D23 Expo Day 3

Sam was feeling a little under the weather so she decided to stay in.  Pam and I took the ART shuttle over to the ACC.  Oh yeah, the PPH desk had told us on Thursday that the shuttle service from the DLR Hotel to the convention center had been cancelled, so Friday morning we walked.  As we got back to the hotel Friday evening, we saw a shuttle in the driveway???  So, a stop at the concierge desk confirmed that they were back on, and made Pam a happy girl!!  We rode over to the ACC instead of the previous day’s walk.

The only presentation really on the schedule for us on Saturday was the Inside the Walt Disney Studios at 10:30.  Having resolved the issues of where to go to get our special access, we grabbed a quick morning bit, and headed for the Sorcerer/Premiere lines.  As seems to be the case with most presentations at the Expo, this session started late as well, but, I’ll cut some slack.  At least it wasn’t ½ an hour late, like the Parks and Resorts presentation the previous evening.  The session started with Rich Ross, the head of the studio, coming out and regaling us with why he has the best job in the world.  That may or may not be, but the next guy he introduced probably does, John Lasseter.  John is an effusive and emotionally invested advocate for his craft, and he has some of the coolest shirts!  If you are a fan of animation, there are several feature films to look forward to in the next couple of years. 

The next Pixar release in mid 2012, Brave, is their first real excursion into the fairy tale style genre.  This formerly named “The Bear and Bow” is set in medieval Scotland, where a young princess – Merida defies tradition to pursue the live she wants, instead of the one she is expected to live.  Just from the clips we were treated to, I am expecting Brave to herald yet another Pixar success, and very much looking forward to the performances of Billy Connolly and King Fergus, and Craig Ferguson as Lord Macintosh.  From Walt Disney Animation Studio, we can expect Wreck-It Ralph in late 2012.  Wreck-It Ralph is an arcade game bad guy who want to prove he can be a good guy.  With the voice talents of John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, and Sarah Silverman, this looks to be another entertaining story from inside the Roy E. Disney Feature Animation building.  This release is definitely in line with Disney’s current efforts to find offerings more in tune with the tween male consumers.  Lest we forget Disney’s recent acquisition – Marvel, The Avengers will be the first, of hopefully many, picture being released by Walt Disney Pictures next May.  Of course, this November we can expect the Muppet movie, and it will be good to see them back on the big screen, though they may need to put it on IMAX in order to get Miss Piggy’s ego on screen.  J  Other features in the offing are Monsters University, John Cater, and a couple of, yet to be named, Pixar offering.  There are more, but that should enough to whet your appetite for now.  There were stars on stage during the presentation, but nothing as climatic as John Depp’s appearance, as Captain Jack Sparrow, at the end of the same 2009 Expo session.  So, I won’t spend any time on that one, other than to say it was fun, but there was nothing earth shattering.

The lines at any of the other venues were already maxed out, and I had an appointment in the Park for early evening which left the sessions in the later afternoon and early evening out consideration.  So the rest of the afternoon was spent wandering the Expo floor.  Stopped by the Walt Disney Family Museum booth again, and got a chance to visit with Paul Anderson for a bit.  This was my second visit to the booth, as I forgot to mention in my previous post my first visit the day before.  On that occasion, I got my picture taken in the booth, as I was sporting some of my Museum regalia – a Museum t-shirt and my ever-present ball cap (complete with Found Member and current Friends pins.)  I was sporting another Museum t-shirt along with ball cap today as well, but no picture.  That’s okay, also on my person were Museum brochures for anyone interested, during my excursions around the Expo, I probably handed out about a dozen of them.  After a visit at the Museum both it was a trip around the rest of the forum area to see what collectible merchandise was available.  As we walked around the forum we came about a booth where Bill “Goofy” Farmer was signing autographs.  As Bill had just recently friended me on Facebook, I just had to stop and talk.  I also use these opportunities to talk up the Museum and suggest that he should come up and do a session for us.  Good News, something may be in the works.  YAY!!!  It was fun talking with him, and I even managed to get a autographed Goofy picture for one of his number one fans, and the young lady we had left at home.

After a trip back to the hotel room to down off the day’s booty, and to rest for a bit, it was off to the evening’s event, and I had been looking forward to it since I learned it was happening.  Many of you have already reading some of my comments in previous posts, and you see their banner link at the top of this page, along with a link in my favorites section, so it no surprise that I am a big fan of the Mousetalgia podcast and crew.  So, when I learn of a Mousetalgia Meet-up at the Park during the Expo, I knew I had to be there!!!  I arrived at the Hungry Bear at the appointed time, got myself a sandwich and a drinks - I was even a good kid and elected the coleslaw instead of fries, and went off to find the meet-up section. That wasn’t hard at all, I found Dave and Becky (with Button being as cute as she could be) sitting at a table with a few other individuals just a few step away from the condiment table.  Introductions were made and we all sat, talked, and ate as the party grew. In a few minutes Kristen and Jeff joins us.  I was particularly happy to Kristen, as she had recently had a bit to a scare which threatened to keep away from the Expo this year.  I was really glad to see that she had made it down, cuz I knew how much she was looking forward to the event.  After awhile of visiting with everyone, we gathered for a picture – if you look really close, you can see me hiding in the back, and then headed off for a group ride on Pirates.  We had, I believe a count of, 40 people show for the meet-up, a pretty good turnout, I think, and close to that many show up a Pirates for the group ride.  The wait was only about fifteen so we breezed through the line.  I’ve ridden Pirates dozens of times over the years, but this is the first time I ever got soaked going down the two drops.  But, it was a blast, and doing it with a group of people who truly enjoy Disneyland as much as I do made it that much better.  Next, it was off to the Jungle Cruise for a second group ride, again a short wait time meant we lost only a few people, the count was now 35.  Who knew you could actually fit 35 people on one of those cruise boats, but we did, with Dave being the last to board.  Our Skipper was great, but then, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced one who isn’t.  It is really interesting how different the Jungle Cruise is at night from a daytime ride.  Those thing that you know are there, kind of surprise you a little more at night.  Well, after the ride we all said our goodbyes and went along our ways, happy in the warm feelings that this Meet-up provided.  Thanks Dave, Becky (and Button), Kristen, and Jeff for a great event, I really enjoyed myself, and look forward to making future meet-ups.

After a short stroll back to the Paradise Pier Hotel, through Downtown Disney, I was back at the room with Sam and Pam and ready to rest up for tomorrow’s events.

Your comments or questions are always welcome.  If you have a correction or something you think I should look at in my research, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com

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D23 Expo Days 2

I’ll be posting an overall view of how the Expo ran later, but for now, here are the highlights.

Well the Disney Geekfest, known as the D23 Expo got underway on Friday.  Three lines had already formed up when we arrived at 6:30 for an 8:00 AM early entry for D23 members.  One for the Sorcerer’s Apprentice ticket holders one Premiere people, and one for General D23 Ticket holders.  The line for the general D23 members was already stretching from the front doors of the Anaheim Convention Center (ACC) down to the end of the building down towards Katella.  With no one yet in place to direct the queue, people chose their own directions and the line began doubling back on itself up the sidewalk toward the ACC entrance until it started to interfere with the line positions for the Sorcerers and Premieres.  Enter security staff to direct the attendees out through the ACC plaza on Katella.  As the line for these D23 devotees continued to grow, it zigged and zagged across the plaza in a serpentine mass of bodies out to the fountain.  It was just barely 7:00AM.  Poor… poor Sam was attending on a general ticket, while Mom and I had Premiere tickets, so we were keeping her company in the general line.  Being the social butterfly that I can be, I left Pam and Sam in the general members’ line and charted off to see if I saw anyone else that I knew.  Stopped to talk with a few people I’ve met up at the Museum.  Got a chance to walk and talk with the Disney Geek for a few minutes, and generally walked up to the entrance to the convention center.  That’s when I spied the fourth line, the general admission line off by themselves on the other side of the entrances.  Guess, someone didn’t want to sully the pre-ticketed members gathering with the unwashed masses (said with tongue in cheek J )  So it was back to the pair I left in the other line.  When I arrived back, this line had grown to encompass the entire plaza out to Katella and down the street some.  The girls told me to go ahead and head up to the Premiere line so I could get something to eat and get us a spot in line for the first presentation of the day.  I of course complied.  The 8:00AM early entry time came and went, finally close to 8:30 we were allowed in.  Not a great start to this day, but the first presentation of morning was really good.

First presentation of the day was that on Don Ballard’s “History of the Disneyland Hotel.”  I recently met Don online through another friend’s Facebook group, and it turns out Don and I only live a few miles apart in Northern California.  Don has amassed a great deal of knowledge about the Disneyland Hotel and the Wrather’s who built and own it.  I’m not going to go into details about Don’s work, he done a far better job in his books than I ever could, beside… he has pictures!  J  But Don’s presentation was peppered with rarely seen video footage highlighting the Hotel and the Wrathers.  Again, my word pale in comparison to witnessing these videos.  But, if you have interest in the little 5 Star resort that sprang out of an orange grove, I highly recommend Don Ballard’s work, “Disneyland Hotel 1954-1959: The Little Motel in the Middle of the Orange Grove.”  Also, thank you to MiceChat for hosting Don at their booth in the Collectors Forum; otherwise, I’d have missed meeting him in person.

Sam head off to do her own thing and we headed down to attend the Legends ceremony which we wound up missing because of some miscommunications, more on that in a later post, so we head up to Christmas in August – a preview of this seasons Prep and Landing.  If you’re as big and fan of Christmas as me, and Disney fan to boot, you’re going to want watch Lanny, Wayne, and the Prep and Landing team do their thing for this Christmas.  The session was hosted by the Disney Geek – Jeffrey Epstein.  After a few sneak previews, Jeffrey was joined on stage by the directors; Stevie Wermer-Skelton and Kevin Deters (also the writers), and producer Dorothy McKim, later to be joined by Musical Director; Micheal Giacchino, and the voice talents of Chris Parnell and Dave Foley, to discuss the making of the latest installment of Prep & Landing.  All the panelists pretty much agree to being influenced by the great Rankin/Bass animated Christmas special from their childhood.  I too remember those fondly and still pull out the DVD’s during the Christmas season along with other classic like the Disney Santa Clause movies.  Prep & Landing will be added to this collection of holiday viewing, which reminds me…  Yikes!!! That Holiday Season rapidly approaches.  At the end of the session everyone was instructed to check under their chairs for a possible special surprise…  Pam won!!! NOTHING???  turned out to be a leftover from some other event.  L  More on this in my upcoming overall impressions post.

Finally presentation of the day for us was the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.  It was a great presentation, but it started about 30 minutes late and finished on time, so I kind of wonder what got left out?  We heard about the reboot of Fantasyland and Walt Disney World, and I looking forward to seeing it someday.  The concept art looks really interesting.  But, it’s not my home park.  We heard about the groundbreaking for Disneyland Shanghai, but, it’s not my home park.  Heard some great things about other resorts news, and some kid won a trip for 4 to the new Aulani resort in Hawaii.  COOL!!!  But, what about Anaheim?  Disneyland resort, that’s home.  Carsland is cool, and the concert art is great.  The progress video was neat.  But, I can’t see new for Disneyland.  Fantasy Faire, sure, but what about Tomorrowland?  Tomorrowland is in need of serious attention.  Somebody get Tony Baxter on the phone and give him a budget.  Presentation was good, but nothing exciting or that I didn’t already know about.

By the time the Parks and Resorts presentation let out, the Ultimate Disney Trivia Tournament queue was filled and closes, and there were informal lines forming for the next event in that venue.  Dick Van Dyke and the Vantastics, no surprise there was big demand for that one.  So we head back to the hotel to rest up for next day, hearing rumors that the Expo had sold out for Saturday as we were leaving.

Your comments or questions are always welcome.  If you have a correction or something you think I should look at in my research, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com

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9/11 Remembered, An Explanation

Some of you may have noticed my absence from this blog for the last couple of weeks.

Some might claim writer’s block, others just being uninspired.  Nothing could be further from the truth, I am constantly inspired by Walt Disney, and many of those also inspired by him.

I write on two blogs regularly.  This one which is a passion and you might call a bit of a fantasy, and my happy place.  The second is a more reality based blog that I use to reflect on how my life and views have developed to those I hold today. 

This is an excerpt of what I posted on my other blog:

I’ve been trying to figure out for the last couple of weeks why I have not been able type more than a couple of lines text before the synaptic link between fingers and brain melts into nothingness.  In the last couple of days it has been so bad, that the mere contemplation of transferring thought to text eliminates those synaptic links before they are even established.  For me, troubling times drive toward a self-analysis where my mind refuses to rest even when the body must.  The disconcerting idea that I could not and might never again put pen to paper, or more accurately put fingers to keyboard cogently to articulate my thought, has led more than a few sleepless nights over the last week, as writing is the first thing I think about every morning, and normally my last thoughts before sleep over takes me at night, a very frightening time for me, contemplating this challenge.

After many sleepless hours of reflection, I have realized; my blockage is not one of lack of inspiration, but rather one of conflicting stimulations.  Like many others, I live my life trying to balance between two worlds.  One of reality and one of fantasy, trying to make sense of the current unpleasantness in reality, while still dreaming of what could be, if only…  This blog is a reflective indulgence of how I arrived at my current level of enlightenment, or lack thereof, depending on your perspective, and how that relates to my reality.  My Disney blog is an indulgence of a passion, and a part of my fantasy life.

As we approach the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on this country, reality has clashed on fantasy, as it was actually the events of 9/11/2001 that really crystallized the direction of my fantasy.  Those who know me or have read my Disney blog, knows that prior to 9/11 I was planning a fishing retreat to decompress after a particularly stressful work period.  After those horrific events, I was left with a feeling of dismay at the thought of leaving my family for any extended period of time, so my wife and I planned a trip which included the whole family.  Since the girls had enjoyed their first trip to Disneyland a few years earlier, we decided a second trip was in order, and the event that began to focus a realization of my intense interest in the man that created this unique piece of fantasy called Disneyland.  With other recent challenges presented in my reality, 9/11/2011 rapidly approaching, and how little it appears that we have learned from those horrid attacks, my brain apparently decided it was easier to shut out both, rather than give either precedence.  But, in my ultimate refusal to succumb to challenges presented me, I will find a way.

End excerpt…  If you’d like to read more, you can find it here.

I will, and think I have, found my way past this block.  First, I’d like to thank those who have become friends in my Disney passion the last few years and included me in your passions.  You have all helped my more than you know.  Having been able to continue to read and explore the Disney phenomenon through your efforts has kept me motivated to find a way forward.  Thank You ALL!!!  Second, I have rediscovered that I need that blend of fantasy, and reality, in my life to make it work.  I think we all need it, even though some of us don’t understand it.  So, while I will not be blend the two blogs – I don’t think there are many Disney fans, which this blog is for, who reality want a peek inside my mind – very scary thought, nor are there all the many of my friend who are will to take the trip inside my reality, who share my Disney passion.  However, I will be more cognizant of how those two worlds interact for me, so that should allow me to keep thing focused on each blog.

Next week, I will complete my reports and thoughts from the D23 Expo, and of course, the events occurring at the Walt Disney Family Museum.  They is a very special event happening on Saturday that I am truly looking forward to, and excited about.  But, for tomorrow, I’ll spending my time in remembrance of those who lost their lives on 9/11 and their family, and those who have lost their lives since, along with their families, defending this country.

Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Walt

Your comments or questions are always welcome.  If you have a correction or something you think I should look at in my research, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com

You can find us on Facebook at:  Discovering Disney History on FB