D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, here is what to expect today in Anaheim, CA from Panels to Studio Presentations and More!
Today marks the official start of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, CA, running through August 11. This year’s event is more expansive and immersive than ever before, offering Disney’s most passionate fans a chance to explore the incredible creativity, talent, and innovation behind The Walt Disney Company. With three nights of marquee showcases at the Honda Center and over 230 panels and presentations at the Anaheim Convention Center, attendees enjoy a wealth of interactive experiences and unique interactions with Disney’s diverse brands.
The Anaheim Convention Center unveils its largest show floor in D23 history, featuring immersive pavilions from Disney Experiences, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Disney+, Hulu, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, National Geographic, the Walt Disney Archives, and more. For the first time, Avatar has its own pavilion, ESPN and ABC News make their debuts, and Lucasfilm’s cutting-edge ILM Stagecraft technology is showcased. Today’s panels include a celebration of 30 years of Toy Story, a retrospective of The Muppets’ Miss Piggy, a deep dive into Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, and a live show-and-tell of insects from National Geographic’s A Real Bug’s Life. There are also discussions on bringing Disney Animation worlds to life in the parks and how bestselling novels become hit TV series and films. Additionally, fans look forward to performances by Simple Plan and the Disney Princess – The Concert.
For more details on today’s offerings and to explore the full lineup of events, visit ultimatefanevent.d23.com.
Here is what to expect:
Friday, August 9 at the Anaheim Convention Center
Panels & Presentations
12:15 p.m.
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed – The Return of a Beloved Classic
Backlot Stage
Wield the paintbrush once more in Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed out this fall! Join Disney Games, Epic Mickey Creative Director Warren Spector, and more special guests, for a conversation that delves into how this beloved classic adventure came to life.
12:45 p.m.
The Muppets 70: A Glamorous Miss Piggy Retrospective
Walt Disney Archives Stage
Join host Yvette Nicole Brown, Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline, The Muppets Producer Dani Iglesias and Disney Legend Jodi Benson for a fabulous look back on the past 70 years of the Muppets, but mostly Miss Piggy! We will dive into the vaults to uncover nostalgic artifacts along with how we preserve this collection today!
1:30 p.m.
30 Years of Toy Story
Premiere Stage
Celebrate 30 Years of Toy Story with filmmakers and Pixar Legends as they reflect on the making of the groundbreaking classic nearly 30 years ago and share never-before-heard anecdotes about how the historic film came to be.
2:00 p.m.
National Geographic’s A Real Bug’s Life LIVE
Hyperion Stage
Join insect experts and enthusiasts for a live show-and-tell of insects featured in National Geographic’s hit Disney+ series A Real Bug’s Life, narrated by Awkwafina, with its second season coming in early 2025.
3:45 p.m.
Bringing the Worlds of Disney Animation to Life in Disney Parks
Premiere Stage
Team members from Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios discuss bringing the worlds of Disney Animation to life in Disney Parks around the world, including such projects as World of Frozen (Hong Kong Disneyland), Zootopia (Shanghai Disneyland), Fantasy Springs (Tokyo DisneySea), and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Magic Kingdom and Disneyland).
4:00 p.m.
Musical Performance: Simple Plan
Spotlight Stage
Award-winning artist Simple Plan enthralled fans with a full set of some of their most popular music through the years, as well as their newly released cover of Can You Feel The Love Tonight from the upcoming Mickey & Friends pop-punk album, A Whole New Sound.
5:00 p.m.
Making A Goofy Movie: The Road to Lake Destiny
Walt Disney Archives Stage
Join Disney Legend Don Hahn for a conversation with the creatives behind the A Goofy Movie phenomenon, including Director Kevin Lima and Disney Legend Bill Farmer, as they reminisce, and share clips from a new documentary about the incredible origin story of this beloved cult classic.
5:15 p.m.
From Book to Screen: How Bestselling Novels Become Hit TV Series and Films
Hyperion Stage
Join creators/producers from Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, the Disney Original Movie Out of My Mind, the hit anthology series Goosebumps, and FX’s Shōgun, as they discuss their creative processes and share how their teams and artists bring each story to life.
6:30 p.m.
Disney Princess – The Concert
Premiere Stage
Be our guest for a magical evening celebrating the music of Disney Princesses, heroes, and (yes!) villains, performed by Disney on Broadway and animation stars, as Disney Princess – The Concert returns to D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
Show Floor Experiences
Pixar Animation Studios & Walt Disney Animation Studios Pavilion
Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios once again join forces for a must-see animation experience at D23. Artist demonstrations, filmmaker signings, fan giveaways and interactive photo opportunities make this booth one to visit over and over again.
The Magic of Disney on Broadway
Celebrating 30 years of enchanting theater, guests can immerse themselves in the theatrical world with live demonstrations, an intimate look at props and costumes, and the chance to meet talented artists from stages around the globe.
Lucasfilm Ltd.
Lucasfilm presents the magic of ILM StageCraft™, the technology used to bring to life the worlds of The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and more. Hear from luminaries such as Doug Chiang, the creature team from Legacy Effects, and more for a look behind the scenes.
Marvel Studios’ TVA Walkthrough Experience
Fans will get to enter the Time Variance Authority through an immersive walkthrough experience and see pivotal moments recreated from the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well as what lies ahead. Just don’t step out of line… or timelines.
Disney+
Disney+ is where all of Disney’s greatest stories come home. With themed environments and surprises around every corner, fans can step into the worlds of new and favorite stories. *The Great Pin Pursuit participant
The Hulu Experience
Visit The Hulu Experience for immersive activations and shareable moments featuring the Arconia from Only Murders in the Building; the iconic opening sequence of The Kardashians; and the wild world of Hulu Animayhem. *The Great Pin Pursuit participant
The National Geographic Hexadome Experience
Step into the world of National Geographic and be transported around the globe and beyond in this one-of-a-kind 360-degree immersive audio-visual experience. Also look for two National Geographic Expeditions photo ops outside the Hexadome, featuring remarkable global travel destinations. *The Great Pin Pursuit participant
FX
This interactive experience features The Bear restaurant, serving up premiums inspired by FX’s The Bear; a Shōgun garden and a costume display showcasing items from the series in a fully immersive Shōgun-inspired atmosphere; and the AHS Wax House exhibit inspired by the award-winning American Horror Story franchise. *The Great Pin Pursuit participant
* The Great Pin Pursuit
The Great Pin Pursuit offers a new way to explore D23! Select activations will feature commemorative pins as part of their interactive experiences and encourage those stopping by to collect them all. Visit the Disney+ Pavilion or The Hulu Experience to collect a pin lanyard and get started!
