Magical Road Trip: Disney Fanniversary Celebration

The traveling event puts the spotlight on classic favorites galore.

A GLAD GATHERING: Summertime is known as the season when some of the largest, most elaborate, and truly tidbit-packed pop culture conventions unfurl. Comic-Con International lands in San Diego in late July, and the official "Star Trek" convention in Las Vegas around early August, and then? It just might be time for D23 Expo, the mega Disney fan party that magically alights, Tinkerbell-style, at the Anaheim Convention Center. But like Tinkerbell often finds herself busy and off flitting about, sprinkling sparkles, the expo comes around every two years, with 2015 the next big date. So what's a California buff of All Things Magic Kingdom to do? They can make for the nearest D23 Disney Fanniversary Celebration, a traveling, treat-laden show that'll visit eleven cities around the U.S. from August to October. Three of those cities are in the Golden State, meaning that if you're near Burbank on Aug. 9, San Diego on Aug. 10, or San Francisco on Aug. 16 and 17, you can join the mouse-eared fun. And on the Disney-esque docket? A commemoration of the "dozens of magical Disney milestones celebrating landmark anniversaries this year."

"MARY POPPINS"... is absolutely one of those -- happy 50th, Mary! -- and her iconic hat will be part of the tour. As will a host of other goodies, and they'll be stellar: Disney archivists and the D23 team are behind the Fanniversary fun. Look and listen for artifacts and/or fresh excerpts from the 55-year-old "Sleeping Beauty," from "The Little Mermaid" (that's 25 this year), and the hinge-creakiest attraction of them all, the Haunted Mansion, which marks its 45th in August. Oh, and, you betcha, Donald Duck shall get plenty of accolades and attention, as the irascible, sailor hat-sporting character practically demands. General public tickets? They're forty dollars, and less for D23 members. Can and should you wear your mouse ears, your pirate hat, your Mr. Toad vest, your Space Mountain button? Yes, yes, yes, and you have one of those? Cool. Jealous, in a friendly, fan-like way.

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