D23 Expo Design Challenge Finalists and Winner

Did you know that this year's D23 Expo had a special contest encouraging artists and creatives alike. If you can dream it, you can do it. And if you can bring that vision to life, you could may have entered the D23 Expo Design Challenge. To celebrate Disneyland's 60th, this year's theme was to create art using the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle as inspiration in honor of Disneyland's Diamond Anniversary Celebration. Sketches of the entries were due in April 2015, and out of all the artwork only 23 designs were chosen as finalists. How the appointed Disney judges were able to choose one winner is beyond us, they are all so special and unique. We attended the Expo and loved seeing these imaginative displays of artwork on different mediums from Disney fans both young and young at heart! So many talented people worked very hard on their project that was obvious. It was incredible to see the beauty in the details up close and in person. (Scroll down to see the winning entry.)

(This image courtesy of artist, Robert Lisinsky)

(This image courtesy of artist, Kristin Mouri)

You can see the winner Nuri A. from Quartz Hill (who received the grand prize of $2,300) and read more about the judges, and the process at D23.com here:

D23 Expo Design Challenge Winner Announced.
Here is his winning design:

(Image courtesy of D23.com)

Of the designs we featured which is your favorite? Sorry we only got photos of these finalists. In the daze of the D23 Expo, we only saw these ones and didn't realize that there was another wall filled with the other half of the finalists. BOO! (If you are a finalist and have a photo of your piece that has not been included, we'd love to add it to this post. Plz email us disneysisters@gmail.com) Congrats to all of those who were chosen! And to those who had the courage to enter whether you ended up a finalist or not - EXCELLENT JOB. You are all winners in our eyes!

Disclosure: We attended D23 Expo as members of the media. - thanks D23. No other compensation was received. The opinions on this blog are 100% magical and 100% those of the Disney Sisters only. All photos belong to us unless stated otherwise. Thank you for reading our blog, you are magical!

Buzz Lightyear Macy's Day Parade Balloon at D23 Expo

If you attended this year D23 Expo on Friday you could not have missed him. The official Buzz Lightyear helium balloon from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was flown in just for the occasion all in honor of Toy Story's 20th Anniversary. We can't think of anything much more inviting then Buzz Lightyear in all of his Toy Story glory hovering in front of the Anaheim Convention Center. Greeting guests by the thousands as they stood in line, waitimg to enter the Expo floor. Especially for west coasters like us who have never had the pleasure of being at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to see Buzz, Mickey, or any other huge Disney helium ballons float down 6th Avenue in New York City. It was a magical experience that added even more excitement to an already awesome event!

We had a special preview of Buzz Lightyear on Wednesday, the night before the crowds gathered. It was completely unexpected, serendipity we like to say. We were staying at the Anaheim Marriott for the length of the Expo, and as we got ready for bed on Wednesday night, I looked down one more time from our room on the 18th floor before heading to bed when I first spotted him. Mind you, he's hard to miss. Immediately I felt a rush of adrenaline rush through my veins and screamed for Becky to rush to the balcony. BUZZ LIGHTYEAR was here, he was blown up, and he was just a quick walk away from us. Now keep in mind that it was past 1am, and we had to be up early the next morning for the first day of the Expo. Should we or shouldn't we. But we looked at each other and instantly knew what we had to do. We changed out of our pajamas, mostly (ahem) and ran downstairs to get a closer look.

There he was, Buzz Lightyear, from Toy Story huge and amazing and there was NO ONE down there. There were a few people (like 3) who were guarding him, but he was basically all ours. It was surreal, plus we were tired so it almost seemed like a dream. We took pictures and videos and of course Periscope'd him. Although he was fully inflated, Buzz was tied down to the ground with sand bags - so he was even closer than ever. Like we could reach out and touch him close. It was a Disney geeks (like us) dream come true! It's moments like those in life, we will always remember.

Then the next morning he greeted us again while we headed into the Convention Center as if to say, "Hey girls I remember you, we had a real moment last night and I just wanted to let you know...  You've Got A Friend In Me." I swear he was really trying to giv e us a pound-pound as we passed him, you guys! Ok maybe we are just being silly, and you just want to shake us and say, "He Is A Toy!" but this is Disney and stranger things have happened. We totally believe in the magic.

For those who came on Saturday or Sunday or weren't able to attend D23 Expo this year, we wanted to share these awesome shots and different angles of Buzz Lightyear. Let us add, he's never looked more handsome. Did you get to see him or have you ever seen the Macy's Day Parade in person?

Disclosure: We attended D23 Expo as members of the media. - thanks D23. No other compensation was received. The opinions on this blog are 100% magical and 100% those of the Disney Sisters only. All photos belong to us unless stated otherwise. Thank you for reading our blog!

13 Reasons to Attend the D23 Expo 2015 #D23Expo

All of the magic and excitement of Disney will come together once again for the D23 EXPO on August 14-16, 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Just picture thousands of Disney Fanatics under one roof celebrating the pure joy of the Mouse presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. The Expo truly is the Ultimate Disney Fan Event and this year is said to be the biggest most successful one yet. There is so much to see and do it's awesome and totally overwhelming in the best possible way! From celebrity appearances, panels and presentations, sneak peeks, and unique experiences—all celebrating the past, present, and future of Disney entertainment.

The D23 Expo is really something very special to experience, in a way that only Disney does it. This will be our third year attending (they only happen once every 2 years) and we cannot wait to hit that convention floor. 

Here's our list of 13 reasons to attend this years D23 Expo.

1.) The Celebrities

The talented stars and creators from tweens, teens, and families’ favorite Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Junior series will be at the Expo to meet, greet, and perform for their biggest fans. Seriously we've never seen so many celebrities in so little time. Some of this year's Disney stars include musical performances by Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Holt, Bea Miller, Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, and a Teen Beach 2 Dance Party just to name a few. For more info click HERE.

2.) The Designs

In honor of Disneyland’s Diamond Anniversary, Disney fans—both young and young-at-heart—will depict Sleeping Beauty Castle in the D23 EXPO 2015 Design Challenge. The castle stands tall as a welcoming icon at Disneyland, as it has since the park’s opening on July 17, 1955. Now it has inspired artwork that will be on display throughout the D23 EXPO weekend on the show floor, located in the Walt Disney Archives area. For more info click HERE.

3.) The Movies

Grab your popcorn and get ready to see some exciting things coming to the big screen. The Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios will be showing previews of upcoming films such as Zootopia, Moana, The Good Dinosaur, and Finding Dory; Plus, a look the making of the Disney hit Aladdin. For more info click HERE.

4.) The Costumes

The Mousequerade Contest, is a one-of-a-kind event, taking place Friday, August 14 at the Expo. 15 participants in each of the following five categories (Heroes Unmasked, Once Upon a Costume, The Wonderful Worlds of Disney, Weird Wild & Goofy, and Best of Star Wars) will dazzle the crowd in Stage 23 with the original costume designs they have brought to life. For more info click HERE.

5.) The Artwork

Collectors Editions’ Official D23 Fine Art offering of Tim Rogerson’s “A Colorful Mind” will launch at EXPO and will be available in various editions, including the original. Disney Fine Art will also be presenting two D23 EXPO 2015-exclusive releases from legendary Disney artist Eric Goldberg to coincide with the launch of his new book, An Animator’s Gallery: Eric Goldberg Draws the Disney Characters. “Genie’s D23 Vacation” and “The D23 Gang” will also make their debut at D23 EXPO 2015. For more info click HERE.

6.) The Shows

Hooray for Broadway! Take a musical journey into Disney's history on Broadway and beyond. Following the incredible response from fans in 2013, Disney Theatrical Productions is thrilled to announce a new concert presented exclusively for this year’s D23 EXPO. This year's show is entitled Disney on Broadway’s “THE ORIGINALS” and will feature STARS FROM BROADWAY’S MARY POPPINS, TARZAN AND ALADDIN. For more info click HERE.

7.) The Emporium

The D23 Expo Emporium is truly a magical marketplace that brings collectors, vendors, and fans of each of those worlds together into one magical bazaar for your browsing and shopping pleasure. Whether you’re interested in pins, Vinylmation, Disney-inspired art, or vintage toys and collectibles, you’ll love strolling through the D23 EXPO Emporium, where there’s a surprise around every corner. For more info click HERE.

8.) The Legends

This year's Legends Ceremony is going to be well, legendary with honorees including Star Wars creator George Lucas, composer Danny Elfman, All My Children star Susan Lucci, Disney Animator Andreas Deja and other beloved contributors to the Disney legacy will be named and honored as official Disney Legends during D23 EXPO 2015 at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 14, in Hall D23 at the Anaheim Convention Center. The ceremony will be hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, and will include special musical performances. The Disney Legends Awards program is a tradition of The Walt Disney Company. Bob Iger said that "The Disney Legend Award is reserved for the extraordinary visionaries and artists behind the Disney magic." For more info click HERE.

9.) The Archives

The Walt Disney Archives will celebrate the 60th anniversary of Disneyland at D23 EXPO 2015 with an exhibit of more than 300 pieces from the park’s incredible history. “Walt Disney Archives Presents—Disneyland: The Exhibit” will be the largest display the Disney Archives has ever showcased at D23 EXPO. The event, presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, will be on display place throughout the entire Expo. For more info click HERE.

10.) The Games

Wanna play? The D23 Expo is not just to sit and listen. You better believe that there will be games for the gamer in your family. In the Disney Interactive pavilion on the show floor, players can experience the latest and upcoming titles through hands-on demos, innovative interactive experiences and premium giveaways for all guests. Also titles like Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition, Star Wars™ Battlefront™ and KINGDOM HEARTS III will be headlining Disney Interactive’s Hall D23 Presentation and Expo Pavilion. For more info click HERE.

11.) The Music

Music loving attendees are in for a fun-filled musical treat when Frozen FANdemonium: A Musical Celebration! takes over the 7,500-seat Hall D23. The event, presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, will take place at 3:00 pm, Sunday, August 16, at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Radio Disney Road Crew will also be on hand throughout the Expo to keep the crowd pumped with music and also Radio Disney on-air personalities hosting electrifying Center Stage performances and events. For more info click HERE.

12.) The Shopping

Get ready to buy gadgets and gizmos a plenty. The Disney Store will have the all-new collections and Limited Editions launching at this year’s D23 EXPO. Located within the Disney Consumer Products Pavilion, the Disney Store shop will feature new and exclusive products showcased throughout more than 3,000 sq. ft. of retail space. New items celebrating everyone’s favorite characters will be unveiled each day throughout the weekend. We'll save a spot for you in line! For more info click HERE.

13.) The Magical Memories

There's a whole lot of Disney Magic under one roof. You won't believe how much pixie dust is in store for all who attend this one-of-a-kind Expo. There is definitely something for everyone and every age group. The memories we've made at the D23 Expos of the past are still some of our very favorite Disney memories of all time. ALL TIME. Disney is always better when you share it with someone, especially your sisters. We also recommend bringing the kids and create some unique Disney memories with them.