LIVE Top News Aggregation from the D23 Expo!

[MKCP 1985]

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).

Perhaps you should broaden your perspective.

Billy Crystal was only one of the celebrities who appeared live at the expo this year, and is not the person I would have singled out to counter 2009's appearance of Johnny Depp. This time around the cast of Marvel's "The Avengers" was in attendance, so that included Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), and more importantly :lol: , Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow)was there for the fans.

http://www.usmagazine.com/stylebeau...nts-slim-figure-in-tight-orange-dress-2011228

http://justjared.buzznet.com/2011/08/20/the-avengers-take-on-disneys-d23-expo/

Personally, I will take a Scarlett Johansson appearance any time and not be disappointed, Cap'n Jack or not.

 

[dweezil78]

I didn't read through this whole thread -- but as far as the PR nightmare people are referring to, surely it's in regards to how poorly the event was managed.

Every panel had a 2+ hour wait if you wanted a chance to get in while the big arena (that had thousands of seats blocked off even when it was used) mostly sat empty throughout the day. I would have even been fine if panels were simulcasted and you could watch on a screen in another room but they did not do that.

Even STORES had lines to get in and lines to get out. The spaces used were not big enough to support the crowds that turned up and there was not enough staff around to handle them all. It took me 30 minutes just to PAY for some merch yesterday.

That said, mainstream press is never going to mention any of this so I don't think Disney is terribly concerned. They're primarily focused on the big flashy studio event that was full before anyone even got in on Saturday. The fans and bloggers are all over it though, so hopefully Disney will pay attention and make sure they address these concerns/issues come 2013.

 

[TP2000]

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!).

Fly to California? In the year 2011? That's just crazy talk! It's sooooo expensive to fly to California, and that's why folks east of the Rockies could Never-ever-never be able to afford a trip to Disneyland or D23 Expo!

A quick check of Expedia just came up with these round trip airfares booked six weeks out comparing Los Angeles (LAX) with Orlando (MCO). The cheapest fare for each city-pair is listed, per Expedia.

Boston - LAX $267 round trip
Boston - MCO $224 round trip

New York - LAX $258 round trip
New York - MCO $191 round trip

Chicago - LAX $210 round trip
Chicago - MCO $196 round trip

Dallas - LAX $238 round trip
Dallas - MCO $201 round trip

St. Louis - LAX $248 round trip
St. Louis - MCO $207 round trip

London, England - LAX $791 round trip (non-stop)
London, England - MCO $831 round trip (change of planes in NYC or Toronto)
London, England - MCO $1,085 round trip (non-stop)

As you can clearly see, airfares from big cities east of the Rockies are prohibitively expensive, to the tune of up to 40 dollars more per person from some cities! That 40 bucks not spent flying from St. Louis to LAX could buy a retro Epcot Center sweatshirt at Mousegear and help fuel the excellent work that TDO does to bring us ever-rising standards across WDW property. Even the extra 14 dollars it costs to fly from Chicago to LA would buy a nice lunch at the Tomorrowland Noodle Station at Magic Kingdom, if they ever reopened it.

Okay, I kid. A vacation in sunny Southern California, even a long weekend, would do wonders for many folks who only visit WDW and think the current state of WDW factually represents the ability of Disney to put on a show in a theme park or resort.

2013 D23 Expo, Anaheim Convention Center - Be there!

 

[wdwmagic]

Fly to California? In the year 2011? That's just crazy talk! It's sooooo expensive to fly to California, and that's why folks east of the Rockies could Never-ever-never be able to afford a trip to Disneyland or D23 Expo!

A quick check of Expedia just came up with these round trip airfares booked six weeks out comparing Los Angeles (LAX) with Orlando (MCO). The cheapest fare for each city-pair is listed, per Expedia.

Boston - LAX $267 round trip
Boston - MCO $224 round trip

New York - LAX $258 round trip
New York - MCO $191 round trip

Chicago - LAX $210 round trip
Chicago - MCO $196 round trip

Dallas - LAX $238 round trip
Dallas - MCO $201 round trip

St. Louis - LAX $248 round trip
St. Louis - MCO $207 round trip

London, England - LAX $791 round trip (non-stop)
London, England - MCO $831 round trip (change of planes in NYC or Toronto)
London, England - MCO $1,085 round trip (non-stop)

As you can clearly see, airfares from big cities east of the Rockies are prohibitively expensive, to the tune of up to 40 dollars more per person from some cities! That 40 bucks not spent flying from St. Louis to LAX could buy a retro Epcot Center sweatshirt at Mousegear and help fuel the excellent work that TDO does to bring us ever-rising standards across WDW property. Even the extra 14 dollars it costs to fly from Chicago to LA would buy a nice lunch at the Tomorrowland Noodle Station at Magic Kingdom, if they ever reopened it.

Okay, I kid. A vacation in sunny Southern California, even a long weekend, would do wonders for many folks who only visit WDW and think the current state of WDW factually represents the ability of Disney to put on a show in a theme park or resort.

2013 D23 Expo, Anaheim Convention Center - Be there!

I would say most of the complaints about location are more from the 18 million or so who live in Florida and would be able to get to the WDW area for an Expo without taking a flight. Your comparisons are assuming a flight is required in both cases.

 

[TP2000]

Even STORES had lines to get in and lines to get out. The spaces used were not big enough to support the crowds that turned up and there was not enough staff around to handle them all. It took me 30 minutes just to PAY for some merch yesterday.

I agree, they need to figure out crowd control and crowd flow. I went up yesterday afternoon to the big Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit on the third floor, and was met by a huge line snaking 100 yards down the concourse. I asked a D23 staffer the wait time and she said "at least an hour". There was a shorter line to get into the Archives Store that she estimated at 20 minutes. I passed on both, but was bummed about not seeing the Archives exhibit.

Oddly, the Disney Dream Store had no wait when I went in around 3:00pm, but I did have to wait about 10 minutes to enter the Mickey's of Glendale store at the exit of the Carousel of Projects. And when I got into Mickey's of Glendale it was PACKED and people were grabbing stuff off the shelves like it was Christmas at the mall.

I saw lots of Disneyland Security officers wearing their theme park uniforms and working the Expo exhibit halls and events. But what D23 Expo needs to do is to bring over more Disneyland CM's to work queues and crowd control, and then make the venues larger.

The Anaheim Convention Center is the largest convention center on the West Coast; bigger than LA's or San Francisco's or Portland's or Seattle's. And D23 Expo only used about half of the 1.1 Million square foot facility this go around. They still had all of Exhibit Hall C to use, plus lots more room in the upstairs halls and ballrooms, although there was a smaller convention simultaneously being held in Exhibit Hall D. (What must those normal conventioneers have thought of all the crazy Disney fans wandering around!)

The Archives should have been put in a bigger space in Exhibit Hall C with a bigger Archives Store attached to it, and Mickey's of Glendale needs to be three times bigger.

 

[wm49rs]

I would say most of the complaints about location are more from the 18 million or so who live in Florida and would be able to get to the WDW area for an Expo without taking a flight. Your comparisons are assuming a flight is required in both cases.

Not to mention those living in nearby states who drive to WDW, and would be able to do the same for a D23 Expo in Orlando.....

 

[MKCP 1985]

just for kicks and giggles, going 60 days out Thursday to Sunday (October 27 to 30) so as to compare apples to apples. I picked the cheapest available fare flying out since there is no deadline, and I chose a return flight that allows a full Sunday at the expo, on Southwest which is as cheap or cheaper than most anyone.

New Orleans to Orlando, round trip with fees added = $294.40
To LAX, same: $346.10

Not as bad as I thought. :shrug:

 

[TP2000]

Not to mention those living in nearby states who drive to WDW, and would be able to do the same for a D23 Expo in Orlando.....

Sure. If you live 250 miles away it can be cheaper (and more fun - Road Trip!) to drive to WDW for such an event. But since there will never be a D23 Expo at WDW, unless they dramatically downsize it and/or rethink the entire strategy for the thing, most folks will need to just bite the bullet and shell out 200 bucks for airfare to SoCal.

Heck, the price of a 3-Day ticket to D23 Expo alone at $136 per adult is likely to be nearly as expensive as airfare or gas money. :lol:

I paid $47 for my Sunday-only ticket to D23 Expo. Luckily the Parks & Resorts Carousel of Projects pavilion was worth the price of admission alone, even though I only spent just under 3 hours at the Expo yesterday afternoon.

 

[WDWFigment]

I would say most of the complaints about location are more from the 18 million or so who live in Florida and would be able to get to the WDW area for an Expo without taking a flight. Your comparisons are assuming a flight is required in both cases.

I can't speak for TP2000, but the portion of my post that he quoted was a shot at the general sentiment around here that going on a trip to Disneyland is cost-prohibitive. With few exceptions, if you're flying to Florida to vacation at WDW, it's not.

Discussing flights in terms of the Expo is sort of irrelevant as it makes absolutely no sense to have this Expo outside of Anaheim. Walt Disney World doesn't have the centralized convention space for it, plus, moving everything and everyone from Anaheim would be expensive (and how many celebrities would be willing to go to Florida for it)? Before anyone even suggests the Orange County Convention Center in Florida--that's not walking (or even short bus trip) distance to Walt Disney World.

 

[TP2000]

just for kicks and giggles, going 60 days out Thursday to Sunday (October 27 to 30) so as to compare apples to apples. I picked the cheapest available fare flying out since there is no deadline, and I chose a return flight that allows a full Sunday at the expo, on Southwest which is as cheap or cheaper than most anyone.

New Orleans to Orlando, round trip with fees added = $294.40
To LAX, same: $346.10

Not as bad as I thought. :shrug:

Yeah, jet travel in the 21st century is reasonably affordable to nearly everyone above the poverty level. Not that every working class family in the country is jetting off to exotic locales every six months, but if you want or need to get somewhere by plane, it's certainly an affordable option for most.

 

[wdwmagic]

Sure. If you live 250 miles away it can be cheaper (and more fun - Road Trip!) to drive to WDW for such an event. But since there will never be a D23 Expo at WDW, unless they dramatically downsize it and/or rethink the entire strategy for the thing, most folks will need to just bite the bullet and shell out 200 bucks for airfare to SoCal.

Heck, the price of a 3-Day ticket to D23 Expo alone at $136 per adult is likely to be nearly as expensive as airfare or gas money. :lol:

I paid $47 for my Sunday-only ticket to D23 Expo. Luckily the Parks & Resorts Carousel of Projects pavilion was worth the price of admission alone, even though I only spent just under 3 hours at the Expo yesterday afternoon.

It is far more complex than the case you are looking at.

Take a family of 4.

Airfare $300 per person round-trip
Expo Tickets $50 expo ticket per person
Hotel $200 per night
Food $100

Before you know it you are at $1500 - $2000.

Massive difference to driving an hour or so for Florida locals and returning home at the end of the expo.

Would you be spending over $600 for yourself to get to the Expo if it were at WDW? It is a far cry from the $47 you paid being a local to DL.

 

[wm49rs]

Sure. If you live 250 miles away it can be cheaper (and more fun - Road Trip!) to drive to WDW for such an event. But since there will never be a D23 Expo at WDW, unless they dramatically downsize it and/or rethink the entire strategy for the thing, most folks will need to just bite the bullet and shell out 200 bucks for airfare to SoCal.

Heck, the price of a 3-Day ticket to D23 Expo alone at $136 per adult is likely to be nearly as expensive as airfare or gas money. :lol:

I paid $47 for my Sunday-only ticket to D23 Expo. Luckily the Parks & Resorts Carousel of Projects pavilion was worth the price of admission alone, even though I only spent just under 3 hours at the Expo yesterday afternoon.

Well, unless someone is willing to pay the way for myself or my family of four to fly out and attend the expo in Anaheim, telling me to "bite the bullet" is just as absurd as those complaining about the proceeds being held out there for the foreseeable future...

 

[TP2000]

I can't speak for TP2000, but the portion of my post that he quoted was a shot at the general sentiment around here that going on a trip to Disneyland is cost-prohibitive. With few exceptions, if you're flying to Florida to vacation at WDW, it's not.

Discussing flights in terms of the Expo is sort of irrelevant as it makes absolutely no sense to have this Expo outside of Anaheim. Walt Disney World doesn't have the centralized convention space for it, plus, moving everything and everyone from Anaheim might be expensive (and how many celebrities would be willing to go to Florida for it)? Before anyone even suggests the Orange County Convention Center in Florida--that's not walking (or even short bus trip) distance to Walt Disney World.

Yes, exactly. Thank you for picking up on that, as that was exactly what I was getting at. :wave:

My comment regarding jet travel prices, and how the difference in cost between LAX and MCO is relatively minor, was directed at the numerous comments here lately that traveling out to SoCal is mysteriously somehow exorbitantly expensive and not achievable for all the middle class people who are already visiting WDW.

If you want to go to the next D23 Expo in 2013, it's clearly an affordable option for nearly everyone who already visits WDW on vacation. Heck, if you want to go to Cars Land next summer, that's an affordable option too! :lol:

 

[TP2000]

Would you be spending over $600 for yourself to get to the Expo if it were at WDW? It is a far cry from the $47 you paid being a local to DL.

Well, honestly, I would fold it into a trip to WDW.

I wouldn't fly out to Florida just to attend the Expo for a day. It would be part of my annual trip to WDW for that year. Isn't that how you would do it too?

I can't imagine that all the people that flew to SoCal to attend this D23 Expo only came for this one thing and didn't bother going to Disneyland and DCA for a couple days, if not a full-fledged SoCal vacation at Sea World, Universal Studios, the beach, Hollywood, etc.

 

[_Scar]

It is far more complex than the case you are looking at.

Take a family of 4.

Airfare $300 per person round-trip
Expo Tickets $50 expo ticket per person
Hotel $200 per night
Food $100

Before you know it you are at $1500 - $2000.

Massive difference to driving an hour or so for Florida locals and returning home at the end of the expo.

Would you be spending over $600 for yourself to get to the Expo if it were at WDW? It is a far cry from the $47 you paid being a local to DL.

And this is why my family sticks with WDW vacations :lol:

 

[devoy1701]

Yes, exactly. Thank you for picking up on that, as that was exactly what I was getting at. :wave:

My comment regarding jet travel prices, and how the difference in cost between LAX and MCO is relatively minor, was directed at the numerous comments here lately that traveling out to SoCal is mysteriously somehow exorbitantly expensive and not achievable for all the middle class people who are already visiting WDW.

If you want to go to the next D23 Expo in 2013, it's clearly an affordable option for nearly everyone who already visits WDW on vacation. Heck, if you want to go to Cars Land next summer, that's an affordable option too! :lol:

I second this. Infact, I regularly commute from Tampa up to the northeast for work and also (for the heck of it) check airfare out to LAX or Orange County and more often than not the tickets to travel to SoCal are cheaper than traveling from FL to the North.

We've done the DL trip ourselves once and while it was more expensive than our normal WDW (because we stayed on property instead of a good neighbor hotel) we would have still fallen within the same cost range of a WDW for the same length not including our airfare (but only because we don't have to fly to WDW ).

 

[devoy1701]

And this is why my family sticks with WDW vacations :lol:

the cost of going to DL isn't that much different than WDW.

 

[TP2000]

Well, unless someone is willing to pay the way for myself or my family of four to fly out and attend the expo in Anaheim, telling me to "bite the bullet" is just as absurd as those complaining about the proceeds being held out there for the foreseeable future...

Again, I don't think anyone is expecting people to budget and plan a trip to D23 Expo and only go to the Expo. Although, from what I saw yesterday, there are some folks who are crazed enough to do exactly that if their attire and attitude are any indication. :lol:

But honestly, for the vast majority of us, a D23 Expo trip would be part of a family summer vacation planned purposely around some of the dates of the Expo.

I take it from your presence on these boards that you do get a chance to take the family to WDW on occasion, right? Now, if you live in Kissimmee and don't have to bother with airfare or hotels or anything more expensive than a churro and the $14 parking fee at the TTC lots as your WDW visit expenses, then sure a big trip out to California is going to be ridiculously more expensive than what you currently pay to get to WDW.

But for anyone not living within easy driving distance of Orlando, I can't see how or why an alternate vacation to SoCal to attend the next D23 Expo would break the bank.

 

[WDWFigment]

Yes, exactly. Thank you for picking up on that, as that was exactly what I was getting at. :wave:

My comment regarding jet travel prices, and how the difference in cost between LAX and MCO is relatively minor, was directed at the numerous comments here lately that traveling out to SoCal is mysteriously somehow exorbitantly expensive and not achievable for all the middle class people who are already visiting WDW.

If you want to go to the next D23 Expo in 2013, it's clearly an affordable option for nearly everyone who already visits WDW on vacation. Heck, if you want to go to Cars Land next summer, that's an affordable option too! :lol:

Our trips to Disneyland are actually typically cheaper (if you don't factor in dining, since we eat at much more expensive restaurants in DLR--but obviously this isn't "necessary") because we don't feel compelled to stay on property at Disneyland. The hotels on Harbor are walking distance to the parks, and there is no reason (EMH, transportation) to stay in a DLR hotel. We simply take a shuttle from SNA (the same could be done for LAX) and book a cheap stay at the HoJo (gotta love those $59 AP rates!) or Desert Inn! Even our Annual Passes are cheaper for Disneyland--and that's after an insignificant DVC discount out there versus a huge one at WDW!

We're heading back to DLR once more this year (first Christmas visit) and will definitely be there for the opening of Cars Land next year. I'm really disappointed that we couldn't make it out for the Expo, but we already had too many trips on the plate when the light went on in my head that it would be something worth doing. We hopefully won't miss it in 2013!

 

[wm49rs]

Again, I don't think anyone is expecting people to budget and plan a trip to D23 Expo and only go to the Expo. Although, from what I saw yesterday, there are some folks who are crazed enough to do exactly that if their attire and attitude are any indication. :lol:

But honestly, for the vast majority of us, a D23 Expo trip would be part of a family summer vacation planned purposely around some of the dates of the Expo.

I take it from your presence on these boards that you do get a chance to take the family to WDW on occasion, right? Now, if you live in Kissimmee and don't have to bother with airfare or hotels or anything more expensive than a churro and the $14 parking fee at the TTC lots as your WDW visit expenses, then sure a big trip out to California is going to be ridiculously more expensive than what you currently pay to get to WDW.

But for anyone not living within easy driving distance of Orlando, I can't see how or why an alternate vacation to SoCal to attend the next D23 Expo would break the bank.

There are more willing to attend the Expo, and only the Expo, then to make a planned trip out to DL around it.

And no, I don't live close to WDW, or even within the same state. But between transportation costs (we can get to WDW on roughly two tanks of gas), food and lodging (and I'm sorry, but I can stay far more cheaply at an off-site condo for a week than I could at a DL hotel or a "Good Neighbor" one), along with the cost of admission to not only DL but the Expo as well (when I already have APs for WDW); a trip to DL is not an easy expense to consider. Nor should it be by anyone else....