There’s much in store for D23 Expo, the biennial fan event for Disney devotees.
Earlier in the year, a Disney Consumer Products insider promised unique experiences, expanded programming, and more varied exhibitors. With less than a month to go, what’s been revealed holds to that promise.
The Disney Infinity Endless Summer of Fun tour won’t make it to D23, but Disney Interactive will have a huge presence with a demo pavilion and daily presentations including one in the Arena in which attendees will receive an exclusive giveaway of a never-before-seen Disney Infinity figure.
There’s been a lack of ABC news. Fans are hoping for more on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Once: Wonderland, the network’s highly anticipated new shows.
There’s been much griping from Comic-Con attendees about the attention to D23 Expo over SDCC every two years. Attendees of both should be pleased.
Fans enjoyed an exclusive screening of Lion King 3D at D23 Expo 211 prior to its release. And this year, attendees will be among the first to see Disney’s Planes.
The action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure from Disneytoon Studios, Disney’s Planes will open the same day of the screening, but at D23 Expo, there’ll be an intro by some very special guests. Dane Cook, Stacy Keach, Brad Garrett, Teri Hatcher, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and John Ratzenberger are among the cast.
Disney’s slate of films will further be represented by the appearances of Marvel stars. Fans can also view art concepts, film clips, and products for the November film Frozen,
Walt Disney Imagineering will celebrate their 60th anniversary at D23 Expo, hosting an “open house” that’ll offer fans an unprecedented look at its creative processes and a rare opportunity to see just how the magic is created.
An up-close look at an eclectic array of Imagineering’s creative minds, attendees will have the chance to glimpse the “workspaces” of several project teams from around Disney’s global portfolio of parks and resorts. Also included is a showcase of historical concept art from its Art Library and 12 presentations and panel discussions behind the latest Disney resorts, attractions, and entertainment. Highlights include looks at Hong Kong Disneyland’s Mystic Manor and at the early days of Disneyland.
At 2011’s D23 Expo, there were a lot of Cos-Players, quite good ones. It seemed it was coordinated as their costumes were of similar quality. Now this year, there’ll be the first À La Mode Costume Contest on August 9. There is a cap on entrants, and the deadline for registering is July 21. The entry form can be found at the D23Expo site.
One of the main events is the Richard M. Sherman and Alan Menken: The Disney Songbook concert on August 10. The Academy Award winning duo will perform selections from the vast Disney library including, of course, some of their own compositions.
Another hot ticket will be for the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony. Monsters Inc. and Monsters University stars Billy Crystal and John Goodman, and Ed Wynn will be among the honored along with posthumous awards for Steve Jobs and Dick Clark. The August 10th ceremony will be hosted by Tom Bergeron.
There’ll be plenty of opportunities to purchase Disneyana as well as Marvel and Star Wars collectibles. The Disney Store; Mickey’s of Glendale; and Disney Princess Ariel-Themed Sephora Pop-up Shop are just some of the installations. Don’t forget the Silent Auction and the expo floor which will hold nearly 60 vendors so far.
At Comic-Con, Disney POP! Funkos always sell out. “Animal Metallic Wacky Wobbler” is this years SDCC exclusive with news about what will be offered up at D23 Expo still to come.
ESPN will screen its Nine for IX series while Disney Channel will trot out its stars and creators of Kickin’ It, Shake It Up, A.N.T. Farm, Crash & Bernstein, Phineas and Ferb, Teen Beach Movie, and more.
There’ll be plenty of showcases including Spider-Man’s Ultimate Innovation; Darth Vader: The Evolution of a Villain. Disney∙Pixar’s World of Cars and Disney’s Planes; Assembling The Avengers Franchise; I heart Mickey & Minnie; Find Your Voice with The Little Mermaid; Journey through the Art of Tink; and What Makes a Puppet a Muppet? in which attendees can create their own plush.
There’ll be a Crash Course in the Force: Star Wars Saga 101, presented by Lucasfilm’s resident authority Pablo Hidalgo.
A current schedule can be found here which will be updated frequently.