Destination D

Destination D
by George Taylor

We usually shy away from news releases at 2719, but this press release piqued the interest of the editorial staff.

As many of you know, the D23 Expo has been moved to a biennial event. At the Walt Disney Company shareholder's conference, Bob Iger announced Destination D. This looks like it will be a biennial event, too. Something for the die-hard fans that really goes deep into Disney history. I can only imagine what Destination D will offer in the future.

As an armchair Disney Historian with strong interests in the history of the parks and the studios, Destination D sounds like a perfect counterpoint to the D23 Expo. Two days of Disneyland soaked panels and speakers sounds like a much better deal to me than four days of general Disney-ness. Also, that gives more time to explore Disneyland, the historic Disney-related Los Angeles areas and the Walt Disney Family Museum. Destination D could also prove to be very mobile and may end up at Walt Disney World. Imagine the Company acknowledging that a pre-Eisner Walt Disney World existed!

The inaugural DESTINATION D, whose theme is “Disneyland ’55,” will be held this Sept. 24-25. DESTINATION D: Disneyland ’55 will take D23 Members on a journey through the design, creation, debut and magical history of the world’s first Disney theme park. The first DESTINATION D will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Disneyland Hotel.


DESTINATION D: Disneyland ’55 will offer two full days of special presentations, panels, screenings and guest speakers that let fans meet and talk with key figures in Disneyland’s history. Future DESTINATION D events will explore other important aspects of Disney’s creative legacy. Following its premiere in September, DESTINATION D will alternate annually with the enormously popular D23 EXPO.


The D23 team is in the midst of developing exclusive programming for DESTINATION D – but an early peek at plans reveals a host of special speakers, presentations and panels throughout the two-day event, including:


• “Disneyland: The Way We Were” – Disney’s Chief Archivist Dave Smith will look back at highlights from Disneyland history;
• “Disney Undiscovered” – An exploration of never-built projects and attractions developed for Disneyland;
• “23 on 55” – The Walt Disney Archives celebrates Disneyland’s 55th anniversary;
• “Weird Disney” – A showcase for some of the quirky, little-known facts, places, people and ideas that even the most avid fan might not know.


More details on the programming and events planned for DESTINATION D: Disneyland ’55 – as well as details about the 2011 D23 EXPO – will be available soon at www.disney.com/D23. Tickets will go on sale early this summer.