Can I Survive another 11 days in WDW w/ Disney-Resistant Husband? *11/25 SURPRISE!!**

[DrMomof3]

I think it's super disappointing that the autograph sessions were such a disaster!
Amazing pictures!

Amanda

 

[mebrm]

sounds like the d23 event was awesome except for the lines I waited in line at the CA d23 to get the original mousekeeters autographs sadly I am not going to the d23 event in Aug because my daughter moves in to her college that same weekend so she won out !

 

[swwake]

I am so bummed that I wasn't following Disney closely enough to know this thing was going on. Or maybe I knew but didn't realize just how significant, entertaining, engaging, educational and enlightening it would be. I really am sad to have missed this. Wouldn't it be great if they recorded it and sold the DVD? That is something I'd surely buy!

Sorry to hear the chaos around autographs. You'd think Disney, the masters of crowd control, would have organized that better.

But you got to be a part of this! I am sad that if they do it again (maybe at 45 or 50 years), many of these folks may no longer be around, or able to participate.

 

[Charleston Princess]

What a once-in-a-lifetime experience hearing so many Disney legends talking about their work!!! So cool!!! However, I can't believe the autograph sessions were such a madhouse! Glad you were able to meet some of them, though.

 

[Queenofallthings]

It still amazes me what some people will say and do Can't believe how they lied about being there the whole time...disgusting really isn't it?

I don't want that to overshadow your post though so I'll move on I can't imagine how it must have felt to see all those wonderful people....Legends is right! Those are memories you will treasure forever..I'm so happy you were able to share them with us

 

[MEK]

Sounds like a wonderful experience. Well, all except for the autograph line debacle! Sheesh!

and the line butters - I hope they feel so "proud". ARGHHHH!

 

[Aburns8]

It was quite a day!

 

[eandesmom]

What an event! How frustrating about the autograph lines and boo to those who cut in line. I guess I'd like to think at something like a D23 event, that wouldn't happen.

 

[Disneygrl36]

I was one of those people initially turned away. I had gone to join Eric in line & was chatting with him & a few other people in line when I decided to go try to get a few autographs. I was back soon with a sad face because they had shut off the line. At one point, then a d23 CM came over to the line & said if anyone here didn't get autographs & would like to the lines are moving better than expected. So, I booked it on over & got in one of the lines. I was actually able to make it through 3 or the 4 lines. The only autograph I didn't get that I wanted was Tony Baxter...his line was the longest. I did get a close up picture of him at the table though. This should have been handled much better! I mean in a conference full of Disney Geeks did they really not think demand for autographs of these Legends was going to be huge?

 

[cdotla]

Wow, the autograph session sounded like quite a madhouse! Glad you were able to at least meet a few of them and kudos to Melanie for meeting them all, what a special treat!!

I was really glad to have at least gotten 2 autographs, especially because I had purchased something specifically to be signed by everyone. That was the disappointing part...I know a lot of people travelled to the conference with some very special and unique memorabilia only to return home without the autographs.

OMG. What a cluster! hate to say it but this sounds much more like the organizational skills on display last Oct. i wonder if they just underestimated the demand? . Regardless, what an opportunity to just see them all on-stage and hear the stories.

PS:clearly they need to hire some DISers to plan these events, dontcha think? I will volunteer!!!

Christine - I have no doubt you could have brought order and organization to the chaos...they really should consider putting you on payroll.

I think it's super disappointing that the autograph sessions were such a disaster!
Amazing pictures!

Amanda

Yes, the autograph sessions (and something else coming up) were disappointing. However, they were the only disappointments of the whole conference. Everything else was so amazing, these 2 botch-ups, although disappointing, were relatively easy to overlook.

sounds like the d23 event was awesome except for the lines I waited in line at the CA d23 to get the original mousekeeters autographs sadly I am not going to the d23 event in Aug because my daughter moves in to her college that same weekend so she won out !

Wow - that would have been neat to get the original mousekeeters' autographs!

Too bad you are missing the expo, but I guess your daughter's college move would have to trump the expo, wouldn't it? The things we do for our kids, right?

I am so bummed that I wasn't following Disney closely enough to know this thing was going on. Or maybe I knew but didn't realize just how significant, entertaining, engaging, educational and enlightening it would be. I really am sad to have missed this. Wouldn't it be great if they recorded it and sold the DVD? That is something I'd surely buy!

Sorry to hear the chaos around autographs. You'd think Disney, the masters of crowd control, would have organized that better.

But you got to be a part of this! I am sad that if they do it again (maybe at 45 or 50 years), many of these folks may no longer be around, or able to participate.

Oh Susan...I am so sorry you missed the event. Sadly, I would have to agree...some of these people may not be around by the 50th anniversary to attend again in person. However, I expect that even D23 was blown away with how well things went, and how well-received everything was by the fanbase in Florida. So I expect there will likely be other events like this in future. And I'll tell you what...I found some of the sessions put on by current Imagineers and Archives staff to be just as interesting as anything else that went on during the conference. At least now you won't have to think twice before singing up to the next event like this in future...I know I won't either!

 

[cdotla]

What a once-in-a-lifetime experience hearing so many Disney legends talking about their work!!! So cool!!! However, I can't believe the autograph sessions were such a madhouse! Glad you were able to meet some of them, though.

Thanks Jackie. It really was fantastic. I had to keep pinching myself to believe that I was right there, front row, seeing some of these Legends!

It still amazes me what some people will say and do Can't believe how they lied about being there the whole time...disgusting really isn't it?

I don't want that to overshadow your post though so I'll move on I can't imagine how it must have felt to see all those wonderful people....Legends is right! Those are memories you will treasure forever..I'm so happy you were able to share them with us

Thanks Queen! And you are right - the botched autograph session certainly should not overshadow what overall was an event that exceeded my widest imagination...it really was fantastic. I would encourage any Disney fan out there to strongly consider attending any of these sort of events in future!

Sounds like a wonderful experience. Well, all except for the autograph line debacle! Sheesh!

and the line butters - I hope they feel so "proud". ARGHHHH!

Rather hard to believe the lengths people will go to look out for "Number 1", isn't it? We also experienced less than magical behaviour with people who butted past us in line at the auditorium doors. However, they were only going to do that to us once. After that, we became as cutthroat as the rest of them to secure our front row seats.

It was quite a day!

It really was, wasn't it?

What an event! How frustrating about the autograph lines and boo to those who cut in line. I guess I'd like to think at something like a D23 event, that wouldn't happen.

You would think bringing a crowd of Disney fans together would compel rounds of Kumbaya, not line cutting and lying, wouldn't you?

I was one of those people initially turned away. I had gone to join Eric in line & was chatting with him & a few other people in line when I decided to go try to get a few autographs. I was back soon with a sad face because they had shut off the line. At one point, then a d23 CM came over to the line & said if anyone here didn't get autographs & would like to the lines are moving better than expected. So, I booked it on over & got in one of the lines. I was actually able to make it through 3 or the 4 lines. The only autograph I didn't get that I wanted was Tony Baxter...his line was the longest. I did get a close up picture of him at the table though. This should have been handled much better! I mean in a conference full of Disney Geeks did they really not think demand for autographs of these Legends was going to be huge?

Melanie girl, you were so, so lucky! I am so glad you got your autographs. Expect I don't think I knew until now that you actually didn't get Tony Baxter's. You should have been in that elevator with me the evening before!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Everyone was eagerly anticipating these afternoon sessions. This is where the "big guns" would be coming out. People like Marty Sklar, Bob Gurr, Bob Foster, Orlando Ferrante, Ron Logan and Debbie Dane Browne. You know...real Disney Legends in the flesh. The people who worked with Walt, and eventually built the Parks. This is where we heard the backstory on how Walt Disney World came to be from the very people who made it happen. Many unique stories that I had never before heard. The fact that we were hearing these stories first-hand in a live audience from the actual people who themselves built and made Walt Disney World was absolutely incredible.

This made me tear up. Awesome.

What a shame about the autograph session being such an ordeal! Hopefully they will correct this for next time!

 

[hstrickland]

Finally all caught up! Every Disney Fan needs an opportunity to experience something like this! I'm more excited than ever to see the new Fantasy Land!!!

PS:clearly they need to hire some DISers to plan these events, dontcha think? I will volunteer!!!

You're so right, Christine!


Heather

 

[arubio0801]

I read your TR before and LOVED it! My husband is also a nondisney lover unlike me and we're heading back alittle before you we'll be there the first week of september and it will be our sons 4th time!! Oh quick question how did you get to go to that amazing sessions!! Also you sell the kids clothes on ebay whats your shop name or id?

 

[cdotla]

This made me tear up. Awesome.

What a shame about the autograph session being such an ordeal! Hopefully they will correct this for next time!

I hope they will correct it too Brook. Hopefully they learned some lessons. All in all though the botched autograph session was easy to overlook in light of the great overall event.

Finally all caught up! Every Disney Fan needs an opportunity to experience something like this! I'm more excited than ever to see the new Fantasy Land!!!

I agree Heather!

I read your TR before and LOVED it! My husband is also a nondisney lover unlike me and we're heading back alittle before you we'll be there the first week of september and it will be our sons 4th time!! Oh quick question how did you get to go to that amazing sessions!! Also you sell the kids clothes on ebay whats your shop name or id?

Thanks and Welcome!

As for the Destination D event, it was actually really easy to attend all of the sessions as there were no simultaneous sessions. There was only one agenda, no overlapping sessions, and room for everyone inside the auditorium. From the sound of things at the Expo in CA, it doesn't run like that at all! I would be really disappointed to not get into stuff I wanted to see. I much preferred the format of the WDW one.

I will send you a PM with my ebay id. I actually spent the weekend listing (I do it twice each year), and have everything running now.

 

[Krisscot]

HI!
I was along for the ride on your last TR and I had to take a 6month break due to stupid cancer hahaha. But when I came I am delighted to see you have another PTR! We willl be there at the same time! We are going Oct4-14 at PORFQ. I can't wait. I don't think it should be super crowded, it wasn't when we went last year at this time! I love to see your plans!-Kristen

 

[zipadeepixie]

Hey there - I love your trip reports, especially since my husband is also not too thrilled about my Disney obsession! I'll be in WDW October 3rd - 9th for my first trip there (we usually do Disneyland.) I'm going to attempt to make my husband love it! Fingers crossed. Even my kids, DD 7 and DS 10 think I'm obsessed! Too funny! They don't mind the Disney vacations though. I can't wait to hear about your October trip, and I really can't belive it's so close!

 

[cdotla]

HI!
I was along for the ride on your last TR and I had to take a 6month break due to stupid cancer hahaha. But when I came I am delighted to see you have another PTR! We willl be there at the same time! We are going Oct4-14 at PORFQ. I can't wait. I don't think it should be super crowded, it wasn't when we went last year at this time! I love to see your plans!-Kristen

Kristen - thank you so much for posting! I can't imagine a better excuse to take a trip to WDW...you deserve it girl! Excited that you will be there the same time as us. There are 8 of us, and we will be travelling in a pack the whole trip, so if we cross paths, I should be easy to spot. Be sure to stop me and say hi, k?

You are right...I have travelled late Sept/early Oct 3 times in the last few years and the crowds are normally very low...great for touring! Plus, it's Food & Wine time at Epcot, and Fall/Halloween decoration time at the MK...LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!!

Are you getting excited yet????

Hey there - I love your trip reports, especially since my husband is also not too thrilled about my Disney obsession! I'll be in WDW October 3rd - 9th for my first trip there (we usually do Disneyland.) I'm going to attempt to make my husband love it! Fingers crossed. Even my kids, DD 7 and DS 10 think I'm obsessed! Too funny! They don't mind the Disney vacations though. I can't wait to hear about your October trip, and I really can't belive it's so close!

Whooo hooo! Join the club! Hopefully our paths will cross, and if they do, be sure to say hi! Thanks for posting and following along! You must be so excited for your first trip to WDW!!! Are you doing the MNSSHP? It is a must-do in my mind, especially if you haven't done it before. The parade and fireworks are excellent, and the atmosphere in the park can't be beat!

 

[cdotla]

OK....I am hiding my head in shame. August has blown by and I have hardly been on the Dis at all.

I will save the excuses and just get cracking on getting some updates done and moving on to some pre-trip reporting now that I am down to just over a month away from our departure day....yikes, where has the time gone???!!!!

I apologize to everyone whose TRs and PTRs I had been following. I completely fell off the map in August. Once I get my PTR back up and running, I hope to make an attempt to get caught up with everyone before we head off to WDW.

Hope everyone has been having a terrific summer!

 

[cdotla]

Final Evening of Destination D: A Musical Tribute with Richard Sherman

After the botched autograph sessions I headed upstairs to the concourse to try and figure out what to grab to eat during our supper break. Luckily I had already paid my dues by saving our place in line over the lunchhour, so I was officially off-duty.

After making a quick pit-stop at the room to freshen up, I eventually I found Carrie (who was way too cool to ever stand in line for autographs) cooling her heels at the bar at the California Grill, and saddled on up to join her. Great tip for those without a coveted reservation at this hard-to-snag restuarant is that you can eat at the bar off the same menu as everyone else with a reservation. But let's keep that little secret to ourselves.

Once again Yoshi accomodated me by making my favourite Rainbow Roll sushi even though it was taken off the menu at least a year ago. Somehow I wasn't able to remember to order this two nights earlier, and even though I still enjoyed my sushi, it wasn't as good as the Rainbow Roll.

After enjoying delicious red wine, fresh sushi, great conversation and the happy vibe of the California Grill, I was finally feeling civilized again in contrast to the craziness of the botched autograph session which Carrie had been astute enough to sit out.

Just when civility had finally returned, it was time to venture back down to the concourse and make our way back to the convention floor and the throngs of people stalking the front doors to the auditorium, waiting to snag seats for the most anticipated session of the entire conference.

Once again we were second in line, behind the group with the woman who left each and every presentation 25-30 minutes early in order to secure first place in line for the next session.

As we were waiting in line, I noticed Lou Mongello, Beci Meihken and Henry Work in the line about 15 people behind us, and even got a chance to chat with Henry on a refreshment break shortly before we were let in.

There was always a bit of a stir and excitement just before the doors opened for each session, but there was a heightened sense of frenzy this particular evening as people plotted and planned how to snag the best possible seats. While our group had been first in line for the first session of the conference but was pushed out of our rightful first row seats, we had somehow managed to claim the first row for each and every session after that and we were determined to get the front row again that evening when it really counted.

Finally, after much anticipation, plotting, and various attempts to covertly obtain intelligence on piano stage placement and row configuration from the D23 volunteers manning the doors, the doors were pushed open to the mass hysteria of people rushing the stage to claim seats.

I had already decided...sandals or no sandals, I wasn't holding anything back to snag the front row. There was a gang of healthy, fast males all around us and I was determined that they weren't going to beat this girl out of a seat.

Once the doors opened, and we all contained ourselves enough to smile for the D23 cameras which were taping the frenzied crowds rushing into the auditorium doors, people took off like lightening, myself included. Despite my choice of girly footwear, I was still doing a pretty good job of keeping up with about 4 other guys sprinting for the front row. The only person I saw from our group was Eric - everyone else was behind us.

While I was mighty hungry for that first row, I still have a tendency to follow rules and listen to authority, so when the D23 representatives shouted out "WALK!!!" I listened and slowed. Unfortunately, no one else around me did and two guys ended up passing me by. So once again I picked up the pace. Fortunately Eric had the good sense not to listen given that none of our competitors were showing any signs of slowing and quickly took a diving plunge across 3-4 of our coveted front row seats. I got there moments after him and threw myself and my bag across 3-4 others.

Yay! Our plan had worked! Our competitors had positioned themselves to stake out the front row center, whereas we decided to take the right side of the front row. As a result, we ended up snagging what were, without a doubt, the best seats in the house, with a perfect view of the piano and Richard Sherman. Unfortunately the way the piano was positioned, people sitting in the center and left-side of the front row had an obstructed view of Mr. Sherman so our plotting over positioning in the auditorium had definitely paid off.

As the others in the group eventually made their way into our claimed seats we were all pinching ourselves for our good fortune in snagging the best seats to the most anticipated session of the entire conference.

Then, just as we thought we had it all sewn up, a team of D23 representatives came up in front of us and started placing a new row of chairs directly in front of ours.

WHAT???!!!

(Continued next post)