D23 - Disney Expo - Saturday - September 12, 2009
Friday, October 2nd, 2009
By Rick A Mortis - Head Writer & Photographer
Additional Pictures provided by Wuf
I checked out the first ever Disney Expo on Saturday September 12 and my first thought was uhhh where’s the people? I think a major factor in the low attendance was due to the very insane ticket price for general admission of $37.00. Food prices was also a bit high as well at the convention and really was standard con food with Disneyfied names. We did beat the system and parked at Disneyland versus the parking cost for the Anaheim Convention Center. Admission was fast since I had purchased tickets online. It was strange that they only had wrist bands for the convention. I guess I am used to wearing a badge around my neck and also maybe a wristband. Ok end of that ramble.
Saw tons of cool stuff such as exhibits, auctions, huge vendors floor, sneak peaks and upcoming projects such as Alice in Wonderland, TRON, The Princess And The Frog, The Muppets, Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure
As I mentioned since the turn out was not as huge as expected at times spots were a bit dead at D23. We attended only attended two of the programs that day:
12:30 p.m. The Science of Imagineering
Wizards from Walt Disney Imagineering, including Asa Kalama, host of the Disney Educational Productions series The Science of Disney Imagineering, take us behind the scenes. Asa is assisted by a panel of Walt Disney Imagineering Technical staff.
If your a big Disney geek like me and like to know how things work this was your program. Lot’s of cool demos to be had. There was a special Haunted Mansion section that featured an eerie whispering effect. Best of all a free DVD for the series of The Science of Disney Imagineering was given out to audience members at the end of the program.
5:30 p.m. Lost Chords - Never-Heard Music from Disney Animation with Russell Schroeder
Using archival artwork, live performances by current Disney employees under the musical direction of Alexander Rannie and a special appearance by members of the Disney Employee Choir under the direction of Jim Wilber, Disney’s Lost Chords looks at the essential role that songwriting plays in the creation of Disney films.
Pure coolness for me again. A program was given out and we got to hear lost songs from Disney’s animated movies. Who knew Maleficent was such a singer? Great program and kudos by the Disney choir. You all deserved the standing ovation.
We had planned to end the night by watching Sleeping Beauty on the big screen at the con, but after sitting in the folding chairs provided for the panels we decided against it.
The staff that was mostly Disney cast members all rocked. For a first year convention there didn’t appear to be too many issues. I did hear that some rooms did fill up fast for other panels while some panels had little drawn were in large halls. I guess this is just growing pains and also some corporate power struggle in some departments. I hope next year D23 will come back bigger and better and hopefully cheaper.
Pics from around the D23 con:
