Destination D23 2025 Aug 29-31, 2025 at Coronado Springs

[soniam]

D23 released the schedule according to this: https://mickeyblog.com/2025/08/12/full-schedule-revealed-for-destination-d23-at-disney-world/

No parks panel? I'm fine with that because that's not why I attend but I feel like other people will riot, lol

They used to not really announce much at these. It wasn’t until more recently that people expected announcements at these. They may get angry, but they should have set their expectations better.

 

[fatmanatee]

They used to not really announce much at these. It wasn’t until more recently that people expected announcements at these. They may get angry, but they should have set their expectations better.

I remember a run of threads here where people set their expectations way too high and ended up feeling disappointed. Then they booked the Honda Center and my feeling was “well they have to be planning something significant but maybe keep expectations in check” and then they blew it out of the water.

All that said… this year they didn’t book the Honda Center!

To follow up though, it sounds like they might actually integrate parks news into other panels, including the aforementioned villains panel. The blurb about the castles presentation also mentions surprises, but who knows what that could mean. Would not expect anything major.

 

[hardcorestitch]

I remember a run of threads here where people set their expectations way too high and ended up feeling disappointed. Then they booked the Honda Center and my feeling was “well they have to be planning something significant but maybe keep expectations in check” and then they blew it out of the water.

All that said… this year they didn’t book the Honda Center!

To follow up though, it sounds like they might actually integrate parks news into other panels, including the aforementioned villains panel. The blurb about the castles presentation also mentions surprises, but who knows what that could mean. Would not expect anything major.

Maybe the D23 folks want to allow some time for their guests to visit the Disney theme parks knowing that there will be many groups of guests will likely make said parks part of the itinerary anyway.

 

[fatmanatee]

Here are the descriptions for the panels.

https://d23.com/destinationd23/programming/

 

[Cfabar1]

Given everything at WDW happening I am surprised they didn't do more to provide updates...

Maybe it was a scheduling availability issue...

Odd to me they wouldn't give JD a time a forum to "preview" himself as a potential CEO....

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Given everything at WDW happening I am surprised they didn't do more to provide updates...

Maybe it was a scheduling availability issue...

Odd to me they wouldn't give JD a time a forum to "preview" himself as a potential CEO....

We'll see if they sneak updates in. But also there's next year's D23 for JD to dazzle again?

It seems the villains session might provide updates, and the castles one says there will be surprises (I'm thinking it'll be about the new kind of castle design for the Abu Dhabi park)

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

There seems to be some discontent online about no dedicated parks showcase. Personally, I would like it if there aren't parks announcements because maybe it wouldn't be so hard to get tickets anymore. This is how it used to be before the pandemic, and even when there are announcements at Destination D23, people were disappointed that there weren't enough so why bother? Announcements or not, most of the event is about nerdy Disney history or celebrating fandom so I would prefer to stick to that.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

I wonder if they will announce a special event for Sunday evening. If I remember correctly from last time in 2023 they didn’t tell us about the Halloween party or the Epcot evening until we were there. While a lot of these panels are very interesting, it feels like there’s a lot “less” on offer this year for a lot more. And as much as I love The Little Mermaid, do they really need Jodi Benson at every single Disney event like this? I feel like this must be the only work the poor woman can get any more and that’s why she’s always there.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

I remember a run of threads here where people set their expectations way too high and ended up feeling disappointed. Then they booked the Honda Center and my feeling was “well they have to be planning something significant but maybe keep expectations in check” and then they blew it out of the water.

All that said… this year they didn’t book the Honda Center!

To follow up though, it sounds like they might actually integrate parks news into other panels, including the aforementioned villains panel. The blurb about the castles presentation also mentions surprises, but who knows what that could mean. Would not expect anything major.

They wouldn’t book the Honda Center because the event is at Coronado Springs at DW.

 

[fatmanatee]

They wouldn’t book the Honda Center because the event is at Coronado Springs at DW.

Overall point is that they didn't book a large venue so there shouldn't be high expectations for major announcements.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

Overall point is that they didn't book a large venue so there shouldn't be high expectations for major announcements.

True, but they did double the size of the convention center from Contemporary to Coronado this year. But that seems more like a way to cram more people in and make more money vs announce something!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I wonder if they will announce a special event for Sunday evening. If I remember correctly from last time in 2023 they didn’t tell us about the Halloween party or the Epcot evening until we were there. While a lot of these panels are very interesting, it feels like there’s a lot “less” on offer this year for a lot more. And as much as I love The Little Mermaid, do they really need Jodi Benson at every single Disney event like this? I feel like this must be the only work the poor woman can get any more and that’s why she’s always there.

Jodi Benson is at every one of these things, D23 events, DVC Member Cruises, etc. Not everyone in attendance is a repeat guest so there are other fans who haven't seen her sing live. But I wonder if there's more to that session, having Jodi sing is not usually its own session but rather the closeout of something else. There could be announcements interwoven with singing like at the Honda Center last year, but don't get your hopes us!

Last time, the surprise event at EPCOT was Saturday night so I think this year that's the Typhoon Lagoon after hours event. Probably couldn't be a surprise because people need to know to pack swimwear?

I'm looking at the 2023 and 2021 schedules and I feel like a lot of it is similar.

ETA: found links for past schedules
2023: https://d23.com/app/uploads/2023/09/Destination-D23-2023_Event-Schedule.pdf
2021: https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021...e-2021-destination-d23-event-in-disney-world/
2015: https://wdwnt.com/2018/09/full-schedule-announced-for-destination-d-celebrating-mickey-mouse/

 

[foodiddiedoo]

Jodi Benson is at every one of these things. Not everyone in attendance is a repeat guest so there are other fans who haven't seen her sing live. But I wonder if there's more to that session, having Jodi sing is not usually its own session but rather the closeout of something else. There could be announcements interwoven with singing like at the Honda Center last year, but don't get your hopes us!

Last time, the surprise event at EPCOT was Saturday night so I think this year that's the Typhoon Lagoon after hours event. Probably couldn't be a surprise because people need to know to pack swimwear?

I'm looking at the 2023 and 2021 schedules and I feel like a lot of it is similar.

You’re right about the swimsuits, you can’t be surprised into needing them. Which leads me to thinking that the surprise event will be Sunday (or else we end on an hour concert and it’s just done at 5:30). I’m mostly concerned about whether or not I should try and make a dinner reservation somewhere for that night .

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

You’re right about the swimsuits, you can’t be surprised into needing them. Which leads me to thinking that the surprise event will be Sunday (or else we end on an hour concert and it’s just done at 5:30). I’m mostly concerned about whether or not I should try and make a dinner reservation somewhere for that night .

I was trying to say don't expect a surprise event Sunday night. Make dinner reservations (we did) or go to the parks. The finale will be the 80s/90s concert, I really don't think there will be more after that.

ETA: there usually isn't a surprise. I only remember that happening in 2023, and I think that may have been special given the Disney 100 celebration.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

I was trying to say don't expect a surprise event Sunday night. Make dinner reservations (we did) or go to the parks. The finale will be the 80s/90s concert, I really don't think there will be more after that.

ETA: there usually isn't a surprise. I only remember that happening in 2023, and I think that may have been special given the Disney 100 celebration.

Ah, I’ve only been to the 2023 Destination D23 event so I don’t have too much to base off of. I’ll make a reservation and I can always cancel if anything does happen (or move my reservation enough into the future to not be charged the cancellation fee).

 

[Fullchaos]

Park panel aside, my wife and would have gone out of our way to attend Kuzcotopia. We're huge Emperor's New Groove fans, so it's good to see it getting some time in the sun!

 

[soniam]

I remember a run of threads here where people set their expectations way too high and ended up feeling disappointed. Then they booked the Honda Center and my feeling was “well they have to be planning something significant but maybe keep expectations in check” and then they blew it out of the water.

All that said… this year they didn’t book the Honda Center!

To follow up though, it sounds like they might actually integrate parks news into other panels, including the aforementioned villains panel. The blurb about the castles presentation also mentions surprises, but who knows what that could mean. Would not expect anything major.

I’m trying to say that this isn’t the Expo. They haven’t traditionally done big announcements at this event. This event is about Disney history. I wish people would set expectations appropriately and not go if they just want to hear announcements.

 

[AquaDame]

I’m trying to say that this isn’t the Expo. They haven’t traditionally done big announcements at this event. This event is about Disney history. I wish people would set expectations appropriately and not go if they just want to hear announcements.

Hearing that this year actually makes me MORE interested in attending. Maybe in '27!

 

[soniam]

Hearing that this year actually makes me MORE interested in attending. Maybe in '27!

I went in 2018 and tried the 2 subsequent years but couldn’t get tickets. I was lucky this year, but it did sell out quickly, including regular seating.

 

[tjkraz]

In 2023, they live streamed the parks panel which was hosted by Josh D'Amaro.

https://disneyparksblog.com/disney-...future-projects-surprises-at-destination-d23/

Between that and the wide range of projects announced during D23 Expo in '24, I don't think it was unreasonable to expect them to set aside 20 minutes to talk about the parks. Most of this stuff is still several years off, but surely they have more renderings and animatics that have been produced in the last 12+ months.

Maybe this is a case of under promising and over delivering. But the skeptic in me wonders if they are trying to avoid giving the audience an open invitation to boo closures of Muppetvision and Tom Sawyer Island.