This summer, Disney is going to be hosting the D23 Ultimate Fan Event, which is formerly known as the D23 Expo, at the Anaheim Convention Center and for the first time, it will be hosting some special presentations in the evening at the Honda Center, where thousands more people will be able to attend in person for all the major announcements.

At previous D23 Expo events, we’ve seen major announcements made during special presentations and panels, including shows and films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, 20th Century Studios and more.

This year, things will be a little different, as while there will be panels and presentations during the day, Disney has confirmed that on Friday, 9th August 2024, there will be a Disney Entertainment Showcase taking place in the evening at the Honda Center, where we will get to see plenty of previews and news of upcoming movies and Disney+ shows, plus stage shows from across Disney’s studios.

In previous years, Disney has split up its major studio showcase over multiple shows, such as animation and live-action; however, this year, it will all be merged into one presentation.  This might also be because Disney is drastically reducing how many films and Disney+ Originals are being released, so it doesn’t need six plus hours to highlight everything; instead, being able to condense it into one special evening of entertainment.

With the Disney Entertainment Showcase, expect to get updates on brand new Disney+ shows from Marvel and Star Wars, with those in attendance getting a sneak peek at upcoming projects, plus will likely some new announcements along the way.

Here’s the official description for the showcase:

Enjoy the magic of Disney Entertainment in a star-studded showcase featuring the best of Disney storytelling onstage and onscreen. Get an exclusive look at the movies, series, and shows fans love, and a glimpse into what to look forward to from Disney’s film studios, television and streaming services, live stage shows on Broadway, and beyond. Join some favorite stars as they give a peek behind the curtain at upcoming projects, never-before-seen footage and art, surprise announcements and special guests, musical performances, and exclusive new content coming to the big screen, to smaller screens, and to the stage… all from Disney Entertainment.

On the Saturday evening, there will be a Disney Experiences Showcase, which will highlight the new and exciting experiences coming to Disney theme parks, cruise line and other places.  For theme park fans, this is often the highlight of the year, with major new theme park attractions announced and special appearances.  Last year, Mandalorian and Grogu made their debut before heading to the parks for special meet-and-greet experiences.

And on Sunday evening, Disney will host a special Disney Legends presentation, where it will award a new class of people who have contributed to Disney over the year.  This year’s event will be hosted by Ryan Seacrest and some of the most known celebrities getting awarded this year include John Williams, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Harrison Ford, Steve Ditto, Angela Bassett and Miley Cyrus.

Three nights of marquee showcases at the Honda Center include:

• Disney Entertainment Showcase: Friday, August 9 at 7 P.M.,
• Disney Experiences Showcase: Saturday, August 10 at 7 P.M., 
• Disney Legends Ceremony: Sunday, August 11 at 5 P.M.

Asad Ayaz, Chief Brand Officer, The Walt Disney Company said in statement regarding the event:

“This August at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, we’re excited to give tens of thousands of our biggest fans an experience like no other.  Disney has the most powerful brands and passionate fans in the world, and we’re taking D23 to a whole new level this year to give them more of what they love from across the worlds of Disney in one incredible weekend.”

Ticket’s for the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will go on sale starting March 26th 2024 and Disney has confirmed some of the details for the upcoming event.

• D23 Ultimate Fan Pass 3-Day Ticket includes a 3-day assigned seat for evening shows at the Honda Center and 3-day access to all experiences at the Anaheim Convention Center—starting at $297/ticket.
• D23 Ultimate Fan Pass 1-Day Ticket includes a reserved seat for that date’s evening show at the Honda Center and same-day access to all experiences at the Anaheim Convention Center—starting at $99/ticket.
• D23 Preferred Ultimate Fan Pass 3-Day Ticket, exclusive to D23 Gold Members, includes a 3-day floor seat for evening shows at the Honda Center (same seat each night), and 3-day access to all experiences at the Anaheim Convention Center—starting at $999/ticket.
• D23 Fan Pass provides access to the Anaheim Convention Center only:
  • 1-Day Pass
    • Gold Members: $79/ticket
    • General Members: $89/ticket
  • 3-Day Pass
    • Gold Members: $209/ticket
    • General Members: $259/ticket

D23 Gold Members will have first access to a number of 1-day and 3-day tickets for a limited time beginning March 26, 2024, at 12 p.m. PT. D23 Gold and General Members who are also Visa cardholders—and who pay with their Visa card—will have pre-sale access to a number of 1-day and 3-day tickets, for a limited time and while supplies last, beginning March 27, 2024, at 12 p.m. PT. Tickets for all D23 Gold and General Members will go on sale beginning March 28, 2024, at 12 p.m. PT. Attendees must be a D23 Member to purchase tickets.

The Anaheim Convention Center will once again showcase the best of Disney storytelling and innovation with an immersive and expanded show floor full of great experiences and activities for all ages. Fan-favorites will return including pavilions from Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney+, Marvel Studios, Disney Experiences, Lucasfilm, and a first-of-its-kind exhibition from the Walt Disney Archives entitled “A Great Big Beautiful Car Show.”

Fans can take advantage of great shopping opportunities including a dedicated space to shop and experience limited-edition merchandise and collectibles. Other fan-favorite shopping destinations will return including Mickey’s of Glendale, The Hollywood Studio Store, and The Emporium. Plus, The Walt Disney Company Store will make its debut and feature exclusive D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event branded products.

Guests will also have the opportunity to attend specially curated shows, panels, and presentations, along with conversations with storytellers, creators, and talent. These presentations will feature distinctly Disney content that will entertain fans of all generations on five different stages at the Anaheim Convention Center

Here are a few of the other highlights from the event:

• D23 Day at Disneyland Resort on Thursday, August 8
• The largest, most expansive show floor in D23 history at the Anaheim Convention Center
• Expanded shopping experience
• D23 Day at Angel Stadium on Sunday, August 4
• D23 FAN-tastic Prizes Sweepstakes – the biggest company-wide sweepstakes in Disney history

This year’s event will feature Disney+ integration, musical performances with world-class artists, special content presentations, a new interactive app, and one-of-a-kind shopping experiences.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that some of the presentations from the D23: Ultimate Fan Event would also be streamed live onto Disney+.  In previous years, both the Theme Parks Panel and the Disney Legends presentation have been live-streamed to YouTube, along with selected panels. 

So, hopefully, this year, Disney will live stream all three major presentations to allow everyone to watch, plus some of those extra panels during the days.  But it hasn’t yet been confirmed if the main Entertainment Showcase will be live-streamed to everyone globally.  But it’s unlikely this will be confirmed until nearer the time, since they will want to sell tickets first!

Are you excited for the D23: Ultimate Fan Event?  Let us know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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