(Orlando, FL) - by Voltaire Guinigundo
LOCATION: DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld
DATES: November 22-24, 2013
CELEBRITY GUESTS: David Anders, Tony Amendola, Raphael Sbarge, Keegan Connor Tracy, Ethan Embry, Gil McKinney
DATES: November 22-24, 2013
CELEBRITY GUESTS: David Anders, Tony Amendola, Raphael Sbarge, Keegan Connor Tracy, Ethan Embry, Gil McKinney
the first "Once upon a time" convention
an EnchantaCon cosplay ("costume play") where fans dress up as their favorite characters
In the past year, I have attended 16 conventions all over Florida ranging from Tampa to Miami. Some were dedicated to Anime. Some were dedicated to Horror. Others were dedicated to everything. My desire was to go to a convention with a more focused theme. The recent Hurricane Who convention was one such event specializing in Doctor Who. It was a fantastic event and I strongly appreciated the singular theme, but I was not very up-to-date on the show.
As fate would have it, I chanced upon a website advertising an event being hailed as "EnchantaCon." When I discovered that the theme of the convention was focused on the successful, television series, "Once Upon A Time," I was immediately overjoyed. One of the few television shows that I actually keep up with is Once Upon A Time. For the sake of brevity, I will shorten Once Upon A Time to "OUAT."
If you have missed the revolution that is OUAT, then I highly-recommend that you get started on this magical television series right away. It is a relatively new show that has captivated Sunday audiences since 2011 on ABC. OUAT is a television series about some of the most well-known, fairytale characters who are trapped in a cursed town where nobody remembers their fairytale origins. The show bounces back and forth between flashbacks and present day where you can see how these characters live and interact with another (both in their fairytale past and in their present-day time in Storybrooke, Maine). It is a fantastic series full of twists and magical moments with something special to offer any television enthusiast. For a convention to tackle a show of this scope, it truly needed to have whimsical moments and a magical atmosphere.
As fate would have it, I chanced upon a website advertising an event being hailed as "EnchantaCon." When I discovered that the theme of the convention was focused on the successful, television series, "Once Upon A Time," I was immediately overjoyed. One of the few television shows that I actually keep up with is Once Upon A Time. For the sake of brevity, I will shorten Once Upon A Time to "OUAT."
If you have missed the revolution that is OUAT, then I highly-recommend that you get started on this magical television series right away. It is a relatively new show that has captivated Sunday audiences since 2011 on ABC. OUAT is a television series about some of the most well-known, fairytale characters who are trapped in a cursed town where nobody remembers their fairytale origins. The show bounces back and forth between flashbacks and present day where you can see how these characters live and interact with another (both in their fairytale past and in their present-day time in Storybrooke, Maine). It is a fantastic series full of twists and magical moments with something special to offer any television enthusiast. For a convention to tackle a show of this scope, it truly needed to have whimsical moments and a magical atmosphere.
Once upon a time...
...there was a website called "EnchantaCon." I studied this website so many times that I could recite its content like the lyrics to Disney's "Be Our Guest." Before you go to any convention, it is a good idea to visit its website daily to check for key topics such as location, media guestlist, date, schedule, cancellations, etc. When studying the website for EnchantaCon, the two most important items for me were its location and media guestlist.
The location of EnchantaCon was sited quite well at the DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld. Orlando is a very convenient city to visit because of its close proximity to themeparks, beaches and other wondrous things. The location was extremely adequate.
The media guestlist was also quite attractive. Despite a number of cancellations, the final roster of celebrities still boasted an impressive array of big names from show: David Anders (Dr. Whale), Tony Amendola (Gepetto), Raphael Sbarge (Jiminy Cricket), Keegan Connor Tracy (the Blue Fairy), Ethan Embry (Greg Mendell), and Gil McKinney (Prince Eric). Gil McKinney was actually added at the last moment much to the approval of his adoring fanbase.
Due to the filming obligations in Vancouver, however, the following actors could not attend: Chad Michael Collins (Gerhardt Frankenstein), Michael Coleman (Happy), Faustino Di Bauda (Sleepy), David-Paul Grove (Doc), Beverley Elliot (Granny) and Lee Arenberg (Grumpy).
With all things considered, I was quite happy to travel to Orlando to meet some of my favorite OUAT stars. So I packed my car with a few essentials, and made my journey to Central Florida.
The location of EnchantaCon was sited quite well at the DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld. Orlando is a very convenient city to visit because of its close proximity to themeparks, beaches and other wondrous things. The location was extremely adequate.
The media guestlist was also quite attractive. Despite a number of cancellations, the final roster of celebrities still boasted an impressive array of big names from show: David Anders (Dr. Whale), Tony Amendola (Gepetto), Raphael Sbarge (Jiminy Cricket), Keegan Connor Tracy (the Blue Fairy), Ethan Embry (Greg Mendell), and Gil McKinney (Prince Eric). Gil McKinney was actually added at the last moment much to the approval of his adoring fanbase.
Due to the filming obligations in Vancouver, however, the following actors could not attend: Chad Michael Collins (Gerhardt Frankenstein), Michael Coleman (Happy), Faustino Di Bauda (Sleepy), David-Paul Grove (Doc), Beverley Elliot (Granny) and Lee Arenberg (Grumpy).
With all things considered, I was quite happy to travel to Orlando to meet some of my favorite OUAT stars. So I packed my car with a few essentials, and made my journey to Central Florida.
Enchantacon: day 1
I arrived at the convention rather late in the day. My first order of business (aside from getting my ticket) was to find my way around the maze of buildings that made up the DoubleTree. It was not too terribly difficult finding my way around this hotel since this was the same venue used by the previous FX and Hurricane Who conventions
I found the panel room at around 3pm just in time to hear an introductory speech by Scott Distasio (EnchantaCon president), Laurie Mahoney (vice-president), and JustJosh (master of ceremonies).
I found the panel room at around 3pm just in time to hear an introductory speech by Scott Distasio (EnchantaCon president), Laurie Mahoney (vice-president), and JustJosh (master of ceremonies).
JustJosh (master of ceremonies), Scott Distasio (EnchantaCon President), and Laurie Mahoney (EnchantaCon Vice-President)
The first event at EnchantaCon I attended was an OUAT quiz hosted by Floridian web-personality, JustJosh. Before the contest started, a special prize was given to a young lady who had started an OUAT cosplay page on her own initiative: she was given the honor of selecting which celebrity would escort her to the Fairy Tale Ball on Saturday night. She chose Gil McKinney (known as Prince Eric).
The contest was a series of True/False testing the participants on their knowledge of OUAT. The winner of the contest won a magical prize: the chance to select a celebrity escort (besides Gil McKinney) to the Fairy Tale Ball. Another individual won a free photo-op with Jiminy Cricket. This fun, competitive contest was a nice way to break the ice since most of us were complete strangers to one another.
The next event I attended was a panel discussion held by some fun podcasters (including the Other Side of the Mirror and Hope Mullinax) who were fantastic at engaging the fans in a discussion.The topics were obviously OUAT-centric, and attendees were encouraged to participate. It was a fabulous way for fans to connect with one another. One of the new things I learned from this discussion was just how popular Regina's character was to other OUAT fans.
'Other Side of the Mirror' with guest Hope Mullinax (Fan Panel)
At around 5pm, some of us moved outside for a cosplay photo session. This was a photographer's dream: to have all of the costumed-guests concentrated in one location for some terrific photo opportunities. One of the biggest draws for attending any convention is seeing all of the fantastic costumes on display by the attendees.
COSPLAY PICTURES FROM DAY 1:
COSPLAY PICTURES FROM DAY 1:
my chicken dinner at the Bamboo Grille At around 6pm, I ducked out of a panel discussion so I could grab some dinner at the Bamboo Grille. The Bamboo Grille is a sit-down restaurant located onsite at the DoubleTree. The Bamboo Grille offers attendees a broad spectrum of food: signature sandwiches, steak, seafood, etc.
If the Bamboo Grille fails to excite your tastebuds, then you could easily walk across the street (off hotel property), and choose from even more restaurants. For some attendees (such as myself), the food options made this convention experience even better.
The location of the Bamboo Grille was a terrific spot for people-watching as well as celebrity-watching since everyone had to walk by this restaurant to get around the hotel.
If the Bamboo Grille fails to excite your tastebuds, then you could easily walk across the street (off hotel property), and choose from even more restaurants. For some attendees (such as myself), the food options made this convention experience even better.
The location of the Bamboo Grille was a terrific spot for people-watching as well as celebrity-watching since everyone had to walk by this restaurant to get around the hotel.
Raphael Sbarge mingles at the Cocktail Party At 7:30pm, the Cocktail Party started. This was an exclusive event which was definitely worth the cost of a ticket upgrade. The Cocktail Party offered the attendees the chance of a lifetime to meet and talk to the celebrities in an informal setting. Mingling with the crowd at this event were David Anders, Raphael Sbarge, Ethan Embry, Keegan Connor Tracy, and Gil McKinney.
During the cocktail party, we moved outside to the balcony to watch a live, mermaid performance by Eden Siréne as she swam gracefully through the pool just below us. She truly was a wonder to behold!
I luckily had the opportunity to talk to each of the celebrities extensively with the exception of Keegan Connor Tracy who I kept missing throughout the evening. I was, however, able to shake Keegan's hand as she was leaving the Cocktail Party.
During the cocktail party, we moved outside to the balcony to watch a live, mermaid performance by Eden Siréne as she swam gracefully through the pool just below us. She truly was a wonder to behold!
I luckily had the opportunity to talk to each of the celebrities extensively with the exception of Keegan Connor Tracy who I kept missing throughout the evening. I was, however, able to shake Keegan's hand as she was leaving the Cocktail Party.
Here are some fun facts I learned about each celebrity that night:
1. David Anders is an Oregon football fan. He has a gaming console which he uses to play sports games. He also loves golf in real life. David also had the pleasure of playing tennis against tennis star, Fernando Verdasco.
2. Raphael Sbarge is from New York. He is just as friendly in person as he is on television.
3. Gil McKinney did not know which prince he was auditioning for originally. He had no idea until his friends congratulated him on getting the part of "Prince Eric."
4. Ethan Embry has never eaten at a White Castle in his life (even though his character does in "Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle").
5. Keegan Connor Tracy has really cold hands!
1. David Anders is an Oregon football fan. He has a gaming console which he uses to play sports games. He also loves golf in real life. David also had the pleasure of playing tennis against tennis star, Fernando Verdasco.
2. Raphael Sbarge is from New York. He is just as friendly in person as he is on television.
3. Gil McKinney did not know which prince he was auditioning for originally. He had no idea until his friends congratulated him on getting the part of "Prince Eric."
4. Ethan Embry has never eaten at a White Castle in his life (even though his character does in "Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle").
5. Keegan Connor Tracy has really cold hands!
By the end of the evening, I had met many wonderful people. Two such individuals: Frederica and Terri would go on to become my convention-buddies for the weekend. Aside from Frederica and Terri, I also talked to many other wonderful visitors who came all the way from such places as Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Argentina, Tennessee, California, Miami (FL) just to attend this convention!
enchantacon: day 2
taking part in the photo-op experience I woke up early in the morning, went for a jog, and then arrived at the DoubleTree at around 9:50am just in time for the 10:00am professional, photo-ops with the celebrities. I managed to get a photo-op with every celebrity with the exception of Raphael Sbarge who I missed during an impromptu restroom break. I was not too stressed out about the ordeal though since there was another photo op session scheduled on Sunday.
Later in the day, I decided to attend the 12:15pm Q & A session with Raphael Sbarge, Keegan Connor Tracy and Tony Amendola.
Keegan Connor Tracy, Raphael Sbarge, and Tony Amendola during their Q & A session on Saturday
These were some of the fun facts that I learned from the Q & A session:
1) Keegan Connor Tracy did not have a favorite, fairytale story growing up because she chose to read adult-style books as soon as she could read. If she had to choose a favorite fairytale character, then it would definitely be Belle because she is bilingual, and she loves to read.
2) Raphael Sbarge's favorite, fairytale character was Little Red Riding Hood.
3) Tony Amendola was interested in epic poems growing up (such as the story of Jason & the Argonauts).
I really enjoyed the panels on Friday and Saturday. I am typically not a huge fan of panel discussions, but I made the exception for this convention since the OUAT topics were easy to follow. It was truly delightful to hear what others had to say about the show.
1) Keegan Connor Tracy did not have a favorite, fairytale story growing up because she chose to read adult-style books as soon as she could read. If she had to choose a favorite fairytale character, then it would definitely be Belle because she is bilingual, and she loves to read.
2) Raphael Sbarge's favorite, fairytale character was Little Red Riding Hood.
3) Tony Amendola was interested in epic poems growing up (such as the story of Jason & the Argonauts).
I really enjoyed the panels on Friday and Saturday. I am typically not a huge fan of panel discussions, but I made the exception for this convention since the OUAT topics were easy to follow. It was truly delightful to hear what others had to say about the show.
Scott Distasio (EnchantaCon president) After the panel, I ran into the EnchantaCon president, Scott Distasio. He was a very friendly and open individual. He invited me to compare EnchantaCon to the other conventions that I have attended in the past. My honest opinion was that EnchantaCon made the top of my con list for 2013! I did not make that statement lightly considering that I have been to all of the major conventions in Florida such as Megacon, Supercon and Tampa Bay Comic Con. I agreed with Scott that the convention achieved a more intimate atmosphere for meeting the celebrities and interacting with other fans.
I finally pushed on to the Autograph session which ran between 3pm and 4pm. It needs to be said that I am not overly excited about getting autographs. I was already more-than-content with my photo ops at the start of the day. In my humble opinion, I would much rather have a picture taken with a celebrity than get their signature since a photo memory seems to last longer. But everyone has a different opinion on the matter! In any case, I wanted to use the autograph session as an opportunity to talk to Keegan Connor Tracy a bit more since I failed to socialize with her at the cocktail party on the previous night.
I learned a very unique fact about her during my brief encounter: she speaks more Tagalog than myself! (Tagalog is one of the official languages of the Philippines)
At 4pm, there was a surprise panel with a surprise twist. A few minutes after all of the attendees had found their seats, the lights turned off in the auditorium, and we were all greeted with a Skype chatbox which was projected on the giant overhead screen. This chatbox turned out to be the surprise! Greeting us over the videochat were the familiar faces of Lee Arenberg, David-Paul Grove, Faustino DiBauda, Michael Coleman and Beverley Elliott.
I learned a very unique fact about her during my brief encounter: she speaks more Tagalog than myself! (Tagalog is one of the official languages of the Philippines)
At 4pm, there was a surprise panel with a surprise twist. A few minutes after all of the attendees had found their seats, the lights turned off in the auditorium, and we were all greeted with a Skype chatbox which was projected on the giant overhead screen. This chatbox turned out to be the surprise! Greeting us over the videochat were the familiar faces of Lee Arenberg, David-Paul Grove, Faustino DiBauda, Michael Coleman and Beverley Elliott.
Skype-chat with Lee Arenberg, David-Paul Grove, Faustino DiBauda, Michael Coleman and Beverley Elliott
These celebrities were originally scheduled for EnchantaCon, but had to cancel due to filming obligations in Vancouver. The crowd was justifiably electrified to see these individuals onscreen. There were some obvious technical issues with the audio, but this added to the comic value and general excitement of what was . I knew the cancellations disappointed some attendees, but this chat-session helped alleviate their pains tremendously! I have never seen any other convention organizers or actors go to such lengths to please its guests.
At 9:30pm, I came back in time for the start of the Fairy Tale Ball. The Fairy Tale Ball was another exclusive event (which required a package purchase). I met up with some new convention buddies of mine before we walked into the ballroom.
posing for a quick picture before the Fairy Tale Ball
Gil McKinney escorts a fan to the ball After we all found seats for ourselves, and had some dessert, the stars came waltzing into the room. Gil McKinney walked in with his elated guest, Ashley (who had earned the right to his company by creating a Cosplay page for the event). The contest winner from the previous day soon followed suit with her escort, Raphael Sbarge.
It was a terrific night where I got to know my new-found friends better, and yes, I occasionally ran into some of the celebrities who were mingling with the attendees. Gil McKinney (Prince Eric) actually approached several times to greet me. I truly cannot wait to see more of Gil's character in the upcoming episodes of "Once Upon A Time" He truly is a humble and fantastic individual.
By the end of the night, I was starting to feel like I would never see my new friends again. After attending a convention for two days with the same people, you really start to feel a connection with everyone. Even if you do not have the opportunity to talk to everyone, you will still recognize their familiar faces (which makes you feel right at ease). There was still another day of convention activities, but I already had to bid farewell to a new friend of mine, Haylee, who would not be coming back for Sunday's events.
It was a terrific night where I got to know my new-found friends better, and yes, I occasionally ran into some of the celebrities who were mingling with the attendees. Gil McKinney (Prince Eric) actually approached several times to greet me. I truly cannot wait to see more of Gil's character in the upcoming episodes of "Once Upon A Time" He truly is a humble and fantastic individual.
By the end of the night, I was starting to feel like I would never see my new friends again. After attending a convention for two days with the same people, you really start to feel a connection with everyone. Even if you do not have the opportunity to talk to everyone, you will still recognize their familiar faces (which makes you feel right at ease). There was still another day of convention activities, but I already had to bid farewell to a new friend of mine, Haylee, who would not be coming back for Sunday's events.
PICTURES FROM DAY 2:
enchantacon: day 3
Tony Amendola at Sunday's Breakfast I got about 4 hours of sleep, but was eager to get back to the DoubleTree by 8:20am on Sunday. There was a special Breakfast function that started at 8:30am where we could share an early bite with the OUAT celebrities. It was an extra event that required a ticket upgrade.
The Breakfast function was quite amazing, and definitely worth the upgrade. My table had the honor of Tony Amendola's presence. We talked about all sorts of topics ranging from regional dialects to places where we would like to visit. Tony would love to visit Greece someday! He would also like to take a cruise in the near future. I also learned that he has never been to Disney World (only Disney Land). I honestly steered clear of any Stargate topics since I had never seen that show.
After a memorable breakfast with Tony, one of my new friends had to catch a taxi to the airport. Although I only knew her for two days, I still felt like she was a part of my inner circle.
The Breakfast function was quite amazing, and definitely worth the upgrade. My table had the honor of Tony Amendola's presence. We talked about all sorts of topics ranging from regional dialects to places where we would like to visit. Tony would love to visit Greece someday! He would also like to take a cruise in the near future. I also learned that he has never been to Disney World (only Disney Land). I honestly steered clear of any Stargate topics since I had never seen that show.
After a memorable breakfast with Tony, one of my new friends had to catch a taxi to the airport. Although I only knew her for two days, I still felt like she was a part of my inner circle.
A little after 10:30am, I finally got my coveted photo op with Raphael Sbarge. I was quite happy that I got a photo-op with every celebrity at the convention.
I attended one last panel while I waited for my Raphael photo to develop. Fittingly, it was a David Anders Q & A session. It was fitting since he was the first celebrity I talked to at the event.
I attended one last panel while I waited for my Raphael photo to develop. Fittingly, it was a David Anders Q & A session. It was fitting since he was the first celebrity I talked to at the event.
Q & A session with David Anders
I learned several new things about David that I previously did not already know:
1) David can sing exceedingly well! His favorite musicals are "Into the Woods" and "Les Miserables."
2) David loves to read about History. I found this quite fascinating as I consider myself a History buff as well.
3) David has some really slick, dance moves (I learned that when I saw him bust into a dance at the Fairy Tale Ball on the previous night).
4) In a movie about himself, he would cast Neil Patrick Harris to play him.
Afterwards, I took a few more pictures (including one with my liason to the event, Laurie). I had some errands to run (which could no longer wait) so I finally had to bid my final farewell to three, magical days at EnchantaCon. As I trudged towards my car, I walked much more slowly than usual so that I could hopefully run into some more attendees. I finally saw one familiar face. And the last face I saw at the convention was none other than Ethan Embry.
PICTURES FROM DAY 3:
1) David can sing exceedingly well! His favorite musicals are "Into the Woods" and "Les Miserables."
2) David loves to read about History. I found this quite fascinating as I consider myself a History buff as well.
3) David has some really slick, dance moves (I learned that when I saw him bust into a dance at the Fairy Tale Ball on the previous night).
4) In a movie about himself, he would cast Neil Patrick Harris to play him.
Afterwards, I took a few more pictures (including one with my liason to the event, Laurie). I had some errands to run (which could no longer wait) so I finally had to bid my final farewell to three, magical days at EnchantaCon. As I trudged towards my car, I walked much more slowly than usual so that I could hopefully run into some more attendees. I finally saw one familiar face. And the last face I saw at the convention was none other than Ethan Embry.
PICTURES FROM DAY 3:
after the con: happily ever after?
I might not believe in fairies, but I do believe that EnchantaCon was the most memorable and magical convention of 2013 for myself. Make no mistake: I thoroughly enjoyed every other convention this year immensely, but this particular one spoke the closest to my heart.
This was my first time spending three days at a convention, and I was pretty certain that no other convention would ever match the whimsical feel of EnchantaCon. Everything about this convention worked. The celebrity encounters, the autograph sessions, and the Q & A's were all topnotch. The extra events (Cocktail Party, Fairy Tale Ball, and Breakfast) were definitely worth every penny. It was so refreshing and unique to meet celebrities at these extra events where attendees could mingle with their favorite stars in a social setting. The whole convention was well-organized from the top to the bottom. Even the cancellations were dealt with in the sincerest of ways. The addition of Gil McKinney at the last minute was also a very nice touch.
Finally, the attendees were absolutely fantastic. The fan cosplays were breathtaking. And the friendships we created at the convention were as magical as the show itself.
The future for EnchantaCon seems very positive. The convention organizers are very optimistic about bringing EnchantaCon back next year to the OUAT fans. The biggest problem to solve is deciding its location.
This was my first time spending three days at a convention, and I was pretty certain that no other convention would ever match the whimsical feel of EnchantaCon. Everything about this convention worked. The celebrity encounters, the autograph sessions, and the Q & A's were all topnotch. The extra events (Cocktail Party, Fairy Tale Ball, and Breakfast) were definitely worth every penny. It was so refreshing and unique to meet celebrities at these extra events where attendees could mingle with their favorite stars in a social setting. The whole convention was well-organized from the top to the bottom. Even the cancellations were dealt with in the sincerest of ways. The addition of Gil McKinney at the last minute was also a very nice touch.
Finally, the attendees were absolutely fantastic. The fan cosplays were breathtaking. And the friendships we created at the convention were as magical as the show itself.
The future for EnchantaCon seems very positive. The convention organizers are very optimistic about bringing EnchantaCon back next year to the OUAT fans. The biggest problem to solve is deciding its location.
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