My First D23 Expo: The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience 

Attending D23 Expo: The Ultimate Fan Event this year was a dream come true for me as a Disney fan and travel blogger. From the moment the festivities kicked off on Sunday, August 4th, with D23 Day at Angel Stadium, to the last moments at the Anaheim Convention Center, every day was filled with magic, surprises, and unforgettable memories.

Kicking Off at Angel Stadium

The week started with a bang at Angel Stadium, where we joined fellow Disney fans for an exciting ball game. Arriving early paid off as we were gifted a special Bobble-headed Mickey figurine—an amazing collectible that will always remind me of this experience. We also visited the Lorcana booths from Ravensburger, where we received special booster packs for the "Ursula’s Return" chapter, a perfect way to round off the first year of Lorcana!

D23 Day at the Park: A Day of Magic

Next up was the inaugural D23 Day at the Park on Thursday, August 8th, held at Disneyland. The day was packed with entertainment, photo opportunities, and—of course—more freebies, including a pair of exclusive Mickey ears. The atmosphere was electric, and it was the perfect precursor to the main event.

The Expo Begins: Group Cosplay and Day One Highlights

The official start of the Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center on Friday, August 9th, was nothing short of spectacular. As a first-timer, I was in awe of the scale and energy of the event. My friends and I had planned a group cosplay, organized by my dear friend Angie (@magicwithangie on all platforms). We each portrayed a Disney Princess reimagined as a fairy from the world of Tinkerbell. I chose Belle from Disney’s 1991 classic, "Beauty and the Beast." Belle has always been a character I’ve related to deeply, and drawing inspiration from her portrayal in "Once Upon a Time," I crafted a Bavarian Black Forest, Brothers Grimm-inspired fairy version of Belle. The cosplay took months to create, and I’ll be sharing all the behind-the-scenes videos on how I made it at the end of this article.

Friday was mostly about getting the lay of the land. We spent a lot of time exploring the showroom floor, where I couldn’t resist stopping by the BoxLunch booth to check out all the con-exclusive merch. We also started The Great Pin Pursuit, a fun scavenger hunt where you collected pins from major booths by scanning QR codes. If you collected all of them, you were entered into a sweepstake for a special prize!

The highlight of the day, and possibly the entire Expo, was the Disney Princess Concert. The performances by Broadway stars like Susan Egan (Belle/Meg), Syndee Winters (Nala), and Courtney Reed (Jasmine) were absolutely breathtaking. The concert was made even more special by appearances from Disney legends like Jodi Benson (Ariel) and Paige O’Hara (Belle). I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house—it was a truly unforgettable experience.

Day Two: Pajama Comfort and More Fun

On Saturday, we decided to take it easy and opted for a more comfortable costume: Disney Sidekicks in Pajamas! I dressed as Valentino, the adorable goat from "Wish." It was a fun and cozy choice, perfect for another day of exploring the Expo. We continued our pin pursuit and made regular stops at the Ravensburger booth, hoping to snag the con-exclusive Lorcana pin and card. While we didn’t get them until day three, we did manage to pick up some cool games and cards, including the Villainous game and D23-exclusive Lorcana specialty cards.

Shopping was another highlight of the day. We visited the D23 Marketplace, which, although a bit picked over, still had exciting items, including sneak peeks of products coming to the parks soon. The Avatar experience was another unexpected gem—a phenomenal sensory break amidst the hustle and bustle of the con. We also found some much-needed relaxation at the AT&T lounge, where we could connect to Wi-Fi, take a seat, and even film some content.

Day Three: Villainous Glamour and Wrapping Up

For the final day, we decided to go all out with a Disney Villains Gala theme. I dressed as Madame Medusa, one of my favorite villains from "The Rescuers." This character holds a special place in my heart, as "The Rescuers" was a movie my mom shared with me when I was little. It was surreal to bring this character to life at D23, especially when I was asked by a reporter how I felt Disney would stay relevant in this digital age. My answer was simple: through sharing. Just as my mom shared her favorite movies with me, I now share them with my little ones, and we all come together as fans to keep the magic alive.

Day three was a mad dash to experience everything we hadn’t yet had the chance to do. We finally completed The Great Pin Pursuit and got our promo cards and pins from the Ravensburger booth—just in time! We also spent time at the Disney VoluntEARS booth, giving back to the community, which felt like the perfect way to wrap up the weekend. The exhibition hall was another highlight, where we connected with small businesses and artists and even browsed vintage Disney products.

Unfortunately, we missed a few panels, including a surprise gig by Simple Plan on day two and some other intriguing talks. But it’s simply impossible to do it all at D23! I also skipped the three main panels held at the Honda Center, this is where most if not all of the large announcements were made of the weekend, but this required an additional ticket. If they do this again next time, I’ll definitely make sure to attend.

Final Thoughts

Overall, my first D23 Expo was an incredible experience. The sheer scale and energy of the event were beyond anything I’d imagined. I learned a lot, too—next time, I’ll make sure to hydrate more, wear more comfortable shoes, and prioritize a bit differently. I might also consider staying at a hotel within walking distance of the convention center. Despite a few missed opportunities, the memories I made and the magic I experienced will stay with me forever. Until next time, D23!

For more details on how I made my Belle fairy costume and other behind-the-scenes content, check out the videos linked below!