By D23 Team
Before we welcome in the new year, take a look at some of our favorite Disney moments from 2016!
Groundbreaking of Star Wars-Themed Lands
While the news of these galactic expansions to Disneyland in Anaheim and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida first broke back at D23 Expo 2015, construction on the lands started in the spring of this year. Full immersion into our favorite Star Wars worlds is only a lightspeed jump away! We can’t wait to finally live out our dreams of being a rebel or a Jedi in the heart of some of our favorite Disney theme parks!
Disney Movie Magic
This year we explored the depths of the jungles, sailed across the ocean, discovered a city run by animals, and even blasted off to a galaxy far, far away. In 2016, there’s always been a reason to go to the movies, from letting everyone know whether you’re #TeamCap or #TeamIronMan for Captain America: Civil War; to preparing to try everything with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde in Zootopia; to watching your favorite childhood book come to life with The BFG. We’ve gone on adventures to far-off worlds and amazing locations with Moana, The Jungle Book, Finding Dory, and Alice Through the Looking Glass. With the help of Doctor Strange and Pete’s Dragon, we’ve uncovered the magic hiding in our very own world. And there’s no better way to end the year than with a little bit of hope from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, bringing us a thrilling tale of rebellion we’ll be talking about for the rest of this year and into the next!
An Emotional Win
Speaking of amazing movies, Inside Out captured our hearts in 2015, but we were even more emotional when the Disney•Pixar film won the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film in February.
D23 Events
D23 Members kicked off 2016 as the first D23 group to tour Walt Disney’s newly restored office suite on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California! And Speaking of D23 firsts, members of the Official Disney Fan Club gathered in Chicago, Illinois, to be the first group ever to tour the birthplace of Walter Elias Disney and Roy Oliver Disney.
Highlights of D23 events also include the star-studded premieres of The BFG, Pete’s Dragon and Moana—where D23 Members were in attendance for the red carpet arrivals! Plus, D23’s Fanniversary celebrated 25 years of Beauty and the Beast by traveling to six cities across the country with complimentary screenings of the classic film and surprises from original cast members!
Our biggest event of the year took place at Walt Disney World Resort during Destination D: Amazing Adventures! During the two-day celebration, D23 Members took an inside look at Pandora – The World of Avatar with James Cameron, Jon Landau, and Joe Rohde, went beyond-the-waves of Moana with screenwriter Jared Bush, and took a historical look back at some of Disney’s amazing adventures with Disney Legends Marty Sklar and Tony Baxter!
Hello, Shanghai Disney Resort!
A top moment for us and an important moment in Disney history: Shanghai Disney Resort opened its doors on June 16, 2016. The sixth Disney resort in the world, Shanghai Disney Resort features some of the most innovative and immersive attractions ever created by Walt Disney Imagineering. The resort may have just opened this year, but we’re sure it will create magic for Disney fans around the world for years to come.
Holiday Happenings
The holidays got even happier at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort with a myriad of merry magic throughout both resorts. From an all-new World of Color and a foodie paradise at Disney California Adventure park, to an electrifying new nighttime spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there’s a lot to celebrate this season at Disney theme parks. We can’t wait for these new experiences to become part of our Disney holiday traditions.
Discovering Disney Springs
The reimagined shopping, dining, and entertainment hub of Walt Disney World Resort had its grand opening this year! New shops like Amorette’s Patisserie, The Ganachery, and UNIQLO are already on our must-do list each time we visit Disney Springs.
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