D23 Expo 2009

D23-muppets — Kermit playing the banjo on top of the Mark Twain riverboat at the "Disney Movie Magic" presentation in 2009.

Kermit-riverboat — The Muppets at the "Disney Movie Magic" presentation in 2009.

D23_Expo_The_Ultimate_Disney_Fan_Event — D23 Expo The Ultimate Disney Fan Event

D23 Expo 2009 highlights reel featuring the Muppets

The first D23 Expo was held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on September 10–13, 2009.

The Muppets appeared as part of the "Disney Movie Magic" presentation and at their own panel presenting a slate of upcoming and in-development projects.

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! (later set aside in favor of The Muppets). The Muppets performed "Rainbow Connection," preceded by Pepe singing "Prince Ali" from Aladdin.^[1]

Appearing on the 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."^[2]

The Muppets Presentation[]

Meetup3b — Gonzo, Fozzie Bear and Pepe meeting fans after the Muppets Presentation.

Muppetcookingshow — Promotional slide for *The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora*.

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

TMS-4DVD — *The Muppet Show: Season Four* was announced for release on DVD.

Magic2b — (from left to right) Fozzie, Gonzo, and Pepe, turned into chickens by Disney Magic at the Muppets Presentation.

The Muppets appeared 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))

Many projects were announced in the presentation, however management and strategic changes shortly afterwards caused many of them to be left unfinished or unreleased. Projects announced included:^[3]^[4]^[5]

The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made! (later set aside in favor of The Muppets)
A Muppet Halloween special for Halloween 2010 (later postponed,^[6] then cancelled).
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 (the Muppet*Vision updates and Mayhem unit did not occur)
Expansion and updates to The Muppet Whatnot Workshop, including new Whatnot parts and workshops in the Disney parks (expansion into the Disney parks did not occur)
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 former was never released, though Studio DC would see an "extended edition" release in Germany)
A From the Balcony book by Statler and Waldorf (the book was 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 (these were not released)
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.