Did you ever feel like you're rewinding or fast-forwarding through time? You know, like bouncing back and forth between Main Street and Tomorrowland? D23 was a little like that, with something new (and old) around every turn. Let me show you some of the cool things I discovered in the short time I had to walk through the Convention Center before the crowds arrived!
When I found these Cars Land-themed Buzz and Woody, I had no idea of the cars to come!
Leading up to my trip to D23, I didn't get any advance info, so I stumbled onto what turns out was one of the most publicized displays at the Expo, the Great Big Beautiful Car Show, presented by the Disney Archives. There were some of the most gigantic displays I'd ever seen (and I've seen a lot), but this took up the kind of acreage as a parking lot would. Featuring 32 vehicles in 24,000 square feet, it took visitors from the days of Ford's Model T all the way into a galaxy far, far away, and was everything and more than you'd expect it to be!
Here's the "Flying Flivver"! Otherwise known as the 1915 Ford Model T Touring car used by Fred MacMurray in The Absent-Minded Professor (1961). This reminded me of the cars that can be seen on Main Street, USA.
Random Fact: There were three Model T cars used in the film. One was completely drivable. One had all inner mechanisms removed to make it light-weight and was lifted on wires to film the flying scenes. And the last one was also a stripped-down version that was mounted to a lift from below for more flying shots.
Next is Walt's "Roundabout" that he used while touring Disneyland in the early 1960s. There's one like this at Hollywood Studios in WDW. The Citizens of Hollywood used to use it to drive up and down Hollywood Boulevard.
The bright red sports car there was Mickey's 1939 Bantam Roadster that was seen in Disneyland's "Cruisin' the Kingdom Cavalcade" in the mid-1990s.
One of the highlights of the exhibit had to be Walt Disney’s 1964 Mercedes-Benz 230SL. The car was also featured in the 1965 film, That Darn Cat.
"According to Disney legend, Walt bought the vehicle for himself but felt guilty for making such an extravagant purchase, so he decided to rent it out to the studio to be used as a picture car."
The next vehicle was a Disneyland Parking Tram used between 1968 and 1997!
Moving forward in the century, there were some Muppets vehicles. The taxi was used in the 1981 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!
I'm sure most of you recognize the Tron Lightcycle! This 20-foot-wide tunnel was lined in more than 200 color-changing lights that "transported" you into the "Worlds Beyond" area of the exhibit.
Through the tunnel on the other side there was a galaxy far, far away . . . and I was standing in front of Rey's costume and Speeder from the 2015 film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And someone was kind enough to take the photo for me this time!
Right around the corner from here was the impressive Lucasfilm display. There was no way with the limited time I had I could do it justice, so I encourage you to find it in action elsewhere on line. Check out that screen in the background of this picture. That's one of the LED immersive sound stages that's revolutionized film making, particularly in some far off galaxies, transported here for those of us who'll never make it onto a sound stage.
If you've enjoyed the many planets and terrains seen in The Mandalorian, it's this technology that brought them to your screen. Whether they soar through hyperspace or pass over the Krill ponds of Sorgan, the actors never need to leave the sound stage.
They also had this neat display featuring Kuiil's costume, originally worn by actress Misty Rosas. And take a look at the display case . . . that's the animatronic puppet of Murley, Sabine Wren's Loth-cat. This puppet was made by Legacy (the same team who crafted Grogu) and actually features a complete skeleton inside to allow minute and realistic movements. Look closely and you can see the puppeteering rod on Murley's back!
If posing in front of all the props wasn't enough, there was this great photo-op spot with flat Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO inside the Millennium Falcon.
It's pretty much impossible to wrap up this entry after seeing Walt's vehicles and Sabine's Loth-cat, but I got some help from Annika and @TheTwins to feature one last vehicle . . . Grogu's Pod!
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more D23 fun. As they say in that galaxy far, far away . . . This is the way.
If you've enjoyed these photos and would like to find out more about this great exhibit, check out these great articles and photos:
https://www.laughingplace.com/w/disney-entertainment/d23-walt-disney-archives-car-show-2/
https://d23.com/drive-in-to-a-great-big-beautiful-car-show-at-d23-the-ultimate-disney-fan-event/
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