‘Horizons’ Keynote Parks Panel Presents Future of Disney World & Beyond at 2024 D23 Expo!
Disney has released the full schedule for the 2024 D23 Expo! Parks & Resorts will feature prominently with the keynote "Horizons" presentation by Chairman Josh D'Amaro that focuses on the future of Walt Disney World,
Disney has released the full schedule for the 2024 D23 Expo! Parks & Resorts will feature prominently with the keynote “Horizons” presentation by Chairman Josh D’Amaro that focuses on the future of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, DCL, and beyond.
Additionally there’s an Imagineering open house on the show floor, history sessions, behind-the-scenes looks at the making of the magic, and much more. This shares some of the highlights that we’re looking forward to during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
We’re less than one month away from the D23 Expo, and to kick things into high gear, D23 has revealed the lineup of every panel, presentation, and offering guests can experience across the Anaheim Convention Center. Let’s dig into the highlights for fans of the Parks & Resorts!
Over 55 panels and presentations across five stages are coming to the multi-day fan experience, showcasing the very best in creative storytelling and innovation from across The Walt Disney Company. All told, there will be over 230 show floor offerings, Talent Central interactions, and panels. This builds upon plans previously shared about this year’s D23 Expo, which Disney is promising will be bigger and better than ever before.
Disney’s various divisions, along with the Walt Disney Archives and Disney Experiences, have carefully curated an expansive lineup of extraordinary panels and presentations featuring behind-the-scenes access, rarely seen treasures, first-look showcases, and highly anticipated reunions.
Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase (Saturday, August 10 at the Honda Center) – Josh D’Amaro will welcome fans as he takes the stage with surprise stars and special guests for a live celebration of the music and creativity that power Disney stories and — of course — news and updates about projects in development around the world. The future is bright for Disney Experiences and this can’t-miss showcase will show fans what’s on the horizon and beyond.
For Walt Disney World and Disneyland fans, this is the main event. While it’s possible–even likely–that minor news will be revealed earlier during D23 Expo weekend (based on what’s showcased on the floor), the bulk of news is happening here. See our 2024 D23 Expo Wish List: Lion Kings & Figments & Bing Bongs, Oh My! for some of what we’re hoping is announced during this keynote. (Look for more precise predictions about actually will be revealed about one week before the event.)
We’ve received many questions about whether this will be live-streamed and don’t have an answer for that yet. Our assumption is that it will, as the last D23 Expo Parks Panel as well as the D’Amaro Destination D23 keynote both were live-streamed. One thing to keep in mind is that the presentation starts at 7 pm Pacific. Our expectation is that it’ll open with about 30 minutes of fluff before getting into actual news, and probably won’t wrap up until after midnight Eastern. So be prepared!
Imagineering: Behind the Dreams – This is a one-of-a-kind pavilion that gives the biggest fans unprecedented access to Imagineering’s passionate and talented team of artists, engineers, and craftspeople. Imagineering: Behind the Dreams comes to life through design models, interactive demos, live prototypes, and exclusive presentations. You’ll get a first-hand view of the innovative and immersive storytelling that will fuel the growth of Disney’s parks, resorts, cruise ships, and other experiences for decades to come.
Bringing the Worlds of Disney Animation to Life in Disney Parks – Team members from Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios discuss bringing the worlds of Disney Animation to life in Disney parks around the world, including such projects as World of Frozen (Hong Kong Disneyland), Zootopia (Shanghai Disneyland), Fantasy Springs (Tokyo DisneySea) and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Magic Kingdom and Disneyland).
Jolly Holiday: A D23 Musical Celebration of Richard M. Sherman – From Mary Poppins to Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, a heartwarming and joyous musical tribute to our beloved Disney songwriting legend Richard M. Sherman—with unbelievable performances and delightful surprise appearances by some of the people who knew and admired him best.
Dream Chasing: Four Decades with Walt Disney Imagineering – Join Leslie Iwerks, Bob Weis, and Wendy Lefkon for an intimate conversation spanning four decades of creating Imagineering projects from Anaheim to Paris, Tokyo to Shanghai. Audiences will be inspired to believe any dream worth doing is worth chasing.
The Costuming Artistry Behind Disney Experiences – Join Disney Live Entertainment costume designers as they share the design inspiration, creative process, and up-close details behind costumes worn at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, and more.
Magic After Dark—The Story of Disney’s Nighttime Spectaculars – Fireworks above the castle became an iconic “kiss goodnight” at Disneyland, and every Disney park has filled the night with light, music, water, and fire. Join Disney’s nighttime magicians to hear the stories behind your favorite after-dark shows.
60 Years of Disney Ambassadors – The Stories You’ve Never Heard – Take a trip down memory lane with Disney Ambassadors who’ve been a part of the 60-year legacy started by Walt Disney, as they share favorite moments ranging from unforgettable to unforeseeable!
Disneyland Foods – Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow – Thanks to Walt Disney himself, dining has always been an essential part of the Disneyland experience! Join the Disneyland Resort chefs and Pam Brandon―coauthor of the Official Disney Parks Cookbook series―to learn about the early days of the Disneyland food scene, today’s methods for concept creation and menu development of fan favorites, and a look toward the resort’s culinary future.
Charles Phoenix’s Big Retro Disneyland Slide Show – A pop culture time travel tour to the early days of Disneyland, from the backstories and glories of the classic and long-gone attractions of Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, the original Tomorrowland, and the all-new Tomorrowland in 1967.
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed – The Return of a Beloved Classic – Wield the paintbrush once more in Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed out this fall! Join Disney Games, Epic Mickey Creative Director Warren Spector, and more special guests, for a conversation that delves into how this beloved classic adventure came to life.
Donald Duck’s 90th Quacktacular – Celebrate 90 years of Donald Duck with special screenings, never-before-seen art from the Walt Disney Animation Research Library, the Disney Animation artists who bring him to life, and even the voice of the duck himself!
The Muppets 70: A Glamorous Miss Piggy Retrospective – Join Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline and The Muppets Producer Dani Iglesias for a fabulous look back on the past 70 years of the Muppets, but mostly Miss Piggy! Dive into the vaults to uncover nostalgic artifacts along with how this collection is preserved today!
Walt Disney Archives Presents: “A Great Big Beautiful Car Show” – “A Great Big Beautiful Car Show” pays homage to vintage car shows and Americana, giving guests an up-close look at over 20 vehicles from the Archives’ collection. A “Worlds Beyond” area showcases fantastical vehicles from distant lands.
Disney Legends Awards Ceremony – Since 1987, the Disney Legends Awards program has honored gifted individuals for the significant impact they’ve had on the Disney legacy. The 2024 class of Disney Legends includes Disneyland Resort’s Martha Blanding and longtime Imagineer Joe Rohde on Sunday, August 11, at 5 p.m. at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.
World of Disney: The Product Experience – A must-see D23 shopping and immersive destination showcases new and limited-edition products and experiences across your favorite Disney brands and franchises, including DisneyStore.com, Mickey & Friends, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and Disney Princess.
Note that this is not an exhaustive list of the panels and presentations, just the ones that caught my eye and appeal to me. If you’re a fan of NatGeo or Percy Jackson or Descendants or Disney Channel (etc. etc.), there might be a lot more for you. Find the full slate of programming and schedule your weekend for D23: The Ultimate Fan Experience.
Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney. For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Finally, for guides beyond Disney, check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and tons of other places!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What are your thoughts on the lineup for the 2024 D23 Expo? Any particular panels or presentations for which you’re most excited? What have been your experiences with crowds and lines at past D23 Expos? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
