KingdomofDreams
Well-Known Member
I love it! Perfect for the theme of BVS and the new DCA park. :sohappy:
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LIVE Top News Aggregation from the D23 Expo!
- Thread starter WDWFigment
- Start date
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Yes, but Parks & Resorts Day was Friday, with the big Tom Staggs keynote presentation in the Anaheim Arena. The crowds were big on Friday, and Disneyland fans left quite happy, but the Friday crowds were nothing compared to Saturday.
Saturday was Disney Studios and Pixar Day, with those teams taking up presentations and big announcements in the Anaheim Arena. And this was the result on Saturday...
August, 2011 010 by TP1985, on Flickr
All the streets around Disneyland and leading to the Anaheim Convention Center had signs alerting people of the Sold Out status, trying to get those without tickets to turn around. The Anaheim Convention Center filled all of their parking lots on Saturday, and Disneyland parking lots were near capacity as well, even though both parks had relatively light crowds (I only waited 3 minutes for Casey Jr. and Pirates of the Caribbean today at Noon, for instance).
There is a great deal more to D23 Expo besides theme park announcements, and Florida-related theme park announcements at that. If anything, D23 Expo really seems to have come into its own this time around, with obviously larger crowds, a noticeable buzz and strong overall vibe around Anaheim. Sunday is the big Marvel Comics day, with more info from John Lasseter presentations about Cars Land details and such.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Wow! Talk about a total and dramatic makeover for DCA's entrance area and opening act! Buena Vista Street is going to be the sleeper hit of 2012 I think, even though Cars Land is the headliner for next summer.
Disney Geek/D23 Expo Moment O' The Day: I just returned from dinner with friends at McCormick & Schmicks at Anaheim GardenWalk. And who sat down at a big table for 12 right in the middle of the dining room for cocktails and a late supper as we were getting ready to leave???.... Tony Baxter, Lisa Girolami, and several other Imagineers that I recognized their faces but couldn't place the names, obviously fresh from D23 Expo. They were all in great spirits, with lots of happy chatter going on at the table. It was kind of exciting to see Tony Baxter and a big gaggle of succesful Imagineers all out celebrating in Anaheim over drinks and good dinner. Fun! :sohappy:
trr1
Well-Known Member
when they open Buena Vista Street will they put a big Sorcerers hat pin shop in front on the Carthay Theater in the hub(circle )
http://www.flickr.com/photos/insidethemagic/6062935339/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/insidethemagic/6062935339/in/photostream
TP2000
Well-Known Member
You march right upstairs to your room, Mister Smartypants, and don't come down until you can apologize for what you just said!
That's pretty cool. At Destination D (Florida) Tony Baxter sat two seats away from us during the presentations (the ONLY advantage to sitting in the back!). At one point, he fell asleep!
RSoxNo1
Well-Known Member
Here's some of my own coverage from the Expo from Friday and Saturday. Our Podcast this week is the full panel from "Legends of Imagineering"
8/19 Trip Report (Part 1)
8/19 Trip Report (Part 2)
8/19 Trip Report (Part 3)
8/20 Trip Report
Episode #089 - Legends of Imagineering
8/19 Trip Report (Part 1)
8/19 Trip Report (Part 2)
8/19 Trip Report (Part 3)
8/20 Trip Report
Episode #089 - Legends of Imagineering
TP2000
Well-Known Member
^^ Great coverage and info! Thanks for sharing.
Here's some more BIG NEWS that is just coming in... I have had my late Sunday breakfast on the patio and I am now dressed and about to drive over to Anaheim to attend the D23 Expo for the first time this year! Wish me luck!
I'm going to try and take some photos, but I'm a horrible amateur. If I can get something halfway-decent, I'll post it later tonight. :wave:
Here's some more BIG NEWS that is just coming in... I have had my late Sunday breakfast on the patio and I am now dressed and about to drive over to Anaheim to attend the D23 Expo for the first time this year! Wish me luck!
I'm going to try and take some photos, but I'm a horrible amateur. If I can get something halfway-decent, I'll post it later tonight. :wave:
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Just got back from the D23 Expo!
It was very busy, and I had to skip the Walt Disney Archives exhibit because the one hour line to get in to that exhibit was just too long. But the exhibit halls were great, and the Parks & Resorts Pavilion and their Carousel of Projects was worth the price of admission alone.
Here's a few shots of things I hadn't really seen elsewhere...
On the floor of Exhibit Hall B they had some cars sent down by the Disney Archives, and the one that caught my eye was the big 1962 Cadillac Limousine that Walt used for special occasions from '62 until his death in '66. This was the exact vehicle that Walt and Mrs. Disney rode in to the Chinese Theater for the Hollywood premiere of Mary Poppins in August, 1964. Neat!
On to the Carousel of Projects! They were able to load about 100+ people into the theater every few minutes, so the line moved quickly.
A really neat model of the completed Buena Vista Street entrance complex at DCA, debuting next summer!
And finally, a nifty model of Shanghai Disneyland that was "animated" by digital projections.
Overall, a busy but fun afternoon roaming the exhibit halls of the D23 Expo! Special thanks needs to go to all the warm and chatty Imagineers staffing the Parks & Resorts Pavilion. They are just so proud of their work (and rightly so), and it's so nice to be able to speak with these creative folks who are working on all of these big things coming to Disney theme parks around the world!
For instance, when I was studying the HUGE New Fantasyland model a very nice young lady Imagineer came up to me and asked if I'd like a New Fantasyland postcard, which was oversized on heavy cardstock,and I was thrilled to receive. I asked "So, when does this open?", and she then proceeded to walk me from one side of the model to the other explaining the "phasing" (her words) of the project and how certain things like Little Mermaid would be opening first around "Thanksgiving of 2012", and then on through the final opening of the Seven Dwarves Mine Train that she said would be opening in "early spring of 2014". So there you go, right from the Imagineers mouth!
What a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon. :sohappy:
It was very busy, and I had to skip the Walt Disney Archives exhibit because the one hour line to get in to that exhibit was just too long. But the exhibit halls were great, and the Parks & Resorts Pavilion and their Carousel of Projects was worth the price of admission alone.
Here's a few shots of things I hadn't really seen elsewhere...
On the floor of Exhibit Hall B they had some cars sent down by the Disney Archives, and the one that caught my eye was the big 1962 Cadillac Limousine that Walt used for special occasions from '62 until his death in '66. This was the exact vehicle that Walt and Mrs. Disney rode in to the Chinese Theater for the Hollywood premiere of Mary Poppins in August, 1964. Neat!
On to the Carousel of Projects! They were able to load about 100+ people into the theater every few minutes, so the line moved quickly.
A really neat model of the completed Buena Vista Street entrance complex at DCA, debuting next summer!
And finally, a nifty model of Shanghai Disneyland that was "animated" by digital projections.
Overall, a busy but fun afternoon roaming the exhibit halls of the D23 Expo! Special thanks needs to go to all the warm and chatty Imagineers staffing the Parks & Resorts Pavilion. They are just so proud of their work (and rightly so), and it's so nice to be able to speak with these creative folks who are working on all of these big things coming to Disney theme parks around the world!
For instance, when I was studying the HUGE New Fantasyland model a very nice young lady Imagineer came up to me and asked if I'd like a New Fantasyland postcard, which was oversized on heavy cardstock,and I was thrilled to receive. I asked "So, when does this open?", and she then proceeded to walk me from one side of the model to the other explaining the "phasing" (her words) of the project and how certain things like Little Mermaid would be opening first around "Thanksgiving of 2012", and then on through the final opening of the Seven Dwarves Mine Train that she said would be opening in "early spring of 2014". So there you go, right from the Imagineers mouth!
What a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon. :sohappy:
KingdomofDreams
Well-Known Member
Thanks to everyone for sharing the news, pics and individual experiences from Anaheim!
I'm perplexed by the loooong timeline for the FLE project completion. We're still looking at over a year until Mermaid opens?... and 2014 for the mine train? Sheesh.....
But on the upside, at least things are moving along quickly in DCA! Can't wait to stroll down BVS for the first time.
I'm perplexed by the loooong timeline for the FLE project completion. We're still looking at over a year until Mermaid opens?... and 2014 for the mine train? Sheesh.....
But on the upside, at least things are moving along quickly in DCA! Can't wait to stroll down BVS for the first time.
AEfx
Well-Known Member
And yet they built the entirety of Disneyland in a year.
Has anyone compiled a list of what was actually announced? I've gone through these threads and it's very hard to tell exactly what was factually announced. I'd love a bullet-ed list if anyone knows where one can be found.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
I assume you are speaking of things that were announced this weekend that we hadn't heard of before? (At least not officially, from Disney.)
It's a short list, really. In the last 72 hours since the D23 Expo opened we've had the following new announcements for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts;
- Jolly Holiday Bakery replacing Plaza Pavilion and opening Summer '12, and major Re-Imagineering of the northwest block of Main Street USA at Disneyland
- Fantasy Faire medieval village Princess activity/performance area replacing Plaza Gardens at Disneyland
- Club 33 "expansion" mentioned by Tom Staggs and Disneyland President George Kalogridis on Friday in the Anaheim Arena with "more details to come in 2012", but more accurately described by Al Lutz in several Miceage updates in the last few months as a private membership club housed in the Carthay Circle Theater restaurant and lounge, with an additional lounge on the ground floor open to the general public
Yeah, all the new stuff anounced at D23 Expo is coming to Anaheim in 2012; either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure.
Uh, other than those three things being announced this weekend, most of the rest of D23 Expo was just additional imagery and details of previously announced projects already under major construction; New Fantasyland, Shanghai Disneyland, Cars Land, and Buena Vista Street.
A really good YouTube video of Tom Staggs presentation at D23 Expo with these updates is found here.... http://www.youtube.com/user/thebugger2000#p/u/18/HqgHbgMn_K0
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TP2000
Well-Known Member
PR Nightmare? They sold a lot more tickets this year than they did in '09, they even sold out entirely on Saturday, and here in SoCal the local press has been very positive.
And now there's strong rumors going around on the Disneyland boards tonight that Disney is about to announce D23 Expo 2013 coming back to the Anaheim Convention Center, building on the big success of 2011.
Only for those folks who are exclusively fans of WDW and no other Disney property or division, and who had expected some big SURPRISE! announcement of a new E Ticket in DAK or a new Pavilion in Epcot or a new coaster in DHS or a newly-new vision for Downtown Disney was the D23 Expo a "PR nightmare". Most other Disney fans left the Expo quite happy and satisfied and entertained. I know I certainly did!
Speaking of entertaining, here's that very nice 4 by 10 inch New Fantasyland postcard the nice young lady Imagineer gave me this afternoon, before she walked me around the entire model explaining the phasing and opening timetable for the project.
And tonight as I was pouring over all my Swag and freebies and souvenirs I picked up at the Expo, I was looking through the big 135 page glossy D23 Expo Guidebook they gave out as you entered.
In the back, on pages 126-127, they listed all the folks who helped stage the Expo. And there was a special blurb about the "Executives" that also helped. And the list is pretty much a who's-who from Burbank, the Studios, Imagineering, Pixar and TDA. But not a soul from TDO or any WDW properties. Disneyland President George Kalogridis is listed there, and George even shared the stage with Tom Staggs for the big Parks & Resorts presentation on Friday. But no mention of Al Weiss, Meg Crofton, or any of the WDW execs from the parks or TDO.
Now that's just weird, isn't it? :veryconfu
Honestly TDO execs, there are a dozen non-stop flights per day to SoCal from Orlando. The company would pay for it, and your contract probably specifies First Class air travel for even the Vice President levels. And the August weather here is fabulous compared to Orlando. A little vacation would do you good TDO! You could even ride that Mermaid attraction you are getting next Christmas. No? Busy around the house this weekend? Oh well, it would've been fun. :lookaroun
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AEfx
Well-Known Member
Thanks, that's what I thought. I was looking for something that didn't exist (though to be honest I didn't expect it to). With all the chatter, I had since assumed there was more than that, but thanks for the summary.
Have they actually released the numbers? It may be true, I wasn't there so I wouldn't know, but just because it sold out doesn't mean the same amount of tickets were for sale this time to compare it to. I'd be curious to see the numbers.
:sohappy: to the bolded. Seriously, guys, Disney owns more than just Walt Disney World. Crazy concept, but just because nothing new is announced for that particular resort at the Company-wide expo doesn't mean it was a PR nightmare. I'd really like to know where you guys are reading this negative press about the D23 Expo. Seriously.
I'm guessing it was from other WDW-only fans who weren't there (they'd never fly to California, after all!). I've talked to a lot of people who were actually there, and the biggest complaints I've heard of all relate to crowd-control.
Here's my recap of the top stories from the weekend--a lot of awesome videos: http://www.disneytouristblog.com/d23-expo-2011-news-recap/
Be sure to check out the Voices from the Parks video. I somehow overlooked this one earlier and stumbled upon it this morning. Wow, is it awesome!!!
I really hope the 2013 Expo is announced soon. I am not missing another Expo, that's for sure!
jt04
Well-Known Member
I think people are comparing to the D23 from two years ago. There was no Star Wars type announcement, no Johnny Depp in character, no amazing never-before-seen FLE artwork. Instead of Jack Sparrow we got an out of character Billy Chrystal (there could have been a Laugh Floor type opening but we did not even get that from what I know). Iinstead of the massive FLE we got a pixie hollow-esque "princess faire" announcement and instead of a new attraction like Star Tours we got concept drawings of a park the vast majority of us will never visit.
Even the upcoming movies were not given titles.
Sorry, that just did not meet my expectations in any way and I can understand people being upset and calling it a PR nightmare. My only hope is that Meg or someone witheld the WDW announcements because they were tired of playing second fiddle to the DLR's priorities.
MKCP 1985
Well-Known Member
Ditto. To make 2013 more of a success, maybe they can book larger conference room space for the major presentations so that more attendees can attend.
If you are there and want to see, for example, the presentation by Parks and Resorts but get shut out due to capacity, what else is there to do during that block of time? The words I read from a friend in Saturday's attendance was "spend the day wandering aimlessly." :lookaroun
I wanted to attend this year's expo but couldn't make it. Likewise, I'd like to attend one someday (2013?) but would be seriously aggravated if I traveled all the way out there and had only the choices of standing in a line hours ahead of time hoping to get into the major presentation(s) or being relegated to seeing the walk through exhibits and vendor exhibits.
They brag about the Anaheim convention center being the largest on the west coast, so maybe they can dedicate more room to the auditorium space for these big ticket presentations next time.
Maybe they got surprised by the turnout, given the failure to sell out in the inaugural expo. There should be no surprises on the next time around.
If you're saying they set expectations too high with 2009, I agree. If you're saying that is the standard that should be met every Expo, I disagree. Look at all of the growth going on at the theme parks right now world-wide. You can't just keep announcing, announcing, announcing; building, building, building at that pace. Even though Disneyland is older, right now WDW is the only resort that has "matured." I would suspect that most new projects in WDW for a while won't be of the FLE scope, but will be of the Star Tours 2.0 scope.
I love WDW, don't get me wrong. I think, however, that it needs maintenance and attention to what it has rather than huge growth. The improvements it will receive aren't the "sexy" type of announcements. If you want to experience those big additions, you're going to have to visit Disneyland, Shanghai, or Hong Kong (and to a lesser extent, Paris). Those are the parks that have the company's attention right now. In my opinion, rightfully so as they need to establish themselves as tourist destinations (or, in Shanghai's case, "be built").
Ditto. To make 2013 more of a success, maybe they can book larger conference room space for the major presentations so that more attendees can attend.
If you are there and want to see, for example, the presentation by Parks and Resorts but get shut out due to capacity, what else is there to do during that block of time? The words I read from a friend in Saturday's attendance was "spend the day wandering aimlessly." :lookaroun
I wanted to attend this year's expo but couldn't make it. Likewise, I'd like to attend one someday (2013?) but would be seriously aggravated if I traveled all the way out there and had only the choices of standing in a line hours ahead of time hoping to get into the major presentation(s) or being relegated to seeing the walk through exhibits and vendor exhibits.
They brag about the Anaheim convention center being the largest on the west coast, so maybe they can dedicate more room to the auditorium space for these big ticket presentations next time.
Maybe they got surprised by the turnout, given the failure to sell out in the inaugural expo. There should be no surprises on the next time around.
If you're running a convention and your biggest problem is too much demand, you're in good shape. That said, it's still a problem. A huge problem.
Every single D23 event I've attended has had crowd management issues. This is something that definitely needs to be addressed for 2013's Expo. And with the resounding success of this year's Expo, with regard to the most important barometer of success: ticket sales, 2013's Expo is all but officially confirmed!
MKCP 1985
Well-Known Member
I like this suggestion from the blog response to Tom Staggs' "thank you" to those who attended the D23 Expo:
Remote viewing areas - brilliant!Jason said: