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

[LKing]

D23 will be back in Anaheim August 14-16 2026

Including: D23 Day at Disneyland and D23 Day at Angel Stadium

 

[LKing]

Jodi Benson will be the first official "Fan-bassador." She will make appearances throughout the year leading up to the Ultimate Disney Fan Event at Disneyland.

 

[LKing]

Book your hotel rooms now.

https://d23.com/ultimatefanevent2026/

Thursday, August 13: D23 Day at Disneyland
Friday August 14 - Sunday August 16: Anaheim Convention Center & Honda Center

 

[AquaDame]

Not sure I’ll do the Honda center again… the experience was a downgrade from previous years in my opinion for a lot more money. It took a lot of time getting to and fro, not as many giveaways and the food options at the center were terrible.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I'm excited that that it is in mid-August. I didn't do the Honda center last time so I don't know if I will this time either. It is nice that there will be a D23 at the Park again too.

 

[FrozenCrown]

So excited for this I already booked my hotel! I am definitely dreading the ticket purchase though I didnt get the 3 day for honda and had to settle for a one day and ended up paying more. I knew they'd keep the Honda center experience since its more money for them. I hope I get into the movies panel since that's the one I care for most.

 

[HeadNerd]

Got my hotel room. Nothing available at the Hilton in the convention center, those must have been snapped up quick or they don’t have the rooms released for them yet.

At Destination D23 right now, for the first time Other than the silly long lines to pick up pre-ordered pins, it’s been great so far. 4,000 vs >100,000 people makes a huge difference.

I’ll likely do Honda Center again. Last time all that was left by the time I fought my way through the queue were expensive floor seats. I did it, but definitely not worth the extra $$$. I’m still shocked for all that money they did absolutely nothing more for people in those premiere seats - some giveaway or even a dedicated set of bus/shuttles or something. Not trying to be elitist but wow it was way off. Now if they bring back Sorcerer Passes or something with a lounge and trinkets and shopping access, I’ll have my credit card ready to be maxed out on 100 browser windows.

 

[LKing]

I'm hoping that they learn from last year and make improvements. Personally, I liked having a reserved seat at Honda Center. Regarding food.... I thought the convention center food was worse than the Honda Center.

D23 has an upcoming event at the studios where they are going to offer expedited entry (aka Lightning Lane) for an additional fee. I wouldn't be surprised if they added that to the Ultimate Fan Event as well.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Got my hotel room. Nothing available at the Hilton in the convention center, those must have been snapped up quick or they don’t have the rooms released for them yet.

Book your hotel rooms now.

https://d23.com/ultimatefanevent2026/

Thursday, August 13: D23 Day at Disneyland
Friday August 14 - Sunday August 16: Anaheim Convention Center & Honda Center

Does anyone know if more hotels were available earlier, e.g. the Hilton, and sold out or if we just need to keep checking daily?

 

[LKing]

Does anyone know if more hotels were available earlier, e.g. the Hilton, and sold out or if we just need to keep checking daily?

I should have taken a snapshot of the page when they first announced the date. I don't think there were all that many more (maybe one).

 

[ashley0139]

Not sure I’ll do the Honda center again… the experience was a downgrade from previous years in my opinion for a lot more money. It took a lot of time getting to and fro, not as many giveaways and the food options at the center were terrible.

Funny, I thought the Honda Center was a HUGE upgrade from previous years. Not having to waste the day sitting in the basement of the convention center to get into the afternoon panel was soooo worth the upcharge. We had a rental car so didn't have the take the busses and it was so easy in and out.

So excited about this announcement! Will be expo number 6 for me.

 

[AquaDame]

Funny, I thought the Honda Center was a HUGE upgrade from previous years. Not having to waste the day sitting in the basement of the convention center to get into the afternoon panel was soooo worth the upcharge. We had a rental car so didn't have the take the busses and it was so easy in and out.

So excited about this announcement! Will be expo number 6 for me.

I was definitely stuck on the bus..! A car might’ve helped for sure. I didn’t mind wasting the early AM since I had nowhere else to be, and enjoyed spending the evening at the parks with my husband vs the center. Plus the giveaways were far better… but different strokes and all that! Less competition is good for yall!

 

[ashley0139]

I was definitely stuck on the bus..! A car might’ve helped for sure. I didn’t mind wasting the early AM since I had nowhere else to be, and enjoyed spending the evening at the parks with my husband vs the center. Plus the giveaways were far better… but different strokes and all that! Less competition is good for yall!

Did the bus take forever both there and back? It did not look like that much fun lol. I was glad we had a car.

Agree with you on the giveaways, but that was never a huge draw for me.

 

[Tinkaboo]

OK, sinceI'm doing all things Disney while I still can, I made my hotel rezzies this PM. I just remember glancing at the info last year, checking it out but can't recall when that was. When will event tickets likely go on sale? I know they go pretty fast, at least the multi-day ones. Can someone enlighten me? I think I will upgrade my D23 membership, too...does this help with anything? I've been a free member forever...

@LKing, any words of advice? You are the fountain from which all knowledge flows...

I'm going to check for previous threads, too....

 

[ashley0139]

OK, sinceI'm doing all things Disney while I still can, I made my hotel rezzies this PM. I just remember glancing at the info last year, checking it out but can't recall when that was. When will event tickets likely go on sale? I know they go pretty fast, at least the multi-day ones. Can someone enlighten me? I think I will upgrade my D23 membership, too...does this help with anything? I've been a free member forever...

@LKing, any words of advice? You are the fountain from which all knowledge flows...

I'm going to check for previous threads, too....

Tickets will go on sale around March or April. Tickets are usually not hard to get, until last year and they went sooooo fast.

Depends on the year if a gold membership is helpful but I usually get it. They used to do line priority for gold members but stopped that, so we’ll see what they do this year.

 

[Tinkaboo]

Tickets will go on sale around March or April. Tickets are usually not hard to get, until last year and they went sooooo fast.

Depends on the year if a gold membership is helpful but I usually get it. They used to do line priority for gold members but stopped that, so we’ll see what they do this year.

Thanks, Ashley! Just reading some posts from 2024...so do most of the panels/presentations/shows take place at Honda Center? The map I found of the CC looks like it's mostly vendors/shopping...

 

[ashley0139]

Thanks, Ashley! Just reading some posts from 2024...so do most of the panels/presentations/shows take place at Honda Center? The map I found of the CC looks like it's mostly vendors/shopping...

Only the 3 “big” panels take place at the Honda center, all the other panels will be at the convention center. Only Parks, Movies, and Legends will be at Honda center. You probably saw a map of the main show area, the panel rooms are on different floors or even different building but all at the CC.

This of course assumes a similar set up to last year, and they are known to change their plan every year lol.

 

[LKing]

Isn't Gold free for Disney + now? If so, that probably dilutes things.

Last year was the first time in forever that I attended D23. Here is one of the threads. I think @soniam is the master of tickets.

 

[Cfabar1]

Isn't Gold free for Disney + now? If so, that probably dilutes things.

Last year was the first time in forever that I attended D23. Here is one of the threads. I think @soniam is the master of tickets.

It is... my guess is the new pricing tiers caused some big problems for them...

 

[Sakura1017]

Got my hotel room. Nothing available at the Hilton in the convention center, those must have been snapped up quick or they don’t have the rooms released for them yet.

At Destination D23 right now, for the first time Other than the silly long lines to pick up pre-ordered pins, it’s been great so far. 4,000 vs >100,000 people makes a huge difference.

I’ll likely do Honda Center again. Last time all that was left by the time I fought my way through the queue were expensive floor seats. I did it, but definitely not worth the extra $$$. I’m still shocked for all that money they did absolutely nothing more for people in those premiere seats - some giveaway or even a dedicated set of bus/shuttles or something. Not trying to be elitist but wow it was way off. Now if they bring back Sorcerer Passes or something with a lounge and trinkets and shopping access, I’ll have my credit card ready to be maxed out on 100 browser windows.

Anaheim Hilton booked quickly. I couldn't get August 16 to 17 but the rest of the dates were okay.