When do you think the next D23 Expo will be?

[KeithVH]

Having attended a conference that used the Orlando facility in question with about 25K attendance, I can only agree with prior posts - this would be a bad thing. Traffic hassles alone would drive everyone crazy - it is a LONG way from the parks. Cost of transportation would also be a killer.

But I still haven't REALLY seen an affirmation that there will be one next September. Doesn't anyone have the real lowdown on approx. dates?

 

[MousDad]

But I still haven't REALLY seen an affirmation that there will be one next September. Doesn't anyone have the real lowdown on approx. dates?

The last rumor I read regarding this is that this was going to end up being a one and done. I can't remember where I read it though, sorry.

 

[TP2000]

The last rumor I read regarding this is that this was going to end up being a one and done. I can't remember where I read it though, sorry.

Was it me? I said that here on this board after my visit to D23 Expo on Friday, where it was noticeably un-crowded but clearly set up to handle tens of thousands of people.

Apparently though, the big crowds descended on the Anaheim Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday. The LA Times covered that angle, writing a story that D23 Expo didn't hit it's stride until the big crowds finally arrived on Saturday.

I originally thought we'd never see a D23 Expo ever again, at least not on the huge scale we saw in '09. But now I think we'll see another D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center on a big scale, but likely not until 2011 and likely tightened up into a 3 day format instead of 4 days.

Disney has reserved the entire Anaheim Convention Center for a week in early September every year through 2012. But I'm sure they've got a clause that gets them out of doing it every single year, and won't return until 2011.

You could do a smaller scale D23 Expo at the relatively large Disneyland Hotel Convention Center and keep it entirely on property in 2010. And then go big again across the street at the Anaheim Convention Center for 2011.

But I really don't think we'll see D23 in Orlando any time soon, and certainly not in the same huge, glamorous format we saw in Anaheim earlier this month.

 

[brucie]

I don't care where they have it I just hope there is one next year. And if so I hope they announce it sooner. I would have loved to be there but It wasn't enough time to throw in another vacation. I know a lot of people who would have gone if we were given more notice!!

And how about next time a WDWmagic booth? or is that not aloud because it's not an official Disney site. Steve I will leave it in your hands for next time. I will even run the booth:sohappy:

 

[TP2000]

I don't care where they have it I just hope there is one next year. And if so I hope they announce it sooner. I would have loved to be there but It wasn't enough time to throw in another vacation. I know a lot of people who would have gone if we were given more notice!!

And how about next time a WDWmagic booth? or is that not aloud because it's not an official Disney site. Steve I will leave it in your hands for next time. I will even run the booth:sohappy:

I think some of the D23 planners think the whole world lives on a corporate expense account, and that no one has kids and families to take care of. I wouldn't be surprised to learn the key D23 people are child-less adults with healthy disposable income, and they assume the rest of the world is just like them. It's not. Most people need a solid year to plan/budget a major vacation like a D23 Expo visit.

There were lots of unofficial Disney organizations represented at D23 Expo. Many websites, mostly the California ones, had booths and displays on the show floor in an area set up for such oraganizations. They were of differing sizes and scales though, and Miceage.com had the biggest and most profesionally produced booth area.

 

[sublimesting]

Initially I thought annually but how do you follow up so soon?

 

[Figment632]

Having attended a conference that used the Orlando facility in question with about 25K attendance, I can only agree with prior posts - this would be a bad thing. Traffic hassles alone would drive everyone crazy - it is a LONG way from the parks. Cost of transportation would also be a killer.

Why not hold it in the Wonders of Life Pavillion its empty now, and you dont have to worry about being away from the parks because you will be in one?

 

[Kamikaze]

It's off property in Anaheim too, just closer to property. The advantage that Orlando offers compared to Anaheim is that I believe the hall is much larger than the Anaheim convention center. Comparatively, there is probably a convention center in nearby Los Angeles that could accommodate a large convention if that's the direction D23 is heading.

The ACC has 200,000 odd more square feet that they didn't use.

I realize its off property. But why drag it all the way across the country to STILL have it off property?

Why not hold it in the Wonders of Life Pavillion its empty now, and you dont have to worry about being away from the parks because you will be in one?

Now see, thats not a bad idea. If they could somehow set it up to not require theme park admission, they might be in business. But you can't require admission, and you can't just 'include' the conference in your admission.

 

[Figment632]

The ACC has 200,000 odd more square feet that they didn't use.

I realize its off property. But why drag it all the way across the country to STILL have it off property?



Now see, thats not a bad idea. If they could somehow set it up to not require theme park admission, they might be in business. But you can't require admission, and you can't just 'include' the conference in your admission.

Yea I thought about that they could on that day have the admisson to D23 get you into the park with your pass working as your park ticket for that day.

 

[ryguy]

Let me start out by saying I didn't go to the expo. I used to go to the Disneyana conventions frequently. Some questions, First why is it held in September? I never understood this, its the worst time for most people to travel. If you have kids school is beginning and for those of us who live in the Northern part of the country its the last nice month before the doldrums set in. Secondly, there is no reason to have it every year, its overkill. I think the convention as well as the expo would be more successful every other year, it would build some anticipation and give people time to plan their trips. Third, what the hell is D23? The name is confusing and doesn't really explain what the event is. Fourth, I don't want to spend more than $20 bucks to get in, certainly if I am traveling across the country. I think Disney thinks it needs to have this super huge event with tons of merchandising and side packages etc...all I want is a event that I can meet and talk with fellow Disney dorks. I love to see everyones collections, I don't need 15 limited edition resin pieces. Most of this stuff is just overkill and not at all interesting. Truthfully I would love to see a trade show and maybe see one presentation from a big wig highlighting any new and upcoming plans. Preferably in January or February where I am sick of the cold and want to get away, to me that makes the most sense.

 

[Figment632]

Let me start out by saying I didn't go to the expo. I used to go to the Disneyana conventions frequently. Some questions, First why is it held in September? I never understood this, its the worst time for most people to travel. If you have kids school is beginning and for those of us who live in the Northern part of the country its the last nice month before the doldrums set in. Secondly, there is no reason to have it every year, its overkill. I think the convention as well as the expo would be more successful every other year, it would build some anticipation and give people time to plan their trips. Third, what the hell is D23? The name is confusing and doesn't really explain what the event is. Fourth, I don't want to spend more than $20 bucks to get in, certainly if I am traveling across the country. I think Disney thinks it needs to have this super huge event with tons of merchandising and side packages etc...all I want is a event that I can meet and talk with fellow Disney dorks. I love to see everyones collections, I don't need 15 limited edition resin pieces. Most of this stuff is just overkill and not at all interesting. Truthfully I would love to see a trade show and maybe see one presentation from a big wig highlighting any new and upcoming plans. Preferably in January or February where I am sick of the cold and want to get away, to me that makes the most sense.

That is the whole point of D23 remeber this is Disney anything but big and most people would be dissapointed.

 

[TP2000]

Why not hold it in the Wonders of Life Pavillion its empty now, and you dont have to worry about being away from the parks because you will be in one?

Wonders of Life has roughly 100,000 square feet of floor space, not all of it useable.

The D23 Expo at Anaheim Convention Center used 550,000 square feet of space, not including the big ticketing lobbies and atriums.

There just isn't a facility on WDW property large enough to hold a D23 Expo the size of the 2009 event. Even breaking it up across five or six venues on WDW property still doesn't get you facilities as large as the Anaheim Convention Center, of which D23 Expo only used about two thirds of the available exhibit space.