{"id":1034,"date":"2011-08-25T00:47:15","date_gmt":"2011-08-25T04:47:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/raysofdisneyland.com\/?p=1034"},"modified":"2011-08-31T01:37:58","modified_gmt":"2011-08-31T05:37:58","slug":"trip-report-thursday-my-d23-expo-highlights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raysofdisneyland.com\/?p=1034","title":{"rendered":"Trip Report Thursday – My D23 Expo Highlights"},"content":{"rendered":"

Suitcase contents are strewn around the room, stacks of Vinylmation are piled on tables, and I spent most of my afternoon clearing space on my computer to fit all of the pictures I need to upload… all signs point to the end of vacation, and if those weren’t enough, the post-Disney blues have set in fiercely. \u00c2\u00a0That being said, its time to reflect on the 2011 D23 Expo… there were great things, and frustrating things, and amazing things, and disappointing things. \u00c2\u00a0But, let’s start with the highlights, shall we, and as Kermit would say, “it’s time to get things going, it’s time to light the lights…”<\/p>\n

\"Disney<\/a>#5 Shopping<\/strong>: Often my demise, likely my addiction, Disney shopping might just be my favorite past-time… and there were more than a few opportunities at the Expo. \u00c2\u00a0Not to mention that everything was SO cool! \u00c2\u00a0I mean, could you really pass up a replica of Walt’s original #1 Disneyland name badge? \u00c2\u00a0Or exclusive, limited edition Vinylmation in every shape, size, and description? \u00c2\u00a0Or exclusive pins direct from Walt Disney Imagineering? \u00c2\u00a0Or even that pristine Shellie Mae Disney Bear, straight from Tokyo DisneySea, and priced just right? \u00c2\u00a0Okay, well maybe you<\/em> could, but I definitely couldn’t! \ud83d\ude00 \u00c2\u00a0The 2009 Expo definitely had more items represented in the Expo Dream Store, but this year there were “pop-up shops” throughout the Expo from every corner of the Walt Disney company. \u00c2\u00a0In all, I bought special souvenirs at six different locations, including the Dream Store, the pop-up Disney Store, the pop-up Nordstrom\/Small World store, the Collector’s Forum, the pop-up Mickey’s of Glendale, and the Archives’ Treasure Trove. \u00c2\u00a0While I may have come home with a significant dent in my credit card and pocketbook, each and every item is a special reminder of a special time.<\/p>\n

\"Ridley<\/a>#4 Meet and Greet with Ridley Pearson<\/strong>: Although I never know what to say to people who really inspire me, meeting Ridley Pearson was a real treat. \u00c2\u00a0I attended his session at the last Expo and loved it but I didn’t get to meet him then. \u00c2\u00a0I adore both the Kingdom Keepers<\/em> and the\u00c2\u00a0Peter and the Starcatchers<\/em> books, and Ridley really inspires my own writing. \u00c2\u00a0He was extremely nice at the Meet and Greet and seemed genuinely appreciative that people came out to see him. \u00c2\u00a0His autograph in the newest Starcatchers<\/em> book is one of my favorite “souvenirs” from the Expo!<\/p>\n

\"Archives<\/a>#3 <\/strong>Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives<\/strong>: At the 2009 Expo, the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit was really amazing, but Disney definitely upped the ante with this year’s exhibit. \u00c2\u00a0There were more items, across four different rooms, and each item was fascinating.\u00c2\u00a0 Walking into the exhibit, I actually started crying (total Disney Geek moment), as they had the plush Mickey on display from the famous picture of Walt hanging out of the engine of the Disneyland Railroad. \u00c2\u00a0They had a large version of the picture hanging up for comparison, and there were more of Walt’s personal items on display here as well, including his #1 Disneyland name tag.<\/p>\n

\"Archives<\/a><\/p>\n

However, in an even geek-ier moment, my mom and I both squealed with delight when we saw Annie Banks’ dress from Father of the Bride<\/em> on display. \u00c2\u00a0Growing up, this was one of my favorite movies, and we still have a Father of the Bride<\/em> and Father of the Bride II<\/em> marathon every so often. \u00c2\u00a0Seeing this dress was a real treat. \u00c2\u00a0There were also awesome items on display from Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland<\/em>, the original Mickey Mouse Club<\/em>, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End<\/em>, and so much more. \u00c2\u00a0In 2009, we were in the Expo exhibit looking at one of the cases and Richard Sherman came up right beside us to join his wife, who had been looking at the case with us. \u00c2\u00a0It\u00c2\u00a0was a very surreal moment. \u00c2\u00a0This year, we didn’t have quite the same experience, but we were in the exhibit when a throng of people came in surrounding John Lasseter, to take his picture looking at Walt’s personal items. \u00c2\u00a0It was kind of funny, really, because security was very nervous that we were in there and started politely shoo-ing us out, but we had been sitting just one table\u00c2\u00a0over from Lasseter at the Storyteller’s Cafe earlier that morning!<\/p>\n

\"Legends<\/a><\/strong>#2 The Disney Legends Ceremony<\/strong>: The Legends ceremony was absolutely phenomenal this year. \u00c2\u00a0At the last Expo it was really cool to see Robin Williams and Betty White, but this year was really special. \u00c2\u00a0Disney inducted Paige O’Hara (speaking and singing voice of Belle), Lea Salonga (singing voice of Jasmine and Mulan), Jodi Benson (speaking and singing voice of Ariel), Anika Noni Rose (speaking and singing voice of Tiana), Linda Larkin (speaking voice of Jasmine), and even Regis Philbin, among others.<\/p>\n

\"Legends<\/a><\/p>\n

But it was the princesses that really stole the show for me. \u00c2\u00a0Each of the princesses sang songs from their respective movies and was joined on stage by their respective princes. \u00c2\u00a0It was such a touching moment seeing these women that I have grown up admiring, singing the songs that I love, in-person. \u00c2\u00a0I have to admit that I cried when Paige O’Hara took the stage to sing a medley of songs from Beauty and the Beast<\/em>. \u00c2\u00a0This movie has always touched my heart and it was so surreal seeing the real Belle and hearing her sing. \u00c2\u00a0Jim Henson was also inducted, posthumously, and his children gave a touching Muppet performance to honor their dad. \u00c2\u00a0After they performed, Kermit and Rowlf, the two original Muppets Henson voiced, came on stage and sang Rainbow Connection<\/em>… cue my waterworks here as well. \ud83d\ude42 \u00c2\u00a0The ceremony was just beautiful and I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to witness it in person.<\/p>\n

\"Dick<\/a><\/strong>#1<\/strong> Drum roll please… my absolute favorite moment of the Disney D23 Expo 2011 was… seeing Dick Van Dyke and the Vantastix<\/strong> perform live on the first night of the convention! \u00c2\u00a0This was the kind of thing that I wouldn’t even think to put on a Disney Bucket List because it wouldn’t ever occur to me that I might have the chance to experience it. \u00c2\u00a0Even though I ate not-so-fabulous convention center soft pretzels, on the floor, in a cold room, while we waited in line for four hours… it was worth it. \u00c2\u00a0Mr. Van Dyke was every bit as charming and debonair as I imagined him to be. \u00c2\u00a0He was funny and friendly and seemed genuinely happy to be performing for us. \u00c2\u00a0The Vantastix sing acapella and all the members are incredibly talented. \u00c2\u00a0Their remarkable story started in a Starbucks, when one of the members struck up a conversation with Mr. Van Dyke about acapella music, as he was working for a music company at the time and had heard that Mr. Van Dyke was interested in acapella music. \u00c2\u00a0On the spot, Mr. Van Dyke asked him if he knew anyone that would want to be in an acapella group with him, needless to say, he said yes, and so did his two friends, and they’ve been singing in the Vantastix ever since. \u00c2\u00a0It was the kind of story that really warms your heart… ordinary people thrown into extraordinary situations and living out their dreams. \u00c2\u00a0The group sang a variety of both Disney and non-Disney songs, including some from the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang<\/em>. \u00c2\u00a0They introduced both Richard Sherman and Mr. VanDyke’s Dick Van Dyke Show<\/em> co-star, Rose Marie, who were both in the audience. \u00c2\u00a0It was such an amazing night, I really can’t even believe I was able to be a part of it.<\/p>\n

So, while I had lots of fun experiences at the Expo, these are my top five. \u00c2\u00a0But stay tuned for some of the less enjoyable moments, when I explore my top five lowlights from the convention tomorrow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Suitcase contents are strewn around the room, stacks of Vinylmation are piled on tables, and I spent most of my afternoon clearing space on my computer to fit all of the pictures I need to upload… all signs point to the end of vacation, and if those weren’t enough, the post-Disney blues have set in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,169],"tags":[343,16,172,37,38,367,368,369,342,180,340,87,341,347,201,344,150,277,251,208,113,121,345,346,227,136,339],"class_list":["post-1034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-disney-magic","category-trip-report","tag-aladdin","tag-alice-in-wonderland","tag-beauty-and-the-beast","tag-d23","tag-d23-expo","tag-dick-van-dyke","tag-dick-van-dyke-and-the-vantastix","tag-dick-van-dyke-show","tag-disney-legends","tag-disney-store","tag-father-of-the-bride","tag-jim-henson","tag-john-lasseter","tag-kermit-the-frog","tag-mickey-mouse-club","tag-mulan","tag-peter-and-the-starcatchers","tag-pirates-of-the-caribbean","tag-princess-and-the-frog","tag-richard-sherman","tag-ridley-pearson","tag-the-kingdom-keepers","tag-the-little-mermaid","tag-the-muppets","tag-vinylmation","tag-walt-disney","tag-walt-disney-archives"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/raysofdisneyland.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1034","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/raysofdisneyland.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/raysofdisneyland.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raysofdisneyland.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raysofdisneyland.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1034"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/raysofdisneyland.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1034\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1127,"href":"https:\/\/raysofdisneyland.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1034\/revisions\/1127"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/raysofdisneyland.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1034"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raysofdisneyland.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1034"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raysofdisneyland.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}