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