D23 SPRINKLES DISNEY MAGIC ACROSS THE
COUNTRY WITH A YEAR OF SPECTACULAR EVENTS
BURBANK, Calif. – November 16, 2011 – In 2012, D23: The Official
Disney Fan Club will take the show on the road as it kicks off a year-long
celebration for D23 members with a bold lineup of fantastic events.
Throughout
the year, D23 will delight Disney fans from Boston, New York, Chicago, San
Francisco and Palm Springs to Orlando, Burbank and even Marceline, Missouri — Walt
Disney’s boyhood hometown — with the thrill and excitement of uniquely magical
Disney experiences.
“To help D23 celebrate its third
‘fanniversary,’ we developed the most exciting lineup yet of special events to
bring our members truly one-of-a-kind Disney experiences,” said Steven Clark,
head of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. “We’re excited to visit our fans all
around the country, and to create events we hope will surprise and delight
them.”
Starting the year are two new
extraordinary experiences: D23’s JOURNEY TO MARCELINE and D23 PRESENTS THE SMOKE
TREE RANCH ROUNDUP.
For the first time ever, a special
tour of Walt’s boyhood hometown — Marceline, Missouri — will take place for D23 members on March 14. Led by Disney archivists,
the daylong Journey to Marceline
explores this small town (pop. 2,221) in ways that will have special resonance
for Disney fans.
In his later life, Walt found unique
inspiration at Smoke Tree Ranch in Palm Springs, and during the incredible,
three-day Smoke Tree Ranch Roundup
(January 23-25), D23 Members can experience this exclusive retreat in a
completely unique way. In another
first-of-its-kind, immersive experience, Disney fans will get to see what Walt
called “my own laughing place,” taking part in screenings, presentations,
activities and delectable meals, all while staying in a Smoke Tree Ranch
cottage.
In the spring, D23 takes the party
on the road with the D23 ‘FANNIVERSARY’ CELEBRATION. It
commemorates more than 40 unforgettable Disney magical milestones, each
celebrating an anniversary in 2012. Hosted by Disney archivists, D23 Fanniversary Celebration events will
be held in Orlando, New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles
and revisits some of the most beloved Disney theme park attractions, animated
and live-action films, TV series and more from 85 years of Disney history. Fanniversary events will be open to the
public, with special admission and surprises created especially for D23 Members
in attendance.
In the summer, D23 will offer an
all-new “Destination D” event – DESTINATION D: 75 YEARS OF DISNEY ANIMATION,
held over two days at the Disneyland Resort in California (August 11-12). As
Disney marks the 75th anniversary of Snow
White and the Seven Dwarfs, D23 marks the occasion by gathering many
renowned Disney animation legends along with top Disney animators, voice talent
(past and present) and composers — plus interesting demonstrations,
fascinating presentations, autograph sessions and the chance to see
entertaining animation rarities from the Disney vaults —all in celebration of 75 years of Disney feature animation.
Throughout the year, D23 will
continue its popular series of movie screenings at the Walt Disney Studios in
Burbank. With a new series, FROM THE VAULTS, D23 will bring
favorite live-action films back to the big screen, including special 20th
anniversary screenings of Newsies
(February 25) and Sister Act (May
26), plus the classic Disney adaptation of Treasure
Island (September 22). D23’s 50 AND FABULOUS series also returns
in 2012, with In Search of the Castaways
(June 23).
The year also includes four special
weekends of member-only tours of the Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney
Archives in Burbank, which are planned for February 11-12, April 28-29,
September 8-9 and November 10-11 — doubling the capacity of these consistently
sold-out D23 events.
In the fall, during Epcot’s
International Food and Wine Festival, D23’s popular Sip & Stroll event gets
a Halloween twist and becomes SIP & SCREAM (October 2012). And
during the holiday season D23 will again hold back-to-back presentations of its
popular holiday offerings — DISNEY AND DICKENS (in Burbank in
December) and MAGIC & MERRIMENT (at Walt Disney World Resort, tentative
dates: December 7-8 and 9-10), doubling your Disney holiday fun.
Look for more D23 events to be
announced throughout the year including details on an Epcot 30th anniversary
celebration and a fun-filled D23 third anniversary party at the Disneyland
Resort. Full details on D23’s lineup of 2012 special events can be found on the
Fan Club’s website at http://www.Disney.com/D23.
All events and dates are subject to change.
D23: The
Official Disney Fan Club celebrates the remarkable past, present and future of
Disney, taking its name from 1923, the year Walt Disney founded his world-famous
company. D23 brings its members a host of exclusive benefits, including a
bi-weekly email newsletter; a host of discounts and special offers; and free
gifts throughout the year. Disney fans
can join the world’s only Official
Disney Fan Club by visiting www.Disney.com/D23,
or at select shops at the Disneyland® Resort, the Walt Disney World® Resort and
www.DisneyStore.com/D23.
