The Warns Family: September 2013

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

D23 Expo schedule

I can be a nerd sometimes. For instance, I love writing out what we do on vacations and at events like the Expo. When it's all over and I feel depressed that it has ended and we have to return back to real life, I get joy from looking back at detailed accounts of our experiences.

Now before you judge me - realize that this may some day benefit you! If you are going to any of the places we have been I can share my detailed account with you and that might assist you in planning your vacation! :) Don't judge. Even us nerds serve a purpose.

In addition to the photos posted earlier, I thought someone out there (I'm not sure who - but surely there is someone!) might like to know what we actually DO during these events. Here is my recap of the time we spent at the Expo (minus the details on the Optimist - that deserves its own post). I got made fun of quite a bit for the time I spent documenting it, but it still puts a smile on my face to look back at the experiences!

Friday, August 9

*Got in line at about 5:30 a.m.

Art & Imagination: Animation at the Walt Disney Studios

Introduction – Bob Eiger

Led by John Lassiter

PIXAR

Monsters University highlights

We got to see the premiere of the new short film – “Party Central”
Celebrity Guest – Bill Hader

The Good Dinosaur – previews and several clips.

Celebrity Guests – Lucas Neff, Judy Greer & Bill Hader

Inside Out – several clips

Pete Docter & Jonas Rivera
Celebrity Guests – Phyllis Smith & Bill Hader

Finding Dory – preview & talks

Andrew Stanton and Lindsey Collins
John Ratchenberger with a marching band! (Pixar’s good luck charm)

Toy Story of Terror – TV spot coming this Halloween.

We watched about 10 minutes of it and it looked AWESOME!!

DISNEYTOON STUDIOS

Legend of the Neverbeast

Steve Loter

The Pirate Fairy

Peggy Holmes
Celebrity Guests – Christina Hendricks & Tom Hiddleston

Planes

Klay Hall

Planes: Fire & Rescue announced

Bobs Gannaway
Celebrity Guest – Dane Cook

WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS

Burny Mattison tribute
“Get a Horse” short film world premiere (AWESOME!!)

Lauren Macmullen, Eric Goldberg & Adam Green

Big Hero 6 – San Fransokyo – Disney’s first animated Marvel feature.

Character sketches and news on who will be voicing them.
Don Hall

Zootopia – 2016 announced

Byron Howard & Jared Bush

Frozen – previews and never before viewed scenes (Olaf is hilarious!)

Chris Bock/Jennifer Lee
Celebrity Guests – Kristen Bell, Josh Gad
Idina Menzel – live performance of “Let it Go,” the theme song of the movie!

Scavenger Hunt – Expo portion

Met with Wallace (The Optimist)

Followed the map with our new friend & Optimist partner, Steve

The Art & Artistry of Aulani

Tahitian music & dinner show on lawn at Disneyland Hotel

Became an Optimist. Got our Tomorrowland pins. Called it a night around midnight!

Saturday, August 10

*Got in line at about 4:30 a.m.

Let the Adventures Begin: Live Action at The Walt Disney Studios

Alan Horn, President

They gave us nothing on Star Wars, except to say it was their priority (Boo!)

MARVEL

Kevin Feige

THOR: Dark World – previews & clips

Celebrity guests – Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Sir Anthony Hopkins

Captain America: The Winter Soldier – preview & clips

Celebrity Guests – Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackey & Chris Evans (!)

Guardians of the Galaxy – in production, but we saw a few clips. It looks like the funniest Marvel yet!
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Disney Nature – Bears

WALT DISNEY STUDIOS:

Sean Bailey, President

Muppets Most Wanted

Ty Burrell

Into the Woods
Live Action Cinderella coming in 2015 – we saw sketches and they announced voice actors.
Malefiscent

Celebrity Guest – Angelina Jolie

Tomorrowland announcement/preview

Brad Byrd & Damon Lyndelof

Saving Mr. Banks

Celebrity Guests - Jason Schwartzman & BJ Novak, Richard Sherman

Peruse the show floor, booths

Explored the Tomorrowland Exhibit

Richard Sherman & Alan Menken concert. We had seen both at prior D23 events, but this was an historic event - the first time they have ever performed together.

Dinner at Earl of Sandwich at Downtown Disney

Sunday, August11

Look through Mickey’s of Glendale (Imagineering clothes & merchandise)

Explore the Parks & Recreation Exhibit

Look through the Disney Archives display (Mary Poppins focus)

Walt Disney Imagineering 60^th anniversary – Imagineer panel discussion - Craft of Creativity

Screening of the new show Agents of Shield (we have a new show we will be watching! It was great.)

Walt Disney Imagineering 60^th anniversary – Imagineer panel discussion - Leave ‘Em Laughing

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

D23 Expo

Every time we got to the D23 Expo, we get the same question. What is D23?? D23 is the official Disney fan club. Each year they alternate putting on an Expo that is open to the public and a more private event that is only open to D23 members, called Destination D.

This year we went to our third Expo and it was one of our favorite events to date! Think Comic con for Disney geeks. Presentations by Imagineers, Bob Iger, John Lasseter (my personal favorite), park presidents and amazing musicians like Alan Menken and Richard Sherman. The history of Disney, Walt's dreams and legacy told by people who knew him and worked with him. Announcements and sneak peeks of new movies that are coming out, getting to see the actors that are voicing the roles, performances by broadway stars (namely Idina Menzel as Elsa from Frozen)... it's an amazing experience and we love going each year.

Although we could not take pictures of most of the big presentations or previews, we were able to catch some fun photos throughout the weekend...

You will see more of this later, but these are some of the photos of our #TheOptimist scavenger hunt/journey that started weeks before the expo. It took us on a journey throughout the Expo and the park and allowed us to meet new friends. It was a blast!

We had to hold up our map with other people's maps to solve the clues. That's one way to encourage team work!

Meeting Wallace - the leader of #TheOptimist game

A fun sign that was outside of the imagineering display

This year there was no Parks & Resorts presentation so we had to just pick up some cues from the displays in the Journey to Imagineering area.

(More hints for #TheOptimist)

Our pin that we received for completing #TheOptimist journey

Avatar land hints & clues

Looks like Star Wars land might be in sight...

One of the displays explained some cool effects. The new wrist band system will make it possible for items to respond to individuals - even call you by name when you walk up to it.

This plant responds musically to touch - it was really cool.

Some of the items that were up for auction

Eating at a food truck. It beat the convention center food, for sure!

A beautiful line of designer gowns, designed to resemble the Disney princesses

Once Upon a Time costumes & props

Costumes from Oz: The Great and Powerful

China Girl

Mary Poppins materials & costumes

It's the bag! THE BAG!!

So if you ever wonder why we like going to the Expo, these are just a few of the reasons. I will post more reasons from Andy's camera later... :) That's enough for tonight.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Aunt LeeAnn's Tea Party

These girls are so lucky. They're the luckiest little girls since... well, since I was a girl. They have so much family around them that loves them and loves to do special things for them. High on that list is Aunt LeeAnn. As was the case when Staci and I were girls, she stops at nothing to make sure that we feel loved and this trip was no exception to that rule. Aunt LeeAnn put on a grand Tea Party for the little ladies and it was beautiful (like everything she does)! Every detail was well thought out and intricate, right down to the hand beaded bracelets and tinkerbell mirror/comb sets she gifted them with.

The set-up