Planning a trip to the D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event in 2024? This is THE event to go to if you are a Disney fan and a once-in-a-lifetime experience! We have everything you need to know before going to the D23 Disney Fan Event including the Dates, Full Schedule of all the Panels, Ticket Information, and What to Do, plus all the Announcements and News from the event!
Disney has announced new details including the dates for the event, ticket prices, as well as some of the things we can expect to see when we go there.
Join us as we share everything you need to know about the D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event including how to plan for the trip, how to get to see everything you want, and lots of other great tips you’ll find useful.
But wait, what happened to the D23 Expo? The first thing to know is that Disney changed the name from “D23 Expo” to “D23 2024: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.” It’s confusing, but it makes sense now that Disney is trying to expand it beyond Anaheim and into the international venue.
Before we get into all the details of this year’s D23 Fan Event, I’ll be putting some important links below from the last D23 Expo that will help guide you through and give you some of the most important information on what to expect.
- D23 Disney Fan Event Official Announcements Page – All the News and Announcements from the Expo!
- D23 Expo First Timer Tips and Tricks – Everything you need to know BEFORE going to the D23 Disney Fan Event.
- Tour of the D23 Expo Show Floor
- Top Rumors Before the D23 Disney Fan Event
- Star Wars at D23 Disney Fan Event
- Marvel and Phase 4 at the D23 Disney Fan Event
If you want the Schedule of Events and Presentations keep scrolling down…
(NEWS) – 2024 D23 Ultimate Fan Event New Details & Ticket Sales
This year’s D23 Expo (D23 Ultimate Fan Event) takes place from August 9 to August 11, 2024 in Anaheim, California and Disney just announced all the details for the ticket sales including all the ticket types and prices. They also shared the new format and times for the main events.
This extraordinary event will feature three days of marquee showcases and presentations, an expanded show floor with the latest from Disney brands and partners, increased shopping opportunities, and a week-long celebration of Disney fandom leading up to the event.
Ticket sales for the D23 Disney Fan Event will go on sale for D23 Gold Members starting March 26, 2024, but there are other tiers of membership that can purchase tickets with different dates:
- Tuesday, March 26: D23 Gold Member Pre-Sale, 12 PM PT
- Wednesday, March 27: Visa Cardholder Pre-Sale, 12 PM PT
- Thursday, March 28: All D23 Members (Gold & General), 12 PM PT
There are 3 tiers of tickets, all with different prices:
- D23 Fan Pass – This pass gives you access to all experiences at the Anaheim Convention Center only and is available as a 1 or 3-Day Pass. (Starting at $79 per ticket for a 1-Day pass and $209 for a 3-Day pass)
- D23 Ultimate Fan Pass – This ticket is exclusive to D23 Gold Members and gives you access to all experiences at the Anaheim Convention Center AND reserved seating for the evening shows at the Honda Center. It’s available as a 1-Day or 3-Day Pass. (Starting at $99 per ticket for a 1-Day pass and $297 for a 3-Day pass)
- D23 Ultimate Preferred Fan Pass – This ticket is the same as the Ultimate Fan Pass but it gives guests preferred floor seating and is only available as a 3-Day Pass. (Starting at $999 per ticket for a 3-Day pass)
We also now have the schedule for the evening events at the Honda Center:
- Friday, August 9 at 7:00 pm: Disney Entertainment Showcase
- Saturday, August 10 at 7:00 pm: Disney Experiences Showcase
- Sunday, August 11 at 5:00 pm: Disney Legends Ceremony
Keep reading below for the rest of the information in more detail…
Interestingly, we did find out that the event will also be going to São Paulo, Brazil in November. This is the first time a D23 Disney fan event will be taking place in Latin America, but Disney hasn’t announced all the details and what differences there will be from the Anaheim event.
What is the D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event?
If you haven’t been to the D23 Disney Fan Event yet (or D23 Expo as it is formerly called) you are in for a real treat as it’s my favorite event Disney puts on hands down and truly something special you have to experience for yourself.
The D23 Expo is a convention that Disney puts on once every two years to celebrate the past, present, and future of the Walt Disney Company. You get a behind-the-scenes look at Disney including all of the company’s divisions: TV, Movies, Animation, Disney+, Parks, and so much more.
There are presentations, panels, a huge showroom floor, meet and greets with your favorite Disney celebrities to keep you busy all 3 days. But probably the coolest part is you get to see amazing artifacts from the company’s history and a glimpse into future films, attractions, and projects Disney is currently working on.
Basically, if you are a Disney super-fan, this is your place and these are your people!
Again, the big news is that this year, Disney dropped the “D23 Expo” title and now it’s just called: “D23 The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.” Disney has a history of using super long names for its attractions, restaurants and shows, so it only makes sense they wanted to turn the D23 Expo into a tongue-twister too.
What is D23?
D23 is the name of the official Disney fan club which was started on March 10, 2009. D23 was the first Disney fan club of its kind and the only official fan club recognized by the Walt Disney Company.
If you are looking for more Disney in your life then D23 is just the fix you need. It throws Disney events all year round, gives members access to VIP experiences and events, discounts on D23 Disney Fan Event, exclusive stories, annual gifts, discounts on merchandise, special offers, and more!
What Does D23 Stand for?
It’s really a very simple meaning. The D stands for Disney and the 23 stands for the year Walt Disney came to California to start his career, 1923. D23 does a good job of paying homage to the man Walt Disney and it does so often.
What are the Dates for the 2024 D23 Expo?
The next D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event is August 9-11, 2024 in Anaheim California, at the Anaheim Convention Center. The event is always held from Friday – Sunday so you have 3 full days of Disney fun to experience.
Is the D23 Disney Fan Event Every Year?
While that would definitely be awesome, the D23 Expo is not held every year, but once every two years. The last D23 Expo was in 2022 and the current expo will be in 2024.
This will be the 8th D23 Fan Event/Expo so far, and it’s always been held at the Anaheim Convention Center. The first D23 Expo was in 2009, then 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022 and now 2024.
You may have noticed there is a three-year gap between 2019 and 2022 instead of the normal 2 years. That’s because of the global health crisis which made it difficult to organize large events like the expo at that time. That was the only time since the D23 Expo started that is was not held every 2 years.
Could the D23 Expo Come to Disney World?
Since the very first D23 Expo, the convention has been held in Anaheim, and it most likely will stay that way for the near future. The Anaheim convention center is located perfectly next door to Disneyland, putting it right in their backyard.
Also, Disney is now utilizing the Honda Center which is located nearby the Anaheim Convention Center, so to change locations, they would now need a place with two venues close to each other.
Plus, the Orlando convention center is too far from Disney World, and plus you have company headquarters in California making it easy for execs and the Hollywood talent the expo attracts. Don’t expect it to move away from Anaheim anytime soon.
Tickets
The D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event unfortunately is not free and you’re going to need a ticket to get in. We’re going to break down all your options for tickets including prices and when to get them.
When Do Tickets Go On Sale
Tickets for the 2024 D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event go on sale for D23 Gold Members beginning March 26, 2024, starting at 12:00 pm PT.
However, when you can purchase tickets depends on which tier of membership you have, since they all have different on-sale dates:
- Tuesday, March 26: D23 Gold Member Pre-Sale, 12 PM PT
- Wednesday, March 27: Visa Cardholder Pre-Sale, 12 PM PT
- Thursday, March 28: All D23 Members (Gold & General), 12 PM PT
Tickets can be purchased on the D23 website.
- NEW – For the 2024 D23 Expo only D23 Members or Visa Cardholders can purchase tickets and you must be either a Gold Member or General Member. Fans can join as a complimentary General Member or upgrade to Gold Membership at JoinD23.com
How Much are Tickets for D23 Fan Event?
The cost of tickets for D23 depends on what type of ticket you buy and when you buy it. Also, you do have to be a D23 member to buy tickets to the D23 Disney Fan Event, but there are additional discounts for Gold Members you’ll want to take advantage of.
This year you can get single-day or multi-day tickets, with a $10 discount going to D23 Gold Members off the price of admission of the D23 Fan Pass. In the past, there were regular prices and early-bird prices where if you booked your tickets before a certain date, you would an even deeper discount.
In 2024, there are no early-bird discounts and all prices are the same starting on March 26.
Single-Day tickets are the same price for every day. 3-Day tickets will get you admission to all 3 days of the Disney Fan Event and at a much cheaper price. This is definitely worth the price if you are going all 3 days.
There are 3 Types of D23 Disney Fan Event Passes this year, each with differing levels of access and perks:
- D23 Fan Pass – This pass gives you access to all experiences at the Anaheim Convention Center only and is available as a 1 or 3-Day Pass. (Starting at $79 per ticket for a 1-Day pass and $209 for a 3-Day pass)
- D23 Ultimate Fan Pass – This ticket is exclusive to D23 Gold Members and gives you access to all experiences at the Anaheim Convention Center AND reserved seating for the evening shows at the Honda Center. It’s available as a 1-Day or 3-Day Pass. (Starting at $99 per ticket for a 1-Day pass and $297 for a 3-Day pass)
- D23 Ultimate Preferred Fan Pass – This ticket is the same as the Ultimate Fan Pass but it gives guests preferred floor seating and is only available as a 3-Day Pass. (Starting at $999 per ticket for a 3-Day pass)
D23 Fan Pass Prices:
- 1-Day Ticket (D23 Gold Member) – $79
- 1-Day Ticket (D23 General Member) – $89
- 3-Day Ticket (D23 Gold Member) – $79
- 3-Day Ticket (D23 General Member) – $89
D23 Ultimate Fan Pass Prices:
- 1-Day Ticket (400 Level Upper Rows) – $99
- 1-Day Ticket (400 Level Lower Rows) – $149
- 1-Day Ticket (200 Level Stage Adjacent) – $189
- 1-Day Ticket (200 Level) – $249
- 3-Day Ticket (400 Level Upper Rows) – $297
- 3-Day Ticket (400 Level Lower Rows) – $447
- 3-Day Ticket (200 Level Stage Adjacent) – $567
- 3-Day Ticket (200 Level) – $747
D23 Ultimate Preferred Fan Pass Prices:
- 3-Day Ticket (100 Level Sections 110-112) – $999 (limited quantities)
- 3-Day Ticket (100 Level Sections 107-109) – $1,499 (limited quantities)
- 3-Day Ticket (100 Level Sections 104-106) – $2,099 (limited quantities)
- 3-Day Ticket (100 Level Sections 101-103) – $2,599 (limited quantities)
Here is a seating chart of the Honda Center so you can understand where each of the above tickets are located:
D23 Gold Member Family Tickets:
D23 Gold members can buy tickets for up to 7 additional friends or family members per day, with a maximum of up to 8 tickets for the event (for themselves, plus family and friends).
Just keep in mind that the Gold member has to be going to the D23 Expo. Members cannot buy tickets for others without going to the event themselves.
Children
All guests under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to attend this D23 event and will require an event ticket for admission. All children 2 years of age and older must have a ticket for admittance.
Are D23 Expo Tickets Refundable?
No, they are not. There are strictly no cancellations or refunds, and all ticket sales are final. There are strictly no cancellations or refunds regardless of reason.
Members and guests who have purchased tickets but do not attend D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2024 forfeit their place as well as all experiences, benefits, and gifts associated with the event.
Tickets can be transferred to other guests; however, the recipient email must be associated with a D23 Member account to claim the badge transferred to them.
Do D23 tickets Sell Out?
Tickets to the D23 Disney Fan Event often sell out well before the start of the Expo. Saturday is usually the first day to sell out because of the popularity of the panels that day. Right now, all Friday, Saturday, and Sunday tickets are still available.
- TIP: Make sure to get your tickets to the D23 Fan Event as early as you can to take advantage of the discounted prices and to make sure you get a ticket to the event before it sells out.
How Will I Get My Tickets?
After purchasing tickets to the D23 Fan Event you can choose to 1. have your tickets mailed to you or 2. pick them up at will call.
This year tickets will be mailed well before August 9, 2024. You then can activate your badges once you get them (more on that in a minute.
If you choose to get your tickets at Will Call you can pick them up before the event. The Will Call dates have not been announced yet.
Gold Membership Benefits at D23 Expo
Besides of course the discounted ticket to the expo itself, there are many other benefits to being a D23 member at the expo. You will need your D23 Gold Member Card to access these extras.
Discounts on Merchandise
Everywhere you look on the show floor D23 Members have discounts and exclusive offers on select merchandise. Just look for the “Gold Member Offer Spot” sign as you explore the convention, and shop till you drop.
Gold Member Lounge
Located on the Expo show floor there is an exclusive member lounge exclusively for D23 Gold Members. Refreshments are served and this is a great place to relax and rest between panels. There are also charging stations to literally recharge your batteries. Plus look out for the fun games and a chance to win some prizes while you’re there.
Free Gift
All D23 Gold Members at the Fan Event will receive an exclusive collectible print, created by Disney artist Eric Tan. A great souvenir to take home with you. Just go to the D23 Gold Member Gift Pick-Up in North Hall, and show your Gold Member card to claim your gift.
How to Buy Tickets
Below, please find step-by-step instructions for ticket selection and checkout.
1. Click MEMBER LOGIN to login using your D23 Member account.
2. Once you’re signed in, you will be presented with several available ticket options. You will have 15 minutes to complete your transaction (timer and CART are at the top right of the screen.) Clicking CLEAR YOUR CART at any time will reset the 15-minute timer.
3. Click GET TICKETS for the ticket type you’re interested in selecting tickets for (note: the GET TICKETS button onthe D23 Ultimate Preferred Fan Pass will only be visible to D23 Gold Members):
- ADA Accessible Seats: Disney has an unwavering commitment to providing a welcoming, inclusive environment and accessible experiences for our Guests. At the event, we’ll once again offer a number of tools and resources—including ADA accessible seating options, sign language interpretation, CART services, assisted listening, and more. Please note that early entry to D23 venues is not permitted. Companion Seating is available next to all ADA accessible seats.
4. Click SELECT SEATS to move to choose your own seats, or choose FIND BEST AVAILABLE to have the system automatically select the closest possible seat (including ADA accessible seating options) to center stage in the section of your choice.
5. After choosing SELECT SEATS, you’ll be presented with the Honda Center seating chart. Click on the section you would like to select seats for. Place your cursor over the section to view available ADA accessible seats.
6. Once you have clicked the section you’d like to choose seats for, you will be presented with available seats in that section (available seats are represented by colored circles).
7. Clicking on the seats you choose will turn that seat color yellow and will add them to your cart. (Note: If you change your mind and want to select a different seat, click the “x” to the right of the seat in your list to remove seats from your cart.) Once you’re done selecting your seats, click ADD TO CART.
8. Click PROCEED TO CHECKOUT to finish your transaction and check out, or click CONTINUE SHOPPING to add more tickets for another event day.
9. After clicking PROCEED TO CHECKOUT, you’ll be provided with additional exclusive D23 merchandise options available to add to your order. There is a quantity limit of eight (8) per item (while supplies last). This is the only opportunity to purchase this merchandise in the checkout process.
10. If you are satisfied with the seats in your CART SUMMARY, enter all required information to check out and complete your transaction. (Note: the email address you enter in the REGISTRATION section must match the email tied to the D23 membership you logged in with.)
How to Register and Manage Badges
The last time was a bit different as Disney decided to replace standard tickets with guest badges. There are a lot of new benefits from these badges but first, you need to register yours to take advantage of them.
An activated badge allows you to:
- Secure advance reservations for shows and stores ahead of time. (more info to follow)
- Participate in opportunities presented by Disney and Friends of Disney
- Receive photos taken at select D23 Fan Event experiences
- Redeem your Gold Member Fan Event gift (D23 Gold Members Only)
It’s important to note that it’s not necessary to activate your D23 Disney Fan Event badge in order to attend the event. For your convenience, all badges you purchased have been activated automatically, so no further activation steps are required.
When you transfer a badge to another guest, that badge is also activated with the new guest’s profile information.
You also don’t need to activate badges for any guests under the age of 14. They just need to be accompanied by an adult with a registered badge and they’ll be able to participate in all the events.
While managing the badges for guests in your party, make sure the correct badge number is associated with each guest.
You will also receive an activation confirmation email from D23. Make sure the email doesn’t go into your spam folder. That’s it, your badge is now activated and you’re ready to go!
2024 Panel and Presentation Schedule
(Only some of the panels and presentations for the 2024 D23 Expo have been announced at this time. Below are is what we know so far, but more will be added in the near future.
There is so much to see and do at the D23 Disney Fan Event, but certainly one of the highlights is all the various Disney-based presentations and panels that are available throughout the weekend. Disney executives, experts, celebrities, and Imagineers take the stage to break down some of your favorite Disney shows, films, and park attractions.
The presentations and exhibits are held in several different areas throughout the expo.
- Honda Center (seats 12,00)
- Hall D23 (seats 7,000)
- Premiere Stage (seats 3,000)
- Backlot Stage (seats 1,200)
- The expanded Walt Disney Archives Stage (seats 700)
The Honda Center is now the biggest stage at the D23 Disney Fan Event and is where the company’s biggest and most important announcements and presentations take place. Panels are also done in the Hall D23, D23 Expo Arena, Stage 28, and the Walt Disney Archives Stage too.
Look through the list and decide which panels interest you the most and then plan your day around going to them.
Friday:
Honda Center:
- 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Disney Entertainment Showcase
This is the biggest panel of the entire weekend and it’s where Disney presents a behind-the-scenes look at its blockbuster collection of upcoming films. Guests will get a first look at all the upcoming live-action films, specials, and series from Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and more.
There are sure to be plenty of big announcements, celebrity appearances, and many surprises in store for this one. You won’t want to miss this!
Saturday:
Honda Center:
- 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Disney Experiences Showcase
My personal favorite of all the main presentations is the Disney Experiences Showcase. This is where we will find out about the most highly anticipated new projects in development around the world for the Disney Parks, Cruise Line, and more. If you can’t wait to find out what new attractions are on their way, this one is for you!
Sunday:
Honda Center:
- 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm: Disney Legends Awards Ceremony
Disney Legends Awards Ceremony closes out the D23 Disney Fan Event on Sunday, August 11, at 5:00 pm with an epic presentation hosted by Ryan Seacrest. The Disney Legends Ceremony will once again honor those visionaries and artists who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy.
(As more presentations are announced we will post them here so stay tuned!)
How to Get Into Into the Presentations You Want
How do I get into the panels I want to see? We all want to be in the room in those hard-to-get presentations like “Walt Disney Studios” or “Disney+” but doing so is easier said than done. Luckily this year you have a few more options than normal…
Get Up Super Early
Things have changed a lot since the last D23 Expo and while you will still want to wake up super early to get the most out of each day, in most cases, you won’t have to camp out overnight like in years’ past.
The way it used to be was that if you didn’t the night in the queue before, then you didn’t really experience the D23 Expo. Camping out overnight in line was a rite-of-passage for expo-goers and one of the only ways to really guarantee yourself a seat for the most popular panels like the Walt Disney Studios panel.
Thankfully, that is no longer the case for the three major panels. The Disney films, parks/experiences and Disney Legends presentations are now located at the Honda Center and admission is included in the Ultimate Fan Pass tickets. So if you have one of those, you already have a reserved seat, no need to worry.
However, you still will need to queue up well in advance for some of the popular panels and experiences happening at the Anaheim Convention Center, specifically, the shopping.
The best merchandise is always on a first-come-first-serve basis so if you get there before the others you have a better chance of getting what you want. On Thursday and Friday night at 10 pm, the queue starts to form, so you can get in line at that time or after. Friday is the best day for shopping so people line up Thursday for that and Friday night they get in line for the Walt Disney Studios presentation on Saturday morning.
You don’t have to spend the night, but I would recommend getting in line NO LATER than 5:00 am if you want a good chance of getting the top merch. Maybe even earlier than that.
Smaller panels and presentations of course are less crowded but again, you can never get there too early, always err on the side of caution.
Also don’t think you can get into one presentation and then stay for the next, each room is cleared out after every presentation and if you want to get into the next panel in that same room, you’ll have to get back in line.
Advanced Reservations
(It’s unclear at this time if Disney will be doing any Advanced Reservations as they did in past years. Here are the instructions from the last event to give you an idea of how they worked.)
Advanced Reservations allow you to book reservations in advance for you and another D23 Fan Event guest to presentations, experiences, shopping, and more. This will be a huge time saver and help you avoid wasting half of your day just sitting in lines.
Getting advanced reservations is the best way to get into the presentations you want and you should make this a top priority.
Advanced reservations are complimentary and can be made online before attending the D23 Expo for StorePass, StagePass, TalentPass, and Show Floor Experiences.
- All reservations are distributed randomly like a lottery, so there is no guarantee you will get reservations for the presentations you want. It is not first come first served as in past years.
- The Reservation Random Selection Process (“Reservation RSP”) for all D23 Expo event days opened on August 15, 2022, at 12:00 pm PT and closed on August 21, 2022, at 2:00 pm PT.
- Reservations are randomly distributed on September 2, 2022 and results will be communicated to you via email.
- There are 4 categories which allow you to choose up to 4 items for each category.
Here are the 4 categories:
StorePass
StorePass gives you access to shop at one of the following stores at the D23 Expo without waiting in line: Disney Dream Store, Disney Store, or Mickey’s of Glendale. You receive a reservation time and can skip the sometimes 2-3 hour waits these stores have. One StorePass is allowed per guest, per day. Please arrive at the store you have booked no later than 5 minutes prior to your reservation time.
StagePass
StagePass gives you a reservation for a guaranteed seat to panels in Hall D23, the Premiere Stage, Backlot Stage, Hyperion Stage, and the Walt Disney Archives Stage. StagePasses are assigned in a lottery-style random selection, you can’t buy it. D23 guests select their top choices and some ticket holders are randomly selected for those panels.
There are no seating selections with StagePass, it’s first-come-first-serve. Each guest can book up to 2 StagePasses per day, but only one at each stage. Please arrive at least 1 hour before the presentation starts in the Hall D23 stage and 30 minutes prior to panels in D23 Expo Arena, Stage 28, and the Walt Disney Archives Stage.
TalentPass
TalentPass gives you reservations for talent photos, signings, and other experiences at the D23 Expo. You are allowed to book 3 TalentPasses per day. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the start time of your reservation.
Show Floor Experiences
Provides reservations for the confirmed talent signings, demonstrations, presentations, and giveaways happening in booths around the Show Floor.
How to Get Advanced Panel Reservations
- Go to the D23 Expo reservations page and use the button to navigate to the Reservation Random Selection Process entry page.
- Sign in using your D23 member account that is linked to your badges.
- Look at the available presentation on the day(s) your badge is good for. If you have a 3-Day badge all 3 days will be available to you.
- Select one of the 4 reservation categories and click the +Add Selections box.
- Once inside, make your selections and rank your preferences from 1-4 (or 1-2 for Hall D23). Each category will have a limited number of selections that can be made so choose wisely. You can make changes to reorder your preferences if need be.
- Once you have finalized your selections, click the “Continue with Selections” button at the bottom of the page to choose whether a guest is joining you for the experiences.
- Repeat numbers 4-6 for all categories until you have made all your advanced reservation selections.
- When you are finished, click the “Review Selections” button and the bottom of the page. Click the “Continue” button to proceed with your selections.
Remember, reservations are given out randomly, so make as many selections as possible to maximize your chance of scoring the reservations you want.
Have a Backup Plan
Even though you probably have some panels you would really like to see throughout the weekend, popularity for those panels or time restrictions will most likely come in the way and you won’t be able to see all the ones you want.
So what happens when you can’t get into that one you really had your heart set on? It’s important to have a backup plan. Make sure that you have a second, and a third option in that case and you’ll still have a great time.
What’s New in 2024?
(Most of the highlights for the 2024 D23 Expo have not been announced at this time. Below are the details we know so far.)
Every D23 Expo is different from the last and at the next one, there will be so many great new experiences, panels, shopping experiences, celebrity meet and greets, and more to see and do.
This year there will be more than 50 shows, presentations, and panels, including the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, and some big announcements and sneak peeks on various projects Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, and more are working on.
Here is a sneak peek of what we know is coming so far with more to be announced in the coming months.
2024 Disney Legends
The 2024 D23 Expo concludes at 5:00 pm on August 11, 2024, with a special ceremony celebrating newly inducted “Disney Legends.”
The Disney Legends Awards Ceremony honors individuals who have made an extraordinary contribution to the Disney company. These ones have pushed the envelope of creativity, challenged conventional wisdom, and broken the restraints of the status quo in search of new possibilities and excellence.
Here is the full list of 2024 Disney Legends honorees:
- Colleen Atwood
- Angela Bassett
- Martha Blanding
- James L. Brooks
- James Cameron
- Jamie Lee Curtis
- Miley Cyrus
- Steve Ditko
- Harrison Ford
- Mark Henn
- Frank Oz
- Kelly Ripa
- Joe Rohde
- John Williams
This year the Disney Legends Ceremony will be hold at the nearby Honda Center and not at that Anaheim Convention center.
Disney+
This is the crown jewel of the last D23 Expo and a project that Disney is hoping will take them into the next phase of the company. We’re going to learn a lot about Disney+ and you’ll see it everywhere you go. Fans will get an exclusive preview of the new Disney+ streaming service along with some of its new original films and series from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more.
Disney+ Panel in Hall D23
Get a first look at how Disney+ works and watch never before seen content coming to Disney+ in the next few years.
Disney+ Pavilion
If you don’t make the panel on Friday that’s ok. Stop by the Disney+ Pavilion on the Expo show floor, to see live demonstrations of the live Disney+ app as experienced across mobile and connected TV devices, and get a look at the amazing collection of entertainment from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more.
Guests will also see costumes and props from Disney+ Originals and will have the opportunity to subscribe to the service with a special offer available exclusively to Expo attendees and D23 Members.
Hulu Pavilion
The Hulu Pavilion will be home to more than 20 iconic costumes and artifacts from select shows found in Hulu’s streaming library.
Disney+ Pavilion Stage Programming
Want to know more about Disney+? The Disney+ Pavilion Stage will host three full days of panels, showing all the original content coming to the service, classic movies and shows as well as special ESPN+ panel programming.
Marvel
Since being bought by Disney in 2009, Disney has become a staple of the D23 Expo and absolutely one of the convention’s biggest draws. Fans will learn about upcoming Marvel films, series, animation projects, comics and so much more. Here is what is planned for Marvel at the 2024 D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event:
The Show Floor
Right down on the show floor, you’ll find the Marvel Studios Pavilion with an array of interactive experiences such as a D23 Expo-exclusive video experience where fans can step inside the action to see costumes worn by characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, exclusive giveaways, a photo activation, and other surprises.
Elsewhere on the show floor, the shopDisney booth will spotlight exciting Marvel merchandise featuring the Avengers, Spider-Man, and the Guardians of the Galaxy, along with a variety of other products at retailer booths during the show.
There also will be special panel conversations with filmmakers and artists, and you never know which of your favorite Marvel talents will come by the pavilion for an autograph signing.
Marvel at the Disney Parks
If you haven’t heard, Disney recently opened 3 fully immersive, Marvel-themed lands at Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong. It’s possible we could get some more info about the future of Avengers Campus and what Disney has planned there in the coming years.
Star Wars
If you are a Star Wars fan then the D23 Disney Fan Event is the place to be! Learn about upcoming films, Andor Season 2, Ahsoka Season 2, new animated series, books, comics and so much more.
Lucasfilm Pavilion
Star Wars will host its own pavilion on the D23 Fan Event show floor. Step inside and see the evolution of the Star Wars characters. More info will come out about this pavilion soon.
Pack your lightsabers and get ready to jump to lightspeed because it’s going to be a force-filled weekend at D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
Disney Parks
If you’re a Disney Parks enthusiast you’re going to love the D23 Fan Event this year as you’re going to be treated to so many new projects for new attractions and more at the Disney theme parks worldwide.
More info coming soon on what the exhibits will be like.
Animation/Pixar
Walt Disney Animation and Pixar always have a big role in the Expo and this year is no different with a sneak peek looks at the studios’ new slate of films like Moana 2, Zootopia 2, Toy Story 5, and upcoming unnamed projects.
Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks. And don’t forget to pick up the free promotional materials too while you’re there!
Walt Disney Archives presents “A Great Big Beautiful Car Show”
The Disney Archives are always a huge part of the D23 Disney Fan Event and this year they return with an all-new, first-of-its-kind exhibit, “A Great Big Beautiful Car Show.”
We will update you once Disney releases more info on this archives exhibition.
Special Events
(Only some of the special events have been announced for this year’s Expo. Here is a look at the ones we know about so far.)
National Geographic
One of the bigger brands that came to Disney in recent years has been National Geographic. This year they will have their own pavilion on the show floor displaying their various shows and movies, and immersing you in a world as you’ve never seen before.
Stay tuned for more details about the specific projects coming soon.
Disney on Broadway
Want to know what it feels like to step out onto the stage of a real Disney broadway show? The Disney on Broadway VR experience is returning to the D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event this year and taking you once again to faraway places and fantasy worlds.
This experience puts you right on center stage in Aladdin, Frozen, and The Lion King in the Virtual Reality Theatre. Using the virtual reality (VR) headsets, attendees can shimmy with the Genie in “Friend Like Me,” belt with Elsa in “Let It Go,” or sit back in awe as Pride Rock comes together for “Circle of Life.”
D23 Day at Angel Stadium
The first ever D23 Day at Angel Stadium will take place on Sunday, August 4, as the stadium comes to life with D23 fun. The first 23,000 fans through the gate will receive a commemorative and one-of-a-kind D23 Mickey Mouse bobblehead.
D23 Day at Disneyland
Already a beloved destination for Disney fans around the world, it’s the perfect location for the fun to start on Thursday, August 8.
- Both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure® Park will welcome ticketed D23 fans from rope drop to late night! Disneyland Park guests can enjoy a custom cavalcade and an energetic dance party. At both theme parks, guests will find special photo opportunities and more!
- As part of D23 Day at Disneyland Resort, Disney Junior will host a lively, fun-filled celebration for preschoolers and their families at Disney California Adventure Park on Thursday, August 8. Afterward, Disney Junior festivities can be enjoyed from Friday, August 9, through Sunday, August 11, at the Downtown Disney District.
- But wait, there’s more… Starting Sunday, August 4, through Sunday, August 11, at the Downtown Disney District, guests will find special offers, décor, and magical moments. Guests do not need a separate reservation or admission to enjoy Downtown Disney District.
- All guests with a valid theme park admission and reservation—including D23 members and D23 event attendees—are invited to this resort-wide celebration.
- Admission to both theme parks is available for purchase to all Disney fans. Regular theme park admission prices apply, and both theme park admission and park reservations will be required for park entry for every park guest.
Center Stage
Located in Hall A, Center Stage will as usual be the heartbeat of the Expo and a hub of activity throughout the three days, especially for celebrity sightings. Find some of the biggest Disney pop stars and talent as well as Disney on Broadway stars as they drop in to reminisce about bringing some of Disney’s most beloved tales to the stage.
If you want to know more about the talent that’s coming, check out the entire lineup on the D23 Fan Event app.
D23 Disney Fan Event’s Ultimate Fan Street Party – Presented by Alamo
This one-of-a-kind party travels down Mickey Avenue, with a live band, beloved Disney characters, high-energy dancers, and celebrity grand marshals.
Stay tuned for more announcements on the D23 Disney Fan Event app about the rest of the talent leading the party.
Music Emporium
The Disney Music Emporium is an online destination for collectible Disney music products, and it’s coming back to the D23 Expo with a pop-up store on the show floor over all three days of the event. The Emporium will feature limited quantities of a wide assortment of music products, including new releases from Marvel and Lucasfilm, vinyl albums, die-cut picture-disc vinyl, and more.
Shopping
If you aren’t at the D23 Fan Event for the panels or pavilions, you are certainly here for the shopping. And the Ultimate Fan Event is the perfect place to grab some of the rarest and most limited-edition Disney collectibles anywhere on the planet as well as see new special limited edition sets.
These collections will be spread out across 3 Disney-operated retail shops on the show floor: Mickey’s of Glendale, The Hollywood Studio Store, and The Emporium. In these stores, you’ll find never-before-seen, limited-edition collectibles that celebrate the Disney characters, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, National Geographic, and more.
What To Buy
Here are some examples of the merchandise you will find in 2024:
- T-Shirts
- Water Bottles
- Hats
- Limited Release Pins
- Lanyard
- and more…
You’ll definitely want to hit up the “Big 3” stores at D23 Expo: Mickey’s of Glendale, The Hollywood Studio Store, and The Emporium for all the coolest limited edition items you can only get here. This place is a collector’s dream…
How to Shop
Now that you know where to shop, you need to know how to shop at the D23 The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Here are the ways you can do it:
- Virtual Queue: Attendees will be able to sign up for an available boarding group in a virtual queue for D23 Fan Event Marketplace, Mickey’s of Glendale, The Hollywood Studio Store, and The Emporium by using the Disneyland Resort app and scanning a QR code located at the store’s entrance.
- Merchandise Mobile Checkout: Pay for items from D23 Disney Fan Event using the Disneyland Resort app to save time!
- StorePass: To shop select limited-edition collection items, attendees will be able to reserve via StorePass, an online reservation system prior to the start of the D23 Fan Event. Details on how to get a StorePass reservation will be announced later this summer.
Inspired By Stories
Besides the shopping you can do while you are at the D23 Fan Event, Disney fans can also get the latest in product innovations, listen to revered authors, and explore fashion trends with a variety of content. Here are the highlights:
- Women in Disney Fashion: Step into the minds of major Disney fashion icons as they share an exclusive look at their upcoming Disney collaborations.
- It’s a Small Disney World: Celebrating the Art of Disney Parks: Ever wondered what it’s like to be an official Disney Parks artist? Disney will gather six artists to dive into their art, ideas for the future, and behind-the-scenes insights.
- Cautionary Tales with the Disney Villains: The Imagination of Ridley Pearson: Cautionary Tales author Ridley Pearson and Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline will delight fans and spark creativity with insider Disney stories.
- National Geographic’s 100 Disney Adventures of a Lifetime: From a dessert cruise with fireworks views to an exclusive dinner in Walt’s Disneyland apartment, discover one-of-a-kind magical Disney experiences in this memorable discussion with expert Marcy Carriker Smothers.
- Hey Disney! — a custom voice assistant built on Amazon’s Alexa technology — will be highlighted on the D23 Expo show floor (stay tuned for more details). Whether at home or in a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort hotel room, fans will be able to use an Echo device to interact with their favorite Disney, Star Wars, or Pixar characters.
- On the Show Floor: Attendees can also check out activations from Visa, Amazon, Target, Aniplex, BoxLunch, Citizen, Enterprise, Funko / Loungefly, IMAX, Pandora, Ravensburger and Sunglass Hut, along with many others.
Cosplay
Definitely one of the most unique aspects of the D23 Disney Fan Event is all the cosplay from the fans as their favorite Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, or Pixar characters, and this year will be taking it to an even higher level. This year fans will be able to show off their goods even more than in previous years with four Cosplay Photo Shoots!
There will be a full cosplay schedule soon so make sure you’re dressed to the nines because all Expo attendees are welcome to participate!
Mousequerade
If you like Disney cosplay, you won’t want to miss Mousequerade. This is the ultimate costume contest where fans get a chance to compete and show off their cosplay best. The outfits that some guests come up with are absolutely stunning!
Disney hasn’t announced all the details for this yet, but here is what happened at the last event…
Last time, contestants competed in 4 categories: Off the Screen, Imagine That!, Magical Mash-Ups, and Cast of Characters.
The judges of the contest included Nina West, Yvette Nicole Brown, Ashley Eckstein, and Ally Maki. Contestants were judged on the basis of quality, craftsmanship, originality, use of color and materials, creative use of category theme, and on-stage presentation.
If you are interested in entering, check out the complete rules for entry and details at D23Expo.com.
Meet and Greets
(This year’s meet and greets have not been announced yet but we should be getting more details soon. In the meantime, you can look at some of the ones from the last D23 Expo.)
Friday, August 23
9 a.m. Fancy Nancy character appearance
10 a.m. Vampirina character appearance
12 p.m. Just Roll With It stars Suzi Barrett, Tobie Windham, Ramon Reed, and Kaylin Hayman
1- 2 p.m. Alex Honnold: come see Alex who starred in the Academy Award®-winning film Free Solo as he documented his climb of the face of 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park…without a rope.
2-3 p.m. Dancing with the Stars meet stars of the past and present Ginger Zee, Carrie Ann Inaba, Tom Bergeron, Rashad Jennings, and Jordan Fisher
3 p.m. Raven’s Home stars Navia Robinson, Issac Ryan Brown, Jason Maybaum, and Sky Katz
5–6 p.m. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. stars Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet, Elizabeth Henstridge, and Jeff Ward, and executive producers Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, Jeff Bell, and Jeph Loeb
Saturday, August 24
9 a.m. Vampirina character appearance
10 a.m. Fancy Nancy character appearance
11 a.m. Sydney to the Max stars Ruth Righi, Ava Kolker, Jackson Dollinger, and Christian J. Simon
12 p.m. Coop & Cami Ask the World stars Dakota Lotus, Ruby Rose Turner, Olivia Sanabia, Albert Tsai, Paxton Booth, and Rebecca Metz
3-4 p.m. The Incredible Dr. Pol. meet Dr. Jan Pol from Nat Geo WILD’s No. 1 series
5 p.m. DuckTales stars Bobby Moynihan and Toks Olagundoye
Sunday, August 25
9 a.m. Big Hero 6 The Series stars Genesis Rodriguez and Brooks Wheelan
10 a.m. ZOMBIES stars Meg Donnelly, Kylee Russell, and Carla Jeffery
11-12 a.m. Life Below Zero, hear from Sue Aikens from the multiple Emmy Award®-winning series Life Below Zero as she relates her stories from Alaska, signs autographs, and takes pictures.
1 p.m. BUNK’D stars Miranda May, Mallory James Mahoney, Raphael Alejandro, Will Buie Jr., Shelby Simmons, Scarlett Estevez, and Israel Johnson
3 p.m. Vampirina character appearance
4 p.m. Fancy Nancy character appearance
Talent Central Artist Merchandise Signing Schedule:
Friday, August 23
9 a.m.
4-5 p.m. Disney Pixar Tiki Mug Signing with Jerome Ranft
4-5:30 p.m. Jerrod Maruyama
Saturday, August 24
9:30-11 a.m. Ashley Eckstein for Her Universe
11-12 p.m. Midnight Masquerade and Animator Villains Collections with Steve Thompson and Courtney Watkinson
12:30-2 p.m. Jerrod Maruyama
2-3:30 p.m. SHAG
2-3:30 p.m. Noah Fine Art
4-5 p.m. The Little Mermaid 30th Anniversary Collection with Steve Thompson, Bryan Mon, Daria Vinogradova, Diana Tran, and Cathy Clark-Ramirez
Sunday, August 25
5-6:45 p.m. Ashley Eckstein for Her Universe
Where to Stay for D23 Expo
There are many options for hotels within walking distance of the Anaheim Convention Center so having a choice shouldn’t be a problem it’s just a matter of how fast you move.
Since Disneyland is right next door to the Anaheim Convention Center the best option is to stay at one of the 3 Disneyland hotels. Any one of the Disneyland Hotel, Pixar Place Hotel, or Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is great choice, though our favorite is the Grand Californian. They are located right next to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure so it’s easy if you choose to do a day or 2 in the parks during your trip.
This is also a great place to spot Disney celebrities and executives as they tend to stay in these hotels. The only problem is during the D23 Expo prices are very high and availability books are up really fast so make sure to jump on it and reserve a room right away if you want to stay in one of them.
Good thing there are plenty of other good choices in the area and all within walking distance of the convention center. Hotels like the Hilton Anaheim, Anaheim Marriott, and Doubletree Convention Center are all great choices and located really close so if you have to go back to the room and take a nap you can no problem. Again book early to make sure you get a room.
Another plus is that a complimentary round-trip shuttle service will be available between the Anaheim Convention Center and the Honda Center before and after the evening shows, offered on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to limited availability. So there if you are staying near the convention center, there is no need to rent a car just to get to the Honda Center.
Your Thoughts
I want to know what you think about the Disney D23 Fan Event…
- What is your favorite part of the D23 Expo?
- What are you most looking forward to at the 2024 Disney Fan Event?
Let us know in the comments section below!
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