D23 Expo Invites Fans to Join in Two Creative Contests That Celebrate the Magic of All Things Disney

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To highlight the creativity and passion fans have for all things Disney, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club is holding two remarkable contests in celebration of D23 EXPO 2015, which takes place August 14–16 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Mousequerade* invites participants to create their own Disney-inspired costumes and compete in the following categories: “Heroes Unmasked,” “Once Upon a Costume,” “The Wonderful Worlds of Disney,” “Best of Star Wars,” and “Weird, Wild, and Goofy!” The winner will receive a trip for two to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa. Anyone interested in participating must visit d23expo.com/mousequerade to complete an entry form and find out more about how to enter. The closing date for entry is April 30, 2015. Submissions will be evaluated on the basis of creativity and originality, quality and craftsmanship of costume, and relationship of costume to the contest theme. The Live Contest will be held Friday, August 14 in Stage 23 at the Anaheim Convention Center and will be 90 minutes in length. The number of Finalists is limited to 15 contestants per category for a total of 75 contestants.

D23 Expo Design Challenge** will honor Disneyland’s Diamond Anniversary by encouraging artists young and old to depict Sleeping Beauty Castle. Twenty-three pieces of finalist artwork will be on display throughout the D23 EXPO weekend on the show floor, located in the Walt Disney Archives area. The winning artist will be chosen prior to the start of the D23 EXPO and will receive a cash prize of $2,300. Anyone interested in participating must visit d23expo.com/designchallenge to submit sketches of proposed artwork (and to find out more about other entry requirements) no later than April 30, 2015. Submissions will be evaluated on the basis of creativity, originality, and artistic expression.

Finalists in both competitions will receive one (1) complimentary ticket (and one (1) for a guest) to attend D23 EXPO 2015. Contestants do not need to be members of D23 to enter either contest.

Tickets for D23 EXPO 2015 are available at a discounted price for a limited time. From January 1–June 30, 2015, tickets are $67 for a one-day adult admission and $48 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $58 for a one-day adult admission and $42 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $188 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 Announces 2015 Member Events

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In 2015, D23 will bring back many of its beloved events while adding a selection of new experiences for members, including events in San Francisco, Dallas, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and more*.

Dates, ticketing information, and more D23 events will be announced throughout the year, including new, member special events in Orlando. All events and dates are subject to change.

Cinderella lights up the Palace of Fine Arts
On March 12, D23 Members will be treated to a screening of Walt Disney Studios’ upcoming release Cinderella, followed by a reception exclusively for D23 Gold Members. The event will take place following The Walt Disney Company 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. (Members do not need to be shareholders to attend the screening.)

Special Screening Events on The Walt Disney Studios Lot
Starting this month, D23 kicked off another year of memorable screenings designed with fans in mind. On February 8, D23 screened 101 Dalmatians, which included the premieres of two new short films; a panel featuring Disney Legend and animator Floyd Norman, Lisa Davis (voice of Anita), and Mimi Gibson (voice of Lucky); a special gift; and more. Other experiences on the Studio lot in 2015 will include The Parent Trap and a special 75th anniversary celebration of Pinocchio, as well as a screening of the “Peoples and Places” featurette Disneyland, U.S.A., with special guests in honor of Disneyland’s 60th anniversary.

D23’s Lunch With a Disney Legend
Back by popular demand, in 2015, D23 will continue these intimate gatherings with Disney Legends this spring and fall. In 2014, D23 Members joined such Legends as Marty Sklar, Floyd Norman, and Bill Farmer for private luncheons on The Walt Disney Studios lot.

D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives 
D23’s members-only tours of the historic Studio lot and Walt Disney Archives in Burbank return, highlighting historic moments from Disney film, television, and theme parks. Tours will take place this spring (date TBD), June 20, and November 7.

D23 Member VIP Studio Tours
A new event for 2015, D23 will offer this unique experience only to D23 Gold Members. It will include a tour of the Studio during a working day on the lot, along with a special lunch with a Disney Legend and a unique VIP gift. Each limited-capacity experience will include new tour stops and unique moments sure to bring smiles to Disney fans. Events will be held on May 29 with Walt Disney Archives founder Dave Smith and November 6 with a Disney Legend to be announced soon.

Light Up the Season
An annual tradition exclusively for cast members and employees of The Walt Disney Company, Light Up the Season marks the official start of the holidays on the Studio lot. This year, D23 Members will enjoy their own special Light Up the Season event, complete with carols, cocoa, and a tree lighting.

D23 is also bringing more events to members across the country in 2015:

The Hunchback of Notre Dame VIP Experience
On March 15, D23 Members are invited to see the new theatrical production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey. D23 Members save 20 percent on their tickets, receive a limited-edition pin, and will enjoy a post-show talk-back with the musical’s Academy Award®-winning lyricist Stephen Schwartz.

A Taste of Disney at Silverado Vineyards
D23 Gold Members are invited to a day at Silverado Vineyards in Napa, California, the winery founded by Diane Disney Miller and her husband Ron. On March 13, guests will enjoy a lunch, tour, and wine-tasting experience along with a special gift.

Breakfast on Broadway
A select number of D23 Gold Members will enjoy private shopping at Disney Store Times Square on March 14 with a special discount; a continental breakfast at the New Amsterdam Theatre, home to the Broadway hit Aladdin; and a gift at this exclusive, complimentary event.

D23 Member Nights at Newsies—On Tour
This year, D23 Members in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Boston, and Toronto are invited to see the Tony®-Award winning show, with premium seats on special nights and a talk-back with the cast following the show. (Some shows already sold out.)

Disney Store Member Mixers
Since 2013, D23 has given members a peek at reimagined Disney Stores across the country—from Kansas and Nevada to Michigan and Texas. This year Disney Store will once again invite D23 Members for exclusive mornings of shopping, discounts, games, and goodies at new locations in Riverside, Calif., Lexington, Ky., Raleigh, N.C., Burlington, Mass., and many more.

Advance Screenings
In 2014, D23 Members were able to attend previews of Maleficent, Big Hero 6, and Into the Woods in cities such as New York, Orlando, Chicago, and Atlanta. This year, in partnership with Walt Disney Studios, D23 will screen a selection of upcoming releases.

Fanniversary Celebration—Home Edition
With D23 Members spanning the country—and the globe—look for an exciting new twist this year on D23’s annual Fanniversary Celebration that all members will be able to participate in, no matter where they live.

D23 Expo 2015
The biggest Disney event of all takes place August 14–16 at the Anaheim Convention Center when all the wonderful worlds of Disney come together for three magical days. From sneak peeks, concerts, and exhibitions to celebrities, Disney luminaries, and more, there’s something for every Disney fan at the D23 Expo. Tickets are available now at D23Expo.com.

*All events and dates are subject to change.

Upcoming Events

Event

Location

Date

D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour San Francisco, California February 25 (sold out)
Cinderella Lights Up the Palace of Fine Arts San Francisco, California March 12
A Taste of Disney at Silverado Vineyards Napa, California March 13
Breakfast on Broadway New York City, New York March 14
The Hunchback of Notre DameVIP Experience Millburn, New Jersey March 15
Lunch with a Legend Burbank, California Spring 2015
D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives Burbank, California Spring 2015
D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour Los Angeles, California April 14 (sold out)
D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour Dallas, Texas April 30 (sold out)
The Parent Trap Burbank, California May 9
VIP Studio Tour with Disney Legend Dave Smith Burbank, California May 29
D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour Washington, D.C. June 10 (sold out)
D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives Burbank, California June 20
D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour Boston, Massachusetts June 25
D23 Member Night at Newsies—On Tour Toronto, Ontario July 15
Disneyland U.S.A. Burbank, California July 18
D23 Expo 2015 Anaheim, California August 14–16
Lunch with a Legend Burbank, California Fall 2015
Pinocchio Burbank, California September 26
VIP Studio Tour Burbank, California November 6
D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives Burbank, California November 7
Light Up the Season Burbank, California December 4

 

D23 Eliminates Silver Membership but adds Gold Family Membership

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In an announcement by D23 –

Much of D23’s growth over the past five years—a complimentary General Membership level, additional events around the country, exclusive website content—is a direct result of feedback we have received from you, Disney’s best fans. Many of you have told us you’d like to bring your entire family to our events. And so today, we announced that in 2015 we will add a D23 Gold Family Membership, allowing members to bring three guests to our events. 2015 will also bring special D23 Gold Member event pricing and early ticketing, as well as Gold Member-exclusive opportunities and other enhancements that we’re excited to share with you in the coming months.

As we focus on bringing even greater value to the D23 Gold Membership experience, we’ll be phasing out D23 Silver Membership. Beginning today, new D23 Silver Membership and renewal will no longer be available; however, current D23 Silver Memberships will still be honored, and during renewal those members will have the opportunity to upgrade to D23 Gold, D23 Gold Family, or to become General Members. If you have questions about how to renew your membership, please contact our guest services team at GuestRelations@D23.com or at (855) 323-5973 (Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT).

There is much more excitement in store for D23 in 2015, not the least of which is D23 Expo 2015. It is, without a doubt, going to be the biggest Expo ever, and we hope to see you there. (And remember, Early Bird pricing ends December 31!)

Tickets For D23 Expo 2015: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event Go On Sale Thursday, August 14th

D23 Expo 2015

On Thursday, August 14, at 10 a.m. PT, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will begin selling tickets for the next D23 Expo, which will take place August 14–16, 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center. The largest Disney fan event in the world, the D23 Expo celebrates all the wonderful worlds of Disney entertainment, uniting all parts of The Walt Disney Company under one roof, including The Walt Disney Studios (including Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm); Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; Disney Consumer Products; Media Networks (including ABC, Disney Channel, and Radio Disney) and Disney Interactive. D23 Expo 2015 marks the fourth bi-annual event held in Anaheim.

More than 65,000 Disney fans from around the world gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center in 2013 for the third D23 Expo. Once again, the Expo will celebrate the past, present, and future of Disney with live events, celebrity appearances, panels, presentations, sneak peeks, and immersive experiences.

D23 Expo 2015 marks the return of fan favorites including the Disney Legends Awards, honoring the talented men and women who have made indelible contributions to the Disney legacy; andTreasures of the Walt Disney Archives, which spotlights costumes, props, and set pieces from Disney’s rich history.

As in previous Expos, D23 Expo 2015 will showcase all of the latest stars in the Disney universe. In 2013, celebrity appearances included Angelina Jolie, Chris Evans, Billy Crystal, Natalie Portman, and Tom Hiddleston, with performances by Idina Menzel, R5 featuring Ross Lynch, and a once-in-a-lifetime concert with Disney Legends Richard M. Sherman and Alan Menken. Additionally, Disney executives and creative talent came together to deliver special presentations, announcements, and experiences to Disney fans throughout the three-day extravaganza.

Tickets for D23 Expo 2015 are available at a discounted price for a limited time. From August 14–December 31, 2014, tickets are $61 for a one-day adult admission and $42 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $52 for a one-day adult admission and $37 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $268 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate.

Early Bird (August 14 – December 31, 2014)

D23 Members:           1-Day        3-Day

Adult                              $52            $149

Child                              $37             $104

General:

Adult                              $61             $176

Child                              $42             $122

Advanced Tickets (January 1 – June 30, 2015)

D23 Members:

Adult                              $58              $169

Child                               $42              $139

General:

Adult                                $67             $196

Child                                $48             $139

Expo Admission (July 1 – August 16, 2015)

D23 Members:

Adult                                 $65            $188

Child                                 $48             $139

General:

Adult                                 $74            $216

Child                                  $54            $156

In addition to these special advance-purchase savings, an extremely limited number of D23 VIP Sorcerer Packages will once again be available. Based on fan feedback, even more benefits have been added this year including exclusive opportunities in the Walt Disney Imagineering pavilion and Mickey’s of Glendale.

The SORCERER PACKAGE includes:

  • Three-day admission ticket and commemorative Sorcerer credential
  • Reserved seating at all presentations in the main hall, Stage 23, and Stage 28 (must sign up for presentations in advance)
  • Commemorative Sorcerer level access credential
  • Exclusive D23 Expo 2015 Samsonite luggage piece
  • Pre-Expo tour of the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives exhibit
  • Special tour of the Walt Disney Imagineering Pavilion
  • Exclusive shopping time in the D23 Expo Dream Store, Disney Store, and Mickey’s of Glendale
  • Tour of the D23 Expo show floor the day before the Expo opens to the public
  • Welcome Reception on Thursday evening
  • Exclusive entrance to the Expo each morning
  • First opportunity to pre-purchase D23 Expo Dream Store select themed merchandise
  • Exclusive D23 Expo gift pack including gifts from D23 and the rest of The Walt Disney Company
  • Saturday morning Meet and Greet Coffee with a special Disney guest
  • “Fond Farewell” reception on final day of Expo
  • Plus, daily access to the Sorcerer Member Lounge

Sorcerer member lounge: Open from (9 a.m. – 7 p.m.)

  • Complimentary snacks throughout day (11a.m. – 6 p.m.)
  • Cash Bar (noon – 6 p.m.)
  • Access to purchase food in Lounge
  • Archives exhibit
  • Dedicated Sorcerer Concierge desk
  • Baggage Check area
  • Masseur on site (for pay) (10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.)
  • One voucher for 20­-minute free massage

Sorcerer Package tickets are available exclusively to both Gold and Silver D23 Members at $2,000 per ticket. Members have the option to purchase up to two Sorcerer tickets.

D23 Gold and Silver Members are entitled to early admission to the Expo show floor and D23 will once again give a special thanks to D23 Charter Members, providing them special access to the Expo’s Charter Member Lounge.

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