DISmeet at D23 Expo! - Meet dates in 1st Post

[franandaj]

Just FYI, here is a map of the area. If you are staying on Disney Property and planning on walking or taking the shuttle, you can see from this map that the Hilton is closer to parts of the Convention Center than the Arena where some of the presentations are taking place.

I'm sorry, maybe I'm just not processing things tonight, but can anyone please explain to me what this means??? The Arena is IN the Convention Center so I don't understand how the Hilton is closer the parts of the CC than the Arena is. We were planning on taking the shuttle from DL. Do we get off at the Hilton? At the CC? Anyone? Anyone? Thank you!

- Dreams

I see how this is hard to comprehend without having actually been to the ACC. But the CC itself is the largest facility on the West Coast. If you look at the map, I cropped it so that you don't even see the bottom part of the CC (which Disney is not actually using for this show.) The round circle near Katella is the Arena part of the CC. The Hilton is to the right of the CC. If you look closely, you'll notice that the Hilton is closer to the mid section than the Arena or the lower portion of the CC.

I was just trying to illustrate that the CC is HUGE, and one of the posters wasn't sure if they could get to the CC and the Hilton in one morning, so I was just trying to illustrate the proximity of the Hilton to the CC as a whole. It will all be clear when you are standing in the courtyard and you realize just what a massive venue this is.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I was just trying to illustrate that the CC is HUGE, and one of the posters wasn't sure if they could get to the CC and the Hilton in one morning, so I was just trying to illustrate the proximity of the Hilton to the CC as a whole. It will all be clear when you are standing in the courtyard and you realize just what a massive venue this is.

Ah, I gotcha now! I just couldn't process how something could be closer than something that is part of the whole, but I get what you were saying now. Thanks!

By the way, do you (or anyone else reading this) have a link to anything that explains the shuttle service running between DLR and the CC/Hilton for the Expo? I can't find it anywhere.

Thanks!

- Dreams

 

[Armadillo4]

Okay, I soooo don't get some of the comments here. Why are people planning on getting there at 6:30am???? Seriously. Someone 'splain please. I don't get it.

Since I did not go in 2009 I was picturing folks lining up at 6:30 so they could be among the first into the Expo and then among the first into whatever presentation queue is of interest to them.

These are my thoughts on why some lined up at 6:30am back in 2009 and why some might be there again at 6:30am in 2011.

Back in 2009, the Expo was brand new and no one had any idea what to expect. Lining up at 6:30am in insure that you got into whatever panels or presentation were held in the morning was probably a motivating force. You hear stories of people camping out at San Diego Comic-Con to make sure they got into their panels, so some of that thinking probably trickled over to Expo attendees.

I think another major reason for lining up at 6:30am, was to make sure you were able to purchase whatever Limited Edition Merchandise was important to you. In fact, for this year's Expo, I think this will be the majority of early morning line attendees. If there are only 500 pieces of whatever LE merchandise you want, then you probably will be there at 6:30am to make sure you get into the Dream Store early and purchase what you like.

This is just my $.02 and guesswork. I'll be on the lookout for any LGMH over the weekend. Looking forward to a great Expo this year!

 

[courtneydisney]

If anyone wants to meet up for a D23 Expo meet, I'm in the parks now! Text me at my Google Voice #, 415-Disney2 to meet up.

 

[lapdwife]

Our plan is to park at the TS lot and walk, but if there's a shuttle, maybe we'll do M&F. I refuse to pay $12 to park.

 

[funatdisney]

Hi guys. I am sorry I was unable to meet any of you. I didn't arrive until early Friday morning (6am). I decided to get into line so I could buy the pins I wanted. On Saturday morning I went to Starbucks, but, maybe, I missed you or no one showed up; maybe next time?

Anyway on another note, I just finished the on-line survey. I kept mentioning the long waits in the presentation queues. Other than that, I really liked going and would attend the next Expo.

 

[skiingfast]

Anyway on another note, I just finished the on-line survey. I kept mentioning the long waits in the presentation queues. Other than that, I really liked going and would attend the next Expo.

They will have FP set up for the next Expo's lines.

 

[Disney Dreams]

They will have FP set up for the next Expo's lines.

Many of us at the Expo were discussing that some sort of FP for the lines is the exact answer with - and this is the key - prohibiting lining up for them before they are available.

- Dreams

 

[mvf-m11c]

Hi guys. I am sorry I was unable to meet any of you. I didn't arrive until early Friday morning (6am). I decided to get into line so I could buy the pins I wanted. On Saturday morning I went to Starbucks, but, maybe, I missed you or no one showed up; maybe next time?

Anyway on another note, I just finished the on-line survey. I kept mentioning the long waits in the presentation queues. Other than that, I really liked going and would attend the next Expo.

I was hoping to meet you at the Expo Liza. Did you have a great time at the Expo this weekend and did you get the pins that you wanted?

The long queue presentations were just crazy. People waited in line when the Expo started and I during the Cars Land presentation, there were people waiting outside the queue when another presentation queue was going on. The presentations that seemed it was worth it was the Walt Disney Studios presentation and the Cars Land presentation.

 

[HydroGuy]

Many of us at the Expo were discussing that some sort of FP for the lines is the exact answer with - and this is the key - prohibiting lining up for them before they are available.

- Dreams

Yes I heard a lot of "the Expo needs FP" discussions as well. It would really help the show floor - if the show floor needed help - because I never got the show floor til Sunday because I was literally tied up in lines and presentations from 7:30AM until 9 or 10PM all day Friday and Saturday. I would have killed for a FP to free me up to wander around the floor.

 

[funatdisney]

and this is the key - prohibiting lining up for them before they are available.

- Dreams

I agree. On Sunday morning (I got in line at 6:20am) some of the Expo staff (in red shirts and what were probably leads and/or managers) were asking D23 members in line if their entire party was present. Of course, most were not. The Expo staff were ok if the rest of the party was to show up within 5 minutes, but no more. As soon as the staff person left, members were on their phones, telling their friends/ family to hurry. The Expo staff wanted to be sure that large groups of people didn't show up at the last minute for the Cruise presentation and bump off other members that were already in line.

I was hoping to meet you at the Expo Liza. Did you have a great time at the Expo this weekend and did you get the pins that you wanted?

The long queue presentations were just crazy. People waited in line when the Expo started and I during the Cars Land presentation, there were people waiting outside the queue when another presentation queue was going on. The presentations that seemed it was worth it was the Walt Disney Studios presentation and the Cars Land presentation.

Sorry I didn't get to meet up with up too, Bret. There is a good chance I will for your next visit, since I can run down to DL when I want. I did get all the pins I wanted. There were two pins I wanted (101 Dalmatians D23 pin and the Dumbo version) that I didn't get, but they were available in small quantities on Sunday. I got in line early enough to buy on Sunday.

The best two presentations I attended was the Walt Disney Studios (I was in the stand by line and the sixth person behind was the cut off - I just barely got in!) and the It's a Small World Celebrating 45 years. What a treasure to hear Alice Davis and Richard Sherman tell their stories.

 

[franandaj]

I got my survey yesterday and filled it out promptly. They asked what was your least favorite thing about the Expo and I said the lines. I also stressed that being stuck in lines all day kept us from time shopping (although from the other answers I gave them you would never know that).

There were many improvements over 2009, but due to the overwhelming popularity the crowds were far worse than last time. Also since there were not nearly as many "adult" oriented events, anyone wanting something more than Handy Manny or Jake and the Pirates were all stuck in the same lines.

 

[tinkcollector]

The last Expo was so over the top that it was a tough act to follow, but this one was amazing.
“Legends”. There are some pictures from the ceremony on the boards. When I look back now on the Expo the “Legends” ceremony was one of my favorites. The acceptance speeches brought tears to my eyes, especially the Princesses. Then getting to hear these women sing, then sing together was a once in a lifetime experience. The history that encompasses these gals is remarkable.
Another one of my favorite performances was “Dick Van Dyke”. I was so happy to get to watch him perform and listen to his little stories.
D23 went way above and beyond to try and satisfy the crowds. I went up to get in line for the Dick Van **** performance 2 hours before it’s scheduled time, only to find the line closed and filled to capacity. They had a stand by line forming and I thought I would gamble with getting in. The “Trivia Contest” (which I tried out for) was running late. Then a CM came by and told us that they were going to try and re-configure the room and add 200 chairs. Well, my gamble paid off and I got in. I actually waited in line for 3 hours, but I would do it again. What a show!
Also, it was such a pleasure to finally add faces to my “Dis” Family, it was nice to meet you all!

 

[franandaj]

One of the things I really liked about the Expo was meeting so many of the people on this thread. We had about a dozen at the Thursday night meet and many of us ran into each other on multiple occasions after that. We met lots of new friends :

Hopefully some of us will meet again as our paths cross at DLR.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I never had the chance to meet anyone from DISBoards, but the best thing about the lines was the other great Disney fans I met from all over.

Our batting average for presentations was similar to 2009. We got in to all the presentations we wanted except 1.

We saw Disneyland Hotel history, Prep & Landing: Naughty v. Nice, Parks & Resorts and Dick VanDyke on Friday. On Saturday, 8 am to 1 pm was spent either in line to see, or seeing, the Studios presentation, but we were able to see the Buena Vista Street and the Monster University presentations after that. Sunday, we attended the Imagineering the Dream & Fantasy, Marvel and Imagineering Carsland presentations.

We never had time to see the Archives or the related store, the Disney Store or the Charter Members lounge (although soemone in line with us brought us some cookies). We raced quickly though some of the Collectors Forum area but undoubtedly missed a lot. We did leave around 6 on Saturday and 5 on Sunday, as exhaustion set in.

My only suggestions for next time is to hold it for 4 days again and open up at 8 am for members with nothing scheduled until 9. We plan to attend again in 2013. -- Suzanne