D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 8/9/24-8/11/24 **Tickets on sale 3/26** **Sold Out on 3/29**

[LKing]

Happy to be home and not typing on my phone anymore.

Granted we had a car, but I thought Honda worked well. I liked having a reserved seat so we didn't feel like we needed to rush. Two of the three nights, we ended up eating dinner at Honda. It wasn't the best, but it was better than the ACC food. I'm surprised that so many performers commented on the crowd size. Was that to make attendees feel better about being at Honda?

For us, security was easy. They allowed people to bring water in, but were a little more strict about food. I thought security and the ACC staff were very kind and helpful. The few times I encountered bossy people, they were CM. I also thought that the guests in attendance were very nice, even when I would accidently walk into a booth not knowing that there was a long queue across the aisle.

We did Company Store, Marketplace and MOG on the first day. After waking up at 4 am, all we bought was one jersey, one hat and two sweatshirts. Shopping was definitely a bust for us.

I agree about moving the pins. We did a VQ for Marketplace then had to wait in a long winding queue to get in and then, when I tried to walk from one side of the store to the other, I got cut off because there was a queue within the store for pins. I felt bad for the CM who had to keep cutting off unassuming people who were just trying to shop. Speaking of Marketplace, I don't like the fact that they didn't re-stock items. The merch is going to be available on Disney Store and in the parks tomorrow. Why not offer it to attendees?

Overall, I was disappointed in the booths on the floor. I enjoyed the panels and was surprised at how easy it was to get in on standby. I liked things liked the Inside Out experience, but the lines were long there as well. Today there was a 45 min wait for the claw machine!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

For those who attended, what was your favorite panel or presentation?

For me: a tie between Jolly Holiday: A Celebration of Richard Sherman (made me cry) and the Disney Experiences Showcase

Sleeper hit: Once Upon a Costume: Fashion and Design and Disney Animation

 

[dina444444]

For the big panels the experience one. For the panels I went to at ACC, I think the worlds fair was my favorite.

 

[brightlined]

I think I've got a three-way tie between World's Fair, Jolly Holiday, and Experiences. I was so torn between Dream Chasing and Jolly Holiday, and I think I made the right call. (Weirdly, it was almost a Richard Sherman weekend for me - it ended with the Archives guys doing a brief performance of an unused Sherman Brothers song for Norway at Epcot at Down the Rabbit Hole.)

Favorite random moment - running across Bob Gurr on Saturday explaining how the cars were attached to the ride track at the Ford Magic Skyway at the World's Fair.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I think I've got a three-way tie between World's Fair, Jolly Holiday, and Experiences. I was so torn between Dream Chasing and Jolly Holiday, and I think I made the right call. (Weirdly, it was almost a Richard Sherman weekend for me - it ended with the Archives guys doing a brief performance of an unused Sherman Brothers song for Norway at Epcot at Down the Rabbit Hole.)

Favorite random moment - running across Bob Gurr on Saturday explaining how the cars were attached to the ride track at the Ford Magic Skyway at the World's Fair.

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I liked Down the Rabbit Hole, too!

 

[HeadNerd]

I’m sad I passed on the Jolly Holiday one based on other reactions. Oh well. I thought Experiences was amazing and Entertainment wasn’t too bad. I liked the character voices one, if only because it never ceases to be old hearing Mickey or Minnie’s voice come out of someone. Especially Goofy and Donald. Lol.

Greys Anatomy was nothing special but they did get 7 current cast members and the showrunner there so that was fun. Marvel Animation was eh… nothing that wasn’t already announced I think.

 

[HeadNerd]

On the plane and already in Disney withdrawal. Totally unrelated, I couldn’t find anything about Destination D23 for next year online yet. Do we know anything? I’ve never gone but maybe next year…

 

[dina444444]

On the plane and already in Disney withdrawal. Totally unrelated, I couldn’t find anything about Destination D23 for next year online yet. Do we know anything? I’ve never gone but maybe next year…

I don’t remember who said it to me may have been @Duckbug.Ducktales, but the dvc member cruise is in August next year and last year destination d was right after the member cruise.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I don’t remember who said it to me may have been @Duckbug.Ducktales, but the dvc member cruise is in August next year and last year destination d was right after the member cruise.

Yup, I mentioned it to you in person! I'm pretty sure it'll be the weekend after the DVC Member Cruise

 

[brightlined]

Random thoughts on the weekend:

1) I ended up spending a lot of queue time fishing for RSPs, and ended up getting all of the panels I'd wanted. (I wouldn't necessarily advise RSP fishing - it really is the worst version of slots.)

One note from the earlier RSP discussion - for Guests, it really is like an ADR. Because I had more time to snag something, I tried to add guests once and had it fail, but switched to just me and had it go through.


2) I almost wish they'd explained what the TVA was a little bit more, especially since the wait was about an hour (for me). The pre-show was great, but I was surprised that it was mostly a costume exhibit. And the time doors obscured the costumes quite a bit - it was sometimes hard to tell what was there.

But it was worth this for this really fun interaction with Rocket - mainly because one of our group had a very meme-able name. (The ending is worth it.)

I was originally going to go to the Disneyland slide show, but I realized I wouldn't make it while I was waiting in the TVA line. But I do love those end-of-Sunday panels where everything/everyone is a bit loopy, and Rabbit Hole was great.


3) For years, I avoided the Expo because I really don't do crowds well and figured it wouldn't be my vibe. But, having gone one day in 2022 and two days this year, I think I'm finally ready to admit that this is totally my vibe, and I should go all three days next time.

Even if I missed out on a couple of things, I got super-lucky on so many others - I had such an amazing time.

 

[dina444444]

Random thoughts on the weekend:

1) I ended up spending a lot of queue time fishing for RSPs, and ended up getting all of the panels I'd wanted. (I wouldn't necessarily advise RSP fishing - it really is the worst version of slots.)

One note from the earlier RSP discussion - for Guests, it really is like an ADR. Because I had more time to snag something, I tried to add guests once and had it fail, but switched to just me and had it go through.


2) I almost wish they'd explained what the TVA was a little bit more, especially since the wait was about an hour (for me). The pre-show was great, but I was surprised that it was mostly a costume exhibit. And the time doors obscured the costumes quite a bit - it was sometimes hard to tell what was there.

But it was worth this for this really fun interaction with Rocket - mainly because one of our group had a very meme-able name. (The ending is worth it.)

I was originally going to go to the Disneyland slide show, but I realized I wouldn't make it while I was waiting in the TVA line. But I do love those end-of-Sunday panels where everything/everyone is a bit loopy, and Rabbit Hole was great.


3) For years, I avoided the Expo because I really don't do crowds well and figured it wouldn't be my vibe. But, having gone one day in 2022 and two days this year, I think I'm finally ready to admit that this is totally my vibe, and I should go all three days next time.

Even if I missed out on a couple of things, I got super-lucky on so many others - I had such an amazing time.

From my understanding standby was also easy for most panels. The 2 panels I went to on the premiere stage didn’t fill more than half the room.

 

[brightlined]

From my understanding standby was also easy for most panels. The 2 panels I went to on the premiere stage didn’t fill more than half the room.

100%. One of the staff members told me that Jolly Holiday was hands-down the busiest of the whole weekend at that stage, and it still wasn't completely full. Honestly, I think the biggest advantage of RSP was just being able to sit front-ish (and being able to relax a bit more about getting in).

 

[HeadNerd]

Did anyone hear of any of the panels shutting people out at all? I think the Grey’s panel did, was in Backlot and I got in on standby but I think the room completely filled after me and they turned some folks away.

But definitely for some reason felt a lot easier to get into panels. I suspect the extra show floor attractions with queues/etc gobbled up many of the attendees.

 

[HeadNerd]

I don’t remember who said it to me may have been @Duckbug.Ducktales, but the dvc member cruise is in August next year and last year destination d was right after the member cruise.

That’s too bad. I know why they do it this way, but my kids will either be in school or just about to be… we were going to add on a week at Disneyland after D23Expo but couldn’t due to school. Having to go to Florida will make it even more challenging. Hmm…

 

[dina444444]

That’s too bad. I know why they do it this way, but my kids will either be in school or just about to be… we were going to add on a week at Disneyland after D23Expo but couldn’t due to school. Having to go to Florida will make it even more challenging. Hmm…

Destination D has always been a during school convention. It used to be the weekend before Thanksgiving up until it came back post pandemic and moved.

 

[dina444444]

The Legends ceremony is live on Disney+

 

[noisycricket]

For those who attended, what was your favorite panel or presentation?

For me: a tie between Jolly Holiday: A Celebration of Richard Sherman (made me cry) and the Disney Experiences Showcase

Sleeper hit: Once Upon a Costume: Fashion and Design and Disney Animation

I was pleasantly surprised by the Percy Jackson & the Olympians panel. The MC was great (didn't know his name) and the interaction between the larrrge number of panelists made for a really fun event. The kid stars for the most part seemed refreshingly authentic and earnest-- some had a genuine "wow" factor being on stage... as in "wow" this is a big venue. "wow", my face is huge on that LED screen. "wow, wait, why is the camera still on me?" And I haven't even watched the TV series (yet)...I only went into this panel 'cuz my friend liked the movies...

Random thoughts on the weekend:




2) I almost wish they'd explained what the TVA was a little bit more, especially since the wait was about an hour (for me). The pre-show was great, but I was surprised that it was mostly a costume exhibit. And the time doors obscured the costumes quite a bit - it was sometimes hard to tell what was there.

But it was worth this for this really fun interaction with Rocket - mainly because one of our group had a very meme-able name. (The ending is worth it.)


Even if I missed out on a couple of things, I got super-lucky on so many others - I had such an amazing time.

Waited over an hour for TVA, too. Rocket made it almost worth it. It was like Tutrtle Talk except with a short (stature and amount of time), furry, sassy creature instead.

 

[brightlined]

Did anyone hear of any of the panels shutting people out at all? I think the Grey’s panel did, was in Backlot and I got in on standby but I think the room completely filled after me and they turned some folks away.

But definitely for some reason felt a lot easier to get into panels. I suspect the extra show floor attractions with queues/etc gobbled up many of the attendees.

I'm not sure of it, but I think World's Fair was close. I looked around late - there was a stream of people still coming in, but not many seats left.

(I'm wondering if Wolverine was, too.)

 

[AlohaNow]

D23 was a blast! I'll write more when I get home, right now I'm taking a break back at the hotel from DL. I didn't get in to Abbott Elementary from standby so that was disappointing. But got into Worlds Fair, Directing Disney, and Jolly Holiday without RSP. Not a dry eye in the house on that last one. The sing along and when John Stamos' voice broke at the end....

Legends was fantastic! It will be fun to watch when we get home. We rode the elevator at Honda with Bob Gurr! A Disney Legend himself, we weren't sure why he was going up to the 400 level!

The official motto of D23 should be "You'll sleep when you're dead."

 

[LKing]

On the floor, I enjoyed the Imagineering booth and how passionate and proud the Imagineers were about their work. Granted, I went through it Friday morning. They may have burnt out after that. I also thought that the Voluntear thing was cool. Do they always do that? I would love to see stats of how many bags they filled each day.

We were really lucky with our panel seating. The first day I was tired so lined up for our Toy Story RSP early. We ended up sitting in the 2nd row. I enjoyed the candid rapport between the panel members. I thought it was cool that Jonas Rivera went from being a first day intern on the original Toy Story to EVP of Pixar.

I like Pete Doctor so, the second day we tried to do a last minute standby for Directing Disney. We walked in just as it was starting and were ushered to fill seats that had been reserved for VIPs. I sat next to Zsolt Hormay. I had no idea who he was, but he looked like a creative type. It wasn't until he was in the intro for Joe Rohde's Legend award (in the same clothes he was wearing when I sat next to him) that I learned who he is.

For Inside Out a Dreamy Surprise. It had already started so they quietly ushered us to seats in the 2nd row. Jason Deamer showed some of the images that were proposed for the different Inside Out characters and why they chose the character they did. For example, they thought of Embarassment as a big football player. After a half hour of that, Jaclyn Smith and Mike Jones came out showed us the first episode of Dream Productions. I thought it was great and it was really fun to watch with other Disney fans.

I had RSP to Dream Chasing with Bob Weis and Leslie Iwerks. It was interesting and I would have bought the book if they had it in stock. Story of D23... everything was sold out!

Finally, we went to Character Voices which was fun. I didn't think it was as informative as some of the other panels, other than the fact that Jim Hanks does the voice of his brother, Tom. It was still good entertainment.

My daughter and her friend got to do the meet with Auli'i which they loved. They also really enjoyed the panel with Corbin Bleu.

Wolverine was a full audience. They allowed some standby but then closed the line.