Last week Disney fans from all over the world came together at the Anaheim Convention Center. D23 Expo 2011 was the second gathering of its kind, the first being in 2009. D23 is the ultimate Disney fan club. And the expo … well … the expo is everything Disney. Everything!
We joined an estimated 50,000 other Disney fans. Wow! And I don’t do crowds! But you know what? It really didn’t seem all that crowded. The only time we really were aware of a ‘crowd’ was when we were standing (or sitting) in a line for a specific event. The lines were, for lack of a better word, controlled, so other than time consuming, they weren’t bad at all.
The first thing that caught our eye … okay, NY’s eye … was the 1962 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine. (Have I ever mentioned the affinity NY has for Cadillacs?) Walt Disney preferred to drive his own car, but on special occasions would make use his limo.
This is the very car that carried Walt and Lillian Disney to Grauman’s Chinese Theatre for the premiere of Mary Poppins in August of 1964.
We saw not so hidden Mickeys
Huge Mickeys
And Mickey in costume. I can’t wait for Mickey’s Halloween Party!
The D23 Expo had an entire section of private vendors selling and showing their products. A party company set these tables displaying everything needed to put together the perfect Disney themed party. If you’re anything like me though, you may be looking at these photos and thinking DIY!
There was memorabilia everywhere! Even though I enjoyed the costumes worn by Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz in the latest Pirates film … I really really liked the cannon used in the film. I actually think it would look perfect in my backyard!
NY and his brother Gary perused the vintage memorabilia bringing back memories of when they were both Disney cast members … many moons ago.
One of the lines we chose to wait in was for the Walt Disney Archives exhibit. It was well worth the wait and opened the floodgates of many fond memories. These are some of the original Mickey Mouse Club members costumes.
I aboslutely fell in love with “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” when it premeired in 1988. I was totally intrigued with the mixture of actual people working (on film) with animated characters.
More costumes Johnny Depp wore, only this time from the new version of “Alice in Wonderland”.
From the old …
… to the new. The D23 Expo is quite the Disney event.
Right down to the restaurants!! In bygone days when Disney rides required tickets, the saying went, “The best things in life are E!”
No compensation was received for this post. We each (NY & I) received a three day complimentary D23 Expo media pass and as always … all thoughts, opinions and magical experiences are our own.
Debra @ A Frugal Friend says
Love it….my parents always talked about the E tickets! 🙂 We’re thinking Disney Alaska cruise….wanna go?
Beth @ TheAngelForever says
It looks like D23 was an amazing experience. So be honest, will you go again?
Oh and Debra – my dream cruise is the Disney one to Alaska.