Disney rolled out the red carpet for Destination D23 and I was there to take it in once again. I had a chance to visit the parks, and join all the fans for a few days of fun, events, food, drinks, and yes, a little shopping.
The semi-annual celebration of all things Disney had a packed schedule, from performances and panels, to stars, and special events. It felt like homecoming with thousands of fans, all celebrating their favourite Disney things, and that included starting with a classic.
Disney D23 hosted a special A Goofy Movie celebration for the film’s 30th anniversary with a special screening at Disney Springs, and so many people dressed up as their favourite characters. It was the first time that I had a chance to see the film on the big screen, and it was a blast, with Disney D23 pulling out props and glowsticks, and even an inflatable car that made an appearance during the road trip. It felt like a party! But best of all, stars Bill Farmer and Jason Marsden, the voices of Goofy and Max, alongside director Kevin Lima, came out to greet fans and talk about the film.
The film actually premiered at the exact same theatre 30 years ago, and Farmer wore the same jacket and tie that he wore then.
This year’s Destination D23 was hosted at Coronado Springs Resort, and it was the perfect spot to host 4,000 fans along with shopping spaces, and a special exhibit from The Walt Disney Archives: Charting the Course that featured costumes, scale models, paintings, and more to show how Disney creates the look and feel of spaces, characters, and more for their projects.
Before all the fun got fully started, Michael Vargo, the head of Disney D23, met with press to chat about the events, and he brought a special guest: none other than the voice of Ariel herself, Jodi Benson. The Disney Legend was so wonderful, and during the events she also got a brand new honour; she’s now been named the first FAN-bassador for D23.
We also had a chance to shop on that first pre-event day, and I picked up a couple of things that you really can’t find anywhere else.
The two days of presentations were packed with retrospectives and news, and it would be impossible for me to cover it all here, but it was impressive.
On the first day the entertainment presentation included so many previews for upcoming films. There was a preview of Hoppers with director Daniel Chong, producer Nicole Paradis Grindle, and voice stars Piper Curda and Bobby Moynihan. They showed off two scenes from the film, and teased what’s to come.
There were also previews for Zootopia 2, Tron: Ares, and Toy Story 5, with a special appearance by Patrick Warburton, who will voice Mayor Winddancer in Zootopia 2.
And through it all, the mood and vibe was electric. The fans were so excited to be there for the news and previews.
I also really enjoyed the retrospective presentations, like X Atencio: The Untold Story of a Disney Legend, that gave a fascinating look at the Disney animator and Imagineer who helped create the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, the opening for the original Mickey Mouse Club show, and the Haunted Mansion!
Creating the Happiest Place on Earth was also an interesting look at the 70 year history of Disneyland, and they had news! Walt Disney World is planning to add an Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney for Carousel of Progress, along with other refurbishments.
My favourite presentation though was Disney Villains: Icons of Evil, and not just for all the villainous talk. During the presentation they shared some fun Disney Destiny cruise news, plus a look at how they’re shaping the villains-themed land that’s being built at Magic Kingdom with what they’re calling “Conjured Architecture” in the style of European Art Nouveau. It was an awesome deep dive into all things Disney villains.
Being part of all these events was so much fun. It’s one big, long Disney party, that gives you a little bit of everything, no matter what you love.
The panel on D2K Animated Classics was interesting and I really appreciated all the details on the making of Atlantis: The Lost Empire, in particular, but the Disney ’80s – 90s Celebration with all the best music from the decades of movies was also a huge treat.
There were a couple of other cherries on top of the whole event though.
Going to Destination D23 also gave me a chance to stay at the Beach Club Resort, and spend a few days in the parks. I have to say a very big thanks to the Disney Parks Canada team for setting that up! It’s a wonderful resort, and I love the location, right across from the Boardwalk resort, and near Epcot.
The event also meant that I had a chance to check out the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and try some of the food and drinks! I’ll have the full story on all of that very soon.
And I got to check out Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom, along with a sneak peek at the Beak and Barrel pirate lounge that just opened! I’ll also have the full story on the Beak and Barrel coming up soon, but for now you can watch my preview video on YouTube. It’s an incredible space, and it’s one of my favourite experiences that I’ve had so far at a Disney park. That’s saying something.
Disney D23 puts on an awesome event, and it’s well worth checking out if you’re any kind of fan, because it’s really all about the fans. I chatted with so many people about what we love at Disney, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, the cruise ships, and the movies and shows.
I have to say a very big thank-you to the whole Disney D23 team! I hope that next year I can make it to D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim for what seems to be the biggest and best Disney celebration.
