The biggest Disney fan event of the year is coming up very soon!

This event used to be called the D23 Expo, but this year it has a brand new name is now the “D23 The Ultimate Disney Fan Event.” We got to attend a media preview for this new massive event, and we’ve got some things to tell you about what it’s like this year, as well as how it’s different from previous D23 Expo events we’ve been to. So let’s go!

Members of our team have been attending the D23 Expo since the very first one back in 2009, and 15 years later, this year’s event is going to be HUGE. It’s coming up August 9th-11th, and tickets go on sale on March 26th!

Obviously, the first big difference for 2024 is the event name. We have to admit calling it the ULTIMATE Disney Fan Event really raised our expectations this year. However, another BIG change happening this year is that part of the event is taking place…IN A STADIUM. That’s right — the daytime presentations, all the shopping on the expo floor, and more will be at the Anaheim Convention Center as usual, BUT evening sessions for D23 will be taking place at the Honda Center. That’s how big this event has become. MASSIVE.

The first night at the Honda Center will be the Disney Entertainment Showcase — and that’s where we can expect to find out all kinds of news about future movies and TV series! Disney usually gives us new trailers and release dates during D23, and we expect lots of news out of this one! Night 2 will be the Disney Experiences Showcase, and yes, this is the one we get MOST excited about! Disney has announced new rides, new lands, new cruise ships and more during fan conventions in the past — and we have been speculating for MONTHS about what we might hear on August 10th!

The third night of the D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event will be the Disney Legends Ceremony. These ceremonies are super special to watch, with amazing entertainment and the chance for fans to honor people who make Disney magic! Just look at the group of Disney Legend honorees this year!

In the past, people have waited hours to get seats in these big presentations — and not everyone who has wanted a seat has gotten one. Now that they will be at the stadium, it allows for more people to attend. And your seat will be assigned — so there won’t be a scramble to try to get one.

And while those panels at the stadium may be the marquee events for the 2024 fan celebration, there’s a lot more NEW events planned!

D23″ The Ultimate Disney Fan Event kick-off celebration will start at Disneyland Resort on August 8th, with the D23 Day at Disneyland!

In addition to all the fun at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, D23 Day at Disneyland will have a special cavalcade, dance party, and exclusive food, merch and photo opps. 

Here’s more on the D23 Day at Disneyland!

Before the main event starts, the first ever D23 Day at Angel Stadium will happen on August 4th! Take us out to the ballgame, y’all! The first 23,000 fans through the gate will get a special D23 Mickey Mouse bobblehead.

And over at the Anaheim Convention Center, D23 promises the largest show floor in D23 history! One of the things Disney fans look most forward to a the D23 Expo is the exhibit from Walt Disney Archives, which changes every year. This year’s exhibit will be A Great Big Beautiful Car Show!

There will also be pavilions from Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Disney+, Marvel Studios, Disney Experiences, and Lucasfilm. And D23 promises expanded shopping experiences, including the new Walt Disney Company Store, featuring exclusive D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event merchandise.

There will be panels and other curated content throughout the day on five stages at the Anaheim Convention Center, as well.

If you’re planning to go to D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, you’ll want to be ready to buy tickets beginning March 26th! You must be a D23 member to buy tickets, so go ahead and join if you haven’t already. You can join as a complimentary member of a (paid) Gold Member at JoinD23.com.

Here’s the breakdown of when you can buy tickets:

• D23 Gold Members will have first access to a number of 1-day and 3-day tickets for a limited time beginning March 26th at 12PM PT.
• D23 Gold and General Members who are also Visa cardholders (you must pay with your Visa card) will have pre-sale access to a number of 1-day and 3-day tickets, for a limited time, beginning March 27th at 12PM PT.
• Tickets for all D23 Gold and General Members will go on sale beginning March 28th at 12PM PT, while supplies last.

Now, these tickets also look different than they have in years past, because there are tiers that include the evening sessions at Honda Center, and tickets that just include convention center access. Here’s a look at those tiers and the ticket prices:

• D23 Ultimate Fan Pass 3-Day Ticket includes a 3-day assigned seat for evening shows at the Honda Center and 3-day access to all experiences at the Anaheim Convention Center—starting at $297.
• D23 Ultimate Fan Pass 1-Day Ticket includes a reserved seat for that date’s evening show at the Honda Center and same-day access to all experiences at the Anaheim Convention Center—starting at $99.
• D23 Preferred Ultimate Fan Pass 3-Day Ticket, exclusive to D23 Gold Members, includes a 3-day floor seat for evening shows at the Honda Center (same seat each night), and 3-day access to all experiences at the Anaheim Convention Center—starting at $999.
• D23 Fan Pass provides access to the Anaheim Convention Center only:
  • 1-Day Pass — Gold Members: $79; General Members: $89
  • 3-Day Pass — Gold Members: $209; General Members: $259

Here’s your guide to snagging tickets!

We’re looking forward to attending this event in August. As you can see, it’s going to look VERY different from past years — and we can’t wait to experience the changes! In the meantime, stay tuned to DFB for more.

D23 also announced a HUGE sweepstakes!

Will you be attending the D23 Ultimate Fan Event this year? What are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!

Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney to attend their media preview of the D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ