D23 EXPO THREAD - See you in 2019!

[ashley0139]

It's not a perfect system by any means, but I love the FP for panels and shopping.

Agreed. Loved them for the panels but we could never get it for the shopping. They were always gone.

 

[ej119]

The one takeaway for me from the 2015 Expo is that if you want to dine in the Parks or Downtown Disney: make reservations ahead of time! Every place we tried was completely booked and the table service restaurants weren't taking any walk-ins.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... That and garbage food.

Thankfully, garbage food is not your only option at D23 Expo. The last few years there have been gourmet food trucks right outside the entrance to the convention center with tasty menu choices. One truck even had burgers with grass fed beef. Inside the Hilton is a small food court and a Starbucks. So, while the food inside the convention center is truly not my favorite, I know I will always have options right outside.

 

[JKalai]

The one takeaway for me from the 2015 Expo is that if you want to dine in the Parks or Downtown Disney: make reservations ahead of time! Every place we tried was completely booked and the table service restaurants weren't taking any walk-ins.

I was talking to a Carthay Circle CM in the line to the parks panel in 2015, and she was saying how the different departments at Disney book out the entire restaurants in the parks for company dinners during the Expo. It might have been why you were unable to find anything.

 

[wilkeliza]

I was talking to a Carthay Circle CM in the line to the parks panel in 2015, and she was saying how the different departments at Disney book out the entire restaurants in the parks for company dinners during the Expo. It might have been why you were unable to find anything.

We made reservations at Disneyland so they definitely had reservations for guests. You just have to make them even if it is only 2 weeks out as they fill up with summer crowds and con goers day of.

 

[wilkeliza]

Just in from D23, our first legend has been announced and it is none other that the amazing Stan Lee!

I'm super excited for the panel. I wanted to meet him at NYCC but since it was his "last" NYCC his lines were always several hours long. I know I won't get to meet him but I do hope he goes to the panel.

 

[JKalai]

This will be my first "real" convention. I have been to something similar, but it wasn't for any huge company. I assume it's like any given day at Disneyland or Walt Disney World. I'll be there alone, so I'm sure I'll start talking to the people ahead and behind me in lines. Is it smart to plan one "big" panel a day? Of course, that depends on the schedule I'm assuming. Hopefully the schedule will be released sometime soon.

I would say if you are going on Saturday, it would be more crowded than a day at the parks. When I went in 2015, the line was at 3.5 hours to get into the Disney store and I stood in line for around 2.5-3 hours to get into Mickeys of Glendale.

I would plan one or two, maybe three important things you want to do and aim for that. I wouldn't plan a full day schedule as it is so crazy and things will never go according to plan. If you are planning to attend any of the big panels (live action/animation), you will have to camp out overnight or go really really early. I was able to get into the parks/resorts panel 30 minutes before the start of it no problem (and there were a ton of empty seats).

Everything could be much different this year though. Plan for the worst.

 

[wilkeliza]

The full list of Legends is out. Here is the link https://d23.com/here-are-the-nine-n...e-honored-at-d23-expo/?share_token=22d82187c6

It will be

Carrie Fisher
Mark Hamill
Oprah Winfrey
Julie Taymor
Garry Marshall
Stan Lee
Wayne Jackson
Manuel Gonzales
Clyde "Gerry" Geronimi

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

I'm so happy Julie Taymor is becoming a Disney Legend! I have seen the Lion King musical so many times!!!

 

[jeffbear]

Thankfully, garbage food is not your only option at D23 Expo. The last few years there have been gourmet food trucks right outside the entrance to the convention center with tasty menu choices. One truck even had burgers with grass fed beef. Inside the Hilton is a small food court and a Starbucks. So, while the food inside the convention center is truly not my favorite, I know I will always have options right outside.

Food trucks are generally the only salvation at smaller Cons. NC Comicon in particular does a good job of bringing in food trucks. Makes life soooo much better.

 

[keahgirl8]

Same. Never did get a Disney store or Mickey's of Glendale shop pass though.

I didn't go to any big panels, so I was able to get my shopping passes. If I had, I probably wouldn't have been so lucky.

Thankfully, garbage food is not your only option at D23 Expo. The last few years there have been gourmet food trucks right outside the entrance to the convention center with tasty menu choices. One truck even had burgers with grass fed beef. Inside the Hilton is a small food court and a Starbucks. So, while the food inside the convention center is truly not my favorite, I know I will always have options right outside.

The food trucks were AMAZING.

 

[ashley0139]

The full list of Legends is out. Here is the link https://d23.com/here-are-the-nine-n...e-honored-at-d23-expo/?share_token=22d82187c6

It will be

Carrie Fisher
Mark Hamill
Oprah Winfrey
Julie Taymor
Garry Marshall
Stan Lee
Wayne Jackson
Manuel Gonzales
Clyde "Gerry" Geronimi

Interesting list and very happy for Julie Taymor, but I don't feel like I need to go to this one.

 

[ej119]

Interesting list and very happy for Julie Taymor, but I don't feel like I need to go to this one.

And this is the first Legends ceremony that I've felt like I need to go to.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I never made a Legends ceremony, always on a line for something else or at another presentation. I really would love to see this one, to see Stan Lee, Carrie, and Mark, etc. But, I expect another conflict of priorities.

Fingers crossed Mark and Stan will also appear at Studios Live Action panel. That sometimes happens, same celebrities at more than one.

 

[jeffbear]

Bit of a caveat regarding Stan Lee ... while his publicity people have been quiet about it, he hasn't been in good health for over a year. He even missed his own Con back in the fall. If you're a huge Marvel fan, then send Stan some good vibes and don't count on him being there in person ... at least don't get emotionally attached to the idea. There's at least some chance he won't be there.

As for the list ... Mark Hamill and Garry Marshall? I'm in.

 

[keahgirl8]

Interesting list and very happy for Julie Taymor, but I don't feel like I need to go to this one.

Same here. I think Stan Lee and Garry Marshall are cool too, but I can live without it. I've only been to one...the year with all of the princess voices. That one was a once in a lifetime experience.

 

[SMD]

I ate at the convention center at the last D23 and last weekend at WonderCon. The lines at the food trucks were really long and the prices inside were cheaper. The sandwiches and salads were pretty good for convention center food. I've also eaten at SDCC and LA CC. They had sandwiches made to order, and the salads and wraps in the cases, fresh cut veggies and fruit and snacks were better than expected. I bought a bag of Dang, a coconut snack for $2 that is $2.99 at my local super market. They also have 2 stations in the courtyard in the middle of the convention center. I've seen the Grilled Cheese Truck (a stand, not the actual truck), another grill place that almost makes grilled cheese and a taco and Mexican bowl. They also had soft serve ice cream with flavor swirls that was really good. I probably wouldn't want to spend $9-10 on a sandwich all 3 days, but the food choices inside are pretty decent.

 

[lurkergirl]

Thinking about it, I think we've managed to get soft serve once. That's it for food at the Convention Center, convention food or food trucks.

I tend to eat healthy due to food sensitivities, so I pack a ton of snacks. We've ventured out for coffee several times...but with so much time spent either waiting or darting to something...meals are few and far between.

Dinners usually are take-out from a Downtown Disney restaurant...sleep wins over a sit-down meal. Our last meal is often the best, Carthay Circle. The cast members love to hear about all the Expo shenanigans.

 

[ashley0139]

Thinking about it, I think we've managed to get soft serve once. That's it for food at the Convention Center, convention food or food trucks.

I tend to eat healthy due to food sensitivities, so I pack a ton of snacks. We've ventured out for coffee several times...but with so much time spent either waiting or darting to something...meals are few and far between.

Dinners usually are take-out from a Downtown Disney restaurant...sleep wins over a sit-down meal. Our last meal is often the best, Carthay Circle. The cast members love to hear about all the Expo shenanigans.

I pack tons of snacks as well. I'd rather wait in line for something I want to do at the expo rather than food. I pack crackers, individual peanut butters, nuts, chips, cheese sticks, and chocolate to have while I wait in line. I think I did go over to the Baja Fresh in the Hilton and get something once there.

 

[keahgirl8]

I pack tons of snacks as well. I'd rather wait in line for something I want to do at the expo rather than food. I pack crackers, individual peanut butters, nuts, chips, cheese sticks, and chocolate to have while I wait in line. I think I did go over to the Baja Fresh in the Hilton and get something once there.

I do too. I tried to manage 1 meal of hot food each day, but I don't have time during the day, usually. I have to eat every few hours and I'm usually eating in line.