New D23 Expo Superthread! (6/24/2019)

[Mathmagicland]

Wait - but I DO have a gold family membership - so then I can get 3 passes at once? Sorry - I usually research this but just haven't had the time.

I could swear I saw somewhere that Gold family could book 3 addl but now cannot find where I saw it, let me keep looking...

 

[ej119]

Long time reader, first time poster and D23 expo attendee. There was some additional information that was linked to on a D23 Facebook post:

Advance Online Reservations Overview
For the very first time at D23 Expo, advance online reservations will allow guests to make complimentary advance reservations for select D23 Expo experiences for themselves and another D23 Expo Guest. Reservations are available for select panels only and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability. Advance online reservations for all event days will be available starting Friday, August 16 at 12:00 p.m. PT/ 3:00 p.m. ET until reservation capacity is full. If guests do not receive their desired reservation(s), there will be standby queues at all StorePass, StagePass, and Talent Central locations.

We'll see how Disney IT handles this influx on August 16. I was lucky enough to successfully get SWGE Disneyland reservations the day it opened, but the way we were held in a virtual queue (I was in it for over an hour!) was confusing and not communicated well.

I would love if each day was on a grid (like the Expo schedule on the D23 website) and you could easily select your two that way. I'm a little nervous that the UX will be clunky to slow folks down during the process.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

It doesn’t look like I received that email...

Neither of us received the email here. Anyone remember the title of the email?

 

[maichan]

Neither of us received the email here. Anyone remember the title of the email?

The earlier commenter was mistaken. It wasn't sent via email. The info was copied from the reservations page:
https://d23expo.com/reservations

 

[Elias1901]

Can anybody shed some light on Talent Central? I’d love a run down of who has been announced for certain meets/events. I haven’t seen much in the way of info on that stuff... I just would like to gauge if we would want to even bother with potentially snagging TalentPasses if there’s something unique!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

The earlier commenter was mistaken. It wasn't sent via email. The info was copied from the reservations page:
https://d23expo.com/reservations

Thank you for clearing that up! Now is when the new information starts coming down the chute so quickly that all the updates can get cluttered. I'm thankful for everyone in this thread working to keep us all on top of things!

 

[skier_pete]

This is all very interesting - one store pass, two stage pass, three talent central per day. I wonder how fast the reservations will fill in? The other interesting thing is they are indicating that gold pass members will get first dibs at hall D23 events, which seems to mean they will still have the long overnight standby queues.

 

[Mathmagicland]

This is all very interesting - one store pass, two stage pass, three talent central per day. I wonder how fast the reservations will fill in?

Having also been in the online queue for DLR SWGE reservations where it took an hour to get to the screen to pick day & time, I am wondering how this will work for Expo. So many unanswered questions at this point,

-Will we need to make all of our choices in one session or can we go back in multiple times until we hit our limits? Thinking being, do we pick and complete for the top choices to ensure getting them, or hold on to make all choices in one session and risk having some fill by people making fewer choices,
-what will happen during the reservation process if some choices are available and others not, will it complete the transaction with those available or make us deselect the filled sessions thus risking losing those still available
-What if we what to later drop one and pick up another, can thst be done?
-How much time will we be allotted to make our choices and complete the reservation Process?
-Will it be like some other queue online reservation systems where things will show as unavailable due to pending transactions only to be available later?
-What percentage of total capacity will be allotted for each session to online reservations vs held back for standby queue?
-how will the servers handle the traffic load? This will likely be more people than were trying for Sorcerer tickets.
-Aside from the prime panels each day in Hall D23, is it worth the stress to even try for bookings when there will be standby queues? I went all last Expo without any stage passes and got into every session I wanted via the standby queues,..which was a lot of panels and 5 of them on Saturday alone.
-will there be passes to the first stage panels each day? Someone noted there may not be passes to the first panels each day due to entrance logistics, and in past expos with stage passes I think the earliest available sessions may have been 11am.

The store pass and stage pass limits are the same as the past two Expos, with the only difference being stage pass must be in separate venues this time. The talent central passes are new aspect likely to help with all of,the frustrations in that space last time. Really wondering how many of those will be allotted as most talent signs for an hour and the numbers who get signatures are very limited. I noticed in the Disney publishing booths where they will hand out tickets, there will only be 50 tickets.

 

[Mathmagicland]

Can anybody shed some light on Talent Central? I’d love a run down of who has been announced for certain meets/events. I haven’t seen much in the way of info on that stuff... I just would like to gauge if we would want to even bother with potentially snagging TalentPasses if there’s something unique!

Last Expo, Talent central was set up as a way to try to group the Disney sponsored signings in one place to minimize line crowd impact on the show floor. When you can see the show floor layouts you will see it is the opposite end from all of the Disney stores and higher profile areas. Talent would be at a bar stool height table. There were several tables set up each with separate queues all in the same space so it got a bit confusing.

And even though info said not to line up until a particular time, people would start hovering at least 30 min early in unofficial lines to try to ensure being in line or towards the front of the line,,this would understandably cause problems as CMs would say no line yet, then when the official line start time hit it might not get started where those early hovering peeps had been waiting. I saw a few unhappy folks trying to push to the front or jockeying for better position,

The lines are similar to park character lines in that they do not move quickly due to chatting, pics, signings so you have to allow sufficient between panels or other signings.

And I’d expect some of this to still be the case with the standby lines.

This is why it may pay to cruise the show floor looking for the same talent in vendor booths where there are a lot fewer people waiting. Unfortunately with talent passes, it is a guess as to which booths might have which talent, so if you really want a signature try for a talent pass. If you miss out, look for other opportunities in vendor booths.

 

[Mathmagicland]

also re talent signings, for those Marvel fans, the App shows the Marvel booth will again have talent signings. Those are not part of Talent Central. App says reservations required, I did not do that last Expo but believe reservations are done at the booth day of. No info in the app as to WHO will be there, but the times show two sessions both on Saturday, one from 1:00-1:30 and another from 3:30-4:00.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

This is all very interesting - one store pass, two stage pass, three talent central per day. I wonder how fast the reservations will fill in? The other interesting thing is they are indicating that gold pass members will get first dibs at hall D23 events, which seems to mean they will still have the long overnight standby queues.

I'd think the talent Central passes will be gone in a few seconds. I doubt there will be that many. The people only meet for an hour or so and that short time can only accommodate so many.

 

[maichan]

If you're looking for an artist signing specifically, another tip is to try and catch them at the Wonderground Gallery in Downtown Disney instead of at Talent Central. Last expo, I got Jerrod Maruyama to sign my Hipster Minnie doll at the gallery with minimal wait. And since there was way less people, there was time to have a nice chat and grab a photo with him as well.

The Disneyland Resort calendar is showing the following two artist events taking place after the expo hours:
8/23, 7-9PM Artist Showcase with Joey Chou, Jerrod Maruyama, Dave Perillo and Ashley Taylor at WonderGround Gallery
8/24, 7-9PM Artist Showcase with John Coulter, Jeff Granito, Jerrod Maruyama, Mcbiff, Dave Perillo and Kristin Tercek at WonderGround Gallery

 

[maichan]

D23 app officially announced and should now be available on the app store.

https://d23.com/d23-expo-2019-app/
eta: I see StagePass on the listing for ALL Hall D23 presentations now. So conceivably, you could try for reservations for Legends, Studios, and Parks.

 

[justlai87]

If StagePass is being offered for the morning panels in Hall D23, I'm still wondering how they will handle StagePass holders so that they're not stuck outside the convention center with everyone else waiting to get in.

 

[CarolynFH]

If StagePass is being offered for the morning panels in Hall D23, I'm still wondering how they will handle StagePass holders so that they're not stuck outside the convention center with everyone else waiting to get in.

This will be my first Expo, so I don’t know anything about the physical layout of the Convention Center entrances, but could they designate a specific entrance for StagePass holders for those morning panels?

 

[Mathmagicland]

D23 app officially announced and should now be available on the app store.

https://d23.com/d23-expo-2019-app/
eta: I see StagePass on the listing for ALL Hall D23 presentations now. So conceivably, you could try for reservations for Legends, Studios, and Parks.

Thanks - I see the “missing” panels are now showing up again.

 

[Mathmagicland]

Friday tickets are now sold out! Only Sunday remains available.

 

[FrozenCrown]

D23 app officially announced and should now be available on the app store.

https://d23.com/d23-expo-2019-app/
eta: I see StagePass on the listing for ALL Hall D23 presentations now. So conceivably, you could try for reservations for Legends, Studios, and Parks.

That's really exciting!

This will be my first Expo, so I don’t know anything about the physical layout of the Convention Center entrances, but could they designate a specific entrance for StagePass holders for those morning panels?

I've never been either. But I feel like they are definitely capable of doing so but definitely won't do it lol. I'm not risking that and will come early enough to make it into the downstairs line.

 

[justlai87]

Friday badges now sold out. Only Sunday remains available.

 

[OADad]

Does anyone know how badges are being shipped (US mail, FedEx, etc)? We are leaving for a WDW trip this Sunday, and then directly to California. If the badges don't come by Saturday, we will have to have someone watch our mail.