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It’s a good year to be a D23 Member, and it looks like 2017 is just as promising. At this weekend’s D23 event, Destination D, a slew of events were announced to wrap this year and carry Disney fans throughout 2017.
WATCH:
SCREENINGS ON THE DISNEY STUDIO LOT AND AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT
Just as it has this past year, D23 plans to continue offering special screenings of classic Disney movies on both coasts in 2017. The movie picks for the upcoming year include Tangled and Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. As can be expected, the screenings of these films will be tied with brief looks at the evolving franchises of those films [think Disney Channel’s Tangled: The Series and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales].  In Orlando, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh will be screened exclusively for D23 Members as well. And nearing the end of the year, D23 Members can also look forward to a spooktacular Halloween screening event that will include a special exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives (although the archivists are still keeping details of that event under wraps at the moment). While this is all very exciting, the big news that excited the press room this afternoon was the announcement that D23 was gearing up to celebrate “Disney Afternoon” favorites. DuckTales, Gummy Bears, and Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers will be showcased at a screening event in the Studio lot with special guests, picture spots, and a few more surprises. To say this  created a stir in the room would be an understatement.
THE OFFICIAL WALT DISNEY STUDIOS TOUR
D23 Gold Member-exclusive tours of the historic Studio lot will return in 2017, including a look inside the Walt Disney Archives and a tour of Walt Disney’s office suite. The tour will be 2.5 hours long and offer fans a unique perspective on historic moments from Disney film, television shows, and theme parks.
D23 BEHIND-THE-SCENES EXPERIENCES
January of 2017 will also bring the first of several behind-the-scenes events at unique Disney locations. Special guests and gifts tailored to each event can be expected. This follows this past year where members explored the Ink & Paint Department on The Walt Disney Studios lot and an after-hours tour of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Walt Disney World Resort.
D23’s LUNCH WITH A DISNEY LEGEND
February will see the return of exclusive luncheons with Disney luminaries. These events give members the chance to meet Disney Legends and hear their fascinating stories in a more intimate setting. The events return to both Walt Disney World Resort and The Walt Disney Studios. No specific names have been announced for the upcoming year’s lineup, but with personalities like Glen Keane, Marty Sklar, and Kathryn Beaumont in the books already, it isn’t unreasonable to expect some incredible people to be announced soon.
ADVANCE SCREENINGS
Members will be invited to many exclusive, advance screenings of 2017’s most popular releases from The Walt Disney Studios. Building on the success of such screenings like Zootopia, The Jungle Book, and Finding Dory, D23 plans to continue its run of popular events like these. And for members who don’t live in the bigger cities where these screenings are held, D23 is giving D23 Gold Members a chance to be selected for complimentary movie passes. These passes will be included within the pages of Disney twenty-three, D23’s quarterly publication.
D23 DISNEY FANNIVERSARYÂ CELEBRATION — EPCOT 35
Ok. This one is a biggie. D23 is heading to the parks in honor of Epcot’s 35th anniversary. Epcot, originally announced as the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow by Walt Disney in 1966, has continued to grow and evolve over the years. D23 Members will find a plethora of video, illustrations, and photographs online to complement a host of stories in honor of this landmark occasion. Additionally, D23 plans to hold a special member event at Walt Disney World Resort in honor of the anniversary.
SIGNATURE EVENTS
D23 is bringing back Sip & Stroll to the next Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, but on the west coast, D23 will debut a new event in conjunction with Disneyland Resort’s culinary festivities. And after the 2016 event that took members to the Walt Disney Birthplace in Chicago, D23 is returning to the Windy City to see the progress that has been made on the home’s restoration. And, of course, signature events can be expected for the holidays on both coasts. Hopefully, we will hear more details about that soon.
D23 EXPO 2017
It’s happening again. This time July 14-16, 2017, at the home base of Anaheim Convention Center. We are told that–as always–there will be fantastic live performances, star-studded presentations, and exclusive collectibles.
Dates, ticketing information, and more D23 events will be announced throughout the year. Full details on D23’s lineup of 2017 special events can be found on the Fan Club’s website here. All events and dates are subject to change.
JANUARY 14: The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour–Presented by D23, Burbank, CA
JANUARY : D23 Behind-the-Scenes Experience, TBA
FEBRUARY 4: Tangled, Burbank, CA
FEBRUARY 11: Tangled, Walt Disney World Resort
FEBRUARY: Lunch with a Disney Legend: TBA, Walt Disney World Resort
April 8: The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour–Presented by D23, Burbank CA
April: Lunch with a Disney Legend: TBA, Burbank, CA
April: D23 Behind-the Scenes Experience, TBA
May 13: Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Burbank, CA
May 13: Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Walt Disney World Resort
May: Lunch with a Disney Legend: TBA, Walt Disney World Resort
Spring: Behind-the-Scenes Experience, Walt Disney Birthplace, Chicago
July 14-16: D23 Expo 2017, Anaheim, CA
August 19: “Disney Afternoon” on the Lot, Burbank, CA
August: Lunch with a Disney Legend: TBA, Burbank, CA
September 9: The Official Walt Disney Studios Tour–Presented by D23, Burbank, CA
September: D23 Behind-the-Scenes Experience, TBA
Fall: D23’s Disney Fanniversary: Celebrating 35 Years of Epcot
Fall: Sip & Stroll, Walt Disney World Resort
October 29: Halloween on the Disney Lot, Burbank, CA
November 18: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Walt Disney World
November: Lunch with a Disney Legend: TBA, Burbank, CA
December: Light Up the Season with D23, Burbank, CA
December: D23 Holiday Event at Walt Disney World Resort