D23 has announced the next D23 Spotlight Series event, "55 Magical Years of Storytelling," set for October 4, 2026, at Disney's Contemporary Resort. The event marks Walt Disney: 125 Years of Inspiration and the 55th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort.
Tickets go on sale Friday, August 28, 2026, at 10am PST/1pm EST.
Ticket Options
- Panel-Only: $59 (+$3 processing fee) per ticket
- VIP: $159 (+$3 processing fee) per ticket
What's on the Panel
The event opens with Disney Legend Joe Rohde, former Imagineer, discussing storytelling and looking back on his 40-year career with Walt Disney Imagineering.
The Walt Disney Archives team follows with a session on the history of Carousel of Progress. Archivists and Imagineers will share new additions to the Archives collection uncovered during the attraction's ongoing refurbishment, along with details on what's coming next.
All attendees receive a limited-release pin featuring the classic Walt Disney World Resort logo.
Panel-Only Ticket Details
Includes:
- D23 Spotlight Series: 55 Magical Years of Storytelling panel discussion
- Limited-release Walt Disney World Resort pin
Itinerary:
- 5:15pm: Check-in begins at the second-floor registration desk
- 6pm to approximately 7:30pm: Panel discussion
VIP Ticket Details
Includes everything in the panel-only ticket, plus:
- Dessert reception at the West Rotunda outside Disney's Contemporary Resort
- Two character meet-and-greet opportunities during the reception
- A coupon package from select Disney Springs partners
Itinerary:
- 4:45pm: Check-in begins at the second-floor registration desk
- 6pm to approximately 7:30pm: Panel discussion
- 8pm to 9pm: VIP dessert reception at the West Rotunda
- 9pm to approximately 9:20pm: Fireworks viewing from Disney's Contemporary Resort
Tickets are available at tickets.d23.com.
WDWMAGIC Intelligence
Answers from our archive, with sources
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