Here are some of my thoughts re this Expo –
As ashley0139 and wilkeliza noted, good planning along with realistic expectations is key, I think, to a better experience. This was my 3d Expo, and I had decided I would take the plunge to Sorcerer. However, I could not get the ticket & was not picked up off the wait list, so this caused me to need to be very strategic in my planning. As a result, I felt I had the most fun and saw the most things this time compared to past Expos.
I used the schedule on the website to plan my stage panels, then used the app to find other things on the expo floor. The show floor & Emporium maps posted by mickeytotallyrock were invaluable (Thanks again!) as they had more detail than was found in the app. I kept fine-tuning my panels until I had my top choices & also alternatives in case something did not work out, either could not get in or due to something else running over. That way, I did not waste time having to figure out ‘alternate plan B’ on the fly. I also pretty much had the show floor memorized as to locations of the booths I was most interested in or vendors I wanted to be sure to hit both Disney and in the Emporium. That gave me a familiarity when I got on the show floor as to where I wanted to go, so I could get there quicker.
On the first day, I got stage passes but skipped those for Saturday & Sunday once I saw how much bigger those rooms were this time. I also decided I would be happy to be ‘in the room where it happens’ (channeling my inner Hamilton – smile!), rather than being in the front of the room. Taking this approach allowed me to get to more panels, because I was not waiting in another long line to get stage pass or feeling I had to be in the stand-by line so early. I got into each panel I wanted each day, also allowed for show floor time, and never waited more than 30 min or so for most panels. I also saw how crazy it was Friday for appearances and signings at the Disney/Pixar Animation Studios pavilion, so ended up skipping everything there because it was a free-for-all & would have taken a lot of time.
Based on helpful comments from others here, I decided to skip the Parks panel, which had been on my list until probably Friday. I decided I could not give up that much time on Saturday. As a result, I ended up catching five other panels on Saturday and enjoyed each of them very much, plus felt I had a more productive day. Each person has to decide what is most important to see/do while there, & for me I’d rather see more of the less higher profile panels that are not shared in detail afterward, & get more insider information. Some of those other panels offered surprises – ie after one, the D23 staff was outside with free magnets for everyone. In the Archives stage, they raffled off fun stuff at the end of each session which was an unexpected surprise. The Oswald panel also had giveaways.
I hit the Parks & Resorts booth very early Friday, to see the Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge model & display, only waited 5 min to get in & the line was so much longer by the time I got through. I also walked the show floor and Emporium floor Friday morning, checking out several booths who might be hosting folks for signings. Found that MiceChat had Bob Gurr and other Disney folks, Marty Sklar would be at the Ryman Arts booth both Sat and Sun, and the Walt Disney Family Museum had Disney Legends Tony Anselmo and Andreas Dejas on Friday. Talent Central signings were crazy mayhem; yet I could visit some of those same folks at the booths with little to no line and more time to chat with them. Learning Andreas would be there changed my plans for late Friday, skipping the Live Action Movie Music panel but it was worth it to me to meet him again. Flexibility to change plans as other opportunities are discovered I think is also important. I also took the time to ask cast members about different signing processes in each area or booth well ahead of time, so I’d know what to expect, but also confirmed a couple of hours ahead in case things had changed. This was valuable and saved time as well as disappointment. Ie I learned that some signings in Talent Central were using wristbands, not noted in the app, for crowd management.
Store passes were better this year – they had more of them, and folks were able to get store passes later into the day where last time those were pretty much gone within an hour. I got one both Friday for a signing in the Dream Store and Saturday. Store passes save a ton of time not waiting in long lines there. Another learning from past expos is, if you want to get something signed, buy it on Friday even if the signing is not until Saturday or Sunday. I’d missed out on past Expos by not realizing that, especially with early release books where supply will be limited. I got the Oswald book on Friday to get it signed on Sunday; it was sold out by Sunday & several folks missed out.
I honestly don’t know if I will try for Sorcerer next time. Wilkeliza’s comments about both what that provides & what it does not provide are very helpful – thanks for sharing! I’m not that into the
Disney Store shopping & don’t need to be in the front row/section of the panel rooms. While it would save me from having to get to Hall E so early each morning (I was arriving between 4:30 & 5:00 each morning because I’d rather wait before show floor opened than be late getting on the show floor) & it would get me into the Animation panel without the long lines/waits, I’ll have to think about if that perk & one panel is worth the money compared to everything else I was able to do with good prior planning.
My favorite panels – Golden Girls, Ink & Paint Ladies, Marc Davis at WED, History of Disney/Pixar commercials, Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through, Evolution of Pixar characters, Disney & Postage Stamps, Lion King, and Oswald.
