Donald Duck appeared on Hot Ones as part of his 90th birthday celebration. The unique aspect was that he ate cauliflower wings instead of actual chicken wings, avoiding the irony of a bird eating bird meat. The appearance was a collaboration with Disney to celebrate Donald's long history in entertainment.
The Honda Center hosted major showcase panels during D23, accommodating 12,000 fans. Its use reduced the stress of securing seats, as attendees had reserved seating for each night. The venue created a special atmosphere, especially during the Legends ceremony, where inductees were visibly moved by the large, enthusiastic crowd.
The highlight of the Legends ceremony was the induction of Star Wars icons like Harrison Ford, John Williams, and Frank Oz. Frank Oz's heartfelt speech, where he credited Jim Henson, George Lucas, and Mark Hamill for his success, was particularly memorable. The ceremony also celebrated the integration of Star Wars creators into Disney's legacy.
Bri Bertolaccini, from the Walt Disney Family Museum, co-led a panel at D23 promoting the book 'Walt Disney Treasures: Personal Art and Artifacts from the Walt Disney Family Museum.' The book highlights over 250 objects from the museum's collection, offering new insights and personal anecdotes about Walt Disney's life and legacy.
One surprising discovery was a 16th birthday portrait of Sharon Disney, Walt's younger daughter, painted by Herb Ryman. The portrait, which had been kept by Sharon's family, was revealed alongside Diane Disney's portrait, offering a rare glimpse into the personal lives of Walt's daughters.
The most memorable cosplay was a trio dressed as the Hitchhiking Ghosts from the Haunted Mansion. Their costumes were incredibly detailed, with scrims over their faces to mimic the hazy appearance of the animatronics. The cosplay was praised for its accuracy and creativity.
This week, Jeff is joined by guests from the Skywalking Through Neverland and WD-FM podcasts to discuss the 2024 D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event in this part 2 of our coverage of the event. Richard and Sarah from "Skywalking" join Jeff to share some of their highlights from the event and the Legends ceremony, and then Bri Bertolaccini from the Walt Disney Family Museum (and the WD-FM podcast) joins the show to talk about her panel at D23 all about a new book coming soon that she helped develop, research and write. Finally, Jeff shares his top 23 moments from the event from the panels, the showfloor, and Honda Center. Plus - Donald Duck eating... hot wings?