We now know exactly how to watch Horizons: A Carousel of Progress from home. Disney confirmed the D23 Expo Disney Experiences showcase streams live on Disney+ beginning at 7pm PT on Saturday, Aug. 15, giving fans outside the Honda Center a way to follow along. Disney also released the full lineup of Imagineers and creative leaders joining host Neil Patrick Harris for the presentation.
How to Livestream D23 Expo ‘Horizons’ Theme Park Keynote
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Horizons streams live on Disney+ at 7:00pm PT on Aug. 15th
- Disney confirmed nine Imagineers and creative leaders appearing alongside Neil Patrick Harris
- Disney+ subscribers get added perks and an in-person Disney+ Hulu Experience at D23
Streaming starts at 7:00pm PT for Disney+ subscribers. That gives fans who aren’t attending D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in person a direct way to watch the Horizons showcase unfold. Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum joins the lineup of Imagineers set to appear on stage at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
The showcase will include project updates, first looks, new artwork and renderings, and behind-the-scenes stories, according to Disney. As we reported when Neil Patrick Harris was announced to host the showcase, the presentation builds on projects Disney first revealed at the 2024 D23 Expo. That earlier event delivered close to 50 announcements, including new Disney Cruise Line ships and early looks at Magic Kingdom’s Villains Land and Animal Kingdom’s Tropical Americas. This year’s presentation looks at how those projects have moved from concept art into active construction and design work.
Subscribers also get added value beyond the stream itself. Throughout the weekend, Disney+ subscribers can unlock special perks, offers, and experiences. Guests attending D23 in person can also step inside the Disney+ Hulu Experience. Disney says that includes immersive photo opportunities, a 4D theater experience, and limited-edition merchandise.
Meet the Imagineers Joining the Stage
Nine Imagineers and creative leaders will join Harris and Mazloum for the showcase conversations. Bruce Vaughn, President and Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Imagineering, leads the group. The lineup also includes Ali Rubinstein, Senior Vice President of Global Creative and Development Studios. Michael Hundgen, Vice President Creative for Walt Disney World, rounds out the trio of senior leadership names.
The rest of the group spans multiple divisions. Emily “Emo” O’Brien serves as Portfolio Creative Producer for Disneyland Resort and Tokyo Disney Resort. Caroline May holds the Executive Creative Director title for Walt Disney World, and Claire Weiss serves as Principle Designer and Creative Director for Disney Cruise Line. Three more Executive Creative Directors round out the lineup: Brent Strong, Chris Beatty, and Jason Grandt, with Beatty and Grandt both holding portfolio-level roles at Walt Disney World.
Harris will guide discussions rather than deliver announcements from a podium, a more conversational format than a traditional keynote. That structure mirrors what Disney confirmed when it first named Harris as host. The show draws its inspiration from Carousel of Progress rather than a single presenter at a lectern.
What the Showcase Name Signals
Horizons ties directly to Imagineering’s largest-ever D23 Expo pavilion, which shares its name and branding with Saturday’s showcase. Disney has not detailed which specific projects will get updates during the presentation. The company’s framing points toward progress reports on projects already announced, rather than a slate of entirely new reveals. Fans should expect the presentation to focus on how those 2024 projects have advanced into design, engineering, and active construction.
Disney closed its announcement with a pointed line about that progress: “the next chapter of Disney Experiences isn’t just being imagined. It’s being built.”
Story So Far
- July 2024: Disney announced the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase name and format for the 2024 D23 Expo, with Josh D’Amaro hosting.
- July 2026: Disney announced Neil Patrick Harris would host this year’s Horizons showcase at the Honda Center.
- July 2026: Disney unveiled Imagineering: Horizons, the largest Imagineering pavilion ever built for a D23 Expo, sharing its name and branding with the showcase.
- August 2026: Disney confirmed Disney+ streaming details and the full lineup of Imagineers appearing at the showcase.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!