By the D23 Team
With just one day until D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event began, what better way to celebrate than with the first ever D23 Day at Disneyland Resort? All day long, both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure had special D23: The Official Disney Fan Club surprises and delights for guests! While supplies lasted, guests received complimentary Mickey Mouse ear hats celebrating D23 Day at Disneyland Resort upon entering either park. Throughout the day, rare character appearances captivated guests, such as Max Goof, Lots-O’-Huggin Bear, and the lead character from Disney Jr.’s Ariel!
At Disney California Adventure, the Disney Jr. Let's Play! Parade marked Ariel from Disney Jr.’s Disney Parks debut, where she performed alongside other beloved Disney Jr. characters. However, the fun didn’t stop there! There were Disney Jr. activities for families to enjoy all day including live performances, arts and crafts in Hollywood Land, and the return of the cupcake-decorating activity Confection Purrfection.
Over at Disneyland Park, there was a special D23 Day cavalcade featuring 23 Disney characters, and an array of Disney Legends, including Don Hahn, Floyd Norman, Mark Henn, Kenny Ortega, Tony Baxter, Jodi Benson, Wing Chao, Linda Larkin, Bill Farmer, Bob Gurr and soon-to-be named Legend Martha Blanding riding on iconic vehicles from Main Street, U.S.A. Disneyland Park guests also enjoyed lively dance parties at Tomorrowland Terrace, where Stitch, Horace Horsecollar, Clarabelle Cow, and other Disney friends got everyone on their feet. After 11 p.m., the party switched to fan-favorite musical group Suburban Legends as they enchanted the crowd with their energetic live performances.
To commemorate the first ever D23 Day at Disneyland Resort, special merchandise was available, including four new Disneyland Resort medallions! The parks also welcomed back the fan-favorite Create Your Own Headbands and introduced an exciting new merchandise collection celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Disney Classic Tarzan. The best way to remember any special Disneyland Resort trip is through photos. Guests received complimentary PhotoPass for the day, complete with a special Magic Shot and access to exclusive photo spots throughout the park including Illusion Art, painted by Nate Baronowski, which invited guests to become part of Disney art!
To celebrate this special occasion, we created a unique D23 Day at Disneyland Resort map featuring 23 activity suggestions and hidden gems to explore. From start to finish, the number 23 was the magic touch, celebrating our fan-tastic D23 Members! Thanks to the Disneyland Resort for hosting us, and thanks to our amazing members for bringing the magic!
