2026 D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim - August 14-16

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Last time there was a cavalcade with some of the Disney Legend honorees. Banners and decor around the parks. And distribution of special ear hats. It's nice not not something I would go out of my way to attend.

https://d23.com/d23-event/d23-day-at-disneyland-2026/

Thank you! Is there counter programming at the convention center/Honda Center during this time?

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Thank you! Is there counter programming at the convention center/Honda Center during this time?

No, can't even access it. They'll be setting up, including all the security for entry the next morning.

 

[LKing]

Thank you! Is there counter programming at the convention center/Honda Center during this time?

The convention doesn't start until the following day.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

The convention doesn't start until the following day.

Thanks, I got mixed up because I have a D23 convention-adjacent activity on the 13th but I guess it isn’t formally part of the convention agenda.

 

[Sakura1017]

Does anyone recall if legends panel being advertised on Sunday at 1:30 pm was shown when ticket sales went live? I'm wondering why they are doing it so early when last time it was later in the day.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Does anyone recall if legends panel being advertised on Sunday at 1:30 pm was shown when ticket sales went live? I'm wondering why they are doing it so early when last time it was later in the day.

Yeah, they had that info before ticket sales. I was thinking maybe I would try it this time (I haven't been to those previously) but with it being in the middle of the day, I decided against it as I figured there would be panels at the ACC I would want to do during that time.

 

[daneenm]

Does anyone recall if legends panel being advertised on Sunday at 1:30 pm was shown when ticket sales went live? I'm wondering why they are doing it so early when last time it was later in the day.

Yes, this was the time that was shown at ticket purchase. We were thinking that perhaps it is for people who travel so they can leave Sunday night.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Is there a full calendar available? If not, when do we expect it to be released?

 

[brightlined]

Is there a full calendar available? If not, when do we expect it to be released?

If you mean the convention center schedule - mid-July.

Two years ago, the schedule was announced on July 11th and the reservation selection process started on July 15th.

This year, there isn't a schedule announcement date, but the reservation selection process starts July 20th.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

If you mean the convention center schedule - mid-July.

Two years ago, the schedule was announced on July 11th and the reservation selection process started on July 15th.

This year, there isn't a schedule announcement date, but the reservation selection process starts July 20th.

Thank you! Going to mark that on my calendar now. Is it VQ or lottery or some other Herculean quest?

 

[VandVsmama]

Was able to get afternoon-only tickets today for the Friday of the convention. This is our first time going. Ever. Wish it was all day, but we weren't able to buy any tickets until today and will be driving home the following day. So we will take what we can get! My daughter said she's going to dress up. As am I. It'll be an awesome afternoon.

 

[brightlined]

Thank you! Going to mark that on my calendar now. Is it VQ or lottery or some other Herculean quest?

Sort of an adventure in stages.

At the beginning, you'll have a few days to go through the schedule and pick out the things you want to try for. Panels, giveaways, signings, etc. It'll include the option for the size of your party. (Some folks put in larger parties and team up in the hopes of trading extra spots.) Then you prioritize them in order of interest. That's the process that starts on the 20th.

After that process closes, they'll do the main drop, and randomly assign you RSPs based on your requests. (There are daily limits on what you can request and receive.)

In my experience, that first stage is really haphazard. Some people seemingly get most of they want. Some people get basically nothing. (I'm in the latter category - I've never gotten anything that I requested.) There usually seem to be certain panels/presentations that are basically the consolation prizes of the main RSP drop - seemingly stuff that people weren't requesting. (Two years ago, a few of us got RSPs for The Princess Concert in the arena despite not requesting them.)

After that, people will start dropping the RSPs that they don't want. If you can catch them, you might be able to pick them up yourself. If you're accustomed to bashing the app for LLs at the parks, you can kind of do the same thing with the app - just sit and poke and see if anything pops up. I'm that kind of person - two years ago, I got most of what I wanted by picking up RSPs over the course of the convention, especially while waiting in line for panels.

Having said that - for the most part, RSPs aren't completely necessary. In most cases, I could have gotten into the panels I wanted without one - it was more of a nice-to-have. But there are a few things that are reservation-only (giveaways, for example).

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

Sort of an adventure in stages.

At the beginning, you'll have a few days to go through the schedule and pick out the things you want to try for. Panels, giveaways, signings, etc. It'll include the option for the size of your party. (Some folks put in larger parties and team up in the hopes of trading extra spots.) Then you prioritize them in order of interest. That's the process that starts on the 20th.

After that process closes, they'll do the main drop, and randomly assign you RSPs based on your requests. (There are daily limits on what you can request and receive.)

In my experience, that first stage is really haphazard. Some people seemingly get most of they want. Some people get basically nothing. (I'm in the latter category - I've never gotten anything that I requested.) There usually seem to be certain panels/presentations that are basically the consolation prizes of the main RSP drop - seemingly stuff that people weren't requesting. (Two years ago, a few of us got RSPs for The Princess Concert in the arena despite not requesting them.)

After that, people will start dropping the RSPs that they don't want. If you can catch them, you might be able to pick them up yourself. If you're accustomed to bashing the app for LLs at the parks, you can kind of do the same thing with the app - just sit and poke and see if anything pops up. I'm that kind of person - two years ago, I got most of what I wanted by picking up RSPs over the course of the convention, especially while waiting in line for panels.

Having said that - for the most part, RSPs aren't completely necessary. In most cases, I could have gotten into the panels I wanted without one - it was more of a nice-to-have. But there are a few things that are reservation-only (giveaways, for example).

So basically a lot of app refreshing can help, but most things are available to those willing to get in the standby line early enough?

 

[Tinkaboo]

One question...will there be a lot of free swag given away like at most conventions? Do we need to carry a tote bag to put all the goodies in? Or since it's Disney...should I plan on spending extra for everything? I understand there will be special merch (like Loungefly) but was wondering if there will be giveaways as well?

 

[dina444444]

One question...will there be a lot of free swag given away like at most conventions? Do we need to carry a tote bag to put all the goodies in? Or since it's Disney...should I plan on spending extra for everything? I understand there will be special merch (like Loungefly) but was wondering if there will be giveaways as well?

There are some givies but not a ton, they will give you a reusable bag on your way into the ACC each day. They also usually have plenty of extra bags at the end of day 3 for people to take extras home.

 

[LKing]

Lines for free swag (especially pins) tend to be long.

 

[brightlined]

So basically a lot of app refreshing can help, but most things are available to those willing to get in the standby line early enough?

For the most part, yeah. For most panels - if you're there 45 minutes to an hour beforehand, you shouldn't have a problem getting in.

I'll throw an asterisk here - it's hard to tell what impact the Afternoon ticket will have on lines for afternoon panels. But, with rare exception (at least in my mind), the main things people were getting shut out of were the things they moved to Honda Center - those were borderline impossible to get into when they were at ACC.

 

[HyperspaceMountainPilot]

As may be obvious from my posts, I am pretty clueless about what sorts of panels there will even be. I mostly want to attend the big presentation on future attractions coming to the parks—and I think it will be at the Honda Center where we have seats, right?

 

[brightlined]

As may be obvious from my posts, I am pretty clueless about what sorts of panels there will even be. I mostly want to attend the big presentation on future attractions coming to the parks—and I think it will be at the Honda Center where we have seats, right?

Yep! That's the Disney Experiences Showcase on Saturday at Honda Center.

 

[littleskippy]

While this year's panels will obviously be different, here's a link to the panel schedule of the 2024 D23 Convention: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...6ILHnnxy53/edit?gid=1186912535#gid=1186912535
One difference this time will be an additional hour each day. I did the 3-day Honda Center last time and unfortunately missed some panels from the late afternoon and evening. Even though my ticket again includes all days at Honda (I got cheaper seats this time around), I might skip one evening if there are special panels that I don't want to miss.