There was LOTS going on and exhibits and areas of the expo that were ongoing throughout the entire time. There were also scheduled events, speakers, and functions. The biggest issue was having to wait in line for a REALLY long time to be able to have any chance of getting in somewhere. Ex: If you wanted to attend an 11am presentation, you could not go to a 10am speaker (or probably even a 9am speaker) because if you did, you would never get in to the 11am presentation when the doors opened due to the number of people already in line.
That said, here's the schedule from 2009.
- Dreams
THURSDAY, Sept. 10, 2009
Bob Iger Presentation, 10 a.m. Walt Disney Company President and CEO Bob Iger will launch the first-ever
D23 EXPO with an hour-long presentation in the Anaheim Convention Center Arena, exploring the incredible future of Disney and exciting projects that are taking shape around the globe. Arena.
Disney Legends Awards, 11 a.m. Men and women who have contributed to the creative legacy of The Walt Disney Company will be honored in a special presentation, hosted by Tom Bergeron and open to all D23 EXPO guests. The full list of honorees will be announced shortly, and includes renowned celebrities, actors and artists. Arena.
The ABCs of Disney, 3 p.m. Steve McPherson, president of the ABC Entertainment Group, and Emmy®-nominated Tom Bergeron host a D23 EXPO-exclusive presentation as many of the biggest TV stars of today preview ABCs new series, with a very special Dancing with the Stars performance. Arena
An Afternoon With Imagineering Legends, 4:30 p.m. Recently retired Executive Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering Marty Sklar hosts a panel of extraordinary artists who shaped classic
Disneyland attractions, including X Atencio, Alice Davis, Blaine Gibson and Bob Gurr. Storytellers Theater
Top Ten for the Toy Chest: The Making of the Next Great Disney Toy, 12:30 p.m., Stage 23
Beauty and the Beast 3D Preview and Panel Discussion, 1 p.m., Studio Theater
The Magic of Disney in the Art of Disney Stamps, 1:30 p.m., Stage 23
The World of Vintage Disneyland In Color, 2 p.m., Storytellers Theater
The Music of The Haunted Mansion, 3:30 p.m., Stage 23
The Music of The Lion King Panel, 4 p.m., Studio Theater
the boys Screening and Panel, 7 p.m., Studio Theater
Fifty and Fabulous Film FestivalPresents Darby OGill and the Little People,
10 p.m., Studio Theater
FRIDAY, Sept. 11, 2009
Disney Movie Magic: Inside The Walt Disney Studios, 11 a.m. The Walt Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook offers Disney fans an unprecedented sneak peek at new live-action movies from Walt Disney Pictures, incorporating exclusive footage from such movies as Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Tim Burtons Alice in Wonderland, Disneys A Christmas Carol, The Sorcerers Apprentice and more. Special celebrity guests also will join in on the fun. Arena
Tron Presentation, 4 p.m., Steven Lisberger, director of 1982s Tron, is a special guest as the D23 EXPO offers an exclusive exploration of the science-fiction classic, including glimpses of the upcoming TRON: Legacy. A fascinating discussion will be followed by the first-ever digitally converted screening of the original Tron. Studio Theater
Disney Rarities, 5:30 p.m. Academy Award-nominated producer and author Don Hahn joins Walt Disney Animation Studios creative director Dave Bossert to present several rarely seen animated short films from Disney history, including some of Walt Disneys earliest animation efforts. Some of these shorts have not been seen in more than 60 years. Stage 23 Theater
The Making of Toy Story: The Musical, 5:30 p.m. A preview of the newest stage extravaganza for
Disney Cruise Line and the Disney Parks. Michael Jung, Vice President of Creative, and Matt Almos, Creative Director, host this musical sneak peek, and composers Valerie Vigoda and Brendan Milburn will perform. Storytellers Theater
Walt and El Grupo and Saludos Amigos, 7:30 p.m. Filmmakers Ted Thomas and Kuniko Okubo and Disney historian and author J.B. Kaufman lead a panel discussion about the upcoming Walt and El Grupo, a new documentary that reveals the story behind Walt Disneys influential 1941 trip to South America. After the discussion, D23 EXPO guests will be treated to a rare screening of Saludos Amigos, the colorful animated feature that grew out of Walts goodwill expedition south of the equator. Studio Theater
Early Bird Books: Kingdom Keepers, 8:30 a.m., Stage 23
Sailing to New Horizons with
Disney Cruise Line, 9 a.m., Storytellers Theater
A Day in the Life of an Adventures by Disney Guide, 12:30 p.m., Storytellers Theater
Happy Haunts: 40 Years of The Haunted Mansion, 12:30 p.m., Stage 23
Nightmare Before Christmas 3D Screening, Plus Tim Burton Shorts Frankenweenie and Vincent, 1 p.m., Studio Theater
Special Preview: The Wonderful World of Color, 2 p.m., Storytellers Theater
History and Preservation of Disney Animation Art: The Courvoisier Tradition,
2 p.m., Stage 23
We Make the Music: Conversations with the Creators of Disney Theme Park Music, 3:30 p.m., Storytellers Theater
The Evolution of Mickey with Dave Pacheco and Andreas Deja, 3:30 p.m., Stage 23
Fifty and Fabulous Film FestivalPresents The Shaggy Dog, 10 p.m., Studio Theater
SATURDAY, Sept. 12, 2009
So You Want to Be An Imagineer, 9 a.m. Marty Sklar hosts a conversation with more than half a dozen guest Imagineers, who will discuss the challenges and rewards of their careers ... and the special skills that are needed to make the magic. Storytellers Theater
Disneynature Presentation, 10 a.m. The latest updates from Disney's newest film label, Disneynature. This prestigious production banner literally goes to the ends of the earth to tell the remarkable stories of nature. Studio Theater
Imagineering the Future of Disney Theme Parks, 11 a.m. Go behind the scenes with Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo as he unveils the magical entertainment and experiences on the horizon at Disneys Parks and Resorts around the world
and offers a surprise or two. Arena
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 12 p.m. Don Hahn hosts a compelling discussion about the making of Walt Disneys first animated feature film. Following the discussion, D23 EXPO guests will enjoy a screening of a newly restored digital version of this landmark film. Studio Theater
Disney Store: The Magic is Back, 2 p.m. Jim Fielding, president of Disney Stores Worldwide, looks at the vibrant future of the Disney Stores around the world. Arena
The Princess and the Frog, 3 p.m. All-new footage from Disneys upcoming animated musical The Princess and the Frog will be screened, followed by a panel discussion with the films creators, including John Musker, Ron Clements, Andreas Deja and Eric Goldberg. Studio Theater
Prep and Landing, 5:30 p.m. The directors of Disneys new TV special explore the creation of this new holiday-time treat. Studio Theater
D23 Expo Live Auction, 7 p.m. 49 lots of extraordinary rarities and specially designed items will be front and center at this D23 EXPO exclusive event, including a check personally signed by Walt Disney, a progressive dinner through the Disneyland Resort plus a stay in the Presidential Suite of the Disneyland Hotel, original animation production cels, movie premiere tickets, an authentic attraction vehicle, a very special Lot 23 exclusive, and much more. 7 p.m., Arena (Note: Auction admission is free; bidders must purchase a $40 bidders package.)
Trail of the Panda Screening, 7:30 p.m. The D23 EXPO presents the U.S. premiere of Trail of the Panda (Xiongmao Huijialu), the second Disney Chinese-language film production, created specifically for audiences in China. Studio Theater
Early Bird Books: The Alchemy of Animation with Don Hahn, 8:30 a.m., Stage 23
Behind the Fairy Tale Disney Weddings with Kristie Kelly and David Turturro,
11 a.m., Stage 23
The Science of Imagineering, 12:30 p.m., Storytellers Theater
Growing Up Disney with Roy P. Disney, 12:30 p.m., Stage 23
Refreshing a Classic: Remaking its a small world for the 21st Century, 2 p.m., Storytellers Theater
Sneak Preview of The Walt Disney Family Museum, 2:30 p.m., Stage 23
The Making of the U.S. Presidents, 3:30 p.m., Storytellers Theater
Disney Kids Fashion Show, 4 p.m., Performances Stage
Lost Chords Never-Heard Music from Disney Animation with Russell Schroeder, 5:30 p.m., Stage 23
Fifty and Fabulous Film FestivalPresents Sleeping Beauty, 10 p.m., Studio Theater
SUNDAY, Sept. 13, 2009
The Future of Disney and Pixar Animation, 11 a.m. Get a glimpse of what the future holds at Disney and Pixar Animation Studios as Chief Creative Officer, John Lasseter, shares sneak peeks of such exciting upcoming films as The Princess and The Frog, Rapunzel, Toy Story 3 and more. Arena
A Magical Afternoon With the Cast of Wizards of Waverly Place,
2 p.m. Cast members Selena Gomez, David Henrie, Jake T. Austin, Jennifer Stone, Maria Canals-Barrera and David DeLuise join executive producer Peter Murietta for an exclusive preview screening of the season premiere episode of Wizards of Waverly Place. Popular Radio Disney personality Ernie D also will join in the fun! Arena
Toy Story 3 Special Presentation, 6:30 p.m. Sneak a peek at whats in store when Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the Toy Story gang make their big-screen return this time in 3D. Pixar filmmakers Lee Unkrich and Darla Anderson host. Studio Theater
Toy Story and Toy Story 2 Double Feature Premiere Screening, 7 p.m. Following the 5 p.m. sneak peek of Toy Story 3, the D23 EXPO will host the U.S. premiere screening of this 3D double feature. (Note: There will be a 10-minute intermission between the films.) Studio Theater
Early Bird Books: South of the Border with J.B. Kaufman, 8:30 a.m., Stage 23
The Making of Toy Story Midway Mania, 9:30 a.m., Storytellers Theater
Collectors Edition Fine Art Panel Discussion, 12:30 p.m., Performances Stage
The Science of Imagineering, 1 p.m., Storytellers Theater (an encore presentation)
Silver Banjo Barbeque Panel with David and Ron DeFore, 12:30 p.m., Stage 23
Special Muppets Presentation, 1:30 p.m. - The Muppets Studios takes you inside the Muppet world for an exclusive frog's-eye-view of what Kermit and Company have been up to in 2009 and all the fun and mayhem they have planned for 2010 and beyond! Studio Theater
Disneyana Detective with Tom Tumbush, 3 p.m., Stage 23
Imagineering Pixar for the Disney Parks, 3 p.m., Storytellers Theater
From Annette to Miley, 3:30 p.m., Stage 23