The big news coming out of Anaheim today is that the run of Ed Grier as President of Disneyland will come to an end on Friday. Ed was known for his… well… he… um, well not much. Known primarily as a behind the scenes guy,… Read More »Ed Grier resigns from Disneyland Presidency
I saw a great headline that the much needed Maglev line between Anaheim’s resort district and the Las Vegas area had received federal funding to get started on the first phase. It was only $45 million toward a potential $12 billion project, but it was… Read More »Disneyland to Vegas Maglev Receives Funding, or does it?
With D23 launching its first Expo tomorrow it seems like an odd time for the club to be looking forward. But for all the members who can’t make it to Anaheim for the event, perhaps you’ll find something in your area you can attend later this year.
One of the complaints I’ve heard the most about D23 is that other than the Magazine, there just isn’t much offered for the average fan. This roster seem much too limited for a club that a company the size of The Walt Disney Company can pull off. The other complaint is about the cost of the club. We might see some movement on that next year.
The full press release and more details below the jump:
A new cast of talented contributors to the Disney legend will themselves become Disney Legends in a special presentation at the D23 Expo on Thursday Sept. 10th. Oscar-winning actor Robin Williams, the actresses of The Golden Girls, the voices of Donald Duck and Goofy, and… Read More »Disney to honor 2009 Disney Legends at D23 Event
The Walt Disney Company is rolling out the red carpet and a whole lot more for its fans at the inaugural D23 Expo. They’ve just released the Event Schedule with lots of great details for this amazing Disney Fan event. Plan to be in Anaheim September 10-13 to check everything out.
Exciting details about the activities and events planned for the four days of Disney’s inaugural D23 EXPO have just been announced. There is so much to see you’re going to have to plan carefully. The D23 EXPO is open to the public. Tickets for individual days or the full four days of this Ultimate Disney Fan Event are available at the website.
Exclusive Screenings & Sneak Peeks
The D23 EXPO will offer guests the chance to get sneak peeks of upcoming Disney movies like The Princess and the Frog, TRON: Legacy, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Rapunzel, Disney’s A Christmas Carol, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and many others. The D23 EXPO also will present the U.S. premiere screenings of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in Disney Digital 3D™. More than that, the D23 EXPO will present several classic movies on the big screen, including the original Tron, Sleeping Beauty, The Shaggy Dog, Darby O’Gill and the Little People, along with other exciting screening events. The ABC House Screening Room will present screenings of new television entertainment, including ABC’s vibrant new fall schedule.
Special Presentations and Panels
The D23 EXPO will offer fascinating explorations of the past, present and future of Disney. Throughout the four days, scores of special panels and presentations will bring new insight into Disney history, let guests go “behind the magic” of Disney theme-park attractions and movies, and get fans up close and personal with the Disney legacy of unforgettable entertainment.
D23 EXPO Show Floor
A giant show floor filled with incredible pavilions and interactive areas assembles the entire world of Disney under one roof. From Disney’s global theme parks to the Company’s environmental initiatives, the show floor includes a collector’s area, a gathering of Disney licensees, an eight-room “home” showcasing an amazing array of Disney merchandise, and new technologies being developed by Walt Disney Imagineering. The show floor is the heart of the D23 EXPO. It will also be home to the “ABC House Screening Room,” a sign-up area for the “Lost University,” and kid-friendly play areas that make the D23 EXPO an exciting event for all ages of Disney fans.
“Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives”
The legendary Walt Disney Archives will assemble a never-before-seen collection of more than 100 props, costumes and one-of-a-kind items from more than eight decades of Disney creativity. For the first time ever, the Archives also will present a retrospective of props and costumes from the classic “Captain EO” attraction in which Michael Jackson thrilled theme-park audiences in 3D.
Arena Presentations
The 4,000-seat Anaheim Convention Center Arena will be home to spectacular presentations throughout the four days of the D23 EXPO. Disney President and CEO Bob Iger will kick off the entire event with an unforgettable presentation that includes a 30-minute glimpse at the upcoming animated feature The Princess and the Frog and a live performance by its vocal star, Anika Noni Rose. Other Arena presentations will incorporate surprise celebrity appearances as D23 EXPO guests learn about the future of ABC, Disney movies, theme parks, animation and more.
Celebrity Appearances
Celebrities from both current and classic Disney projects (both on screen and behind the scenes) will be on hand throughout the D23 EXPO, and are currently scheduled to include: X Atencio, Jake T. Austin, Kathryn Beaumont, Richard Bellis, Tom Bergeron, Bruce Broughton, Cheryl Burke, Maria Canals-Barrera, Marge Champion, Ron Clements, Mary Costa, Alice Davis, David DeLuise, Joseph Fiennes, Michael Giacchino, Blaine Gibson, Selena Gomez, Kelsey Grammer, Don Hahn, David Henrie, Patricia Heaton, Tommy Kirk, Steve Lisberger, Joel McNeely, Brendan Milburn, John Musker, Ed O’Neill, Marty Sklar, Jennifer Stone, Valerie Vigoda and many more.
Family Activities
Disney Consumer Products will give D23 EXPO guests the chance to explore a host of activities for the entire family, including a Disney Creativity Center hosted by Crayola, the Disney Princess Storytime and Royal Manners event, the Baby Einstein World of Discovery Center, and a magnificent live LEGO building event in which Master Builders will invite guests to join them to construct a life-sized mural of Disney characters, paying homage to the innovation of Disney and LEGO. There will be appearances by best-selling authors, fine artists, and toy designers. There will also be a series of fashion shows featuring the latest styles from Disney Couture, Disney Couture kids and the Wizards of Waverly Place collection. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the first-ever Disney Dream Home and to go “behind the fairy tale” at the Disney Fairy Tale Weddings showcase.
Schedule Highlights are below the jump:
Read More »D23 Expo Schedule Updated, even more amazing stuff packed in
The Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend has reached capacity for its 4th consecutive year. That’s 18,000 participants taking place in various events around the Sept 4-6 weekend. Something to keep in mind if you’re going to be at the park that weekend. If you are running, I’m looking for a corespondent to report on the experience for The Disney Blog.
The full press release is after the jump:
Read More »Disneyland Half Marathon ready to run
I don’t know why I’m sharing this with you since it lessens my chance to win and, face it, I’m not making it out to California any other way in this economy. But hey maybe one of you will win and send me a collectible postcard or something.
Disney.com is offering you a chance to attend the inaugural D23 EXPO, where the world of Disney will come together under one roof at the Anaheim Convention Center in California from September 10-13, 2009. Enter exclusively through Disney.com’s mobile Web site by texting D23 to DISNEY (347639)* now through August 21, 2009. The winner will receive the ultimate Disney fan experience including travel accommodations, tickets the to the D23 Expo and Disneyland Resort tickets for a group of four.**
Running September 10–13, the D23 Expo will transform the Anaheim Convention Center into the single largest gathering of all things Disney ever assembled in one place at one magical time. Many more details about D23 EXPO entertainment, events and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans can keep up with all the news by visiting www.D23EXPO.com, as well as by signing up for mobile alerts from Disney.com by texting D23 to DISNEY (347639).*
Still not convinced? Check out this video from the folks at D23 with a special look at some of the Disney archives items that might show up at the expo.
Time to put the hopes of a third gate for the Disneyland Resort up on the shelf for at least the next 10 years. The Harbor Blvd Strawberry Field that had been targeted as the most likely spot for Disneyland’s next theme park is now… Read More »Disneyland’s Third Themepark Dreams Paved Over