D23 Announces 2010 Member Events!

D23 announced today on there official website some planned events for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Here is what they had  to say:

D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans today unveiled a host of special events that have been designed especially for its growing worldwide membership base.

D23 Days at the Walt Disney Studios, D23 First Anniversary Parties at Disneyland and Walt Disney World and Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks With a Circus, the first film in our new “50 and Fabulous” screening series are just some of the magical experiences D23 Members have a chance to enjoy in 2010!
Among the exiting offerings for 2010 are exclusive D23 one-year anniversary parties at the Disneyland® Resort and Walt Disney World® Resort, free “50 and Fabulous” film screenings at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank and a special 40th anniversary celebration event to honor the Walt Disney Archives.

“In our first year, D23 created some truly memorable event opportunities for our members, and this year we plan to outdo ourselves with a mix of all-new events and encores of fan favorites,” said Steven Clark, head of D23. “D23 Members are going to have more opportunities than ever to be part of the Disney magic through the events we have planned in 2010, and we hope they’ll be as excited as we are to experience them alongside their fellow members.”

D23 Members will receive notification of special events and reservation times via e-mail, and all events are offered on a space-available basis.

D23’s special-event lineup includes:

January 22, 2010: A Practically Perfect Night of Surprises with D23 and Mary Poppins
D23 Members will attend a performance of the critically acclaimed Mary Poppins at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles — plus an exclusive post-show experience with the Mary Poppins cast… and a top-secret surprise guest. (Hint: It’s an actor from the classic 1964 film.) D23 Members will receive 20 percent off select tickets for the January 22 performance (in various seating locations and price ranges). Click here for more information.

February 13, April 10, August 14 and November 13, 2010: D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives
D23 Members will get a behind-the-scenes look at the legendary Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank and at the Walt Disney Archives on a two-hour tour hosted by D23 and Archives staff members. Three tours will be held on each date, and each tour can accommodate 50 people. In D23’s Charter Year, these special tours sold out almost immediately. Tickets for the February 13 and April 10 tours will be available at 10 a.m. Pacific time Tuesday, January 26 and are $50 per person. Click here for more information about the February 13 D23 Day. Click here for more information about the April 10 D23 day.

March 5, 2010: D23’s First-Anniversary Party at the Walt Disney World® Resort
Hundreds of D23 Members are expected to gather from around the country — and around the world — for a once-in-a-lifetime night of magic and memories. The evening’s festivities include a private dinner inside the Magic Kingdom’s Diamond Horseshoe Saloon, followed by an exclusive D23 viewing of Mickey’s PhilharMagic. Afterward, guests will hear insider details about the upcoming Fantasyland expansion from Walt Disney Imagineering. The celebration will also feature a sumptuous dessert party, a special commemorative pin for everyone attending and a host of surprises. Check back here for more information, including reservation availability and pricing.

March 10, 2010: D23’s First-Anniversary Party at the Disneyland® Resort
D23 will hold its one and only West Coast anniversary celebration in the most magical land at the Happiest Place on Earth: Fantasyland. D23 Members will take over all of Fantasyland for one amazing night filled with classic attractions, familiar characters (as well as a few you may not have seen in a while!) and a chance to see rare pieces of Disneyland history up close. Plus, D23 Members and their guests will enjoy an array of delicious Disney-inspired desserts, a special commemorative pin for everyone attending and other surprises. Check back here for more information, including reservation availability and pricing.

March 27, 2010: “50 and Fabulous” Screening of Toby Tyler
At last year’s D23 Expo, Disney fans had a chance to see Disney masterpieces that were celebrating their Golden Anniversaries… a new D23 tradition that continues in 2010, this time in the recently renovated, state-of-the-art, 400-seat Studio Theater on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank. Tickets to the “50 and Fabulous” screenings are free for D23 Members and their guests, and the series kicks off with a movie that hasn’t been seen on the big screen since its first release in 1960: Toby Tyler, or 10 Weeks with a Circus. D23’s screening of this lighthearted, live-action comedy will combine with special D23 surprises and the opportunity to enjoy a movie in this exclusive cinematic venue. Reservations may be made beginning at 10 a.m. Pacific time on Tuesday, January 26. (A $5 processing fee for each ticket will apply.) Click here for more information.

As with all live events, dates and times are subject to change.

Additional D23 special events are planned throughout 2010, including:

  • May 8: “50 and Fabulous” screening of Pollyanna at the Walt Disney Studio Theatre;
  • May 29-30: “Flowers and Fireworks” event at the Walt Disney World Resort, adding all-new elements as D23 expands the festivities to two days;
  • June 26: A special celebration at the Walt Disney Studios marking the 40th anniversary of the Walt Disney Archives;
  • July 10: “50 and Fabulous” screening of Swiss Family Robinson at the Walt Disney Studio Theatre;
  • October 15-16: “Sip & Stroll” at the immensely popular Epcot International Food and Wine Festival;
  • October 23: “50 and Fabulous” screening of The Sign of Zorro at the Walt Disney Studio Theatre;
  • December 11-12: “Magic and Merriment” weekend at the Walt Disney World Resort;

D23 is in the planning stages for even more exciting 2010 events, details of which will be revealed in the coming months.

Myrna Litt’s D23 Candlelight Spectacular 12-6-09 Photo Report

DLNT’s Myrna Litt attended the D23 Candlelight Spectacular and took some phenomenal photos. As she explains “D23 hosted the December 6, 2009 Candlelight Spectacular. Check in was from 10am to 5pm. We had reserve viewing for “A Fantasy Parade” located in town square. At 6pm was dinner at Stage 17 located in Hollywood Back-lot in Disney’s California Adventure. At 8pm we were escorted to the Candlelight seating location for a up close view. Following the ceremony we walked back to Stage 17 for a behind the panel discussion and our D23 Christmas ornament.”

Time to check in for the dinner portion of the event

Read More about Myrna Litt’s D23 Candlelight Spectacular 12-6-09 Photo Report

Chuck Canzoneri and the Frog Part 2 – Report From D23 “Princess and the Frog” Event

Our own Chuck Canzoneri was lucky enough to attend the D23 Night at “The Princess and the Frog” last night at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, and he reports back to us with this photo report:

They event set up special themed signage for the event. With that, you know it’s going to be good…

Read More about Chuck Canzoneri and the Frog Part 2 – Report From D23 “Princess and the Frog” Event

The Making of World of Color

We have yet another pair of videos for you from the D23 Expo recorded and edited by our own Matt Paul. The first video is “The Making of World of Color” presentation with Imagineer Steven Davison (walking us through the entire new nighttime spectacular for Disney’s California Adventure) and the accompanying video is of the World of Color press conference that directly followed. We hope you enjoy this inside look at Disney’s World of Color embedded via the WDWNTube:

A Wonderful “World of Color” Coming to California

While it doesn’t really pertain to Walt Disney World, we thought you would enjoy another pair of videos from the D23 Expo recorded and edited by our own Matt Paul. The first video is “The Making of World of Color” presentation with Imagineer Steven Davison (walking us through the entire new nighttime spectacular for Disney’s California Adventure) and the accompanying video is of the World of Color press conference that directly followed. We hope you enjoy this inside look at Disney’s World of Color embedded via the WDWNTube:

The Making of Presidents and Play Things

Continuing our D23 Expo coverage, we have two more fantastic videos for you to enjoy. The first video is of the “Making of the U.S. Presidents” panel, featuring the creation of the new Hall of Presidents at Walt Disney World and the progress on the upcoming Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln show for Disneyland. The second video is from the “Making of Toy Story Mania” panel and features the development and execution of the Disney’s California Adventure and Disney’s Hollywood Studios attractions. We hope you enjoy these videos by Matt Paul, embedded via the WDWNTube:

The Making of Presidents and Play Things

Continuing our D23 Expo coverage, we have two more fantastic videos for you to enjoy. The first video is of the “Making of the U.S. Presidents” panel, featuring the creation of the new Hall of Presidents at Walt Disney World and the progress on the upcoming Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln show for Disneyland. The second video is from the “Making of Toy Story Mania” panel and features the development and execution of the Disney’s California Adventure and Disney’s Hollywood Studios attractions. We hope you enjoy these videos by Matt Paul, embedded via the WDWNTube:

Disney Parks and Resorts at the D23 Expo

WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul has put together a fantastic video looking around the Disney Parks and Resorts pavilion at the D23 Expo. Included in the video is Lucky the Dinosaur, a look at Cars-Land for Disney’s California Adventure, the Storyteller’s Sandbox, and a look at the massive expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland:

More D23 Expo videos are on the way, including the World of Color preview and press conference, the “Making of the U.S. Presidents” panel, and “The Making of Toy Story Mania” panel, so stay tuned! As well, be sure to tune in to this week’s WDW News Today and Disneyland News Today Podcasts (episodes 111 and 81 respectively) for our D23 Expo review special including audio from “An Afternoon with Imagineering Legends”, interviews with Imagineers on Cars-Land and the Hong Kong Disneyland expansion, and much more.

Disney Parks and Resorts at the D23 Expo

WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul has put together a fantastic video looking around the Disney Parks and Resorts pavilion at the D23 Expo. Included in the video is Lucky the Dinosaur, a look at Cars-Land for Disney’s California Adventure, the Storyteller’s Sandbox attraction, and a look at the massive expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland:

More D23 Expo videos are on the way, including the World of Color preview and press conference, the “Making of the U.S. Presidents” panel, and “The Making of Toy Story Mania” panel, so stay tuned! As well, be sure to tune in to this week’s WDW News Today and Disneyland News Today Podcasts (episodes 111 and 81 respectively) for our D23 Expo review special including audio from “An Afternoon with Imagineering Legends”, interviews with Imagineers on Cars-Land and the Hong Kong Disneyland expansion, and much more.

Future of Disney Parks and Resorts featuring Star Tours II and WDW’s New Fantasyland

WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul was able to record video of both the “Imagineering the Future of the Disney Parks” presentation and the follow-up press conference at the D23 Expo, and now has both videos available for your enjoyment. Both videos are embedded below courtesy of the WDWNTube:

Hopefully these videos have answered some lingering questions about the exciting upcoming Walt Disney World projects. We still have many questions to ask as well and will try to get them answered as soon as possible, so stay tuned.