My D23 Expo Weekend - By Timothy (an 8 year old) and Frank Studebaker

Hi! I am Timothy. My family and I went to Disneyland and the D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center this past August. The D23 Expo is where the Disney Company has EVERYTHING Disney on display for their true fanatics. I was looking forward to meeting all my Disney show stars as they were all going to the expo!!! We planned ahead of time with my mom and dad to figure out how to see all the Disney stars we watch on the Disney Channel!!! We couldn't wait for the doors to open on the first day. The lines were sooooooo long outside, we weren't sure there would be any room for us to walk once we got into the convention center. Finally, we made it in and the lines weren't that bad for where we were headed! To see the cast of Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Good Luck Charlie! And especially to see cute CHARLIE (played by Mia Talerico)! We got to the area they would be signing autographs and taking pictures and guess what? A line! So, my mom got in line. My dad took me to the Legends Ceremony where we waited in line as well. Luckily, for my sisters, while we were in the Legends Ceremony, they got to meet the cast of the Neverland Pirates! So lucky! I got to see and hear the singing of 6 Disney princess voices and inauguration into the Legends of Disney!

After about two hours, some bathroom breaks, and some quick snacking, it was time to meet the cast of Good Luck Charlie! Yeah! We were so excited! Little Mia was there! Yeah. We waited our turn and just as about we were going to walk on stage to chat and get an autograph with each member of the show, Mia had to leave. L I was so sad. Oh no! I hope this isn't how it will be when we try and see the casts of Shake It UP! And A.N.T. Farm!!! I was bummed we missed Charlie, but we still got to see Jason Dolley-plays PJ, Bradley Steven Perry- plays Gabe, and Leigh Allyn Baker who plays Amy Duncan. Yeah! Here is a picture of us with some of the cast of Good Luck Charlie!!!

So, we walked around the Expo and found a new Buzz Lightyear Pin I had never seen, some Pirates of the Caribbean show props (even a mermaid coffin from Pirates 4-see picture), the Disney Dream Store which had lots of cool stuff, and many booths with free offerings like free pictures to color, free pens, free cards, and free luggage tags and travel stuff. J By the time we finished walking around, it was already time to go back to the hotel and get some dinner, take a shower, and get some rest for day 2 of the D23 Expo!

On Saturday, Day 2, we woke up and walked over to the convention center to get in line again. Lines, lines, lines, lots of lines! Wow! I was worried we would miss the cast of Shake It UP! (who were taking pictures on Sunday) and ANT Farm because of all the lines and sold out events at the Expo. I was starting to worry. Would we miss Bella Thorne from Shake It UP!? Oh no' When we walked in, guess who everyone was getting in line for? Yes, you said it! Phineus and Ferb! And PERRY! Yeah! My dad walked around with us while my mom and Scarlett saved our spot in the line. After about an hour it was time to meet the Phineus and Ferb Cast! We were sooooo excited! We got our pictures with everyone!!!

So after lunch and a few hours at the Expo, we were tired and wanted to go to DISNEYLAND! So, we walked back towards California Adventure and Disneyland. As we were walking, we noticed a couple of people in the lobby of the Grand Californian Hotel who were part of the cast of ANT Farm (Disney channel show)! WOW! I went up to them and gave them hugs and we took pictures. They talked with us for a bit and then they had to go. It was sooooo cool to not have to wait in line to meet some of the stars that I watch on Disney Channel! So cool!

So then my mom and I went into California Adventure and my dad and sisters went back to the hotel and went swimming. I wanted to go on Screamin' and wasn't going to miss that ride this trip! As my mom and I were walking to Screamin', guess who we saw? Tinka from Shake It UP and the rest of the cast! WOW! How cool is that? I went up to each of them and told them how much I liked their show and took a picture! How cool is that?

Oh, and the best part of the ENTIRE TRIP, was meeting my star from Florida, Brent Dodge and going on Splash Mountain with a re-ride! Thanks Brent for closing the park down with Timothy! J

So Saturday was over and we were ready for a fun filled day on Sunday! We had no pressure to meet any of the stars we wanted to meet because we got to meet them all (and some not even in any lines!) How cool is that? So, we walked back to the Expo Hall, waited in line for about 2 hours, and then strolled through the Treasures Archives! That was really cool as well. We got to see Walt Disney's Train Mickey Plush, Tron props, Pirates props, Alice in Wonderland Props, and many, many others! We then got to spend some time with our cousins and my Uncle David around the Carousel of Projects which showed us all the new things happening at the parks! So cool to see what I will be riding with my sisters, grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, cousins, and aunt and uncle in the not so far away future! J

Well, that is all for this trip. The common theme of the D23 Expo was obviously lines and waiting, but with all the lines and a little Disney magic, we had a great time and would definitely go to the next D23 Disney Expo in a few years!!!! If you plan your trip ahead of time and don't expect to see everything, you can enjoy the Expo and have memories with your family that will last a lifetime! J