Disney has revealed the programming lineup for D23: The Ultimate Fan Event in Anaheim, Calif., next month.
The three-day event previously known as D23 Expo, will take place Aug. 9-11 and include presentations, panels and interactive exhibits tied to Disney’s vast portfolio of properties, including Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Marvel, Disney+, Lucasfilm, Hulu and Disney Experiences.
One of the marquee presentations will be Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase on Aug. 10. Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro will take the stage to share “news and updates” about the projects in development for Disney’s theme parks and cruise line.
Disney has previously teased projects tied to an expansion at Magic Kingdom, dubbed “Beyond Big Thunder,” and a reimagining of Dinoland USA at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
That presentation, as well as the Disney Entertainment Showcase and the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, will be held at the Honda Center this year instead of the Anaheim Convention Center.
Fans will also be able to get a peek at what’s coming to the parks at Imagineering: Behind the Dreams on the show floor at the convention center. The pavilion will feature design models, interactive demos and exclusive presentations.
Members of Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios will participate in a panel called Bringing the Worlds of Disney Animation to Life in Disney Parks on Aug. 9. They will discuss recent projects such as Zootopia at Shanghai Disneyland and Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea.
Former Walt Disney Imagineering president Bob Weis will join Leslie Iwerks and Wendy Lefkon for a discussion about decade of Imagineering projects during the Dream Chasing: Four Decades with Walt Disney Imagineering panel on Aug. 11.
A panel called Magic After Dark—The Story of Disney’s Nighttime Spectaculars will highlight fireworks shows at Disneyland, Disney World and beyond.
Other parks panels include topics on costuming, Disney Ambassadors and Disneyland foods.
“We are thrilled for fans of all ages to join us in Anaheim next month for what will truly be the ultimate Disney fan experience,” said Michael Vargo, head of D23, in a news release. “This year, D23 has been reimagined to showcase even more of what they love from across the worlds of Disney.”
Disney is also bringing back the reservation system for panels and show floor experiences at the sold-out event. The Reservation Random Selection Process will open on at 3 p.m. ET on July 15.
The full programming schedule for this year’s D23: The Ultimate Fan Event is available online at ultimatefanevent.d23.com.
