Hard to believe, but after more than 3 years, D23 Expo has finally arrived. The Disney crew is already on site at the Anaheim Convention Center (in the 100°+ heat without air conditioning) setting up this year’s big show for its September 9th debut. Because there have been some significant changes since the last show in 2019, we had a few questions that Head of D23 Michael Vargo agreed to answer for us.
Disney is turning 100 years old next year! How will the D23 Expo be celebrating this incredible milestone? And where will we hear the news about what’s planned for what I believe you all are calling “Disney100”?
Indeed, 2023 will be an incredible milestone year for The Walt Disney Company, and D23 Expo will give fans a sneak peek at what’s to come during our centennial celebration. The Disney100 celebration starts here, at D23 Expo, with a special kickoff on Friday, September 9th at the opening of the Disney Legends Ceremony, taking place in Hall D23 with CEO Bob Chapek. Throughout the weekend, guests will get a first look at specialty merchandise, experience curated panels and presentations like “The Making of Disney 100: The Exhibition,” snap photos and create videos at some exclusive photo locations, see the Step and Time exhibit presented by the Walt Disney Archives, and so much more. Upon entry to the Expo, all attendees will receive a commemorative Disney 100-year celebration tote. And just for D23 Gold Members, an exclusive, complimentary Disney100 print designed by Disney artist Eric Tan will be available in our D23 Member Lounge.
Is the Opening Ceremony also the Legends Ceremony? That’s a change from previous years!
Bob is excited to take the stage and welcome fans to D23 Expo at the opening on Friday. It’s been three years since our last D23 Expo, so we wanted to open big with a great lead-up to a very special 35th-anniversary production of the Disney Legends Ceremony.
And won’t the opening ceremony be live-streamed for folks at home this year?
Yes! We are so excited to have expanded our D23 Expo [LIVE] programming to more than seven hours every day, starting with the Opening Ceremony and Disney Legends. We know not everyone can make it to Anaheim for the party, so we wanted to give guests around the world the chance to get in on the Expo fun. The programming will be a mix of our big panels like Disney’s Epic Entertainment Showcase: The Musical: The Extravaganza! — with stars like Catherine Zeta Jones, Brie Larson, Tim Allen, Lawrence Fishburne, John Stamos, and Michelle Yeoh; the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products panel hosted by Josh D’Amaro; and the D23 Expo Mousequerade. Plus, we will have an actual “live” stage on the show floor with celebrity interviews, merchandise reveals, and more that will fill out the livestream programming all weekend long. Fans can tune in at D23Expo.com/Live or on D23’s social channels.
For guests who have been to previous D23 Expos and think they know what to expect… how might things be different this year?
Each year, we make the experience a little different. There is more on the show floor than ever before. In fact, we expanded our show floor footprint to the Arena where we have an incredible exhibition for Walt Disney’s Grumman Gulfstream 1, “The Mouse,” presented by Amazon. Direct from Walt Disney World, the plane will be on display alongside never-before-exhibited items from the aircraft’s interior. We’ve also expanded the event to the North Hall, home of our all-new Premiere Stage where you can catch great panels and shows like D23 Expo Mousequerade, Disney & Marvel GAMES SHOWCASE, Conversations with Character Voices, and so much more! There is always something new to explore at D23 Expo! Operationally, we’ve rolled out more ways to maximize your time at the Expo like advance reservations for panels and talent meet & greets; and virtual queuing for Expo shopping experiences.
All attendees were able to make random selections for panels this year. But the very nature of “random” is that you aren’t going to get everything you want. What are your best suggestions for folks who didn’t get that panel or presentation that they really want to attend (or who didn’t make their random selections in time)?
Of course, for all of our panels and presentation venues, there are standby queues available. Not all seats in each venue were allocated for reservations, so anyone coming to the Expo has an opportunity to use our standby queue for some of their favorite sessions. We have stacked programming throughout the weekend, so if your first choice is no longer available, there are several other venues that offer incredible programming around the same window of time. Also, check the D23 Expo mobile app – it’s a great resource to provide you with up-to-date information on programming and schedules; and how to best plan your day.
Is there still a method for reserving panels at the Expo itself or just a standby line (and how will that work this year)?
All reservations for panels and presentations were only available online prior to D23 Expo and have since closed. However, as I mentioned, each venue will have a standby queue available for each session since not all available seats were distributed during the reservation window. Of course, capacity is limited and will vary per venue in our standby queues.
What are some of the sleeper hit panels/presentations you would suggest attendees think about adding to their plans?
There is truly something for everyone! I’m personally excited for “The Main Street Electrical Parade – 50 Years of Nighttime Magic & Imagination” and “D23 Expo Mousequerade.” There is so much to explore like “FX’s American Horror Story Behind the Screams,” “Bob’s Burgers,” and “Uncovering Treasures from the Marty Sklar Archives” – all not to miss!
If you had to pick a highlight or two of the upcoming Expo that you are personally most looking forward to, what would it be?
My heart is with the Walt Disney Archives and this year’s exhibition on the show floor is unlike any other they have crafted before. The team created some incredible vignettes celebrating the past 100 years of The Walt Disney Company – everything from Mary Poppins and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Tron and a great collection of objects and props from the Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World. Of course, Walt’s plane is pretty epic – first time ever having an airplane at D23 Expo! And the third, if I may, is to see all of the fans coming through the doors getting ready to immerse themselves in a weekend of Disney fun. As you know, our fans bring their Disney fandom to a new level with incredible costumes and cosplay. Just like sitting on a bench on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland to watch the guest excitement of the park, I love to observe the excitement and joy that this event brings to the ultimate Disney fan… it’s like the world’s biggest Disney fan reunion!
I have NEVER wanted to sleep out on the street in Anaheim just to be first into a store or panel. So I was relieved to hear that camping won’t be allowed this year. Can you tell me why that decision was made and how it will be enforced?
The pandemic certainly changed how we approach events—and the health and safety of our attendees. Safety has always been a top priority at any Disney function, and we needed to make some significant changes in how we geared up for the Expo. In previous years, we’ve had to accommodate the demand of our fans by organizing overnight queues in various halls throughout the convention center.
Fast forward to today, with the ongoing concerns related to COVID-19, we needed to pivot and implement new policies. With guidance from health and safety experts, in partnership with the Anaheim Convention Center, we have made the decision to reduce risk for guests by eliminating overnight queues. We’ve also listened to guest feedback over the years on their preferences while balancing what’s safe and efficient for the event. This year, overnight lineups on city streets will be strictly prohibited and enforced in partnership with the Anaheim Police Department. You will get turned away and told to return no earlier than 4:30 a.m. when line ups can begin – guest entry will begin at 5:00 a.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
With everyone’s cooperation and patience, we strive for an efficient, organized, and safe manner to bring people into the venue. We want everyone to maximize their time at the event, not in line.
Are there any other potential pitfalls you’d like to warn attendees to avoid or opportunities they should watch out for?
Is too much excitement a pitfall? There is a lot to pack in over the three days. I personally want to see every panel, presentation, pavilion, and experience all that D23 Expo has to offer, but know and be okay with the fact that you can’t be in multiple places at once. I always like to suggest coming to the event with a plan – and have a backup! I always find myself spending a little more time catching up with others, taking photos, shopping, etc., and before you know it, I’m already off my original schedule. The D23 Expo app is a great resource and tool to help plan your day. Other than that – make the most of the weekend, have fun and be safe!
Thank you for taking the time to chat with the fans, Michael. We hope to see you at the show!
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Let’s Hear From You
Our thanks to Michael Vargo and his team for taking the time to answer our questions in the middle of their build-out for this year’s D23 Expo. MiceChat has had a presence at the Expo since the very beginning with a booth on the Expo floor and reporters in the presentations. We look forward to covering this year’s event for those of you at home and those of you who missed out on seeing a panel in person.
Are you attending this year’s event? Did you get the panels and presentations you were hoping for in the random selection? What are the top presentations you hope to attend? Glad that camping won’t be allowed this year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
For more information about this year’s D23 Expo, please visit our dedicated Expo page:
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