We’re less than one week away from the D23 Expo now, and Disney has finally announced the event’s final schedule. You can view the complete, up-to-the-minute schedule over at the D23 Expo website.
We’ve been bringing you coverage of what each sector of the Walt Disney Company will be showcasing at the Expo over the past few months, but with so much jam packed into the Expo’s three days, it can get a little bit overwhelming. Here are some highlights of what attendees can expect at the D23 Expo:
Exclusive Screenings and Sneak Peeks: The Expo will give guests the chance to get a first look at some exciting projects and films from Disney. At the Walt Disney Studios presentation on Saturday, August 20, guests can expect to see sneak peeks from The Avengers, Disney’s The Muppets, John Carter, Disney•Pixar’s Brave, , Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie, Oz The Great and Powerful, and more. ABC will hold exclusive screenings of their upcoming show Once Upon a Time and holiday special Prep and Landing: Naughty vs. Nice. Attendees can also see The Lion King in 3D at an exclusive advance screening at the Expo.
Special Presentations and Panels: The Expo will be packed throughout its three days will special presentations and panels that give guests the chance to go “behind the magic” of Disney attractions and films, giver deeper insight into Disney history, and expose guests to some of the great Disney Legends that have been a part of the company’s rich history. There will be a wide variety of presentations by Disney Imagineers, highlighting upcoming and new attractions at the theme parks, and also looking at Imagineering itself and the Legends behind it. There will also be presentations and panels by Disney authors and filmmakers, including five presentations by Pixar Animation Studios that animation fans will definitely want to check out.
D23 Expo Show Floor: While it might seem hard to tear yourself away from the multitude of presentations going on, be sure to check out the Expo’s giant show floor. The show floor will feature a number of different pavilions and interactive areas, including offerings from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Disney Consumer Products, Disney Channel, Walt Disney Studios, Disney Interactive Media Group, and more. There will also be a Collectors Forum, an “ultimate marketplace for fans,” which will offer Disney memorabilia, merchandise, art, and more from various vendors and collectors. You can find a complete list of Collectors Forum vendors here. The Show Floor will be open each day to the public from 10:00 AM-7:00 PM, and D23 members will have access to the floor one hour before the general public each day.
Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives Exhibit: One things at the Expo that Disney fans definitely should not miss is the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit. The 12,000-square-foot exhibition will feature costumes, props, and set pieces from Disney TV shows and films, including LOST, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Tron. The exhibit will also feature the finalists and winner from D23’s Fan Art Contest, as well as vintage Mickey Mouse memorabilia and other important pieces from Disney history. The Expo Show Floor will feature three pieces from the Archives: Walt Disney’s limousine, a 23-foot-long model of the Black Pearl from Pirates of the Caribbean and the Dharma Initiative Volkswagen van from LOST.
Ultimate Disney Trivia Tournament Presented by Hasbro® TRIVIAL PURSUIT: Disney For All Edition: Disney fans will be able to showcase their trivia skills in the first-ever Ultimate Disney Trivia Tournament, which will feature trivia questions from all areas of the Walt Disney Company, both past and present. The tournament will kick off the day before the Expo begins on Thursday, August 18 at the Anaheim Convention Center at 7:30 AM. On this day, twenty semi-finalists will be chosen, who will then compete at the Convention Center at 6 PM on Friday, August 19. The winner of the contest will be awarded a special preview cruise on the Disney Fantasy.
Arena Presentations: The Expo will include several arena presentations each day, which will be huge presentations that Disney fans will definitely want to check out. On Friday, August 19, the arena will be home to the 2011 Disney Legends ceremony, which will honor such people as Jim Henson, Regis Philbin, and the voices of the Disney Princesses as official Disney Legends. The arena will also feature presentations from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Walt Disney Studios, Disney Channel, Marvel, and more. These major presentations are sure to feature some great guests, exciting sneak peeks, and perhaps even surprise announcements, so be sure to make time for them if you can.
Celebrity Appearances: Attendees at the Expo will have the chance to see, hear from, and even meet some of their favorite celebrities at the Expo. Celebrities currently expected to attend the Expo include Jennifer Garner, Dick Van Dyke, Willem Dafoe, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy,Jason Segel, Marty Sklar, Alice Davis, Michael Giacchino, Tony Baxter, Tom Bergeron, Regis Philbin, Jodi Benson, Lea Salonga, Linda Larkin, Paige O’Hara, Anika Noni Rose, David Arquette, Jason Dolley, Hayley Keyoko, Sterling Knight,Tiffany Thornton, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Kelly MacDonald, Kevin McKidd, Lynn Collins, Taylor Kitsch, Wilmer Valderrama, Sean Astin, Melissa Joan Hart, Sean Astin, Chelsea Kane, Kyle Massey, cast members from Marvel’s The Avengers and many more. Guests will be able to see these stars at such places as the Expo’s official Welcome Center, the Disney Channel Pavilion, and at the Walt Disney Studios arena presentation.
D23 Expo Exclusive Merchandise: Another thing that guests should look out for at the Expo is all the great, exclusive merchandise. Merchandise can be found all around the Expo, but guests should look out especially for the Disney Living Pavilion and their Disney Store area, D23 Dream Store, the Walt Disney Archives Treasure Trove, and Mickey’s of Glendale. Vinylmation collectors can find a listing of what vinylmation will be released at the Expo here, and pin collectors can discover some exclusive Expo pins here.
To help attendees plan their days at the D23 Expo, Disney has released a mobile app/mobile-friendly website that includes maps of the Convention Center, the complete schedule, polls, and more. With so many different things going on, having a way to organize everything in one spot is sure to be extremely helpful. You can find the mobile app at www.d23mobile.com.
The Expo is sure to be a very exciting weekend that Disney fans won’t want to miss, and we hope you’re getting excited for it. I know I am! The Expo will take place August 19-21, 2011 at the Anaheim Convention Center. To purchase tickets, visit the event’s official website, or stop by the Convention Center box office on the days of the Expo, which will be open from 8:00 AM-7:00 PM on August 19 & 20, and from 8:00 AM-5:00 PM on August 21.
