D23 Expo 2019 is around the corner, but what exactly is Disney’s fan convention and what can people expect from 2019’s event? San Diego Comic-Con 2019 was something of an anomaly in recent years, in that it signaled the triumphant return of Marvel Studios to Hall H. Many had wondered if their absence from the convention – still one of the biggest events every year on the pop culture calendar – was a sign of its waning significance in the face of Disney’s growing power elsewhere.
Whatever the case, Marvel fans may get to double their pleasure this summer as Disney’s own fan expo, D23, returns for its sixth year, after first launching 10 years ago in 2009. The biannual expo has become the biggest event of the season for Disney fans, but it’s also taken on a lot of business and cultural significance in a manner similar to SDCC.
Fans and journalists alike would fill out Hall H for the latest breaking news on beloved properties, and D23 operates in a similar manner. That’s one of the reasons Disney skipped out on SDCC for so long: They couldn’t let the competition get all the exclusives. But what exactly is D23 and what can fans expect from this summer’s event?
D23 Is Disney’s Official Fan Club
D23 was introduced on March 10, 2009, by the CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger. The fan club had a booth at SDCC, then held its first expo in September 2009. The name D23 refers, of course, to Disney, with the 23 number referencing 1923, the year Walt Disney founded the company. For a minimum of $99.99 a year, D23 club members get a number of exclusive gifts (such as pins), discounts to the expo itself, special promotional offers, access to nationwide events, and more.
D23 Expo Is A Major, Biannual Fan Convention
The first D23, held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California (home of Disneyland), was dubbed “The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience”. The event is a mixture of fan convention, behind-the-scenes tours, presentations, and major business announcements. At the first D23, announcements were made regarding expansions of the theme parks, the reveal of a new Muppet movie, and sneak peeks of upcoming projects like Tangled. There were plenty of celebrity appearances, too, from Nicolas Cage to Selena Gomez, to Johnny Depp in a full Jack Sparrow costume.
The first event was a rousing success, and they have continued every two years since them. Disney also use D23 Expo as an opportunity to celebrate the “Disney Legends”, such as iconic voice actors and directors who have worked with the company. Largely, the event is an opportunity for fans to dress up, mingle with one another, and see what’s going on with their favorite Disney properties. In that aspect, it’s essentially SDCC, and it’s intended to function as such.
D23 2019 Dates & Details
D23 Expo 2019 is held on August 23 – 25, 2019, once again returning to the Anaheim Convention Center. This year’s events will include the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony on Friday (10:30 am – 12 pm PDT), wherein the company “will once again honor those visionaries and artists who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy.” The 2019 recipients are Wing Chao, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, James Earl Jones, Bette Midler, Kenny Ortega, Barnette Ricci, Robin Roberts, Diane Sawyer, Ming-Na Wen, and Hans Zimmer. After that, there will be a Disney+ panel on Friday evening that will shed some more light on Disney’s upcoming streaming service.
On Saturday, August 24, from 10 am to 12 pm, the studio will have its full showcase of Disney movies, including their live-action remakes, Star Wars movies, and those from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That day will also include a panel on The Simpsons, a first for D23 since Disney acquired 21st Century Fox. That same day, there will also be a Marvel Comics 80th-anniversary panel. Sunday, the final day, will conclude with a panel celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Little Mermaid (10 – 11 am) and the panel dedicated to the Disney parks, with Experiences and Products, with Chairman Bob Chapek sharing news and updates on what’s next for the company’s many resorts.
D23 News To Expect
One of the biggest panels at D23 Expo 2019 is the Disney+ Showcase. It’s expected that fans will get a chance to see some exclusive content from the streaming service’s upcoming shows and movies, including Lady and the Tramp, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and The Mandalorian, among others. Fans are hoping for further news on the Marvel shows, which were announced at SDCC in July, but it’s unknown what to fully expect from this panel.
The studios’ showcase promises to be similarly jam-packed with sneak peeks and exclusives from across the myriad areas of Disney’s empire. Fans are hoping for new looks at Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as well as the first glimpse of the Black Widow solo movie (as well as more on Marvel’s Phase 4), and the upcoming Pixar title, Onward. As always, attendees will also be treated to special guest appearances from cast and crew members.
In regards to the Disney Parks panel, the most hyped news Disney fans are hoping for is an update on the renovation plans for Epcot at Walt Disney World. The long-awaited transformation of the park has been something park-goers have wanted for years now. Updates are also expected on Marvel expansions in the parks in Hong Kong, Paris, and California, which are projected to open sometime in 2020. Unfortunately, it’s unknown if outsiders will be able to watch any D23 Expo 2019 panels through live-streams, since Disney has not yet confirmed any of its plans.
