Our 3rd Annual Holiday Trip to DL in November - November 22nd - 25th, 2013 Post #3416

[tksbaskets]

Hope you and your DA are having a blast! What a line.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Long lines!

 

[Wonder2008]

I was following along with your posts during the 2011 D23 Expo. Those of us who can not be at the expo really appareciate these pictures. Please keep them coming!

Robert

 

[Minnie Sue Oz]

Hi Bret!

I have been a long time reader of your reports and I love them all! I am so very happy you are going to the D23 Expo again and I must say that living over here in Australia, I sure am envious of all the time you get to spend at Disneyland!

Thank you so very much for doing a live report and I will be following along and I can't wait to see all your pics and hear all about it.
I am hoping to get over for an Expo one year, it would be such a thrill!

Hope you have fun and I look forward to seeing all your purchases!

 

[ACDSNY]

Wow those are long lines.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Love live Bret. I'm in. Enjoy.

Thank you Jenny. Today was a wild day at the D23 Expo.

Hope you and your DA are having a blast! What a line.

Thank you TK. The line was quite long for the D23 Members line. Just around 6am, the line was long and I would have guess that the people that were in front of us came as early at 3am as I have heard. This was just only the D23 members line where the D23 Arena line was busy as well this morning.

Long lines!

The line was quite long that morning.

I was following along with your posts during the 2011 D23 Expo. Those of us who can not be at the expo really appareciate these pictures. Please keep them coming!

Robert

Hi Robert. It is nice to hear from you again and thanks for following along my past trip reports. I hope you enjoy the pictures and details of the D23 Expo trip.

Hi Bret!

I have been a long time reader of your reports and I love them all! I am so very happy you are going to the D23 Expo again and I must say that living over here in Australia, I sure am envious of all the time you get to spend at Disneyland!

Thank you so very much for doing a live report and I will be following along and I can't wait to see all your pics and hear all about it.
I am hoping to get over for an Expo one year, it would be such a thrill!

Hope you have fun and I look forward to seeing all your purchases!

Hi Minnie Sue Oz,

I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying all my different trip reports. It is very nice to go back to the D23 Expo this year. I was hoping that the D23 Expo would have more interesting screenings to see. But there are a few that I am interested in seeing. I will get to the details later on during the live updates.

Your welcome and glad that you are following along. This will be a very interesting Expo to see all the different screenings, shopping and interaction at different pavilions. I believe the Disney will have a D23 Expo in Japan in October. I'm hoping that you will be able to attend a D23 Expo in the future.

Thank you and we will try to have a great time.

Wow those are long lines.

The lines were quite long that morning but it was later that day in the Expo where the lines were just as long as well.


Hi everyone.

I just got back from the D23 Expo today. My DA and I did quite a lot that day. Here is a quick update of what happened during the D23 Expo.

We got in the D23 Expo around 8:40am and we head on over to the Dream Store queue to go shopping. The line for the Dream Store was long that morning where we had to wait in another line to get into the store.

We were able to buy a lot of different merchandise at the Dream Store where I wanted to get limited edition pins which we were able to get that day. I thought that we wouldn't have a chance to get it that day with all the crowds. But we were able to get the pins that we wanted to get as well as different merchandise like shirts, hats, ears, etc.

After shopping at the Dream Store, we head on over to the StagePass area which is a station where you can get a StagePass which is like a Fastpass at the Disney parks where you are guarantee a spot for the screenings at the Expo. We got StagePass for Undiscovered Disneyland in Stage 23 at 12:30pm to 1:30pm. So we were guarantee a seat at that screening.

Our StagePass for the Undiscovered Disneyland screening

I am about to head to bed so I can get up early for the D23 Expo. So stay tune for more updates from the D23 Expo.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Seems like an intriguing list of sessions to head to.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Seems like an intriguing list of sessions to head to.

It was intriguing the first part of the morning and I will get to back to what happen yesterday since I am waiting outside back in the D23 members line this morning where my DA is in the D23 Arena line for the "Let the Adventure Begin: Live Action at the Walt Disney Studios" while I am going to do some shopping at the "Mickey's of Glendale" store since we didn't have time to get in due to the long queue.

Back to the update forms yesterday when I didn't finish it since I went to bed last night.

After getting the StagePass, we head on over towards the Parks and Resorts pavilion which is called "Journey into Imagineering". We didn't go in the queue for the Mickey's if Glendale store since it head a long queue so we didn't stop at the store and head on over to see the pavilion.

When we got inside, there were a lot of different stations to see from the R&D division, special effects, etc. ( I will get to the full details later on since this is a live update.)

A model of Disney Springs which will be renamed of DTD at WDW.

Mymagic+ room

Spaceship Earth Early Concept Model

This was very interesting at pavilion which as the El Fortuno AA which interacts with the guest.

The Land Pavilion Early Concept Model

We didn't stay too long in the pavilion since we need to drop off the merchandise bags that we bought earlier that day since they were getting a little heavy. So we head on out of the D23 Expo around 11:15 pm.

When we drop off the bags at our hotel, we head on back to the Anaheim Convention Center to the D23 Expo.

But before we heads on back in the Expo when we were walking down, it was lunch time for the two of us around noon. Instead of eating inside the ACC, we went outside right between the two hotels which had a few food trucks. It was neat that there were different food trucks outside of the ACC where there is a different way to eat then inside. We had lunch at this food truck called "Barcelona Onthego". It was neat to have food at a food truck during the Expo where we didn't have to eat inside like the lag two Expos.

Barcelona Onthego food truck

I had the USDA Prime Top Sirloin & Fries with Chimichurriwhike my DA had a grilled chicken sandwich.

When we finished, it was around 12:25pm and we had to get back in the Expo to see the 12:30pm screening of Undiscovered Disneyland. I thought that we won't make it since we got there late even though we had a StagePass for the screening at Stage 23.

We had to get on the third floor of the ACC since that is where Stage 23 is located. It was two minutes after 12:30pm and the standby people were entering Stage 23 and I thought we wouldn't make it. But when we talked to a staff member outside if we could get in sine we had a StagePass, they let us in which was very nice. We were like one of the last people to enter Stage 23 with a StagePass.

My DA thought that this was going to be a replay of the Undiscovered Disneyland that we saw at the 2011 Expo and hope that it wasn't going to be the same and be different. Tony Baxter and Josh Shipley were the presenters for the screening. They talked about a lot of old attractions and lands at DL from Holidayland and the Mickey Mouse Club Circus. They also showed vintage Christmas pictures and floats. We got to see a different show which was very nice to see instead of the LSAT time when we saw this screening.

During the end of the screening, Tom Staggs President of Parks and Resorts made an unexpected appearance during the screening and made a announcement. He told everyone during the screening that Tony Baxter will be getting a window t MS which was a great honor for him. I knew that one day that Tony will get a window at DL one day and everyone was glad to hear it at the screening. Tom Staggs announce that three lucky people at the screening will be going to the ceremony and they were happy as well.

When we got out of Stage 23, we head on back down towards the lower level to see the movie "Planes" at the D23 Arena. This was one of the screenings that my DA wants to see.

But before we head on over to get in line for the D23 Arena, we head on over to the StagePass area to get another set of StagePass for "Pixar: Doing our Homework" at Stage 28 at 6pm to 7pm.

After getting the StagePass, we head on over to the queue for the D23 Arena for Planes. Luckily for us there was aren't anyone in the line for the Planes movie. While we were in the line, the guests that watched "Art and Imagination: at the Walt Disney Studios" just ended. I hard from the staff that the screening was way behind and ended very late just close to the Planes screening.

We head on in the D23 Arena after the last seminar and we had a good spot to watch the movie that day.

Before the movie started we got to see Klay Hall director of Planes and Traci Balthazor-Flynn prouder of Planes made an appearance and talk about the making of Planes.

Also made an appearance was Dane Cook the voice of Dusty Crophopper.

That will be it for now and I will have more updates from the Expo since I am about to enter the ACC. I won't get to the details of the movie but it was a very nice Pixar movie. I am a fan of Cars and this was very nice to watch at the D23 Expo.

 

[franandaj]

I'm impressed Brett that you have had time to update. I'm in line waiting for the show floor to open and we are going directly to the imagineering pavilion.

 

[tksbaskets]

Great updates! So Planes is worth going to the theater to see? I'm still having flashbacks to Cars 2 which was underwhelming except for the Toy Story Short at the beginning.

Looks like you are having fun!

 

[mvf-m11c]

I'm impressed Brett that you have had time to update. I'm in line waiting for the show floor to open and we are going directly to the imagineering pavilion.

Hi Alison,

I had some time this morning waiting in the D23 members line and I brought out my iPad and do a quick update from yesterday while I'm waiting. I'm in the wait queue to get into the Mickey's of Glendale store to buy my merchandise which I didn't get to do yesterday. My DA lined up for the D23 Arena so you might see her inside.

Great updates! So Planes is worth going to the theater to see? I'm still having flashbacks to Cars 2 which was underwhelming except for the Toy Story Short at the beginning.

Looks like you are having fun!

Thank you TK. I heard that Planes is good and got bad reviews before the movie came out. I am a Cars fan and we both enjoyed the movie. I think that it is worth seeing if you are a Cars fan. If not I would wait till later when it comes out on blu ray.

A note when we were in the Arena yesterday that the arena was not even filled up during the screening which was kind of a shocker.

We are having a great time and hope to see more later today.

 

[ACDSNY]

Great updates! Looks like you having fun.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Great update. Love the food truck and the fact that there were snippets of Planes. I saw the trailers in the cinemas and thought it looked remarkably like a "take-off" of Cars. It certainly didn't inspire me to go see it.

 

[rentayenta]

Great update.

I think Planes looks really good but I loved Cars.

Lunch looks delicious.

My Chloe would have flipped over the Kingdom Keepers event. She loves the books.

 

[Wonder2008]

I'm looking at your pictures from the Journey Into Imagineering pavilion while watching D23's Twitter feed from the Richard Sherman / Alan Menken concert. I got to see Richard Sherman perform at WDW at D23's Destination D in 2011, and I'll never forget it. Seeing Alan Menken remains a goal of mine!

It looks like those Stage Passes are pretty useful. Is it hard to get one? How long are the lines to get one?

Thank you for those pictures from the Imagineering pavilion. If I were there, I'd probably spend a lot of time in that area!

Thank you again for your great pictures and live updates!

Robert

 

[mvf-m11c]

Great updates! Looks like you having fun.

Thank you Angela. We are all having a great time at the D23 Expo these first two days which we got to do a lot of screenings and shopping.

Great update. Love the food truck and the fact that there were snippets of Planes. I saw the trailers in the cinemas and thought it looked remarkably like a "take-off" of Cars. It certainly didn't inspire me to go see it.

Thank you PiO. The food was really nice that afternoon where you have the options of eating at someplace else then inside the Anaheim Convention Center. We had a fun time watching Planes. You are right that it is a sky version of Cars 1 where it is a racing movie.

Great update.

I think Planes looks really good but I loved Cars.

Lunch looks delicious.

My Chloe would have flipped over the Kingdom Keepers event. She loves the books.

Thank you Jenny.

Planes is a good movie. Just like you I will enjoy Cars more over Planes.

The food at the food truck was nice and it was nice to have something different instead of the food at the ACC.

I bet your daughter would have a great time at the D23 Expo and I would recommend that you should consider it in 2015. With all the screenings, pavilions, shopping and exhibits, it is a fun event to attend. The only downside is the waiting for screenings, shopping, etc. during the Expo. But it is getting better and better after each Expo with the StagePass where'd you are guarantee a spot for a screening at Stage 23 or 28.

I'm looking at your pictures from the Journey Into Imagineering pavilion while watching D23's Twitter feed from the Richard Sherman / Alan Menken concert. I got to see Richard Sherman perform at WDW at D23's Destination D in 2011, and I'll never forget it. Seeing Alan Menken remains a goal of mine!

It looks like those Stage Passes are pretty useful. Is it hard to get one? How long are the lines to get one?

Thank you for those pictures from the Imagineering pavilion. If I were there, I'd probably spend a lot of time in that area!

Thank you again for your great pictures and live updates!

Robert

Journey Into Imagineering pavilion is a great pavilion that they added for this years D23 Expo. It is completely different then the last two Parks and Resorts pavilion and this one is a great success where the lines have been long from morning to night. We got to see the Richard M. Sherman and Alan Menken: Te Disney Songbook event last might and it was amazing. The event went one hour over its scheduled time where we didn't get out until 9pm last night. Richard and Alan singing all the classic songs from the movies and attractions was a real treat. That is neat that you got to see Richard perform at Destination D at WDW. I hope you get to seeAlan Menken one day.

The StagePass are very useful this year where it is being used for the first time at the D23 Expo. Getting StagePass aren't that hard to get which they are just like getting a FP at the Disney parks and you come back at the schedule time. But getting the StagePass means a long wait line where if you want to see a specific screening you have to get the StagePass queue for a StagePass. We only used it twice during the trip where we didn't use it yesterday sine we were mostly in the D23 Arena for the Disnry Legends Ceremony and the Sherman/Menken event.

Glad that you are enjoying the pictures from the Expo. This is only the fit was and when I get back to Sacramento, I will upload all the pictures from the trip and yu an see the pictures at my Flickr page.

Your welcome.

I will have a quick update where I left off from Friday.

 

[mvf-m11c]

A quick update while my DA and I are waiting outside to get into the D23Expo for the last day. It is sad that it is the last day for this years Expo and we will be spending much of the day today seeing different screenings. I will write it up later on what we are planning to see but here is a recap on Friday that I left off.

After the Planes screenings and left the D23 Arena, we had some time until we need to head on over to our next screening which was Pixar: Dong Our Homework. We had some time to kill until the screening so we head on over to the Collector Area to see all the different exhibitors stands.

When we got to the area, I ran into Alison (franandaj) in the area. It was nice to see her again sine the last time I had seen her was during the Cars Land preview from last year. My DA and I have a nice talk with her about the Expo and different events that we all did. She and Fran had the Sorcerers package which got them a lot of great benefits during the Expo over the other people. I really wanted to do the Sorcerer package but it does come with a high price. I wasn't willing to do it this year but now after this Expo we might consider it next year. I'll get to that later sine it is all about this trip.

When I talked to her that test, she and Fran saw the Art and Animation: Animation at the Walt Disney Studios went at the D23 Arena while we were I the Dream Store that morning and asked her what we have missed. She told us that Angelina Jolie is playing Malificent in Disney's Malificent which was neat and all ten different movies that are coming up. We told her that we saw the Undiscovered Disneyland screening when she was I the Arena and told her that it was a great screening as well as Tony Baxter getting a window on MS. it was very nice to hear from Alison about the event that we missed that morning as well as the event that we attended.

We talked about the silent auctions at this years Expo and she told me that Fran really wants this Si and Am statue. Alison told me that she will even miss the D23 Legends Ceremony on Saturday in order to get the statues. (Alison - I did see you in the Sorcerer line when the line when we were moving to go into the Arena for the Disney Legends Ceremony and I don't think I saw Fran with you.)

After we parted ways while Alison was looking for Fran, we went over to the showroom floor where they had some of the silent auctions.

Monsters Inc. Ride vehicle

This was by far my favorite the original Matterhorn Mountain Bobsled. I remember the price that Friday at that which the auction was over on Saturday and it was around $12,000.

It was almost the to head on over to Stage 28 on the second floor to see the Pixar: Doing Our Homework screening so we head on over to Stage 28.

When we got to the second floor, we about 40 minutes until the screening started, so we head on over to the other silent auction room which is in the second floor which had other items that re up for bidding.

When we got in the room and looking around, we got to see Alison again and we talked about the different items that were for sale including the Si and Am statue that Fran wants. Here are some pictures of the different times that were up for auction. These are not all the pictures front eh upstairs silent auto. A I will post them later on when we get back.

A Disneyland Parks sign which was one of my favorites at the silent auction upstairs

The construction wall panels that were up during Buena Vista Street construction which had the classic Disney characters.

Toy Story Midway Mania Construction Panels

Tiki Room Collector Pin set during the 50th Anniversary which happened a couple of months ago.

Flo's V8 Cafe sign

Si and Am prop set that Fran wants to get

It was time to head on over to Stage 28 for the Pixar: Doing Out Homework screening which was about to start at 10 minutes. It was a good thing that we had the StagePass so we wouldn't have to wait for hours in a regular standby queue just to see.

We only had to wait about 10 minutes to get into Stage 28 and we got good seating.

The Pixar people that speak during the screening were Katherine Sarafian, Andrew Stanton, Lindsey Collins, Denise Ream, Jonas Rivera and Pete Docter talking about the researching of traveling the globe to make the movie scenes. I will get the details later on.

After Pixar: Doing Our Homework, it was almost time when they D23 Arena was going to close at 7pm. We tried t head on over to the Mickeys of Glendale store or Dream Store to buy last second items, but they weren't let any other people enter rather lines. So we decided to head on out of the D23 Expo since it is about to close.

So my DA and I head out of the ACC and back to our room at BW Stovall's.

We got back to Stovall's around 7:30pm and we had dinner at Marri's pizza parlor which is close to the hotel. It was nice for a change to have dinner in the room instead of eating at the park or restaurant.

When we had pizza for dinner and we finished around 8:30pm, I decided to head on over to DL that night to watch Magical fireworks at 9:30pm. Originally I wasn't even planning on going to the parks sine we just got back from the Expo that night but I just cant stay away from DL.

I just took my DSLR and tripod to get firework trails of Magical where I haven't done firework trails for quite some time.

I got to DL around 9:10pm that night with 20 minutes to go until Magical started. I was in between the Coke Corner and the PhotoPass building on Main Street. This was she closest I could get on MS sine there were a lot of people around the Hub. So this was a decent spot to watch Magical that night. Here are some pics of the firework trails of Magical on Friday night.

This is a start until when I get back and will show more of the firework trails of Magical.

After it was over, I left the park and got back to BW Stovall's. called it for the night and this concludes the quick update on the first day at the D23 Expo.

I will have more later on during the day.

 

[kmedina]

What an eventful day! I told Crap we had to go next year. He started looking into it and said it looked boring. Maybe, I will go alone while he takes the boys to the parks. What he considers boring, I think I will find fun. It is also cool that you had more DISmeets.

 

[tksbaskets]

What a fun looking day! I smiled when I saw the great firework pictures. I would have had a hard time not going to DL too.

It was nice to see all the auction items. It's nice to dream about having that Disneyland Parks sign in my basement. More money than I could spend I'm sure

Thanks for sharing!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Nice firework trails, Bret!


Love the pictures of the stuff for auction. Si and Am are cute but if I had the space (and the money$$$), I think I'd go with the bobsleigh myself.