Today we checked in for our “Sorcerer Day” at the D23 Expo and picked up our “swag bag”, the goodies provided by various divisions of the Disney company for the Sorcerer attendees.     I know this was one of the things I was very curious about coming in, and I imagine others may also be wondering what the contents were going to be in this year’s bag.

First of all, the bag itself is very interesting.   During the Expo (and I’m sure for some time leading up to it), the lamp posts all around the Disneyland Resort are decorated with banners promoting the Expo, as seen in this photo:

Banners outside the convention center

The banner design changes every year, so once this year’s expo is done, the banners are not usable.   So the Sorcerer bags from this year were made from the recycled banners from 2011 — a very clever idea, making each bag unique and collectible.   Here are the bags we got, but each one is different.

Bags made from recycled D23 Expo 2011 Banners

Now, as to what was in the bag … quite a bit of stuff!    Let’s just get to the pictures.

A lithograph of artwork used in promoting the 2013 Expo

A pin .. the Halloween party flyer was apparently just used as something to stick the pin to. Two of the possible designs shown.

Keychains with different Vinylmation designs; two of the possibilities are shown.

Spa goodies (body scrub and lotion)

Another vinylmation, available in several colors — we both got gold.

Another pin, this one quite large and features D23 Expo promotional art again

The Disney Legends book

A hardbound book of the program guide for the Disney Legends induction (to be held Saturday)

A journal — embossed D23 design on cover is hard to make out in this photo. I’ll be taking notes in this all weekend.

A collectible figurine; we both got Scuttle so I’m not sure if everyone got the same or if there were other possibilities here.

A set of Disney Collector Cards. Not sure if these are unique to the Expo or are copies of already released cards.

A $15 gift card for the Disney Music store

Very nice – a decanter and tumbler with the Disney Legends logo etched on the decanter.

A personalized Sorcerer Guest name badge.

So, that’s how our day started.     Then most of the rest of the day’s activities were about providing us with a way to add to the haul … a preview opportunity in the Dream Store, a chance to shop at the pop-up Disney Store, and a chance to preview and bid on items in the Silent Auction.   I picked up a few additional items … I think the folks at the UPS store are going to get to know me very well before this trip ends.

Oh, and a few other items I didn’t get pictures of — a coupon for a massage at the Sorcerer Lounge.  I think that may be very welcome after hauling bags all of the place for several days.   And a couple of coupons for Mickey’s of Glendale, the Imagineering store .. one for a Sorcerer member exclusive pin, and the other 40% off on any item.   If they have the same jackets on sale that were available in 2011 I know what I’ll be using my 40% on.

Much more Expo news to come … it was a long day (and not a sedentary one, either, FitBit shows 24060 steps taken today).    Tomorrow the Expo proper kicks off with the Animation presentation in the morning; I’ll be cracking open that new D23 journal (as no cameras or recording devices of any type are permitted in the arena for this presentation).

Keep checking back … I’m not sure when I’ll transcribe and post notes made over the weekend so new posts can pop up any time.