Starting today, Disney fans from around the world will be
pouring into the Anaheim Convention Center, eager to sample all of the wonders
that the Mouse will be unveiling at this year's D23 EXPO, that trade show /
Comic-Con clone that the Company presents biannually.
Photo by Jim Hill
"What sort of wonders?," you ask. These will range
from relatively intimate, heartfelt affairs — like that panel Disney author
Dave Bossert will be hosting today at 1:30 p.m. which then pays tribute to the
late Roy E. Disney — to celebrity-filled extravaganzas which will be presented
inside of the cavernous Anaheim Arena. Which is where Pixar Animation Studios,
Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures will all be offering
sneak peeks at upcoming projects at these elaborate presentations which will be
held today & on Saturday morning respectively.
The team from Freeman just finishing "kicking in the carpet" as Thursday night's D23
preview reception was getting underway. Photo by Jim Hill
Mind you, when there are 45,000 die-hard Disney fans who are
expected to take part in this three day-long event and your biggest onsite
venue only seats 4000, there are bound to be some people who get turned away.
So what has the Official Disney Fan Club done out ahead of this year's event in
an attempt to mitigate that disappointment? As Steven Clark — the Head of D23 —
explained in a recent interview, his organization has taken the lessons that it
learned at the first two EXPOs to heart. Which is why — for the third go-round
of this Ultimate Disney Fan Event — D23 has put a number of changes in place
that it hopes will lead to a better overall Guest experience for EXPO
attendees.
What sort of wonders await inside of the Imagineering pavilion? Photo by Jim Hill
"One of the great things about the team at D23 is we
really do listen to feedback from our members. This year we added a 2,000-seat
overflow theater for the D23 Expo Arena so a guest who may not make it into an
arena presentation will still be able to see these spectacular events such as
Disney Legends, the presentations from The Walt Disney Studios and 'The Disney
Songbook' concert with Richard Sherman and Alan Menken," Clark
stated."
Well, for starters, here's some examples of what the silhouettes of the forest of Pandora
will look like in James Cameron's World of Avatar. Photo by Jim Hill
"We also expanded the capacities for Stage 23 and Stage 28. To
help alleviate lines, we create StagePass this year, which works similar to
FASTPASS and will allow guests to pick up tickets for presentations in Stages
23 and 28. And we created a more dynamic D23 Expo mobile app with complete
schedules, talent bios, a show floor map, trivia and much more," Steven continued.
El Fortuno represents the next generation of Audio-Animatronics,
both with his fluid movements as well as his ability to have a
spontaneous, real-time conversation with Guests. Photo
by Jim Hill
So will these changes be enough to placate D23 members who
are among the most passionate & dedicated Disney fans on the planet? More
to the point, who were very quick to jump on Twitter & Facebook back in
2009 & 2011 and then complain bitterly about how they were being forced to
stand in lengthy queues in order to see a particular panel or presentation.
This is why Clark & his team decided to develope StagePass. Which will
allow event attendees to obtain free tickets that then guarantee them a spot in
many panels ahead of time. Provided — of course — that they actually show up
20 minutes ahead of when these presentations are supposed to begin.
Here's a great bit of Disney theme park history: The original maquettes for that trio of
hitchhiking ghosts which you see in the Haunted Mansion. Photo by Jim Hill
And once these D23 members no longer have to wait in
hours-long line in order to guarantee themselves a seat at a particular panel
or a presentation … Well, it's hoped that these people will now go off and
explore the show floor, where they'll then discover some of the real treasures
hidden there. Take — for example — the collector's forum, which is where much
beloved fan artists like James Silvani and Amy Mebberson will be selling prints
and doing sketches over the course of the show.
And speaking of ghosts, how about a full-sized Audio-animatronic
figure of the Haunted Mansion's most infamous ghoul, the
Hatbox Ghost? Photo by Jim Hill
Of course, if you're really looking to make the most of your time during
this three day long event, Clark suggests that you plan
ahead. Take advantage of the EXPO schedule which D23 has posted online as well
as that free D23 mobile app to then form some sort of strategy when it comes to
which presentations you really, really need to see and which panels you can
then take a pass on.
Be sure and go upstairs to check out the "Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives"
exhibit. Which includes such amazing pieces as the original storyboards for
"Mary Poppins" Jolly Holiday sequence. Photo by Jim Hill
Just please keep in mind that the D23 EXPO is a dynamic event
and its schedule in ever-changing. Take — for example — that "Marvel's
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." screening which will now help close out the show
on Sunday afternoon. The screening of this highly anticipated ABC pilot was
only just added to the EXPO's schedule this past Tuesday.
There's also some great fan-produced art up in this area. Including this
spectacular dimensional piece, "Raspberry Ice, Cakes and Tea" by
Britni Brault of Dana Point, CA. Photo by Jim Hill
So with the help of StagePass and that new mobile app, Clark
& his team are hoping that the third time really will be the charm for the
D23 EXPO. Which officially gets underway today at 8:30
a.m. out on the Grand Plaza
in front of the Anaheim Convention
Center. Which is when Disney will be unveiling Dr.
Doofenshmirtz's most evil "inator" yet, the Waffle-inator.
If you're going to see all of the amazing things that are
currently on display at the D23 EXPO, you're going to
really need to get a head start (Sorry. Couldn't
resist). Photo by Jim Hill
Yes. You read that right. A Waffle-inator. Ask your family's
resident "Phineas & Ferb"
fan. They'll be able to explain it to you.
The Waffle-inator was still under wraps as the D23 EXPO's preview reception drew to
a close last night. Photo by Jim Hill
Your thoughts?