Welcome to D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa!

Our team at Disney Parks Blog is live on-site at the Anaheim Convention Center for D23 2026, covering some of our favorite floor moments as we make our way from pavilion to pavilion at this year’s fan-first event.

Come along and follow us as we check out the convention floor throughout the weekend, packed with cosplay costumes, exclusive merch, and captivating pavilions for Disney Parks fans and beyond.

Day One: Kicking Off the Day Inside the Anaheim Convention Center

With the excitement at an all-time high and my D23 outfit ready to go (highlighted by a new Star Wars shirt that I’ve been waiting to finally debut), I was ready to step onto the show floor to hang out with Disney fans visiting Anaheim from all around the world.

First stop? The “Imagineering: Horizons” pavilion, stepping through the Promenade of Progress to take a sneak peek at Disney parks projects being developed at each resort. To find out even more about what’s coming soon to Disney parks around the world ahead of Saturday night’s “Horizons: A Carousel of Progress” showcase, check our latest story on Disney Parks Blog and be sure to tune into the Disney Experiences showcase on Disney+ on Saturday night!

After that, I started to create our gameplan for which pavilions to visit next, and immediately heard bellowing trumpets, as a live band started playing memorable Disney classics to kick off the early morning festive fun. We also made a stop at the VoluntEARS pavilion, chatting with several cheery cast members who helped us put together Disney-themed donation bags for Make-A-Wish children.

Spotting Costumes Across the Floor

Filled with passionate fans and photo-worthy opportunities, Day One has been a delightful experience. Yet one of my favorite moments so far has been spotting stunning costumes inspired by attractions, characters, and some memorable elements from across Disney Parks.

In between pirates, Space Rangers, and Disney Princess characters, we spotted a few instant icons, like Kristen from Orlando, Florida, who dressed as Janice from The Muppets and the recently opened Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Another instant icon was Anny from Philadelphia, dressed in an outfit inspired by the Poison Apple from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

We have a ton of other costumes to highlight throughout the day – look for us on the show floor and follow along with our creative cosplay blog throughout the weekend.

A Brief Pit Stop at the Pixar Booth

Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers and Toy Story 5 are two of my favorite movies that I have seen this year, so I wanted to make it a priority to stop by the Pixar Pavilion on the show floor to tap into my fandom even further (and spot the elusive Tom Lizard, perched right below the pavilion’s marquee).

While viewing concept artwork from Pixar films over the years, we also briefly chatted with Pete Docter, the Chief Creative Officer of Pixar Animation Studios. In the spirit of the Coco-inspired memories being shared right now inside the Imagineering Pavilion, we had the chance to ask Pete about his favorite Disney Parks memory, and his answer certainly didn’t disappoint.

“I remember when I was in college, there used to be a checkerboard on Main Street on one of the porches of the shops,” Pete said. “We just sat there and played checkers all day, and it was great.”

New “Fantasmic!” Vinyl at the Disney Music Booth

Before heading back for lunch, I stopped by the Disney Music Booth in Hall B for a look at a “Fantasmic!” vinyl that we had seen all over social media this week. We’re big fans of “Fantasmic!” at Disney Parks Blog, so swinging by this booth became a big priority, taking us back to the shores of the Rivers of America in the climatic battle between daring heroes and epic villains.

This title is available to order exclusively at D23 2026 with free standard shipping, bringing the heart of this longtime nighttime spectacular to a home record player nearest you.

Costumes and More at the Disney Theatrical Group Pavilion

Back from a quick lunch, my teammate Maura and I set our immediate sights on the Disney Theatrical Group pavilion, determined to see costumes from some of the most memorable stories to ever hit the stage.

Maura is our Broadway expert on the DPB team, providing further insight into some of the stage classics and costumes on display, including outfits and attire from Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Newsies, The Lion King, Frozen, and more.

Before we knew it, members from the production of Aladdin took the stage, detailing the artistry of a costume change mid-production and how timely reactions can make a big difference when trying to put together the perfect production.

Diving Deep into New Books with Disney Publishing

We just dropped our first ever Book of the Month on Disney Parks Blog, so it was a huge priority to make our way over to the Disney Publishing pavilion, located near Hall D on the convention center floor.

Able to freely shop without a reservation, the Disney Publishing pavilion was complete with a Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company bar and an outstanding selection of books, including Shadow Over the Pumpkin Queen and The Official Disney Parks Holiday Cookbook.

This festive holiday read fueled us to venture over to the 3:30 p.m. panel on the Spotlight Stage titled “Disney Eats: Official Disney Parks Cookbook Secrets,” where food and beverage cast members shared some fun details about treats from across the parks. We learned that the legendary, fan-favorite Darth by Chocolate treat from Galactic Grill at Disneyland park has never changed its recipe over the years, clearly explaining why this delicious dessert remains a hit year after year.

Day Two: Touches of Disney Parks Across the Show Floor and Beyond

Our focus for today? All Disney Parks, all the time.

Ahead of the “Horizons: A Carousel of Progress” showcase at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by Visa, we were on the hunt for all the Parks-related elements we could discover across the show floor in the Anaheim Convention Center. First stop: Mousequerade: The Ultimate Disney Costume Contest presented by AT&T with an array of world-class costumes on display for all.

An Inside Look at the Walt Disney Archives Pavilion

Filled with Easter eggs, nods to Disney Parks history, and rarely seen artifacts being uncovered day after day, the Walt Disney Archives: Uncrated pavilion in Hall D was truly a special place.

While the exhibit was packed with props from Walt Disney Studios’ films and Disney Channel shows, our main goal was to spot any of the Disney Parks icons that many fans may have come to know and love over the years.

Remember this friendly adventurer? In between gigs at Oga’s Cantina and trips to Endor aboard a Starspeeder 3000, Captain Rex may have been caught in a tractor beam (and still may not even be used to his programming) as he found his way over to this exciting pavilion.

The Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios was the first-ever attraction I went on when I was younger at Walt Disney World, and as an Indy fan myself, spotting the Ark of the Covenant from the Raiders of the Lost Ark scene in the attraction was a standout, photo-worthy moment that I had to capture.

We weren’t quite ready to wrap production on this awesome exhibit, but as we started to prepare for a great night ahead filled with announcements from across Disney Experiences, it was time for one last scene: the exit.

Looking Forward to Tonight’s Disney Experiences Showcase

It’s our big night over at the Honda Center, with future announcements coming to Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line, and more. Stay tuned for live updates from tonight’s showcase, and let us know about your favorites on the floor tomorrow!

Day Three: Back on the Floor After a Fun Night of Disney Parks News

Day Three is underway! Fresh off last night’s excitement, we immediately made our way over to the “Imagineering: Horizons” pavilion to check out some of the new additions installed after last night’s announcements.

Once we made our way inside the Imagineering pavilion, we spotted the brand-new Disney Cruise Line maquettes themed to Moana and Toy Story for the Disney Believe, fresh off the latest news from last night’s showcase at the Honda Center.

As we made our way over to the Tropical Americas section of the pavilion, we even spotted a few Indiana Jones fans dressed up in their finest fedoras and checking out the newest installations inside the area. These Indy fans were fired up about the additions coming to Indiana Jones and the Myth of the Jade Serpent, taking a look at two models on display inside the venue.

Checking Out the Merch Inside the D23 Marketplace

Accompanied by our resident Disney merch fans Maura and Nathalie, we finally had the chance to step inside the D23 Marketplace in Hall B to get a look at several pieces of merchandise we had been eager to scoop up.

The most anticipated collection for us? The mini plush collection inspired by iconic elements located at The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, CA. Themed to the Sorcerer Mickey hat, water tower, Mickey Mouse topiary, and more, these plush were an adorable find for guests young and old to take home and commemorate their visit to this year’s D23.

However, my personal favorite collection inside the marketplace was the Walt’s Chili collection, featuring a pin, sticker, and more. I’ve always loved Walt’s Chili at Carnation Café, so having an entire batch of gear themed to this delightful recipe was a true treat for longtime fans.

After we finished shopping right around 12:30 p.m., we also caught a quick performance down the hall from Disney on the Yard, led by Mickey Mouse and accompanied by a stacked group of drummers, dancers, and more.

It was a great day and awesome weekend at the Anaheim Convention Center, packed with interactive pavilions, incredible cosplay, and plenty of merch, from blind box keychains to pins and stickers set to decorate future lanyards and water bottles. Take a look above at a few more our favorite moments (and products that we spotted) over the past three days!

Thanks for following along with us this weekend on Disney Parks Blog, and cheers to a great time at D23 2026!