D23 Expo

Kermit playing the banjo on top of the Mark Twain riverboat at the "Disney Movie Magic" presentation in 2009.

The Muppets at the "Disney Movie Magic" presentation in 2009.

The D23 Expo is a biennial convention run by The Walt Disney Company, originally billed as "The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience" (later changed to "The Ultimate Disney Fan Event"). The first Expo was held in Anaheim, California, from September 10-13, 2009.

D23 is "The Official Disney Fan Club", founded in March 2009. The "D" stands for Disney, and "23" represents 1923, the year that Walt Disney arrived in California and founded what would ultimately become The Walt Disney Company.

D23 also holds smaller fan events for its members throughout the year, separate from the expo, and publishes a magazine called Disney twenty-three.

D23 Expo 2009

thumb|300px|right|D23 Expo 2009 highlights reel featuring the Muppets

Disney Movie Magic

On Friday, September 11, the Muppets made a surprise appearance on the Mark Twain Riverboat (a smaller replica of the Disneyland attraction) during the "Disney Movie Magic: Inside the Disney Studios" arena presentation. It was announced that they were working on a new movie, The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made!. It was later set aside in favor of The Muppets.

Appearing on the riverboat Mark Twain Riverboat were Kermit the Frog, Fozzie, Pepe, Gonzo, Miss Piggy, Animal, Janice, Floyd, Dr. Teeth, Zoot, Beaker, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Scooter, Rizzo the Rat, Lew Zealand, Robin, Penguins, Chickens, with Sweetums standing beside the boat.

Statler and Waldorf appeared after the number shouting, "We want Grumpy!"

Johnny Depp, in full costume as Pirates of the Caribbean character Captain Jack Sparrow, made a surprise appearance at the end of the presentation. Jack said that he'd like a snack, and asked where that nice frog was who'd been on stage earlier -- "he probably tastes like chicken."

Media highlights reel of presentation; (YouTube))

The Muppets at the 2009 D23 Expo

Promotional slide for The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora.

A preview of the then upcoming Youtube videos during the presentation.

(from left to right) Fozzie, Gonzo, and Pepe, turned into chickens by Disney Magic at the Muppets Presentation.

Gonzo, Fozzie Bear and Pepe meeting fans after the Muppets Presentation.

The Muppets Presentation

The Muppets were scheduled to appear at a special presentation by The Muppets Studio on Sunday, September 13. Before entering the venue, each of the attendees received a raffle ticket, and throughout the presentation, various pieces of Muppet merchandise were raffled off. The presentation, hosted by Lylle Breier, detailed some of the future plans for the Muppets. Pepe the King Prawn, Sam the Eagle, Gonzo, Fozzie Bear and the Swedish Chef appeared.(End of presentation clip: (YouTube))

Projects announced included :

• The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made! (later set aside in favor of The Muppets)
• A Muppet Halloween special for Halloween 2010 (later postponed. )
• An online cooking show with Cat Cora for Fall 2009 (later released Fall 2010)
• More viral Muppet videos for 2010
• Updates to Muppet*Vision 3D and Muppet Mobile Lab, plus the creation of a mobile unit for The Electric Mayhem for the Disney parks
• Expansion and updates to The Muppet Whatnot Workshop, including new Whatnot parts and workshops in the Disney parks
• The Muppets Revisited album coming in 2010 (later retitled The Green Album and released in 2011)
• The Muppet Show: Season Four and Studio DC: Almost Live on DVD in 2010 (The release of season four was later pushed back)
• A From the Balcony book by Statler and Waldorf (never produced)
• The "Green and Lovin' It" line of products at the Disney Store
• Steiff plush dolls
• Vinylmation figures
• Pook-a-Looz dolls
• Muppet Halloween costumes
• New Muppet iPhone Apps and Mobile Comics
• Television appearances on upcoming episodes of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", "America's Funniest Home Videos", "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon", and ABC's "Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade"
• Kermit at the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
• Collaboration with Andrea Bocelli on Bocelli's Christmas album My Christmas, and on Andrea Bocelli & David Foster: My Christmas

After the presentation, everyone in attendance received a Muppet Myzos bracelet and could wait in line to meet Fozzie, Gonzo, and Pepe, and have their pictures taken with them.

Promotional slides for iPhones Apps that were planned at the time, but never produced; Gonzo's Grams...

...Pepe's Love Meter...

...Statler and Waldorf's theatre.

Sam addresses the attendees.

Gonzo, Fozzie, and Pepe...

...meeting fans after the presentation.

Around the Show Floor

Displays on the show floor offered glimpses of upcoming Muppet merchandise as well as some Muppet memorabilia.

BOOM! Studios booth at the 2009 Expo

Jim Henson & The Muppets painting by Paul Madden at the 2009 Expo

Muppet Mobile Lab display in the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts pavilion at the 2009 Expo

Signed Muppet Mobile Lab portrait at the 2009 Expo

Vinylmation display at the 2009 Expo

eFX Inc. display at the 2009 Expo

Pook-a-Looz display at the 2009 Expo

Macy's Glamorama display at the 2009 Expo

Electric Mayhem giclées at the 2009 Expo

D23 Expo 2011

thumb|300px|right|D23 Expo 2011 highlights reel featuring Miss Piggy, Kermit, and Rowlf [[Video:Henson Podcast |thumb|300px|right|Complete Jim Henson portion of the Disney Legends Ceremony, video uploaded by The Jim Henson Company.]] The second D23 Expo was held in Anaheim, California, August 19-21, 2011.

Disney Legends Ceremony

The 2011 Disney Legends Ceremony took place Friday, August 19, where Jim Henson was named a Disney Legend. A montage of some of Jim's work was shown, the walk-around Sweetums helped present his award and Lisa Henson and Brian Henson gave speeches. In addition, Brian and Leslie Carrara-Rudolph performed Stuffed and Unstrung's version of "I've Grown Accustomed to Your Face." Kermit the Frog and Rowlf the Dog made a surprise appearance, performing a live rendition of "The Rainbow Connection", inviting the audience to sing along.

Backstage with Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog and Rowlf the Dog on August 19, 2011.

Lisa Henson at the Disney Legends ceremony

Brian Henson at the Disney Legends ceremony

"I've Grown Accustomed to Your Face" performance

Kermit and Rowlf

Kermit and Rowlf with Tom Bergeron

Lisa and Brian Henson with the Sweetums walk-around

Inside the Walt Disney Studios

On Saturday, August 20, Jason Segel, Kermit, and Miss Piggy were scheduled to make an appearance at the Walt Disney Studios arena presentation to promote The Muppets. Jason and Kermit were sitting on stage, while Piggy arrived a few moments later on a motorcycle. They then presented two clips from the movie.

Media highlights reel of presentation; (YouTube))

Walt Disney Studios presentation

Kermit, Jason Segel, and Miss Piggy (in motorcycle sidecar)

Around the Show Floor

The Muppets standee at the Walt Disney Studios pavilion

Sign in the Walt Disney Studios pavilion

Kermit paper hats in the Collectors Forum

Animal artwork in the Collectors Forum

Muppet nail polish...

...in the Disney Living pavilion

Muppets art in the Collectors Forum

Muppet Vinylmation in the Collectors Forum

2012 Hallmark Christmas ornament announced at D23

Dick Van Dyke & The Vantastix

Also on August 19, Dick Van Dyke appeared in a musical presentation and performed songs with The Vantastix. Among their songs was a Sesame Street medley, which included the "Sesame Street Theme", "The People in Your Neighborhood", "Rubber Duckie", "Bein' Green" and "I Love Trash." (YouTube)

D23′s Muppet-acular Mayhem at D Street

On November 17, 2011, D23 held a Muppet-acular Mayhem at D Street event exclusively for D23 members and their guests at Downtown Disney in Anaheim, California for the debut of new Muppet clothing, original artwork, and skate decks. There were light refreshments and a live DJ.

D23's Disney and Dickens

On December 5 & 6, 2011, D23 held their Disney and Dickens event for its members at the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California. Some of Disney's classic Christmas films were screened, including The Muppet Christmas Carol.

D23 Expo 2013

The third D23 Expo will be held in Anaheim, California August 9-11, 2013.

External links

• Official website
• D23's YouTube channel