9 Magical Things That Happened During The Disney Legends Ceremony At The D23 Expo

    We love them ALL 3000.

    by
    Allie Hayes
    by Allie Hayes

    BuzzFeed Staff

    ,
    Ehis Osifo
    by Ehis Osifo

    Staff Writer

    This week BuzzFeed attended the Disney Legends Ceremony at the biannual D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA. The ceremony, which was hosted by CEO Bob Iger, was positively STACKED with stars. Here's everything you missed:

    Disney D23 @DisneyD23

    The 2019 Disney Legends Ceremony Livestream https://t.co/Y63Q8eHcLR

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    The 2019 honorees included Wing Chao, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, James Earl Jones, Bette Midler, Kenny Ortega, Barnette Ricci, Robin Roberts, Diane Sawyer, Ming-Na Wen, and Hans Zimmer.

    1. The opening video montage included brand new footage from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Lady and the Tramp, and Frozen 2...and some old footage of their NEWLY acquired 20th Century Fox characters, including Deadpool.

    20th Century Fox

    Is this a confirmation that we'll see him and the rest of the X-Force in the Marvel Cinematic Universe??? PLEASE?!?!

    2. Christina Aguilera surprised the audience with an emotional rendition of "Reflection" from Mulan.

    Disney D23 @DisneyD23

    We’re kicking off the 2019 Disney Legends Awards Ceremony with a surprise performance from Disney Legend honoree @xtina!

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    After Iger's opening statement, he introduced "the first of many surprises at D23" and Aguilera took to stage to perform her iconic version of Mulan's emotional song. I was then expected to somehow report on this event professionally through my tears...I've done my best.

    3. Robert Downey Jr. used his acceptance speech to admit that he was once arrested for smoking pot in Disneyland, and it was PEAK Tony Stark.

    Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

    "Here's a bit of trivia for you: The very first time I went to Disneyland I was transported to another place...within moments of being arrested," Downey Jr. said. "I was brought to a surprisingly friendly processing center, given a stern warning, and then returned to — if I remember correctly — a VERY disappointed chaperone. I've been sitting on this shame for a while."

    4. Diane Sawyer also felt the need to confess to a crime — that she stole ALL of the toiletries in her Disneyland Hotel room, and it was the most relatable thing ever.

    Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

    After a beautiful and moving speech, Sawyer concluded by saying, "And I just want to say, Bob [Iger]...I stole ALL of the soap from the Disneyland Hotel last night. I hope that's okay. I feel it's ungrateful given everything you've done for me...but okay, I also took the shampoo and the dental kit."

    5. And both Robin Roberts' and Sawyer's speeches were the definition of women supporting women.

    Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

    During Sawyer's speech, she recalled the first time she met Roberts: “You don’t remember the first time I fell in love with you completely, but we were on TV and I was introducing you,” Sawyer said. “I mangled your name, I mangled why you were there...then the camera panned to you, and you said, ‘Well, whatever.'”

    "We called ourselves Thelma and Louise back in the day," Roberts said. "But let me tell you, with Diane Sawyer — to this day — every day is a masterclass in watching her, so I’m grateful to her."

    6. Jon Favreau used his speech as an opportunity to highlight the real magic Disney uses: Technology.

    Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

    "Instead of talking about me, let's take this opportunity to talk about Walt Disney," Favreau said. "Arthur C. Clarke once said, 'Sufficient enough technology is indistinguishable from magic' and Walt Disney was the master of bringing the old myths and the magic of technology together to create indelible memories, and create the culture that we ALL grew up in."

    7. Christina Aguilera credits Disney as the reason she became a singer, and is the self-proclaimed "biggest Disney fan ever."

    Disney

    "I have a speech, but I know I'm going to throw it out," Aguilera said. "This is way cooler than a Grammy. Disney has always been a part of my life story. Disney is what actually inspired me to sing. When I first saw The Sound of Music and I saw Julie Andrews singing so freely in those hills, as a child who grew up in a chaotic household, it was music and it was Disney that completely swept up my heart and gave me that hope and connection to magic."

    8. Ming-Na Wen used her acceptance speech to highlight the most badass person in her life, her mom, which made me immediately want to call MY mom.

    Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

    "When people ask me how I get my inspiration for all of these strong female role models...it's my mom," Wen said. "Single mom, held down three jobs to raise her kids. She met my stepfather, who was able to bring us to America and she is a woman warrior through and through."

    9. And finally, director Kenny Ortega shared a hilarious childhood story about dismantling his television to try and join the Mickey Mouse Club.

    Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

    "I wanted to be in that club SO MUCH that— when I was five years old — I went into the kitchen, I took a butter knife, and I tried to dismantle the back of the TV so that I could climb into the television set and be in the club," Ortega said. "My mom saved me from electrocution, and that's when I realized I had to use my imagination."