Well,
@Figments Friend , I am finally at home. I, like you, was drained by this experience. Despite my other posts on this board about the bad experience in the line outside the first day (which set the stage for being drained the rest of the time), I did have some good experiences; and one of them was getting to meet you for the short time on Sunday. It is fun to meet someone from the forums. Only wish we had all had more time to hang out a little. As you and others here have mentioned, it took real determination and long lines throughout the experience to get to do even a few things -- and that day was no different. [Figment's Friend was waiting in a long line for Mickey's of Glendale, which I never actually gave up three hours of my time to experience.]
Anyway, it was very nice to meet another true Disney fan, and I wish you all the best!
I was a little surprised, despite its reported lack of success, not to find ANY "Tomorrowland" (the movie) stuff or CoP things at the Expo, but especially to find NO pins for it on sale at the park, especially in Tomorrowland itself. I tried to buy one on the last day but could not find one anywhere. They said that they had had some when the movie came out, but only had a few and have not had any for a couple of months now. So, it was like the movie never existed.
I did get to see the Shanghai exhibit, and it was impressive. Seems interesting.
The only stage event I got to see was the Destination D rewind event, in which Dave Smith showed pics of the development of Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and hotels. It was fun to hear from Dave.
I am glad you finally got to meet Tony Baxter. I look forward to hearing more about it.
Paul
Thanks Paul, and it was indeed nice to meet up with you and your friends!
Although only for a brief few moments, it was memorable and enjoyable.
That was the second time i had waited in line to visit MOG when you found me, as i had been in the day before with little wait.
I guess i was just lucky, as i only waited a short time.
After the visit, i had second thoughts about a couple of the pin designs so i decided to re-visit the next day and purchase them if they were still there.
That was when i had to wait in that massive line....was it really 3 hours..?
Did'nt feel like it.
I think my brain was in another dimension after talking with Tony so i lost all concept of time after that experience.
One of the pins i had decided to purchase was gone, but i still enjoyed going in again.
Ended up finding a nice WED shirt i had missed the day before, so one loss turned into another gain.
Yes, i agree that the experience Friday morning was less then stellar.
By the time attendees could actually get in ( 11:30 i was in ) the stifling heat and brutal sun exposure from waiting so long outside took it's toll.
I felt like i had already been there for three days by the time i was in, and was a bit overwhelmed despite my extensive research and mental preparation for what was to come.
I snapped some photos of the chaos outside, so at some point i will share them here and people can see what a REAL Expo experience is like from a Guest standpoint.
These are photos you will not see in any of the marketing materials....trust me...!
Of the three Expo days i experienced, Friday was not the favorite one.
It was a combination of the poor experience getting in, to being drained by the hot weather, to the utter feeding frenzy scene i beheld just to get the free giveaways and schedule booklet.
You would have thought they were giving money away seeing how the crowd behaved just to snap up the goodies.
Part of the craziness was due to people snapping up several booklets to score the free trading cards that were contained in each one.
I will admit, i took a few to give to friends back home...but swiped the cards for myself.
After that, it was waiting in a loooonnng line to secure a StagePass for the ONE panel i really wanted to experience - the 'Imagineering 60 Years of Disneyland'.
That was a little stressful, as there is no guarantee you will get anything once you reach the front of the line.
It was my 'must see' of the whole Event...besides seeing Tony of course.....and i waited almost an hour and a half, maybe two hours.
The rest of the day was kind of a blur.
I couldn't really relax as i was already a little fatigued from what my experience had been so far...and i was on the lookout for Mr. Baxter, hoping to spot him in the crowd and have a chance encounter.
I kind of breezed by several displays and Pavilions.....i was having a hard time focusing on anything so i just took a break over at the D23 Lounge that was set up on the Showfloor for us commoners.
After a little break to collect myself, i wandered around a little and viewed the collectibles booths.
I was surprised to see little of real interest...but i am sure most of the 'good stuff' was scooped hours before i had passed by.
It was amusing to see things i had in my collection, and what they were attempting to sell them for.
When the time came for the Imagineering panel, the day turned brighter.
It was a great experience and although i wished i had sat much closer it was a joy to see all the people involved in the panel and hear there stories.
Of course Tony was the favorite, and i wish they had let him talk more.
When he opened his mouth, you could sense the room was on the edge of it's seats and a hush fell over the audience.
Marty too, commanded a great respect from the audience, and folks cheered for Richard Sherman.
It was a nice way to spend a afternoon.
Photos ( although blurred...) shall be forthcoming.
