Since there were so many photos taken by WDWNT Network staff members of the inaugural D23 Expo from 9/10-9/13, we decided to combine all of them into one GIANT report featuring photos from Tom Corless, Luke Manning, Scott Smith, Matt Paul, and Myrna Litt:
This photo wasn’t taken at night, we arrived at the Anaheim Convention Center at around 5:30 AM each day
We saw the sunrise from the D23 Expo entrance line everyday
We’re In!!!
Welcome to the D23 Expo
This was the line for the Storyteller’s Theater on 9/10 for the Afternoon with Imagineering Legends
Inside the Storyteller’s Theater
Marty Sklar led the panel
Bob Gurr and Don Iwerks
X. Atencio
We then attended a press conference with the Imagineering Legends
Don Iwerks again
Marty Sklar again
Alice Davis
Bob Gurr again
Here was a line for pins on 9/11
Vouchers for merchandise were distributed by the cast members in the black and gold mouse ears
Pictures were not allowed inside the Treasures of the Archives exhibit, but Herbie the Love Bug was on display outside
Hopping over to the Parks and Resorts pavilion, there was plenty on display from the Cars Land expansion of DCA
The Radiator Springs Racers model
In a tribute to the Bird and Robot show from the sadly extinct World of Motion at Epcot, there was a bird and robot show featuring “living character” animatronics
The Wall-E living character made a rare appearance as well
Lucky the Dinosaur
Lucky appeared at Disney’s Animal Kingdom then Hong Kong Disneyland
The Wall of Presidents :)
A large portion of the exhibit was also devoted to the expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland
There was a turtle from Disney’s Electrical Parade on display
Before the auction on Saturday, there was an auction preview room
There was an entire area devoted to Vinylmation at the Expo and there was a plethora of previews
An upcoming Urban Series
The first Muppet series
The next 3″ Park Series
I think I’m in love with this upcoming Park Series…
A really cool 9″ Epcot piece
The Wall-E and Eve two pack
9″ Carnotaurus from Dinosaur at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Rizzo as Mickey 9″
Sulley and Boo from Monsters Inc. 2-pack
There are even Vinylmation celebrating 10 years of Disney Pin Trading
He has a pin back!
A Disney Cruise Line 9″ piece
Enchanted Tiki Room 9″
Space Mountain 35th Anniversary 9″
The track and wheels are on the back
Park Series #3
The next Urban Series
Muppet Series #1
Park Series #4
Artist Noah also created an extra large Vinylmation for the auction
The Mattel toy booth
Some of the “Toy Story 3” toy line
The very popular “Cars” toys
LEGO is actually making a “Prince of Persia” line
The “Toy Story” LEGOs look really cool!
Disney Legend Tommy Kirk was signing autographs
Walt Disney Pictures had a nice set-up on the top floor
Artwork from “A Christmas Carol”
The next Disney-Nature film “Oceans”
The light-cycle from “Tron Legacy”
Nicolas Cage stars in “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”
A prop from the upcoming film
“Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”
Who could this character be?
Or this one?
Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland”
“The Princess and the Frog”
Some strange Stitch merchandise is being produced nowadays
That’s pretty scary
Disney characters get Stitch-ed
“Excuse me, where are the restrooms?”
Stormtroopers roamed the Expo floor on 9/12
In case you haven’t seen our video of the “Future of Disney Parks and Resorts”, here are some pictures
The Fantasyland Expansion including Aurora’s cottage
Guests will make birthday cards for Aurora’s sweet 16
Aurora will then read some of the card’s at her surprise party
Guests can also visit Cinderella’s house
Cinderella will provide little girls with ballroom dancing lessons, while boys learn how to be royal guards
Cinderella’s gown will transform magically in front of guests
Belle’s village will come to life as well
Guests will practice a dramatization of the “Beauty and the Beast” story
They will then perform it for Belle and Lumiere
The “Be Our Guest” restaurant will be counter service during the day and turn into a table service restaurant at night
Gaston’s Tavern will also be counter service
And of course, he uses antlers in all of his decorating
Ariel’s Adventure is not only coming to California Adventure, it’s coming to Florida’s Fantasyland as well
Dumbo is being doubled in size and is moving to the back of Fantasyland
Pixie Hollow is coming in 2013
Disney Cruise Line also had a few announcements to make
We already knew about the two new ships, Dream and Fantasy
The Disney Cruise Line will start sailing to Alaska in 2011
On to “New Frontiers”
A look at the Hong Kong Disneyland expansion
On to “Tomorrow”
Disney’s World of Color
Cars Land
The entrance to Cars Land
Luigi’s Roamin’ (or is it Flying?) Tires
The Cozy Cone Motel will be a restaurant selling such items as “Cone on the Cob” and “Cone Dogs”
It’s coming!!!
“Don’t fail me chairman!”
Star Tours II is coming in 2011 to Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios
We also attended the “Making of the U.S. Presidents” panel
Technical difficulties
On to Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
Tom Corless was very excited to attend the “Making of Toy Story Mania!” panel
Many people ask how bad could California Adventure have been when it opened. I think this picture answers that
The spring action shooters were inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean game at Disney Quest in Walt Disney World
Some games didn’t make it into the attraction
The vehicles from Monsters Inc. Hide and Go Seek at Tokyo Disneyland were almost used for Toy Story Midway Mania
The site plan for DCA
Do you remember this?
The preliminary plan for Hollywood Studios was very different, with the entrance in the middle of a Pixar Animation building while another attraction was located next door in Soundstage 1
Toy Story Midway Mania takes place between Toy Story 2 and 3
The exit of DCA’s attraction
vs. Hollywood Studio’s exit
A rather crude set-up at WDI to test the attraction
The first spring action shooters…
Here are some early versions of the ring toss game
“I think he likes it!”
They seem to like the 3-D characters and targets
An early look at the prize booth
That’s one scary looking spud
Many of us also attended the Muppet presentation
When Muppet Vision switches to digital 3D in 2010, some new posters will be added to the queue
And who isn’t excited for “The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made”
We hope you enjoyed this lengthy photo report! Stay tuned for more videos and audio from the D23 Expo on this week’s WDW News Today and Disneyland News Today Podcasts and on the WDWNTube.
