I might not be *that* obsessed

This weekend (technically yesterday (Friday) & today), I went to the D23 Expo in Anaheim. The D23 Expo is well, an expo for Disney fans. The different segments of Disney (ex. Gaming, Consumer Products, Film studios) had there own sections where they did a variety of things. DIMG (gaming) had the different Disney games such as the new Phineas & Ferb game and Epic Mickey there that people could play. There was a mini Disney Store. The Disney VoluntEARing / Corporate Responsibility section had small projects that people could do (yesterday it was writing postcards to soldiers. Today is was either planting seeds or painting a planter). The Disney Channel (/Radio Disney / Disney XD) section had performances and stars from the shows that came and signed autographs and things like that. It looked like this:

Also on the main floor was the Disney Dream store (more on that later) and a big section devoted to smaller companies that were selling Disney inspired art and things like that. There was also a small post office.

The second floor had a theater (for presentations) and the Treasures of Walt Disney exhibit where they had costumes & props from various Disney movies and even ABC TV shows like Lost. I didn't go in because I put it off for today and the line was ridiculous. Actually, the line for EVERYTHING was ridiculous. No, I'm serious. If you thought that waiting for Space Mountain at Disneyland was a long line, you ain't seen nothing yet! Ok, fine. It's about equal.

My first experience with the long lines: going to the Disney Dream store. Actually, that's not true. I originally wanted to go to the Disney Legends Ceremony that started at 11am yesterday. I got there maybe 10 minutes before that, and the line...the line...I can't describe it! It was like trying to go to Disneyland on Valentine's day evening...when it falls on a friday. You look at that line and think to yourself "Let me just give up now." Which is what I did, and good thing too. Not everyone who was waiting in line even got in. But really I just fled one line to go to another. I saw that there was a line to get into the Dream store, but it didn't look too long...until I found out that there was more line around the side. I was in line for at least 1/2 an hour. Probably longer. Just to get IN to the store. And then I had to wait in yet another line to pay for my 1 mug. Seriously. Sad story: All through that long line I had held my mug securely and everything despite the 2 very active boys in line in front of me with my parents. Finally, I get to the front of the line and as I go up to the register I drop the mug and it breaks...somewhat loudly, but not too too loudly because it was carpet after all. Very embarrassing though. They got me a new one, and I noticed later that she had wrapped it with A LOT of wrapping paper. Literally almost a full stack. I realize in the picture that it's hard to tell that, but just take my word on it. At least it didn't break.

Yesterday I also went to the Ultimate Disney Trivia Tournament. No I didn't compete, because these people know things that I wouldn't even thing about knowing. Somethings I knew and they didn't, but not often. The guy who won like totally tore it up though. I don't remember his score form the first round, but in the next one he had like 18 points, and the next person had maybe 6. He totally owned it, and won a free preview cruise. Lucky duck!

I bought this in the Collectors section (the independent sellers section I told you about above). I really like it. It's so cute how Mickey is looking over Walt Disney's shoulder as he draws early Mickey drawings/cartoons.

Yesterday, they debuted the new Pixar forever stamps. I only bought one sheet so I really hope that they sell them at regular post offices too. Anyways, here's a picture of the First Day covers. I almost bought some and sent them, but then I changed my mind because I don't know where I'd keep them and I don't think anyone I sent it too would really care, so I got the pre-stamped Pixar postcards to send instead.

This morning, I arrived around 10am to a SEA of people...all in line....to get in. Fortunately, I found out that D23 members (like me!) didn't have to wait in that super long line so I essentially just walked right in. Which was good because I wanted to go to the Phineas & Ferb cast signing at 11am. So then I got in to...guess what? another line! There was a significant line even that early. I must have been relatively close to the front because I had the above signed poster (signed by Vincent Martella, the voice of Phineas, Alyson Stoner, the voice of Isabella, and Dee Bradley Baker, the "voice" of Perry the Platypus) by about 11:30. I was just walking around, eating a churro when I heard an announcement saying that the 25 Years of Pixar presentations was filling up. I looked down at my watch -- 11:45. The presentation was at 2:30. I went upstairs to see  if there really seriously was a line over 2.5 hours early, and sure enough there was. SO I got in line and sat there on the hard ground reading my Kindle for over 2.5 hours. SERIOUSLY?!?!

 This was at the Pixar discussion with 9 of the higher-ups (so to speak) of Pixar,  including John Lasseter. It was really cool to listen to them talk about their experiences and about Pixar. It really has to be the coolest, funnest place to work. They sound like they have a really good time. They opened it up to questions at the end, but a lot of people, instead of asking questions, commented on what the films meant to them which was actually really cool. I liked the questions better because then the directors/animators talked about making the movies and things like that, but the comments were cute. I really enjoyed it, but...sitting on the ground for 2.5 hours?!?! SERIOUSLY?!?!

After that, I really didn't feel like waiting in any more lines, so I left and went to Haagen Dazs for a Brownies a la mode sundae (2 scoops of brownies a la mode ice cream with hot fudge and caramel. SO GOOD!) then went home.

I enjoyed the expo over all, really I did. But I don't know if I would go again. I feel like I spent all of my time in line, and after giving up pretty much two full days I don't know if it was worth it in the end. Someone mentioned that it would be nice if they had screens that they projected the different presentations on so that people who couldn't make it in could still see/hear the presentation, which I think is a fantastic idea. If some one form D23 every reads this, CONSIDER THAT! Next time, I would definitely look into the VIP tickets (apparently, they didn't have to wait in line for presentations and then they had a reserved section front & center to sit in). If they're too expensive, I might just give up and follow the tweets and see the pictures on Facebook. Done. I love Disney, if you know me you know that's true, but I'm not that obsessed. Not spend half your day in line obsessed.