Second All in One Disneyland TR Thread - Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout Review 5/30-6/2

[mvf-m11c]

I knew you'd have a great Parks/Resorts recap! Thanks for mentioning me, and it was nice to (quickly) see you.

My thoughts: Toy Story Land will be a great addition to Hollywood Studios. I'm looking forward to that. Frozen at Norway, not so sure yet. Animal Kingdom's new nighttime show will be great - I know it will be! I've never seen Avatar, nor am I interested in it, but I'm interested in the new land. I was probably the only person in that room who thought all the Marvel stuff was completely unnecessary. I have to agree with you about Soarin' - it makes perfect sense at Epcot, but not California Adventure. I thought the finale performance was spectacular! You probably already know this, but Richard Sherman and Ashley Brown came out during the Disney Legends ceremony on Friday and she sang "A Kiss Goodnight" - another fantastic performance!

I had the chance to see Joe Rohde years ago, but I've never been to a presentation of his. He speaks with such enthusiasm about his projects. And, I couldn't help but notice that his microphone picked up the sound of his earring jingling!

Thanks again for putting all this together.

Thank you @Wonder2008 It was nice meeting you before the Parks and Resorts seminar. Even though we only spent a few minutes talking, it was nice to meet you.

I am looking forward to Toy Story Land at DHS in the near future. Frozen is everywhere and it would be nice if Disney does not keep doing all these different shows & rides but I understand why they are doing it. The Rivers of Light show at AK is something that I will want to see in the near future as well as Pandora - The World of Avatar but I will be more interested in the Rivers of Light show over that new land. Disney is doing a lot of Marvel and having their first land is okay from another park instead of the DLR or WDW. I am curious what Universal will do with Marvel now Disney owns the naming right. Soarin Over the World doesn't make any sense at DCA where it doesn't fit the theme at DCA. Disney is making a big mistake with doing that at DCA where Epoct makes perfect sense. DAF enjoyed the Disney Legends Ceremony that day where she got to see Johnny Depp as a Disney Legend and "A Kiss Goodnight" was a great performance to end the seminar.

Great update as always Bret! Loved seeing the art work of all the coming attractions! That Joe Rhode is SO passionate! and his earrings are SO big

Thank you Denise. You would have enjoyed the Parks and Resorts seminar which talked all about the new stuff coming to the Disney Parks. I was disappointed that there wasn't any seminar during the 2013 D23 Expo and this time they did one which makes sense to talk about the new upcoming projects. The Star Wars Land news was the biggest and it was announced before the Parks and Resorts seminar thanks to Bob Iger during the Lucas Film/Marvel seminar that Saturday morning. Joe Rhode is a passionate Imagineer for Animal Kingdom.

Great recap and pictures.

I think all the expansion plans are amazing. Without a doubt, it'll be an exciting couple of years ahead for Disney.

Thank you PiO. It was nice to go to the Parks and Resorts seminar. Even though I wasn't happy with the seating location, I was able to get some pictures.

It will be exciting these next few years with all the expansions and new shows.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Last Installment on the Trip Report

Day 4 – August 14th, 2015 – Part 10

Nighttime Shots at Disneyland & Disney California Adventure
​

After we finished dinner at Coco’s, we head on back to the room and I went to get my camera equipment so we can go to the Disneyland Resort that night. We were considering calling it for the night but Sunday was the slow day of the D23 Expo. I wanted to go to the parks that night to get some long exposure shots so I brought the tripod along. But I made a big mistake that night by not bringing my remote with me. I plan on taking pictures with the 2.8 that night with the tripod.

DAF went with me that night which I was a little surprised. I thought she was willing to rest that night after being up since 5am that Saturday morning after waiting in those queues for the seminars at the D23 Expo. But she wanted to go on over to the Disney stores at Downtown Disney that night to look at some of the stores since she was planning on buying some Disney items that night for her colleagues at work.

So we head on over to the DLR that night. It was not that bad that night which it was busy but not super busy like the busy parts of the summertime. There were attendees from the Expo at the DLR so they must be going on those Twilight tickets or just Annual Pass holders. She went to the World of Disney store where she wasn’t on planning on going to the park that night since she has a Deluxe AP and was blocked out that day.

I head on over to Disneyland first so I can get some long exposure shots. But Main Street was busy with guests waiting for the first show of Paint the Night at 8:50pm. So I just walked around and saw something very interesting that night.

When I was in Main Street and walking down, I saw that the third enchanted window was revealed. This was the Princess and the Frog enchanted window. The first two were the Peter Pan and Cinderella windows and the third window was revealed during my trip.










It was so neat to see the third window that night where it was a bonus to see it. I decided it was not worth staying at DL that night with the parade going on that night and the street was so busy. So I went on over to Disney California Adventure that night.

When I got on over to DCA, I head on over to the Los Feliz Five & Dime store to see what new merchandise is in the store and the Halloween merchandise was already inside the store. Just like at the Emporium, the DCA stores have the Halloween merchandise as well.


Then I head on over to Cars land to get some long exposure shots with the 2.8. Unfortunately, without the remote for my DSLR, it was hard to take pictures with the 2.8 on the tripod that night. I learn that if you don’t have the remote with a telephoto for long exposure and try to take pictures without the remote, you can move the body and that will mess up the shot. I have done that so many times that night which I was trying to make sure I didn’t move the body but I was lucky on a few.




I got some pictures over at Ornament Valley with the telephoto lens that night and it was hard to make sure I didn’t move the body without the remote.






After taking some pics at Cars Land, I head on back towards Buena Vista Street since I am about to call it for the night which I spent about an hour to two that night. I wanted to get some long exposure of the Carthay Circle Theater that night along with the fountain so I set up over in that area.

I used the 2.8




Then I switched back to the Tokina that night which made sense for the wide angle shots.








After taking some pictures at BVS, I head on back to the room that night to call for the night since we plan on getting to the D23 Expo early on Sunday morning. We weren’t planning on going at 5am or earlier like the other two nights since we were able to do all those other things but we will be planning on doing the stand that we missed during the Expo since we went shopping and seeing seminars.

That is it for this post and stay tune for the last full day at the D23 Expo.

Continue to the Next Post​

 

[PrincessInOz]

Despite not having the remote, your pictures are lovely.
Nice night time pictures, Bret.

 

[franandaj]

Those are some great pictures! I'm wondering what the 2.8 has over a 1.4. We're really starting to look at some, at least I hope. Fran has been forwarding me eBay auctions and I like a few that she has found like a Rokina 1/4 35mm that is not too pricey....we'll see!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Those are some great pictures! I'm wondering what the 2.8 has over a 1.4. We're really starting to look at some, at least I hope. Fran has been forwarding me eBay auctions and I like a few that she has found like a Rokina 1/4 35mm that is not too pricey....we'll see!

The 2.8's are generally less expensive. So, that gives options for getting zoom lenses....which then costs about the same as the 1.4.

 

[tksbaskets]

WOW I really enjoyed all your posts about the D23 Expo. The lines were really something. Did you find you spent a lot of time waiting or overall were you pleased with the experience? We've talked about going and I'm curious what you thought overall.

I'm looking forward to seeing the new Soarin' too. So many changes with the diamond anniversary.

TK

 

[mvf-m11c]

Despite not having the remote, your pictures are lovely.
Nice night time pictures, Bret.

The shots were not that bad without the remote but it made it very difficult without moving the body on the tripod.

Thank you PiO.

Those are some great pictures! I'm wondering what the 2.8 has over a 1.4. We're really starting to look at some, at least I hope. Fran has been forwarding me eBay auctions and I like a few that she has found like a Rokina 1/4 35mm that is not too pricey....we'll see!

Thank you Alison. Just as PiO pointed out that the 2.8 lenses is cheaper over the 1.4 where they can be very expensive. I will look forward to read which lens you will get in the near future.

WOW I really enjoyed all your posts about the D23 Expo. The lines were really something. Did you find you spent a lot of time waiting or overall were you pleased with the experience? We've talked about going and I'm curious what you thought overall.

I'm looking forward to seeing the new Soarin' too. So many changes with the diamond anniversary.

TK

Thank you TK. Glad you enjoyed my posts from the D23 Expo. Even though I wasn't too satisfy with the Expo but it was fun to go back. If you are patient, it will be no problem to wait in those long lines. I wouldn't say that I would wait at 10pm on Thursday or Friday night to see those seminars. I would rather sleep in a bed instead of sleeping on the ground in the queue. I spent way more time waiting to see the seminars and shopping over the experience at the D23 Expo. If you don't count the mornings, then it was close. That is the thing where you got to spend time in the queues in order to get the most of it. This D23 Expo had some great things to see while there were disappointments as well. But you can't satisfy all the attendees at the Expo. You should try it in 2017 which will be fun as along as you are willing to wait in those lines from getting in the Expo, seminars, and shopping.

I am not looking forward to the new Soarin' at DCA where it makes sense at Epcot but I have no problem seeing it at DCA where I can see it a lot over at WDW. There were a lot of changes during DL 60th Diamond Celebration from PtN, DF, WoC - Celebrate, Matterhorn, and Peter Pan along with the changes to DL of Star Wars Land. I am kind of sad that BTR will be going to make way for SWL.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Last Installment on the Trip Report

Day 5 – August 16th, 2015 – Part 1

Last Day at the Expo and DISMeet #3 HydroGuy​

It was the last day of the D23 Expo on Sunday. This is the day where there won’t be too many people queueing up early like the first two days like those big seminars. This time, it was DAF time to go around the floor and do some shopping while I am planning on going to see some of the vendors that I have missed the first two days of the Expo since I was using it to shop at the stores.

We didn’t leave the hotel until 6am since we didn’t have to be there early like the first two days where we got there around 5am. It is important to get there early even if it was 3 hours until the Expo opened so we can do our things.

We left around 5:45am from BW Stovall’s and head on over to the Anaheim Convention Center. It wasn’t as dark like the first two days where we got there before 5am.


There was construction going on right next to the ACC which used to be a parking lot on the left hand side.


We got to the ACC and we were escorted inside the convention center in the lobby area where I was there on Saturday morning where DAF was in the Hall E for the Hall D23 seminars. At least the queue to get inside the Convention Center is really planned out and with the lines do help you out.


There was a long queue up ahead towards Hall A at the end where the queue wraps around back to Hall B but I am not disappointed with the area that we are in that morning since we didn’t plan on coming at 5am.


We got settled in along with our folding stools which helped a lot since we were in these queues for the seminars and getting to the Expo first thing in the morning. When we were waiting, I saw @HydroGuy who was not too far from us. It was nice to see him at the Expo which I have met him before in the past from the 2011 D23 Expo and I missed him at the 2013 D23 Expo. We talked about the Expo and other Disney stuff as well. He joined DAF and I in the queue until it was time when the D23 Expo opened at 9am.

When it got to 9am, the queue started to move and it was a matter of time until we were inside the show floor. DAF told me that she will be heading on over to the Mickey’s of Glendale to do some shopping while @HydroGuy and I are planning on getting some StagePass and StorePass that morning.


The three of us were finally in the show floor and DAF went on over to the Mickey’s of Glendale while @HydroGuy and I went on over to the StagePass/StorePass queue which is in Hall A by the Dream Store.


When we got to Hall A, he wanted to go in the Dream Store and buy some merchandise. Unfortunately, most of the good merchandise was gone at the Dream Store the first two days. Luckily I was able to buy some nice stuff during the first two days.

After that, he went on over to the StagePass queue while I went on over to the StorePass queue to get a StorePass for the Disney Store. I know that it was late to go to the Disney Store but there always could be something to get at the Disney Store.


Getting a StorePass was a huge mistake on my part since it almost took about 20 minutes to go through the queue.


@HydroGuy was able to get the StagePass for the 11am Disney in Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration at Stage 23 at 11am.


While I was still in the queue, he told me that he will be going on over to the Pandora – The World of Avatar pavilion where it showed a floor model of the new land coming to Animal Kingdom while I was still in the queue for the StorePass.


The StorePass queue took a lot longer than I expected while getting one and I can tell what the problems were with the StorePass. When I was looking at the stand, the guests were talking to the CM’s that were distributing the StorePass and people were asking what times they want which really slows down the queue. This is one reason why the StorePass is such a big failure to me along with limited distributions and taking a while to go through the queue unlike the StagePass where it is fast.

When I got there, I wanted to get a StorePass for the Disney Store and what bad luck is that the person in front of me got the last one and I was left with the Mickey’s of Glendale or Disney Store so I got the MoG StorePass.


After getting the StorePass, I head on over to Hall E where the Pandora – The World of Avatar pavilion is located which was close to the Shanghai Disney Resort pavilion area. It didn’t took too long for me to go through the queue and was inside the pavilion. That is where @HydroGuy was at as well.




The model of Pandora – The World of Avatar which showed during the day and at night.










After we looked around at the Pandora – The World of Avatar pavilion, @HydroGuy head on over to do his next thing while I waited for DAF at the exit of the MoG store. So we parted ways that morning/afternoon which went by really quickly that morning.



While I was in the area in Hall C, I took some more pictures from the Pixar Animation Studios pavilion which told of the upcoming movies like The Good Dinosaur, Finding Dory, Toy Story 4, Coco, Cars 3 and Incredibles 2.




Right next to the Pixar Animation building was the Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens costumes on display.






I head on over to the MoG exit where DAF just finished with her shopping. Glad that she was able to find something to buy during that time where I barely bought anything at the MoG on Friday.

We head on over to the Shanghai Disney Resort pavilion which she hasn’t seen yet since I have seen it on Friday along with Alison and Fran when they were there on Friday. She was impressed with all the new stuff that is happening at the Shanghai Disney Resort that she is now considering going to that park one day but we will get to that on another time.

After looking at the Shanghai Disney Resort pavilion, we started to head on over to Hall D23 queue in Hall E so we can get seats for the 3pm to 4:30pm Frozen Fandemonium: A Musical Celebration. It was around 11am when DAF finished shopping at the MoG and we still have plenty of time so we went on over to the Disney Citizen ship pavilion where we helped volunteer by putting some planting items in a bag.


After finishing at the Disney Citizenship, we head on over to Hall E where the queue for Hall D23 is located. Now the waiting game is happening again for another seminar.

Continue to the Next Post​

 

[mvf-m11c]

Last Installment on the Trip Report​

Day 5 – August 16th, 2015 – Part 2

D23 Expo Third Day and Frozen FANdemonium: A Musical Spectacular Part 1​

After we walked around the show floor, we started to head on over to Hall E queue so we can get in line for the 3pm Frozen FANdemonium: A Musical Celebration at Hall D23. Even though we are getting there so early since DAF wanted to see this seminar that day.

We got in the queue in Hall E queue and we waited for almost 3 hours until the 3pm seminar started at Hall D23. I know it was super early to be in the queue but we were guarantee a good spot since we got there 3 hours early. We were in Row B which is the middle so we were guarantee a good spot for the seminar.

As always, we had our folding stools and things to do to kill the three hours until it was time for the Frozen FANdemonium: A Mustical Celebration.

When we were let in Hall D23 we were able to get good seats at the beginning.






But when there were more opening seats and other people have been getting up closer, she was arguing along with other people that have been waiting in the queue while others showing up later and getting a better location. So the staff that was working in Hall D23 told the guests that were up close were able to move up closer which was a good thing.

The Frozen FANdemonium: A Musical Celebration started and it started off with the voices of Anna in different languages of the song that we all know “Let It Go”. There was like 25 different multi-languages.

Idina Menzel English


Annika Herlitz Swedish


Takako Matsu Japanese


Furedi Nikolett Hungarian


Serena Autieri Italian


Marsha Milan Bahasa Malaysian


Gam Wichayanee Thai


Elke Buyle Flemish


Chris Montan, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez take us on a once-in-a-lifetime musical journey through the world of Frozen. They talk about the days of how they came up with the music for Frozen from Do You Want to Build a Snowman, Let It Go, In Summer, Love Is an Open Door, etc.


Kristen and Robert sang the song “Life is an Open Door” and a mock version of “Making Today a Perfect day” from Frozen Fever.


They showed some early art work of the trolls from the movie










Kristen Anderson-Lopez and her daughter Annie Lopez came out to perform “Fixer Upper”.

Continue to the Next Post​

 

[mvf-m11c]

Last Installment on the Trip Report

Day 5 – August 16th, 2015 – Part 3

Frozen FANdemonium: A Musical Spectacular Part 2​

Agatha Lee Monn and Livvy Stubenrauch the voices of the 5 year old Anna and 9 year old Anna singing "Do You Wanna Build a Snowman"

Kristen Bell voice of Anna made an appearance as well.


Kristen Bell also sang "Do You Wanna Build a Snowman" & "For the First Time in Forever" along with Kristen Anderson-Lopez.

Kristen Anderson-Lopez singed during Elsa scene of “For the First Time in Forever”


Now they were talking about the making of Olaf and how he was created.


Also made an appearance was Josh Gad the voice of Olaf singing "In Summer"




The people that contributed to the movie were on stage including John Lasseter, Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee and Peter Del Vecho were singing "Let It Go" along with the crowds.


Elsa made an appearance


Along with Anna & Kristoff




This was a very nice presentation to see the Frozen FANdemonium: A Musical Spectacular at Hall D23. It was well worth seeing even though we had a very bad start when we got our seats where we were moved up for that seminar. At least it was made up for getting a little up closer so I can get some up close shots.

After the seminar, we went back in the show floor to do some last things before we call it for the day. Even though it was around 5pm, the show floor was still crowded with all those people. This was a busy day on Sunday which the last three Expo’s on the last day didn’t have that many people. But we were able to walk around the show floor for about an hour until we called it around 6pm.

This was my fourth D23 Expo that I have attended and I was happy and not happy during this Expo. The good things I like about this Expo was of course the seminars which had the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts seminar which talked about all the new things happening at the Disney Parks from Star Wars Land, Shanghai Disney Resort, Star Wars Season of the Force, Toy Story Land, etc. that is happening at the parks. I was glad that I was able to buy my merchandise at the Dream Store & Mickey’s of Glendale along with looking at all those other pavilions at the show floor. The things I didn’t like about the Expo was that I didn’t get in the Disney Store which had a lot of great stuff, the StorePass was a big failure in my opinion and not being able to get most of the first day of the Expo which I missed a lot. I have learned what mistakes I made and when we go to the 2017 D23 Expo in two years, I will be prepared for it.

This doesn’t conclude that day on Sunday the 16th which we did something later that night. Stay tune what we have done later that night after the D23 Expo.

 

[dhorner233]

Very interesting! I'm back from my trip and learned a lot about my camera and why I don't like my lenses. And I can appreciate your photography even more!

I know Frozen is over done but, I still love it and would have enjoyed that seminar!

I loved the new World of Color show at Calif Adventure! I thought it was more a documentary than a commercial.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I wonder if that Fandamonium was a re-hash of the Making of Frozen?
In any case....it's fantastic to be there to see it live. Thanks for sharing.

 

[franandaj]

Sounds like you had a good last day. While I'll admit that Frozen has been way way way over done, it still looks like it was a fun event.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Very interesting! I'm back from my trip and learned a lot about my camera and why I don't like my lenses. And I can appreciate your photography even more!

I know Frozen is over done but, I still love it and would have enjoyed that seminar!

I loved the new World of Color show at Calif Adventure! I thought it was more a documentary than a commercial.

Glad to read that you got back safely Denise and had a great time at the DLR.

Frozen is everywhere I go and it will be nice if Disney doesn't do the Frozen Broadway show to replace Aladdin at DCA. The Frozen FANdemonium is a very nice show to talk about the creation of the music and it was neat to see Kristen Bell.

Glad you like World of Color - Celebrate. Just as you said that it is more of a documentary for Walt Disney accomplishments.

I wonder if that Fandamonium was a re-hash of the Making of Frozen?
In any case....it's fantastic to be there to see it live. Thanks for sharing.

With Frozen so popular and people love the music, it was nice to hear from the creators of the music of how they come up with the ideas.

You would have enjoyed it PiO.

Sounds like you had a good last day. While I'll admit that Frozen has been way way way over done, it still looks like it was a fun event.

The last day was okay where we did some thing and didn't do everything we wanted but as you know you have to carefully select what you want to see and do at the Expo.The Frozen FANdemonium was a nice event and it wasn't as busy like those other seminars at Hall D23.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Last Installment on the Trip Report

Day 5 – August 16th, 2015 – Part 4

Dinner at ESPN Zone & More Shots at DCA​

After DAF and I finished up the D23 Expo on the show floor after seeing Frozen FANdemonium at 3pm to 4:30pm, we head on back to our hotel to rest up since we were there early that morning. After we relaxed a little bit, it was time to have dinner that night and what other place to have dinner is at the ESPN Zone at Downtown Disney. DAF and I like to go to the ESPN Zone to have dinner there since we can watch all the different sporting events.

We were at the ESPN Zone around 6pm which was just around dinner time and it wasn’t that busy as I have thought which when we ate at the ESPN Zone on Thursday night, we had to wait a while 8pm that night.

We got to sit in our favorite room which had the giant projection screen and all the different games on the TV screens.


We ordered appetizers that night instead of the entrees since we were not that hungry that night. We got chicken fingers, chocolate chip cookie sundae and I got the summer special at the ESPN Zone during the summertime which was the Enchilada Tortilla Soup.


After dinner, we head on over to the parks that night. I was originally planning on going back to DL that night but then I realized that the 8:50pm Paint the Night parade will be going on at DL and the streets of MS will be crowded so we just head on over to DCA that night. This was another perfect time to do more long exposure shots with the 2.8 lens that night.

We first head on over to Cars Land to get some shots. This time, I remember to bring the remote for the DSLR.














Then we head on over to Hollywood Land to get some shots.




After we went around DCA for a little bit, it was time to head on back to the hotel after being a the D23 Expo for most of the day. I could have spent more time that night but I was tired from waiting in that queues for the D23 Expo.

When we went back to the hotel, we stopped at the World of Disney store on the way back since DAF wanted to look for some stuff to buy for her colleagues at work. Even though she had bought at the D23 Expo, she liked some of the merchandise at the WoD store.

We got back to the hotel around 10:30pm that night which concluded our day.

The next day, we didn’t go in the park since we had to go to Los Angeles around the area of LAX since we had to pick up some stuff from my dad’s friend place. I wasn’t disappointed that we didn’t go in the park that Monday morning but after with everything with the D23 Expo, it was nice to go back home to Sacramento that day.

When we picked up some stuff from my dad’s friend house, we head on over to a local Japanese market area to get some stuff for my grandmother as well as have lunch. We had lunch at a stand called Misada.

I had the pork katsu for lunch.

After having lunch, we went on back to Sacramento with the 7 hour drive home as well a stop to my grandmother’s house in Livingston. This concludes the 4th Annual D23 Expo trip.

This trip was a nice one which there were some great times and bad times at the Expo. I did plan on what I wanted to see at the Expo along with buying the merchandise from the Dream Store and Mickey’s of Glendale. I was disappointed that I didn’t go in the Disney Store but I didn’t plan my day well on Friday. Also DAF was glad that she got to see those seminars at Hall D23 on all three days where she spent a lot of time waiting in those lines.

We were able to go to the parks and DAF was able to see all three nighttime shows at the DLR from PtN, DF and WoC – Celebrate. Even though she wasn’t happy with DF that night with those people in front of her, she really enjoyed the new nighttime shows. She will be able to see them again when we get to November next month.

During the trip, I didn’t meet with a lot of DISers during the trip but it was nice to meet @Wonder2008 and HydroGuy during the trip in which we got to spend some time talking about the Expo and Disney.

This concludes the D23 Expo trip and now we are 15 days away till the WDW trip which DAF, my dad, our neighbors and I are looking forward especially with the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot along with the Halloween season. Plus don’t forget Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando.

There might be a special bonus trip next week if everything goes according to plan but I am not planning on that right now which will be a two day trip back down to SoCal with my dad.

Thank you for following along my D23 Expo trip report.

 

[dhorner233]

Even though I wasn't too satisfy with the Expo but it was fun to go back. If you are patient, it will be no problem to wait in those long lines. I wouldn't say that I would wait at 10pm on Thursday or Friday night to see those seminars. I would rather sleep in a bed instead of sleeping on the ground in the queue. I spent way more time waiting to see the seminars and shopping over the experience at the D23 Expo. If you don't count the mornings, then it was close. That is the thing where you got to spend time in the queues in order to get the most of it. This D23 Expo had some great things to see while there were disappointments as well. But you can't satisfy all the attendees at the Expo. You should try it in 2017 which will be fun as along as you are willing to wait in those lines from getting in the Expo, seminars, and shopping.

I am not looking forward to the new Soarin' at DCA where it makes sense at Epcot but I have no problem seeing it at DCA where I can see it a lot over at WDW. There were a lot of changes during DL 60th Diamond Celebration from PtN, DF, WoC - Celebrate, Matterhorn, and Peter Pan along with the changes to DL of Star Wars Land. I am kind of sad that BTR will be going to make way for SWL.

Thanks for going to the Expo for us Bret! : I don't think I could have stood standing in those lines!

What all are they going to take out for Star Wars Land?? I didn't realize they were taking out Big Thunder Mt.!

 

[franandaj]

That was a nice wrap up to your trip. Is your next time back here in December? I guess so, since you are going to WDW this month!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Thanks for going to the Expo for us Bret! : I don't think I could have stood standing in those lines!

What all are they going to take out for Star Wars Land?? I didn't realize they were taking out Big Thunder Mt.!

Thank you for following along Denise. Even though I was not completely satisfy with the D23 Expo this year, but you do have to make some sacrifices on what you want to do and see at the Expo. I just didn't plan very well this time. Waiting in those lines can be long and boring but it can be fun as well where you can keep yourself occupy by talking to other people around you which we have done.

As of what I have read, Big Thunder Ranch will be gone and part of Mickey's Toontown. I don't know if this is 100% correct but this is what I have heard so far. It will be sad to see BTR go which I have enjoyed walking on the backside over the years. The thing I will not be happy with the construction of SWL will be the closure of the Disneyland Railroad for a year.

That was a nice wrap up to your trip. Is your next time back here in December? I guess so, since you are going to WDW this month!

Thank you Alison. I didn't do everything I wanted but you have to sacrifice on the things you want to do in order to do that one thing you wanted to do at the Expo. My next trip back to SoCal will be for sure November 13th to 15th, 2015 during the Avenger's Marathon and the start of the holiday season at the DLR. It will be me and DAF during the November trip and I will be back in early December 4th to 6th with DAW during the Candlelight Processional weekend. I read that @rentayenta and @jedijill will be there during my visit which should be nice to meet them in person. It won't be long when Jill will be at WDW during the same time as me but I don't know if we will meet up during the trip.

 

[Wonder2008]

Bret, I was at the Frozen Fandemonium too! We were seated a few rows back from where you were, but more toward right of the center of the stage. We had a good view, but again it would have been better if the floor was sloped. The stories that Bobby and Kristen Lopez were telling were hilarious! We loved seeing Kristen Bell and Josh Gad singing their songs from the movie! You got some great pictures. I'm not sure if you know this, but we saw Ginnifer Goodwin and Lana Parrilla from "Once Upon a Time" in the audience. They were in the same row that John Lasseter and the filmmakers were in.

We also went to the Silly Symphonies concert that @HydroGuy went to. That was a great show, and I'm a little surprised that Leonard Maltin (who hosted it) signed some autographs after it. We ended the Expo with Eric Goldberg's "Animation Academy" at Center Stage, which was fun to watch, and getting Joe Rohde's autograph. Joe is an absolutely amazing person. Then that night we went to Disneyland and saw Paint the Night, Disneyland Forever, Fantasmic, and Space Mountain. We flew back home from LAX the next morning.

I had a blast at the D23 Expo and it's an experience I'll remember forever. We had some missteps as well, but there were so many other great things. We saw plenty celebrities, Disney Legends, Disney artists, and many, many amazing costumes!

I hope you have a great time at Walt Disney World too, Bret!

 

[dhorner233]

Not to prolong this thread, I know you are trying to wrap this up but, this came out 4 days ago:

http://www.slashfilm.com/disneyland-changes/

It leaves Big Thunder Mt. Railroad but, WOW! I'm not that crazy about Star Wars.