In just a few months, Disney fans will flock to Southern California to attend Disney’s biggest event of the year — the D23 Expo. D23 is the official Disney fan club and the D23 Expo is held at the Anaheim Convention Center, right across the street from the Disneyland Resort. The D23 Expo is the ultimate Disney fan event where Disney legends, Disney stars, and Disney executives show up to share a ton of exciting news about what’s coming to the Parks, as well as the theaters and Disney+, as well as Marvel and LucasFilm.
This year’s Expo will take place from September 9-11. During that time, there will be a number of panels talking about all things Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars. D23 has just released this year’s panel lineup, so let’s take a look!
September 9
Disney100
This will be an exciting panel for those who love Disney nostalgia. The Disney100 event will kick off D23 Expo and will celebrate 100 years of Disney magic and include the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony. The Legends Awards are given to those who have made a major impact at Disney, from actors to animators, Imagineers, and more. Past Disney Legends include Dick Van Dyke, Betty White, Tim Considine, Hans Zimmer, Hayley Mills, and many more.
Disney Animation and Pixar Theatrical and Disney+ Sneak Peeks
In the past few years, streaming services have become a new way to enjoy some of the newest movies — mostly thanks to the pandemic. Disney has its own streaming service, Disney+, which has more than 130 million subscribers. This panel will bring out Disney stars to give more details and sneak peeks at some of the newest titles coming to theaters and Disney+ from Disney Live-Action, Pixar Animation, and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
September 10
Marvel and LucasFilm Panel
This may be the most popular panel at the entire convention. In the past, fans have even camped out overnight in order to secure their spot in the massive auditorium. At this panel, filmmakers and stars from both the Marvel and Star Wars universes will give fans a behind-the-scenes look at some of the newest shows and movies that are on the horizon. Oftentimes, major surprise guests also make an appearance. If you want a spot in the audience, best to get there early for this one.
Disney Branded Television Panel
Disney is still one of the top storytelling companies in the world. This panel will give audiences a sneak peek at some of Disney Branded Television’s newest projects, including the new National Treasure series, The Santa Clause series, and American Born Chinese. There will also be more information given about great new programming headed to Disney Junior.
September 11
Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Panel
This is the ultimate must-attend panel for those who would love to live at a Disney Park. This panel will feature Josh D’Amaro — Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products — giving us some juicy details about what is coming down the pike. We will learn about new features coming to Disney Parks around the world — including Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and Disneyland Paris — and audiences will also learn about new things coming to the Disney Cruise Line. This panel is sure to make you want to book your next Disney vacation ASAP.
Disney Princess – The Concert
Have you ever wanted to sing with all the voices of the mountain? Or maybe you want adventure in the great wide somewhere. Well, here is your chance to get up close and personal with some truly incredible women who have voiced some of Disney’s most iconic princesses. Disney Princess – The Concert will feature stars like Susan Egan — Broadway’s original Belle — as well as Isabelle McCalla (Disney’s Aladdin) and Syndee Winters (The Lion King).
As we get closer to the event, Disney will release more details, like what Disney Legends will be inducted. There are still a limited number of single-day tickets available, and they can be purchased on the D23 website. You need to be a D23 member to purchase the tickets, but there is a free membership available, along with a $100 Gold Membership.