Earlier this year, Disney made a $1.5 billion deal with Epic Games to bring Disney to Fortnite, and now, if fans want to see Disney’s live stream for the most popular panel, the Disney Experiences Showcase, they are going to have to tune into Fortnite to do it. However, it won’t be till an hour and a half after the panel starts…which means it isn’t a live stream.
Frankly, this is stupid. It’s like when they revealed that Emperor Palpatine was back to “Star Wars” in the game. Most of their main demographic for parks news wouldn’t even go to Fortnite for announcements.
Disney is using this gimmick to tie Fortnite announcements into the main experiences panel. Not even the D23 members are getting a stream, even though many pay to be gold members.
D23 made the announcement on X, and people were not happy.
Streaming exclusively in @FortniteGame, jump into the Disney Horizons Live from #D23 8/10 for reveals of Fortnite | Disney & earn the Peelverine Plush Back Bling for spending 10 mins on the Island!
Doors open at 10:30PM ET & stream starts at 11:30PM ET: https://t.co/9pZAPnuZDt pic.twitter.com/dqyFuaXhD1
— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) August 8, 2024
The comments sum it up well:
How about the full @DisneyParks panel for adults?
At a minimum, all paying @DisneyD23 gold members should have a livestream available – you’re already doing it for cast members.
— devilsfan208 (@devilsfan208) August 8, 2024
Ok but why
— Brandon (@FantasmicEars) August 8, 2024
So they left Disney fans on a cliff for days saying they were not going to stream it. Then they give an option in a video game?
— hihi11111 (@Saxofreak) August 8, 2024
— Mitchell Williamson (@mwilliamson1) August 8, 2024
Just chiming in to say this is dumb. Why limit your audience?
— George 🌲🚗 (@GeorgeD3) August 8, 2024
What are you guys doing? Not streaming the parks showcase to d23 members or fans, but streaming the Fortnite part on Fortnite. Make it make sense.
— Thomas (@heynow1033) August 8, 2024
I love Fortnite and all… but doing this in the parks and experience panel?
Y’all are probably going to get booed https://t.co/TPEX4r3TZ0
— The Entertainment Connection (@TheEntConnect) August 8, 2024
The comments go on and on like this.
Here is what Fortnite posted about the event.
“Disney Horizons Live from D23 will be accessible starting on August 10 at 7:30 PM PT / 10:30 PM ET, and the stream will begin shortly after at 8:30 PM PT / 11:30 PM ET. You’ll be able to join the island from the Homebar in Discover (the top row) or by using island code 7908-6413-2516.
If you can’t catch the stream live or just want to rewatch, Disney Horizons Live from D23 will be around until August 16, with the presentation on loop. To celebrate the announcements, all players who visit the island for 10 minutes will be granted the Peelverine Plush Back Bling* plus XP on August 16.”
So the only official way to watch the panel is to catch it AFTER it’s over in a video game tie-in.
Way to go Disney. You just found another way to p*ss off your already dwindling fan base.
What do you think? Comment and let us know!
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