The D23 Expo is quickly filling in its schedule and today announced more panels that include celebrity hosts and appearances, plus a new daily event meant to bring excitement to the D23 Expo show floor.
D23 Expo’s new Ultimate Fan Street Party will take place twice daily on the show floor! The street party features a live band, Disney characters and a celebrity grand marshal. The first street party on Friday will feature grand marshals Stan Lee and Mark Hamill, who will be inducted that morning as Disney Legends.
Returning this year is the Mousequerade fan-favorite costume competition. The finals will take place at 11am on Friday on Stage 28. Judges this year include Ashley Eckstein (Star Wars Rebels), Kara Saun (costume designer for Descendants 2), and Yvette Nicole Brown (“The Mayor”).
The Center Stage on the D23 Expo floor will feature live performances and fun events throughout the festival. Musical acts scheduled to perform include Aimee Carrero & Lou Diamond Phillips (Elena of Avalor), Temecula Road, Disneyland favorite Tomasina, Susan Egan (Broadway’s Beauty and the Beast, Hercules), and Billy Hill and the Hillbillies. Expo guests will also learn to draw with Disney animators Eric Goldberg and Mark Henn, plus Marvel’s Brian Crosby. Finally, returning this year is Bill Rogers, the voice of Disneyland, who will record fans’ outgoing voicemail messages.
The D23 Expo has also added some other new presentations on Stage 28. On Friday at 2:30pm, join author Jim Colucci, plus writers Barry Fanaro, Robert Spina, and Stan Zimmerman, and art director John Shaffner for The Golden Girls: A Celebration of Friendship, Laughter, and Cheesecake. At 4:15pm, historian Leonard Maltin will celebrate Disney Legends 30th Anniversary with Disney Legends Bill Farmer (Goofy), Imagineer Bob Gurr, Walt Disney Archives founder Dave Smith, and new inductee Mark Hamill (Star Wars).
The D23 Expo Arena returns this year and will host several presentations. On Friday at 6:00pm, Whoopi Goldberg will host Melodies in Walt’s Time: The Music of Disney Live-Action Films, featuring Lesley Ann Warren and Karen Dotrice, plus live musical performers and a 20-voice chorus in a salute to films such as Summer Magic, Mary Poppins, The Happiest Millionaire, and The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band.
On Sunday at 12:30pm, directors John Musker and Ron Clements are joined by animators Eric Goldberg and Ken Duncan, plus voices Susan Egan and Tate Donovan for Zero to Hero: The Making of Hercules. At 3:15pm, guests can attend Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: 80th Anniversary Screening. Finally at 6:00pm, Disneyland fan John Stamos leads the Legends of Walt Disney Imagineering, a conversation with Marty Sklar , Tony Baxter, and 2017 Disney Legend inductee Wayne Jackson.
The D23 Expo has also added over a dozen new presentations to the schedule that will take place on the Walt Disney Archives stage, including a look at the classic Zorro television series, a virtual tour of the Hyperion Studio, a visit to Marceline, a salute to Marc Davis, and a celebration of the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough. For the complete schedule, visit our D23 Expo page.
The D23 Expo will be held July 14-16 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Source: D23: The Official Disney Fan Club
Tom is the host and producer of the DIS Unplugged: Disneyland Edition podcast, plus Disneyland Editor of The DIS. He enjoys traveling with his wife and teenage son. At this point, their favorite destination is Alaska, with a FIFTH cruise there planned for the Summer of 2019. In his spare time he volunteers with Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, and help found his son's former Cub Scout Pack. His favorite Disneyland attraction is Space Mountain.
