Disney officially announced today that its D23 Expo will be a biennial event, alternating years with Destination D, a smaller event exclusively for members of the D23 fan community.

News that the second D23 Expo won't be held until 2011 leaked out last week, but it wasn't known until today what, if anything, Disney had planned for this year.

The inaugural Destination D, with a theme of "Disneyland '55," will be held Sept. 24-25 in the Grand Ballroom of the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. Presentations and screenings will center on the 55th anniversary of the theme park.

Disney also set Aug. 19-21, 2011, as the dates for the next D23 Expo, viewed as Comic-Con for Disney fans. Tickets go on sale Aug. 19, 2010. The debut event drew a reported 40,000 fans to Anaheim for presentations on Disney's film slates, appearances by stars like Johnny Depp and John Travolta, and displays by Disney divisions and licensees.