before the advent of Pixar, they were based on these four ideas!"
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04434.jpg



"Announcing the World's Largest Princess Meet-n-Greet!!! That's right, we're spending $100 million on this hyper-themed backdrop for photos with the princesses and fairies. What's that? 'Photoshop'? Never heard of it…."
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04435.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04436.jpg



Angular kids (http://twitter.com/AngularKids) rejoice! There will be plenty of characters to run toward in New Fantasyland!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04437.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04438.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04439.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04440.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04441.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04442.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04443.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04444.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04445.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04446.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04447.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04448.jpg

[lurkyloo]

Then there was something about The Disney Dream cruise ship (I know this, because I have these photos!).

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04449.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04450.jpg


And improvements to Castaway Cay…

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04451.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04452.jpg



"Whew! OK, so far, so good… maybe now I'll pitch yet another DVC property. Everybody loves DVC!"
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04453.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04454.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04455.jpg



I don't know what this is, but even the hyperactive Angular Kids don't wanna run toward it!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04456.jpg




I think this is (was?) part of the plans for Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04458.jpg



Apparently they have Angular Kids at Disneyland Paris too!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04459.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04461.jpg



Oh good—they're flying in Marty Sklar. He always has something interesting to say!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04463.jpg



…Orrrrr they're just going to talk about his window on Main Street…
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04464.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04465.jpg



"Up next is a little something I like to call 'How to Fix an Ill-Conceived Theme Park By Spending More Than You Did to Build It'…"
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04467.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04468.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04469.jpg

They showed a clip from the animatic ride-through of Radiator Springs Racers, which was fun.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/th_MAH04470.jpg (http://s157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/?action=view&current=MAH04470.mp4)



Uh-oh… Looks like The Empire is about to rain on Rasulo's parade!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04471.jpg



Vader to Rasulo as he suspends him in a Force-induced chokehold: "I find your lack of faith disturbing…"
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04472.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04473.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04474.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04477.jpg

It was pretty exciting to see the sneak preview of the new Star Tours, even though we knew they would announce it. Patrick shot the clip—even though most of it's in 3-D, you can see how it changed in big and little ways between the Expo and the ride's opening this summer.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/th_MAH04476.jpg (http://s157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/?action=view&current=MAH04476.flv)

[lurkyloo]

After the presentation, we decided to grab lunch at the Arena Grill instead of the sad counter-service places in the exhibit halls. To our surprise, the food was actually quite good! The ingredients were fresher, and there was more choice of interesting take-away items. (Unfortunately, this location will not be open during D23 Expo 2011 (http://disneytravelbabble.com/what-to-expect-at-d23-expo-2011/), so it's back to water-logged burgers and neon nacho cheese…)

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04479.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04480.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04481.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04482.jpg


We took our roast beef sandwiches and "Disney" fudge to the D23 Member Lounge again to eat. (Another thing I've found out since I started this report: The fudge sold at the Expo was actually made by concessionaire Aramark, not Disney. Which explains why I've never been able to find fudge that good at the Disney parks since!)

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04483.jpg

After lunch, as we made our way toward the Collectors' Forum, we passed by the candy stand. Naturally, I was compelled to purchase even more fudge (they had so many different and interesting flavors!).

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04486.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04487.jpg

In the Collectors Forum, we stopped by Patrick's uncle's booth. Unfortunately, we won't be seeing him again at this year's Expo because Disney has raised the price of a booth by 150%!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04491.jpg



"These are not the toys you are looking for…"
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04494.jpg



I guess even Stormtroopers gotta schlep their stuff somehow…
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04495.jpg



Just don't tease them about it…
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04500.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04497.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04508.jpg

By then it was time to head upstairs to wait in yet another line for the Princess & the Frog presentation. Except that after 45 minutes of waiting and finally being ushered in, we discovered we were in the wrong room! (And if we were able to get "Stage 23" and "Walt Disney Studios Theater" mixed up, just think how bad it'll be this year when the latter changes its name to "Stage 28"—the numbers even LOOK the same!).


This might be the line we were supposed to be in
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04512.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04513.jpg

So we dashed upstairs to the correct room and got what we thought was a pretty good place in line. After we'd waited in line for 2 hours, they decided to take our cameras as they let us in. When we finally got inside, we were so far back that we couldn't really see anything, which meant I fell asleep about three times cuz I had nothing to focus on. Eventually I decided to leave early so I could get my iPhone back ahead of the hordes.


We weren't allowed to take pictures, so, uh here's the poster
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04267.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04268.jpg


After that the only thing left was the live auction, which we weren't gonna pay $40 to watch, so we split for the Disneyland Hotel….

…where it was the 1970s!

I totally wish the lobby still looked like this.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04516.jpg

Before dinner we went to see what all the fuss was about with the hotel fountains, which were scheduled for removal.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04520.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04522.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04529.jpg


Here's what they eventually replaced them with:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/Disneyland/Disneyland%20Hotel/file-11.jpg



And of course I wanted nighttime shots of the wedding ceremony location, the Rose Court Garden.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04530.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04531.jpg

[lurkyloo]

One thing about the Disneyland Hotel is they have a lot of great concept art in the public areas, some of which you rarely see. Let's look at, oh, ALL of it, shall we?

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04532.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04533.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04534.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04535.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04536.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04537.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04538.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04539.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04540.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04541.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04542.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04543.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04544.jpg

Oooh! Oooh! Real wedding!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04545.jpg

Now where was I…?

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04546.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04547.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04548.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04549.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04550.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04551.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04552.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04553.jpg

[lurkyloo]

Then we had a nice dinner at Steakhouse 55 (née Granville's Steak House) with Patrick's aunt and uncle.


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04554.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04555.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04563.jpg


Asparagus with Hollandaise; Broiled Salmon
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04556.jpg

Macaroni & Cheese
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04557.jpg

Porterhouse Steak
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04558.jpg

Sauteed Green Beans with Applewood-Smoked Bacon
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04559-1.jpg

Filet Mignon
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04560.jpg


For the last shot of the day, I give you… The World's Sparkliest Stairs!!!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04564.jpg

Up Next: Last day of D23 Expo 2009!

[lurkyloo]

On the last day of D23 Expo, we woke up and checked out of our mildewed room at the Disneyland Hotel, taking pictures as we went.

One last shot of the bathroom, for some reason…
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04584.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04586.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04587.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04582.jpg


So long, bland lobby décor!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04588.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04591.jpg



Sad former fountains in the daylight
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04565.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04592.jpg



Test of the new windows
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04593.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04594.jpg


We did have the opportunity to go swimming in the Neverland Pool the previous day but didn't take pictures. Every other time we'd stayed there, the slide had been closed, so that day I finally got to go down it—eight times!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04566.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04567.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04568.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04569.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04570.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04572.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04574.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04578.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04576.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04577.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04575.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04580.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04581.jpg



All this is gone now, of course. To see a photo tour of the new pool area at the Disneyland Hotel, click HERE (http://disneytravelbabble.com/disneyland-hotel-monorail-pool-%E2%80%93-ultimate-photo-tour/)!


For breakfast, we met Patrick's aunt and uncle at their favorite Anaheim dive, Tiffy's, which has been there since dirt, apparently (dirt also figures heavily in the décor!). It's not horrible—just your standard diner food, plus unremarkable ice cream. The prices are low and the staff is friendly.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04595.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04596.jpg

[lurkyloo]

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04597.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04598.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04599.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04600.jpg


I don't think I need to label breakfast, do I?

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04602.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04603.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04604.jpg


Back to the convention center!

The snoozerific-sounding Disney Corporate Responsibility booth actually had a pretty neat program going on whereby attendees could donate just a few minutes of their time to perform a small task that was part of a larger charitable effort. And they were giving out special un-eBay-resellable ear hats to those who completed the task!

Doing my part for the community
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04614.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04615.jpg


And then we saw this…

"The Princess & the Frog" hadn't even come out yet, but we already knew this toy was off-model!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04616.jpg


Well that was a good idea!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04617.jpg


The life of a Disney animator
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04618.jpg


Patrick thought it would be funny to mimic the expressions in the "Christmas Carol" promo portraits, with varying degrees of success.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04620.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04621.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04622.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04623.jpg


We really really really wanted to get good seats for The Muppets presentation in the third-floor theater (capacity: 750), so we got there 2 1/2 hours early to wait in line. This also meant we had to miss John Lasseter's keynote presentation, "The Future of Walt Disney & Pixar Animation." I guess it's good we did, because even with 30 minutes in between, people who sprinted out of the keynote ended up getting shut out of the Muppets presentation.

Miss Piggy's Marc Jacobs ensemble
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04624.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04625.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04626.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04627.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04629.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04628.jpg


Waiting paid off—we got seats in the front row, off to the side. I was especially excited about this panel because I got to break a bunch of Muppets news (if you can call product announcements "news") on Twitter before anyone else. Never mind that half of it never ended up happening. In fact, most of it was just a recap of what Disney had done with The Muppets since the acquisition, while the new news was almost all about merchandise.


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04630.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04639.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04640.jpg

[lurkyloo]

So… whatever happened to the 2010 Halloween special?
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04644.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04645.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04647.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04648.jpg



Apparently "next" means "maybe never"…
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04650.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04651.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04652.jpg


Well these did come out but had to be blown out on sale because no one could afford them.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04653.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04655.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04657.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04662.jpg



Yeah that totally never happened…
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04664.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04666.jpg

Interesting story here: "The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made" was the name of a script developed by Jerry Juhl, Jim Henson & Frank Oz in reaction to the spiraling budgets of the first three movies. The idea was that Gonzo was going to be directing the movie but would blow half his budget on the opening credits, and then the production values of the movie would get lower and lower until the very end, which would be something like a slide presentation. The idea kicked around for years and was briefly resurrected around the time of D23 Expo in 2009. But when Oz pitched it at Pixar, they realized the script had tons of dated references that would need updating, plus it really wouldn't be cheap to shoot.

So by the time of the Expo, they were just clinging to the title and were going to have Jason Segel and Nick Stoller write a whole new script. The genesis of their script came from a trip to Jim Henson Studios when they were working on Forgetting Sarah Marshall, during which they first learned that the Muppets had been sold off to Disney. You'll have to go see The Muppets in November to see what they did with the idea, though!


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04668.jpg

We were also kinda bummed out that Sam the Eagle was the only Muppet who made a live appearance. Fozzie, Gonzo, and Pepe the Prawn appeared onscreen and later did a meet 'n' greet/photo op out in the queue area.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/th_MAH04671.jpg (http://s157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/?action=view&current=MAH04671.mp4)


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04669.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04670.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04673.jpg

The line for the meet 'n' greet was 90 minutes, so we took off for "Imagineering Pixar for the Disney Parks" presentation instead.

Shockingly, and despite the presence of John Lasseter, this panel turned out to be really boring. They basically just listed the various Pixar-based attractions in all the parks and told one or two mildly amusing stories.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04675.jpg


"So the secret to what we did is, we took some characters from Pixar movies, and we stuck 'em in the parks!"
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04689.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04690.jpg



"So I said to myself, I said, 'What if we took some characters from Pixar movies… and we stuck 'em in the parks?!'"
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04692.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04699.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04701.jpg

[lurkyloo]

After that presentations, we ran to the arena to see the Toy Story 3 presentation (which I had a strongly negative reaction to—Andy grows UP? And the toys get FORGOTTEN?! No thanks, I said to myself…) and the double feature of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3-D. Except byt this time Patrick was starving, so after the first movie we bailed and headed for a nice dinner at Catal on Downtown Disney.


So long, Arena!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04702.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04703.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04714.jpg


Released from our D23 Expo shackles at last!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04721.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04718.jpg


Organic Baby Mixed Lettuce
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04719.jpg


Ravioli of Caramelized Onion and Comte Cheese
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04720.jpg


Diver Scallops
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04722.jpg


The mashed potatoes and some kind of reduction from one of the entrees, as a side dish
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04723.jpg


We hadn’t even planned it, but right in the middle of our meal, Disneyland's fireworks went off above the rooftops!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04725.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04726.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04730.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04735.jpg


http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04749.jpg


It was so nice to sit down to a civilized meal after all that ghastly convention food on the run! And the fireworks pretty much made it the perfect ending to our trip.

To wrap up, I'll show you all the loot we got, some of it freebies from the show floor booths, some of it stuff we wasted our own money on. That Treasures of the Disney Archives Exhibition Catalog was the biggest waste of money—it looked like it had been printed on Shutterfly, and I haven't cracked it once. Actually, I take that back: The spare copy I bought and sold on eBay for $75 was not a waste of money…

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t63/lurkyloo/D23%20Expo/DSC04754.jpg

So there you have it. Two years later, I finally finish my inaugural D23 Expo report, just in time to attend the 2011 Expo. I'll be tweeting photos starting with Thursday night's media preview of the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts "Carousel of Projects" and Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibits—follow along on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/lurkyloo)!


:banana::banana::banana:

(Is it just me, or are the Dancing Bananas now Frozen Bananas...?)

[lurkyloo]

Oh dear... this is my punishment for waiting 2 years to finish this report... :sad2:

[NeverlandClub23]

Great finish (and photos!)! :thumbsup2 (I wonder if waiting 2 years made it funnier...) I need to go back and reread more of your trip reports. Our top contender for honeymoon location is Tokyo (in 2 years) so I'll definitely have to go back and read that one!

So, I guess they just thought they would put the characters from the Pixar movies in the parks? :laughing:Genius!

I was going to say I can't believe they replaced those gorgeous fountains at the Disneyland Hotel, but the daytime photo isn't very flattering. Maybe it just needed some paint?

Can't wait to hear about the Expo this weekend! Hope the lines aren't too terrible. It is interesting to look back after two years and see what has and hasn't happened/changed.

**I think it's even funnier that a PP has gotten married and had twins since your last update and your finish. :rotfl2:

[Millie12591]

Thank you for finishing Carrie. :) I know how hard that must have been to come back to the report after that long.
I love the Cars shirt your hubby is sporting, I wish I could find one for my husband that didn't cost an arm and a leg (they go for 199.99 now).
Where did y'all find it? I seem to never find the hawaiian shirts from Disney until they cost a dang fortune! :rolleyes: Do you keep an eye out for those kinds of shirts for Partrick? And if so, where in the world do you find them?!?

I'm hoping you got to see some amazing things at the Expo this weekend, I'm curious about the movie Brave....what did you think of the releases of the movies coming out in the near future?

[lurkyloo]

Great finish (and photos!)! :thumbsup2 (I wonder if waiting 2 years made it funnier...) I need to go back and reread more of your trip reports. Our top contender for honeymoon location is Tokyo (in 2 years) so I'll definitely have to go back and read that one!

So, I guess they just thought they would put the characters from the Pixar movies in the parks? :laughing:Genius!

I was going to say I can't believe they replaced those gorgeous fountains at the Disneyland Hotel, but the daytime photo isn't very flattering. Maybe it just needed some paint?

Can't wait to hear about the Expo this weekend! Hope the lines aren't too terrible. It is interesting to look back after two years and see what has and hasn't happened/changed.

**I think it's even funnier that a PP has gotten married and had twins since your last update and your finish. :rotfl2:

Oh lordy! It really has been a long time, hasn't it?

Yeah, those fountains were kinda long in the tooth. It's just a shame that they were replaced by such a generic-looking river and geyeser—it could be any shopping mall in the country! Originally they made it sound like the replacement geyser would look like the one in the old Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland, but that didn't happen...

As to the Expo, lines were even worse than last time. Actually, I was secretly, evilly smug b/c I've been kvetching about all the crowd-control problems at the first Expo all this time and now everyone else has finally noticed how bad it is! :rotfl:

Thank you for finishing Carrie. :) I know how hard that must have been to come back to the report after that long.
I love the Cars shirt your hubby is sporting, I wish I could find one for my husband that didn't cost an arm and a leg (they go for 199.99 now).
Where did y'all find it? I seem to never find the hawaiian shirts from Disney until they cost a dang fortune! :rolleyes: Do you keep an eye out for those kinds of shirts for Partrick? And if so, where in the world do you find them?!?

I'm hoping you got to see some amazing things at the Expo this weekend, I'm curious about the movie Brave....what did you think of the releases of the movies coming out in the near future?

OK, you're not gonna like this, but he gets his Pixar Reyn Spooner shirts from a pal who works at Pixar. However, his Up Reyn Spooner shirt came from the Disney Store, so I always hold out hope that each subsequent Pixar movie will have a shirt release to the public like that one.

I thought so little of the upcoming releases that I didn't even go to the Studios presentation! Patrick went and was decidedly underwhelmed. We are looking forward to Brave, of course, but most of the Disney movies are like "Meh...." I mean, we'll go see the Avengers, and we'll prolly go see John Carter out of curiosity and with low expectations. But we're through with DisneyNature films, and that one with Jennifer Garner looks really dull...

[knewton64]

Am I fallin behind here??;)

Did I miss a trip report from the very outrageous funny lady who has a hankerin for wearing those "B.A.T." hats??

(ok that spells "BREAKFAST AT TIFFS);).

I am jjuusstt gonna have to get caught up on you and whats going on with the D23 Expopopcorn::.



T.T.F.N.

[lurkyloo]

:rotfl: Well if you missed this trip report from ages ago, let me just be sure you've seen these subsequent reports:

A Very Lurky Christmas: Holiday at Bay Lake Tower… of TERROR! (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=34861212)


Tokyo Disney on 2 Weeks’ Notice: A Photo-Packed Account of 17 Days in Japan (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2440546)


Trick or Tweet! The Lurkyloos Do Food & Wine, Harry Potter, D23 & MNSSHP @ Walt Disney World & Disneyland! (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2589755)


:thumbsup2

[cdotla]

Thanks for finishing! Great recap! :)

Not sure I could deal with all those lines and craziness. Much preferred our more quiet and laid-back Destination D event at WDW!;)

[lurkyloo]

Thanks for finishing! Great recap! :)

Not sure I could deal with all those lines and craziness. Much preferred our more quiet and laid-back Destination D event at WDW!;)


Seriously! I didn't really know how good we had it at Destination D til I went back to D23 Expo!

At Destination D I was kind of annoyed that we had to continually jockey for position with LineZilla three times a day, but really if I hadn't been so insistent on getting close-up pictures, I could have breezed into those presentations whenever.

Disneyland's Destination D was a bit different because the ballroom setup meant you might not even be facing the stage if you didn't get there in time. But that cavernous space at the Contemporary was the perfect setup for the event because everyone could see (well, the screens, at least).