On Friday, August 23, 2019, twelve notable people were inducted as Disney Legends at the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, which took place in the 6,800 seat Hall D23 at D23 Expo 2019.
As noted in our previous article about getting into the Anaheim Convention Center on Friday morning, the standby line for the ceremony had already been capped prior to our arrival at 7:40am, which was in contrast to the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony at D23 Expo 2017, which I had been able to walk into with no wait just minutes before it started after having arrived around 8:30am. However, thanks to some Disney magic, I was able to get in as a +1 reservation of a friend of a friend!
Bob Iger, CEO of the Walt Disney Company, hosted the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, which kicked off with Christina Aguilera singing Reflection from Mulan.
Most of the inductees were present to accept their award, except for Hans Zimmer and James Earl Jones, who provided video messages, and Bette Midler, whose daughter, Sophie von Haselberg, accepted the award on her behalf.
Prior to the presentation of each inductee’s award, a short introduction video played which highlighted their accomplishments, especially those which related to Disney.
The twelve inductees were as follows.
- Robert Downey Jr. – actor (Iron Man, The Avengers)
RDJ shared a story about the first time he’d been to Disneyland — and had been detained for smoking pot on the gondola! When a fan shouted “I love you 3000!” he acknowledged them, and held up the number three on one hand, and made three zeros with the other. He thanked the fans, and commented on how he gets to remain a fan of the MCU.
- Diane Sawyer – journalist (ABC News)
Diane recalled the her first Disney experience, which was after her father returned from World War II, and they watched Cinderella. For the first time, she felt that things were possible beyond where she lived.
- Jon Favreau – actor, director, executive producer (The Lion King, The Mandalorian)
Rather than talk about himself, Jon wanted to talk about Walt Disney, who was “the master of bringing the old myths and the magic of technology together to create indelible memories” and the culture that we grew up in. He also pointed out how Walt always tapped into stories from history. Jon brought attention to the award statue itself, which he loved because it is from the Sorcerer’s Apprentice in Fantasia, one of his favorite movies. He thanked Disney for the opportunity to help bring magic to the next generation.
- Hans Zimmer – composer (The Lion King, Pirates of the Caribbean)
As mentioned above, Hans sent a video message, in which he mentioned that Disney had been a home to him for the past 30 years, and is a place that has supported his “outlandish and crazy ideas.” He expressed gratitude for the opportunities he has had to bring the magic of Disney stories to life.
- Robin Roberts – journalist (Good Morning America)
Robin told us a story about how her parents happened to meet Bob Iger at a wedding in the 80s, back when she was just a “cub reporter.” At the time, Bob Iger was a top executive at ABC, and her mother, recognizing that this was a exceptional young man who was going places, got his business card. Robin revealed that Bob Iger had been one of the first to call her when she had gotten breast cancer, and assured her that she would still have a job after having to be out of work for six months. She recalled her first Disney experience as a little girl from Mississippi in 1976, staying at the Contemporary and marveling at the monorail, and upon seeing the fireworks realizing that every night was a celebration. Robin also said that it was a blessing to be part of a company where all they want to do is touch people’s hearts.
- Barnette Ricci – director, choreographer (Fantasmic! creator, parade director, former vice president/show director of Special Events at Walt Disney Studios)
As Barnette came on stage, she was in tears, as she explained that she is an emotional person. She said that the award meant the world to her, and that it was the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to her in her entire life. She referred to her employment with Disney as “the dream job of dream jobs,” and recalled that Disney Legend Bob Jani was the one who started her career when he hired her as staff choreographer. He had been the visionary behind the Main Street Electrical Parade, and brought her on to direct it. Barnette shared a story about Bob, how moments before the parade was about to start, he was fixing some of the lights. It was at that moment that she realized “Every little detail matters.” To her, the audience response to her work is the most rewarding thing she could ever imagine.
- Christina Aguilera – singer (Mulan soundtrack, The Mickey Mouse Club)
When Christina began her acceptance speech, she commented, “This is way cooler than a Grammy!” She pointed out that Disney has been a part of her life story. Christina gushed over having been sitting next to Barnette Ricci, and shared that her first experience at a Disney theme park was actually Tokyo Disney, which Barnette had also worked on. She also shared that Disney’s The Sound of Music is what inspired her to sing. “The world of Disney has made me feel like anything was possible at that young of an age,” she said, adding, “If I could imagine it, I could do it.” Additionally, Christina recalled that when she was on The Mickey Mouse Club, it was the first time she felt like she could be herself and feel comfortable around other kids that enjoyed doing the same things that she did. Lastly, Christina talked about promoting the messages in the song Reflection, and that now she can pass those on to her own children.
- Ming-Na Wen – actress (Mulan, Agents of SHIELD)
Ming-Na referred to herself as a “geek girl,” and implored Disney to keep acquiring franchises so that she could keep being in them! “I have hit every bucket list thanks to Disney!” she gushed. She also talked about how she met her husband when she did The Joy Luck Club, so Disney not only provided her with a career family, but a real family, as they have been married 26 years and have two children together. Ming-Na revealed that she gets her inspiration for these strong female role models from her mother, who had held three jobs as a single mother before meeting her stepfather and coming to America. Her mother, whom she referred to as a “woman warrior, through and through,” was in the audience. She thanked her mother for giving her the courage to be here and live this American dream.
- James Earl Jones – actor (The Lion King, Star Wars)
In his video message, James mentioned that he had had the “great honor” of working with Disney several times over the years and how it was a great honor to be included as a Disney Legend. He ended by saying, “Thank you, and may the force be with you.”
- Wing T. Chao – Imagineer (former vice chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts for Asia Pacific Development, former executive vice president of Walt Disney Imagineering)
- Kenny Ortega – director, choreographer, producer (Hocus Pocus, High School Musical)
- Bette Midler – actress (Hocus Pocus, Oliver & Company)
We left right after the video message from James Earl Jones, because we knew there would be mass chaos of people exiting the Legends panel and heading straight to Hall E to line up for the Disney Plus panel that would also be in Hall D23 later that day at 3:30pm. However, it seemed that a lot of other people had the same idea, as the line extended the entire length of the convention center, all the way from Hall D to Hall A, and had even started to wrap around upon itself at the end of Hall A! It was a few minutes after 12pm at this point.
Fortunately, by the time we made it down to Hall E, there was still Gold Member seating available in Section B (the middle section), and we were able to re-join our friends. Whew!
Once we got wristbanded, a few of us went on a food run out to the food trucks, which were located on the plaza in front of the convention center, but still within the security checkpoint. Since the Legends panel had already been released, the lines were a bit long, so we found the shortest one and brought back food for everyone.
Click here for our recap and photos of the Disney Plus panel at D23 Expo 2019!
You can view more of our photos from the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony below.
