First, I want to thank the Walt Disney Company for holding D23 Expo every other year. Second, I want to thank them for placing the 2019 D23 Expo with a month between it and Comic-Con, so I can recover from San Diego and really enjoy the Anaheim event.
And, oh yes, this means that D23 has been announced for 2019, and it’s August 23-25 at the Anaheim Convention Center. This convention feels like no other. If a comic convention makes you feel like you’re among your people, D23 makes you feel like you’re with your family, because for the most part, everybody shares a memory with you, even if you weren’t together when you made it.
Whether it’s music from Disneyland Records, a videogame, or a movie that could be as innocent as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves or as loud and thrilling as Avengers: Infinity War, you’ve shared that at D23. You’re also right across the street from Disneyland, so you can get an announcement about something in the parks by day, and experience it that night. (That happened in 2017, when Chairman of Parks and Attractions Bob Chapek announced that D23 Expo attendees could see preview performances of the return of Fantasmic! two nights early.)
Tickets won’t be on sale until August 23, 2018 (again, giving me time to recover from Comic-Con, thank you), but that just means you have time to plan.
From Disney:
All the magic and excitement of the past, present, and future of Disney entertainment will come together once again when D23: The Official Disney Fan Club presents D23 Expo 2019 at the Anaheim Convention Center the weekend of August 23–25. Each of Disney’s magical worlds—including Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars—will unite under one roof to celebrate what’s new and what’s on the horizon from Disney theme parks, television, music, products, and films.
Highlights planned for D23 Expo include more than 50 shows, presentations, and panels, including the Disney Legends Ceremony, which honors the talented men and women who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy; an all-new exhibit curated by the Walt Disney Archives; a daily parade down the middle of the show floor; D23 Expo’s costume contest, Mousequerade, showcasing the most creative designs by fans; and the D23 Expo Design Challenge. (Details on the Design Challenge and Mousequerade will be forthcoming.)
D23 Expo 2019 will feature a massive show floor full of immersive experiences and special opportunities to see what’s next for Disney around the world—and guests may run into their favorite Disney stars, characters, Imagineers, animators, and filmmakers. Guests can enjoy numerous shopping opportunities with D23 Expo-exclusive collectibles and more at an assortment of Disney and partner merchants, including the D23 Expo Emporium, where Disney fans can buy, sell, and trade Disney collectibles, memorabilia, merchandise, and more. All of the popular presentation venues will return, including Hall D23, the Expo Arena, Stage 28, and Center Stage.
D23’s sixth Expo follows the success of D23 Expo 2017, which drew tens of thousands of Disney fans for three star-studded days and nights. Guests were treated to appearances by such celebrities as Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Whoopi Goldberg, Jordan Fisher, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Hamill, Kristen Bell, Chris Hemsworth, Mandy Moore, and the stars of Disney’s Descendants. Guests had the chance to take a jump into a life-sized DuckTales money bin; were the first to see a full-scale model of Galaxy’s Edge, the Star Wars-themed land coming to Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts; and were able to enjoy a full-length concert from Disney Legend Alan Menken. They also enjoyed a look back at Disney’s rich history through extraordinary panels, presentations, and exhibits and discovered the newest entertainment, technology, and products coming from Disney.
photo courtesy Disney/Image Group LA
Tickets for D23 Expo 2019 will go on sale at D23expo.com beginning August 23, 2018. Special pricing on both one- and three-day tickets to the event—including an Early Bird Discount—will be exclusively available to D23 Gold Members. Additional special benefits will also be available to D23 Gold and Charter Members at the 2019 Expo. D23 Gold Members will also have an opportunity to purchase the Sorcerer Package, which provides a host of special benefits and amenities. Ticket prices will be announced later this summer.
In addition to running Fanboy Planet, Derek has contributed stories to Arcana Comics (The Greatest American Hero) and Monsterverse Comics (Bela Lugosi's Tales from the Grave). He has performed with ComedySportz, City Lights Theater Company and Silicon Valley Shakespeare, though relocated to Hollywood to... work in an office? If you ever played Eric's Ultimate Solitaire on the Macintosh, it was Derek's voice as The Weasel that urged you to play longer. You can buy his book "I Was Flesh Gordon" on the Amazon link at the right. Email him at [email protected].
