The D23 Expo is approaching and kernels of news have been popping up all over the place. So to make things easier for you, MiceChatters, we are compiling Disney’s Expo information in one handy-dandy place. 

Don’t get caught without a hotel for D23

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Panels

The biggest panels will take place at Hall D23, located in the Anaheim Convention Center’s Hall D. The seating capacity for this room is 6,800. There is also a smaller area for panels at Stage 28 (on the third floor) and D23 Arena (this one is found in the circular building on the north edge of the convention center). In addition to these separate venues, the show floor is home to the Archives Stage and the Disney+ Pavilion Stage. Panels that may particularly appeal to MiceChatters (or fans of Disney parks in general) have been highlighted in blue.

Friday, August 23

• • 10am – (D23 Expo Arena) Dancing with the Stars and Disney, hosted by Good Morning America’s Ginger Zee, offers a behind-the-scenes look at Dancing with the Stars’ Disney Night as well a glimpse at what’s coming up this fall in Dancing with the Stars 2019. Other panel guests include show host Tom Bergeron, show host Carrie Ann Inaba, Mirrorball champions Rashad Jennings and Jordan Fisher, and executive producer Andrew Llinares.
  • 10am – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) ESPN+ Presents Peyton’s Places Special Screening and NFL 100th Anniversary Trivia
  • 10:30am – (Hall D23) The Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger. The ceremony this year will honor Wing Chao, Robert Downey, Jr., Jon Favreau, James Earl Jones, Bette Midler, Kenny Ortega, Barnette Ricci, Robin Roberts, Diane Sawyer, Ming-Na Wen, Christina Aguilera and Hans Zimmer.

• • 10:30am – (Archives Stage) Join Randy Thornton, Disney Music Group’s Supervising Director and Music Historian, on an aural journey back in time with Great Moments with Walt Disney. The presentation will feature audio recordings of Walt as he looks back on milestones like developing the first cartoon with synchronized sound and even his meeting with composer Sergei Prokofiev. This panel is in a tough spot at the same time as the Disney Legends Awards. If you get blocked out of that one, this one is a great opportunity for you. 
  • 11am – (Stage 28) The costume competition, Mousequarade – Presented by Raw Threads, returns to D23 Expo. Watch as judges Ashley Eckstein, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Jennifer Leonard, along with contest host Jim Babcock select winners from five different categories, with a prize of $2,300 prize for Best in Show.
  • 12:pm – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) Walt Disney Animation Studios Panel with Eric Goldberg and Mark Henn
  • 12:30pm – (D23 Expo Arena) Learn about the Music and Sounds of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge from Imagineers and collaborators who created the all-new soundscapes of Batuu while drawing paying homage to the rich legacy of Star Wars music and sound design. This panel will be led by Imagineering Music Studio lead, Matt Walker, will discuss the creative process for designing the sounds of Galaxy’s Edge and its role in storytelling. If they allow questions, be sure to press them on why they talk so much about the music in a land with very little actual music.  
  • 12:30pm – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) The World According to Jeff Goldblum, Q&A with Jeff Goldblum
  • 1:15pm – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) Phineas and Ferb Conversation with Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh
  • 2pm – (Stage 28) In this first look at Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series – Episode II, attendees get an exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming episode to the series that puts you in the role of a Force-sensitive Smuggler, recruited by Darth Vader. Join Director Ben Snow, Senior Experience Director Jose Perez III, and Lucas Film Story Director Matt Martin for an in-depth discussion.
  • 3pm – (D23 Expo Stage) At the Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D panel, the cast and executive producers take a look back at the last six seasons of the show and discuss the upcoming final season (available Summer 2020). Executive Producer and Head of Marvel Television, Jeph Loeb, will host the presentation, which will also feature cast members Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen (a new Disney Legend), Chloe Bennet, Elizabeth Henstridge, Henry Simmons, and Jeff Ward along with executive producers Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, and Jeff Bell.
  • 3:30pm – (Hall D23) A first look at some of the content coming to the Disney+ streaming service. Expect to see: Lady and the Tramp, The Mandalorian, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and others. Disney announced that Dave Filoni, writer and director of The Mandalorian, along with John Favreau will be on-stage representing their upcoming show.
  • 3:30pm – (Center Stage) Join Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Celbulski, Creative Director of Themed Entertainment Brian Cosby, and several of Marvel’s artists to teach attendees How to Draw the Marvel Way.
  • 4pm – (Stage 28) In Behind the Art of Disney Costuming: Heroes, Villains, and Spaces Between, the team responsible for the similarly-named Walt Disney Archives exhibit on the show floor (see the Special Experiences section of this article for more info) give a behind-the-scenes look at the preparing of the exhibit as well as the its accompanying coffee table book.
  • 5:30pm – (D23 Arena) During the High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Sneak Peek and Panel, attendees will be treated to an advanced screening of the fist episode of the new Disney+ series, followed by a panel with the show’s cast.
  • 6pm to 7pm – (Stage 28) Marvel Animation‘s panel promises sneak peeks, guest appearances, and announcements on fan-favorite Marvel franchises, like Spider-Man. This panel also includes the world premiere of a special episode of Marvel Rising entitled Battle of the Bands!

Saturday, August 24

• • 10am to noon – (Hall D23) The Walt Disney Studios will provide behind-the-scenes looks at their upcoming films. This includes seeing the animation process from The Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios as well as seeing live-action shots from films from projects by Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars. Attendees can expect to experience exclusive footage, guest appearances, and more. Some Pixar highlights for this panel include a sneak peek of Frozen 2 and additional information about the upcoming features, Onward and Soul. 
  • 10am – (D23 Expo Arena) The Simpsons make their debut as part of the Disney Family at the D23 Expo. Join creator Matt Groening, Executive Producer Matt Selman, Supervising Director Mike B. Anderson along with stars Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith at this special panel. Those attending the panel will get an exclusive themed collectible.
  • 10am to 11am – (Stage 28) Attendees can learn more about the women who are currently making an impact in the realms of conservation, exploration, and storytelling in National Geographic’s panel, WOMEN OF IMPACT: Meet the Nat Geo Explorers Changing the World. Guests include submersible pilot and founder of a girls’ underwater camp, Erika Bergman; multimedia storyteller and Planet or Plastic ambassador Lilly Sedaghat; and large-carnivore expert Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant.
  • 10am – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) ESPN+ Presents SneakerCenter Panel moderated by show director Bobbito Garcia
  • 11am – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) ESPN+ Presents SneakerCenter demonstration by Mr. Cartoon
  • 12pm – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) Stargirl Performance and Panel
  • 12:30pm – (D23 Expo Arena) Haunted Mansion’s ghost host has prepared a special treat for expo-goers. The Haunted Mansion: Celebrating 50 is expected to have a frightfully interesting group of people. Apparently, they’ve been dying to meet you…or is it the other way around?
  • 1pm – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) The Simpsons Triva with Yeardley Smith
  • 1:15pm – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) Marvel’s Hero Project Panel with Sana Amanat, Sarah Amos, and Stephen Wacker
  • 1:30pm to 2:30pm – (location TBA) Who knows what will be announced in this Secret Walt Disney Company Project panel?
  • 2:30pm – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) Forky Asks a Question and Lamp Life Creative Panel with Val LaPointe, Bob Peterson, Mark Nielsen, and Marc Sondheimer
  • 3pm – (Center Stage) Join Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Celbulski, Creative Director of Themed Entertainment Brian Cosby, and several of Marvel’s artists to teach attendees How to Draw the Marvel Way.
  • 3pm – (D23 Expo Arena) The stars of television series black-ish, grown-ish, and mixed- ish, come together in The “ish” Universe: black-ish, grown-ish, and mixed-ish. The panel is headlined by Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Yara Shahidi, and Tika Sumpter. Attendees will explore the expanding “ish” universe.
  • 3pm – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) Secret Society of Second Born Royals Q&A with Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Skylar Astin
  • 3:30pm – (Hall D23) The star-studded panel, Disney on Broadway: A 25th Anniversary Celebration, will “wow” attendees for a music-filled 75 minutes. Hosted by Gavin Lee (Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast), the concert features Heidi Blickenstaff (Freaky Friday, The Little Mermaid), Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, On the Record), Kissy Simmons (The Lion King), Josh Strickland (Tarzan), and Alton Fitzgerald White (The Lion King). The ensemble will be accompanied by a six-piece band, led by Jim Abbott. Selections will include music from Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aida, Tarzan, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, Newsies, Aladdin, Freaky Friday, and Frozen. 
  • 3:30pm – (Stage 28) Join Imagineers Joe Rohde and Scott Trowbridge as they discuss the creative process of creating Immersive Worlds: Bringing Stories to Life in Disney Parks. Imagineers are the driving force behind creating and developing new Disney experiences, and getting to hear about their creative process will be interesting to fans. Rhode is the Creative Director of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Aulani, and Marvel attractions. He recently helmed the Avatar project at Walt Disney World. Trowbridge brought Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to both of Disney’s US parks. 
  • 5:30pm to 6:30pm – (Stage 28) In this panel, entitled MARVEL COMICS: Marvel 80th Anniversary, Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Celbulski and Executive Editor Tom Brevoort take a look at the history of the Marvel Universe and the characters it has spawned.
  • 5:30pm – (D23 Expo Arena) A Musical Celebration of Aladdin brings together stars from the screen and stage versions of the tale in honor of the in-home releases of the live-action Aladdin film as well as Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Aladdin – Walt Disney Signature Collection. This music-filled panel, hosted by Scott Weinger (Aladdin) and Linda Larkin (Jasmine) includes guests Brad Kane (Aladdin’s singing voice), Deedee Magno Hall (Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular), Jamal Sims (choreographer for the live-action Aladdin movie), Clinton Greenspan (Broadway’s upcoming Aladdin), Lilias White (Hercules), and Norm Lewis (Scandal, The Little Mermaid on Broadway).
  • 6pm – (Walt Disney Archives Stage) Travels with Marty: A Conversation with the Sklars and Imagineers  provides an inside look at Disney Legend Marty Sklar as his friends, colleagues and family reflect on Marty’s last book and his impact on The Walt Disney Company. Marty passed away just days after the last D23 Expo, he is greatly missed. Many of you will remember him from an epic MiceChat event where he spoke about the importance of music in theme parks and how he insisted on original music for EPCOT to help soften the hard architectural edges of Future World.  How we wish he was still around to advise and push today’s Imagineers. 
  • Time TBA – (Stage 28) A Q&A session with Amphibia‘s Bill Farmer (a Disney Legend), Ashley Leighton, Justin Felbinger, and the series creator/executive producer Matt Braly along with the Big City Greens‘ Marieve Herington, Bob Joles, and the creators/executive producers Chris and Shane Houghton. The panel will also feature Kermit the Frog.

Sunday, August 25

• • 10am – (D23 Expo Arena) The Little Mermaid: The 30th Anniversary Celebration! – Presented by H20+ will be hosted by Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel, and promises an “unforgettable ‘under the sea’ celebration.”
  • 10am – (Stage 28) Behind the Art of Disney Costuming: Heroes, Villains, and Spaces Between celebrates the imagination, passion and details in creating Disney costumes. Get to meet the team that created the new Walt Disney Archives exhibit on the D23 Expo show floor and its coffee table book counterpart.
  • 10am – (Stage 28) Heroines of the Disney Galaxies – Presented by BoxLunch celebrates the many powerful and inspiring female characters found in Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and others. Host Ashley Eckstein (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and creator of Her Universe) is joined by guests including Sana Amanat (VP of Content & Character Development for Marvel), Ally Maki (Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger, Toy Story 4), and Christy Carlson Romano (Kim Possible, Even Stevens, Big Hero 6: The Series). 
  • 10:30am – (Hall D23) Chairman Bob Chapek gives a look at what’s in the future for Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products. Attendees will learn about upcoming projects for Disney resorts around the world as well as get new information on the changes coming to EPCOT at the Walt Disney World Resort. We suspect this will be a hot ticket for most of you reading this.   
  • 10:45am – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) Prop Culture Movie Prop Showcase and Q&A with Dan Lanigan, Jason Henry, Tony Swatton, and Fon Davis
  • 11:15am – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) Be Our Chef Games with Angela Kinsey
  • 12pm – (Walt Disney Archives Stage) The stage will be host to Hidden Gems of the Walt Disney Animation Research Library: Preserving and Inspiring the Disney Legacy. The Animation Research Library team will discuss how they share these works of art with the world.
  • 12pm to 1pm – (Stage 28) Learn about Marc Davis in His Own Words – Imagineering the Disney Theme Park as authors Pete Docter and Christopher Merritt unveil their two-volume tribute to Disney Legend Marc Davis’ artwork and career. This presentation will feature artwork from Marc for the creation of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion as it highlights the 50th anniversary of the iconic attraction. Marc was an artist and Imagineer who understood the importance of adding fun to theme park attractions. You can always tell which attractions Marc was involved with when you see whimsical gags which still make us smile to this very day.
  • 12pm – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) Monsters at Work Behind-the-Scenes Presentation with Bobs Gannaway and Ferrell Barron
  • 12:30pm to 1:30pm – (D23 Expo Arena) National Geographic’s series, Brain Games, is getting a reboot and attendees are treated to an interactive first look during Power Up Your Brain with Keegan-Michael Key. Keegan-Michael Key is also known for his work in the Toy Story 4 and The Lion King. Joining him is Lior Suchard, a famous mentalist.
  • 12:45pm – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) The Imagineering Story Conversation with Leslie Iwerks and Bob Weiss
  • 1:15pm – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) Short Circuit Creative Panel
  • 2pm – (Stage 28) Meet some of the Inspiring Women Behind Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge as they talk their role in bringing Galaxy’s Edge to life. The panelists come from Disney Parks, Experiences and Products and share their experiences in developing Disneyland’s newest expansion, including creating the original backstories of the land, themed merchandise, galactic fare, and the interactive elements on Batuu.
  • 3pm – (D23 Expo Arena) Join Disney Legends Tony Baxter and Floyd Norman, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Paul Briggs (head of story for Frozen and Big Hero 6), producer Don Hahn, TV icon John Stamos, and others for The Art of Disney Storytelling. The panel will discuss how Walt Disney impacted their careers and the entertainment industry as a whole. They will also share how they apply what they learned from Walt Disney to their creative process.
  • 3:30pm – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) Pixar’s SparkShorts Screening
  • 4pm – (Stage 28) Attendees will be given the chance to experience the World Premiere of Short Circuit, a short film program that will debut in 2020 on Disney+. The artists and filmmakers involved will be on hand to share their insights and experiences.
  • 4pm – (Walt Disney Archives Stage) Go on a Magic Journey: My Fantastical Walt Disney Imagineering Career with Kevin Rafferty as he talks about his incredible path from a dishwasher at Disneyland to becoming a veteran Imagineer. With a career spanning over 40 years, he has a lot of wisdom to share about his path, as well as discussing his new book.
  • 4:15pm – (Hall D23) Disney Character Voices has been keeping record of all those memorable Disney characters’ voices for 30 years now. To honor that milestone, Rick Dempsey, SVP of Disney Character Voices, will host Disney Character Voices, Inc.: The 30th Anniversary Celebration, with guests like Tony Anselmo (“Donald”), Jodi Benson (“Ariel”), Bill Farmer (“Goofy” and “Pluto”), Bret Iwan (“Mickey Mouse”), and Linda Larkin (“Jasmine”).
  • 5pm – (Disney+ Pavilion Stage) ESPN+ Hosted DJ Wrap
  • 5:45pm – (D23 Expo Arena) For Two Worlds, One Family: The Making of Tarzan, the film’s team recounts its creation, twenty years after its release. Guests include directors Chris Buck (Frozen 2) and Kevin Lima (Enchanted); animators Bruce W. Smith, Ken Duncan, and Disney Legend Glen Keane; and producer Bonnie Arnold. The panel also includes a special musical performance by Matthew Morrison (Glee) from his forthcoming Walt Disney Records album.

Events

Special meet-and-greets are scheduled daily at the Walt Disney Television Booth:

• • Friday, August 23 – Start off with Fancy Nancy (9am) and Vampirina (10am). Then, meet the cast of Disney Channel’s Just Roll With It (12pm). This is followed by Dancing with the Stars stars Ginger Zee, Carrie Ann Inaba, Tom Bergeron, Rashad Jennings, and Jordan Fisher (2pm to 3pm). Then it’s the young stars of Raven’s Home (3pm). Ending the day are stars from Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet, Elizabeth Henstridge, Henry Simmons, and Jeff Ward, joined by executive producers Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, Jeff Bell, and Jeph Loeb (5pm to 6pm).
  • Saturday, August 24 – First, there’s Vampirina (9am) and Fancy Nancy (10am). Followed by the cast of Sydney to the Max (11am), Coop & Cami Ask the World (12pm), the stars of black-ish, grown-ish and mixed-ish (1pm to 2:30pm), and Ducktales (5pm).
  • Sunday, August 25 – This day begins with the cast of Big Hero 6 the Animated Series (9am), followed by Zombies (10am), and then Bunk’d (1pm). We end the day with Vampirina (3pm) and Fancy Nancy (4pm).

Album signings will be taking place at the Disney Movie Emporium. Artists in attendance include:

• • Composer and Disney Legend Randy Newman (Toy Story films, The Princess and the Frog, Cars films)
  • Composer Tyler Bates (Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.1 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2)
  • Actor Anthony Gonzalez (voice of Miguel in Coco)
  • Singer-songwriter, actor, and dancer Matthew Morrison (Glee)
  • Hollywood Records record artist JD McCrary (voice of young Simba in The Lion King)

Meet some of the artists and designers of the D23 Expo product range at Disney Store Artist Signings taking place at Talent Central.

• • Disney Pixar Tiki Mug Signing with Jerome Ranft, August 23, 4pm – 5 pm
  • Midnight Masquerade and Animator Villains Collections with Steve Thompson and Courtney Watkinson, August 24, 11am-12pm
  • The Little Mermaid 30th Anniversary Collection with Steve Thompson, Bryan Mon, Daria Vinogradova, Diana Tran, and Cathy Clark-Ramirez, August 24, 4pm – 5pm.

You can also meet some of the artists of the wildly popular Disney Parks Designer Collection Mickey ear hats and Minnie ear headbands at Talent Central.

• • Jerrod Maruyama, August 23, 4pm – 5:30pm and August 24, 12:30pm – 2pm
  • SHAG, August 24, 2pm– 3:30pm
  • Noah Fine Art, August 24, 2pm  – 3:30pm
  • Ashley Eckstein for Her Universe, August 24, 9:30am  – 11am and August 25, 5pm – 6:45pm 

National Geographic will be joining in on the D23 Expo fun for the very first time. There will be several explorers and even some cuddly critters in attendance at different times. Here is the schedule:

• • Friday, August 23 from 1pm to 2pm – Rock climber Alex Honnold will hold a book signing. He is best known for starring in the Academy Award-winning film, Free Solo, in which he climbed El Capitan (3,200 feet tall) at Yosemite National Park without a rope.
  • Saturday, August 24 from 3pm to 4pm – Dr. Jan Pol of the NatGeo WILD’s hit show, The Incredible Dr. Pol, will meet attendees along with a few four-footed friends of his.
  • Sunday, August 25 from 11am to noon – Meet Sue Aikens from her series Life Below, which has won multiple Emmy Awards. She will regale guests with tales of living in the most remote regions of Alaska as well as signing autographs and taking pictures.

National Geographic has several guest appearances planned for the cast of the upcoming series, The Right Stuff, based on the novel by Tom Wolfe which shined the spotlight on the Mercury 7 astronauts. Attendees will have the chance to meet Jake McDorman, Colin O’Donoghue, Aaron Staten, Micheal Trotter, Micah Stock, and James Lafferty at the following locations and times:

• • Saturday, August 24, from 12:45pm to 1:45pm – (Talent Central) Cast autograph signing and meet and greet.
  • Saturday, August 24, from 2:30pm to 3pm – (Center Stage) Q&A with the cast and guest moderator, retired NASA astronaut Nicole Stott, along with a sneak peek of the series.
  • Saturday, August 24, from 3pm to 3:50pm – (Walt Disney Television booth) A meet and greet with the cast and Nicole Stott.
  • Saturday, August 24, at 4:30pm – (Mickey Avenue on the show floor) The cast lead the D23 Street Party as Grand Marshals.

Book signing (find out where to buy copies in the “Other Things to Note” section below) will be held throughout Expo in the following locations.

• • At the Disney Publishing Worldwide booth in Hall B:
    • Friday, August 23, from 12:30pm to 1:30pm – Jeff Kurtti for “From All of Us to All of You: The Disney Christmas Card.” [Note: Signing is limited to the first 50 guests and will require purchase of this book. There will be a ticket distribution, and the line opens 30 minutes prior to start.]
    • Friday, August 23, from 1pm to 3pm – Don Hahn for “Yesterday’s Tomorrow: Disney’s Magical Mid-Century.” [Note: Signing is limited to the first 50 guests and will require purchase of this book. There will be a ticket distribution, and the line opens 30 minutes prior to start.]
    • Friday, August 23, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm – Jeff Kurtti and Becky Kline for “The Art of Disney Costuming: Heroes, Villains, and Spaces Between.” [Note: Signing is limited to the first 50 guests and will require purchase of this book. There will be a ticket distribution, and the line opens 30 minutes prior to start.]
    • Saturday, August 24, from 10:30am to 11:30am – Jeff Kurtti for “Travels with Walt Disney: A Photographic Voyage Around the World.” [Note: Signing is limited to the first 50 guests and will require purchase of this book. There will be a ticket distribution, and the line opens 30 minutes prior to start.]
    • Saturday, August 24, from 12:30pm to 1:30pm –  Mindy Johnson and Lorelay Bové for “Pens, Pencils, & Brushes: A Great Girls’ Guide to Disney Animation.” [Note: Signing is limited to the first 50 guests and will require purchase of this book. There will be a ticket distribution, and the line opens 30 minutes prior to start.]
    • Saturday, August 24, from 3pm to 4pm – Becky Kline for “The Walt Disney Studios: A Lot to Remember.” [Note: Signing is limited to the first 50 guests and will require purchase of this book. There will be a ticket distribution, and the line opens 30 minutes prior to start.]
    • Sunday, August 25, from 10:30am to 11:30am – Kevin Rafferty for “Magic Journey: My Fantastical Walt Disney Imagineering Career.” [Note: Signing is limited to the first 50 guests and will require purchase of this book. There will be a ticket distribution, and the line opens 30 minutes prior to start.]
    • Sunday, August 25, from 12:30pm to 1:30pm – Jeff Kurtti for “Practically Poppins in Every Way: A Magical Carpetbag of Countless Wonders.” [Note: Signing is limited to the first 50 guests and will require purchase of this book. There will be a ticket distribution, and the line opens 30 minutes prior to start.]
  • At the TASCHEN booth in Hall B:
    • Friday, August 23, from 1:30pm to 3:30pm – David Gerstein and J.B. Kaufman for “Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History”
    • Saturday, August 24, from 2:30pm to 4:30pm – Chris Nichols for “Walt Disney’s Disneyland”
  • At the D23 Emporium in Hall A (read description for specific booth):
    • Friday, August 23, from 2pm to 3pm (Hyperion Historical Alliance/Ryman Arts booth) – Jeff Kurtti for “From All of Us to All of You: The Disney Christmas Card;” “The Art of Disney Costuming: Heroes, Villains, and Spaces Between;” “Travels with Walt Disney: A Photographic Voyage Around the World;” and “Practically Poppins in Every Way: A Magical Carpetbag of Countless Wonders”
    • Saturday, August 24, from 1pm to 2pm (Hyperion Historical Alliance/Ryman Arts booth) – Jeff Kurtti for “From All of Us to All of You: The Disney Christmas Card;” “The Art of Disney Costuming: Heroes, Villains, and Spaces Between;” “Travels with Walt Disney: A Photographic Voyage Around the World;” and “Practically Poppins in Every Way: A Magical Carpetbag of Countless Wonders”
    • Saturday, August 24, from 1pm to 3pm (Magical Memories booth) – Don Hahn for “Yesterday’s Tomorrow: Disney’s Magical Mid-Century”
    • Sunday, August 25 from 11am to 5pm (11am to 1pm and 3pm to 5pm at Memories Booth; 1pm to 3pm at Hyperion Historical Alliance Ryman Arts booth) – Mindy Johnson for “Pens, Pencils & Brushes: A Great Girls’ Guide to Disney Animation” and “Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation”
    • Sunday, August 25, from 1pm to 3pm ( Magical Memories booth) – Don Hahn for “Yesterday’s Tomorrow: Disney’s Magical Mid-Century”
  • At Talent Central:
    • Saturday, August 24, from 3pm to 4pm – Leah Sklar and Leslie Sklar for “Travels with Figment: On the Road in Search of Disney Dreams”
    • Sunday, August 25, from 1:30pm to 2:30pm – Pete Docter and Chris Merritt for “Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks”

Additional Signings: 

Following the panel for The Simpsons on Saturday, August 24, at 10am, there will be a one-hour autograph signing of an exclusive Simpsons mini-poster by the panelists on the show floor (specific location TBA). Beyond the signing, attendees have the opportunity to take pictures with Bart, Lisa, and the rest of their family (again, location TBA).

While a specific time and location has yet to be announced, it has been revealed the teams behind Frozen 2 and Onward will meet on the show floor to sign autographs of exclusive art and even hold a promotional giveaway.

Special Experiences

• • The Walt Disney Archives opens its vault to bring a new exhibit, “Walt Disney Archives Presents Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume“, to the show floor. The exhibit, which showcases costumes taken from decades of movie magic, is open all three days of the expo. However, it is recommended that you visit sooner rather than later as the exhibit’s line grows as the Expo’s end approaches. 

• • Also on the show floor is a life-size version of Guinevere, the elf brothers’ van in the upcoming Pixar film, Onward. Attendees will have the chance to step inside the vehicle and get a taste of the story.

• • A VR theatre on the show floor lets attendees take the on starring role in Broadway productions like Aladdin, The Lion King, and Frozen. Sing your heart out alongside digital versions of Broadway’s Caissie Levy (Elsa in Frozen), Major Attaway (Genie in Aladdin), Telly Leung (Aladdin), and Tshidi Manye (Rafiki in The Lion King).
  • For the first time, Lucasfilm will have its own pavilion at the expo. Some of the highlights include an exhibit on the evolution of Star Wars stormtroopers as well as displays of costumes worn by actors in different films in the series. There are also kid-centered activities planned along with screenings of the Star Wars: Galaxy of Adventures video shorts.
  • National Geographic will have a special exhibit on the show floor called Beneath the Blue. The immersive experience will transport guests to the undersea world as well as highlight the impact that single-use plastic has on marine life.
  • The Disney+ Pavilion, found on the show floor, will not only feature demonstrations fo the live Disney+ app but also offer a look at props and costumes from Disney+ Originals. Attendees will have the chance to sign up for the Disney+ service while at D23 Expo 2019 with a special offer.
  • Sports fans will want to make a stop at the ESPN+ Pavilion on the show floor. There will be two interactive exhibits inspired by shows debuting on ESPN+ this summer: Peyton’s Places and SneakerCenter.
  • The Hulu Pavilion will house over 20 iconic costumes and props, including Elizabeth Moss’s red robe from A Handmaid’s Tale, paintings featured in the first season of Castle Rock, and the costume worn by George Clooney in Catch-22. Attendees will also be treated to an interactive exhibit that provides a close-up look at props from Hulu Originals like the upcoming Little Fires Everywhere as well as select shows in Hulu’s library, such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Doctor, and The Goldbergs.
  • On the second floor of the Anaheim Convention Center attendees will find Inside the World of Avatar. The exhibit will house rarely seen props, costumes, and models that were used in the making of the film. It will also offer a glimpse what it took to create Pandora – The World of Avatar at the Walt Disney World Resort’s Animal Kingdom.
  • Mickey Avenue on the show floor comes alive during D23 Expo’s Ultimate Fan Street Party – Presented by Alamo. The twice-daily parade, created to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Mickey Mouse Disco album, will include a live band, dancers, characters, and celebrity grand marshals. On Friday, August 23, the 4:30pm parade will be lead by newly inducted Disney Legend Kenny Ortega and Tom Bergeron. The 2pm parade on Saturday, August 24, will be lead by Peyton Elizabeth Lee (Andi Mack) and Skylar Astin, stars of the upcoming Disney+ film, Secret Society of Second Born Royals. Be sure to check the D23 Expo app to see find out additional parade times and talent.
  • Would-be heroes will want to pay a visit to the Marvel Studios Pavilion, which will not only allow attendees to step into action of Avengers: Endgame via an exclusive video experience but also feature a gallery showcasing costumes worn by characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  This pavilion will also house talent signings as well as daily trivia games (with prizes).
  • The Center Stage, found in Hall A of the Convention Center, will house different celebrities throughout the Expo. You’ll need to check the D23 Expo app for the whole lineup but highlights include:
    • • K-POP Star Tiffany Young who will be celebrating the release of her new single and upcoming music video
      • Meg Donnelly and Asher Angel, representing Radio Disney
      • currently unnamed Disney Broadway stars
      • Bill Rogers, “The Voice of Disneyland,” who will be on hand each day to record fans’ outgoing voice messages
  • It doesn’t matter whether you Disneybound or full-on cosplay, everyone (with a D23 Expo 2019 badge) is invited to join in the Official D23 Expo Cosplay Photo Shoots. There are four different categories (and yes, crossovers are welcome): Marvel; Star Wars; Disney Heroes and Villains; and Disney Parks and Princess. All of them meet at the fountain outside the Anaheim Convention Center. Here are the times for each category:
    • • Friday, August 23: 1pm – Marvel; 5:15pm – Star Wars
      • Saturday, August 24: 1:30pm – Disney Heroes and Villains
      • Sunday, August 25: Disney Parks and Princesses

Other Things to Note

• In addition to the daily meet-and-greets at Walt Disney Television Booth, there will also be limited edition, D23 Expo-exclusive merchandise from classic Disney Channel favorites like High School Musical, Hannah Montana, and Camp Rock.
• The Disney Studio Store Hollywood returns to the show floor with six different limited edition pin series, a specially-branded Spirit Jersey, and new line of plush bears themed Disney Broadway shows. The limited edition pin series are:
  • Beloved Tales & Dark Tales (limited edition of 300)
  • Marquee Series (limited edition of 400)
  • Heroines Fight Back Series (limited edition of 300)
  • Organ Series (limited edition of 300)
  • Mane-N-Friends Series (limited edition of 400)
  • Anniversary Celebration Premiere Collection Pin (limited edition of 200)

• The Disney Music Emporium, a shop also located on the show floor, is the place to go to purchase all things in the realm of Disney music, many of which are limited in quantity. This will be the first place to purchase:
  • Avengers: Endgame 12″ picture disc
  • Aladdin: The Songs vinyl album
  • “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” 12″ vinyl single from The Lion King
  • Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Symphonic Suite 12″ picture disc
  • “Married Life/ Carl Goes Up” 12″ vinyl single from Up
  • The Princess and The Frog: The Songs 12″ picture disc
  • The Sorcerer’s Apprentice 12″ single from Fantasia

• You can find Disney Worldwide Publishing‘s booth in Hall B. Six of the titles at their booth are sold prior to their wide release, exclusively for D23 Expo attendees. Those books are:
  • “Travels with Figment: On the Road in Search of Disney Dreams” by Marty Sklar (wide release – November 9, 2019)
  • “The Art of Disney Costuming: Heroes, Villains, and Space Between” by Jeff Kurtti and the Staff of the Walt Disney Archives (wide release – September 17, 2019)
  • “Magic Journey: My Fantastical Walt Disney Imagineering Career” by Kevin P. Rafferty (wide release – September 10, 2019)
  • “The Walt Disney Studios: A Lot to Remember” by Steven Clark and Rebecca Cline (wide release – September 3, 2019)
  • “Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks” by Pete Docter and Christopher Merritt (wide release – September 3, 2019)
  • “Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Disney Cartoons, Revised Special Edition” by David A. Bossert (wide release – August 27)

Additional books for sale at the Walt Disney Publishing Worldwide booth include:

• • “The Art and Making of The Lion King”
  • “The Art and Making of Dumbo”
  • “Practically Poppins in Every Way: A Magical Carpetbag of Countless Wonders”
  • “From All of Us to All of You: The Disney Christmas Card”
  • “Travels with Walt Disney: A Photographic Voyage around the World”
  • “Yesterday’s Tomorrow: Disney’s Magical Mid-Century”
  • “Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation”
  • “Dream It! Do It! My Half-Century Creating Disney’s Magic Kingdoms”
  • “Pens, Pencils, & Brushes: A Great Girls’ Guide to Disney Animation”
  • “Mary Blair’s Unique Flair: The Girl Who Became One fo the Disney Legends”
• Another bookseller located in Hall B is Taschen. They will have these books for sale:
  • “Walt Disney’s Disneyland”
  • “Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History”

For additional shopping news, take a look at our merchandise preview!

Accessing Queues and Presentations

A few things are changing for the 2019 D23 Expo. There are a few more ways to access the hottest experiences at the show this time around.  

Advance Online Reservations

Advance online reservations allow you to make complimentary advance reservations for select D23 Expo experiences for you and another D23 Expo Guest. If you do not receive your desired reservation(s), there will be standby queues at StorePass and StagePass locations as well as at Talent Central.  We are hearing that the Advance Online Reservations will likely be available about a week before the start of the show. But we’ll keep our eyes open for an exact date and time and encourage you to watch for an email from D23.  

StorePass

StorePass provides entry at a designated time to shop at either Disney Dream Store, Disney Store, or Mickey’s of Glendale. You may reserve one StorePass per day. Arrive at the shopping location no later than five minutes prior to the start of your reserved timeslot.

StagePass

StagePass guarantees entry to select sessions at Hall D23, the D23 Expo Arena, Stage 28, and the Walt Disney Archives Stage. Seating is filled on a first-come, first-served basis. StagePass tickets are not assigned to a specific seat. You may reserve up to two (2) StagePasses per day, and each reservation must be for a different stage. For Hall D23, arrive at least one (1) hour prior to the start of the session. For the D23 Expo Arena, Stage 28, and the Walt Disney Archives Stage, arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the session.

TalentPass

TalentPass provides reservations for talent photos, signings, and other experiences across the Show Floor, including Talent Central. For Talent Central, you may reserve up to three (3) TalentPasses per day. Arrive at Talent Central no later than 15 minutes prior to the start of your reserved time slot. Please see specific Show Floor pavilions listings for details relating to those experiences.

D23 Gold Member Perks

If you are a D23 Gold Member, you’ll want to keep your membership card handy to take advantage of several perks at the Expo. To start, Gold members save $10 per on day on single-day tickets to D23 Expo (while supplies last).  You’ll also receive a collectible art print by Eric Tan, made exclusively for Gold Members. Throughout the course of the Expo, Gold Members will have access to a special Fan Lounge, which will offer refreshments, a place to charge your devices, games and prizes, plus a penny press.

Plus, Gold Members receive discounts and special offers from different shopping locations on the show floor. Just look for a sign that reads “D23 Gold Member Offer Spot.” You can read more about the many discounts here.

More to come

Bookmark this page. We’ll continue to update with D23 Expo opportunities, experiences and panels. We’ll also share visiting tips and tricks soon. Let us know what you are putting on your list! 

Certain ticket types are still available for D23 Expo 2019. Are you attending? Let us know in the comments!

MiceChat Pre-Expo Event!

Meet The Original Disneylanders August 21st

We’ve got something REALLY special for you coming up the Wednesday before D23 Expo.  Join Disneyland author and historian David Koenig and a cast of Disneyland 1955 originals for a celebration of the Happiest Place On Earth.  Joining you will be the ORIGINAL Disney Mouseketeers, Imagineering Legend Bob Gurr, and dozens of opening day cast members!!!! This is the must-experience event of the season and we hope you’ll join us. Tickets have JUST become available, get your Disneyland 55ers TICKETS HERE NOW.          SPECIAL MICECHAT EVENT OFFER FROM THE ANAHEIM HOTEL: The first 25 guests to book at least one room night at The Anaheim Hotel will receive one free ticket to this MiceChat event!!! Book the event and stay through the D23 Expo. You’ll get one free admission to the Original Disneylanders event, you’ll be a short walk from the D23 Expo, and you’ll be just across the street from Disneyland (Rooms from just $100/night). Win, Win, Win.   Just book using this link and then send your hotel confirmation to [email protected] for your complimentary event ticket.  BOOK THE ANAHEIM HOTEL USING THIS SPECIAL LINK

MiceChat at D23

Your pals from MiceChat.com have had a booth at EVERY D23 Expo. We’ve brought you prizes, Disney Legends, beloved animators, artists, voice actors, and celebrities. This year will be an epic one as we host the creative talents who bring the parks to life such as Disney Legend Bob Gurr, Animatronics wizard Garner Holt, Artistc geniuses Floyd Norman (Disney Legend) & Mike Peraza, as well as Disney Author David Koenig, original 1955 cast members, original Mouseketeers, Imagineers, artists, and more. We’ll also be giving away nearly 100 prizes from our partners at Get Away Today, The Anaheim Hotel, and The Howard Johnson Anaheim Resort. Be sure to join our MiceChat D23 Facebook group, and get to know some of the other MiceChatters that will be going!

Discount Theme Park Tickets and Travel 

MiceChat’s partners at Get Away Today offer you amazing savings on Disney tickets and travel. 

• Extra Night Free Hotels
• Layaway Plan

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