D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is back in Anaheim, California this year! The three-day event brings together Disney’s biggest fans as well as Disney leaders to celebrate the past, present, and future of the company. D23 Expo events come with the year’s biggest announcements from Disney, including all things film studios, television, theme parks, and more. In short, if you are a Disney fan, this is where you will want to be August 9, 10, and 11, 2024.
This guide will break down everything you need to know ahead of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Tickets start to go on sale on Tuesday, March 26, and we’re talking all things price levels and what you need to know before buying. We’ll also talk about what is scheduled to take place during the expo so you can plan your days accordingly.
Schedule and Lineup of Events at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event
There are three headliner showcases taking place at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event: Disney Entertainment, Disney Experiences, and Disney Legends. New this year is the relocation of these three events to Honda Center in Anaheim, allowing more fans than ever to be in the room when these events take place.
DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT EVENING SHOWCASE
D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is where the Walt Disney Company makes its biggest announcements about upcoming film and television projects. If you want to know all about the future of Walt Disney Animation, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, etc., this is the presentation for you! The Disney Entertainment Evening Showcase will unveil what’s in the works across Disney’s “film studios, television and streaming services, live stage shows on Broadway, and more.”
The Disney Entertainment Evening Showcase will be held at the Honda Center on Friday, August 9, at 7:00 PM PT.
DISNEY EXPERIENCES EVENING SHOWCASE
If you’re a big Disney Parks fan like me, this is our Super Bowl. The Disney Experiences Evening Showcase will be the place you want to be (or tune in for!) if you want to be among the first to hear about what’s coming to Disney theme parks around the globe. This is where we find out about new lands, rides, and more. This is also where you’ll hear about what’s new from Disney Cruise Line, as well as other products that fall under the Experiences “umbrella.”
Hosted by Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro, the Disney Experiences Evening Showcase will be held at the Honda Center on Saturday, August 10, at 7:00 PM PT.
DISNEY LEGENDS EVENING SHOWCASE
Another highly anticipated event at each D23 Expo is the Disney Legends Awards. The awards, which have been given out for over four decades, honor those whose work has left an indelible mark on the Walt Disney Company. Past recipients of the Disney Legends Award span across every corner of the company, from theme parks to film and television to business.
Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the 2024 Disney Legends ceremony will take place on Sunday, August 11, at 5:00 PM PT at the Honda Center. This year’s lineup includes actors, musicians, animators, Imagineers, and more – including Joe Rohde!
ANAHEIM CONVENTION CENTER EVENTS
Show Floor
- Imagineering: Behind the Dreams, Disney Experiences: Imagineering: Behind the Dreams is a one-of-a-kind pavilion that gives our biggest fans and fans-to-come unprecedented access to Imagineering’s passionate and talented team of artists, engineers, and craftspeople. Through design models, interactive demos, live prototypes, and exclusive presentations, guests will get a first-hand view of the innovative and immersive storytelling that will fuel the growth of Disney’s parks, resorts, cruise ships, and other experiences for decades to come.
- A Great Big Beautiful Car Show: From the Walt Disney Archives comes a first-of-its-kind exhibition featuring famous vehicles from the Walt Disney Company’s past. Expect to find vehicles from the Disney parks, live studios, films, and more.
- Pixar Animation Studios & Walt Disney Animation Studios Pavilion
Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios once again join forces for a must-see animation experience at D23. Artist demonstrations, filmmaker signings, fan giveaways, and interactive photo opportunities make this booth one to visit over and over again. - ESPN: Showcasing College Football in the Mighty Marvel Manner!
ESPN celebrates college football and the College Football Playoff! ESPN & Marvel enter a decade of collaboration honoring college football, kicking off the season with original artwork featuring university mascots inspired by classic Marvel covers. - The Magic of Disney on Broadway
Celebrating 30 years of enchanting theater, Disney on Broadway returns to D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event with an extraordinary new experience, “The Magic of Disney on Broadway.” Guests can immerse themselves in the theatrical world with live demonstrations, an intimate look at props and costumes, and the chance to meet talented artists from stages around the globe. Watch Michael James Scott, the Genie from Aladdin on Broadway, showcase his magical prowess. See John Austin bring Scar from The Lion King to life through intricate mask mechanics. Witness Collin Baja’s incredible transformation into Sven from Frozen. Enjoy these and many more magical moments daily throughout the weekend. - Lightstorm
The Avatar Pavilion will be an immersive exhibit and walk-through experience inspired by the alien beauty and unique storytelling of Avatar. Guests will discover the captivating culture of the Na’vi, explore the Bioluminescent Forest, and soar through the mountains like a banshee. - Lucasfilm Ltd.
Lucasfilm presents the magic of ILM StageCraft™, the technology used to bring to life the worlds of The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and more. Hear from luminaries such as Doug Chiang, the creature team from Legacy Effects, and more for a look behind the scenes. - Marvel Studios’ TVA Walkthrough Experience
Fans will get to enter the Time Variance Authority through an immersive walkthrough experience and see pivotal moments recreated from the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well as what lies ahead. Just don’t step out of line… or timelines. - Disney+
Disney+ is where all of Disney’s greatest stories come home. With themed environments and surprises around every corner, fans can step into the worlds of new and favorite stories. Celebrating five years of Disney+, subscribers and D23 Gold Members who visit the booth will also be able to receive a special gift (while supplies last).
*The Great Pin Pursuit participant - The Hulu Experience
Visit The Hulu Experience for immersive activations and shareable moments featuring the Arconia from Only Murders in the Building; the iconic opening sequence of The Kardashians; and the wild world of Hulu Animayhem.
*The Great Pin Pursuit participant - The National Geographic Hexadome Experience
Step into the world of National Geographic and be transported around the globe and beyond in this one-of-a-kind 360-degree immersive audio-visual experience. Also look for two National Geographic Expeditions photo ops outside the Hexadome, featuring remarkable global travel destinations.
*The Great Pin Pursuit participant - Good Morning America Anchor Desk: Fan Photo Opportunity
Experience what it’s like to anchor America’s No. 1 morning TV show—ABC News’ Good Morning America! Sit behind the iconic GMA news anchor desk and pose for an exciting and memorable photo moment.
*The Great Pin Pursuit participant - Abbott Elementary Presents: A.V.A. Fest
Abbott Elementary invites D23 attendees to experience A.V.A. Fest (A Very Abbott Festival) firsthand! Inspired by two fan-favorite episodes from the hit series, this carnival-themed activation showcases games, activities, exclusive giveaways, and more.
*The Great Pin Pursuit participant - Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween
Try your luck at the Wheel of Misfortune! Spin for tricks, spin for treats… and spin to celebrate 31 Nights of Halloween on Freeform.
*The Great Pin Pursuit participant - Disney Jr. Let’s Play!
Join in on the fun at the Disney Jr. play park—with scheduled character meet and greets, dance parties, photo moments, and more!
*The Great Pin Pursuit participant - Disney Channel Wand ID
“You’re watching Disney Channel!” Step behind the scenes and in front of the camera to create your very own Disney Channel Wand ID.
*The Great Pin Pursuit participant - Descendants: The Rise of Red
Be immersed into the world of Descendants: The Rise of Red! Explore multiple rooms inside Red’s castle with several photo opportunities—a Villain Kid experience like no other!
*The Great Pin Pursuit participant - FX
This interactive experience features The Bear restaurant, serving up premiums inspired by FX’s The Bear; a Shōgungarden and a costume display showcasing items from the series in a fully immersive Shōgun-inspired atmosphere; and the AHS Wax House exhibit inspired by the award-winning American Horror Story franchise.
*The Great Pin Pursuit participant - *The Great Pin Pursuit
The Great Pin Pursuit offers a new way to explore D23! Select activations will feature commemorative pins as part of their interactive experiences and encourage those stopping by to collect them all. Visit the Disney+ Pavilion or The Hulu Experience to collect a pin lanyard and get started!
Shopping
It wouldn’t be Disney if there weren’t a gift shop, right? D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is home to a few memorable shopping experiences that are set to return this year, including Mickey’s of Glendale, The Hollywood Studio Store, and The Emporium. New this year is The Walt Disney Company Store, which will be home to exclusive D23 event products.
At World of Disney: The Product Experience, the expansive, reimagined, and must-visit shopping destination will also be home to interactive experiences for guests to enjoy, including experiences from Star Wars, Marvel, LEGO, Pixar, Disney Publishing, Disney Store, and more.
Shopping information, including reserving shopping times, will be added here when we learn more.
Presentations
D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will be home to numerous presentations over three days. The following stages will be your go-to spots to celebrate all things Disney parks, films, history, and beyond:
- Premiere Stage: This is where you’ll be able to catch Mousequerade, the ultimate fan costume contest.
- Walt Disney Archives Stage: Expanded for 2024, sessions found here for 2024 include Walt’s famous trip to Latin America in the 1940s, hosted conversations with members of the newest class of Disney Legends, and more.
- Hyperion and Backlot Stages: These will be more intimate stages for more niche topics.
- Spotlight Stage: A new stage this year! Spotlight Stage will allow for “deeper conversations with stars and storytellers as well as interactive entertainment for fans throughout the day.”
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL PRESENTATION SCHEDULE AVAILABLE ON D23’s WEBSITE.
Here is a brief roundup of highlighted presentations, as described by Disney Parks Blog:
Imagineering: Behind the Dreams
Imagineering: Behind the Dreams is a one-of-a-kind pavilion that gives our biggest fans unprecedented access to Imagineering’s passionate and talented team of artists, engineers, and craftspeople. Through design models, interactive demos, live prototypes, and exclusive presentations, you’ll get a first-hand view of the innovative and immersive storytelling that will fuel the growth of Disney’s parks, resorts, cruise ships, and other experiences for decades to come.
Bringing the Worlds of Disney Animation to Life in Disney Parks
Team members from Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios discuss bringing the worlds of Disney Animation to life in Disney parks around the world, including such projects as World of Frozen (Hong Kong Disneyland), Zootopia (Shanghai Disneyland), Fantasy Springs (Tokyo DisneySea) and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Magic Kingdom and Disneyland).
Dream Chasing: Four Decades with Walt Disney Imagineering
Join Leslie Iwerks, Bob Weis, and Wendy Lefkon for an intimate conversation spanning four decades of creating Imagineering projects from Anaheim to Paris, Tokyo to Shanghai. Audiences will be inspired to believe any dream worth doing is worth chasing.
The Costuming Artistry Behind Disney Experiences
Join Disney Live Entertainment costume designers as they share the design inspiration, creative process, and up-close details behind costumes worn at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, and more.
Magic After Dark—The Story of Disney’s Nighttime Spectaculars
Fireworks above the castle became an iconic “kiss goodnight” at Disneyland, and every Disney park has filled the night with light, music, water, and fire. Join Disney’s nighttime magicians to hear the stories behind your favorite after-dark shows.
60 Years of Disney Ambassadors – The Stories You’ve Never Heard
Take a trip down memory lane with Disney Ambassadors who’ve been a part of the 60-year legacy started by Walt Disney, as they share favorite moments ranging from unforgettable to unforeseeable!
Disneyland Foods – Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
Thanks to Walt Disney himself, dining has always been an essential part of the Disneyland experience! Join the Disneyland Resort chefs and Pam Brandon―coauthor of the Official Disney Parks Cookbook series―to learn about the early days of the Disneyland food scene, today’s methods for concept creation and menu development of fan favorites, and a look toward the resort’s culinary future.
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed – The Return of a Beloved Classic
Wield the paintbrush once more in Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed out this fall! Join Disney Games, Epic Mickey Creative Director Warren Spector, and more special guests, for a conversation that delves into how this beloved classic adventure came to life.
If you are interested in participating in Mousequerade, the entry window is now open! Click here to learn more and to enter in this year’s competition.
Ancillary Events Outside of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event
D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event may just take place over three days, but that’s not the only event in Anaheim that week! In fact, there’s an entire week of events leading up to the big expo, both in and around the Disneyland Resort and surrounding Anaheim area. If you are local to Anaheim or you are in the area a few days ahead of the expo, be sure to check these events out as well!
D23 Day at Angel Stadium (Sunday, August 4)
For the first time ever, D23 is taking over Angel Stadium. The Angels and the New York Mets will play the afternoon of Sunday, August 4, 2024. The stadium will come alive with D23 happenings, including trivia, photo ops, and more. And the first 23,000 fans who enter the stadium will receive a commemorative Mickey Mouse bobblehead. If you are interested in attending, specially-priced tickets for D23 Members are on sale now. Click here to learn more.
D23 Meet-Up at the Anaheim Packing District (Tuesday, August 6)
Want to meet up with fellow D23 Members and Disney fans ahead of the Ultimate Disney Fan Event? There will be a meet-up at the Anaheim Packing District on August 6, just a few days before the start of the Expo. This event is free of charge. There will be Tasting Passes available at a discounted rate for D23 Members to sample food around the Packing District. Games and trivia will also be on deck. Click here to learn more.
The Incredibles Screening at Pearson Park Amphitheater (Wednesday, August 7)
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Pixar’s The Incredibles with a special outdoor screening at Pearson Park Amphitheater in downtown Anaheim. Tickets are available now at this link.
D23 Day at Disneyland Resort (Thursday, August 8)
One day prior to the kickoff of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, there will be a day-long, resort-wide takeover at Disneyland Resort! D23 Day will include a special cavalcade, dance party, photo ops, decorations, and more.
All guests at Disneyland Resort are welcome to enjoy the festivities. More information about D23 Day at Disneyland Resort will be released as we get closer to the day of the event.
VISITING DISNEYLAND IN 2024? CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT ALL OF THE FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS HAPPENING THIS YEAR.
D23: The Ultimate Fan Event Ticket and Hotel Information
Admission is required in order to attend D23: The Ultimate Fan Event at the Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center. This section will break down the different ticket and price levels, as well as information you need to know if you plan on purchasing tickets.
When you purchase your tickets, there’s one big question you need to answer first. This will help sort you into two ticket categories. The question is: Do you need Honda Center access or not? Do the three Honda Center events matter enough to drop the extra $100+ (depending on where you are sitting)? These three events: Entertainment Showcase, Experience Showcase, and Disney Legends, are the biggest events that happen during a D23 event, where all of the headliner announcements are made. If you want to be in the room where it happens, when it happens, then you will want to grab tickets with Honda Center seats.
Keep in mind, however, that these events are typically live streamed. The Entertainment Showcase may be the exception, due to the fact that many of the announcements come with accompanying trailers or clips not yet released to the public. But for the theme park announcements and the Legends ceremony, you can most likely watch those elsewhere via livestream. So, depending on which event you want to attend, you do not need to be in the room in order to be the first ones to hear the breaking news.
Let’s talk pricing. Here’s a breakdown of D23 Fan Pass tickets, which are ones that come with Anaheim Convention Center-only access (these do NOT include Honda Center seating):
If you want Honda Center seating, these are the starting prices for the D23 Ultimate Fan Pass:
Notice how I said “starting” price. The prices go up from there, depending on where you want to sit in Honda Center. You seat at Honda Center is guaranteed for one or all three nights, depending whether you buy a one day pass or a three day pass. When you look at these prices, keep in mind what I said above: the theme park presentation and Disney Legends ceremony will more than likely be live streamed. You’re paying for the ability to be in the room when the announcements are made, along with fellow Disney fans. That can certainly be the highlight of your D23 experience, but just remember…these prices are a little eye-popping…ok…here we go:
Notice those seating levels in the above chart. Here’s the seating chart from Honda Center, so you can compare each of the price levels with the corresponding seating area (you will be able to pick your specific seats when it comes time to purchase tickets):
Since we’re talking about Honda Center, I’m going to chat for a second about their bag policy and transportation available. Honda Center, like any other sporting arena, has a strict “No Bag Policy.” Per Honda Center’s website:
“For all events at Honda Center, bags and purses can be no larger than 5 in. x 9 in. x 2 in. to be permitted and are subject to manual inspection – this includes clear bags. All other purses/bags/clutches will not be allowed into the venue. Backpacks of any size are not permitted.”
This is a major factor to remember if you are planning on purchasing tickets with Honda Center seats! D23 expos have tons of shops and opportunities to purchase exclusive merchandise. Your shopping bags will need to be stored elsewhere — either your hotel room, car, or off-site locker — before you enter Honda Center.
In terms of getting to the evening showcases, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is providing complimentary shuttle service in between Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center. The venues are roughly 3 miles apart, or a 10 minute drive.
Here’s a nifty breakdown of what’s included at each ticket type and price level, including which tickets gain you access to the three showcases at Honda Center.
If you want detailed information on how to log onto your D23 account and purchase tickets, click on this link. Tickets will go on sale on the following dates:
Tuesday March 26, 2024 at 12 PM PT (3 PM ET): D23 GOLD MEMBER PRE-SALE
- D23 Gold Members will have pre-sale access to a limited number of one-day and three-day tickets for a limited time beginning March 26, 2024, at 12 p.m. PT and ending March 27 at 10 a.m. PT, while supplies last.
- D23 Gold or General Members may purchase up to eight (8) tickets for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
Wednesday March 27, 2024 at 12 PM PT (3 PM ET): VISA CARDHOLDER PRE-SALE
- Tickets for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will go on sale on exclusively for D23 Gold or General Members who are also Visa cardholders—and who pay with their Visa—beginning March 27, 2024, at 12 p.m. PT, while supplies last.
- D23 Gold or General Members may purchase up to eight (8) tickets for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
Thursday March 28, 2024 at 12 PM PT (3 PM ET): ALL D23 MEMBERS
- Tickets for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will go on sale beginning March 28, 2024, at 12 p.m. PT, while supplies last. You must be a D23 Member to purchase tickets.
- D23 Gold or General Members may purchase up to eight (8) tickets for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.
If you are traveling in from out of town and want to stay as close to the action as possible, D23 is offering special attendee rates at Disneyland Resort hotels as well as Good Neighbor Hotels in Anaheim. Rooms at these rates fill up quickly, so you’ll want to book your accommodations as soon as possible! Click here for Disneyland Resort Hotel information and here for Good Neighbor Hotel information. Disney also typically releases special D23 attendee rates for Disneyland theme park tickets for dates immediately surrounding the expo — I’ll be sure to include that information here when we hear if those are returning this year.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT DISNEYLAND RESORT.
I hope to see you at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event this August! As the event draws near, I will update this guide with more information regarding the expo itself, including details on scheduling and much more.
