Ideas for next year

[merlinjones]

I enjoyed breezing through the D23 Expo and was impressed at all the energy that went into creating it. I especially liked the Parks exhibit and the Archives exhibit and the collector's forum. Some things I'd like to see next time:

1) Walt Disney movies and TV shows all day, every day. Rare treats from the Walt Disney library all day long, not just once a night.

2) Expanded Archives exhibit - - plus a gallery of Walt Disney Animation Art from the Animation Research Library. Perhaps start with the "lost" Art of Animation exhibit recently found in Japan.

3) Expanded Walt Disney Animation/Pixar pavillion.

4) Expanded collector's forum to rival NFFC.

5) Special DVDs and CDs of otherwise unavailable Walt Disney library material - - movies, cartoons, TV shows, music - - available for sale for the first time or only at the show.

6) Masquerade.

7) Motivational speaker Hayley Mills on positive thinking.

[brand42]

Re: Ideas for next year

I realized during and after the event that most of my Disney interests lie in collectibles.

I know that there are already Pin Trading Events often held in the hotels or in the parks but those tend to be limited in space. I'd love to see some sort of Pins Presentation at D23. Previews of upcoming pins plus a look at the design and manufacturing process. I would attend that for sure!

Similarly, something for Vinylmation along those lines

At the Star Wars Celebration in Los Angeles two years ago, they had an hour presentation about Disney Star Wars toys so I don't see why they couldn't do the same here. Perhaps it could even be expanded to include any and all Disney/SW related developments.

Some sort of scavenger hunt like the Muppets and Kim Possible games they tried recently at DCA and Epcot, respectively.

This would be a pipe dream of pipe dreams but seeing as how there has been tremendous reluctance to bring Star Wars Weekends to DLR, how about incorporating it into the D23 expo? I know many that attend the Unofficial Star Wars day at DLR every summer and many, many more would attend an official event. I know I'd come for all 4 days, for one!

[cidbliq]

Re: Ideas for next year

Excellent ideas!

1 - The Dave Smith Disney Trivia Challenge. Who is the smartest fan out there?

2 - Special limited-run merchandise that D23 Fans will appreciate - rarely shown characters, inside jokes (i.e. Medfield College), Yesterland attractions, etc.

3 - Better food.

[Mickeychick62]

Re: Ideas for next year

Excellent ideas!

1 - The Dave Smith Disney Trivia Challenge. Who is the smartest fan out there?

There actually was a trivia challenge. There were dozens of Mickey icons scattered throughout the expo with trivia questions on them. You then texted your answer in to RU23. There were 23 (of course) levels. My roommate was doing this all weekend-between the 2 of us and a few off-site aids, she was able to complete all the levels. She rec'd a certificate of accomplishment. The table for this was located across from the Parks and Resorts pavilion. The questions weren't throwaway ones either. Some were a little challenging.

[cidbliq]

Re: Ideas for next year

There actually was a trivia challenge. There were dozens of Mickey icons scattered throughout the expo with trivia questions on them. You then texted your answer in to RU23. There were 23 (of course) levels. My roommate was doing this all weekend-between the 2 of us and a few off-site aids, she was able to complete all the levels. She rec'd a certificate of accomplishment. The table for this was located across from the Parks and Resorts pavilion. The questions weren't throwaway ones either. Some were a little challenging.

I tried to do this, but my cell phone either wasn't compatible or was wigging out, and when I checked back in with the desk they didn't have record of the score. Go figure.

[mmeleota]

Re: Ideas for next year

I love all of these ideas!!! Like I've been saying on other boards when people are concerned that Disney won't do the expo every year because of the lack of "new" announcements (attractions, movies, TV...etc)....many of us true Disney fans would like to see more vintage/rare/Q&A sessions. I would have loved to see any panel of Disney legends...Imagineers or otherwise.

Btw MerlinJones, I too would love to see Hayley Mills participate...she has to be my favorite Disney actress....

[Baloo]

Re: Ideas for next year

for next years D23 convention i would love to see Parks and resorts not only showcase a couple of their models and artwork for future projects but also have a section dedicated to WDI history.

They could dust off several of the hundreds of models of never built attractions. They could even have models of attractions that were never built but that inspired others to be built.

[FantasticDuck]

Re: Ideas for next year

I enjoyed breezing through the D23 Expo and was impressed at all the energy that went into creating it. I especially liked the Parks exhibit and the Archives exhibit and the collector's forum. Some things I'd like to see next time:

1) Walt Disney movies and TV shows all day, every day. Rare treats from the Walt Disney library all day long, not just once a night.

I think this is great! I wasn't there, so I don't know if they did this or not, but they could make a lounge type area for people to relax in, catch the show/cartoon they want and take a break from the floor.

I realized during and after the event that most of my Disney interests lie in collectibles.

I know that there are already Pin Trading Events often held in the hotels or in the parks but those tend to be limited in space. I'd love to see some sort of Pins Presentation at D23. Previews of upcoming pins plus a look at the design and manufacturing process. I would attend that for sure!

Similarly, something for Vinylmation along those lines

At the Star Wars Celebration in Los Angeles two years ago, they had an hour presentation about Disney Star Wars toys so I don't see why they couldn't do the same here. Perhaps it could even be expanded to include any and all Disney/SW related developments.

Some sort of scavenger hunt like the Muppets and Kim Possible games they tried recently at DCA and Epcot, respectively.

This would be a pipe dream of pipe dreams but seeing as how there has been tremendous reluctance to bring Star Wars Weekends to DLR, how about incorporating it into the D23 expo? I know many that attend the Unofficial Star Wars day at DLR every summer and many, many more would attend an official event. I know I'd come for all 4 days, for one!

I think it would be neat to even be able to go to the place where the pins are made, kinda like a field trip, if it was nearby. Or to see how they come up with or pick the designs for new pins. That would be amazing!

[FantasticDuck]

Re: Ideas for next year

I love all of these ideas!!! Like I've been saying on other boards when people are concerned that Disney won't do the expo every year because of the lack of "new" announcements (attractions, movies, TV...etc)....many of us true Disney fans would like to see more vintage/rare/Q&A sessions. I would have loved to see any panel of Disney legends...Imagineers or otherwise.

Btw MerlinJones, I too would love to see Hayley Mills participate...she has to be my favorite Disney actress....

I don't know why they wouldn't do it for lack of new announcements. Hasbro/Fun Publications do the GI Joe and Botcon (Transformers) conventions every year. They focus their new announcements on toy designs, the movies and if there is a new cartoon. They just confirm/deny all the rumors that are out there)

[QuestionableKri]

Re: Ideas for next year

I enjoyed breezing through the D23 Expo and was impressed at all the energy that went into creating it. I especially liked the Parks exhibit and the Archives exhibit and the collector's forum. Some things I'd like to see next time:


6) Masquerade.

Now are we talking about actual masquerade ball, or masquerade ala Comic Con's costume competition? I'd be up for either, personally. Especially for the latter, even much more specific industry/fan cons ala blizzcon hold them and I think it'd be nice to have events, like this, that have much more fan involvement and interaction than just sitting in a panel or buying merch. (from what I've looked over from threads/pics/etc there wasn't too much more fan inolved kind of things. please correct me if I'm wrong.)

Btw, does anybody know or could point me to a sort of official suggestion box for the con, if there is one? I only know of the survey. (After con experiences over the last couple of years, I'm on the opinion cons should have that option and/or a talkback panel. Feedback always helps for improvement.)

[Circarama]

Re: Ideas for next year

...I think it would be neat to even be able to go to the place where the pins are made, kinda like a field trip, if it was nearby.

I could be wrong, but I think that most of Disney's pins are cranked out in China. Probably not the Disney "magic" that we want to see.

One thing that seems to continually come up in conversations and expectations is an expanded look at Walt Disney/Disneyland history. Many, many hard-core Disney fans love the history surrounding Walt Disney, Disneyland, and Walt Disney Imagineering. I love the idea of expanding the WDI aspect of the Parks and Resorts pavilions.

Sometimes I wonder if there are very many people left in the WDC who recognize the rich history surrounding them...

[bfdf55]

Re: Ideas for next year

One thing that seems to continually come up in conversations and expectations is an expanded look at Walt Disney/Disneyland history. Many, many hard-core Disney fans love the history surrounding Walt Disney, Disneyland, and Walt Disney Imagineering. I love the idea of expanding the WDI aspect of the Parks and Resorts pavilions.

Sometimes I wonder if there are very many people left in the WDC who recognize the rich history surrounding them...

Well, concerning the history of Walt Disney, the Walt Disney Family Museum is opening soon and will have EXTENSIVE displays concerning Walt's history. And, of course, that museum will be continuously available.

As for Disneyland and Imagineering, yes, they are definitely worth expanding. However, there is relatively little that can be made available consistently. Given that they exposed pretty much everything they had on hand this year, it would be hard to provide a similar experience next year.

The suggestion of providing some historical background of the division sounds like a great concept for the next Expo (IF there is one). As it appears that the universal consensus was that the Imagineering (they REALLY need to change it to that from Parks & Resorts - few understand the relationship between Imagineering and the P&R Division) was the hit of the show, they should expand their presence there.

Then they should also let those divisions who don't want to participate to opt out. better that they stay away than be there begrudgingly.

Outside of all that, they just need to call it the Disney Expo. They can still give the D23 people their discounts and whatever goodies they want to offer them, but the Expo needs to separate itself from the club.

[gpiltz]

[ALIASd]

Re: Ideas for next year

I think it would be neat to even be able to go to the place where the pins are made, kinda like a field trip, if it was nearby. Or to see how they come up with or pick the designs for new pins. That would be amazing!

The Disney Design Group has worked with Pin USA in Glendale over the years.

[Circarama]

Re: Ideas for next year

The Disney Design Group has worked with Pin USA in Glendale over the years.

Maybe Pin USA could get a complimentary booth next year at the Expo. Then they could show all the Disney Pin collectors how they work with Disney to design pins and then show a short video showing the production process in China.