I have to admit. When I began to plan this blog post, I had a completely different direction was going to go in. But after my first visit to the D23 expo this weekend, the direction has changed.
I’ll just get it out of the way now and let you know that my experience didn’t go the way I had hoped it would. Maybe I did it wrong? I dunno. I’m hoping the readers of this blog can help me figure it out.
If you haven’t been to the D23 Expo, its held every other year in Anaheim, CA at the convention center. It’s the ultimate Disney fan event. D23 is the official Disney fan club. It began in 2009 and has blossomed into a massive group of Disney enthusiasts. Membership is required and open to anyone. They offer different levels of memberships – some of which cost money. Since I live in southern California now, and because I’m a member, it was a no brainer – I needed to go.
I’ll admit – with a hectic schedule, the only day I could go for sure was Sunday. I figured that it would be a little less crowded and I’d have more opportunity to experience the expo.
Photo courtesy of InsidetheMagic.net
The entire weekend is filled with all things Disney from Pixar to Star Wars and everything Disney pop culture related. Set up of the “exhibits” are done big and exceed most “comic con” events in my opinion. There are celebrity signings, animation and event panels, concerts and shopping options. Sunday couldn’t come fast enough!
Let me take a quick step back and give you some of the awesomeness (announcements) that came out of the Disney parks panel event that occurred on Sunday. These announcements only fueled my excitement for Sunday’s adventure! I think we can all admit that we LOVE Disney parks and the changes (some of which have been in the works already) are very exciting. USAtoday.com did a great job at laying out all of the announcements. (https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2017/07/18/disney-parks-d-23-expo-announcements-new-rides/489404001/)
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
We’ve known for a while that new 14-acre Star Wars-themed lands would be coming to both Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. The expo revealed models of the highly anticipated lands and more details, including that they would be named Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Both will open in 2019, with the California version debuting first. Visitors will be able to interact with characters such as Kylo Ren and BB-8, dine at the Cantina, and otherwise geek out in the highly immersive, sci-fi havens.
Star Wars-themed hotel
For those who just can’t get enough of the galaxy far, far away, Disney World visitors will soon be able to sleep among wookies and Jedi knights. Calling it Disney’s “most experiential concept ever,” Chapek announced that a new Star Wars-themed luxury resort will invite guests on a multi-day voyage aboard a starship. Every window, the parks chairman promised, will have a view of space.
Epcot makeover
Epcot, which opened in 1982 and has been showing its age, will be getting a lot of Imagineering love. In its initial inception, the park struck a serious tone and had an edutainment focus geared largely to adults. The company plans to continue injecting more whimsy into Epcot.
- Guardians of the Galaxy attraction
A new E-Ticket attraction based on the popular Marvel franchise will take over Ellen’s Energy Adventure in the former Universe of Energy pavilion. - Ratatouille attraction
Coming to the France pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase, the new ride will be based on the popular Disneyland Paris attraction. That 4D ride shrinks visitors down to the size of Remy, the gourmet chef who happens to be a rat, and sends them on an adventure using sophisticated trackless vehicles. - New mission for Mission: Space
In addition to sending passengers on a mission to Mars (which will be getting new media), the Epcot attraction will offer a toned-down experience that will take guests on an orbital adventure above Earth. Younger kids will be able to blast off on the revamped ride, which will reopen later this summer. - Space-themed restaurant
Next to Mission: Space, Epcot will be adding a table-service restaurant that will transport diners to a space station high above Earth. It promises to have great views. - New film for the China pavilion
A new in-the-round movie about China will be presented at Epcot’s pavilion. It will use a new digital “Circle-Vision 360” film and projection system that will replace the circular theater’s multiple screens with one seamless screen and image.Magic Kingdom Additions - Tron ride
Next to the Star Wars-themed hotel, perhaps the most exciting new announcement made at the D23 Expo was about the Tron attraction coming to Tomorrowland in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. It will be based on Shanghai Disneyland’s Tron Lightcycle Power Run, which is arguably Disney’s most intense and best themed roller coaster. Using cycle-like cars, launched trains will blast riders into the videogame-like “Grid” of the films. - New theater and show
The Magic Kingdom will also be getting a new live show in a theater that will be based on an early 20th-century Kansas City playhouse. Located on Main Street, U.S.A., it will complement the area’s architecture and theme, which is tied to Walt Disney’s boyhood town.Hollywood Studios Additions - Toy Story Land
In addition to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge coming in 2019, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will open Toy Story Land in summer 2018. Capitalizing on the existing Toy Story Mania attraction, the land will invite visitors into Andy’s backyard for adventures among his playthings. It will include a new Alien Swirling Saucers ride featuring the green aliens from the movies. - Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
The curtain will come down on The Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In its place at the park’s centerpiece Chinese Theatre will be a new ride-through attraction based on the hip, retro-style Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts broadcast on the Disney Channel.According to Walt Disney Imagineering’s Kevin Rafferty, the E-Ticket ride will feature a “sing-able and lovable theme song” and will be presented in “2-and-a-half-D.” The breakthrough concept will present dimensional media without the need for 3-D glasses. He adds that passengers will step into the flat movie screen and onto a train – presumably a runaway locomotive – that will be operated by Goofy. - Disney Riviera Resort
A new Disney World hotel will be part of Disney Vacation Club, the company’s membership-based vacation ownership program. It will be located near Epcot. - Disney Skyliner gondolas
Moving visitors around the vast property has always been a challenge for Disney World. Instead of expanding the monorail system to address the need for more capacity, the resort is building a gondola system. It will connect Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios with some of the hotels near those parks (including the new Disney Riviera).Minnie Van service
Another new transportation option will move Disney World guests from door to door using “Minnie Vans” (great name!). They will use an Uber-like ride-hailing service.Disneyland Resort Additions/Changes - Marvel Land
The Guardians of the Galaxy ride that recently opened at Disney California Adventure will expand into a full-fledged Marvel Land. Chapek said that attractions based on The Avengers and Spider-Man will be part of the superhero mix. - Pixar Pier
With Cars Land, A Bug’s Land, and Turtle Talk with Crush, Pixar has long been prominently represented at Disney California Adventure. Soon, Paradise Pier, which is already home to Toy Story Midway Mania, will be transformed into Pixar Pier. The Incredibles and Inside Out will be added to the mix at the “seaside” boardwalk. - Pixar Fest
In 2018, Disneyland Resort will celebrate Pixar Fest. Disneyland Park will feature the returning Pixar Play Parade and a Pixar-themed fireworks and projection show, while Disney California Adventure will bring back the Paint the Night Parade.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see Toy Story land and the Skyliner system!
Ok, Back to my Sunday adventure…
I met up with fellow Disney enthusiast and friend Dave Koch He is one of the hosts of the Mickey Dudes Podcast. He was in for all 3 days and was lucky enough to attend the massive parks panel on Saturday. We headed over to the convention center around 7:45am (arrived around 8am) and worked our way to the line to get though security. The line started way past the convention center around to the old arena and Katella Ave and then weaved its way in a crazy fashion back to the entrance road from Harbor blvd. Luckily the line consistently moved and it only took about 45 minutes to get in. If you had looked at it, you would instantly think 2 hours.
The cast members kept the line to get in organized and fun. Kudos to them.
When we finally got in, the reality of the event set in. Big Elaborate set up but limited or no availability to experience. Those exhibits that you didn’t need a “pass” for had lines that rivaled opening day Guardians of the Galaxy/Pandora wait times.
One of the most popular exhibits this year was the Scrooge McDuck Money Bin where you could jump into the money just like he did. Nope, not for me. Apparently they gave out all of the wristbands, tickets or passes for the money bin in less than 30 minutes after the expo opened. Keep in mind that the event lasted from 9am to 7pm and we were inside by 9:25am
Photo courtesy of D23.com
Ok.. sad but lets see what else we can go do…
Sign after sign and announcement after announcement, all passes have been distributed for the day. You even needed a pass to go to the Disney Dream Store but you had to come back later in the day.
What did I get to see?
There was a gorgeous model of what Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will look like when completed. It looked amazing and only took 30 minutes to get through the line.
Dr. Dan of Dancakes was at the expo. Dancakes is pancake art and he does an amazing job. We watched him start a “Sleeping Beauty’s castle” pancake but moved on hoping to see the final product later on. I can’t find a photo but here is one of Genie from Aladdin that he did.
Photo courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/drdancake
There was a large section of Disney art, pins and collectible re-sellers that really didn’t seem to have much of a crowd on one side of the convention floor. We got to walk around – Some neat items but I wasn’t in the market.
All in all, I left feeling like I got no value for the $72 ticket. I feel like there is too much demand with too little opportunity. How do you get around that? There was zero chance I was going to arrive on site at 4:30am like some did for Saturday’s panels. If that is the level of dedication required to fully experience D23, then its just not for me.
What do you think I could have done to experience more of what the 2017 D23 Expo had to offer?
