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Disneyana Conventions

An Overview, by Techtite

Disneyana Conventions started out as a small little gathering for fans, collectors, and traders of Disney collectibles (animation cels, statuettes, memorabilia, etc.). In time, the convention became more and more popular, and therefore deserved more attention and "pixie dust" from Disney World. By now, the convention has become, IMHO, one of the best possible ways to visit Disney World each year, complete with memorabilia by the dozens, "freebies" galore, an evening where one of the parks is reserved for Convention Guests only(!), and a formal banquet as the finale. Thanks to a Disney-loving relative, I've gone to all these conventions since 1995, and loved every one. It's sort of an "enhanced" Disney vacation, for avid fans of the films/parks.

The typical convention package includes a lot of bang for your buck. You get a special plastic Convention badge, like a credit card, which you can use for as much or as little as you wish. While it has your photo on it, and with it you can just walk right into most Convention festivities, its magnetic strip can be programmed with added features; park admission throughout the days of the convention, and/or as a charge card, if you put a real charge card on file during registration (American Express, Master Card, etc.). Usual convention packages includes a hotel room for the duration of the convention (I advise the Contemporary resort, because that's the convention hall used each year). Additional "freebies" when registering include pins, an auction paddle (though attending the pricey auction is optional) and a list of Limited Edition items. A complimentary gift is often a small, statuette of a Disney character, related to the theme of the convention that year (and often with a small clock at its base!). As I said, a lot of bang for your buck; and this is before the convention even begins!

The option to buy affordable Logo Merchandise (pins, t-shirts, jackets, and other items with the convention logo on them) is offered by mail, prior to the convention. You get what you ordered upon registration, so you can wear the items you bought throughout your stay. The t-shirts offered are some of the most elaborate ever sold by Disney clothing stores, and often include a mural/collage of all the Disney characters relevant to the convention theme that year (the most amusing year was the Villains theme of '97, with a T-shirt of all the Disney villains ever shown in animated film!). Be ready to get many questions about your shirt when worn in the park, and how to get one (hey, a little free advertising never hurt anyone!).

Key attractions, exclusive to "CoventionEars," are often several days long, so you can either go to them when they first open, or wait until the next day. "Disneyana Showcase" offers a sneak peek at items offered by Disney merchandise companies in the next year (Disney Store, Disney Art, etc.). Elsewhere, a whole convention room is reserved for collectors' shops nationwide, who wish to sell their wares (some of the toys and media for sale from these collectors are quite old and impressive to see offered at all). Disneyana Discoveries offer behind the scenes tours, including one that takes you behind the scenes of popular Disney rides, like the Haunted Mansion, The Hall of Presidents, and Tower of Terror!

The auction itself is always impressive, with rare, one-of-a-kind collectibles available for bidding. Some frequent offerings include carts from the park rides, that needed to be replaced. If your favorite ride is the Tomorrowland rocket launch, for example, you can get an original "rocket" cart from that ride, and give it to your kid as a room decoration (though, admittedly, that would be a very pricey room decoration)! Some other items include one of a kind artwork, window decorations, and ride fixtures (when Mr. Toad's ride closed, they offered props taken from that attraction). Framed, actual checks, signed by Walt Disney, are another typical auction item. Among the items I wish I could afford each year, are the animatronic window displays shown in Main Street's Emporium store. At least one of these window displays is offered each year.

Limited Edition sales are more in touch with the pocketbooks of other convention guests. These items offer at least one work from some of the most loyal artists/companies of Disney-themed merchandise, including Lilliput Lane (each year, a different miniature of a Disney attraction), Armani (an inspired statue of an unforgettable animated scene), and any number of Animation cels and unique poster art. In part, these are limited edition items to be sold in the bigger Disney Art Stores nationwide, and ConventionEars get the first chance to buy them. The edition numbers are always at their best at this convention; my Armani statuette of Princess Jasmine, limited to only 1,200 copies, has an edition # of 95. It's even signed by the artist!

"Theme Night" is when one whole section of a Disneyworld theme park is reserved exclusively for Convention guests only, from around 6:00 P.M. until 11(???). You can eat as much as you want, as offered by professional chefs behind serving tables. All rides, as a rule, are also open, which you can most often just walk right into (the park is reserved for convention guests only, after all). What park area is reserved varies each year. In 1995, Tomorrowland was reserved, while the following year had Fantasyland reserved. All of MGM studios was reserved in '97, and about 2/3rds of Animal Kingdom in '98 and '99. Honoring the It's a Small World ride, the 2000 Disneyana Convention has Fantasyland reserved, just like in '96. Each year, the evening often ends with an exclusive sneak peek at a future attraction.

Banquet Night caps off the convention, and is the evening when formal wear is requested. You sit in round tables of around 10 or so people (if your party has less people, be ready to "mingle"). Dinner is most often surf-and-turf, with some form of fish (often a Lobster Tail, or the like), and a gourmet meat dish (Filet Mignon, or the equivalent). There is a stage show, exclusively shown to convention guests, as a one-time-only event. The evening always ends with a parting gift, which is often made of fine pewter, and limited only to the number of people attending the convention that year.

"Surprise Guests" are not uncommon, either. One year, the banquet night had the original singing voices for The Little Mermaid (Jodi Benson) and Belle from Beauty and the Beast (Paige O'Hara). The year Hercules was released, the actual voice actress for Meg (Susan Egan) was there to sing songs from the film, in person. Some of the oldest members of the Disney legacy have been part of the audience, including the late Marc Davis (the animator of Tinkerbell, Cinderella, and several others; he's the kindly old man in the center of the picture, shown at left). He was there to sign autographs and have fun with the other Disney fans, every Disneyana Convention year, right up until he passed away in March of 2000. He's one "ConventionEar" that will be sorely missed.

Look throughout Techtite's Shows & Parks review section, for annual reviews of the Disneyana Conventions, from 1995-2000...

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