by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 10:45 AM ET, Wed March 20, 2024
The upcoming D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event happening in Anaheim on August 9-11 will offer three days of wonderful programming for Disney fans, including a Disney Legends Awards Ceremony.
D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, is presented by Visa and will be held at the Honda Center in Anaheim. The special Disney Legends Awards Ceremony will be held on August 11 and hosted by Ryan Seacrest.
One such Disney Legend being awarded is Martha Blanding, one of the first Black women in resort history to be a full-time VIP Tour Guide, as well as the first Black female buyer and first Black female manager. She began in 1971 and worked for over fifty years at Disney, and co-founded PULSE, a Business Employee Resource Group for Black cast members and employees.
Another Disney Legend is Joe Rohde, who worked with Walt Disney Imagineering to lead notable projects like Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and its subsequent expansions, as well as The Adventurers Club and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. In 2022, Rohde received the Disney Conservation Fund’s first Conservation Legacy Awards.
Other 2024 Disney Legends Honorees include Angela Bassett, James Cameron, Harrison Ford, John Williams and more.
Besides the awards ceremony, D23 will offer the largest show floor in D23 history, offering pavilions from major Disney franchises, a new exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives, several shopping experiences and the Disney Experience Showcase, held on August 10 and hosted by Josh D’Amaro, which will be a culmination of all new and upcoming projects for Disney across its parks, experiences, movies and beyond.
Guests can purchase a selection of pass options, ranging from a 1-day ticket to a 3-day pass, as well as a special fan pass for D23 Gold Members.
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