If you have your airline tickets and hotel room already booked for the 3-day crazy weekend of the D23 Expo 2017 kicking off this Friday, July 14th-Sunday, July 16th, 2017 at the Anaheim Convention Center and going as a first timer, here is some information and tips to help enhance your D23 Expo experience.
As a first timer myself who went to D23 Expo in 2015 and it was a legit learning curve and for someone who had never been towards a major convention before, these are some tips that can help out first timers and making things less stressful for everyone.
1.) Scheduling
With the D23 Expo being all day convention and you want to do as much as possible but, it’s honestly hard to do everything and to see. Either it’s a panel, signing of your favorite Disney Legends/Celebrities/Artists, or doing shopping at some of the popular stores for exclusive merchandise.
Well here’s how to make things a lot more easier for you first timers out there. Utilize and plan your day by day by downloading the D23 Expo 2017 app if you have a smartphone in which this can be a important tool towards your needs. Choose what panels you want to attend towards the most or, if you’re not interested in attending a panel, then utilize your time for shopping for those exclusive items that are sold at the expo. I highly recommend going towards the stores once the doors towards the convention opens up because lines will be lining up quickly for whatever store you wanna shop at first.
Also do utilize their Stagepass/Storepass system and if you’re not sure what those are, click the link here to read about it and which it can save you a lot of time and energy!
Now for panels and major key advice is always getting towards a panel EARLY! (Make sure you turn on notifications to notify you the day of or hour before a panel kicks off) Hardcore expo go’ers will stay overnight or many hours prior before a major panel kicks off like, the Disney Parks & Resorts panel this Saturday, July 15th, 2017 at 3pm PST for example.
Note: Some overnight lineups are not allowed and be sure to check out the information about it here to know more about it.
Check out the images down below as an example of what your schedule can look like when attending the expo!
4.) Backpacks/Draw Strings Bags
You will be bringing back a LOT of merchandise or giveaways when you’re attending the expo. Yes their allowed and bag check can also hold your bags through the whole weekend that is located in the Main Lobby near Hall A and closes daily until 7:30pm PST with an up charge fee of $2 per bag.
Choose whatever items you want to purchase and also do utilize the convention’s mailing service that can ship your items back towards your house, if you don’t have any room in your suitcase!
3.) Cellular Devices/Cameras
Since the D23 Expo is every other year and will be once in lifetime opportunity in which Disney celebrities, amazing cosplayers, or even Disney legends roaming around the show floor in which you can get some amazing pics and videos! Please do note that some panels are restricted or enforced in which video taping, flash photography, or certain camera equipment is prohibited at the expo.
Check your D23 Expo app on your phone under “Things to Know” or checking D23’s official site here for more information.
2.) External Battery/Brick Charger
Since you will be on the go-go and constantly taking a lot of pictures and videos, and will be on your phone a lot to upload it towards your social media outlets. Do bring an external battery or brick charger that you can charge your phone since you will be roaming around the expo and can be exhausting and tiring.
Also do take breaks if you can! Grab some food and hang out to let your phone charge and then you can be off towards the next panel or shopping location or meet ups of the people you follow on social media that you know too!
1.) D23 Member Cards
Now if you’re not familiar of what D23 is and it’s Disney’s official fan club and also when The Walt Disney Company was founded in 1923. Now here’s how the system is broken down for their official fan club works out. D23 Charter (members who joined in 2009 who maintained their gold membership status), gold and gold family members, and silver members are allowed 1 hour early prior entry before the general public opens up for the doors.
D23 members can hang out in the lounge and will have to show valid ID and their D23 gold membership in order to gain access towards the lounge at the expo. Their will be certain benefits for D23 Gold Members ONLY at this year’s expo and in which you can learn more information about it here.
D23 Fan Club Relations cannot reprint lost D23 Gold Member Cards or if any D23 Gold Members that hasn’t received their cards, that can stop by the location for a temporary Gold Member card. If you want to learn more about the D23 Fan Club as an introduction also do click the link that can be founded here.
It’s also no given brainier but, you must always have your D23 Expo ticket/membership always on you! The lanyards that they give out are not really great ones. If you have you’re own personal lanyard you have bought before in the past, highly recommend that for the weekend.
Now remember, you are there to have to have fun and relax to enjoy your crazy Disney-ana weekend! Plus your right across the street from Disneyland and Disney California Adventure and don’t have to be at the expo all day! So go out and check out the newest happenings the parks to fully maximize your Disney experience too!
Be sure to check out SkywalkingAdventure.com about the biggest news and exciting coverage at the D23 Expo 2017 this upcoming weekend for everything about the Disney & Parks Resorts!
This weekend is going to be blast for you fellow Disney fanatics out there and hopefully this can be some useful tips for your first expo experience!
SkywalkingAdventure 