D23 2019: A Recap
by Julie Perez
We survived!
The sixth D23 Expo occurred this past weekend and here’s everything we learned:
You can consider us part of the group of people that were hesitant when Disney announced their Disney+ idea, but we are officially ready to sign up as soon as they launch on November 12th. Some of the Disney+ Showcase announcements included the fact that Disney+ will be the home of the entire Marvel and Star Wars catalog. Not only that, but the first year of Disney+ will contain the entire PIXAR Collection, so bring the Kleenex.
Along with their previous content being available, Disney will be investing in a lot of wonderful original content. First thing’s first Hilary Duff is back as Lizzie McGuire and truthfully, that should be enough to get you to sign up. I mean, if you’re trying to tell me that you haven’t been secretly hoping for Lizzie to come back, then I’d consider you a liar.
On Disney+, Marvel will also be producing their first animated series: What If …? On this series, most of the original MCU cast will be lending their voices and from the sneak-peak, it looks to be a great time. A few other stand-outs include, the Kristen Bell-produced series Encore!, Jeff Goldblum’s The World According to Jeff Goldblum and the promised-to-be half funny sitcom/half epic Marvel Universe Wanda Vision.
You’d think that we’d be exhausted with that announcement alone, but we still found enough time to wander around the main floor of the Anaheim Convention Center. The main floor is where you found the best cosplayers:
The creativity that people come to these events with, will always amaze us. We saw a Ghostbusters version of Beauty and the Beast, a group of fairy Princesses, a Spider-Man version of Princesses and everything in between.
Included in the jam-packed schedule was a Disney on Broadway: A 25th Anniversary Celebration. The performance was hosted by Tony Award-nominee Gavin Lee (Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast) and featured Heidi Blickenstaff (Freaky Friday, The Little Mermaid), Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, On The Record), Kissy Simmons (The Lion King), Josh Strickland (Tarzan) and Alton Fitzgerald White (The Lion King). Now admittedly, this may have been the most anticipated event for us and it did not disappoint.
Photos by Disney Theatrical Productions.jpg
They performed a couple of songs from every Disney musical. Everything from The Lion King, to Mary Poppins, to Newsies, to The Little Mermaid and even to the most underrated musical of them all: Aida. (Aida, which absolutely deserves a revival.) Nothing prepares you to listen to “Easy As Life” Live and Kissy Simmons excelled in her rendition. Though the event showcased many wonderful moments which included: Heidi Blickenstaff bringing the audience to their feet with “Poor Unfortunate Souls”, Josh Strickland’s sassy take on “My Strongest Suit”, Alton Fitzgerald White’s way to get the audience dancing with “Under The Sea” and Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee performing “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” together for the first time since they last did it on touring company of Mary Poppins.
D23 promises to be the perfect event for the ultimate Disney fan and it absolutely delivers. Everything from exclusive merch items, to appearances of your favorite Disney actors, to a behind scenes look at how it all comes together; D23 has something for everyone. #D23Expo2019 may be over, but we’re still on an emotional high from the weekend!
