The schedule has been released for this year’s Destination D23. This weekend of all that is Disney will be packed full of panels and events for those in attendance to experience. The event is sold out but some of the event will be livestreamed only on Saturday and the D23 YouTube or Facebook pages. The livestream will only be available for one day. Destination D23 will be taking place from Friday, September 8 through Sunday, September 10, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
This year’s Destination D23 is even more special as The Walt Disney Company celebrates its 100th anniversary. The weekend will include a look back at the last 100 years and also a look to the future. There will be surprises for those in attendance throughout the weekend, shopping opportunities, and more!
Destination D23 Schedule & Details
Friday, September 8, 2023
7 a.m. – 8 p.m. : Guest Services / International Credential Pick-Up Open
East RegistrationShopping Check-In Open
*Please do not arrive more than 60 minutes before your scheduled shopping time.
Porte Cochere8 a.m. – 8 p.m. : Gift Pick-Up Open
Sorcerer’s Apprentice 2Mickey’s of Glendale Shopping Open
Ballroom of the Americas, 2nd FloorThe Walt Disney Company Store
Grand Republic Ballroom D, 2nd FloorInk & Paint Marketplace
Grand Republic Ballroom B, 2nd FloorPlease note: Reservations required to access the shopping locations on Friday, September 8!
8 a.m. – 8 p.m.: Mickey’s of Glendale RSP Pick-Up
West RegistrationThe Walt Disney Company Store RSP Pick-Up
Sorcerer’s Apprentice 29:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.: The Plausible Impossible 60 Years of Disney
Audio-Animatronics® Technology
Sorcerer’s Apprentice 3Saturday, September 9, 2023
7 a.m.: Queue for both General Seating and Preferred Seating Opens
(Please do not arrive before this time – no official queue will be available until 7 a.m. and unofficial queues will not be honored.)
Disney’s Contemporary Resort Convention Center, 1st Floor Lobby7 a.m. – 8 p.m.: Guest Services / International Credential Pick-Up Open
East Registration7 a.m. – 7 p.m.: The Plausible Impossible 60 Years of Disney
Audio-Animatronics® Technology
(closed during presentations)
Sorcerer’s Apprentice 38 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Mickey’s of Glendale Shopping Open
Ballroom of the Americas, 2nd FloorThe Walt Disney Company Store
Grand Republic Ballroom D, 2nd FloorInk & Paint Marketplace
Grand Republic Ballroom B, 2nd Floor8:15 a.m.: Doors Open – Preferred Seating Admission
Fantasia Ballroom H8:30 a.m.: Doors Open – General Seating Admission
Fantasia Ballroom G9 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Morning presentations, including:
Welcome!
A Celebration of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Join Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro and special guests for an entertaining presentation looking to the future of Disney parks, featuring updates from around the world and some fun surprises along the way.
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Morning Break
D23 Updates with Michael Vargo
The Early ’Ears – Ub, Oswald, and Mickey
Join Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline on a journey back to the roaring ’20s and the “Early ’Ears of Disney” during this retrospective conversation, featuring iconic characters like Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Mickey Mouse, and the Legends behind them, like Ub Iwerks and Walt Disney.
100 Years of Classic Characters: Unforgettable Stories
Actress and fashion icon Ashley Eckstein catches up with fellow voice actors behind fan-favorite Disney characters, including Bret Iwan (Mickey Mouse), Kaitlyn Robrock (Minnie Mouse), and Disney Legend Bill Farmer (Pluto, Goofy), for a rousing tribute to the characters that have inspired us for a century.
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Lunch Break
1:30 p.m.: Doors Open – Preferred Seating Admission
Fantasia Ballroom HDoors Open – General Seating Admission
Fantasia Ballroom G2 p.m. – 5 p.m.: Afternoon presentations, including:
National Geographic Live – Secrets of the Whales
Dive deep into the groundbreaking science of whale families—and their startlingly human parallels—through the awe-inspiring work of celebrated National Geographic Explorer and photographer Brian Skerry.
Disney Cruise Line: 25 Years of Innovative Design at Sea
Get an inside look into designing and building Disney Cruise Ships from the Disney Imagineers currently working on its newest fleet. Learn of the intricacies that go into designing unique spaces and the complexities of ship design.
3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Afternoon Break
Marvel: Beyond Earth’s Mightiest – Celebrating 60 Years of The Avengers
Celebrate 60 years of Earth’s Mightiest Super Hero team, the Avengers! Since their debut in 1963’s The Avengers #1, this all-star roster of beloved characters has been uniting to fight the foes that no single hero could withstand. Now, join Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski to trace the comics history of the Avengers across six decades—and BEYOND! Surprising stories and tantalizing teases await in this can’t-miss panel about how the Avengers rose to become a pop culture phenomenon! Avengers, assemble!
100 Years of Innovation: Magic in Every Medium
At its core, The Walt Disney Company lives by its ability to “keep moving forward,” as curiosity leads us down new paths. Imagineers Daniel Joseph and Karin Hanson reconcile a century of innovations in which Disney stories have been brought to life through magic, connecting how they have been inspired by the innovations of yesterday, to the exciting ways they innovate through storytelling today.
EPCOT: Always in a State of Becoming
A look into the design and ideas behind the transformation of EPCOT and its new neighborhoods, attractions, and experiences. Explore the legacy of the park and discover more about the collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney World Resort throughout this ambitious process. Highlights include details uncovered by the Marty Sklar Archives and the inspirations that have guided the evolution of Disney’s first park without a castle.
5 p.m. Dinner Break
Sunday, September 10, 2023
7 a.m.: Queue for both General Seating and Preferred Seating Opens
(Please do not arrive before this time – no official queue will be available until 7 a.m. and unofficial queues will not be honored.)
Disney’s Contemporary Resort Convention Center, 1st Floor Lobby7 a.m. – 8 p.m.: Guest Services / International Credential Pick-Up Open
East Registration7 a.m. – 5 p.m.: The Plausible Impossible 60 Years of Disney
Audio-Animatronics® Technology
(closed during presentations)
Sorcerer’s Apprentice 38 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Mickey’s of Glendale Shopping Open
Ballroom of the Americas, 2nd FloorThe Walt Disney Company Store
Grand Republic Ballroom D, 2nd FloorInk & Paint Marketplace
Grand Republic Ballroom B, 2nd Floor8:15 a.m.: Doors Open – Preferred Seating Admission
Fantasia Ballroom H8:30 a.m.: Doors Open – General Seating Admission
Fantasia Ballroom G9 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Morning presentations, including:
Walt Disney Studios Showcase
A sneak peek at exciting upcoming projects from The Walt Disney Studios.
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Morning Break
100 Years of Walt Disney Animation Studios
Becky Bresee and Wayne Unten, heads of animation on Walt Disney Animation Studios’ upcoming feature Wish, sit down with legendary animator Mark Henn to revisit some of their favorite filmmaking memories.
Disney Global Ambassador Showdown
Join Disney Parks Ambassadors from every Disney destination around the world, as we learn more about each of their home resorts and engage them in a friendly competition to see whose resort is the “best of the best!”
Weird Disney: Centennial Edition
Get weird with the Walt Disney Archives and experience 100 years of “weird Disney” moments in the centennial edition of a Destination D23 fan favorite!
12 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Lunch Break
1:30 p.m.: Doors Open – Preferred Seating Admission
Fantasia Ballroom HDoors Open – General Seating Admission
Fantasia Ballroom G2 p.m. – 4 p.m.: Afternoon presentations, including:
The Road to 1923: Walt Goes West
Disney Legend Don Hahn provides new and fascinating insights into Walt Disney’s fabled journey that would lead him to join his brother Roy in California, where the two would establish the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio—the beginning of what is now The Walt Disney Company.
Down the Rabbit Hole: The Disney You Didn’t Know
Join Disney archivists and authors Kevin M. Kern and Steven Vagnini for a journey down the rabbit hole as they uncover astonishing Disney discoveries, connections, and little-known facts that will change everything—well, at least some things—you thought you knew about the Disney universe!
100 Years of Creativity: A Playful Look at Disney Imagination
Join Imagineers Diego Parras and Jason Grandt for a decade-by-decade look at some of the more interesting and lighthearted moments of Disney creativity from the last 100 years.
See Ya Real Soon: A FAN-Tastic Finale
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.: Dinner Break
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.: DISNEY+ HALLOWSTREAM COSTUME BASH
Kick off the scariest season in style and enter the world of Hallowstream with Disney+, the streaming home of your favorite Halloween stories. With phantomized photo-ops, chilling treats, and spellbinding surprises, guests will find all their hearts’ desires in this lavish lair of scares. Don’t forget to don your favorite costume so that you can dance the night away!
Attendees in costume must adhere to the following guidelines:
- Costumes may not be obstructive, offensive, objectionable, or violent.
- Guests may wear costume masks. However, costume masks must not obstruct vision and must be removable. Costume masks must be removed at security screening.
- Costumes should not drag on the ground.
- Costumes should not contain sharp objects, pointed objects, or materials that may accidentally strike another guest.
- Costumes should not contain any weapons that resemble, can be used as, or could easily be mistaken for, an actual weapon. Costume swords must be anchored to your costume in such a way that they can’t be drawn. No firearms, projectiles, or arrows (simulated or otherwise) will be allowed.
- Guests who do not adhere to these guidelines may be refused entry into the event unless his or her costume can be modified to meet the above standards. The appropriateness of the guest costume will be determined by Disney at its sole discretion.
EXHIBITS
- 60 Years of Disney’s Audio-Animatronics® Technology Exhibit: The Walt Disney Archives and Walt Disney Imagineering join creative forces for a special exhibition at Destination D23 to celebrate the history of Audio-Animatronics technology. This exclusive exhibit will showcase the evolution of the art and its related technology through a diverse showcase of rare figural assets, photography, and vintage ephemera and documentation all in the name of celebrating key moments from Walt’s earliest inspirations and development to modern-day marvels.
SHOPPING EXPERIENCES
- Mickey’s of Glendale: The Walt Disney Imagineering campus store returns with a pop-up shop at the event featuring a selection of exclusive Destination D23 and Walt Disney Imagineering merchandise available for purchase. Trading pins for this event will be offered to attendees through a random selection process (RSP) opportunity.**
- The Walt Disney Company Store: For the first time, D23 Gold Members on the East Coast will have access to a pop-up version of the official Walt Disney Company Store, featuring both employee- and D23 Member-exclusive merchandise! Please note that limited-edition trading pins for this event will be offered to attendees exclusively through a RSP opportunity.**
- Ink & Paint Marketplace: Attendees will also have the opportunity to shop at this marketplace of exclusive Disney partners for exciting products from around The Walt Disney Company!**
*Please be advised: All schedules, events, and merchandise are subject to change without notice. For the enjoyment of all attendees, access in and out of the Fantasia Ballroom may be limited during presentations.
**For the convenience of our event guests, you will be offered the opportunity to reserve a shopping window for Mickey’s of Glendale, The Walt Disney Company Store, and Ink & Paint Marketplace, on Friday, September 8, 2023. Details will be shared via email very soon.
DETAILS
All guests will receive access to the following D23 exclusive experiences:
- Guaranteed seats at all Destination D23 panels and presentations on Saturday, September 9, and Sunday, September 10, 2023
- Reserved shopping opportunities on Friday, September 8, 2023
- D23 Member-exclusive Mickey’s of Glendale pop-up shop
- D23 Member-exclusive The Walt Disney Company Store pop-up shop
- D23 Member-exclusive Ink & Paint Marketplace
- A special exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives and Walt Disney Imagineering
- Commemorative gifts, including a pin, lanyard, credential, and gift bag created exclusively for the event
- Destination D23 Livestream – For those unable to attend in person, select presentations at Destination D23 presented by Lug will be livestreamed on D23.com for audiences to enjoy no matter where they are in the world. Stay tuned to D23.com for the livestream schedule and details closer to the event!
In addition, a limited number of preferred seating tickets will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. These tickets will include a dedicated queue for a reserved seating area at the front of the ballroom.
What do you think of the schedule for this year’s Destination D23? Are you attending? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
