D23 Announces Fall Member Events

BURBANK, CA – September 9, 2009 -- D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans today announced its lineup of Fall 2009 Special Events.  In November, D23 Members will be among the first audiences to see The Princess and the Frog as The Walt Disney Studios opens its gates to the public for the very first time.  The national tours of The Lion King and Mary Poppins continue to delight audiences from coast to coast, and D23 Members will get the opportunity to go behind the scenes of these amazing productions.  Back by popular demand, the legendary lot at The Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Archives will be open for guided tours, and unique once-in-a-lifetime experiences will take place at the Walt Disney World Resort where D23 Members can enjoy Sip & Stroll during the Epcot ® International Food & Wine Festival and Magic & Merriment this holiday season.  

“D23 continues to create unique and unforgettable events around the country that only D23 Members can experience,” said Steven Clark, head of D23.  “Our Spring and Summer events introduced us to our Members for the very first time, and we look forward to meeting more of them this Fall; plus, as with everything we do, D23 Members can expect some amazing surprises along the way.”


FALL 2009 D23 CHARTER MEMBER-ONLY SPECIAL EVENTS:

October 7     D23 and The Lion King Roar into Anchorage
(Anchorage, AK) This award-winning musical phenomenon has entertained more than 50 million guests around the world and now, thanks to our friends at Disney Theatrical Productions, D23 Members can have a magical night to remember at The Lion King at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, including premium seats, merchandise discounts, complimentary souvenir program, an exclusive show merchandise item, a special "behind-the-scenes" experience after the show, and more!

October 7      D23 and Poppins Breeze into the Lone Star State
(Dallas, TX) D23 Members can have a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious night to remember at Mary Poppins in Dallas—featuring original Broadway stars Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) and Gavin Lee (Bert)—with premium seats, merchandise discounts, complimentary souvenir program and a once-in-a-lifetime “behind-the-scenes” experience.  D23 Members also will receive the recently released 2-Disc Mary Poppins 45th Anniversary Special Edition DVD, courtesy of our friends at Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

November 7       D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives (FREE)
(Burbank, CA) — A rare opportunity for D23 Members to enjoy a 2-hour tour of The Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Archives, hosted by D23 and Walt Disney Archives staff.  Space is very limited.

November 18      D23 and Poppins Flies into Los Angeles
(Los Angeles, CA)  D23 Members will have the chance to experience the “practically perfect” Mary Poppins—featuring original Broadway stars Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins) and Gavin Lee (Bert)—like never before, with premium seats, merchandise discounts, complimentary souvenir program and a once-in-a-lifetime “behind-the-scenes” experience.  D23 Members also will receive the recently released 2-Disc Mary Poppins 45th Anniversary Special Edition DVD, courtesy of our friends at Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

November 20      D23 and The Lion King Roar into Spokane
(Spokane, WA) Simba and Nala have entertained more than 50 million guests across the world. Now D23 Members can have a magical night to remember at The Lion King, including premium seats, merchandise discounts, complimentary souvenir program, exclusive show merchandise item, a special "behind-the-scenes" experience after the show, and more!

November 25, 2009      D23 Night at The Princess and the Frog
Join D23 at a very special first-night screening of The Princess and the Frog, when The Walt Disney Studios opens its gates for the first time in history to the general public! After being one of the first audiences to see The Princess and the Frog in the newly renovated Main Theatre on The Walt Disney Studios Lot, guests will go over to Sound Stage 3 for the Ultimate Disney Experience, where they can meet ALL the Disney princesses, including the star of the film, Princess Tiana.  D23 Members will learn to draw a character from the movie from a Disney animator; see original costumes, sets and props from the Walt Disney Archives, and much, much more! Tickets for this event will be available at the D23 Expo in addition to the D23 ticketing phone line.

ADDITIONAL EVENTS: SAVE THE DATES
Complimenting the above spectacular experiences are three extraordinary events.

Sip & Stroll will offer a host of exclusive, delicious opportunities during the Epcot ® International Food & Wine Festival on Sunday, October 18.

D23 will celebrate the season with Disney and Dickens on Thursday, December 10, featuring VIP seating for Disney’s A Christmas Carol at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, followed by a private dinner at the legendary Tam O’Shanter restaurant in Los Angeles—a frequent hang out of Walt Disney and his animators.

On December 12 and 13, D23 will bring Magic & Merriment to Walt Disney World with out-of-this-world holiday magic.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for additional details and ticket prices for these truly unique events.

To find out more about D23’s Fall 2009 Special Events Calendar, including admissions and how to register for events, visit www.disney.com/D23 and click on the “Expo & Events” tab. All D23 Special Events are subject to change without notice, have varying admission fees and registration processes, and may require advance reservations due to space limitations.