Hey...are you 23?

Who remembers those mysterious ads? Julia remembers them clearly because she was 23 at the time of the launch of Disney's first official fan club, no need to do the math and ask how old she is now. Have you been counting down the days to the 2015 D23 Expo since the end of the 2013 D23 Expo? We are a week away people, and this is no time to panic...or maybe it's the perfect time to panic. If you're anything like us, you've had a checklist growing since the trip home from Anaheim two years ago and we've got a few tips to share.

While the complete schedule won't be finalized until we have the event guide in our hands (and even then it's subject to change), that doesn't mean you can't start planning months (or years) before. Take into consideration what you're going to wear. Are you going for some hardcore cosplay or the more subtle DisneyBound?  Are you dressing up for just one day or all three days?  Putting together your outfit could take some time, so start that process ASAP. You will need your remaining sanity for the upcoming grind of a busy Expo schedule.

One thing we learned from past expos is that you collect a lot of ephemera - free, purchased or otherwise, you are coming home with more than you went with. We quickly realized that a poster tube would be helpful - to keep all those items crease free.  Another good item to have on your person at all times is an autograph book. While most autograph sessions have rules about what can be signed, we both have an emergency autograph kit, you just never know who you'll run into on the show floor. It probably won't be Johnny Depp, but a girl can dream.

Haul from the 2013 D23 Expo.

Maybe the autographs are not a draw for you and you are most excited about the various presentations that will be offered. We must caution you to not be blindly drawn to the big arena events, these can hijack your day and make it hard to do anything else. We are huge fans of John Lasseter, but the man just will not stick to the script and keep a presentation on time! Use the StagePass service that was introduced at the last Expo. Same idea as a FastPass in the parks, cuts down on wait times. On the same note, if you miss out on a StagePass don't hesitate to get in the standby line if it's a presentation you had your heart set on, there's still a good chance you will get in.

We also highly recommend bringing your own snacks and entertainment. It has been our experience that the food options at the convention center are limited and if it's a sold out day can even become non-existent. Having food in your bag can be a lifesaver as it is easy to go from hungry to hangry in no time flat at events like this. Our favorite snack is a bean and cheese burrito from Rubio's. They keep well, are easy to eat, and best of all, they're delicious. We know the official rules say no outside food, but we've never had a problem.

After a long but inspiring day, be sure to grab a beverage at a local podcast meetup (Mousetalgia is meeting Saturday at 8pm), make a new Disney friend, and get ready to repeat. You can never have too much energy stored up for Disney's D23 Expo.

The DBFF's at the 2013 Mousetalgia pre-expo meet