Odd years; this year is the 3rd occurrence. Yes, so far -- always in California. Dates are released more than year out ... this year offered early bird ticket discounts. I don't recall a
DVC discount?
Link: https://d23.com/d23-expo/
One correction: This year is actually the fourth
D23 Expo.
I don't recall any DVC discounts either. There's usually an early bird discount but those are long gone for 2015. Assuming they hold true to form, dates for the next expo will probably be announced as this year's is winding down.
Thanks! Anyone ever attend a D23 Expo? Is it worth going or a lot of hype over not so much? How crowded is it? As I mentioned before, my husband went to Comic Con for the first time last week. Something he's always wanted to do. Though he was glad he got to go, he thought it was going to be "better." It's impossible to see the celebrity panels like the Hunger Games stars. People line up and sleep there days in advance. You stand in line for hours for a CHANCE to get a ticket to win a
lego product that you still have to purchase. There were over 130,000 people there to say it was crowded is an understatement. Husband thinking D23 may more be his speed, especially if it's less crowded.
I can't talk attendance but he would probably have a similar experience at the Expo. I attended the first 3 and will limit my comments to the last one (2013) since it is probably the most representative of what the future will bring.
First, it took us 2 hours just to get into the building. Seemingly miles and miles of makeshift masking tape queues outside the convention center. Like Comic Con, panels with any chance of celebrity appearance will be filled to capacity long before they occur. People won't queue-up days in advance, but you pretty much need to sleep out the night before to have a chance at the Disney film/movie presentation.
The arena theme parks session was the one must-do for me. I would always get in line 2-3 hours ahead and be OK for that one. If Disney is going to announce any major additions to the parks this year (like Star Wars at Hollywood Studios), that's when it will happen.
The smaller (non-arena) theme park sessions were much more manageable...especially in 2013. They introduced a sort of fastpass system which allowed attendees to reserve a spot in a session long before it occurred and without having to spend hours sitting on the floor waiting. As long as you had your reserved spot, you just had to show up something like 30-45 minutes ahead. (Although seating was general admission so the later you arrive, further back you are in the room.) My wife had no trouble getting into a session on
Disneyland history hosted by Tony Baxter. I went to a session on Aulani hosted by Joe Rohde.
Anything to do with animation tends to be popular. Cruise line sessions are popular. Again, celebrity sessions (like Disney Van Dyke) are popular.
If you're there to buy any limited-edition collectible merchandise, those things can be a nightmare.
That's pretty much the ugly part.
There will be a large theme parks pavilion with scale models, concept artwork and other behind-the-scenes details unlike anything you'll see elsewhere. Many of Disney's merchandising partners will have booths, many with free giveaway items. There will be a museum with costumes and props from Disney history. There will be vendor booths hosted by websites, artists, collectors, etc. There will be shops where you can purchase official Disney merchandise which is not available anywhere else (I'm not talking about gaudy D23 stuff, rather items which are normally available only to Disney employees.)
I wouldn't recommend going strictly as a film or TV fan looking to see stars. If you want to be in the same room with Mark Hammil, Robert Downey Jr or John Lassiter, the experience probably will be similar to Comic Con. But anyone who is a fan of all things Disney will find a lot to like. Just make sure you look at the agenda ahead of time, prioritize the sessions which are most important and fill-in with exhibits on the open show floor whenever you have free time. And be prepared to wait in a few lines.
