Crucial Details To Know About 2024's Best Disney Fan Event: D23 Expo

Disney's biggest event, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event (formerly known as the D23 Expo, or what we'll be calling the D23 Fan Event for short) is officially coming to Anaheim, California, this August — and it's bringing a mega dose of magic, excitement, and surprises for dedicated Disney fans to enjoy! Held every two years, the D23 Fan Event is hailed as the ultimate celebration for lovers of all things Disney (as well as Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, of course).

A fully immersive experience that takes attendees behind the scenes on the new and unique attractions at Disney theme parks, upcoming launches, and film & TV announcements, the event promises to deliver some pretty unforgettable moments.

From themed exhibitions to cosplay events, never-before-seen movie previews, and panels and discussions, the three-day extravaganza is designed to celebrate only the best of the Disney brand, along with all of its real-life magic. Put simply, if you think you love Disney, the D23 Fan Event is the place for you.

Per the event's official website, tickets are only available for official members of the D23 Disney Fan Club who are enrolled as either a General Member or D23 Gold Member. This basically means that, unless you're a member or know someone who currently holds an active membership, you won't be able to purchase tickets for the event.

In addition to this slight setback, it's also worth highlighting that tickets to the D23 Fan Event typically sell out months in advance — and this year's expo is no different. Nonetheless, it's still possible to purchase resale tickets and simply have the passes transferred to you, although keep in mind that a valid D23 Fan Club membership is still required for this.

However, this doesn't mean that non-attendees or new fans have to miss out on any (okay, on some) of the fun! Per the company's Chief Brand Officer, Asad Ayaz, portions of this year's event will actually be streamed on the Disney+ platform for the very first time (via Deadline). Not only will this help the brand bring a little more magic into their fans' homes, but it'll also expand the experience to international Disney-heads who have missed out on the celebration in the past.

This year, the D23 Fan Event will take place between August 9 and 11 at the Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center. As a central hub, most of the event's main activities will take place at the Convention Center, including hands-on experiences and interactive exhibits, as well as themed pavilions dedicated to Pixar, Disney+, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and a special Disney archival display.

As for the Honda Center, the venue will host three main events throughout the long weekend: the Disney Entertainment Showcase, happening Friday (August 9) at 7:00 p.m.; the Disney Experiences Showcase, which takes place on Saturday (August 10) at 7:00 p.m.; and the Disney Legends Ceremony, which helps close-off the weekend on Sunday (August 11) at 5:00 p.m.

In terms of moving between the two venues, attendees will also be happy to know that official D23 shuttles to and from the Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center will be available for ticketed guests to enjoy. These come at no extra charge on a first-come, first-served basis and run continuously throughout the three days.

Although most of the event's specific details are kept under wraps, attendees should be ready for some pretty big surprises and exciting reveals. For starters, rumor has it that the weekend is expected to feature a whopping 50+ panels and discussions. Along with this, guests should also expect the main floor to be filled with interactive booths and exhibits from Disney brands and partners — including the chance to personally meet with imagineers, animators, and filmmakers.

Additionally, ticketed guests will also have the opportunity to participate in some pretty exciting moments that could include exclusive ride and attraction announcements of everything coming to Disney Parks, future plans for Disney TV & film projects, potential updates on popular overseas parks like Disneyland Paris, live performances and demonstrations, and a bunch of other unveilings and updates related to the Disney brand.

Lastly, attendees can find even more ways to remember the experience with a dedicated shopping area that's filled with limited-edition and collectible merchandise, including D23-branded goodies courtesy of the Walt Disney Company Store. Other shopping highlights include the fan-favorite Mickey's of Glendale store, as well as the Hollywood Studio Store and the Emporium Shop.

With so much to see, do, and enjoy, first-time attendees to the D23 Fan Event might be feeling a little overwhelmed with planning their days to ensure maximum enjoyment. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to prepare for the experience — and keep your cool in the process.

First things first, the most important thing when hitting up the D23 Fan Event is to have a plan in place. A great way to make this work is to download the official D23 app (available on both the App Store and Google Play Store). The app will include a full schedule of events (as well as a map) that you can quickly save and keep track of — that way, you'll always know where to go next. Word of warning for first-time visitors, though: Make sure you're prepared to deal with the seemingly never-ending lines and wait times. Have some flexibility in your plans and decide ahead of time what experiences you're willing to wait for and which ones you're willing to skip if it's too crowded.

Beyond that, days at the D23 Fan Event run very long, which means you'll also want to be ready for that. This includes bringing a reusable water bottle, carrying some light snacks in your bag, having an external charger in case your phone starts to run out of juice, and even packing a sweater to deal with the cold once you're inside the venue. Oh, and of course: Don't forget your mouse ears!

If you're craving even more Disney magic, you'll be happy to know that there will be additional activities to enjoy alongside other D23 members in the days leading up to the main weekend. Keep in mind, however, that these events require additional ticket purchases, all of which are available through the official D23 Fan Event website.

Kicking things off is the first-ever D23 Day at Angel Stadium. Happening on Sunday, August 4, attendees can watch the LA Angels take on the NY Mets, and even get their hands on a one-of-a-kind D23 Mickey Mouse bobblehead — decked out in an Angels uniform. On Tuesday, August 6, D23 members are also welcome to join an official "fan meet-up" at the Anaheim Packing District, which includes an evening of entertainment, food, and drink that are all perfectly Disney-themed. The following night, fans can kick back with a special outdoor screening of "The Incredibles" to celebrate the film's 20th anniversary at the Pearson Park Amphitheatre.

Last, but definitely not least, on Thursday, August 8, California's Disneyland Resort will also get in on the fun with their own D23 Day. What does that look like? From rope drop 'til close, both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will welcome D23 ticket holders to participate in plenty of unique experiences — including a custom cavalcade, dance party, special photo opportunities, and more.