D23 EXPO THREAD - See you in 2019!

[ashley0139]

What an amazing lineup! I'm getting more excited. Are we waiting for anymore announcements? I think Parks/Imagineering was the last big one.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I'm about to buy my discounted Park tickets.

If I buy 4 day tickets and want to add a day after I've already entered the parks for a day or 2 will i have to pay the actual price between the 4 and 5 plus the difference between the gate price and what I paid? Does that question make sense?

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I'm looking at 2015's schedule as a guide. I'd say we still have a lot more panels to go. Albeit maybe smaller ones.

Disney Legends Awards x
Animation Studios x
Muppets (we've had nothing like any Disney live action tv announced, right? or is that like the disney channel shows like Descendants 2)
Mousequarade (this is the costume contest, right? we haven't had that announced)
60 years of Jungle Cruise x (Pirates this go round)
Imagineering 60 Years of DL (??)
Charles Phoenix Retro Disney Slide show
Conversation on Inside Out
60 years of Disney parks merchandise
Ridley Pearson and Marty Sklar (definitely haven't had any book panels announced yet)
DL Home Movies
Goofy Movie 20th Anniversary (any movies celebrating a big milestone anniversary this year?)

Live Action
Parks and Resorts
Disney on Broadway (no Broadway panels yet, maybe we'll get one on making of Frozen)
Toy Story 20 Years Later
Once Upon a Time (they are majorly re working this show so I could see another panel hinting what is to come)
One Little Spark by Marty Sklar
Disney TV Animation
Welcome to Zootopia
Pixar Secrets
Making of an American Experiance
Aladdin the Making of a Classic

Disney Interactive (has been axed so I would expect nothing)
Frozen Fanemonium
Disney in Concert Silly Symphonies
Mickey Mouse Club Celebration 60 years
Disney Kingdoms
Shorts of WD Animation
Animator's Gallery
ABD, DCL and DVC
Best of Destination D
Tunes Behind the Toons

 

[ashley0139]

I think the Alan Menken one is similar to the Disney on Broadway one, and the Women in Imagineering one would replace the Imagineering 60 years of DL. You're right it does look like some stuff is still to come, but my schedule is already filling up!

 

[lurkergirl]

I know, @ashley0139...I'm already double booking myself and will eventually have to make some hard decisions.

 

[allthenamesaretaken]

They have a Bambi 75th Anniversary panel this year. I guess in place of Goofys 20th?

 

[mhr648]

My daughter and I are coming for our first expo (so excited!!). I've pretty much decided after reading here that we're sticking to small panels (except Alan Menken), shopping, and Expo floor. I hate not knowing what to expect...get super anxious...and reading this thread has helped. We are not the types who are going to be disappointed if we don't get to do every single thing, but I don't want to miss Pixar Worlds and Character Evolution! Still have some questions:

1. Sounds like we'll have to use Stagepass to be assured of seats at the small panels. If it's done the same as in the past, how soon should we get in line for passes?

2. Suggestions on strategies for the stores? Not trying to score any one particular item, we just love shopping for Disney merch.

3. I don't want to wait in the sun just to get in the door. What's a good time to arrive that doesn't involve camping overnight? Or is it crazy to come later in the morning when the lines have filtered in?

 

[maichan]

So let me get this straight, it's $30+ for an expo shirt that won't be available to purchase on-site AND you have to be a Gold member to even buy it?
https://d23.com/rock-this-limited-edition-tee-at-d23-expo-2017/

 

[ashley0139]

My daughter and I are coming for our first expo (so excited!!). I've pretty much decided after reading here that we're sticking to small panels (except Alan Menken), shopping, and Expo floor. I hate not knowing what to expect...get super anxious...and reading this thread has helped. We are not the types who are going to be disappointed if we don't get to do every single thing, but I don't want to miss Pixar Worlds and Character Evolution! Still have some questions:

1. Sounds like we'll have to use Stagepass to be assured of seats at the small panels. If it's done the same as in the past, how soon should we get in line for passes? Totally depends on the panel. I think most of them were pretty easy to get as long as you got in line when the stage pass opened. The Once Upon a Time one was the most popular last time.

2. Suggestions on strategies for the stores? Not trying to score any one particular item, we just love shopping for Disney merch. If merch is your main goal, go directly to stores. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. The lines for stores get INSANE.

3. I don't want to wait in the sun just to get in the door. What's a good time to arrive that doesn't involve camping overnight? Or is it crazy to come later in the morning when the lines have filtered in? We don't have any line information yet. Last time, as long as you were lined up before 7am you got to wait inside and have your stuff checked then. Anyone after 7am had to wait outside in the sun for hours. I highly recommend getting there when you can wait inside if they do that again this year.

My thoughts in red.

 

[allthenamesaretaken]

So let me get this straight, it's $30+ for an expo shirt that won't be available to purchase on-site AND you have to be a Gold member to even buy it?
https://d23.com/rock-this-limited-edition-tee-at-d23-expo-2017/

I find it weird. Surely people want expo shirts because it essentially says "I went to this expo" not "I didn't necessarily go to the expo because any gold member can buy this shirt online"?

 

[mhr648]

My thoughts in red.

Thanks for the help!

 

[PatMcDuck]

The shirt may not be exclusive? It appears just on the regular disneystore website for me, but maybe it knows I am Gold, who knows.

LAST time, you had to get there by 7 for the inside line. In 2011 and 2013, it was all outside lines, not overnight, and we had nice cool dry weather. And it was not THAT bad. In 2015, the inside lines were really nice. And the weather was fairly brutal, even early in the AM, I was stuck outside only on Sunday, and it was so hot in the sun. Inside gets you dry, weather controlled, access to rest rooms, even a refreshment stand (enormous lines, I did not use this).

I got into OUAT on standby, it was a last minute impulse to try. I was one of last allowed in, we had to literally run to our seats. So if no Stage Pass, standbys do get in, I have done it several times.

Stores easier to get into during the large panels, and/or at end of the day. By Saturday afternoon, and Sunday, the Dream store may not even have much of a line. Disneystore line is awful the entire Expo. Get a StorePass if you can, but I never was able to do so. Mickeys of Glendale line is not that bad, after the initial rushes for pins. Average might be about 45 minutes. They do have a separate line for pin people inside the store, which helps.

PS, I saw Voices of the Parks in 2013, it was really entertaining. Highly recommend.

 

[ashley0139]

The shirt may not be exclusive? It appears just on the regular disneystore website for me, but maybe it knows I am Gold, who knows.

LAST time, you had to get there by 7 for the inside line. In 2011 and 2013, it was all outside lines, not overnight, and we had nice cool dry weather. And it was not THAT bad. In 2015, the inside lines were really nice. And the weather was fairly brutal, even early in the AM, I was stuck outside only on Sunday, and it was so hot in the sun. Inside gets you dry, weather controlled, access to rest rooms, even a refreshment stand (enormous lines, I did not use this).

I got into OUAT on standby, it was a last minute impulse to try. I was one of last allowed in, we had to literally run to our seats. So if no Stage Pass, standbys do get in, I have done it several times.

Stores easier to get into during the large panels, and/or at end of the day. By Saturday afternoon, and Sunday, the Dream store may not even have much of a line. Disneystore line is awful the entire Expo. Get a StorePass if you can, but I never was able to do so. Mickeys of Glendale line is not that bad, after the initial rushes for pins. Average might be about 45 minutes. They do have a separate line for pin people inside the store, which helps.

PS, I saw Voices of the Parks in 2013, it was really entertaining. Highly recommend.

I am just hoping with everything I have that they do this again. It was so nice to be able to wait inside in the AC with restrooms.

 

[keahgirl8]

That's what I was thinking and then someone told me I'd majorly regret missing Live Action...

I guess I was looking at the Live Action as finding out information I'll hear about an hour later anyway versus the once in a lifetime chance to hear the voices of the princesses!
Is that how you guys view Live Action? I'm struggling cause I don't know what they'll talk about!

In comparison, super excited for the Animation Studios Upcomg Films because they mention specific films I'm interested in and musical performances...

I haven't been to Live Action since 2011, but that's sort of how I looked at it. It was a cool experience, don't get me wrong. It is just so many hours of sitting in line and you miss so much other stuff to see it.

 

[keahgirl8]

Thanks and that's what I'm planning on unless they reveal further info that indicates otherwise.

And look ... me and my wife are in our early 50s and have done plenty of large Cons in the past even though this is our first D23. If we end up missing something, we'll just do something else and I'm sure that by the end of the weekend we'll have done and seen plenty. I find that expectation management is ALWAYS key.

Exactly! I find that figuring out if there is anything I REALLY want to see and then sort of going with the flow for the rest of it is the best way. At the end of the day, you'll see something and it will be awesome.

I'm not a Star Wars or Marvel fan so I'm good with missing that stuff, haha. I'm sure there will be some awesome surprises, but I'd still rather do princesses.

I do love Marvel, but I remember what happened for Avengers. They all came out, they showed the trailer, they said "hello," and that was it. Sure you see "never before seen footage," but you'll see it eventually. It's all a matter of priorities. Some people plan their whole trip around the big panels and it's worth it to them. It's just not worth it to me, so I skip it.

What an amazing lineup! I'm getting more excited. Are we waiting for anymore announcements? I think Parks/Imagineering was the last big one.

So am I! Deep down I was hoping for a Once panel, since I've been to one at the last 2 expos. However, given all of the shakeups and the fact that it was so late in getting renewed, I'll be shocked if there is one.

My thoughts in red.

Totally agree, especially on the merch. If there is something LE and expo-exclusive you want, be prepared to line up earlier than you can even imagine. I would have loved to get the Once dolls, but I was not willing to sleep in the convention center for it.

The shirt may not be exclusive? It appears just on the regular disneystore website for me, but maybe it knows I am Gold, who knows.

It did make me log in before I could pay for it, but that still means if you have a membership you can get one, and you don't have to go to the expo.

 

[ashley0139]

Exactly! I find that figuring out if there is anything I REALLY want to see and then sort of going with the flow for the rest of it is the best way. At the end of the day, you'll see something and it will be awesome.



I do love Marvel, but I remember what happened for Avengers. They all came out, they showed the trailer, they said "hello," and that was it. Sure you see "never before seen footage," but you'll see it eventually. It's all a matter of priorities. Some people plan their whole trip around the big panels and it's worth it to them. It's just not worth it to me, so I skip it.



So am I! Deep down I was hoping for a Once panel, since I've been to one at the last 2 expos. However, given all of the shakeups and the fact that it was so late in getting renewed, I'll be shocked if there is one.




Totally agree, especially on the merch. If there is something LE and expo-exclusive you want, be prepared to line up earlier than you can even imagine. I would have loved to get the Once dolls, but I was not willing to sleep in the convention center for it.



It did make me log in before I could pay for it, but that still means if you have a membership you can get one, and you don't have to go to the expo.

I can see them bringing Lana and Colin for a Once panel. I guess we'll see. I remember last time it wasn't announced with a "wave" of other panels but as its own thing. I'm kind of hoping they don't do it. It took up so much of my time last time and there are way too many other things I want to do. I guess we'll see.

Merch at the expo is just crazy. I'm not really a big merch person except getting a couple expo things so I let others wait in the crazy lines for it. I'd rather see panels. Not going to bother with the order ahead tshirt, I'll just get whatever's there when I get there.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I wish they had a Agents of Shield panel, but they do that at Comic Con I think, and they are not going to get the cast to 2 conventions, 2 weekends in a row.

I think there must be more coming, as they have reserved the rooms for the day already. I suspect they have the Arena only for Friday and Saturday though, they usually have less room space on Sundays.

 

[keahgirl8]

I can see them bringing Lana and Colin for a Once panel. I guess we'll see. I remember last time it wasn't announced with a "wave" of other panels but as its own thing. I'm kind of hoping they don't do it. It took up so much of my time last time and there are way too many other things I want to do. I guess we'll see.

Merch at the expo is just crazy. I'm not really a big merch person except getting a couple expo things so I let others wait in the crazy lines for it. I'd rather see panels. Not going to bother with the order ahead tshirt, I'll just get whatever's there when I get there.

I know what you mean. I will have to go if they have one! They're doing the tour of Once cons so I don't even know if they'd be able to do it.

I wish they had a Agents of Shield panel, but they do that at Comic Con I think, and they are not going to get the cast to 2 conventions, 2 weekends in a row.

I think there must be more coming, as they have reserved the rooms for the day already. I suspect they have the Arena only for Friday and Saturday though, they usually have less room space on Sundays.

I think they did one the first season, but I didn't care about it then. That was a pretty good Marvel year and I totally missed everything, because I wasn't at all into it!

 

[PaintsWithAllTheColors]

For those who have gone before, how long are the main panels? I'm hoping to do:

Power of the Princess - 10:30
Pixar's Worlds - 12:15
Parks and Resorts - 3
Pixar's Characters - 6

Any idea if I'm being way too optimistic about the Pixar panels?

 

[lurkergirl]

For those who have gone before, how long are the main panels? I'm hoping to do:

Power of the Princess - 10:30
Pixar's Worlds - 12:15
Parks and Resorts - 3
Pixar's Characters - 6

Any idea if I'm being way too optimistic about the Pixar panels?

Just looked at the 2015 app, most of the smaller panels ran an hour in length. The larger panels were two hours. Panels do start late sometimes and definitely ran over (Studio Animation!). Things to keep in mind, in addition to the factoring in line-up time. Also? We don't know yet what the panel options for StagePass will be, which can impact lines and stand-by availability.

Four panels seems ambitious to me, honestly.