D23 Announces a Year of Spectacular Events

Throughout 2012, 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 unique 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,” Steven Clark, head of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, says. “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 (population 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 (click here to read more on Smoke Tree Ranch). 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 revisiting 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 the course of 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 D23 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 (in October). 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. All events and dates are subject to change.