This summer Disney fan convention D23 is put on hold for another year. Ever since its debut it has alternated years with another sort of Disney convention: Destination D. While D23 is the House of Mouse’s answer to Comic Con, with its main focus being panels on upcoming Disney films, Destination D is a quieter conference for the Disney history buffs.
The first Destination D, held in 2010, centered on the theme of Disneyland. Walt’s first park debuted 55 years ago (well, 57 now), and that year’s Destination D was all about celebrating the groundbreaking Disneyland.
Can you tell I wasn’t that interested in the first Destination D? I like the idea of the parks, but I don’t care about them enough to fly all the way out to Anaheim and spend two or three days learning about them. But Disney’s got me this year, with a Destination D theme I can’t resist: animation.
Let’s be honest, any Disney fan is here for one reason: the movies. Our obsession may have extended to the parks, to merchandising, to Imagineering, but our first love was and will always be Disney movies, especially the animated ones. Disney wouldn’t exist without its films, and neither would its fans.
“Destination D: 75 Years of Disney Animated Features” will be held in the Disneyland Hotel on August 11-12. Most of the events are being kept secret as surprises (if it wasn’t for the fact that “Brave” releases in June I’d suspect a screening of the film to be one of them, but perhaps attendees will be the first to get sneak peeks of other upcoming Disney movies), but the main headliners have been announced.
There’s a special panel on “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” looking at the film that started it all and influenced what was to come. Exclusive, never-before-seen artwork and film footage will be shown and discussed, and there will also be a panel on how the Disney movies have affected the parks. Each night ends with a concert; the first by Dick Van Dyke and the Vantastix, and the second by Alan Menken performing his most popular songs.
I know I’ve said this before, but this is the event that most makes me wish to be a D23 member. If I thought there was a chance I could actually make it out to Anaheim this summer, I would totally sign up for the fan club. Destination D, unlike the D23 convention, is a D23 members-only event. Whereas with the convention, club members just get to buy their tickets early, and possibly for a discounted rate.
I mean, what’s not to love? A group of Disney historians and animation experts lead a two-day journey through Disney films, culminating in one of my personal Disney heroes playing his most popular songs. I seriously want in on this event. I can’t imagine how they’ll top it with future Destination D’s.
D23 members luckily enough to be free for Destination D this summer can begin purchasing tickets on April 18 at 10 a.m. PST. I bet spots are limited, so sign up as soon as you can. And if any of you out there lucky enough to go are reading this, then you’d better tell me all about the event after it’s over.
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*(This image by Bradley Jones is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
