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D23 Expo

D23 Expo 2022 News and Ticket Info

13 January 2022 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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It is not that far into the new year and we already have some exciting D23 news about the upcoming D23 Expo in September of 2022. D23 is kicking off the new year right, giving us info on ticket pricing and sales, the Mousequerade event, merchandise, and (most exciting to me) the restoration and display of Walt Disney’s plane, used, among other things, to scout the land purchased for the Walt Disney World Resort in the 1960’s.

I am so happy to see that this historic plane has been restored since its removal from the Backlot Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. D23 has also announced that there will be even more Walt Disney Archives presentations than ever before. I cannot wait for the Expo this year. I wasn’t able to attend last year and had to send my trusty reporter out, but this year I’m READY for all the Expo action. Let’s keep reading below for the official announcements from D23 and info on when and how to purchase your tickets!

D23 Expo 2022 Mickey

TICKETS FOR D23 EXPO: THE ULTIMATE DISNEY FAN EVENT PRESENTED BY VISA® GO ON SALE JANUARY 20, 2022

The Biggest Disney Fan Event Will Take Place September 9th through 11th in Anaheim, Calif.

Returning Events Include the Disney Legends Awards, Mousequerade Costume Contest, and Much More; D23 Gold Members Receive Special Discounts

BURBANK, Calif. – January 13, 2022 – Tickets for D23 Expo 2022 presented by Visa go on sale at 12 p.m. PT, Thursday, January 20 with an exclusive presale for Visa cardholders who are also D23 Members starting on January 19, at 10 a.m. PT. “The Ultimate Disney Fan Event,” hosted by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center September 9th through the 11th, celebrating the magic and excitement of Disney entertainment past, present, and future and kicking off Disney100, the centennial celebration of The Walt Disney Company. All of Disney’s wonderful worlds—including Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars—will unite under one roof to showcase what’s new and what’s on the horizon from Disney theme parks, streaming, television, music, products, and films. Complete details are available at D23Expo.com.

D23 Expo 2022 will feature more than 50 shows, presentations, and panels, including the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, which honors the talented individuals who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy, as well as an all-new exhibit curated by the Walt Disney Archives highlighting the 100th anniversary of Disney.

D23 Expo 2022 Mousequerade

The popular Mousequerade costume contest will return, hosted by Nina West and featuring a star-studded panel of judges including Yvette Nicole Brown (Big Shot, Disenchanted), Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano and creator of Her Universe), and Ally Maki (Toy Story 4, Home Sweet Home Alone). The contest will feature new categories including “Off the Screen,” “Imagine That!,” “Magical Mashups,” and “Cast of Characters,” as well as a fan-favorite award voted on by the audience and a “Best in Show” prize of $2,300. Complete rules for entry and details are available at D23Expo.com.

D23 Expo 2022 Mousequerade

Presenting Sponsor Visa will be the “Official Way to Pay at D23 Expo,” and Visa cardholders will have access to additional benefits and one-of-a-kind Disney experiences.

Plus, D23 and the Walt Disney Archives, working with new D23 Expo Platinum sponsor Amazon, are restoring Walt Disney’s Grumman Gulfstream I company airplane, currently housed backstage at Walt Disney World Resort, and transporting it to Anaheim. The iconic aircraft was seen for years as part of the Studio Backlot Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and will be on display at D23 Expo 2022 for guests to see in an exhibit called Mickey Mouse One: Walt’s Plane presented by Amazon.

D23 Expo 2022 Walt's Plane

Returning to D23 Expo 2022 will be the massive show floor full of immersive experiences and special opportunities for guests to see what’s next for Disney around the world—and they may even run into their favorite Disney stars, characters, Imagineers, animators, and filmmakers. Guests can also enjoy numerous shopping opportunities, many featuring D23 Expo-exclusive collectibles, at an assortment of Disney and partner pop-up shops including the D23 Expo Emporium, where the ultimate Disney fans can find their ultimate treasures. The 7,000-seat Hall D23 returns and will be joined this year by the 3,000-seat Premiere Stage, the 1,200-seat Backlot Stage, and the expanded, 700-seat Walt Disney Archives Stage for more presentations curated by the staff of the Archives. On the main show floor, the D23 Expo Live! Stage will feature performances, appearances, demonstrations, and more all weekend long, many of which will be livestreamed to guests at home.

D23’s seventh Expo in Anaheim follows the success of D23 Expo 2019, which drew tens of thousands of Disney fans for three star-studded days and nights. Guests were treated to appearances by celebrities such as Robert Downey Jr., Christina Aguilera, Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Angelina Jolie, Robin Roberts, Salma Hayek, Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, and the casts of The Mandalorian and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Guests immersed themselves in the one-of-a-kind exhibit Inside the World of Avatar, saw models and artwork from the new experiences and attractions coming to EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort, and admired iconic costumes on display from Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They also enjoyed a look back at Disney’s rich history through extraordinary panels, presentations, and exhibits and discovered the newest entertainment, technology, and products coming from Disney.

D23 Expo 2022 Visa

Tickets for D23 Expo 2022 presented by Visa will go on sale at D23Expo.com beginning January 20, 2022, at noon PT. Guests must be members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club—either at the complimentary General Member level or at the Gold Member level—to purchase tickets. Discounted single-day ($89) and three-day tickets ($229) will be available exclusively to D23 Gold Members. Regularly priced single-day tickets are $99 for a one-day adult admission and $79 for children, and money-saving three-day tickets are also available. This year, a limited number of Hall D23 Preferred Seating tickets (which include admission for all three days and a reserved seating section for all Hall D23 presentations) will be available exclusively to D23 Gold Members. D23 Members who are also Visa cardholders, and who pay with their Visa, will have pre-sale access to a limited number of one-day and three-day tickets for 24 hours beginning January 19, 2022, at 10 a.m. PT, while supplies last. Discounted hotel and Disneyland Resort park tickets are available to all D23 Expo ticket purchasers.

D23 Expo 2022 Ticket Prices

In addition to an exclusive discount on tickets, D23 Gold Members will enjoy special benefits at the Expo, including on-site discounts from select retail locations and a complimentary gift. And guests will be able to visit the D23 Ultimate Fan Lounge presented by Amazon on the show floor. For more information on tickets, ticket prices, and D23 Expo, visit D23Expo.com.

Schedule and talent are subject to change.

About D23 Expo 2022
D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, streaming, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. For the latest D23 Expo 2022 news, visit D23Expo.com. Presentations, talent, and schedule subject to change. To join the D23 Expo conversation, be sure to follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and use the hashtag #D23Expo.

About D23
The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 99-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com, with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.

Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($99.99), Gold Duo Membership ($129.99), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.com. Will you be purchasing D23 Expo tickets for 2022?

You can also see other D23 updates here on Zannaland as well as our Disney D23 Expo Retrospective episode of our Up the Waterfall podcast where we talk about all the fun of D23 Expos past:

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Filed Under: D23 Expo, Disney News, Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Disney Special Events, Latest News, Official Disney Tagged With: D23, D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2022, D23 Expo 2022 tickets, D23 Expo ticket prices, D23 Mousequerade, Disney D23, Walt Disney's plane

Destination D 2021 is Coming to Walt Disney World-Ticket Sale Dates

26 July 2021 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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D23 has just announced the ticket sale date for Destination D! We had previously reported on June 24th: Huge surprise announcement today from D23 – The Official Disney Fan Club as they announced Destination D is happening this year! The Biggest Disney Fan Event of the year is coming November 19–21, 2021!

Join D23: The Official Disney Fan Club as we celebrate 50 years of the Walt Disney World Resort and more! Be the first to hear exciting announcements and see sneak peaks from the many worlds of Disney—and relive your favorite memories with behind-the-scenes stories, special guests, and so much more at this fan-favorite event!

D23 Destination D 2021

Become a D23 Gold Member to purchase tickets when they go on sale in July.

This one of my favorite parts of D23 membership – it’s much more intimate and manageable than the D23 Expo, and really what led me to visit Disneyland (and the Expo) for the first time! I can’t wait to experience the next Destination D and all the fun facts and special surprises that will be in store! You can read about past Destination D events here. Hope to see you in November!

Today we got more information from D23 including pricing and ticket sale dates for Destination D 2021:

Destination D 2021 ticket sale date

The event will take place November 19 – 21, 2021, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World Resort.

Destination D 2021 ticket prices

Be the first to hear exciting announcements and see sneak peeks from the many worlds of Disney—and relive your favorite memories with behind-the-scenes stories, special guests, and so much more at this fan-favorite event!

Destination D 2021 ticket sale date

Here’s even more info about the event straight from Disney D23:

Become a D23 Gold Member to purchase tickets when they go on sale!

Presentation Highlights of Destination D23 2021 will include*:

  • A kickoff welcome presentation with Bob Chapek, CEO, The Walt Disney Company.
  • What’s New and What’s Next for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products—Chairman Josh D’Amaro will share what’s new and what’s next for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. The exclusive presentation will feature updates on some of the most anticipated projects around the world. And as D23 Members know, there is always a surprise or two in store!

destination d23

  • A special look at what’s new and next from Disney+!
  • Musical Memories of Walt Disney World— A journey through 50 years of the Walt Disney World songbook with Walt Disney Imagineering, revealing the stories behind beloved fan-favorite melodies and a peek into the process of creating new ones.
  • Destination D23 audiences will also thrill to performances from Michael James Scott, Genie in Disney on Broadway’s hit Aladdin and Disney’s acapella sensation DCappella.

destination d23

  • The Art and Imagery of Walt Disney World— Dive into the Walt Disney Imagineering Art and Photo collections for a look at over 50 years of the most gorgeous, stunning, and surprising artwork that inspired the most magical place on earth over the years.
  • The Magical Musical World of Encanto—Join filmmakers and special guests for a melodic Saturday evening celebration of the upcoming musical, the 60th animated feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios!

destination d23

  • Weird Disney World—The fan-favorite “Weird Disney” returns, as Director of the Walt Disney Archives Becky Cline digs into Disney history to bring you a half century of the wildest and wackiest Walt Disney World moments!
  • How the (Disney) World Began—Join Kevin Kern and Steven Vagnini, authors and historians behind A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of The Most Magical Place on Earth and Disney Legend Dick Nunis for a look at how Walt Disney’s dreams were translated into the Vacation Kingdom of the World.

destination d23

  • Park Stars: Original Characters of Walt Disney World—Figment, Big Al, the Orange Bird, and Teddi Barra are just a few of the many Disney characters created specifically for Walt Disney World. Join Imagineers Diana Brost and Jason Grandt as they take you on a journey around the “world” to meet many of the fun personalities that appear in Walt Disney World attractions and shows.

Exciting Experiences at Destination D23 2021 will include*:

  • The Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Bringing Home the Magic—An all-new exhibit curated by the Walt Disney Archives takes you through a half-century journey of merchandise memories of the Walt Disney World Resort. From figurines and fanny packs to pins and plush, relive each exciting decade through the souvenirs that brought the Vacation Kingdom of the World home!

destination d23

  • Mickey’s of Glendale—The Walt Disney Imagineering campus store returns with a pop-up shop at the event for attendees, featuring a selection of exclusive Destination D23 and Walt Disney Imagineering merchandise.  Trading pins for this event will be offered to attendees through a RSP opportunity.**
  • Special Film Screening—On Friday, November 19, event guests will also be invited to a special screening at Disney Springs.**
  • Disney+ Party—Join Disney+ for the grand finale of an incredible weekend with a special celebration you can’t miss!

Plus, more presenters and presentations to be announced soon!

*Please be advised: All schedules, events, and merchandise are subject to change without notice. For the enjoyment of all attendees, access in and out of the Fantasia ballroom may be limited during presentations.

**For the convenience of our event guests, you will be offered the opportunity to reserve a shopping window for Mickey’s of Glendale on Friday, as well as a show time for your screening at Disney Springs on Friday. Details to come closer to the event.

DETAILS
For those unable to join us live at the event, select segments of Destination D23 will be live-streamed on D23.com and D23 social media channels. Stay tuned to D23.com for a full schedule of streaming panels, along with details of where to tune in.

All guests will receive access to the following D23-exclusive experiences: 

  • Guaranteed seats at all panels and presentations
  • Destination D23-exclusive Mickey’s of Glendale pop-up shop
  • All-new exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives
  • Special Screening on Friday
  • Disney+ Party on Sunday evening
  • Specialty gift created exclusively for the event

In addition, a limited number of preferred seating tickets will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. These tickets will include a dedicated queue for a reserved seating area at the front of the ballroom.

An extremely limited number of specially priced rooms and theme park tickets will be available to D23 Members who purchase Destination D23 tickets. Further details will be included in the ticket purchase confirmation email.

NOTES

  • D23 Gold Members may reserve a ticket for themselves and one (1) guest for either regular or preferred seating. D23 Members will be required to log in with their D23 Gold membership when reserving tickets.
    • Gold Family Members can transition before purchase to the Gold Duo Plan at no charge for the opportunity to purchase additional tickets. Each Gold Member on the account can purchase a ticket for themselves and one (1) guest. For more information on how to transition your Gold Family account, click here.
    • Each ticket must have a unique individual assigned to the ticket, no duplicate names can be used at time of purchase.

 

  • All ticket holders for this event agree to comply to the latest health and safety guidelines put forth by the Walt Disney World Resort. Find the latest guidelines at Know Before You Go.
  • All guests without active room reservations at Disney’s Contemporary Resort must park at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) and take the Monorail service to the event.
  • Video or audio recording of any kind will not be permitted during the presentation.
  • All Guests under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to attend this D23 event.
  • D23 Members attending must bring their photo ID and event tickets or they will not be admitted to the event.
  • Ticketed Members and guests who do not attend the event forfeit their place as well as all experiences, benefits, and gifts associated with the event. D23 Members must be present for their guests to gain entry to the event.
  • All D23 Events are subject to change without notice. There are strictly no cancellations or refunds, and tickets are not transferable.

PLEASE BE ADVISED: Filming, photography, and other recording will take place at WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT IN LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL during the event you will be attending. By entering the premises, you irrevocably consent to and authorize Disney Worldwide Services, Inc., its affiliates, successors, and assigns (collectively “Disney”), to photograph you, make sound recordings of you, and use such photographs and recordings throughout the world, for any purpose whatsoever in perpetuity, including, but not limited to, television broadcasts and home entertainment products, including, but not limited to, home video and DVD. All such photographs and sound recordings will be the sole property of Disney.

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Filed Under: D23 Expo, Disney News, Official Disney, Top Stories Tagged With: D23, D23 Expo, Destination D, Destination D 2021, Destination D 2021 prices, Destination D 2021 ticket sale date, Destination D ticket sale price, Destination D Walt Disney World 2021, Destination D WDW, Disney D23, Walt Disney World 50th, WDW 50th

Disney Parks Biggest Hits and Misses – Up the Waterfall Episode 18

27 January 2020 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Hello friends! This week’s episode of Up the Waterfall podcast could get a little heated! Scott and I have each compiled our lists of what we think are the biggest hits and the biggest misses/flops/disappointments or whatever you’d like to call them, across the Disney parks. Will you agree? Will you want to yell at us next time you see us in the parks?! Have a listen or a watch and see if you agree!

Navi Shaman

 

I know for me, some of my “misses” may not be the concept itself, but what it has turned into, or what effects it had on the parks and the way they run, as well as the way we visit them. As usual, Scott’s ideas may surprise you as they surprised me, and we even had the same item for a miss, unplanned.

You can listen in everywhere you download and listen to podcasts – if there’s a place you’d like to listen and can’t find us, let me know and I’ll be sure we add it there. You can of course find it on Apple podcasts and Google Play in addition to Anchor and many other locations. If you’d like to see our facial expressions and the amazing opening sequence that Christian created for us, head to ZannaLand on YouTube to watch (and see our other vlogs and videos too!)

 

Some fun other blogs to read relating to this topic are:

The Hollywood that Never Was and Never Should Be

D23 and Me (and You!)

Backstage Magic Tour – for the Disney Fan Who’s Seen It All

We hope you enjoy this episode, and invite you to share your favorite hits and misses in a comment below, or find us on whatever social channel you prefer to share your comments there.

 

WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LISTENING AND WATCHING! HAVE AN IDEA FOR A NEW EPISODE? LET US KNOW BELOW! AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS! 

 

FOLLOW THE ZANNALAND TEAM ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WATCH OUR VIDEOS, VLOGS AND PODCAST TOO: 
  • Twitter: @zannaland, @otisney, @badgesickle
  • Instagram: @zannaland, @otisney, @badgesickle
  • Zannaland’s facebook page
  • Zannaland on YouTube
  • Up the Waterfall is a weekly Disney history podcast hosted by Zanna and her husband, Disney history buff and bibliophile, Scott Otis, where they share stories of Disney past, present and future. 
  • Listen to Up the Waterfall podcast, subscribe on iTunes, or watch on YouTube

We thank you for your support and for sharing the love! 

Up the Waterfall logo

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Filed Under: Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Up the Waterfall Podcast Tagged With: D23, D23 Expo, Dining Plan, Disney Dining Plan, Disney hits, Disney hits and misses, Disney misses, Disney transportation, FastPasses, Food and Fun Card, Gold Key Card Disney, imagineering, Up the Waterfall, Up the Waterfall podcast, Walt Disney World

New Disney Podcast! Up the Waterfall

3 September 2019 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Hello! Well, it’s all finally happening. If you’ve been following along these recent Zannaland.com changes, we’ve been talking about all the things that were coming up. With the addition of our video producer-extraordinaire, Christian (my son, who’s basically grown up with Zannaland), we’ve added more videos, vlogs, and now, a project I’ve been wanting to do basically ever since getting married to @otisney and realizing the amount of Disney history we wanted to discuss and share, a podcast! Since podcasting has grown and changed and morphed over the last 15 years, we have decided to share ours as both an audio and video podcast. We aren’t doing any fancy effects at this point, but if you want to follow along and see our faces while we talk and any props we may use as an example along the way, feel free to watch vs. just listen.

Up the Waterfall logoI explain this in our first episode, but we will go into it more in the future too, but the name, “Up the Waterfall” comes from Walt Disney’s Tencennial show for Disneyland’s 10th birthday. And seeing him explaining things to Julie Reihm, the first Disneyland Ambassador, just always made me instantly smile…even just watching the clip at the end of our first show put a smile on my face again. So that’s the sort of feel I wanted to have with our podcast. It’s not just a historical podcast, it’s not a news podcast, it’s a combination of all of our experiences, thoughts, and yes, knowledge (which I will admit is mostly on Scott’s side of the desk!) about Disney parks and all the made them what they were and are today. We hope you’ll listen in on our journey as we explore this podcasting path.

We’re no podcasting or even broadcasting experts, so keep that in mind as I say “um” 27 times 😛 But we’ll keep figuring things out and hopefully make a great show that keeps you wanting more.

You can listen to the podcast right here on Zannaland, there is a Podcast tab at the top of the site now, or you can (eventually, it’s not quite searchable there yet but it is there!) search “Up the Waterfall” on iTunes, or you can watch on Zannaland’s YouTube channel. You can also visit UpTheWaterfall.com for the latest show too, but everything will be shared here as well. Thank you so much for supporting all of these updates and new ventures that we’ve wanted to do for so long, and a HUGE thanks to Christian for making it all happen and pushing us to just do it, and of course Scott for his patience when it took me 5 years to get it going. 🙂

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Filed Under: Commentary Land, Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Top Stories Tagged With: D23 Expo, D23 Expo podcast, Disney history podcast, Up the Waterfall, Up the Waterfall podcast, zannaland, Zannaland changes, Zannaland YouTube

Up the Waterfall: D23 Expo, A 10 Year Retrospective

2 September 2019 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

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https://zannaland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/AUDIO-UtW-0101-D23-Retrospective.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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A Zannaland Podcast!

It’s finally here! Up the Waterfall is a Disney podcast I’ve wanted to do for about 5 years now and it’s finally happening! Up the Waterfall is weekly podcast hosted by Zanna (me!) and Scott Otis. Discussions range from Disney history, to theorizing on what Disney’s future holds! Anything is possible in Disneyland! Thanks to Christian, we are also uploading the podcasts as video, in case anyone wants to watch as well as listen. 🙂

Up the Waterfall, Season One
Episode 1
“D23 Expo, A 10 Year Retrospective”

A look back at the past decade of D23 fan events, remembering what some of the biggest hits or biggest misses were. Listen and then let us know your thoughts!

 

This episode is also available in audio-only format.

Click here to download.

 

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Filed Under: D23 Expo, Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Up the Waterfall Podcast Tagged With: D23, D23 Expo, Disney D23, Scott Otis, Up the Waterfall, Up the Waterfall podcast, Zannaland podcast

EPCOT – The Magic of Possibility?

26 August 2019 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

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I was planning to update my D23 Expo post with all the Parks, Experiences, and Products news announced on Sunday, August 25, but there ended up being SO much EPCOT news, it needed its own post. For those who were not following along on social media or at the Expo itself, there were about 13 new announcements or opening dates revealed yesterday, so it was a bit overwhelming to take it all in! In previous years, we have been given some exciting news, like New Fantasyland, Galaxy’s Edge, and Toy Story Land among others, but 13 things about ONE park alone is unprecedented! Let’s break down all the news with the official Disney releases – and I’ll add some commentary along the way – all images are in most cases concept art released by and copyright Disney, some were taken at the presentation at the Expo by Scott, who was there representing Zannaland, but the content is of course, still Disney’s images:

New EPCOT 2019
Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is undergoing an historic transformation, bringing the next generation of immersive storytelling to life through a plethora of new attractions and experiences. The park’s entrance will be transformed with a reimagined fountain, new pathways, and sweeping green spaces that beautify the entryway while paying homage to the origins of Epcot.

“Epcot will be unified with four neighborhoods that each speak to important aspects of the world
and its people: World Showcase, World Celebration, World Nature and World Discovery.
These neighborhoods will be filled with new experiences rooted in authenticity and innovation
that take guests to new destinations, where the real is made fantastic in a celebration of
curiosity, hands-on wonder and the magic of possibility.”

New EPCOT Map

World Showcase

• World Showcase will continue to be a celebration of culture, cuisine, architecture and
traditions – infused with new magic.
• The United Kingdom pavilion will welcome the first attraction inspired by Mary
Poppins. Guests will step in time down Cherry Tree Lane past Admiral Boom’s house,
then enter Number 17, home of the Banks family, where their adventure will begin.

So this was probably the most shocking and exciting of the announcements. Many had speculated what the last “to be revealed on Sunday” attraction poster would be, since most of us assumed one of the two would be Brazil, which was NOT announced at Expo at all. Whether it will be announced in the future remains to be seen. Maybe at the WDW 50th celebrations? Maybe in another 37 years? Anyway, the Mary Poppins announcements were suitably vague in classic Disney style. Will it be a dark ride? A show? An interactive walk-through experience? Nothing official has been announced except the above, so we’ll just have to wait and see. It is interesting to note that the images in the poster and concept art both seem to be referencing the NEW 2018 version of Mary Poppins…hmmm.

Additionally, as an EPCOT Center kid and purist, it is strange to me to see a fictional place represented in World Showcase, which was supposed to be a World’s Fair-esque sort of cultural exploration of other countries and their traditions, food, and shopping…but that time has long passed, especially with the addition of Frozen to Norway, and of course Remy is on his way to France as well. So, as Bob Chapek shared both at this Expo and 2017’s, they are making EPCOT into a place where families “can see their favorite Disney stories come to life”. And yes, I would love to say “But that’s not what EPCOT is all about,” but as we all know, it hasn’t been about what it was about in 1982, for a long, long time. I think what is so difficult for us, as EPCOT Center diehards, to let go of; we know EPCOT *could* have been updated and plussed and kept current throughout the past 35+ years. Disney had the technology, the wherewithal, and yes, the money, to keep the heart, the soul, and the vision of EPCOT Center alive. Sure, some things would have had to change over time, but the message and the hope for the future could still have been there, instead ripping bits and pieces out over the years, and making it so the story of Future World no longer made sense. And that’s why we were all on pins and needles with these announcements, because it could have been the final crushing blow for a park we still held out hope for, or it could’ve been an amazing salvation and promise for the future of EPCOT. And what we got was a kind of “hmmm, oookaaay?” So without being too much of a Debbie Downer about this overall theme/feel change to my beloved EPCOT Center, I am cautiously optimistic about this and other changes to the park…but let’s move on, there’s a lot left to share!

Mary Poppins Attraction

Mary Poppins Attraction

Mary Poppins Attraction

• In 2020, following the limited-time run of “Epcot Forever,” the new “HarmonioUS” will
debut as the largest nighttime spectacular ever created for a Disney park. It will
celebrate how the music of Disney inspires people the world over, carrying them away
harmoniously on a stream of familiar Disney tunes reinterpreted by a diverse group of
artists from around the globe. “HarmonioUS” will feature massive floating set pieces,
custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, lasers
and more.

HarmoniUS at EPCOT

HarmoniUS EPCOT HamoniUS EPCOT

I am hopeful for the new HarmoniUS show, but most excited for EPCOT Forever. I realize Disney didn’t HAVE to give us any tribute to anything from the original EPCOT, so I am very grateful that they are, and plan on crying non-stop and going to as many EPCOT Forever shows as I can get to. I AM excited for the updated technology that will no doubt be featured in HarmoniUS, and look forward to seeing what unfolds.

• In summer 2020, the France pavilion will offer even more for guests to discover,
including the much-anticipated attraction Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, where guests
will shrink to the size of Chef Remy and race through Gusteau’s restaurant on a wild
adventure. Summer 2020 will also see the debut of a delicious new restaurant in the
France pavilion, La Crêperie de Paris, offering both table- and quick-service options
featuring a menu from celebrity chef Jérôme Bocuse.

I will admit, I’m very excited for the Remy ride. Mostly because I’ve seen clips of how cute it is in Disneyland Paris, and I’m not heading there any time soon. I realize I’m being totally hypocritical about bringing Disney IP’s into EPCOT, but again, it’s a lost cause at this point.  I’m excited for the Creperie, and think this will make France have the MOST food offerings in any pavilion?? Chefs de France, Monsieur Paul, Les Halls, Artisans de Glace, and now the Creperie. Is there another pavilion with more than 5? Let me know if I’m forgetting any. I also hope they have something I can enjoy there as a recent convert to a vegan diet from vegetarian. But France isn’t exactly known for healthy options haha.

• Also in the France pavilion, the classic Impressions de France film will be joined by the
new “Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along,” debuting in January 2020 and directed by
Don Hahn, producer of both the animated and live-action versions of this tale as old as
time.

Excited for Don Hahn’s involvement, but NOT happy about any remote possibility of Impressions de France being edged out over time. I will be heartbroken if that happens, but I hope it sticks around for us EPCOT Center fangirls and boys.

• “Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” will debut in January 2020 in the Canada
pavilion with new scenes and a new story.

Canada Far and Wide

I’m totally ok with this. The other 360° movies in World Showcase have never really stood the test of time because they always had people in them and really showed things which easily looked out of date, whereas Impressions de France was always more of an art piece, sure parts are outdated, but it’s a beautiful time-capsule, not a caricature.

• In the China pavilion, “Wondrous China” will take guests on a spectacular journey
across the country, filmed and presented in a completely seamless 360-degree digital
format.

Wondrous China EPCOT

Again, I’m okay with this. SOOO much has changed in China since the early 80’s (or late 70’s when it was probably filmed – I know they updated it once but still). I’m excited to see the modern look at China mixed with the historical past and cultural aspects.

World Celebration poster EPCOT

 

World Celebration
• World Celebration will offer new experiences that connect guests to one another and the
world around them.

Ok, first of all, I’m really not a fan of these new names. World implies, well, the World, like World Showcase, but not everything relates to the entire world like that, especially if it’s going to involve Disney animated feature characters, but I guess their definition of “world” can be interpreted in many ways, like “the magical worlds of Disney animation…”. Anyway, I dunno, Celebration just seems the most out of place of those names. Nature and Discovery I get. Maybe Celebration could’ve been lumped in to Discovery and that way keeping Imagination and Spaceship Earth in that group would’ve made more sense? More on Celebration later…

• The iconic Spaceship Earth will remain a voyage through time as the journey
transforms to reflect the power of storytelling to unite the human experience. New
narration and an entirely new musical score will focus on the moments and ideas that
define the story of humanity. Guests will follow a magical “story light” that brings the
entire experience to life in dynamic ways, giving each scene energy and beauty that ties
the entire journey together.

Spaceship Earth Updates Spaceship Earth Updates

So this is another curious update, because we can all agree that Spaceship Earth needs some TLC and major updates, however, what’s most beloved about it is that it retains many of its original scenes and concepts. So I think the destruction of any of those will be very sad, but if those areas can truly be “plussed” with updated technology or effects that BLEND with the existing scenes, and maybe update the ending which is pretty much non-existent, that would be good. I’m also okay with having a ‘guide’ because Disney has certainly done that and done it well before, however, I don’t think there needs to be any Disney IP or characters within the ride. We all know the stories that Disney movies have to tell, but I’d be fine (and interested in) an historical view of storytelling in general, and how that’s changed over time. So I’m again cautiously optimistic with this one.

World Celebration EPCOT World Celebration EPCOTWorld Celebration EPCOT

World Celebration EPCOT

• A new pavilion will be the perfect place for live events, and the home base for Epcot’s
signature festivals. It will provide a stunning elevated view of the entire park and an ideal
spot to witness Epcot’s nighttime spectacular. This beautiful three-level structure will
have one of the most remarkable architectural designs at any Disney park, featuring a
plaza level, a middle expo level, and a park that sits in the sky on the top level.

Ok so this is concerning to me. I mentioned right when I saw this concept art, I said, “Hmm, looks like that top area will be prime dessert party real estate…” and yes, it looks amazing, and yes, I’d love to go up there and get sweeping views of whatever’s happening at EPCOT, or watch fireworks. But let’s be real here, look at the last 5 years, separate ticketed, upcharge events have been more and more prevalent and I’m SURE this was designed with that in mind. I mean, what do I know, but that’s what I think anyway. It just makes sense. I hope that I’m wrong, and everyone can enjoy this new green space with spectacular views, but it just seems a little toooo perfect given Disney’s upcharge event tendencies lately. Time will tell (which seems to be the mantra with all of these updates)

• As guests exit Spaceship Earth, they will discover a breathtaking new view of World
Showcase from Dreamers Point. World Celebration will also feature a new statue
celebrating the legacy of the original dreamer, Walt Disney, plus beautiful natural
environments and global design elements filled with Disney magic and surprises,
including a wishing tree in an enchanted forest and a story fountain celebrating the
power and music of iconic Disney storytelling.

Dreamers Point EPCOT

Ok, I actually love the statue. I think perhaps it was put there to ensure that any naysayers of these new changes will be appeased by “Uncle Walt” but I’m still okay with that, true or not. I think there is a risk of people taking very weird photos if they are able to basically climb all over Walt (we all know no one reads the “do not climb” signs), but I just like the statue itself, the age of Walt they chose, his pose, etc. Does it belong in EPCOT? Probably not, because “Walt’s EPCOT” is not and never has been this EPCOT, but it IS created with his ideals in mind, so I get it. I like that it’s casual, a reminder that he was a real, human guy, with visions and dreams, like all of us.

World Celebration EPCOT

 

 

World Celebration EPCOT

As far as these other updates, I’m all about wishing trees and story fountains, y’all. That seems very EPCOT Center to me, both visually and description-wise. (Feels like it could’ve gone in an Imagination area but…)

• Epcot’s entrance plaza will be transformed with new experiences that connect guests
with the world around them, welcoming them with a reimagined fountain, new pathways
and sweeping green spaces that beautify the entryway. The design will pay homage to
the origins of Epcot.

Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” at Epcot will be the first attraction inspired by the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film. This lush exploration trail will invite guests to meet and play with magical, living water. (Disney)

World Celebration EPCOT

World Nature
• World Nature is dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe and balance
of the natural world. It will include The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends
pavilions.
• Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” will be the first experience inspired by the hit
Walt Disney Animation Studios film. This lush exploration trail will invite guests to meet
and play with magical, living water. The water will have a life of its own – just like
Moana’s friend, the ocean – and guests will learn about the importance of the natural
water cycle.
• The Land pavilion’s new film, “Awesome Planet,” which showcases the beauty, diversity
and dynamic story of the planet, will begin welcoming guests in January 2020.

Awesome Planet EPCOT

 

I don’t have too much commentary on World Nature. It makes sense, it goes with the existing pavilions of The Land and Seas (with Nemo and Friends), and I think the Moana Journey of Water will be a nice addition, but again, I love any sort of water feature, and I think there are some great uses of technology that would work here, while sharing a conservation and ecological message as well. I’m hopeful, and excited.

World Discovery EPCOT

World Discovery
• In World Discovery, stories about science, technology and intergalactic adventure come
to life.

This makes sense and works with the existing science/space theme that exists over on that side of things.

Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind
Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind
Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind

• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be the first “other-world” showcase
pavilion at Epcot. The adventure starts in the “Galaxarium,” a planetarium-like exhibition
that explores the similarities and mysteries of the formation of Earth’s galaxy and
Xandar. Guests will be invited to learn more about the treasures Xandar has to share –
until the moment when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive, and adventures across the
cosmos ensue. The attraction will feature a new innovation from Walt Disney
Imagineering – a storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus guests on the
action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster.

This really speaks for itself, and all that’s left is for me to wonder how I will ever survive riding this attraction.

Space 220 EPCOT

• An expansion of the Mission: SPACE pavilion, the new restaurant Space 220 will be a
culinary experience featuring the celestial panorama of a space station, including
daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles up. Guests will board a special
elevator for a journey to a space station that is home to an incredible dining experience.
Along the way, viewports will give guests real-time perspective as they travel high above
the planet. Once they arrive, guests will enjoy fantastic meals and drinks while taking in
views that are truly out of this world. Opening this winter, Space 220 will be operated by
the Patina Restaurant Group.

I’m excited for this. I hope it’ll be like a space version of the Good Turn, or Garden Grill restaurant. Very “vision of the future in a movie” kind of feel to it, and I like it.

EPCOT Play Pavilion EPCOT Play Pavilion EPCOT Play Pavilion

• The PLAY! pavilion will open in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. In
this digital metropolis, guests will discover an interactive city bursting with games,
activities and experiences that connect them with friends, family and beloved Disney
characters – both real and virtual – like never before. As part of this new pavilion, guests
will have the chance to help legendary fashion icon Edna Mode on her quest to rid the
world of uninspired style, or make a splash competing in a water-balloon fight hosted by
Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby.

I mean, anything is an improvement to Wonders of Life’s current state. This definitely has an early Communicore if they had the technology feel to it, and I’m totally okay with it (I hope it goes without saying that I realize me saying “I’m okay with it” is not to imply me not being okay with anything would have any effect at all on things, but simply sharing my opinions on each of the updates.)

Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience

  • Guests will be able to visualize these exciting plans for Epcot when doors open Oct. 1, 2019, for
    Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience in the Odyssey Events Pavilion.
    They will discover engaging and interactive exhibits that showcase the relentless innovation,
    energy and excitement driving the park’s future throughout this unprecedented period of
    transformation.

While “Walt Disney Imagineering presents the EPCOT Experience in the Odyssey Events Pavilion” is perhaps the longest title we’ve gotten to date, I am excited for this space. I’m glad the Odyssey name is staying on that building, hopefully the exterior design will remain in all its 80’s glory, and I love a good preview center with models and concept art and all that good stuff. I anticipate spending a lot of time in here over the next few years.

And with that, we complete our EPCOT updates have drawn to a close. It’s a LOT right? Honestly, it took me writing all of this out to really process all of the info and digest the changes. It’s very easy to get excited by “NEW UPDATES FOR EPCOT” and not stop and realize what it means and how it fits into the overall feel and message of the park. So that’s what I tried to do here. My opinions are, as always, my own, and may differ greatly from yours. I’d love to hear your thoughts on all of this news. What are you most excited about and what are you most worried about? If you don’t want to leave a comment here, feel free to track me down on instagram, twitter, facebook, youtube, my cell if you have it…haha I kid, but I’d love to hear from you and what you think. Thanks as always for reading, and for visiting Zannaland. <3 If you need to say goodbye to EPCOT Center, read my Love Letter to EPCOT, written in 2013, and updated today. Because we all need to remember.

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Filed Under: D23 Expo, Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Top Stories Tagged With: D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2019, D23 Expo Epcot news, Dreamers Point, Epcot, EPCOT 2019, HarmoniUS, Mary Poppins ride, Walt Statue, World Celebration

D23 EXPO 2019 Announcements and News

23 August 2019 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Well if nothing else, the D23 Expo always keeps us on our toes…or Disney in general does. Even though the 2019 D23 Expo doesn’t begin until today (Friday 8/23), and the Disney Parks & Resorts session isn’t happening until Sunday, Disney sent us a surprise update last night on twitter and the Disney Parks Blog with some Parks announcements. We will share them all below, and update this post throughout the Expo. So bookmark this or keep it up in a tab, and keep checking back for details as we get them – and add your comments, predictions and opinions below too!

 

DISNEY PARKS & RESORTS:

Disney Parks Pavilion at D23 Expo 2019

Disney Parks Pavilion at D23 Expo 2019

Disney Parks Pavilion D23 Expo 2019
Disney Parks Pavilion at D23 Expo 2019

STAR WARS HOTEL – 

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser (Star Wars Hotel)

We now have a name for the new “Star Wars Hotel” we heard about at the last Expo: “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be a new, first-of-its-kind vacation experience where guests will check in for a two-night adventure aboard a glamorous starship.  Once onboard, guests will interact with characters and become active participants in stories that unfold around them on their galactic journey.” – Disney Parks Blog

This is a very interesting twist, and the rumored price-points of this unique experience were also shared on twitter earlier last week…coming in at a whopping $3300 for the required 2-night stay with a cabin for 5 running $7200 (pricing as seen on WDWNT.com fansite). Again, these prices are just rumors and may (and probably will) change when they are officially announced. The pricing is all-inclusive, but we aren’t sure what exactly that means at this point.

We’ll have more on this as our Zannaland correspondent gets a view at this display within the Expo show floor and after the Parks & Resorts presentation on Sunday!

 

EPCOT

Boy oh boy, EPCOT is such a valuable and precious place to so many (myself included), and the rumors and plans and conjecture on what will be changing are keeping all of us die-hard fans on the edge of our seat and probably creating a bit of an ulcer in some cases. The bottom line is, Disney could, at any moment, just change everything. Get rid of Imagination and Figment, change it all to IP attractions, all beer, all merch, all festivals all the time…We are of course hoping that that does NOT happen, and the promise 2 years ago of attention and refresh of EPCOT to some form of its former glory, gave us all hope. We have now been given some updates that keep that hope alive. The fact that we are now reverting to spelling it EPCOT makes my tiny 80’s heart sing!

EPCOT 2019 Concept Art Updated
EPCOT 2019 Concept Art Updated

EPCOT ATTRACTIONS POSTERS – 

Some folks were granted access early to the D23 Expo show floor, and one Disney Twitter fan captured photos of all the new EPCOT attractions posters – there will be a couple revealed on Sunday but have a look now:

EPCOT Attractions Posters EPCOT Attractions Posters EPCOT Attractions Posters EPCOT Attractions Posters

AMAZING, right? Which is your favorite?

MOANA WATER PAVILION –

Announced last night on the Parks Blog – “The reinvention of Epcot will include Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana.” This first-ever attraction based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios hit film, “Moana,” will let guests interact with magical, living water in a beautiful and inspiring setting.” If it’s one thing we love here at Zannaland, it’s Disney and water features, so this is very exciting and promising. We will share more as we learn it!

Moana Water Pavilion
Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” at Epcot – Concept Art

I’m also excited that we will get a new preview center at the Odyssey Pavilion (formerly the Odyssey restaurant and festival event space) so we can check on EPCOT’s coming soon projects and “…discover engaging and interactive exhibits that allow you to step inside the relentless innovation, energy and excitement and see some never-before-revealed details driving the future of Epcot all throughout this unprecedented period of transformation.” I do love a good model, so can’t wait to see this in person! Read all the EPCOT updates here.

Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience
Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience at the Odyssey Pavilion

AVENGERS CAMPUS – DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE – 

The Disney Parks Blog shared, “When guests visit Avengers Campus, they will become part of an interconnected, global story that spans from California to Paris to Hong Kong with the Avengers recruiting new extraordinary people to join them.” We’ll have more on this as we get updates!

Avengers Campus
Avengers Campus Concept Art

 

DISNEY+:

Last night at D23 Expo, Ricky Strauss, president, Content & Marketing for Disney+ and Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts announced One Day at Disney, a spectacular collaboration between Disney Publishing Worldwide and Disney’s new streaming service.  The new, 224-page coffee table book and the documentary series will both arrive on December 3, highlighting the talented men and women who bring life to some of Disney’s most beloved stories.

One Day at Disney book

On February 21 of this year, 76 unique photo shoots took place around the world, as Disney dispatched photographers to capture images of the employees and cast members who drive creativity and innovation at The Walt Disney Company. From Shanghai Disneyland and ESPN to Pixar and the set of Modern Family, these spectacular photographs—and the stories behind them—will be featured in the hardbound, collectible book, written by Bruce Steele, which is now available for pre-order.

On December 3, the same day the book arrives in stores, Disney+ will debut its new, 52-episode short-form series One Day at Disney, launching with a feature-length documentary. This exciting new series takes an in-depth look at the unique and surprising roles these men and women call their daily jobs. The series and documentary are from Endeavor Content’s Non-Scripted Division and executive produced by Michael Antinoro and David Chamberlin and produced by Victoria Chamlee.

Following the debut of the special, which features such talent as Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts and legendary animator Eric Goldberg, more than 50 One Day at Disney shorts, ranging in length between 4 to 7 minutes long and each profiling a single remarkable person and their fascinating job, will debut each week.

Disney+ Programming Line-up – 

  • Lucasfilm’s Untitled Obi-Wan Kenobi Series Starring Ewan McGregor
  • New Marvel Studios Series “Ms. Marvel,” “Moon Knight,” and “She-Hulk,”
  • New “Lizzie McGuire” Series Starring Hilary Duff,
  • “The Muppets” Short-form Series

The above series join the lineup of originals from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic that have been previously announced. We’re really excited for some of these and will have more updates and photos soon!

World Premiere Trailers Released for Launch Titles:

  • “The Mandalorian” – this looks very promising. I’m excited. see the trailer!
  • “Lady and the Tramp” – I seriously teared up just at the TRAILER, I can’t wait for this full movie!!
  • “Noelle”- um, this is ADORABLE and I can’t wait to watch it with my daughter (and the whole family)- see the trailer! 
  • “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” – I will admit to having little to no interest in this but I was too old for the original and the new one is not for my age bracket anyway lol – see the trailer! 
  • “The World According to Jeff Goldblum” – this needs NO explanation – see the trailer!
  • “Encore!”  a reality series where high school theatre kids are now adults and re-create their musical performances. I swear I saw a show that did this same thing but can’t remember what it was now. Anyway, this is very much in my wheelhouse! – see the trailer!

Disney+ releases November 12, 2019 and you can learn more at DisneyPlus.com.

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Filed Under: D23 Expo, Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Top Stories Tagged With: Avengers Campus, D23, D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2019, D23 Expo 2019 News, D23EXPO, Disney, Disney Parks & Resorts, Epcot, EPCOT 2019, Moana Water Attraction, Star Wars hotel

D23 Expo 2019 Line Up Announcements

6 June 2019 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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D23 Expo

Now that the D23 2019 Expo is a little over 2 months away, the updates are increasing. Today we received some of the line ups and locations for the main presentations of the Expo. The most anticipated of the presentations at Expo are always The Walt Disney Studios and Disney Parks presentations, which area always packed, at capacity, and pretty much what keeps twitter going while they take place – the news and updates are fact and furious! Here’s what we know so far:

The Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, will kick off the Expo on Friday morning, August 23. Later that same day, Disney+ will showcase its exciting slate of original films and series coming to the streaming service, set to launch in the U.S. on November 12. On Saturday morning, The Walt Disney Studios will give fans a sneak peek at their collection of world-class film labels, including Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm. And on Sunday morning, fans will get a preview of what’s in store at Disney Parks during a presentation hosted by Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Bob Chapek.

These Expo favorites will take place in “Hall D23,” the 6,800-seat venue located in Hall D of the Anaheim Convention Center. The schedule of Hall D23 Events and Presentations is as follows (all events subject to change and additional events to be announced in the coming weeks):

The Disney Legends Awards Ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 23. The ceremony, hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, will once again honor those visionaries and artists who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy. This year’s recipients are: Wing Chao, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, James Earl Jones, Bette Midler, Kenny Ortega, Barnette Ricci, Robin Roberts, Diane Sawyer, Ming-Na Wen, and Hans Zimmer.

On Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m., the highly anticipated streaming service Disney+ will give guests a first look at some of its original content including Lady and the Tramp, The Mandalorian, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and many more during this star-studded presentation.

The Walt Disney Studios will present a behind-the-scenes look at its blockbuster collection of upcoming films on Saturday, August 24, at 10 a.m. Fans will see what’s on the drawing board for the acclaimed filmmakers at Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios and get a peek at the exciting slate of live-action projects, from Disney to Marvel Studios to Star Wars. As always, attendees will be treated to exclusive footage, special guest appearances, and more!

On Sunday, August 25, at 10:30 a.m., step into the magical world of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products with Chairman Bob Chapek to find out what’s new and what’s next for resorts around the globe, including more about the transformational plans for Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

As the D23 Expo gets closer, you’ll be able to download the D23 Expo app (or it will be updated if you never deleted it from your phone like me), which will list all of the presentations and sessions in multiple formats, along with all the info you need to have a fun and (mostly) stress-free Expo experience.

D23 Expo App


Single-day tickets for Friday and Sunday of D23 Expo 2019 are available for $89 for one-day adult admission and $69 for children 3–9. Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club can purchase tickets for $77 for a one-day adult admission and $59 for children 3–9. Single-day Saturday tickets and three-day passes are sold out. For more information on tickets and D23 Expo 2019, visit D23Expo.com.

AboutD23 Expo 2019
D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. For the latest D23 Expo 2019 news, visit 
D23expo.com. Presentations, talent, and schedule subject to change. To join the D23 Expo conversation, be sure to follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and use the hashtag #D23Expo.

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Finding Dory Official Trailer Released

2 March 2016 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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During the D23 Expo over last summer in Anaheim, we were treated to quite a bit of news and info about Finding Dory, including many of the voice actors, and some exclusive clips of the film. Now the first full-length trailer has been officially released today, on the Ellen Show and we can share it here with you too! Check it out below:

 

I like that we find out where she learned to speak whale, and the whole Monterrey Bay Aquarium-like location where Dory ends up while seeking her family looks really interesting and keeping in the theme of Finding Nemo of seeing things from the fish’s points of view. I’m most looking forward to HOW she lost her family though, and hope we get to learn about that too. (Also secretly hoping for another cameo by the Boston lobstahs too ;).)

finding dory finding doryfinding dory

Directed by Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL•E”) and produced by Lindsey Collins (co-producer “WALL•E”), the film features the voices of Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O’Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton.  “Finding Dory” swims into theaters June 17, 2016.

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D23…and Me (and You)

12 August 2015 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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D23 ExpoLike many other posts which I begin here lately, this one has been brewing a while, probably since the EPCOT 30 celebration put on by D23 back in *gulp* 2012…wow, has it really been that long? Well anyway, I wanted to say a lot about D23 back then, and since that time, my sentiments have only grown. I feel that I should preface this by saying that, yes, I am a charter D23 member. Growing up in the 1980’s and falling in love with the Walt Disney World of that time, and then EPCOT Center, I was lucky enough to have parents who were equally as interested and full of love for the parks. As a result, we subscribed to Disney News in our small town of Sharon, Massachusetts, and even joined the Magic Kingdom Club when it was available as a non-corporate membership. I still have that vinyl tote bag and gold membership card that came with the yearly fee to join. So joining D23 seemed like a natural thing to do, to get more knowledge and information about something you love. You got a slick magazine full of interesting articles on current and historical Disney, and the ability to attend special events. More importantly, I felt like I was supporting an arm of the company which held the same values and love for Disney past that I did. So I gladly joined and am a gold member to this day.

There has been some sharp criticism of D23 itself by hardcore fans, noting the cross-promotion or really over-synergisation (if that’s not a word. it is now) of whatever current flavor-of-the-month Disney Channel, Disney Jr., or Disney Consumer Products was strutting out on display. I do agree that most of those who joined D23 did so for the historical aspect; the archives, the trivia, the peek or entrance into otherwise unseen experiences. However, much as we like to think we are Disney’s most important fans (those with a devout love of the company’s storied past achievements and promise for the future), who will put our wallets where our mouths are when presented with the right choices, there simply aren’t enough of us to warrant a separate, exclusive club, without dipping into the overflowing pond that is families, kids, and more kids. After all, who would buy all of the things without the constant suggestion from kids about how they HAVE to have the newest whatever from the newest show on Disney Jr.? I’m oversimplifying of course, but obviously the mass-market is where the money and the success is. Bottom line, for now, you have to endure the latest Disney pop sensation to justify an archives exhibit, presentations by Tony Baxter, and other things that make a Disney nerd’s heart go a-flutter. In a perfect world, that wouldn’t be the case, but there you go.

Now where the concept of D23 just explodes (which is also what happens to the brains of most attendees), is at the special multi-day events, where the best and the brightest come together to bring you, well, the best and the brightest insights into Disney’s past, present, and future, through concept art, Imagineering processes, music, construction, and more. Many times, these stories are told straight from the horse’s mouth, when present or retired Disney cast members, Imagineers, Legends, and archivists share the information.

The first of these events was the D23 Expo in 2009. At that time, I was personally just starting down my blogging and “public” (for lack of a better term regarding my forays into the social media channels of the Disney community) path of Disney love. The concept of me leaving my three children (the youngest not even one at the time) and flying off to the far-off country of California to experience this “Expo” chock-full of Disney history and more, was beyond foreign to me. I’ve mentioned before that before my first visit to California (which I’ll expand on in a moment), the idea of flying to California just seemed an unreachable, unattainable, unthinkable option. What can I say, I was (not-so-)young and uninformed. Before my stint on the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (now Disney Parks Moms Panel) and the training weekend involved, I had *never* left my children for more than a few hours or a sleepover at Grammie’s house. Meeting friends in the local Disney community along with being on the panel led to the desire to simply do more; learn more, experience more and, as silly as it sounds, live more. Without straying off-topic too much, let’s just say I was a very sheltered person in many ways for many years. Painfully shy in person (ok this is still pretty true today), I had zero self-confidence and pretty much lived my life the way I always had, because it’s all I knew. Again, I don’t want to stray too much because that’s really another whole blog post for perhaps a different site altogether, but I must note that I by no means didn’t enjoy or appreciate my role as a mother to my children. But what followed in the months after I began blogging and doing more was that the whole world (though I still stuck to the Disney areas for the most part) opened up to me. So, while I missed out on the first D23 Expo, and followed along on live streams and tweets and instagrams of friends there, I decided that I could and would attend the first Destination D here in Walt Disney World. Again, as corny as this must sound, that event really changed my life.

D23Expo2015The Destination D events are held on the even years in between the Expos (except for the first WDW one which was in 2011), and are smaller, more concentrated, less stressful events focusing solely on a particular aspect or two of Disney history. The first one was held in Disneyland and focused on just that: Disneyland. I missed that one too, because of that whole California-being-a-far-off land-that-I-still-couldn’t-possibly-get-to thing. The next one, in Walt Disney World, focused on vintage WDW to celebrate the resort’s 40th birthday (and also combined a very hot, very arduous scavenger/trivia hunt which has not been duplicated since).

To say I fell in love, would be a very severe understatement. The things we got to see were like viewing my childhood on a highlights reel, with bonus features of the stuff I missed before I was born. We heard from some of the original folks involved in the creation of Walt Disney World, from its inception to land purchases to infrastructure to making it all a reality. As a fan like most all of us in the room were, hearing these amazing tales and insights was such an honor. The real hit of the event were the three Imagineers, Jason Surrell (now with Universal but whose spirit still very much haunts the Disney community), Jason Grandt, and Alex Wright. These three had been making their presence and personalities known for months on twitter, and seeing them interact in person was a treat. Like a set of brothers giving each other an increasingly harder time each time they spoke, it was great fun, along with the fact that they shared wonderful information about their projects and the company. Oh, and to top all of that off, Richard Sherman appeared to play and sing our favorites, along with the surprise arrival of the original Dreamfinder, Ron Schneider, in full costume, with Figment. Yes, 8 year-old me was in heaven. In addition, I had the joy of meeting people I had only ever interacted with on twitter, and realizing this was actually real life. So I decided then and there, that I would make every effort to attend every future D23 event like this that I could.

Despite this new-found enthusiasm for Disney history, the Disney community, and D23 events, California and the 2011 D23 Expo still seemed sooo out of reach. When a couple of friends showed me how it could actually be affordable (ahh, I miss airfares to CA for under $300…) and I was able to work it out with my family at home, I finally took that giant leap and got myself to Disneyland. And THERE, my life truly changed. As I’ve written before, I fell head-over-heels in gushy, messy, ridiculously over-the-top in L-O-V-E with Disneyland. Everything people had warned me I wouldn’t like about Disneyland (it’s so small! it’s old! there’s so much more at WDW!) were the exact reasons I fell in love. It was perfection to me, wrapped up in a tiny little jewel-box of a park, drenched in history and dripping in emotions. Emotions I didn’t really know what to do with. I had never been a Disneyland local. I hadn’t grown up with that park, or during the time of Walt’s direct impact on it, so why was this place affecting me so? Maybe I had just been a WDW local for too long, and experiencing something new yet still familiar was just the right answer to an equation I didn’t know I’d tried to solve. Maybe it was the people I was with, sharing stories of their childhood memories there as well as park history and lore. Whatever it was, I drank it all in, and didn’t want to leave. As a result, I spend most of my time in Orlando trying to figure out how I can get back to Disneyland. And now I seem to have gone off on a tangent.

Well, really, it’s not too much of a tangent, since D23 is what brought me into the world of Disneyland, making it attainable and within reach, and worth getting to (not that Disneyland isn’t worth getting to on its own, but as an east coast girl who’d only ever been as far west as Chicago one time, having that much more reason to fly all the way to California was just what I needed). Since then, I went back to Disneyland for the Destination D in 2012, attended the amazing EPCOT 30 event, back to Disneyland for the 2013 Expo, the second Destination D in WDW, and now, the 2015 Expo will begin in just a few days and I’ll be there.

You can find hundreds of accounts of the events and happenings within these D23 events, from live blogging to play-by-plays to full video of presentations. But what those can’t convey are the the feelings that come with seeing these sometimes once-in-a-lifetime events in person. Beyond the big Hollywood stars that appear during the Studios presentations, or even the oft-anticipated news from Parks & Resorts on the Next Big Thing, it is the less-publicized little gems where you hear those first-hand stories, or see those never-before-seen photos or film footage of extinct attractions or concept art that really draw me to D23 and its productions. Sure, there are countless hours spent waiting in line to secure a seat at the bigger showcases, but they are for the most part worth it. And those gems will show themselves, and you’ll find yourself having another eye-opening epiphany of, “wow, this is why I became a Disney fan.”

D23 AppAnd to think, I initially intended this post to be a sort of planning guide or tips for getting the most out of the D23 Expo…well, in a way, perhaps it is. Because getting the most out of any event, is remembering and realizing why you wanted to take part in it to begin with, right? You could focus on the lines, the fact that some will get shut out of seeing presentations they want to see, some merchandise you really want may be sold out, and the parks will be extra crowded. But, you are enveloped in history and surrounded by love for a company and a place and people who share that love. And you get to do it all right across the street from Disneyland. What could be better? So if you haven’t ever been to a D23 event or an Expo, think about why you want to go and focus on those things as you look at the schedule or plan your attack on the day. You won’t see everything. You will be tired. You will probably even get cranky. But that’s okay. When it’s all over, you may find you even miss those lines, and what you got to experience at the end of them.

So, a heartfelt thank you to D23 for making me sit up and take notice of my passions and things I could do to further develop them and even grow a bit as a person because of it. Now I’m flying to Disneyland for the 8th time in 4 years like it’s nothing. And I couldn’t be happier with where I’m heading.


 

To follow along with my D23 Expo 2015 adventures, add me on twitter: @zannaland, instagram: @zannaland, facebook.com/zannaland, or even snapchat as zannadeux. I may blog during the Expo, but most likely my updates will be on the above channels, as I tend to spend all my possible hours not at the Expo in Disneyland.

I’m excited to share my experiences with you and hope you enjoy following along. And if you were on the fence about joining D23, maybe I’ve convinced you a little bit to jump over to this side. If you’re already convinced and attending the Expo, I hope to see you there! I do have that shy/awkward thing going on, but I still love meeting new people at these events!

For all of the official scoop on the D23 Expo 2015 presentations and events, follow @DisneyD23 on twitter, facebook and instagram too. You can see a schedule of all the events too and more in-depth descriptions of the major stage presentations.

By way of disclaimer, I was provided with a single media pass for the D23 2015 Expo. That has not swayed my opinions in any way, all of the above is really me and views, like ’em or not. 

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Filed Under: Commentary Land, D23 Expo, Disney Special Events, Disneyland Resort, Top Stories Tagged With: D23, D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015, Destination D, Disney archives, Disney D23, Disney history, disney imagineers, Disneyland60, DL60, Epcot 30, EPCOT30, vintage disney, WDW40

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