2025 Destination D23 Schedule Released With No Specific Parks Panel, Will There Still Be Parks News?

Disney just released the schedule for the 2025 Destination D23 event that is taking place at Walt Disney World. This event takes place every other year opposite the D23 Expo.

In the past, the event has been history-focused, but the most recent Destination D23 event offered up big theme parks news for Walt Disney World fans including details on new Disney World rides. Today we have a look at the 2025 event schedule and information on what news might be coming based on looking at the schedule.

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Destination D23 2025 Schedule Released

The schedule for Destination D23 2025 has now been released and can be seen below. Some of these are cryptic. Notably, there is not a Disney Parks presentation listed here explicitly.

The Destination D23 event is taking place on August 29, 30, and 31, 2025. Tickets for the event sold out almost instantly when they went on sale in April 2025. The event is being held at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. In the past, Destination D23 has been held at Disney's Contemporary Resort. This new location gives them even more room for an expanded show floor.

Beyond the presentations, the show floor will include shopping and a Walt Disney Archives exhibit. See all details on those Destination D23 2025 offerings here. They will offer exclusive merchandise including from the Walt Disney Imagineering Mickey's of Glendale store.

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Here's the just-released 2025 Destination D23 schedule. The below schedules are via D23.

This is the Saturday 2025 schedule:

This is the Sunday 2025 schedule:

Looking at the above schedule, we can tell exactly what some of these events are going to be, but other events are far less clear. There are also quite a few short moments called out on the schedule. Are these just filler bits?

I am quite looking forward to a number of these history panels and film updates that are listed here. I'm curious to learn more about each of these. In particular, I am hopeful about the X Atencio panel that is likely tied to the new book about this Disney Legend and the Walt Disney Studios Showcase. Dan Povenmire, the creator of Phineas and Ferb, is also a lot of fun and someone I am looking forward to seeing speak.

Update! We now have the descriptions for the events above. Here they are.

Walt Disney Studios Showcase

An exclusive look at the movies fans love, and a glimpse into what to look forward to from Disney’s film studios.

X Atencio: The Untold Story of a Disney Legend

Disney Legend, X Atencio, is most well-known for writing the song lyrics and attraction scripts for Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. However, in the shadow of such iconic works, the rest of his story has remained largely untold—until now. Learn more about X's legacy as one of Walt's most versatile employees in an intimate conversation with his family and authors of the upcoming book Xavier “X” Atencio: The Legacy of an Artist, Imagineer, and Disney Legend, ahead of its wide release on November 4. Guests will get the opportunity to view unreleased artwork and photographs from X's personal collection and hear previously untold stories chronicling his 46-year career.

Be Our Guest with Disney on Broadway

Be Our Guest with Disney on Broadway will feature performances by Michael James Scott (Genie) in Aladdin on Broadway and Danny Gardner (Lumiere) in the North American Tour of Beauty and The Beast. In between performances, Susan Egan (original Belle in Beauty and The Beast on Broadway), will join her Disney on Broadway family for a magical panel conversation.

What’Cha Doin’ With Phineas and Ferb’s Dan Povenmire and Swampy Marsh

Get ready for some big laughs and doodles with Phineas and Ferb co-creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh. Draw along with them for this lively and interactive session as they share insider sketching tips and fun behind-the-scenes stories on the latest season of the show. Whether you're a longtime fan or just discovering the world of Danville, this is one panel you won’t want to miss.

D2K Animated Classics

We’re throwin’ it back to the early 2000s-era of Walt Disney Animation Studios! Join us for a look back at some fan-favorite titles from this bold, colorful, and nostalgic decade that brought to life many iconic films that booted up the new millennium, including Tarzan, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Treasure Planet, and Brother Bear. This deep dive is sure to be a total blast from the past!

Creating The Happiest Place on Earth

Join Disney Legend, filmmaker, and author, Don Hahn, and acclaimed filmmaker with deep Disney roots, Leslie Iwerks, for a discussion on The Happiest Place on Earth. Together, they’ll explore Walt Disney’s vision and the legacy and nostalgia of Disneyland in honor of the resort’s 70th anniversary.

What’s Cooking with Disney Eats?

Take your seat at the table! We’re cooking up something special and you’re invited to be a part of the live audience in the Disney Eats kitchen. From Mickey bars to Michelin stars, this panel is a foodie experience you won't want to miss!

Boom, Baby! 25 Years of The Emperor’s New Groove

A panel celebrating 25 years of The Emperor’s New Groove? Bring it on. Join us for a conversation about how this quirky, fan-favorite film found its groove to become an iconic Disney classic. You’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories, little-known fun facts, and more surprises for a must-see panel to lever-age!

Disney Villains: Icons of Evil

Join Disney Experiences (and some of your favorite troublemakers) for a panel discussion on how Disney Villains experiences come to life around the world. Hear directly from the creative minds behind new projects and attractions, plus enjoy a special Villains-themed medley to kick off Destination D23 day two.

Part of Our World

Get the tea from under the sea! Join us for a conversation between Disney Legend (and voice of Ariel) Jodi Benson and The Little Mermaid co-director Ron Clements, as they share stories and reminisce about their work together at Disney. Ride the currents and get close to being part of their world, one with princesses of the land and sea, plus whozits, whatsits and more to shell-ebrate!

The Disney Family Legacy with Roy P. Disney

From a Dreaming Tree to the Disney Family Tree—D23 Gold Members are invited to take an intimate look into Disney family life with Roy P. Disney, as he shares photographs and stories about his childhood, his memories of his great uncle Walt Disney, his grandfather Roy O. Disney, and more, in a conversation moderated by Director of the Walt Disney Archives, Becky Cline!

Down the Rabbit Hole with the Walt Disney Archives

Go down the rabbit hole to discover the “Disney you didn’t know” as the Walt Disney Archives shares more of the most astonishing Disney discoveries, connections, and little-known facts that will change everything—or at least some things—you thought you knew about the Disney universe. In this all-new and updated outing, you'll never guess where in the world we'll end up next!

Stay Tuned: You’re Watching Disney Channel

Join some fan-favorite Disney Channel stars from the past and present as they celebrate the iconic Disney Channel Original Movies and series franchises that bring joy, connection, and magic to generations of fans. Tune in for laughs, fun, and moments you won’t want to miss!

Beyond the Spires: An Insider Look at Disney Castles

Think you know everything about Disney castles? Think again! Join Walt Disney Imagineers as they peel back the plaster and pixie dust to share behind-the-scenes details and little-known facts from castles across the globe. Along the way, they’ll share the global inspirations, design challenges, and maybe even a few surprises that stretch beyond the spires.

A Goofy Movie: 30 Stand Out Years

Come take a road trip down memory lane with director Kevin Lima and Disney Legend Bill Famer (the official voice of Goofy), as they share behind-the-scenes stories and reflect on 30 stand out years of A Goofy Movie fandom.

Will There Still Be Disney Theme Parks News?

Even though there isn't an explicit theme park presentation listed, could we still be getting Disney theme parks news here?

Disney did call out on the D23 website that there will be panels “celebrating the attractions, entertainment and experiences that define Disney theme parks and cruise ships”.

Earlier this year, we heard from Disney that we should not expect a big theme parks news presentation at this event. They made a huge splash at D23 Expo last year with wide-ranging announcements for both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Now, they are in an execution phase to deliver these new theme park projects in quick succession in the coming five years.

Even with that said, I had expected to still have some sort of obvious theme park panel on the schedule where we would get updates on near-term projects and milestone type news.

Looking at this, my best guess is that any Disney theme parks news will come on Sunday morning during the Villains panel that leads into the “Part of Our World” panel presentation. I also anticipate some news during the Disney Eats panel, Disney Castles panel, and maybe during the Disney Studios panel presentation.

I do not anticipate that Parks Chairman Josh D'Amaro will be in attendance and instead expect that we will see Imagineers who are working on these projects to be in attendance and share some smaller updates on what we might see coming to the parks. Their presentations won't be anywhere on the scale of the presentation at the last Destination D23 event in 2023. That event was less than a year after Disney CEO Bob Iger returned to Disney and right as they were ramping up investment into the theme parks with their big announcements push around their goals to turbocharge the Disney theme parks. That was a moment for them to make a splash with fans. That isn't the case right now. There is so much already announced that we need updates and not brand new project announcements.

Based on the timing of the event, it seemed likely that we could get those updates on the Animal Kingdom Encanto & Indiana Jones area and the Cars area. That said, I don't see much on the schedule that could point to this. Based on how far out we are from opening, I wouldn't have expected news about villains, but there is the “Disney Villains: Icons of Evil” block on the schedule, so perhaps we get another piece of information about a villains addition during that period of time. We will see.

We will be in attendance at Destination D23 to bring you the latest Disney news when it is released right here on Mickey Visit. Be sure to join our FREE Mickey Visit newsletter so that you don't miss any of the latest Disney news and planning resources.