Disney’s most prominent fan event of all time, D23, returns this year.
Disney’s D23 Expo is the company’s most prominent convention of all time, as well as the name of Disney’s official fan club. In 2009 former executive chairman and chief executive officer Bob Iger introduced D23 at a company board meeting, and it first appeared as a booth in San Diego Comic-Con 2009. Then it progressed into a convention and had its first show in September of 2009. Disney then announced that it would become a biannual convention. Additionally, Japan also has its own Expo, which started in 2013. Now Disney announced that they would host their 7th D23 Expo this year at Anaheim and announced the date for presale passes.
This upcoming event is sure to have many new events and surprises. According to the press release from Disney, the Expo will include more than 50 shows, exciting panels, and presentations. These panels or presentations will also give new updates about Disney’s Parks and Resorts. The Expo will also have the iconic Disney Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, which honors selected talented artists or stars who made incredible contributions to Disney’s legacy.
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The show will also have entertainment based on Disney’s iconic past and other intellectual properties. Those intellectual properties include Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. D23 2022 will also include a costume contest called Mousquerade, special guests, artists, animators, exhibits, shopping booths, and a massive show floor. Disney also announced that this presale is exclusive for Visa cardholders. The press release also reveals the price of each Badge from General up to Gold. The Gold Memberships will include special perks, discounted site prices, and even a complimentary gift
D23 EXPO 2022 OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
TICKETS FOR THE ULTIMATE DISNEY FAN EVENT PRESENTED BY VISA® GO ON SALE JANUARY 20, 2022
The Biggest Disney Fan Event Will Take Place September 9th through 11th in Anaheim, Calif.
Returning Events Include the Disney Legends Awards, Mousequerade Costume Contest, and Much More; D23 Gold Members Receive Special Discounts
Tickets go on sale at 12 p.m. PT, Thursday, January 20 with an exclusive presale for Visa cardholders who are also D23 Members starting on January 19, at 10 a.m. PT. “The Ultimate Disney Fan Event” will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center September 9th through the 11th, celebrating the magic and excitement of Disney entertainment past, present, and future and kicking off Disney100, the centennial celebration of The Walt Disney Company. All of Disney’s wonderful worlds—including Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars—will unite under one roof to showcase what’s on the horizon from Disney theme parks, streaming, television, music, products, and films. Complete details are available at D23Expo.com.
This year’s expo will feature more than 50 shows, presentations, and panels, including the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, which honors the talented individuals who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy, as well as an all-new exhibit curated by the Walt Disney Archives highlighting the 100th anniversary of Disney.
The popular Mousequerade costume contest will return, hosted by Nina West and featuring a star-studded panel of judges including Yvette Nicole Brown (Big Shot, Disenchanted), Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano and creator of Her Universe), and Ally Maki (Toy Story 4, Home Sweet Home Alone). The contest will feature new categories including “Off the Screen,” “Imagine That!,” “Magical Mashups,” and “Cast of Characters,” as well as a fan-favorite award voted on by the audience and a “Best in Show” prize of $2,300.
Presenting Sponsor Visa will be the “Official Way to Pay,” and Visa cardholders will have access to additional benefits and one-of-a-kind Disney experiences.
The Walt Disney Archives, working with new D23 Expo Platinum sponsor Amazon, are restoring Walt Disney’s Grumman Gulfstream I company airplane, currently housed backstage at Walt Disney World Resort, and transporting it to Anaheim. The iconic aircraft was seen for years as part of the Studio Backlot Tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and will be on display at this year’s Expo for guests to see in an exhibit called Mickey Mouse One: Walt’s Plane presented by Amazon.
The massive show floor full of immersive experiences and special opportunities for guests returns—and they may even run into their favorite Disney stars, characters, Imagineers, animators, and filmmakers. Guests can also enjoy numerous shopping opportunities, many featuring Expo-exclusive collectibles, at an assortment of Disney and partner pop-up shops including the D23 Expo Emporium, where the ultimate Disney fans can find their ultimate treasures.
The 7,000-seat Hall returns and will be joined this year by the 3,000-seat Premiere Stage, the 1,200-seat Backlot Stage, and the expanded, 700-seat Walt Disney Archives Stage for more presentations curated by the staff of the Archives. On the main show floor, the D23 Expo Live! Stage will feature performances, appearances, demonstrations, and more all weekend long, many of which will be livestreamed to guests at home.
D23’s seventh Expo in Anaheim follows the success of 2019’s Expo, which drew tens of thousands of Disney fans for three star-studded days and nights. Guests were treated to appearances by celebrities such as Robert Downey Jr., Christina Aguilera, Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Angelina Jolie, Robin Roberts, Salma Hayek, Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, and the casts of The Mandalorian and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
Guests immersed themselves in the one-of-a-kind exhibit Inside the World of Avatar, saw models and artwork from the new experiences and attractions coming to EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort, and admired iconic costumes on display from Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 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.
Tickets for this year’s Expo presented by Visa will go on sale at D23Expo.com beginning January 20, 2022, at noon PT. Guests must be members of The Official Disney Fan Club—either at the complimentary General Member level or at the Gold Member level—to purchase tickets. Discounted single-day ($89) and three-day tickets ($229) will be available exclusively to D23 Gold Members. Regularly priced single-day tickets are $99 for a one-day adult admission and $79 for children, and money-saving three-day tickets are also available.
This year, a limited number of Hall D23 Preferred Seating tickets (which include admission for all three days and a reserved seating section for all Hall D23 presentations) will be available exclusively to Gold Members. Members who are also Visa cardholders, and who pay with their Visa, will have pre-sale access to a limited number of one-day and three-day tickets for 24 hours beginning January 19, 2022, at 10 a.m. PT, while supplies last. Discounted hotel and Disneyland Resort park tickets are available to all D23 Expo ticket purchasers.
In addition to an exclusive discount on tickets, D23 Gold Members will enjoy special benefits at the Expo, including on-site discounts from select retail locations and a complimentary gift. And guests will be able to visit the Ultimate Fan Lounge presented by Amazon on the show floor.
Schedule and talent are subject to change.
About Expo 2022
D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, streaming, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. For the latest D23 Expo 2022 news, visit D23Expo.com. Presentations, talent, and schedule subject to change. To join the D23 Expo conversation, be sure to follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and use the hashtag #D23Expo.
The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 99-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com, with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.
Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($99.99), Gold Duo Membership ($129.99), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.com. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Overall D23 Expo 2022 is looking to be an exciting and magical show. With the convention comic back, fans worldwide can experience the ultimate Disney experience besides going to the parks. Knowing Disney’s incredible track record of surprising fans with their notable announcements, expect the same for this year’s D23. Hopefully, the year’s D23 is also magical.
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