Want to know what’s NEXT for the Disney parks? Need to hear the latest and greatest about Disney’s new rides, hotels, and more? There are some dates you NEED to mark down in your calendar and some things you need to know.

Disney’s D23 Expo — the Ultimate Disney Fan Convention — is returning to California this year from September 9th-11th. We’ve already heard about some of the BIG panels that will be available this year, how guests will get to see RARE pieces of Disney history while there, and some merchandise you won’t want to miss. But now we’ve got more updates!

If it’s news about Disney’s theme parks you’re after, D23 Expo is the place to be. According to D23, the Expo will be “full of Disney parks excitement” and will even feature “new pavilions, captivating panel presentations, and exclusive retail experiences.”

Those who visit D23 Expo will be among the first to “learn about never-before-seen details of new themed lands, attractions, shows, and so much more!”

So what exactly can you expect when it comes to parks-themed announcements? Here are the latest updates:

Wonderful World of Dreams Pavilion

On the D23 Expo show floor, you’ll find the Disney Parks and Experiences “Wonderful World of Dreams” pavilion. At this pavilion, Expo guests will get to “step into” some of the new stories and rides Disney is working on.

There, you’ll get behind-the-scenes looks at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (the new ride retheme for Splash Mountain), the EPCOT transformation, new Frozen-themed experiences, Disney Cruise Line projects, live entertainment, and more.

Sounds like this is a pavilion that likely will have a lot of people waiting to visit it, so it’s one you may want to prioritize during your time at the Expo.

DisneyMe

Another thing fans will get to experience at D23 Expo is DisneyMe. DisneyMe is an all-new digital avatar that will be available in the Play Disney Parks app. Guests can create their own unique DisneyMe with this feature and those at the Expo will get first access to it.

To celebrate DisneyMe’s launch as part of the Disney Uncharted Adventure on the Disney Wish cruise ship, those who go to D23 Expo will get to go on a special quest that can ONLY be done at the Expo. Throughout the Expo, those participating in the quest can uncover Disney Wish and D23 Expo digital outfits for their DisneyMe on the show floor.

If you’ll be heading to the expo, be sure to download the latest version of the Play Disney Parks app starting in September.

Presentations

We’ve already shared a look at some presentations that will be taking place during the Expo, including the ones that are likely to give you the BIGGEST news, but D23 has now shared a look at some more presentations that will be available. These presentations include the following:

Friday

• Inside Look at the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (Friday, September 9th, 10:30AM, Backlot Stage)

Saturday

• A Peek Behind the Curtain at the Walt Disney Imagineering Illusions and Special Effects Development Lab (Saturday, September 10th, 10AM, Walt Disney Archives Stage)
• Uncovering Treasures from the Marty Sklar Collection (Saturday, September 10th, 12PM, Walt Disney Archives Stage)
• Magic in the Air: 30 Years of The Muppet Christmas Carol (Saturday, September 10th, 1PM, Premiere Stage)
• Dreaming, Designing, and Bringing to Life the Disney Wish (Saturday, September 10th, 4PM, Backlot Stage)

Sunday

• Walt Disney Imagineering: 70 Years of Making the Impossible, Possible (Sunday, September 11th, 1PM, Premiere Stage)
• A Boundless Future: Disney Parks Experiences and Products (Sunday, September 11th, at 10:30AM, Hall D23) (This presentation will feature a look at some of the NEW projects Disney is working on around the world)
• The World of Duffy & Friends Revealed (Sunday, September 11th, 4:15PM, Hyperion Stage)

But wait, there’s MORE! If you’re a fan of Disney merchandise then you’ll be thrilled to know that there will be all kinds of shopping opportunities at the Expo. In fact, the Expo will feature NEW and “limited-edition merchandise from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic, plus items celebrating Disney100 and D23 Expo.”

There will be a special spot called the D23 Expo Marketplace that will have a new, immersive shopping experience. There, you’ll find merchandise from shopDisney, Disney Store, and the Disney Parks.

You can also stop by Walt Disney Imagineering’s returning Mickey’s of Glendale shop to check out their 3 unique spaces, each focused on different categories. There will be a Mickey’s of Glendale Main Store, Mickey’s of Glendale Pin Store, and the D23 Expo Shop x Mickey’s of Glendale. 

And those are the latest D23 Expo announcements (for now). D23 Expo is currently sold out. But if you did manage to score a ticket, be sure to check out the D23 Expo app. It could help make navigating the Expo much easier. We’ll be covering ALL the big news that comes out of the D23 Expo, so check back with us for the latest updates.

In the meantime, you can click here to learn about a Disney on Broadway experience that’ll be returning to the Expo this year, or click here for the latest in Marvel movie news.

Click here to see how you could watch the REAL Disney princesses perform at D23 Expo!

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Will you be going to D23 Expo this year? Tell us in the comments!

The post Where to Get a Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Splash Mountain Retheme and More Disney Parks Projects first appeared on the disney food blog.