D23 Expo 2011! Who's attending?

[WDWJonasGirl]

Not all of the autograph sessions last time were an extra cost. I know that the Disney Channel stars who were there signed autographs for free. Some of the celebs signing had you buy their item (book, poster, etc.) in order for them to sign, with no extra cost involved. There will be many though who'll make good money signing stuff -- I heard that Billy Dee Williams is charging $40.00.

What? Anyway, I want to bring some posters for the Disney Channel stars to get signed but I'm not sure if that's allowed.

 

[Flora Fan]

What? Anyway, I want to bring some posters for the Disney Channel stars to get signed but I'm not sure if that's allowed.

WDW radio show podcast reported that they do not allow outside items for autographs. They will check receipts in the lines to ensure only expo purchased items are signed.

 

[Flora Fan]

The best word for it is tolerable heat, IMO. Some moisture in the air but not dripping humidity.

See "Detailed Weather Data for DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23004158

Thanks a million HydroGuy. This was a huge help.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

WDW radio show podcast reported that they do not allow outside items for autographs. They will check receipts in the lines to ensure only expo purchased items are signed.

That's too bad. Good I had a plan B incase that didn't happen.

 

[TeddiBarra]

I could use some help here. Think of "Expo for Dummies".

Been to DLR many times and know my way around the resort, and I know WHERE the ACC is but have never been there myself so I have several questions:

1) where do you park
2) where's the main entrance (esp if we end up within walking distance/ART)
3) are most of you walking/driving/ARTing in?
4) how many of you bounce back and forth to the parks and how easy/hard to do you find it?
5) all I know is that my DH gets discounted tix, and I assume these are the entry/bottom level tickets, but can someone explain what the ticket levels are and the differences between?
6) is there food there and what is it like?
7) what else does a noob who's never been, never really researched any details and is now looking at planning a pretty last minute trip to know? (we would be only going sat/sun).

 

[nunzia]

I could use some help here. Think of "Expo for Dummies".

Been to DLR many times and know my way around the resort, and I know WHERE the ACC is but have never been there myself so I have several questions:

1) where do you park
2) where's the main entrance (esp if we end up within walking distance/ART)
3) are most of you walking/driving/ARTing in?
4) how many of you bounce back and forth to the parks and how easy/hard to do you find it?
5) all I know is that my DH gets discounted tix, and I assume these are the entry/bottom level tickets, but can someone explain what the ticket levels are and the differences between?
6) is there food there and what is it like?
7) what else does a noob who's never been, never really researched any details and is now looking at planning a pretty last minute trip to know? (we would be only going sat/sun).

Well..There is parking onsite because there were tons driving into the driveway area last time..no clue on cost or locations since we didn't drive.
The main entrance is right off Katella. Super huge glass building and you can't miss it.
It is about a 20 minute walk to the parks going down Katella to Harbor. Entering through DTD may be easy also, but last time we went too far and ended up past DTD and scaled a fence (we are old..very short fence) to get in..very confusing..I think we need to go in through GC and will try that this year..any tips from locals would be appreciated. We found going to the parks at all during the Expo a waste of time and caused us to miss good things at the Expo..Hopefully the schedule will be as jam packed as last time, but since it hasn't been released in full don't know that. (do know that ABC will be there..Jeffrey answered my question on Disney Geek..whoop!)
As far as I know there are three levels of tickets. general admission, which was the only choice last time..(D23 and non D23 I think..D23 gets in a bit earlier) Premier (supposed to be 250 but you know how Disney oversells) and Sorcerer (supposed to be only 50, but again..it's Disney) Premier gets assigned seating at Arena presentations, Sorcerers get assigned seating at ALL presentations..both of these upper levels get other goodies as well. The main reason for buying higher tier tickets was to avoid lines and presentations that were full. We'll see how they work this out. You will be fine with regular tickets..there is alot to do.
The food was meh..to ugh. Several grab and go places some decent coffee..wraps, salads, etc, snack places..popcorn, ice cream..they had set up some larger dining type places but alot seemed to not really been open when expected. Food services is NOT Disney, it;s Convention Center run. We brought in things like cheese sticks, granola bars and it was fine.
BTW You WILL need to check electronics at most of the Arena presentations..they aren't kididng..don't try to sneak past..we saw people who were caught trying to take pictures and bring in phones. They had security with commando style pants in the boots things, and we got wanded. Hey..it's Disney's party and they can do what they want.
You can go to the D23 site for stuff about last time and I'm sure there are trip reports to be found here and on Mice Age and other sites.
In a nutshell it was AMAZING..Disney really went above and beyond to showcase all things Disney, past, present and future..there were lots of surprises along the way, lots of historical Disney figures and lots of stars. Multiple events happened at the same time..you had to choose and from what I heard there was not a loser in the bunch. The floor was full of great exhibits and collections..the Parks floor area was amazing..how did they DO that entrance?! I wish I would have gone back to that section again.
You will not be disappointed.

 

[franandaj]

I could use some help here. Think of "Expo for Dummies".

Been to DLR many times and know my way around the resort, and I know WHERE the ACC is but have never been there myself so I have several questions:

1) where do you park

There are a number of places to park. My favorite is the lot off of Katella, the entrance is across from California Screamin' and where they are building the new Carsland. There is a raised parking area that provides easy access to the Convention Center, however, that may be reserved for Handicapped. You can still enter the parking areas from that entrance, they may just send you forward after you pay instead of turning right into the area where we normally go.

There is also an entrance for parking off of West Street about 500-1000 yards (guessing on the distance) before you reach Katella. (I'm telling you this information from what I remember of previous NAMM {National Association of Music Merchants} shows, which is the absolute largest and most congested show that CC sees annually). There is a large parking structure behind the CC, I don't know the Expo will be large enough for them to open this part of the parking. I don't like this area as there is a long carpeted hallway (carpet = drains scooter battery quickly) which takes you underneath the CC to the front entrance). At the NAMM show in January, parking was still $12 per day.

2) where's the main entrance (esp if we end up within walking distance/ART)

The Convention Center is huge. If you take ART, the bus will drop you off somewhere you can see a wall of glass with doors spaced intermittently. The doors stretch potentially as long as Main Street in DL. The glass doors take you into the Convention Center foyer, from there you will find multiple entrances onto the Convention Center floor (probably one for each hall). For other conventions, there are walls dividing the convention halls, but for the last Expo the entire space was wide open. There are four halls on the upper level (each one could house a small to normal convention), and the Arena is on the North end of the entire building. It is easily as large as one of the Halls, and is entered through Hall A which is the North end of the Convention Floor.

3) are most of you walking/driving/ARTing in?

I'm staying at the Hilton which is the absolute closest hotel, Marriott being a close second. A few pages back I compiled a list of attendees and where they were staying. It's mixed between the Disney Properties, the close hotels and the ones a little farther out. A few locals are only coming for a day or two and driving in. I did that last time and it was a mistake.

4) how many of you bounce back and forth to the parks and how easy/hard to do you find it?

There are a few people who have never been to DL who have mentioned they are going to the parks at night, but personally I wouldn't do it. One of the reasons I'm staying on site is so that I can spend every waking moment at presentations, shopping or looking at the exhibits. There is too much to miss. The parks will be there, the Expo is only three days.

5) all I know is that my DH gets discounted tix, and I assume these are the entry/bottom level tickets, but can someone explain what the ticket levels are and the differences between?

I think nunzia explained this one pretty well. Besides the Sorcerer tickets sold out in hours, maybe minutes. The Premier sold out in days, and this was a year ago.

6) is there food there and what is it like?

Yuck! is all I can say. Being someone who works in the music industry, I've been coming to the NAMM show here from the time I was kid in college (at least when I could get in!) and they have been serving the same crappy food for 20+ years. I assume it's the same for the Home & Garden show and every other convention there. I think I said it earlier on this thread, the places that cook outdoors (BBQ food, Grilled chicken sandwiches, tacos maybe?) are the best. The interior stations have hamburgers soaking in hot water, trays of "sandwich meat filling", and all the other sorts of "food service" quality offerings. Also all the food closes up around 3PM. There is a food court in the Hilton. I hope the "no outside food" is not enforced because I plan on making some sandwiches in the room and bringing that with some chips and fruit to eat.

7) what else does a noob who's never been, never really researched any details and is now looking at planning a pretty last minute trip to know? (we would be only going sat/sun).

Get there when it opens, and don't plan on leaving until it's over. Plan on waiting in lines for the things you REALLY want to see and missing some things you don't want to see as much. Bring cash or a credit card, not only is there the Dream store sponsored by Disney there is a whole section of private merchants who sell antique collectibles to the latest and brand new toys, art, comic books, jewelry and all kinds of other merchandise.

It is a very magical experience, you won't regret going, probably just not going Friday!

 

[pinksand]

A few locals are only coming for a day or two and driving in. I did that last time and it was a mistake.

Yikes! I am a local, driving in. Please tell me why it's a mistake!

 

[franandaj]

Yikes! I am a local, driving in. Please tell me why it's a mistake!

I live in Long Beach, we thought it would be easy enough to drive in every day. But with trying to get there by 8AM to make the early seminars, combined with the daily tasks (feeding animals, fixing even simple meals, etc) we were just so tired by the last day we left in the afternoon and missed the TS 1&2 in 3D.

 

[TeddiBarra]

Thanks Fran and Nun! Very helpful. Too bad to hear the food it fairly blah....

I heard the Platy-bus is going to be there, my son is going to be so disappointed he won't get to see that!

 

[Flora Fan]

The Schedule is updated with tons of events. Time to start making plans!

http://d23.disney.go.com/expo/schedule-events/index.html

 

[tinkcollector]

Do you think this is the final schedule, or will they add more?????

 

[keahgirl8]

I'm kind of disappointed I am missing the Little Mermaid presentation, but there is still a TON of stuff to see! Plus, I am just as excited about the show floor as I am the presentations!

 

[PatMcDuck]

When several events are held in the same room, back to back, can you just stay in the room? Or do you have to leave and get back inline?

I was looking at the Parks schedule of events. There is LM one on Friday that ends at 2pm. It looks interesting, but I fear if I went to this one that ends at 2pm, I would miss out on the parks keynote at 3:30..... how early do people line up for these things?

Can't wait!

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Yay!!! I'm so excited!!

 

[franandaj]

Now people are starting to understand the problem. You probably need to be in line between 1-2 hours before the seminar you want to see, but the other seminar that gets out 30 minutes earlier, you also want to see. We were luky that with the two back to back seminars that we wanted to see we got in on the tail end of the second seminar seating.

There is so much going on you can't see it all. I have not actually seen the schedule yet, but once I get home I'll be able to look it up online. Can't wait to see the full schedule!

 

[fairycat]

I am super tempted to go. If the print I heard about at Comic Con does get released here then I must have it!!!! Is this a kid friendly event?

 

[franandaj]

I am super tempted to go. If the print I heard about at Comic Con does get released here then I must have it!!!! Is this a kid friendly event?

I'm gonna be blunt, if your kid enjoys lectures and seminars they will love it. If they are a normal kid who likes rides and interactive stuff, they will be bored as hell. This really is not an event for kids, unless they are mature enough to get the Expo.

 

[andrewilley]

Now people are starting to understand the problem.

This one is not-so-clever scheduling for Saturday:

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Cast and Crew of Phineas and Ferb
Meet Dan Povenmire, Swampy Marsh, Vincent Martella, Alyson Stoner, and Dee Bradley Baker. Disney Channel Pavillion

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The Walt Disney Studios
Exclusive video clips, live performances, filmmaker discussions, star appearances and more!

Grrr.....

Andre

 

[FozzieFan]

I hope I'm not the only one looking at the schedule and wishing that the "More screenings, presentations, and meet and greets to be announced" will hold true. I have no interest in the Disney channel and on Friday that would leave me 4 events to go to.

At this point I'm kind of underwhelmed by everything outside the arena events.