San Diego Comic-Con may be behind us but the all-Disney, all-the-time equivalent is right around the corner. D23, formerly the D23 Expo, begins Friday, August 9 in Anaheim, California, and it’s three days of panels, booths, merchandise, and news concerning all things Disney. Which, these days, is a pretty wide net. That includes everything from Disney animation and live action to Marvel, Star WarsDisney+, Pixar, Hulu, Fox, ESPN, etc.
Basically there’s a ton of potential for all manner of cool happenings—and here are 10 panels we think will be the most fun for the pop culture enthusiasts out there. (If you want to look at the full schedule, which has way more entries than this, head to this link.)
Disney Entertainment Showcase
This is the big one. Any and everything in the world of Disney Entertainment will be represented. So, anyone hoping for Marvel news, Star Wars news, Disney Animation news, news on streaming shows, movies, TV, everything—it’s all in this panel. Period.
When: 7 p.m. PT, August 9, Honda Center
Disney Experiences Showcase
While many Disney fans love their movies and TV, many others love their theme parks and cruises. Well, this is the panel for them. If Disney is going to announce new rides, new theme parks, anything like that, it will happen in this panel.
When: 7 p.m. PT, August 10, Honda Center
Disney Legends Award Ceremony
Rounding out the trio of mega panels so big, the convention is holding them in an actual area, is Disney Legends. It’s basically an award ceremony where celebrities become “Disney Legends,” and while that’s not super exciting on the outside, the list of people being celebrated sure is: John Williams, Harrison Ford, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Cyrus, James L. Brooks, Steve Ditko, and more.
When: 5 p.m. PT, August 11, Honda Center
Music of Marvel Studios
Outside of those first two panels, D23 will likely be light on big news this year. Instead, there will be many panels hopefully filled with fun stories behind the scenes of your favorite movies past and present, such as this panel about music in Marvel movies.
When: 11 a.m. PT, August 9, Premiere Stage
30 Years of Toy Story
The first Toy Story changed the world when it was released in 1995. And while that’s not quite 30 years ago, a star-studded panel of Pixar pals will discuss the iconic film.
When: 1:30 p.m. PT, August 9, Premiere Stage
Making A Goofy Movie: The Road to Lake Destiny
This is the type of panel that could only happen at D23: a deep dive into a film that has begun to gain popularity online over the past few years, 1995’s A Goofy Movie. Powerline fans, rise up.
When: 5 p.m. PT, August 9, Walt Disney Archives Stage
Marvel Animation Sneak Peak
The one other panel that jumps out which could, and should, break some news is this panel centered on Marvel Animation. There’s What If…, X-Men ’97, the new Spider-Man show, Eyes of Wakandaand so much more that could be on the menu.
When: 12:45 p.m. PT, August 10, Premiere Stage
Marvel Comics: Celebrating 50 Years of Wolverine
Can you believe the character of Wolverine has been around 50 years and is still kicking ass? Well, it’s true, and this panel will look behind the scenes at the creation and legacy of the iconic character.
When: 2:30 p.m. PT, August 10, Walt Disney Archives Stage
Pixar’s Win or Lose Watch Party
Pixar has been gearing up for its first Disney+ streaming show for years now, and it seems it’s finally ready to show Disney fans what’s in store.
When: 6:15 p.m. PT, August 10, Backlot Stage
Designing the MCU: Marvel Studios’ Visual Development
Again, one of those cool behind-the-scenes panels that’ll pull the curtain back behind one of our favorite franchises: the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
When: 10 a.m. PT, August 11, Backlot Stage
There’s a ton more happening too. There’ll be stores full of exclusive merch, ILM is bringing Stagecraft—the technology used on The Mandalorian—to demonstrate, signings, singing, and so much more. Visit the official site for more information and keep it locked to io9 for coverage this weekend.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
