From thrilling musical performances to highly anticipated movie previews, the D23 Expo provides fans with a Disney celebration every two years. This year, the event was presented by Visa and once again took place at the Anaheim Convention Center in California Aug. 9-11. The event is known as D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
A total of about 100,000 attendees who are all members of D23 — the official Walt Disney Company fan club — gathered for the event. Members had the option to attend either one or all three days, with many preferring to go for all.
Over the course of three days, the D23 Expo typically unveils exciting news from the Walt Disney Company on upcoming films, theme park changes and resort updates while also including celebrity appearances and vibrant Disney song performances. Twenty-two different schedules run varied events simultaneously each day, ensuring there is never a dull moment at the D23 Expo.
Day one
The first day of the D23 Expo got off to an exciting start: global theme park changes were revealed, upbeat music performances took place and upcoming releases of new films were discussed. Members could also attend panels and presentations that presented many well-known Disney stars.
Confirming many fans’ predictions, the Walt Disney Imagineering and Animation Studios groups detailed the recent construction of Disney park areas. They addressed the openings of Fantasy Springs in Tokyo DisneySea, World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom and California’s Disneyland Park.
My past experiences with various Disney parks and existing themed areas have been nothing short of extraordinary. Although I have only seen Fantasy Springs out of the three new locations, these upcoming areas are extremely promising when considering the amount of detail and effort that Disney puts into their theme parks.
Later that day, the Disney Entertainment Showcase, hosted by actor Yvette Nicole Brown, informed fans on anticipated movie releases including “Moana 2” coming out Nov. 27.
Auli‘i Cravalho, the voice of Moana, performed new songs from the film, including “We’re Back” alongside dancers and drummers. With such detailed outfits and scenic images on the screens, the performance was able to fill the stage with a tropical atmosphere I believe was perfect for celebrating the upcoming sequel.
She was joined on stage by Dwayne Johnson, the voice of Maui, who spoke on the movie’s trailer and poster. As someone with such an outgoing nature, there is no doubt that Johnson brought laughter and energy to the crowd during the showcase.
Additionally, Brown revealed plot hints for “Toy Story 5,” expected to be released June 19. After I heard that the new installment will incorporate technology into the plot, the film further grabbed my attention as questions arose in my mind about how the playtime tension between Bonnie’s toys and this modern threat would go down.
Members also found out that “Zootopia 2” will debut in theaters in November 2025. Characters Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps will go on an undercover adventure around Zootopia in this sequel to track down an unknown Snake named Gary, voiced by actor Ke Huy Quan.
As an Asian American, I was excited to find out that there would be a new character voiced by and representing someone with a similar identity as my own, not to mention the fact that Quan has been featured in many other famous films such as “Everything Everywhere All At Once” and “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.”
Lastly, Avatar fans were gifted with a third installment slated for release Dec. 19. Franchise creator James Cameron, who was accompanied by recurring leading actors Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña, disclosed the official film title: “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”
I cannot begin to imagine the overflow of reviews and commentary that will arise in these next few years, as these new film installments will satisfy the questions that I and so many fans were left with from prior movies.
Another notable guest of day one was Bill Farmer, the beloved voice of Goofy and 2009 Disney Legend award recipient. He spoke at the “Making a Goofy Movie: The Road to Lake Destiny” presentation on the Walt Disney Archives Stage.
Disney Legend Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel in “The Little Mermaid,” spoke alongside Yvette Nicole Brown at “The Muppets 70: A Glamorous Ms. Piggy Retrospective” event and later performed at “Disney Princess — The Concert” on the Premiere Stage. Benson was accompanied by other celebrities such as Broadway stars Syndee Winters and Courtney Reed, R&B artist Coco Jones and actor Paige O’Hara, the voice of Belle from “Beauty and the Beast.”
Day two
On the second day of the D23 Expo, fans were able to see more admired celebrities, including Chandra Wilson and Kevin McKidd at the “Grey’s Anatomy: 20th Celebration” panel on the Backlot Stage.
Later, the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” panel on the Premiere Stage featured Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries and Aryan Simhadri. Disney announced that Sandra Bernhard, Margaret Cho and Kristen Schaal will star in season two as “The Gray Sisters.” Although I have yet to begin watching this Disney+ series, the humorous and conversational panel has definitely strengthened my motive to do so soon.
Furthermore, Josh D’Amaro, the chairman of Disney Experiences, also revealed that four new vessels will be added to the Disney Cruise Line from 2027 to 2031, expanding Disney’s overseas entertainment offerings to fans.
Day two of the D23 Expo provided the bulk of theme park updates, as D’Amaro announced the construction of new areas with complementary attractions in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom. There will be a suspended-style roller coaster in “Monsters Inc. Land,” “Encanto” and Indiana Jones attractions in a “Tropical Americas” area and two new rides in “Disney Villains Land.”
Disney has recently progressed in its digital presence, as its pre-existing partnership with Epic Games will expand in the future. This includes the introduction of new skins and characters in Fortnite. Last month, a new Fortnite Marvel season of the game was released Aug. 16, featuring Marvel character Doctor Doom.
Day three
The panels and presentations of the last day seemed the most reflective and sentimental, providing a perfect closing day to the event. In memory of significant Disney songwriter Richard M. Sherman, a performance at the Premiere Stage took place, where fans witnessed unexpected appearances of Sherman’s friends and family.
At this same stage, audience members joined voice actors such as Bret Iwan, Kaitlyn Robrock, Dera Wilson and Bill Farmer — who provide the voices of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck and Goofy — in live recording sessions.
This event truly brought D23 back to its classic Disney roots and was something all Disney fans could unanimously enjoy. It was an intriguing yet strange experience to put true human faces to these cartoon voices that I have been hearing since my childhood.
The vibrant three-day event ended with the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony at the Honda Center hosted by presenter and producer Ryan Seacrest, celebrating the 2024 honorees such as Harrison Ford and Miley Cyrus. Producers and directors spoke about their colleagues, Disney Legends expressed their gratitude and positive experiences with Disney and musicians performed Disney songs on stage.
As a Disney fan myself, it seems unreal to be able to walk through colorful booths, admiring the artistic Disney atmosphere and watching Disney Legends speak about their experiences. The event lets fans take a deep dive into the realm of Disney, providing endless entertainment opportunities, no matter if you love action-packed Marvel movies or emotive Pixar films.
Although long wait times and overwhelming crowds take away from the excitement of the D23 Expo, the three-day event allows fans to join Disney behind the scenes, illustrating a beloved world of Disney magic that will continue to be established.
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