The Disney Legends Ceremony had the honor of kicking off the 2019 D23 Expo this morning. 12 Disney stars were celebrated for their work with the company. Here are the highlights from the 2019 Disney Legends ceremony at D23 Expo.
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2019 Disney Legends Honored at D23 Expo
Every two years, legends are celebrated at the D23 Expo Legends Ceremony. It was held at 10 a.m. in Hall D23 of the Anaheim Convention Center on the first day of the D23 Expo.
And it was, as you can expect, legendary. And it all made me cry. A lot.
This is just one special panel to attend every year!
D23 EXPO 2019 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which takes place August 23 – 25 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. (The Walt Disney Company/Image Group LA)
MICKEY MOUSE, MING-NA WEN
The No-Guilt Fangirls Podcast Disney D23 Expo Day 1 Recap: Disney Legends & Disney+ Panels
Crazy long but awesome day at the 2019 D23 Expo! Sharing our thoughts on the Disney Legends panel, the Disney+ panel, and High School Musical: The Musical The Series Panel. (yes, that’s really the name!)
Joined by a few friends, we talk about our favorite legend moments.
Want more Disney+ info from the Panel? Hop over the Now Streaming Disney Plus podcast to hear the scoop!
Who Are the 2019 Disney Legend Honorees?
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Bette Midler
- Wing Chao
- Jon Favreau
- James Earl Jones
- Kenny Ortega
- Barnette Ricci
- Robin Roberts
- Diane Sawyer
- Ming-Na Wen
- Hans Zimmer
- Christina Aguilera
Highlights From The Disney Legends Ceremony at D23 Expo
I’ve been to three D23 Expos and three Legends ceremonies. But the 2019 ceremony wins for making me cry big ol fangirl tears.
We had RDJ kick things off with a sweet new way to say We Love You 3000. And he had a charming story about his first visit to Disneyland. Ahem.
D23 EXPO 2019 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which takes place August 23 – 25 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. (The Walt Disney Company/Image Group LA)
ROBERT DOWNEY JR.
Then I was a puddle when Barnette Ricci talked about how honored and loved she felt by receiving this award. She’s choreographed so many of the fan’s favorite parades over the years!
You could tell her honor was personal and deep.
I love that the fans gave her such an incredible welcome, too!
D23 EXPO 2019 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which takes place August 23 – 25 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. (The Walt Disney Company/Image Group LA)
BARNETTE RICCI
My personal favorite, however, was Ming-Na Wen and her tribute to her mother, the person who taught her how to be a strong woman and who drives her characters.
You can watch Ming-Na’s speech below.
Or maybe it was Robin Roberts and her heartfelt appreciation for “working for a company where all we want to do is touch people’s hearts.”
Guys, it was all so good!
D23 EXPO 2019 – The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – brings together all the worlds of Disney under one roof for three packed days of presentations, pavilions, experiences, concerts, sneak peeks, shopping, and more. The event, which takes place August 23 – 25 at the Anaheim Convention Center, provides fans with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, games, theme parks, and celebrities. (The Walt Disney Company/Image Group LA)
ROBIN ROBERTS, ROBERT A. IGER (CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY)
Ming-Na Wen Acceptance Speech at D23 Expo Legends
Patty Holliday is a parent movie reviewer, writer, and podcaster living in the Washington, DC area. Her goal is to bridge the gap between casual fandom and picky critic with parent movie and television reviews. As a lifelong fangirl and pop culture connoisseur, she’s been creating online since 2009. You can find her work at No-Guilt Disney.com, No-Guilt Fangirl.com, No-Guilt Life, and as host of the top-rated No-Guilt Disney Podcast.