The Walt Disney Studios Adds to D23 Expo Excitement With Presentations by Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook and Animation Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter, Plus U.S. Premieres of 'Toy Story' Films in Disney Digital 3D(TM) and Digitally Restored Debuts of 'Snow White' and 'Tron'

The Walt Disney Studios Adds to D23 Expo Excitement With Presentations by Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook and Animation Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter, Plus U.S. Premieres of 'Toy Story' Films in Disney Digital 3D(TM) and Digitally Restored Debuts of 'Snow White' and 'Tron'

BURBANK, Calif., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The Walt Disney Studios is jumping on the D23 Expo bandwagon with four days (September 10-13) of exciting programming that includes major overviews of upcoming films by Disney Studios Chairman Dick Cook and Disney-Pixar Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter, plus a full schedule of events spotlighting new releases and newly restored digital versions of classic favorites.

Cook will present exclusive sneak peeks at such highly anticipated Disney features as "Disney's A Christmas Carol," Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland," "Old Dogs" (with Robin Williams and John Travolta), "Prince of Persia" and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (both from producer Jerry Bruckheimer), "Tron: Legacy," plus updates on many more exciting projects. Lasseter will discuss and show materials from such upcoming Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios' motion pictures as "The Princess and the Frog," "Rapunzel," "Toy Story 3," etc. Both presentations will be held at The Anaheim Convention Center in a 4000-seat arena.

All other film screenings and programs will take place in The Walt Disney Studios Theater (at the Anaheim Convention Center), a custom-built state-of-the-art venue with 3D capability, located within the Convention Center. All Disney Digital 3D(TM) presentations will be shown in RealD 3D, the world's most widely used 3D cinema technology. Among the U.S. premieres at the D23 Expo will be new Disney Digital 3D(TM) versions of "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2," the digital conversion of the original "Tron," and a newly restored digital version of the Walt Disney classic "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Expo guests will get an exclusive look at all things Muppets, as well as meet the filmmakers and see exclusive presentations for such highly anticipated new Disney features as "The Princess and the Frog," "Toy Story 3" (from Disney-Pixar), "Tron: Legacy," "Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure" (from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment), and the new ABC-TV holiday animated special, "Prep and Landing."

The Expo will also debut selected scenes from the upcoming Disney Digital 3D(TM) version of the Studio's 1991 modern classic, "Beauty and the Beast." Other highlights of the four-day event include a program devoted to the music from "The Lion King," a panel discussion and screening of "Sleeping Beauty," and the first U.S. screening of "Trail of the Panda" (Disney's second co-production with China). There will also be presentations on two recent documentaries - "the boys: the sherman brothers' story" and "Walt & El Grupo."

A special screening series, "Fifty and Fabulous," will unspool at 10:00 pm in the Studio Theater on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights spotlighting films that are celebrating their 50th anniversary - "Darby O'Gill and the Little People," "The Shaggy Dog," and "Sleeping Beauty."

   D23 EXPO - WALT DISNEY STUDIOS THEATER   PROGRAM OF EVENTS    THURSDAY 9/10    1:00 PM    "Beauty and the Beast" panel discussion;              and screening of selected scenes in Disney Digital 3D(TM)    4:00 PM    "The Lion King" music program    7:00 PM    "the boys: the sherman brothers story"              panel discussion/ screening    10:00 PM   "Darby O'Gill and the Little People" screening    FRIDAY 9/11    11:00 AM   Dick Cook / Walt Disney Studios presentation (in the Arena)    1:00 PM    Screening of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" in              Disney Digital 3D(TM) plus Tim Burton shorts, "Frankenweenie"              and "Vincent"    4:00 PM    "Tron"/ "Tron: Legacy" presentation;              Digital debut screening of original "Tron"    7:30 PM    "Walt & El Grupo" presentation;              Followed by screening of "Saludos Amigos"    10:00 PM   "The Shaggy Dog" screening     SATURDAY 9/12    10:00 AM   Disneynature presentation    12:00 PM   "Snow White" panel discussion;              Followed by screening of Restored Print    3:00 PM    "Princess and the Frog" presentation    5:30 PM    "Prep and Landing" presentation    7:30 PM    "Trail of the Panda" screening    10:00 PM   "Sleeping Beauty" screening    SUNDAY 9/13    11:00 AM   John Lasseter / Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios              presentation (in the Arena)    1:00 PM    "Muppets" presentation    4:00 PM    "Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure" screening    6:30 PM    "Toy Story 3" presentation;    7:00 PM    "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" debuts in Disney Digital 3D(TM)   

Tickets to the D23 EXPO are available at http://www.d23expo.com/. Admission includes access to all experiences and entertainment at the D23 EXPO and can be purchased for single days or for the full four days of festivities. Admission is $37 for a one-day adult ticket and $27 for children 3-12. Four-day passes are $111 for adults and $81 for children. Members of D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans will receive a discount on up to four admissions, as well as early entry to each day of the D23 EXPO for themselves and their guests.

Special vacation packages including Disneyland Resort hotel accommodations, D23 EXPO tickets and theme park admission are available at the D23 EXPO website. Packages are available from both the Walt Disney Travel Company and the Anaheim/ Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, which is offering a limited number of area hotel rooms at special rates to those attending the D23 EXPO.

Many more details about D23 EXPO entertainment, events and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans can keep up with all the news by visiting www.D23EXPO.com, as well as by following "Disney D23" at Twitter and on Facebook.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: The Walt Disney Studios

CONTACT: Heidi Trotta of The Walt Disney Studios, +1-818-560-7280,
heidi.trotta@disney.com, or Paul Roeder of The Walt Disney Company and D23,
+1-818-560-6166, paul.m.roeder@disney.com

Web Site: http://www.d23expo.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Please contact D23Communications@disney.com to learn more about coverage opportunities.

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Profile: International Entertainment