By the D23 Team
Over Labor Day weekend, thousands of Disney fans were excited to attend Destination D23: A Journey Around the Worlds of Disney presented by Lug®—a one-of-a-kind, multiday experience featuring exclusive programming, events, shopping, and more at Walt Disney World Resort. This year’s event was bigger than ever, with an expanded footprint in a new location, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
On Saturday and Sunday, guests enjoyed more than 25 specially curated presentations from across The Walt Disney Company, including The Walt Disney Studios, Disney Entertainment Television, Disney Experiences, Walt Disney Imagineering and the Walt Disney Archives. They heard firsthand from creative visionaries and talent, Imagineers, archivists, and Disney Legends, who shared major news and behind-the-scenes looks at entertainment and experiences.
During the “Walt Disney Studios Showcase” on Saturday, host Yvette Nicole Brown invited the creative forces behind several of The Walt Disney Company’s highly anticipated films to join her onstage and share exclusive announcements and never-before-seen clips with fans. (Find the full story here.) Announcements included:
- The title of the next big screen Ice Age adventure will be Ice Age: Boiling Point and will debut in theaters February 5, 2027.
- Toy Story (1995) will be rereleased in theaters on September 12 in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Disney and Pixar’s beloved classic. Tickets go on sale September 2. Fans also got a first look at Smarty Pants, voiced by Conan O’Brien, from the upcoming Toy Story 5, in theaters June 19, 2026. The elated audience also got to see the opening three minutes of the movie, as well as clips from Disney and Pixar’s original comedy Hoppers, in theaters March 6, 2026.
- The original music from Disney’s TRON: Ares, by Nine Inch Nails, will be featured for a limited time on TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise at Walt Disney World Resort beginning September 15 and at TRON Lightcycle Power Run presented by Chevrolet at Shanghai Disney Resort beginning September 16. TRON: Ares opens in theaters October 10.
- Walt Disney Animation Studios will release the original feature Hexed in November 2026. In the film, an awkward teenage boy and his Type-A mom discover that what makes him unusual might just be magical powers that will turn their lives—and a secret world of magic—upside down.
- Joining the cast of Zootopia 2, debuting in theaters November 26, are Patrick Warburton as Mayor Winddancer and Yvette Nicole Brown as the Bearoness and EMT Otter.
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, an all-new animated feature from the world of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, is coming exclusively to Disney+ on December 5. Adapted from the third installment of Jeff Kinney’s worldwide bestselling book series, the movie brings back Greg Heffley for his next family misadventure.
Following the “Walt Disney Studios Showcase,” Michael Vargo, head of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, shared a number of exciting announcements, including the return of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event to Anaheim, California, on August 14, 15, and 16, 2026. (Find all of Vargo’s announcements here.)
Vargo also announced that Disney Legend Jodi Benson will serve as the first official D23 FAN-bassador, engaging with fans and making appearances with D23 throughout the year leading up to the three-day event. He then shared additional details about the next D23 On the Road series—bringing a special screening experience of Home Alone (1990) to theaters across the country—as well as D23 Spotlight and D23 Gold Theater events, among other offerings.
Destination D23 panels included “What’Cha Doin’ with Phineas and Ferb’s Dan Povenmire and Swampy Marsh,” “The Three Caballeros: From El Grupo to Goodwill Classics,” “X Atencio: The Untold Story of a Disney Legend,” “Boom, Baby! 25 Years of The Emperor’s New Groove,” and “Be Our Guest with Disney on Broadway,” among others.
During the “Creating the Happiest Place on Earth” panel, acclaimed filmmaker with deep Disney roots Leslie Iwerks dropped a trailer for a brand-new documentary titled Disneyland Handcrafted, debuting this winter on Disney+ and Disney YouTube. Capturing the construction of the DNA of Disneyland more than 70 years ago, the film will give audiences a chance to peek through the orange groves and experience the making of the park like never before. Find a sneak peek now on Disney YouTube.
Chris Beatty, Executive Creative Director for Walt Disney Imagineering, also announced that through the magic of Audio-Animatronics® technology, Walt Disney himself will soon introduce the Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress attraction at Magic Kingdom. “The introduction of a new Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney in Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress marks an exciting milestone in our shared mission to celebrate the story of the man behind the magic and inspire new generations with his innovations and vision for the future,” said Kirsten Komoroske, executive director of The Walt Disney Family Museum.
During the “What’s Cooking with Disney Eats?” panel, guests were the first to preview some of the new themed drinks coming exclusively to lounges aboard the Disney Destiny, setting sail in November 2025. They included the Mirror Dimension at The Sanctum (a lounge inspired by Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange); My Way at Haunted Mansion Parlor; and Dead Man’s Chest at Cask & Cannon (inspired by the legendary Pirates of the Caribbean attractions around the world).
To cap off Saturday, all Destination D23 2025 ticketholders were invited to celebrate the anniversary of the film The Emperor’s New Groove (2000) during “D23 Kuzcotopia Night at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon” water park. Featuring complimentary snacks, photo opportunities, special activities, and exclusive entertainment, fans had the chance to meet their favorite characters, from Kuzco to Yzma.
Sunday got off to a villainous start with the “Disney Villains: Icons of Evil” panel, hosted by Disney Experiences. In a special video message, Disney Legend Andreas Deja—the animator of such iconic Disney Villains as Gaston, Jafar, and Scar—announced that he is consulting on the villains-themed land coming to Magic Kingdom.
Additional Sunday panels included “Stay Tuned: You’re Watching Disney Channel,” “Part of Our World with Jodi Benson & Ron Clements,” “The Disney Family Legacy with Roy P. Disney,” “A Goofy Movie: 30 Stand Out Years,” and “Down the Rabbit Hole with the Walt Disney Archives.”
During the “Beyond the Spires: An Insider Look at Disney Castles” panel, Imagineers announced that World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris will open in the spring of 2026. Its opening will mark the official transformation of Walt Disney Studios Park into Disney Adventure World, where immersive worlds inspired by the most popular Disney stories are brought to life. The panel also revealed a new Cinderella Castle color palette, which is inspired by the classic and original look of the castle. The updated paint will feature grays, creams, blues, and touches of gold in an effort to enhance Cinderella Castle’s architecture. It was also revealed that the next episode of We Call It Imagineering will debut Monday, September 8, on Walt Disney Imagineering YouTube.
To cap off an epic weekend of programming, fans attended the “Disney ’80s-’90s Celebration in Concert Presented by Disney+,” featuring Disney on Broadway stars Lissa deGuzman, Alyssa Fox, Bradley Gibson, Adam J. Levy, Nasia Thomas, and additional guests.