That’s how you know (they love her)! A full house assembled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Disney’s ENCHANTED at 2026 D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event with a panel featuring Nina West, Kevin Lima, and a few surprises along the way including Giselle actress herself, Amy Adams!

Here’s a look at what we got to see at the 20 Years of Enchanted: A Love Letter to Disney panel during 2026 D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event (formerly D23 Expo) taking place from August 14 – 16, 2026.

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Moderated by Nina West, the panel was a celebration of 20 years of the classic film, ENCHANTED! Director Kevin Lima joined for a fun Easter egg-filled tribute with special guests that included Alan Menken (Composer), Amy Adams (Giselle), Jodi Benson (voice of Ariel who also cameoed in the film), Paige O’Hara (voice of Belle who also cameoed in the film), and Judy Kuhn (singing voice of Pocahontas who also cameoed in the film). Plus, special treats were in store for attendees including surprise musical performances from the guests plus

Here’s a look some of the highlights from the panel.

Production Stories

  • Amy Adams auditioned for the role of Giselle while sick with a fever, which ultimately convinced Kevin Lima that she was the perfect fit.
  • Prior to landing the role, Amy Adams flew to Broadway to audition for a stage production of THE WEDDING SINGER.
  • Disney animators used live-action reference footage of Amy Adams to animate Giselle, specifically drawing inspiration from her “weightless” physical movements.
  • Amy Adams cited filming “That’s How You Know” in Central Park as a favorite memory, noting she loved the opportunity to reference Julie Andrews from THE SOUND OF MUSIC.
  • The live fish that Amy Adams swallowed in the office scene was real and supervised by an eight-person team, a PETA representative, and backup fish.

Musical Development & Concept

  • ENCHANTED was in development for nine years before composer Alan Menken and director Kevin Lima joined the project.
  • Early iterations positioned the film’s music as a parody, but Kevin Lima shifted the focus to a “love letter” to Disney, prompting a completely new musical direction.
  • The soundtrack was designed to mirror Giselle’s character arc, transitioning from 1930s-style classic animation music to contemporary pop, and eventually needle drops, as she becomes a modern woman.
  • Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz wrote approximately 10 different versions of “True Love’s Kiss” before finalizing the opening number.
  • Alan Menken originally composed the musical riff for “Happy Working Song” intending it for the Central Park sequence, but it was repurposed for the apartment cleaning scene.

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The Cameos

  • Jodi Benson appeared as Sam, the law firm assistant.
    • She initially misunderstood the casting and thought she was going to be filming a scene with actor Patrick Duffy.
  • Paige O’Hara played Angela, a soap opera actress.
    • She thought the casting offer was a joke at first, but was thrilled it allowed her to exit her run in MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL.
    • She improvised the names of the characters (Jerry and Angela) during her soap opera scene. The names are tributes to her BEAUTY AND THE BEAST co-stars Jerry Orbach and Angela Lansbury.
  • Judy Kuhn played a pregnant woman with multiple children in Giselle’s apartment building.
    • She noted that the crying babies on set were genuinely upset, observing that their distress was definitely not acting.

Easter Eggs & Hidden Details

  • The law firm in the film is named Churchill, Harline, and Smith, honoring the songwriters for SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS.
  • An older couple featured in the film is named George and Winifred Banks, serving as a direct reference to MARY POPPINS.
  • The panel presentation concluded with Alan Menken leading the cast and audience in a spontaneous, extended sing-along of “That’s How You Know.”

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See it for Yourself

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event takes place in Anaheim from August 14 – 16, 2026.

MORE INFO: Check out all MouseInfo coverage for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event at MouseInfo.com/D23

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