New panels, stars and experiences announced for D23 Expo 2019
With D23 Expo 2019 just a couple of weeks away, D23 has announced even more stars, panels and experiences that fans will get to enjoy at this year’s event.
Check out the breakdown of these newly-announced experiences heading to the show floor and expo stages below:
Mousequerade – Presented by Raw Threads
Friday, Aug. 23, 11 a.m. – Stage 28
Mousequerade, the costume competition that has participants create their own Disney-inspired designs, is returning to D23 Expo 2019. Judges Ashley Eckstein (“Star Wars Rebels”, Her Universe), Yvette Nicole Brown (Disney’s upcoming live-action “Lady and the Tramp”), Jennifer Leonard (owner and designer of Raw Threads), and the contest’s host, Disney’s Jim Babcock, will watch dozens of finalists compete in five categories for the $2,300 Best in Show Prize.
Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series – Episode II First Look
Friday, Aug. 23, 2 p.m. – Stage 28
Join Director Ben Snow, Senior Experience Designer Jose Perez III, and Lucasfilm Story Group Creative Executive Matt Martin as they host an in-depth discussion about the VR series’ upcoming second episode and share a sneak peek only to Expo attendees.
A Musical Celebration of “Aladdin”
Saturday, Aug. 24, 5:30 p.m. – D23 Expo Arena
To celebrate the home release of the live-action adaptation of “Aladdin” and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Aladdin” Walt Disney Signature Collection, hosts Scott Weinger (“Aladdin”) and Linda Larkin (“Jasmine”) will take attendees on a magic carpet ride through favorite songs from “Aladdin” both on stage and screen.
Special guests will include Brad Kane (“Aladdin” singing voice), Deedee Magno Hall (“Jasmine” in “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular”), Jamal Sims (choreographer, “Aladdin” live-action), Clinton Greenspan (Broadway’s next “Aladdin”), Lillias White (“Hercules”), and Norm Lewis (“Scandal,” “The Little Mermaid” on Broadway).
Heroines of the Disney Galaxies – Presented by BoxLunch
Sunday, Aug. 25, 10 a.m. – Stage 28
Join Ashley Eckstein and special guests – including Sana Amanat (vice president of content & character development for Marvel), Ally Maki (“Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger,” “Toy Story 4”), and Christy Carlson Romano (“Kim Possible,” “Even Stevens,” “Big Hero 6: The Series”) – for a celebration of some of the most inspiring heroines from Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm and more.
Disney Character Voices, Inc.: The 30th Anniversary Celebration
Sunday, Aug. 25, 4:15 p.m. – Hall D23
Join Rick Dempsey, senior vice president of Character Voices – along with Tony Anselmo (“Donald”), Jodi Benson (“Ariel”), Bill Farmer (“Goofy” and “Pluto”), Bret Iwan (“Mickey Mouse”), and Linda Larkin (“Jasmine’), with more guests to be announced – to celebrate this anniversary through its stories and voices.
Two Worlds, One Family: The Making of “Tarzan”
Sunday, Aug. 25, 5:45 p.m. – D23 Expo Arena
Twenty years later, the team behind “Tarzan” is heading to D23 Expo to share a behind-the-scenes look at how the film came to be. Guests will include directors Chris Buck (“Frozen 2”) and Kevin Lima (“Enchanted”), animators Bruce W. Smith, Ken Duncan and Disney Legend Glen Keane; and producer Bonnie Arnold. This panel will also include a performance by Matthew Morrison (“Glee”) from his forthcoming Walt Disney Records album.
The Art of Disney Storytelling
Sunday, Aug. 25, 3 p.m. – D23 Expo Arena
A panel of masterful storytellers – including Disney Legends Tony Baxter and Floyd Norman, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Paul Briggs (head of story, “Frozen” and “Big Hero 6”), and producer Don Hahn – will discuss Walt Disney’s impact on their careers and the entertainment industry, and how his lessons spark their imagination today.
Inside the World of “Avatar”
At D23 Expo 2019, the world of “Avatar” will come to life with rarely-seen props, costumes and models used in the making of James Cameron’s film, paired with the movie moments where these items were brought to life. Fans will also get to see part of the making of Pandora – The World of Avatar at Walt Disney World Resort.
Walt Disney Archives Stage
The Walt Disney Archives Stage will return to this year’s Expo to host 16 panels and presentations throughout the weekend. Recognizable Disney figures that will appear onstage include Disney Legend Bill Farmer, author J.B. Kaufman, designers Kevin Kidney & Jody Daily, Walt Disney Archives director Becky Cline, Walt Disney Imagineering president Bob Weis, and Imagineers Daniel Jue and Kevin Rafferty.
Fans will explore many of Disney’s worlds, from holiday magic at the Disney Parks and the secrets of Walt Disney’s “Fun and Fancy Free”, to a celebration of 50 years of Haunted Mansion merchandise and a preview of the final book by Disney Legend and Imagineer Marty Sklar.
Single-day tickets for Friday and Sunday of this year’s Expo are available for $89 for one-day adult admission and $69 for children ages 3-9. Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club can purchase tickets for $77 for a one-day adult admission and $59 for children. Single-day Saturday tickets and three-day passes are sold out.
For more information, visit D23Expo.com.
Check out our previous reports on this year’s convention below: