First-timer at a D23 campout: Enjoying and surviving the Disneyland expo

As many Disney fans were preparing to head home from the first day of the D23 Expo, I and about 7,000 others were calling the Anaheim Convention Center’s basement our home for the night.

Instead of warm beds, we lay upon the cold cement in a windowless room where the lights and air conditioner were on full blast at all hours. We endured the less-than-ideal conditions in order to gain access into the following morning’s Live Action panel, featuring Marvel, Star Wars and other non-animated upcoming Disney films.

My friend Cindy Hoang, a convention veteran and middle school teacher, guided me through my first time camping out. She did her best to calm me as my heart fluttered at the thought of seeing Sebastian Stan, aka Marvel’s Winter Soldier, in real life.

“Make sure you bring a blanket, food and water,” she texted me as we planned our campout. “It has to fit inside a bag and not be too cumbersome.”

She also said she and her friends have learned to “condition themselves” on when they should go to the bathroom and on taking turns leaving lines.

But as prepared as we were, there were other people who proved Cindy and I were rookies. Instead of merely sleeping on blankets, these folks came equipped with inflatable pool floaties and blow-up mattresses.

They also ordered pizzas for delivery, while I lived on a diet of beef jerky, protein bars and soft Mickey Mouse-shaped pretzels.

As we waited outside in a long line before gaining access to the convention center’s basement, passersby gave us odd looks. But ask any camper: Waiting overnight was worth it.

“A lot of people scoff about it, that we’re just waiting in line to see sneak-peek footage,” Cindy said as we neared our first of 16 hours of camping out. “It’s more showing our dedication and love for these films. They produce special footage for only us to see, and the energy you feel from other people with similar tastes as you is just great.”

Jesse Bowers, who was visiting from San Diego and sitting in front of me in line, said this was his third time visiting D23, which is held every other year. He also planned to attend his sixth San Diego Comic-Con the following weekend, where he also would camp out.

“There’s really no need for a hotel,” he said, noting it was his second night in a row camping out at D23. “I do it because it’s so incredible to see what they present at the panels. They bring the stars, the musicians, the film clips. The wow factor goes off the meter, and it’s always worth it.”

The prior night, he had waited for the Disney Legends ceremony, which inducted Marvel comic book writer Stan Lee, Star Wars actor Mark Hamill and talk show host-actor-producer Oprah Winfrey, among others.

Jesse said he believes that despite Disney allowing fans to sleep inside — which many other conventions don’t — the lineups could still be more organized.

While fans from all over the country began waiting as early as 4 a.m. July 14, the official line was not supposed to form until 10 p.m.; however, staff did not appear to enforce these rules as a line had already wrapped around the convention center by the early evening.

“To run this hall in the way they do, kids have to sit overnight down there to get in,” Jesse said. “They should give passes for people to come back.”

When asked about future plans for overnight campers to improve safety and comfort, a D23 spokesperson referred me to the event’s Frequently Asked Questions page, which only indicted lineups were not supposed to officially begin until 10 p.m.

Instead, at that hour, the already-formed lines of people were shuffled into the basement. The quarters were fairly tight, but I managed to snag a spot that could provide me with ample leg room and space for my makeshift bed and backpack. However, I did worry about rolling over in my sleep onto my neighbor, a man I did not know.

Speaking of sleep, I didn’t get much. As prepared as I came, with two plush blankets and a small pillow, nothing could get me completely comfortable laying on the cold cement, surrounded by thousands of people in a room that was never dark or silent.

At 7 a.m., Cindy and I decided it was time to head to the bathrooms to change outfits and to brush our teeth with no-water toothbrushes, and change outfits.

Others had the same idea.

Despite the panel not starting for another three hours, women formed a line for the bathroom so long you’d think they were waiting for a meet-and-greet with a resurrected Walt Disney himself.

When it finally came time to go upstairs, we were told to seal all electronic devices away, as Disney was careful about the footage shown at the panel not being released. Guards also walked up and down the aisles to make sure no one was recording anything. It’s safe to say no footage will be leaked unless it’s on Disney’s accord.

Those of us in the room were treated to sneak previews of upcoming live action films, including “A Wrinkle in Time,” “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms,” “Mary Poppins,” “Dumbo” and “The Lion King.”

But the final hour or so caused deafening screams as we viewed behind-the-scenes footage of the upcoming “Star Wars” film “The Last Jedi” and were graced by some of the movie’s actors, including Hamill, Daisy Ridley and John Boyega.

We also got what I had hoped for: the exclusive premiere of the “Avengers: Infinity War” trailer.

Actors from the film — which is a melting pot for previous Marvel Cinematic Universe characters — entered the stage. These included Robert Downey Jr., Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Sebastian Stan — I may have shrilled louder than my neighbor’s snoring the night before, but I have no shame.

My night staying over in that cold basement proved worth it.

Would I do it again? Maybe.

But I’d definitely come more prepared and perhaps spend a few nights in Antarctica beforehand so I could better endure the conditions.

BRITTANY WOOLSEY is a contributor to Times Community News.