Disney Special Events

D23’s Destination D to Be Held in Walt Disney World This July

21 January 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

As a charter member of D23 – I really am grateful for its existence. It brought Walt Disney history to life for me, and really, led to my first visit to Disneyland in 2011 for the D23 Expo (and I’ve now been back 5 times since!). So I’m thrilled that D23 is announcing its next Destination D event will be held here in Walt Disney World again. This was the first D23 event I attended, and it really made me realize how important it is to support those in the company who truly care about its past and work at being stewards for its future. I also couldn’t be more excited that they will be paying homage to the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. My mother actually attended this World’s Fair and it of course holds a special place in my heart. Here is the official news from D23 directly, with info on each event and a full 2014 calendar of events:

DESTINATION D: ATTRACTION REWIND presented by H20 Plus: Walt Disney once said, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” It’s in that spirit that guests this summer will have the opportunity to visit—or revisit—some of the most beloved Disney attractions of yesteryear.Destination D: Attraction Rewind, held July 26 and 27 at Walt Disney World Resort, will bring Disney archivists, Imagineers, Legends and luminaries together to celebrate fan favorites such as Adventure Thru Inner Space, If You Had Wings, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with rarely seen concept art and images; vintage video clips; and revealing stories. In addition, several presentations will be dedicated to the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair, which spawned beloved attractions like it’s a small world and Carousel of Progress.

MARY POPPINS 50th ANNIVERSARY SCREENING: On August 24, 2014—nearly 50 years to the day on which this beloved classic premiered—D23 will celebrate with a very special screening event.

D23’S DISNEY FANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: For the third year in a row, D23 will hit the road, visiting cities across the U.S. to commemorate dozens of magical Disney milestones celebrating landmark anniversaries this year. Hosted by Disney archivists and the D23 Team, D23’s Disney Fanniversary Celebration events will be held in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Orlando, New York City, Seattle, and other cities in fall 2014. Fanniversary 2014 will revisit some of the most beloved theme park attractions, animated and live-action films, characters, TV series, and more than 90 years of Disney history including Donald Duck, the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair, Sleeping Beauty, Haunted Mansion, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Little Mermaid, and many more. Fanniversary events will be open to the public, with special admission prices and surprises created for D23 Members in attendance.

D23’S LUNCH WITH A LEGEND: A limited number of D23 Members will join Disney Legend Marty Sklar for a private luncheon on The Walt Disney Studios lot, where Marty will talk about his extraordinary 54-year career with Disney. Look for additional “Legendary” lunches later this year.

DISNEY STORE MEMBER MIXERS: After giving members a peek at the reimagined stores in Florida, Kansas, New Jersey, California, and Nevada in 2013, Disney Store will once again invite D23 Members for exclusive mornings of shopping, discounts, games and goodies.

MICKEY’S OF GLENDALE: The Walt Disney Imagineering employee store in Glendale, Calif., will open its doors to D23 Members on April 26, June 21, and other dates throughout the year, with special guests and surprises. Members will have an opportunity to purchase limited-edition merchandise and view the park-like grounds at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts’ creative “think tank.”

SCREENINGS ON THE DISNEY STUDIO LOT: Throughout the year, D23 will continue its popular movie screenings inside the historic Studio Theatre at The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. The 2014 roster includes Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, and The Little Mermaid.

D23 DAY AT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS AND ARCHIVES: D23’s members-only tours of the historic Studio Lot and Walt Disney Archives in Burbank return, highlighting historic moments from Disney film, television, and theme parks—as well as showcasing many of the external locations used for filming Saving Mr. Banks. Tours will take placeMarch 22, May 31, August 2, and November 8.

SIGNATURE EVENTS: Look for the return of some favorites, including the popular holiday offering DISNEY AND DICKENS (in Burbank in December), as well as other D23 traditions.

Dates, ticketing information, and more D23 events will be announced throughout the year. Full details on D23’s lineup of 2014 special events can be found on the Fan Club’s website at www.D23.com/events. All events and dates are subject to change.

Current event calendar:

January 31: D23’s Lunch with a Legend — Marty Sklar, Burbank, Calif.
February 15: The Jungle Book, Burbank, Calif.
March 22: D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives, Burbank, Calif.
April 26: Mickey’s of Glendale shopping event, Glendale, Calif.
May 31: D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives, Burbank, Calif.
June 21: Mickey’s of Glendale shopping event, Glendale, Calif.
July 26 & 27: Destination D: Attraction Rewind presented by H20+, Walt Disney World Resort
August 2: D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives, Burbank, Calif.
August 24: Mary Poppins 50th Anniversary Celebration, Los Angeles Area
Fall: D23’s 2014 Disney Fanniversary Celebration, locations to be announced mid-2014
September 13: The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Burbank, Calif.
October 11: Sleeping Beauty, Burbank, Calif.
November 8: D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives, Burbank, Calif.
November 15: The Little Mermaid, Burbank, Calif.
December: Disney and Dickens, Burbank, Calif.

About D23

The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his fledgling studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s more than 90-year history. D23 gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.

Fans can join D23 at Gold, Silver, and Free Membership levels at D23.com and at www.DisneyStore.com/D23. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow us @DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Disney Frozen Themed Guest Suite at Quebec City’s Hotel De Glace

17 January 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

After the recent Tangled guest room photos from Tokyo Disneyland, I thought it was too cool not to share this completely different Disney-themed suite. Not saying I’d want to stay there (I moved to Florida for a reason!) but it sure is pretty to look at! Check out the official press release and photos below of the Hotel de Glace Disney Frozen suite and “activity cave.” Not sure what that means, but hopefully it involves building a snowman, or at the very least – warm hugs.

BURBANK, CA, January 17, 2014 – Today, Walt Disney Studios has unveiled the first images from the Frozen-inspired suite at Quebec City’s famed Hôtel de Glace, in celebration of Disney’s “FROZEN” Blu-ray & Digital HD release.

Created entirely out of sculpted ice and snow and supervised by the film’s art director Michael Giaimo, the “Frozen Suite” is modeled after Anna & Elsa’s bedrooms. The collaboration will also include a “Frozen Activity Cave” bringing the wonder of Disney’s wintry tale to life like never before. The suite will be unveiled this weekend and remain open through March 23.

Bring home Disney’s “FROZEN” on Digital HD & 3D February 25^th and Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD & On-Demand March 18^th— featuring a blizzard of never-before-seen bonus extras with gorgeous animation, memorable characters and unforgettable music. It’s dazzling fun for the whole family!

For more information, check out Disney.com/Frozen, like Frozen on Facebook: facebook.com/DisneyFrozen and follow them on Twitter: Twitter.com/DisneyAnimation.

About Hôtel de Glace:

Located only 10 minutes from downtown Québec City, the Hôtel de Glace is a must-see attraction to discover each winter. The authentic Hôtel de Glace in America, has seduced over a million people around the world since its opening in 2001. With its huge snow vaults and its crystalline ice sculptures, the Hôtel de Glace impresses by its dazzling decor. From January 3rd until March 23rd, 2014, enter this magical universe and live an incredible experience by visiting this ephemeral work of art.

For more information about Quebec City’s Hôtel de Glace, please visit www.hoteldeglace-canada.com.

NEW: Tinker Bell Half Marathon Disney Dooney and Bourke Bag

13 January 2014 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

runDisney just released a sneak peek at the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Disney Dooney & Bourke purses available at Disneyland for the race On January 19, 2014! As with WDW runDisney events, there will be a race expo, opening on the 16th for this event, where racers and spectators alike can purchase merchandise. Last year, the Dooneys sold out in a matter of minutes, so keep that in mind! We’ll have more info as it becomes available:

I love the colors and pattern, but Tink has always been my favorite. What do you think?

Don’t forget to check DisneyStore.com for sales of select current releasedDisney Dooney & Bourke purses and Zannaland’s Disney Dooney & Bourke page with ALL handbag photos and info.

*DisneyStore.com links are affiliate links, which means it costs you nothing extra to click or buy, but if you do, I get a small commission. Thanks for reading!

NEW: Disney Dooney and Bourke-2014 runDisney WDW Princess Half Marathon

11 January 2014 by Suzannah Otis 6 Comments

FINALLY, we have a photo of the purses available to purchase at the WDW Princess Half Marathon! I don’t have prices yet but if you are registered you should have received an email from runDisney with a link to pre-purchase these bags! If anyone would like to pass along pricing, I’ll update the post with the info. (Edit: thank you, prices added!) More/larger photos as I can find them. Until then, here you go!

Letter carrier is $197.95, shopper is $187.25, and the tote is $240.75.
(Thanks Courtkneehowe for the pricing!)

Check DisneyStore.com for sales of select current released Disney Dooney & Bourke purses and Zannaland’s Disney Dooney & Bourke page with ALL handbag photos and info.

*DisneyStore.com links are affiliate links, which means it costs you nothing extra to click or buy, but if you do, I get a small commission. Thanks for reading!

NEW! 2014 Walt Disney World Marathon Dooney and Bourke Bags

26 November 2013 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

Disney and Dooney & Bourke are switching things up yet again with a whole new design for the 2014 Walt Disney World Marathon bag designs! Brightly colored and featuring Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Dumbo (for the Goofy’s Challenge and Dumbo Double Dare medals) and other familiar Disney icons. Also written on the print are “Run Around the World” “Go Go Go” and “Finisher“. Looks like a super fun way to show off your amazing accomplishment all year long!

The bags come in three styles:

Tote – $246.10 Wristlet – $90.95 Crossbody – $208.65 – prices include tax

Right now purses are available to order for registered runners on the RunDisney Active.com page and will be available in the Wide World of Sports Expo Center but I have a feeling these won’t be around long! More info and larger pictures soon!

Here are some photos from the RunDisney WDW Marathon Expo:

The Expo is located at the ESPN Wide World of Sports and is open Friday from 8am – 7pm and Saturday from 10am – 4pm. The Dooney and Bourke center is located to the left when you enter the WWOS, outside Champion Stadium. Good luck to all the runners and purse buyers out there! 😉

Guest Post: Trick-or-Treating in and Around Walt Disney World

30 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

I would like to welcome guest author Michelle Rise who wanted to share her tips for spending Halloween in Orlando with all of you. Apologies for not posting this sooner, it’s been a busy month here in Zannaland – but this is great planning for last minute ideas this year or working on next year’s Halloween! Thanks, Michelle!

…

October is here along with changing leaves, cool breezes and Halloween. Everyone enjoys the costume parties, parades and scary decor but what everyone really looks forward to is Trick or Treating. If you plan to be in Orlando for Halloween, you’re in for a treat. The holiday is celebrated with gusto throughout the month of October and nobody does it better than Walt Disney World.

Halloween at Walt Disney World is delightful. The decorations are colorful with just a touch of not-so-scary ghoulishness for that extra bit of fun. How do you trick or treat while vacationing in Orlando?

MICKEY’S NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

Dress up in your favorite costume and attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom. Kids of all ages can trick or treat throughout the park and nobody cares if you go through a candy line twice. We counted over 30 different places to trick or treat spread pretty evenly throughout the park and I’ve been told there are actually more than that.

Tip
Bring a bag unless you want to use the plastic one given out by cast members. The plastic bag is cute but a lightweight pullstring backpack works better.

Naturally you’ll see a lot of princesses and pirates which is why dressing as Snow White’s evil stepmother or Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty is so fun. You’ll stand out from the crowd. Your costume doesn’t have to be Disney related. In fact, you may be even more noticeable in something non-Disney. But whatever costume you choose, definitely go costumed! It’s just more fun that way.

Surprise
You probably don’t want to spend all the party hours trekking around trick or treating. Most nights of the Not So Scary Halloween event, there are two parades. Candy and stickers are handed out by cast members during the parade so you’re still trick or treating but without all the tiresome walking.

Fireworks are a big hit during the party with special fall colors in the sparkles and some that are ghost or pumpkin shaped.

Don’t forget the rides and attractions. Many are open and waiting for fun with short lines. As the night goes on, characters come out to play and greet guests for photo opportunities.

TRICK OR TREAT AT YOUR HOTEL

If you can’t make the Mickey Halloween party or don’t want to stay out that late, check with the concierge at your hotel. Many hotels offer activities and events for Halloween, such as ghost stories, character visits, treats and costume contests. Most are held poolside or in the lobby at designated hours but it’s a great way to enjoy Halloween on the go. We enjoyed a s’more night one Halloween and were given a bag of various goodies and small games. After some quick research, Hawthorn Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa has a kids trick or treat through the resort area and the staff dress up every year including the General Manager. The other StaySky Orlando hotels typically have their employees dressed up and a bucket of Halloween candy at the front desk. Depending on the ages involved, a simple event is perfect. Kids still have fun and parents save money and get to bed earlier.

Either way, you’re sure to have fun and create great family memories in the process. Happy Halloween!

…

Bio:

Michelle Rise is a homemaker and Mother of 5 and travel enthusiast. With many years of experience trekking through Disney parks with her Family, Michelle has become an expert on navigating families through Disney. She also enjoys travel to most other destinations worldwide and when not writing about her experiences or teaching her children to drive, Michelle can be found chasing the family dog up rainbow mountain with her husband of over 25 years, Ben. You can follow Michelle on Twitter, @Rise7Up, for all of her latest writings.

Cranberries – the Perfect Harvest Ingredient at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival

19 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis 3 Comments

Being from Massachusetts, I grew up knowing about cranberry bogs, even visiting the Ocean Spray factory when I was little. But many folks in our country have never even heard of a cranberry bog and have no idea how cranberries are harvested in the five growing states of Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin. For this reason (and I just love cranberries) I get excited when Ocean Spray sets up their mini bog right inside Epcot each Food & Wine Festival. The bog has been a focal point of the Festival for the past few years now, taking up a portion of the walkway from Future World to World Showcase, where all the countries and their food booths reside.

It makes perfect sense that a food item which has such a rich American history, harvested in the Fall – the time when Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival takes place, would be featured prominently at the park. Ocean Spray is a great partner, similar to many Disney partnerships in the past up to present day, like Carnation and Coca-Cola, so it’s wonderful to see their presence in the park and in various food items throughout the Food & Wine Festival. In addition to its bright red splash of color as you walk by, the bog is also staffed with actual Cranberry farmers, there to answer any questions you may have about the cranberry and its harvesting process. Plus you get free Craisins for visiting the information area next to the bog!

I recently got to experience the Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog first hand and try out some truly unique recipes using cranberries and Craisins. Below are some photos from that night, as well as some recipes from the dishes we got to try. You can also find Ocean Spray cranberries and Craisins at the Hops & Barley booth at the Food & Wine Festival, in the bread pudding dessert with Grand Marnier Anglaise. Also at the Cheese booth where an Artisan Cheese Selection is served with Craisin bread. Yum.

Artisan Cheese Stuffed Craisin Mini Brioche

Cranberry and Sea Salt Cured Wild Salmon

English Mustard Dusted Scotch Egg with Cranberry Marmalade

Various media guests roaming in the bog.

Here are two recipes from our special dinner:

Craisin Vegetable Fried Rice

Ingredients

3 eggs, beaten lightly
1 tablespoon sesame oil

2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh ginger
1 bunch scallions, white and green parts sliced thinly, separated

¼ cup diced carrots
5 cups day old cooked rice
2/3 cup chopped dried Craisins

¼ cup green peas
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
Kosher salt, to taste
Vegetable oil, for cooking

Preparation

Heat a wok or large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add oil followed by eggs when hot. Move eggs around the pan, scrambling them. With a spatula break into pieces and remove from heat when almost cooked. Set aside.

Heat sesame oil in same pan and add the garlic and ginger cooking until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the white parts of the scallions and carrots and cook for a few minutes. Add the rice and cranberries and toss thoroughly until heated through. Add the soy sauce, white pepper and reserved eggs, green peas and toss until heated thru. Remove from heat and garnish with the scallion greens. Serve immediately.

Serves 10-12

Mole Shrimp Quesadilla

Ingredients

¼ cup chili powder

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

¾ teaspoon kosher salt

¾ teaspoon ground black pepper

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon allspice

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

1 lime, juiced

6 large flour tortillas

3 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided

Preparation

Combine chili, cocoa, salt, peppers, cinnamon and allspice, mixing well. Pat dry shrimp and toss into seasoning. Let shrimp marinate in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add shrimp into hot skillet and cook until shrimp are opaque and no longer pink in the center, 3 to 5 minutes.
Remove skillet from heat; stir jalapeno pepper and lime juice into shrimp mixture. Cool shrimp off in refrigerator before assembling quesadillas.
To make quesadillas place half cup of cheese into each tortilla followed by the cooked mole shrimp. Fold the tortilla shell in half creating a semi circle.
Place a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and place the quesadilla, slowly browning and melting the cheese.
Cut into portions and serve immediately.

Serves 6-8

Be sure to look for Ocean Spray Cranberries and Craisins during Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival, running now through November 11, 2013. Can’t make it to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival? Visit www.oceanspray.com for delicious everyday ideas and seasonal inspirations from around the world. Cranberry lovers eager to share their stories and recipes are encouraged to tweet @OceanSprayInc (they tweet back!) or post on Ocean Spray’s Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram pages.

NEW Ghoulish Delights at Be Our Guest Restaurant and Magic Kingdom for Halloween

10 September 2013 by Suzannah Otis 5 Comments

An instagram friend (@wibblywaffle-Rueben Gutierrez), who just happens to be a pastry cook at Be Our Guest restaurant, shared a photo this afternoon that I thought was good enough to get a whole post devoted to it. The enchanted chefs at Be Our Guest have come up with some sweet spells for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party – a “Poisoned Apple Cupcake” and a “Blood Orange Cream Puff” and they sound delicious!

The Poisoned Apple Cupcake is yellow cake with green apple mousse filling, topped with buttercream, apple pie filling, crispy pearls and a chocolate witches hat. Spooky!

The Cream Puff is chocolate with blood orange mousse, which sounds right up my alley. We’ll have a photo of that up soon! Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom for the Halloween Party should note that Be Our Guest restaurant IS open, so check for walk-in availability just in case. According to our chef above, they are not seating past 7:45 but would love to show off their new offerings!

In addition to these special event-only desserts for their dinner service, Be Our Guest is adding a new dessert to the regular menu…The Grey Stuff! A brand new lunch-only cupcake form of the Grey Stuff is available starting today. The cupcake is the same chocolate cupcake offered in the Triple Chocolate Cupcake, with Grey Stuff filling, Grey Stuff on top and silver crispy pearls.

A different dinner form of the dessert is also available now, which uses Grey Stuff on the tarts the restaurant previously made. Thanks to @wibblywaffle for the photo below:

Be Our Guest Grey Stuff cupcake – photo by Reuben Gutierrez

Are you heading to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? These new desserts have me excited to dine at Be Our Guest again during one of the party nights.

There are also some other Halloween treats available around the Magic Kingdom during the parties – thanks to DisneyLifestylers.com for the use of the photos below:

Pumpkin ice cream waffle sundae at Sleepy Hollow. Photo ©DisneyLifestylers.com

Candy Corn soft serve ice cream at Storybook Treats. Photo ©DisneyLifestylers.com

Hatbox Ghost Mickey popcorn bucket. Photo ©DisneyLifestylers.com

D23 Expo 2013 – What to Know Before You Go!

6 August 2013 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

If you’ve been reading Disney blogs, twitter, facebook or even instagram lately, you know that the D23 Expo is almost upon us! As you know, I am attending for my second time, and my fourth time at the happiest place on earth, the Disneyland Resort. This year, D23 has made some big changes in the way the Expo works, in response to guest and fan feedback from past Expos. Because of that, and the large amount of first-timers I’ve seen commenting online, I thought I would put together a D23 Expo 101. Here I’ll share my own personal tips and tricks, as well as get some insider info from D23’s own Jeffrey Epstein, who was nice enough to speak with me the other day and give me the run down.

What’s New:

In listening to guest feedback, according the Jeffrey Epstein, the biggest issue D23 worked to improve upon was capacity. As a result, they have doubled the size of the Stage 23 venue to 2000 seats. The Stage 28 venue also has an increased capacity and the Arena now has a 2000 seat overflow theatre, with closed-circuit live streaming of all Arena events. In addition, they have created a “StagePass” for the Stage 23 and Stage 28 sessions, similar to a FastPass system. We’ll discuss more about StagePass in a moment.

Additionally, D23 has added 2 concerts this year, of course the amazing combo of Alan Menken and Richard Sherman, which is a dream show for all Disney fans. There is also the Broadway and Beyond concert which is sure to thrill attendees and fans of Disney’s Broadway productions. Also this year, Imagineering is celebrating its 60th anniversary and has decided to showcase the creative process that fascinates so many who love the Walt Disney Company. Sunday will feature a full day of Imagineering panels, offering a look behind the scenes, which guests so often want to see. The full D23 schedule is available online and with the D23 App, which we’ll also discuss below.

StagePass:

When Stage Pass was first announced, there was a little confusion about how exactly it worked. Well our amazing pal Jeffery has given us the facts on how Stage Pass will work for us. Similar to a FastPass within a Disney Park, StagePass is free, and available on a first-come-first-served basis for sessions taking place after 11am in Stage 23 and Stage 28. StagePass is not available for morning sessions before 11am. Here’s exactly what to do:

For a session after 11am, line up with your activated D23 Expo credentials. Decide which session you want to get a StagePass for. Jeffrey recommends you have a second and even third choice because there will be a lot of people doing just what you are. Then if you want to get back in line to obtain another StagePass for a session after 3:00pm, you may do so after 12:30pm.

TIP: Also similar to FastPass in the parks, if you have activated credentials for other members of your party, you may bring them to obtain StagePasses for them as well. This will come in handy as you plan your Expo day. Someone may be waiting in line for a morning session, while someone else is in line for StagePass, letting you attend a later session with a guaranteed seat.

Unfortunately, StagePasses are not unlimited. When they are gone, they are gone, and that probably means that particular session will not have any seating. You are able to wait in a stand-by line for sessions if you do not have a StagePass, but you have to decide if that is a good use of your time, with no guarantee of seating. If you have a StagePass and still want to get a seat up front or center stage, you should probably still line up with a good amount of time to try and get a preferred seat location. StagePasses are for general admission seating and do not guarantee a particular seat location. Good luck!

What’s the Same:

Well, simply put, the lines and waiting. You will wait in line. You will probably miss out on some sessions you really want to see. It will be crowded. That is just par for the course with any convention and the D23 Expo is no exception. What’s also the same is LOTS of magic compressed into 3 days. Despite all the lines and waiting, you will have fun – it’s Disney! You’ll find the same great Walt Disney Company info and some great exclusive shopping too!

Surprises:

In addition to the larger venues and StagePass, the Show Floor is also expanded, offering even more ways to explore your favorite Disney interests and have fun. Roam the Collectors Forum to see your favorite Disney fan folks, websites, and vendors. Check out the latest from Disney Interactive, Disney Consumer Products, the Disney Channel, and more! As Jeffrey says,”the Disney Channel viewers of today are the Disney Geeks of tomorrow.” I love that quote, and it’s true! There are some great family options at the Expo and while fans of Disney history and news may not be heading there as our first choice, the fact that the Expo offers such great opportunities for all ages, is wonderful.

The biggest surprise may be finding something you never expected to enjoy. If you can’t get into a session, don’t think of it as a loss, think of it as a way to see something you never thought you would. You just may be happy with where you end up. I’ve heard there will be a fun Virtual Scavenger Hunt announced during the Expo, and don’t forget the amazing alternate reality game, The Optimist, which has been playing out online and in person over the past month or so, and may culminate at the Expo. Be sure to visit the Disney Cartography booth on the Show Floor and visit Wallace for more info!

TIP: Head to the Disney In-Home Entertainment section of the Show Floor to see the latest in Disney home entertainment releases…and…enjoy the free charging station!

If you are looking for some unique things to check out, ESPN is joining the Expo for the first time this year and will feature their moving film The 99ers. The Disney Citizenship booth showcases 30 years of VoluntEARS and attendees become an honorary VoluntEAR. Also be sure to check out the Once Upon a Time Q&A session, hosted by Jeffrey Epstein. Be sure to say hi and thank him for speaking with us here! He promises the content they are sharing in that session is NEW and unique to the Expo. I can’t wait!

Jeffrey also let us know there will be a few other surprises and reveals sprinkled throughout the 3 days…so keep your eyes and ears open!

Must Do’s:

If you do nothing else, (and you should have already done this if you’re attending the Expo!) download the D23 App for your mobile device. It has tons of fun and important info for your Expo experience. You can plan your schedule, take and edit silly photos, and so much more. During the Expo, the app will be pushing live info and updates to us. Sweet!

Hopefully this gives you a little more idea of what to expect when you walk through those convention doors. Plan, prepare, but keep an open mind for changes or plan B’s (or C’s). You know, just like a Disney Parks vacation!

Huge thanks again to Jeffrey Epstein for taking time out of his insanely busy schedule to share with us here. It is an amazing amount of work to put together these Expos and as a fan, I am so appreciative of the opportunities D23 gives us to learn and share more about the company and the magic we all know and love.

{ P.S….If you are arriving early to the Disneyland Resort for the Expo, my great friend and fellow blogger Nicole of SparklyEverAfter and I are having a meet-up on Thursday night! Join us at Disney California Adventure’s Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe on Buena Vista Street at 7pm on August 8 for some sparkles and Starbucks! We’d love to share a coffee with you and chat! If you’re in the area, be sure to stop by! }

NEW D23 Expo Disney Dooney and Bourke Purse Revealed

29 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

After the exciting news a few weeks back sharing some of the unique D23 Expo merchandise (including Disney Harvey’s Seatbelt Bags), today the Disney Parks Blog revealed the newest Disney Dooney & Bourke design, which will be for sale at the Disney Dream Store during the D23 Expo, August 9-11 2013.

This new design is in black and white, featuring Mickey and Minnie in classic animated form. The style will be available in the tassel tote, cross body and pouch styles. Edit: pricing obtained for the new styles! ~~No word on pricing yet, but hopefully they will be on par with the current designs out in similar styles. As I find out more info, I will share it here. Until then~~, enjoy the first look at this new style. What do you think? Will you be picking one up at the Expo?

Pricing for the new styles are as follows:

Pouch – $65.00

Crossbody bag – $175.00

Tassel Bag (shown above) – $285.00