D23

D23 is the official fan club of The Walt Disney Company, providing members with exclusive access to Walt Disney Studios news, themed merchandise, and curated experiences tied to Disney Parks, Disney+, and legacy properties from Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney. Founded to celebrate Disney history and current offerings, the organization fosters connections between enthusiasts, corporate divisions like Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Consumer Products, and creative talent across Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios. Its signature in-person showcase, a biennial exposition, draws attendees with panels, previews, and collectible items spotlighting franchises including Star Wars, Avengers (Marvel Comics), and classic animated features such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and The Lion King.

History

Established in 2009, the fan club emerged amid corporate restructuring following acquisitions of Pixar Animation Studios by The Walt Disney Company in 2006 and Marvel Entertainment in 2009. Early initiatives synchronized with retrospectives at institutions like the Walt Disney Family Museum and anniversaries for properties including Sleeping Beauty (1959 film) and Pirates of the Caribbean (film series), leveraging archival materials from the Disney Archives. The organization expanded alongside major corporate milestones such as the launch of Disney+ and the integration of Lucasfilm assets, aligning club programming with promotional campaigns for films like Avengers: Endgame and Star Wars: The Force Awakens as well as park milestones at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

Membership and Chapters

Membership tiers have ranged from complimentary digital offerings to paid "Gold" and "Platinum" levels that provide priority access to events, limited-edition merchandise, and exclusive publications produced in collaboration with Chronicle Books and other publishers. Geographic chapters mirror the global footprint of Disney operations, including organized groups near Anaheim, Orlando, Florida, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disney Resort, fostering local meetups tied to resort anniversaries and screenings at venues such as the El Capitan Theatre. Partnerships with institutions like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Library of Congress have informed special programming for members focused on restoration, preservation, and scholarship.

Events and Activities

The organization's marquee event is a multi-day exposition featuring presentations from executives formerly represented by divisions such as Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, and leadership from Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm. Panels often include creators and performers affiliated with John Lasseter, Kathleen Kennedy, Bob Iger, Jon Favreau, and voice actors from flagship productions. Activities encompass preview screenings, archival exhibitions drawn from the Disney Archives, exclusive merchandise drops at the exposition floor, and themed experiences tied to attractions like Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, and It's a Small World. Other initiatives include online Q&A sessions, restoration screenings at festivals such as the TCL Chinese Theatre showcases, and charitable collaborations with organizations like Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Publications and Media

The group produces a quarterly magazine profiling corporate milestones, archival discoveries, and interviews with creatives from studios including Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm. Limited-edition collectibles and hardcover retrospectives have been issued in partnership with publishers like Abrams Books and Disney Editions, documenting phenomena ranging from the score compositions of Alan Menken to the production history of films such as Fantasia (1940 film) and Mary Poppins. Multimedia offerings include podcast series and video segments featuring behind-the-scenes access to productions and parks, sometimes highlighting restoration work in collaboration with the National Film Registry.

Governance and Organization

Operated under the umbrella of The Walt Disney Company, the club reports through corporate communications and consumer products channels, with executive oversight by leaders formerly associated with divisions like Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media and Disney Parks and Resorts. Advisory boards have included historians and curators from institutions such as the Walt Disney Family Museum and executives from Disney Entertainment and Disney General Entertainment Content. Day-to-day management involves event production teams, editorial staff, and retail partnerships coordinated with suppliers and licensors across the company's global subsidiaries.

Category:Walt Disney Company fan clubs