Disney Fan Friday: D23 Ultimate Fan Expo

Are You the Ultimate Disney Fan?By Holly RobbinsThink you’re the ultimate Disney fan? If so, then you’ve probably heard of a little thing called the D23 Expo… and if not, here’s a little preview to help up your game. Coming up this August, the 2015 D23 Expo marks the fourth bi-annual event in Anaheim, California. That’s right, unlikeComic-Con (the ultimate nerd-tastic event held every year in San Diego), the D23 Expo is so awesome, it can only be held every other year. It’s the ultimate event to find out what’s in the hopper for anything and everything Disney related, and it attracts visitors from all over the world.In 2013, I was lucky enough to travel to Disneyland Resort to attend the 2013 Expo. It was, in a word, AWESOME. For this small-town girl from South Carolina, seeing the D23 Expo for the first time was like watching the heavens open up and rain down all the Disney gloriousness that I could ever imagine. My only disappointment was the fact that I couldn’t clone myself to be able to see and do everything!An intimate gathering with some 45,000-plus of your closest Disney fan friends, the D23 Expo did not disappoint. For three magical days, I learned more, saw more and did more than I ever thought possible. From presentations and panels, to forums and meet-n-greets, to exclusive merchandise and memorabilia, there was something for every kind of Disney enthusiast.As a movie buff, I was most excited about the Disney film presentations, and I wasn’t disappointed. I was introduced to Frozen before it became a phenomenon, got an extended look at the upcoming Tomorrowland film and the amazing backstory behind it, and listened to Richard Sherman perform an unforgettable live version of “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” from Mary Poppins in a promotion of (the then upcoming) Saving Mr. Banks. I’m a Marvel fanatic, so when Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Natalie Portman (Jane Foster) and Sir Anthony Hopkins (Odin) graced the stage to promote Thor: The Dark World, you could still hear my screaming over the thunderous applause from the crowd. (I would have completely LOST IT if Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, had joined the party but alas, that dream was not fulfilled). If that wasn’t enough to send me into a full-blown fangirl panic attack, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie and Chris Evans (Captain America himself) joined in on the fun to preview Captain America: The Winter Soldier. And to top it off, Maleficent herself, Angelina Jolie graced the stage amidst gasps of wonderment from the fired up crowd.After the excitement from all the stargazing subsided, I made the unfortunate mistake (unfortunate for my wallet that is) of checking out the exclusive merchandise and memorabilia at the Disney Dream Store and Mickey’s of Glendale. I probably could have spent an entire year’s salary in either store, but I contained myself and walked away with some Disney Imagineering swag, a few limited edition Vinylmations and a new Alex and Ani bangle. My largest purchase, however, came at the art gallery where I picked up some limited edition prints and had them signed by the artists themselves.For three days, I lived and breathed Disney. It was an experience I’ll never forget, and one I hope to repeat in the future. If you’re interested in attending the ultimate Disney fan experience at the 2015 D23 Expo happening August 14-16 at the Anaheim Convention Center (right outside of Disneyland), contact me today for a free quote! For the latest news on promotions and happenings at Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Disney Destinations worldwide, follow me on Facebook or email me at HollyR@wishesfamilytravel.com to be added to my mailing list. For more about me, visit my Bio page at www.wishesfamilytravel.com.