After an extra year off from its usual two-year break, D23 Expo 2022 kicked off its triumphant return to Anaheim in grand Disney style with an Opening Ceremony that celebrated the Walt Disney Company’s 100 anniversary – dubbed “Disney 100 Years of Wonder” – and the 35th Disney Legends Awards ceremony.

D23 Expo 2022

“I know we’ve all had to wait a little bit longer than usual for this chance to reunite and share our love of Disney, but based on all the incredible things that we have planned for this weekend, I promise you it will be worth the wait,” said Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek. “This is going to be our biggest most over-the-top D23 Expo ever; more content previews, more special guests, more news from the parks – and maybe even more surprises.”

The surprises started right off the bat with a big announcement that Avengers Campus at California Adventure will be expanded, complete with a new attraction, but Chapek stopped short of sharing any details. The rest, he promised, will be filled in by Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Chariman Josh D’Amaro and Marvel Studios President and Chief Creative Officer Kevin Feige at Sunday’s Parks presentation, so stay tuned.

Avengers Campus

Before hearing from the newest Disney Legends, the audience was treated to a medley of songs performed by cast members from Disney On Broadway’s productions of Aladdin and The Lion King and the North American Tour of Frozen (including the genie himself: Michael James Scott).

D23 Expo 2022 - Opening ceremony

Disney Legends Ceremony

D23 Expo 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Tamron Hall
Legends Ceremony Host Tamron Hall

Hosted by Emmy Award winner Tamron Hall, the 2022 Legends Ceremony honored Anthony Anderson (“black-ish”); Kristen Bell (“Frozen”); Patrick Dempsey (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Enchanted”); Jonathan Groff (“Frozen,” “Hamilton”); Josh Gad (“Frozen”); Idina Menzel (“Frozen,” “Enchanted”); Ellen Pompeo (Grey’s Anatomy”); Tracee Ellis Ross (“black-ish”); and the late Chadwick Boseman (“Black Panther”).

D23 Expo 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Dempsey (known to “Grey’s Anatomy” fans as Doctor McDreamy)

D23 Expo 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Ellen Pompeo

Also earning Legend status this year were Imagineers Rob’t Coltrin and Doris Hardoon, Disney executives Robert Price “Bob” Foster (whose award was accepted by his daughter) and Chris Montan, and producer Don Hahn (“Beauty and the Beast” – both animated and live-action – and “The Lion King”) who did not attend.

D23 Expo 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Rob't Coltrin
Imagineer Rob’t Coltrin
D23 Expo 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Doris Hardoon
Imagineer Doris Hardoon

The Legends Class of 2022:

Each Legend had the opportunity to share their best “Disney stories,” like Chris Montan reminiscing about the time he told music superstar Phil Collins that the chorus of “You’ll be in my Heart” from “Tarzan” was good, but “the bridge could be stronger.” He also got a huge laugh when he demonstrated the impact of Disney music by asking the crowd to call out their favorite Paramount songs. “There’s a reason for that,” he said.

D23 Expo 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Chris Montan
Chris Montan rests his case

Several shared childhood Disney-themed costumes.

“I dressed up as Peter Pan, as Alice in Wonderland, as Cinderella,” Jonathan Groff said. “And one Halloween when I was three years old, I dressed up as Mary Poppins, complete with lipstick and a carpet bag.”

D23 Expo 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Jonathan Groff
Jonathan Groff

Groff’s “Frozen” co-star, Kristen Bell, revealed that she dressed up as former Disney CEO Bob Iger for her seventh birthday.

D23 Expo 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell

“Disney has taught me to dream big and follow your heart, and also that it is totally appropriate to burst out into song at any given moment (which I really appreciate),” Bell said. “Playing Princess Anna has been the highlight of my life – I mean other than my kids and stuff – and [turning to Bob Chapek] I’m so happy to be part of the Disney family that this year, I’ll probably dress up as you.”

During his speech, Josh Gad pronounced that he will “heretofore ask to be formally recognized” by both peers and fans as Disney Legend Josh Gad.

D23 Expo 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Josh Gad
Disney Legend Josh Gad

“This corporate knighthood will be worn as a way to not only only further my own status but hopefully get me priority lane access on all Disney theme park rides,” Gad said. “And to the person who rejected me at Disney casting headquarters in Orlando, Florida when I was eighteen years old, trying to be a Jungle Cruise skipper, please make sure to update my resume to Disney Legend Josh Gad.”

While there were certainly plenty of laughs, there were also several insightful and touching moments during the ceremony.

Tracee Ellis Ross took the opportunity the express gratitude for being named a Legend for her contribution to a show that “changed the landscape of modern primetime television” (and snap a selfie with Bob).

D23 Expo 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Ellis Ross

D23 Expo 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Tracee Ellis Ross

“For me, a legend is someone whose work makes more space for others to be more free, more safe, and hopefully for the world to be more just,” Ross said. “So it does feel legendary to have inhabited the selfhood of Bo Johnson, not just her motherhood or her jobhood or her wifehood, but the fullness of a woman thriving with all of those parts. And it also feels legendary to have built and advocated and breathed life into a joyful black woman.”

Ross’ “blask-ish” co-star Anderson agreed (and also had his phone handy).

D23 Expo 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Anthony Anderson
Anthony Anderson

D23 Expo 2022 - Opening Ceremony

“Disney has taught all of us to dream and to dream big – and it’s said if you dreams don’t fighten you, you’re not dreaming big enough,” Anderson said. “I hope I stand before you as an example of what hard work, determination, dedication, sacrifice, and dreams are all about.”

For her Legend acceptance moment, Menzel gave the crowd a true “Disney moment,” when after sharing that her grandfather used to introduce her to an imaginary audience for whom she’d sing “When You Wish On A Star” through a hairbrush microphone, she sang a spectacular acapella rendition of Jiminy Cricket’s famous song.

D23 Expo 2022 - Opening Ceremony - Idina Menzel
Idina Menzel

The final Legend award for the Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman was accepted by his brother Derrick, who remembered Boseman’s talent, but also his strength and honor for playing the physically-demanding role while being treated for cancer – and when he said “Chad was an amazing person,” the crowd rose to their feet.

, D23 Expo 2022 Legendary Opening Ceremony With A Bob Surprise

From heartwarming to poignant to hilarious, the Legends certainly delivered, and if the ceremony wasn’t star-studded enough, the cast of “Encanto” closed out the show with a  surprise live performance of (what else?) “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.”

, D23 Expo 2022 Legendary Opening Ceremony With A Bob Surprise

For her final word, Hall noted that “the final Legends of Disney’s first 100 years” personify “the magic, the love, the inspiration, and the vision that is Disney.”

Be sure to check out our full list of all 304 Disney Legends in the article below!

Disney Legends Revealed… So… What Makes a Disney Legend?

Don’t Miss the News From the D23 Expo!

For ALL of our D23 Expo coverage, click the image below. We are updating non-stop, all day, every day of the expo!!!

, D23 Expo 2022 Legendary Opening Ceremony With A Bob Surprise
for ALL the D23 Expo news and photos!!!

And come see MiceChat at the EXPO! We are giving away some incredible prizes including a 2-Night stay at the HoJo House of the Future Suite and 2 x Two-Day parkhopper tickets to Disneyland, as well as dozens of other incredible prizes from local theme parks, hotels, and restaurants!

, D23 Expo 2022 Legendary Opening Ceremony With A Bob Surprise

Our booth will also host animatronics master Garner Holt, movie critic extraordinaire Leonard Maltin, and David Koenig, the author of “Mouse Tales.”


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, D23 Expo 2022 Legendary Opening Ceremony With A Bob SurpriseMiceChat brings you the BEST theme park ticket, hotel & package deals! (You’ll find extra nights free, big discounts, and special offers as well).

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Let’s Hear From You

With the new 2022 class of Disney Legends, do you have a favorite among them? Any recommendations for the next class in the not-so-distant future? What do you think about this year’s joint opening ceremony plus the Disney Legends awards ceremony? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Samantha Davis-Friedman
Samantha was born and raised in Southern California. She spent ten years working in television production; however, her English degree from UCLA was finally put to good use in 2011 when she began writing about family travel and theme parks. She has enjoyed sharing her adventures with readers ever since.