D23 EXPO Design Challenge Winner Announced!

We congratulate Nuri A., from Quartz Hill, California, who was recently named winner of the D23 EXPO Design Challenge. The D23 EXPO Design Challenge celebrates Disneyland’s Diamond Anniversary by encouraging artists both young and young at heart to create art using the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle as inspiration.

A panel of judges—which included Marty Muller, senior vice president, Global Creative, Yellow Shoes; Don Hahn, artist, film producer, and director; Adam Sanderson, Head of D23; and Steven Lavine, president, California Institute of the Arts—selected his work over hundreds of contest entries. They also selected 22 finalists, all of which will be exhibited on the show floor at D23 EXPO 2015.

Nuri’s work depicts a hybrid castle that evokes the imaginary skyline of a number of Disney icons. From Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Big Hero 6, the work represents the majority of Disney animated features through stained glass vignettes, themed towers, and hidden Easter eggs. Like Disneyland, where you always discover something new, Nuri hopes viewers see something different every time they look at the work.

For his artistic accomplishment, Nuri will receive a Grand Prize of $2,300. All finalists received complimentary tickets to D23 EXPO 2015.

Talking Disney’s Descendants with Kenny Ortega

Villains.

They’re some of the most notorious (and entertaining!) characters in the Disney lexicon.

But have you ever wondered what happened to our favorite Villains after the “happily ever after”? The latest summer sensation from Disney Channel, the live-action musical adventure Disney’s Descendants, aims to answer that very question…

In the idyllic kingdom of Auradon, teenage prince Ben’s (Mitchell Hope) first proclamation gets him into totally hot water: he offers a chance at redemption to Mal (Dove Cameron, Liv and Maddie), Evie (Sofia Carson, Austin & Ally), Carlos (Cameron Boyce, Shake It Up) and Jay (Booboo Stewart, Twilight)—the trouble-making offspring of Maleficent (Kristin Chenoweth, Broadway’s Wicked), the Evil Queen (Kathy Najimy, Hocus Pocus), Cruella de Vil (Wendy Raquel Robinson) and Jafar (Maz Jobrani). They’ve all been sequestered on the forbidden Isle of the Lost for decades, but now the kids are allowed to attend Auradon’s prep school alongside the teenage children of the likes of Cinderella, Mulan, and the Fairy Godmother. Will these “evil” teens choose to follow in the footsteps of their wicked parents?

D23 recently sat down with the film’s director, choreographer, and executive producer, Kenny Ortega (High School Musical, Newsies), for an exclusive inside look at this fresh new fairy tale!

On Bringing Disney’s Descendants to Life:
Kenny Ortega: I’ve always been a big fan of the Disney animated films and their heritage… I fell in love with the characters. What was thrilling for me was suddenly to find myself in a position to be able to be a part of the development and creation of brand-new Disney characters and—at the same time—get to play with refreshing classic characters, both the good and the evil characters of the Disney stories. There was also a lot of responsibility, being a part of the creation and development of a brand-new generation of Disney characters…

On Facing Challenges:
Kenny: Well, it was a challenge just to make sure we’re telling a really good story that will engage and entertain… I was being given the golden opportunity to play with characters that had been established and that were considered classic, “heritage” Disney characters like Maleficent, the Evil Queen, and Jafar and Cruella de Vil—and Beauty and the Beast, and the Fairy Godmother. These are characters that are legendary, that are iconic! The responsibility became a challenge—how can I now, after (at least) 20 years of “happily ever after” [for these characters], bring something fresh and new and fun but also maintain their integrity? And the challenge of developing these new characters with these wonderful young actors that I had the opportunity to work with… bringing it all to the screen for a new generation.

On Finding the Perfect Cast:
Kenny: That special day when we realized that we had our cast—that Dove and Cameron and Sofia and Booboo and Kristin Chenoweth and Kathy Najimy were going to be in this movie… I mean, that was an extraordinary day, because we’d been looking for five months and had interviewed and auditioned and seen tapes of thousands of actors… We have an extraordinary group of kids that joined us on this adventure, and every bit of it was pleasurable—to be in their company and to work in their company.

These young people did a lot of work in preparing and took the roles very seriously, and came to work every day bringing something to the party. They just turned on these characters and brought them to life, making these animated characters three-dimensional… it was pretty fun!

On What Audiences Can Expect:
Kenny: This movie is just loaded with optimism and hopefulness and positivity about making great choices in life, and how those choices determine your destiny. It’s beautifully layered into a story that I think it is full of great adventure, action, music, dance, romance, fun, and humor… and I hope that audiences walk away from it feeling satisfied.

We took a lot of care, and there was a lot of heart put into it—and a lot of hard work. I’m very pleased, very satisfied, very happy, and I can’t wait to be able to share it on Disney Channel this Friday!

Disney’s Descendants premieres Friday, July 31, on Disney Channel!

Tales from the Toy Box: The Story Behind Toy Story

When D23 EXPO 2015 blasted off on August 14, guests received a giant welcome from Buzz Lightyear—
…giant because the space ranger appeared as a giant character helium balloon, measuring 67.7 feet long, 39.9 feet wide, and 34.3 feet tall.

The Buzz Lightyear balloon was straight from New York City’s famed Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade^®, where he has taken flight six times. Buzz made his first trip ever to the West Coast to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of Toy Story. At D23 EXPO 2015 Pixar Animation Studios offered Toy Story: 20 Years Later, the Original Crew Looks Back. Filmmakers including John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich, and Ralph Eggleston shared epic stories of the first-ever computer-animated feature film.

Four years in the making, Toy Story combines the talents of 27 animators, 22 technical directors, and 61 other filmmakers. In crafting the novel tale of a world where toys have a life of their own when people are not present, the story team created sketches that would eventually amount to more than 25,000 storyboards. Little known fact: Toy Story started out as a holiday television special. “We [at Pixar] were making commercials with an eye toward doing a 30-minute Christmas TV special based on John Lasseter’s short film Tin Toy, which we thought would be the perfect step toward making a full-length movie,” recalls writer/ supervising animator Pete Docter. But when Disney essentially said, “Let’s make a movie,” the Pixar team suddenly had to come up with a concept for an entire feature. The germ of their new and expanded story was a single visual: a toy at a highway rest stop as its family unknowingly leaves it behind. “It’s such an emotional thing because everybody has lost a toy, that they wanted so desperately to find, that they wished the toy was looking for them,” explains story co-creator Andrew Stanton. Tinny, the one-man band from Tin Toy, was teamed with a ventriloquist’s dummy for a sprawling odyssey in a genre never before explored in animation: the buddy picture.

“We knew we wanted an old toy and a new toy,” director John Lasseter recalls. “The initial idea was that the dummy was a hand-me-down that Andy had gotten from his father, and then on his birthday he gets Tinny as a new toy. But as the story evolved it became clear that Tinny was too antiquated. So we started to analyze what a little boy would get these days that would make him so excited that he stopped playing with everything else.” Lasseter hit on the concept of a G.I. Joe-type action-figure (his boyhood favorite) and from that evolved the idea of a space superhero. “It’s kind of a combination of G.I. Joe and Star Wars,” notes John. “Since it was a buddy picture we wanted the dummy to be the complete opposite of a space toy so we made him a cowboy. Buzz Lightyear represents whatever cool flashy toy you owned at one time. Woody represents whatever worn-out doll nobody else would want but you had an affection for.” Woody was inspired in part by John’s own pull-string doll of Casper the Friendly Ghost from his childhood.

To create their characters on the screen, the Pixar filmmakers were blazing trails through CG imagery. It’s no coincidence that Buzz (original name: Tempus from Morph) was named for Buzz Aldrin, the NASA astronaut who piloted Apollo, the first manned craft to land on the moon. The name “Woody” was inspired in part by Woody Strode, the actor best known for his roles in John Ford westerns.

Twenty years and two enormously successful sequels later—with Toy Story 4 in development—it’s more apparent than the name “Andy” scrawled on the bottom of Woody’s boot that Toy Story is more than groundbreaking, critically acclaimed, and popular; it’s one of the most beloved films ever produced. Observes Andrew Stanton: “We were the lucky stiffs who tapped into the universal desire to believe that your toys are alive when you’re not in the room.” But as D23 EXPO guests who attended the Toy Story: 20 Years Later, the Original Crew Looks Back presentation will undoubtedly attest, luck had nothing to do with it—it was imagination, innovation, and ingenuity that took a story of toys with a life of their own to infinity and beyond.

The 411 on the 2015 Disney Legends

What do Fred MacMurray, Ub Iwerks, Betty White, Sir Elton John, Frank and Ollie, Barbara Walters, Steve Jobs and Annette Funicello have in common?

These distinguished individuals are all Disney Legends. For 28 years, The Walt Disney Company has proudly honored those who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy by naming them Disney Legends. Fred MacMurray, star of such Disney classics as The Absent-Minded Professor and The Happiest Millionaire was the first Disney Legend. Including this year’s honorees, a total of 257 Disney Legends have been named. The Disney Legends Awards ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 14, in Hall D23 at the Anaheim Convention Center and will be hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger. To fill you in on what makes these legendary personalities so…well, legendary, here are some fascinating facts about the Disney Legends 2015 honorees.

Good Sport: George Bodenheimer

ESPN’s innovative and inspirational fifth president since 1998, a leadership position he held until 2012.

George kicked off his career in the ESPN mailroom.
Long-lived: George is ESPN’s longest-tenured President, serving for 13 years.
On May 5th, 2015, George was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 36th annual Sports Emmy^® Awards ceremony.
In 2008, he was inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame for his leadership, innovation and contributions to the cable industry and his community.
With his retirement as Executive Chairman of ESPN in 2014, George wrapped up an incredible 33-year career with the company that with his help grew in stature as The Worldwide Leader in Sports.

Good Will Ambassador: Julie Reihm Casaletto

The very first Disneyland Ambassador.

Julie’s first role at the park was as a Tour Guide.
Julie first encountered Walt when he surreptitiously joined her Tour Guide group as they made their way up Main Street, U.S.A.
Julie co-starred with Walt himself on the “Disneyland Tenth Anniversary Show” episode of the Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color TV series.
Of Walt, Julie said, “He delighted in seeing other people delighted.”
Traveling in her role as “Disneyland’s Ambassador to the World” throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, Julie logged more than 52,000 miles.

Animated Artist: Andreas Deja

Master Disney animator of the modern era.

Which of Walt’s animated classics inspired Andreas to be a Disney artist? The Jungle Book, which Andreas saw at the age of 11.
The Black Cauldron was the first Disney animated feature on which Andreas worked, first as a concept artist, then as an animator.
Andreas animated Mickey Mouse in The Prince and the Pauper, Runaway Brain and Fantasia/2000.
Andreas relishes animating villains because, he says, “Villains are the most fun to animate.” He has animated some of the best of Disney’s baddies, including Jafar in Aladdin and Scar in The Lion King.
Andreas drew inspiration for the tall, stately and restrained Jafar from Disney Legend Marc Davis’s Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty.

Modernist Master: Eyvind Earle

Influential animation art stylist.

Eyvind Earle provided the entire overall design and artistic concept for Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.
The artist consulted many ancient artworks, including medieval paintings and architecture, gothic art, and Persian tapestries, to create the stylized, modernist background and character design.
Eyvind’s first Disney assignment was as assistant background painter for The Little House, an animated short styled by Disney Legend Mary Blair.
Eyvind painted more than 100 backgrounds for Peter Pan.
Eyvind also lent his flat, sharp-edged styling to such visually experimental Disney shorts as the Academy Award-winning Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom.

Movie Musician: Danny Elfman

Prolific film and television composer.

For 17 years, Danny wrote and performed with the rock band Oingo Boingo, producing such hits as “Weird Science” and “Dead Man’s Party.”
Danny is the singing voice of Jack Skellington in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, for which he also composed the score.
One of Danny’s favorite Disneyland Park attractions is Haunted Mansion, and he was thrilled to compose the music for the new Mystic Manor attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Danny has been nominated for four Academy Awards and eight Grammy Awards.
Danny has composed the music for almost all of Tim Burton’s films, including Disney’s Alice in Wonderland.

Shooting for the Stars: George Lucas

Producer, director, writer, Star Wars and Indiana Jones creator.

George is a longtime fan of the epic Uncle Scrooge comic book stories written and drawn by Disney Legend Carl Barks. These action-adventure stories influence the creation of Lucas’ Indiana Jones films.
George was honored with the 1991 Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award by the Academy of Motion Pictures and Arts and Sciences for a body of work that reflects “a consistently high quality of motion picture production.” Walt Disney received the same award in 1942.
First project with Disney: Captain EO, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Michael Jackson. This 3-D film debuted in Journey into Imagination at Epcot on September 12, 1986.
George often incorporates tributes to his feature film-directorial debut, THX 1138, in his productions, such as a license place number in American Graffiti or a reference to cell block 1138 in Star Wars: A New Hope.
George founded the small Lucasfilm computer graphics division that eventually became Pixar.

Television Diva: Susan Lucci

The star of ABC’s long-running All My Children is the queen of daytime television.

Susan portrayed Erica Kane, “the woman you love to hate,” on ABC’s fabled soap opera All My Children for 41 years, a role that TV Guide declared the most famous character in the history of daytime drama,
The famed role garnered Susan 21 Daytime Emmy® nominations to which she finally won the prestigious Emmy for Best Actress to a four-minute standing ovation on her 19th nomination.
As a high school student, Susan was not only an actress in school plays; she also was a cheerleader, a writer on the school paper, and an exchange student to Norway.
The actress received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005 and was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2006.
Susan currently stars in the international hit Lifetime series Devious Maids, produced by ABC Studios, as socialite Genevieve Delatour.

Setting Mickey’s Style: Carson Van Osten

Disney Consumer Products artist and leader.

For 45 years, Carson has been inspiring artists around the world to draw Mickey and his friends according to the highest Disney standards.
First Disney assignment: illustrating Mickey Mouse comic books. “I did like to draw Mickey and Goofy stories from the start,” he says.
Created by Carson in 1975, the Disney Comic Strip Artist’s Kit is a seven-page guide still in use today throughout the world.
Carson also created some of the first character style guides, overseeing art for books, record album covers, motion picture tie-in advertising, and more.
Carson was a classic-character consultant for the Disney Epic Mickey and Where’s My Mickey? video games.

Experience More at D23 EXPO 2015

If you’re anything like us, you’ve already started to pick which D23 EXPO 2015 events you just cannot miss.

The Muppets panel? Check. Seeing “The Originals” sing from the best of Disney on Broadway? No doubt. Witnessing George Lucas and Susan Lucci (among awesome others) being honored as Disney Legends? Of course! But D23 EXPO isn’t just about the myriad of panels, exhibits, guests, and entertainment found in every nook and cranny of the Anaheim Convention Center. It’s also about how you—the fans—can take part in all the D23 EXPO fun like never before!

D23 EXPO 2015 Official Mobile App (Now available)

The D23 EXPO 2015 Official Mobile App will help you navigate the D23 EXPO like the seasoned Disney pro you are. All the entertainment, presentations, shopping, photo opportunities, and magic that Disney has in store will be right at your fingertips—including maps to help you find everything you need, from stages and stores to photo spots; the full schedule of presentations and special entertainment; and up-to- the-minute info on StagePass availability. You’ll be able to personalize a schedule that helps you make those hard decisions about what to do next a little bit easier, and it’ll help you “shop ‘til you drop” with all our Disney and partner stores. You can find it now on the App Store and the Google Play Store.

Official D23 EXPO Trading Card Quest Presented by Disney Visa® Card

Your favorite Disney characters—from Princesses to Villains and everyone in between—will come to life through a series of collectible Disney trading cards. You’ll receive a “starter pack” of cards in your D23 EXPO 2015 Souvenir Guide; then, throughout the weekend, search for opportunities to collect different cards from locations all over the show floor. (Check your D23 EXPO 2015 floor map for more information, and keep your eyes peeled for surprises!) Make sure to download the Official D23 EXPO 2015 Mobile App and follow D23 on social media all weekend long, because we’ll be announcing very special card “drops” you won’t want to miss. But that’s not all: Meet up with fellow fans at Trading Card Quest Headquarters at the Disney Visa® Card Booth in Exhibit Hall B all weekend to trade cards in hopes of completing your collection. There are 30 cards in all, and they’ll come together as singles, pairs, and even trios.

Augmented Reality with HP Aurasma

This year, you’ll be able to interact with D23 EXPO in a whole new way, thanks to HP Aurasma’s augmented reality technology. You can access Aurasma just by downloading the D23 EXPO Official Mobile App. Aurasma is an interactive “augmented reality” technology that brings everything around you to unexpected life! Find an Aurasma location, launch the Official Mobile App and open Aurasma in the menu to unlock special content. All you have to do is point your phone at the image, or object to enjoy. And make sure to check out the cover of the D23 EXPO 2015 Souvenir Guide for a special “Aura” to get you started! Aurasma locations are listed in the Guide Map and within the D23 EXPO Mobile App.

Official Photo Spots Brought to you by D23

D23, the Official Disney Fan Club, presents a whole slate of photo opportunities at D23 EXPO 2015, located throughout the convention center. These photo spots are made up of figures and scenes from your favorite Disney films, TV series, and attractions—including Big Hero 6, Toy Story, Star Wars Rebels, and Frozen. It might be a fun item on display, like an actual vintage Skyway vehicle from Disneyland, or a colorful scene from The Pirate Fairy to pose in. And, as if that weren’t enough, celebrated Mouseketeer Annette Funicello’s actual Disney Legend handprints will be on display the entire weekend. Get those cameras and smartphones ready!

Sneak a Peek at Disney’s Descendants—& More in News Briefs

Disney’s Descendants: Meet Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Jay

The premiere of Disney’s Descendants—the all-new, live-action movie that offers a fun, contemporary twist on your favorite Disney fairy tales—is only a couple days away! Can’t stand to wait that long to meet the sons and daughters of the world’s most iconic heroes and villains? You’re in luck! Disney Channel just premiered a six-minute “sneak peek” video that introduces you to Mal (Maleficent’s daughter), Carlos (Cruella de Vil’s son), Evie (the Evil Queen’s daughter), and Jay (Jafar’s son)… and also includes a look at one of the film’s big musical numbers, “Rotten to the Core.”

Directed by Emmy^® winner Kenny Ortega, Disney’s Descendants stars Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart, Sofia Carson, Tony^® winner Kristin Chenoweth, and Hocus Pocus star Kathy Najimy. Don’t forget to tune in this Friday, July 31, at 8 p.m. PT/ET!

Save the Date!
Be sure to mark these upcoming Disney events on your calendar:

D23 and Walt Disney Archives
August 14-16
D23 Expo 2015 returns to Anaheim, California
Fall 2015
D23 Member VIP Nights at The Lion King
September 26
The Art of Disney—Featuring 75 Years of Pinocchio
October 3
D23’s Sip & Stroll
Studios
November 25
The Good Dinosaur opens in theaters.
December 18
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters.
January 29
The Finest Hours opens in theaters.
March 4
Zootopia opens in theaters.

Parks
September 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27; October 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31; and November 1
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park
September 25, 28, 30; October 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31
Mickey’s Halloween Party 2015 at Disneyland
September 25-November 16
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
November 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 29; and December 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park
Television
July 31
Disney’s Descendants premieres at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
September 5
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy premieres at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD

A Whole New World for Aladdin on Broadway’s One Millionth Guest!

Just imagine… you’re in New York City for the night to catch a Broadway show, and you decide to join the day-of “lottery” to score some great tickets. Not only do you win the seats you want, but you also happen to make a little history in the process!

That’s just what happened to Stephanie Lubin, a medical student from Melville, Long Island. When Stephanie and her high school sweetheart Kevin Sparaco had their tickets scanned as they entered the theater, ushers discovered that Stephanie was the show’s one millionth guest! Aladdin cast members surprised them with confetti, special sashes, and glasses of champagne… and the couple was even upgraded to premium orchestra seats. As if that wasn’t cool enough, Aladdin’s Tony^®-winning Genie, James Monroe Iglehart, granted the couple one last wish: Two round-trip tickets to Italy and a three-night stay (for up to 10 people) in a fabulous luxury villa in Tuscany!

Take a look at Stephanie and Kevin’s amazing night in the clip above, courtesy of our pals over at Disney on Broadway.

Disney As Told By Emoji Tells Newest Tale

If you spend any time at all on your smartphone (and these days, who doesn’t?), you’re probably familiar with emojis—you know, those cute little characters that can often express your thoughts better than mere words ever could. Disney Interactive took emojis to a whole new level this past February with the debut of Disney As Told By Emojis, a video series that uses all the mechanics of your smartphone to tell stories in a truly unique way. Frozen As Told By Emojis was the first to be released, back in February.

Now, Disney Interactive—in collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios—premieres Tangled As Told By Emoji. See Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, Mother Gothel, and the rest of the cast tell their tale with emojis, text threads, lock screens, and even calendar alerts! And keep an eye out for future installments featuring The Lion King, Winnie the Pooh, and more.

Sports Go to the Extreme with Marvel Super Heroes

Ever wanted to skateboard with Spider-Man? Or ride your tricked-out scooter with Captain America? Disney Consumer Products (DCP) has got you covered! Hot off the heels of Marvel’s recent appearance in ESPN Magazine, and their presence at the recent X Games 2015, DCP is partnering with licensees Santa Cruz Skateboards, Madd Gear Scooters, and SMS Headphones to pave the way for an adrenaline-filled super hero-inspired sporting goods lineup in retail stores this year.

Santa Cruz Skateboards celebrates the 30th anniversary of its iconic Jim Phillips’ Screaming Hand design with Marvel character-branded board decks, cruzers, and T-shirts—all available now. Madd Gear will premiere scooters emblazoned with several favorite heroes this September, and SMS Headphones’ new Marvel-inspired headphone designs will debut in stores next month.

Looks like a little “extreme” back-to-school shopping is in order, right?

Disney Cruise Line Helps Restore “Rainforests of the Sea”

Our friends over at Disney Cruise Line (DCL) are committed to helping protect the environment all around us—and to inspire their guests to do the same. This new video chronicles DCL and Disney’s Animal Programs’ multi-year project to restore the beautiful coral reef in the Bahamian waters around Disney’s Castaway Cay.

Did you know new coral can grow in a sort of underwater “farm”? Find out more fascinating tidbits from several of the scientists involved in the project in the video, above.

Bringing Rapunzel’s World to Life in Tangled: The Musical

Rehearsals are in full swing for Disney Cruise Line’s latest production, Tangled: The Musical, and today we’re getting another special behind-the-scenes look. In this new clip, set designer Brad Kaye (who previously designed the stage looks for DCL’s Aladdin—A Musical Spectacular) explains how he’s taking the colorful Bavarian locales from the animated film and translating them to the live theatrical stage. You might even catch a glimpse of the infamous Snuggly Duckling tavern!

Tangled: The Musical will debut aboard the Disney Magic this November.

Parks Celebrate 60 Years of Innovation

The Walt Disney Parks and Resorts show floor pavilion will give D23 EXPO 2015 guests a look into the much-anticipated Shanghai Disney Resort

… as well as a preview of the Avatar project coming to Walt Disney World Resort’s Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Plus, in addition to the previously announced Hall D23 presentation on Saturday, August 15, guests will have the opportunity to hear from executives, Imagineers, designers, Disney Legends and others directly involved with various projects for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in five engaging panels.

ON THE EXPO SHOW FLOOR:

Located in Hall C, the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Pavilion is a 12,500-square-foot exhibit that gives guests a glimpse of the creative process in designing and building Shanghai Disney Resort, along with a preview of the Avatar project coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

In a celebratory exhibit on Shanghai Disney Resort, maquettes, artist illustrations, and media clips capture the designers’ journey as the resort comes to life. Guests can learn about the show design process and discover the tradition and innovation infused into the resort.

Guests will also get an in-depth look at Pandora when they explore what’s to come for the AVATAR project, with models, images, and exhibits on display.

Additionally, Mickey’s of Glendale, the Imagineering-exclusive merchandise store, will open an outpost at the Pavilion where guests will have the opportunity to purchase merchandise specially designed for D23 EXPO 2015.

Presentations and Panels

Friday, August 14

1:30–2:30 p.m.
60 Years of Disney Parks Merchandise (Stage 28)

Join our talented Disney Design Group artists, merchandisers, and special guests as they take you from concept to reality with behind-the-scenes storytelling about classic Disney souvenirs and how they have become tangible lasting memories. Guests will get a first look at some of the exciting new merchandise coming to Disney parks.

3:15–4:15 p.m.
Safari So Good—60 Years of the World Famous Jungle Cruise (Stage 23)

Skippers from throughout the years reflect on their experiences at the Jungle Cruise, which is celebrating its 60^th anniversary as one of Disneyland’s opening-day attractions. They will also discuss changes to the attraction over the years including recent holiday overlays and other additions.

5–7 p.m.
Imagineering 60 Years of Disneyland (Stage 23)

In a two-part panel discussion about Disneyland with Disney Legends and current Imagineers, panelists will discuss how it all began, what it took to carry on Walt Disney’s legacy, and how Imagineers are continuing to deliver magic well into the future. The panel is moderated by Academy Award®- and Emmy®-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, who will present a new trailer from her forthcoming documentary about Walt Disney Imagineering.

Sunday, August 16

10–11 a.m.
Disney Kingdoms (Stage 28)

Guests will learn about Disney Kingdoms, a joint collaboration between Marvel Comics and Walt Disney Imagineering. Guests will hear how these popular comic book series got started and discover the creators and theme park inspirations behind these popular titles, including Seekers of the Weird, Figment, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

3–4 p.m.
Experience the World with Disney: Adventures by Disney, Aulani, Disney Cruise Line, and Disney Vacation Club (Stage 28)

This panel will provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how Disney is creating new vacation experiences for families all around the world. The first 400 guests in attendance will receive a D23 EXPO-exclusive gift.

What’s In Store from Disney Store at D23 EXPO 2015

Disney Store has just announced the all-new collections and Limited Editions that will be launching at D23 EXPO 2015, and there’s a lot to be excited about! Disney fans will enjoy a truly spectacular Disney Store shopping experience in the 3,000-square-foot retail space Disney Store will have within the Disney Consumer Products Pavilion. The Disney Store shop will feature new and exclusive products, with new items celebrating everyone’s favorite characters unveiled each day throughout the weekend.

In addition to offering attendees the chance to shop special products not yet available to the general public, fans will also have the chance to meet the artists and designers who created these exciting new collections and be treated to the official Disney Store opening ceremony on Friday, August 14. During the ceremony, a special attendee will be chosen to “unlock imagination” at 9 a.m. alongside some of Disney’s most famous characters.

D23 EXPO attendees will get a first look at collections making their debut at the event, including the next installment of the popular Disney Fairytale Designer Collection; a Limited Edition Doll Collection from ABC Studios’ television series Once Upon a Time; Toy Story 20^th Anniversary; and Disney Tsum Tsum.

Highlights of the new collections include:

Disney Fairytale Designer Collection—Happily ever after meets happily evil in Disney Store’s newest series of the Disney Fairytale Designer Collection being previewed at D23 EXPO. Featuring five sets of Limited Edition pairs, these collector doll sets were designed by Disney Store artists and carefully crafted to capture the beauty and romance of fairytale friends and foes.

Available for the first time at D23 EXPO, guests can pre-purchase the complete set of five Hero/Villain pairs prior to the general public pre-sale beginning online Monday, September 14.

Following the preview at D23 EXPO, the doll sets will be released and available for purchase in stores and online starting September 29, with a new pair released each week. Each set is limited to an edition of 6,000 globally and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

This line expands into a collection of apparel, mugs, journals, home décor, and more, available to the general public in stores and online on September 14.

Once Upon a Time—Continuing the ‘heroes and villains’ theme, Disney Store will introduce the Once Upon a Time Snow White and Evil Queen Doll Collection, available exclusively at D23 EXPO. Limited to an edition of 300, the doll collection, inspired by ABC Studios’ television series Once Upon a Time, brings to life the beauty, magic, and charm of the iconic fairytale characters from the show.

Exclusively for guests who purchase the doll set at D23 EXPO, Ginnifer Goodwin (Snow White) and Lana Parrilla (The Evil Queen) will be available for an autograph signing at the ABC booth on the D23 EXPO floor from 4–4:45 p.m. on Saturday, August 15. This special opportunity will be followed by the Once Upon a Time panel taking place in Stage 23 from 6–7 p.m.

Star Wars—Disney Store will launch an exclusive collection of Star Wars items at D23 EXPO on Friday, August 14. The collection will feature apparel, collectibles, and toys, including the Star Wars Elite Series, a new line of highly articulated and detailed die cast action figures, representing characters from Star Wars Episodes I-VI. The action figures will be sold individually at Disney Store locations beginning later this year; however, D23 EXPO attendees have the opportunity to purchase the full set of Star Wars Elite Series action figures, which includes D23 EXPO-exclusive versions of R2-D2 and C-3PO.

Additionally at D23 EXPO, Disney Store will introduce Star Wars Legion Helmets, a series of eight vinyl collectible helmets inspired by the Star Wars Legion Helmet project launched in early 2014. Celebrating creativity and Star Wars, the project pulled together artists from across The Walt Disney Company, resulting in 300 Stormtrooper helmets being transformed into diverse pieces of art, which inspired these collectible recreations—epic additions to every Empire.

Toy Story 20th Anniversary—In celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story, Disney Store gleaned art from the adored film’s archives to illustrate the evolution of the beloved characters, Buzz and Woody. Featuring toys, collectibles, apparel, and more, this collection will be released at the Disney Store shop at D23 EXPO on Friday, August 14.

Disney Tsum Tsum—All-new collections of everyone’s favorite stackable plush will be unveiled at D23 EXPO, with one releasing each day in limited quantities in mini, medium, and large sizes. In addition, limited-edition mini box series—exclusive to D23 EXPO—will be released along with each collection, and a Mickey Mouse Tsum Tsum mini vinyl figure will be available for $5 with any purchase, while supplies last.

Also launching at D23 EXPO is Disney Store’s “Disney 3D Print Studio,” which offers fans the chance to personalize figures, including Marvel’s Iron Man, with their likeness through the use of facial-scanning kiosks. The figures ordered at the event will feature packaging unique to D23 EXPO.

New this year, in an effort to minimize wait times for guests, D23 is introducing StorePass at select D23 EXPO shopping locations, including the Disney Store shop. A limited quantity of StorePass tickets will be available starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 14, and while they last, at the StorePass desk located adjacent to the StagePass distribution area in Hall A. Guests can visit D23EXPO.com’s “Things to Know” page for more details.

Tickets for D23 EXPO 2015 are $74 for a one-day adult admission and $54 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $65 for a one-day adult admission and $48 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $112 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for D23 Members and general admission, visit D23EXPO.com.

D23 EXPO Emporium: A Truly Magical Marketplace

“Emporium” is an elegant synonym for “store” or “shop.”

But the D23 EXPO Emporium is so much more than that. If D23 EXPO 2015 brings all of Disney’s wonderful worlds together under one roof, the Emporium brings collectors, vendors, and fans of each of those worlds together into one magical bazaar for your browsing and shopping pleasure.

Fangirls can check out Star Wars, Marvel, and Doctor Who-themed designs from Her Universe. Disney fans of all ages can take a vicarious trip to Marceline, Missouri, when they visit the Walt Disney Hometown Museum’s Emporium location. Whether you’re interested in pins, Vinylmation, Disney-inspired art, or vintage toys and collectibles, you’ll while away the hours strolling through the D23 EXPO Emporium, where there’s a delightful surprise around every corner.

And don’t worry about ending up with more treasures than you can carry—the U.S. Postal Service will be on hand to ship your D23 EXPO purchases for you, leaving your hands free to collect autographs, take pictures, and clap with excitement at the end of another spectacular presentation in Hall D23.

The Emporium is a one-of-a-kind Disney shopping experience that you won’t want to miss!

StorePass at D23 EXPO 2015—Spend More Time Shopping and Less Time Waiting

So many D23 EXPO shopping experiences to choose from, and so little time!

Plus there are presentations… Autograph signings… Concerts… What’s a retail-minded Disney fan to do?

The brand-new StorePass will let you spend more of your time shopping—not waiting in line for entry to the most sought-after stores at D23 EXPO. A very limited quantity of D23 EXPO 2015 StorePass tickets will be available and will offer priority entry to Disney Dream Store, Disney Store, and Mickey’s of Glendale.

Here’s how it works:

Starting at 10 a.m., and while D23 EXPO StorePass tickets last, visit the StorePass desk located adjacent to the StagePass distribution area in Hall A.

Choose one of the 30-minute shopping experience timeslots, held from 12–5 p.m.

Present your D23 EXPO 2015 admission ticket to receive a StorePass ticket for the respective shopping experience location.

Each person is limited to one StorePass ticket for each shopping experience location per day.

Please arrive at the shopping experience location at least five minutes prior to the start of your assigned timeslot with your StorePass ticket.

StorePass tickets are valid only for the timeslot printed on the ticket.

Note: There will be standby lines at all locations should a guest not receive a pass for that day.

StorePass makes your D23 EXPO shopping experience so easy that the hardest question becomes, “What are you going to buy?” Have fun answering that—and shopping—at D23 EXPO 2015!