D23 Expo 2017: The ULTIMATE Disney event for fans!
D23 Expo 2017: The ULTIMATE Disney event for fans!
Hey you guys! Tidesiren here AGAIN!
Life’s been one adventure after another so far and I know The Geek Lyfe has a huge part in it! This last weekend, I got to attend D23 Expo! D23 Expo is the ULTIMATE Disney fan event where, much like San Diego Comic Con, cosplayers, models, directors, artists, actors and actresses, and many others in media gather together with one common interest: Disney!
Now, I have been wanting to go to D23 Expo for 3 years, and actually ended up getting my pass for it a little over a year ago! As a Disney lover myself, D23 was the dream convention for me.
Many of us are familiar with Wonder Con and tend to make it an annual event to attend. Taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center, D23’s venue is in the same place, but much unlike any other comic con including Wonder Con, instead of having a hall separate for ticketing and another for food, D23 uses the entirety of the inside of the convention center for booths, artists, vendors, stages, panels, celebrity meets, EVEN AN HOURLY PARADE WITH FAMOUS DISNEY STARS, characters, Disney employees, dancers, singers, performers…a hall of all things strictly Disney!
There were still small places to eat as well as a large lounge area right in the walk in facing the stage where panels and Q&A’s for Disney celebrities. Places to sit littered inside where vacation clubs, cruise trips, movie screenings, and movie premier screenings were.
There were two HUGE exhibits in particular that never had less than a 45 minute wait to see what was inside! One was the blueprint, 3-D model, and visual section for what Star Wars land is going to look like once it is completed in the park! The other was Pirates of the Caribbean! Actual wardrobe pieces from the movies, movie set pieces, props, visual aids, sketches…pieces of movie, and soon to be park, history sat before my eyes and all I could do was gawk in amazement! (I would show you, but filming and photography wasn’t allowed and who was I to challenge or question the company I love?)
The Expo had vendor after vendor, booth after booth, all of Disney pins, pillows, attire of all sorts, pretty much anything you can imagine! I still haven’t gotten the Rapunzel Pop figure I want because there were soooo many beautiful and amazing things that I wanted but couldn’t choose just one!
Costume policies were simple, easy to follow, and not restricting to cosplayers outside of those who had costumes blocking their eyes strictly so they would be able to see! D23 Expo staff were EXTREMELY kind, courteous, and helpful. I witnessed them help attendees into the convention center and I never saw one without a smile. They complimented costumes, took pictures with cosplayers, and made conversation as if they were attendees themselves. I’ve never experienced such an easy and enjoyable con where the staff and security were such a positive thing to discuss.
If I were to look at cosplay for D23 Expo, it was no where near as common as any other comic con, but where it was, the costumes were incredible! Whether it was an adorable Disney-bound or an incredible costume, wherever you saw it, you HAD to take a picture! Though the costumes were few, it gave both cosplayers and photographers excellent opportunities for print-worthy photoshoots outside of the building! I myself had several shoots all of which had incredible shots.
I also had the grand opportunity to meet and greet amazing people as well as cosplayers and performers such as Traci Hines, Charisma Star, Onlyalicat, MajorSam Cosplay, Life of Shel, Joanna Lyn, theofficialariel, MaidofMight, Amber Arden, MagicMischief Cosplay, Jimmy Sherfy, and SO many more that I have the honor to call friends and con family!
If you love all things Disney, and would love to take part in the Disney version of San Diego Comic Con, for an experience that only comes every two years, D23 packs a punch worth dropping the $200 it costs for a 3-day event badge! Though in 2019, the next time this Expo is happening, I believe I will likely only cosplay 2 of the 3 days and wear something comfortable for a day of shopping!
I give this con a 09/10 in rating for being a total dream come true at the happiest place on earth!
D23
Pros
- Great Staff
- Awesome Vendors
- Fantastic Guests
- Random Parades
Cons
- Only comes once every few years
- Ticket price is high
Tidesiren is a fantastic cosplayer based in Colorado. She has an absolute love for all things geeky, gaming, and food! When she isn’t being a super dope cosplayer, she can usually be found running off on adventures that would give others heart attacks! In the year of 2017 she covered nine conventions both national and international for us! We’re so grateful to have her on our team to cover conventions!
Post a Comment
