D23 2026: Live Floor Moments from The Ultimate Disney Fan Event

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.

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.

After that, we swung by the D23 Marketplace, checking out the cute and cuddly Disney Iconics plush (sign me up for the red popcorn cart and Main Street, U.S.A. trashcan plush), as well as the brand-new Batuu Adventure Buddies coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

Stay tuned for more updates throughout the day as we keep scouting the show floor for memorable moments and beyond. Happy Day 1 of D23!