Get the Disney Deets for What’s Happening and What’s Coming Soon
Written by: Nicole Hakim
Photography Provided By: Disneyland Resort D23 Expo 2019
From Aug. 23-25, fans united at the Anaheim Convention Center to celebrate all things Disney. After its debut in 2009, the D23 Expo, which occurs every two years, is the place to be (aside from the Disneyland Resort) if you consider yourself a Disney fanatic. The weekend consisted of Disney superstars, panels and presentations for upcoming projects and, of course, cosplay!
Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is undergoing a 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.
Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge is a unique hotel and proposed Disney Vacation Club resort in development at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The new resort draws inspiration from the wonders of nature and artistry of Walt Disney. (Disney)
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida will invite guests aboard the Halcyon, a starcruiser known throughout the galaxy for its impeccable service and exotic destinations. When they arrive onboard, guests will step into the ship’s main deck Atrium to begin their journey through a galaxy far, far away. (Disney/Lucasfilm)
Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is undergoing a historic transformation, bringing the next generation of immersive storytelling to life through a plethora of new attractions and experiences. Epcot will be unified with four neighborhoods 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. (Disney)
Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is undergoing a historic transformation, bringing the next generation of immersive storytelling to life through a plethora of new attractions and experiences. A new pavilion will be home base for Epcot’s signature festivals. The beautiful three-level structure will feature a plaza level, a middle expo level, and a park that sits in the sky on the top level, complete with a stunning view of World Showcase. (Disney)
Epcot’s 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. (Disney)
In 2020, the new “HarmonioUS” will debut at Epcot 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. (Disney)
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be the first “other-world” showcase pavilion at Epcot. The attraction will feature a new storytelling coaster that rotates to focus guests on the action, and will include the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster. (Disney/Marvel)
Guests will be able to visualize the exciting plans for Epcot when doors open Oct. 1, 2019, for Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience. They will discover engaging and interactive exhibits that showcase the relentless innovation, energy, and excitement driving the park’s future. (Disney)
Just like San Diego Comic Con’s Hall H, D23 had Hall D23, where fans lined up for hours to see the biggest and most-anticipated panels. Perhaps one of the biggest events of the weekend was the Disney Legends Ceremony, where celebrities are inducted as Disney Legends. This tradition started in 1997, and according to Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, fewer than 300 people have this honor. It is a way of “recognizing talent, achievement and contribution to the company,” Iger said.
D23 Expo
This year, 12 new people were named Disney Legends. These included: D23 Expo 2019
- Christina Aguilera (member of the Mickey Mouse Club and singer of “Reflection” for the Mulan soundtrack)
- Wing Chao (architect and designer for hotels, restaurants, cruise ships and more projects for Disney)
- Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man in Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- Jon Favreau (director of Iron Man and the live-action adaptations of The Lion King and The Jungle Book)
- James Earl Jones (powerful voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa)
- Bette Midler (Winnifred Sanderson in the classic Halloween flick, Hocus Pocus)
- Kenny Ortega (director of the popular Descendants and High School Musical series)
- Barnette Ricci (choreographer of many different parades, including The Main Street Electrical Parade)
- Robin Roberts (former ESPN sportscaster and current Good Morning America co-anchor)
- Diane Sawyer (news anchor known for in-depth investigations on heavy issues)
- Ming-Na Wen (voice of Chinese warrior, Mulan)
- Hans Zimmer (composer of The Lion King and Pirates of the Caribbean)
Each Legend received a statuette, and their handprints and signature will be displayed on commemorative plaques in the Legends Plaza in Burbank. The Legends talked of their careers and their first experiences at Disney.
In addition to the ceremony, the Expo provided so much more. There were many panels, the most popular of which featured stars of upcoming projects—including Billy Dee Williams reprising his role of Lando Calrissian for The Rise of Skywalker and Tom Holland for Pixar’s new film Onward. The Expo also promoted the new Disney+ streaming service, which will allow fans to watch classics, every MCU film, the new live-action Lady and the Tramp, original content (such as “Loki,” “Monsters at Work” and the “Lizzie McGuire” reboot) and everything in between.
The Avengers Campus will open in 2020 at Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort, including the first Disney ride-through attraction to feature Spider-Man. The attraction will give guests a taste of what it’s like to have actual super powers as they sling webs to help Spider-Man collect Spider-Bots that have run amok. (Disney/Marvel)
The Avengers Campus will open in 2020 at Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort, including the first Disney ride-through attraction to feature Spider-Man. The attraction will give guests a taste of what it’s like to have actual super powers as they sling webs to help Spider-Man collect Spider-Bots that have run amok. (Disney/Marvel)
The Avengers Campus will open in 2020 at Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort, including Pym Test Kitchen, where Pym Technologies is using the latest innovations to grow and shrink food. (Disney/Marvel)
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will be located in a new area of Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland Park in California. When the attraction debuts in 2022, guests will take a journey inside the wacky and unpredictable world of Disney Channel’s Emmy® Award-winning “Mickey Mouse” cartoon shorts. (Disney)
Set to debut in spring 2020 at Disneyland Park in California, the new Magic Happens parade will come to life with an energetic musical score and a new song produced in partnership with singer-songwriter Todrick Hall. The parade will feature stunning floats, beautiful costumes, and beloved Disney characters from “Moana,” “Coco,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and more – all led by Mickey Mouse and his pals. (Disney)
Set to debut in spring 2020 at Disneyland Park in California, the new Magic Happens parade will come to life with an energetic musical score and a new song produced in partnership with singer-songwriter Todrick Hall. The parade will feature stunning floats, beautiful costumes, and beloved Disney characters from “Moana,” “Coco,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and more – all led by Mickey Mouse and his pals. (Disney)
Set to debut in spring 2020 at Disneyland Park in California, the new Magic Happens parade will come to life with an energetic musical score and a new song produced in partnership with singer-songwriter Todrick Hall. The parade will feature stunning floats, beautiful costumes, and beloved Disney characters from “Moana,” “Coco,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and more – all led by Mickey Mouse and his pals. (Disney)
At Disney California Adventure, the Avengers Campus will be home to a future E-Ticket attraction that will invite guests to step onboard a Quinjet and fly to Wakanda and beyond when it opens in the next phase of development. Guests will suit up alongside the Avengers in an epic battle to save our world against one of the most powerful villains they have ever faced. (Disney/Marvel)
Guests can suit up alongside their favorite Super Heroes at the Avengers Campus, beginning in 2020 at Disney California Adventure park at Disneyland Resort. The campus will feature the first Disney ride-through attraction to feature Spider-Man, along with other heroic encounters. (Disney/Marvel)
Guests can suit up alongside their favorite Super Heroes at the Avengers Campus, beginning in 2020 at Disney California Adventure park at Disneyland Resort. The campus will feature the first Disney ride-through attraction to feature Spider-Man, along with other heroic encounters. (Disney)
Disney Cruise Line guests can look forward to a signature island experience that celebrates nature and the spirit and culture of The Bahamas at a new Disney port of call, which will be located on the breathtaking island of Eleuthera at a place called Lighthouse Point. (Disney)
The three-story atrium of the Disney Wish will be a bright, airy and elegant space inspired by the beauty of an enchanted fairytale. It will serve as the gateway to an unparalleled vacation filled with experiences designed especially for families. (Disney)
An expo is not an expo without cosplay, and fans at D23 did not fail to disappoint with their amazing and jaw-dropping creations. For example, Instagrammer Jooskellington wowed as he applied his extraordinary talent with makeup and prosthetics to transform into a highly realistic Davy Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean. SmileAndASongPrincessParties, also on Instagram, joined in as Rapunzel in a creative rendition of Disney Princesses, where she and her friends dressed as the princesses if they were Pixie Hollow Fairies. This group embodied Disney magic, and it surely captivated con-goers of all ages!
With so much to do over that weekend, it is hard that fans have to wait two years for the next one! Luckily, it is easy to satisfy oneself until then by imagining what the next expo will bring and by streaming Disney favorites on the new Disney+ debuting this November. As you do your best to wait for D23 Expo 2021, it might help to remember what James Earl Jones said in his acceptance video at the Legends Ceremony: “May the Force be with you.”
D23 Expo
800 W Katella Ave
Anaheim, CA 92802
855.323.5973
