D23 2026 Show Floor Revealed: Imagineering Horizons, Bob Weis, Joe Rohde, Marvel, Pixar, and More

28 days ago in "D23 - Official Fan Organization"

2026 D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event
Posted: Thursday July 16, 2026 12:48pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has revealed full details of the show floor experience at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026, and it's the largest in D23 event history.

For Walt Disney World fans, the headline attraction is the Imagineering: Horizons pavilion — Disney's biggest Imagineering showcase ever — which promises an up-close look at the people and projects shaping the future of Disney parks worldwide. With Villains Land, Cars Land, Monsters, Inc., and Tropical Americas all under active construction at Walt Disney World, this is where fans are most likely to get new details, progress updates, and behind-the-scenes looks ahead of the Disney Experiences Showcase on Saturday evening.

Parks fans will also want to note that former Walt Disney Imagineering president Bob Weis and Disney Legend Joe Rohde — whose memoir Floating Mountains covers his work on Animal Kingdom, Aulani, and beyond — will both be signing books at Talent Central.

Beyond Imagineering, the Anaheim Convention Center floor spans studio pavilions, immersive activations, sponsor experiences, shopping, and Talent Central — all exclusive to ticketholders across August 14–16.

D23 Day at Disneyland — Thursday, August 13

The weekend kicks off a day early with D23 Day at Disneyland Resort on Thursday, August 13. Highlights include a Disney Legends Cavalcade at Disneyland Park and a complimentary Mickey Mouse ear hat giveaway while supplies last.

The big addition this year is a live performance of Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration at Disney California Adventure Park. Billed as the largest gathering of Disney Princess talent ever assembled, the show features lighting, projections, and fountains. Attendance is limited and requires a virtual queue confirmation, wristband, and valid park admission. The concert will also stream on Disney+ and air on Disney Channel, Freeform, and ABC on Sunday, August 16.

The Disney Jr. Let's Play! Party also returns to Disney California Adventure on August 13, with live entertainment and character experiences for families with young children.

Studio Pavilions

Disney+ and Hulu
A signature 4D theater anchors the Disney+ Hulu Experience, alongside exclusive merchandise, a collectible mystery pin quest, and immersive photo moments inspired by Percy Jackson and the Olympians, American Horror Story, Camp Rock 3, The Simpsons, Only Murders in the Building, VisionQuest, and more.

Marvel Studios
Marvel Studios returns with TVA Experience: Your Next Assignment — an immersive walkthrough that puts you inside the Time Variance Authority and across multiple worlds of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Lucasfilm
The Lucasfilm pavilion brings photo ops, props, and costumes from current and upcoming Star Wars projects, plus fireside chats with filmmaking teams. Fans can also catch an early screening of LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian at the convention center.

Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios
The two studios are joining forces for a combined animation pavilion, celebrating Pixar's 40th anniversary alongside first looks at upcoming films including Disney's Hexed, Frozen 3, Gatto, and Incredibles 3. Expect artist demonstrations, autograph signings with top filmmakers, fan giveaways, and interactive displays.

Mundo Pixar: The D23 Experience
Presented by Disney Rewards Visa Cards from Chase, this special preview of the globally touring Mundo Pixar exhibition brings life-size sets inspired by beloved Pixar films, with photo moments and a dedicated merchandise shop.

Avatar Experience
Step into Pandora's bioluminescent environment through an immersive 4D moment and a gallery showcasing the artistry behind the Avatar films.

Imagineering: Horizons
The Disney Experiences pavilion returns with what Disney is calling its largest Imagineering pavilion ever. Horizons gives fans an up-close look at the people, process, and projects shaping Disney parks around the world — including progress on the ambitious expansion slate announced at D23 2024.

Walt Disney Archives: Uncrated
Making its debut at D23, this new exhibition takes fans inside the normally off-limits warehouses of the Walt Disney Archives. Themed displays feature props, costumes, and puppets from films, television, and theme parks across generations of Disney history.

Other Show Floor Highlights

  • Bluey and Bingo — Character meet and greet at The Bluey Movie booth. Reservations required.
  • The Simpsons — Photo moments celebrating the new Simpsons movie, in theaters September 3, 2027.
  • ESPN: We're Going to the Super Bowl! — An immersive Super Bowl activation with photo ops, stadium environments, a confetti victory celebration, and an exclusive D23 ESPN pin giveaway.
  • Disney Theatrical Group — Sets, costumes, props, concept art, and live presentations spotlighting upcoming Broadway productions, arena tours, and immersive experiences. Hosted in part by Disney on Broadway star Ryan McCartan.
  • Disney VoluntEARS — Each day, attendees can assemble 8,000 kits for charity: wish kits for Make-A-Wish on Friday, welcome kits for military families with Blue Star Families on Saturday, and activity kits for children in hospitals with the Starlight Children's Foundation on Sunday.
  • Disney Music Group — A classic radio booth with live on-air appearances, a "Be Our Guest" recording station, costumes from The Descendants/ZOMBIES: Worlds Collide Tour, and exclusive Disney Music Emporium offerings.
  • Lights, Camera, Sparkle! — An immersive walkthrough presented by Disney Consumer Products, with two themed photo experience areas: one Mickey & Friends and snack-inspired, the other inspired by Stitch and Angel's "Glitter Glide" music video.

Sponsor Activations

  • Chevrolet — Cars 20th anniversary celebration with Cars-inspired vehicle wraps, Lightning McQueen and Mater photo ops, a canvas tote giveaway, and live hood painting by Disney Fine Arts artist Trevor Carlton.
  • Heinz — The HEINZ Flavor Ferry, with globally inspired sauce sampling across four regional photo areas. First 570 guests each day receive a limited-edition "it's a flavorful world" pin.
  • Honda — An Encanto-themed activation with character photo ops, commemorative buttons, and the Honda Odyssey and Acura MDX on display.
  • M&M'S — "Be A Hero" Marvel audition activation with photo booth moments, sampling, and Marvel Mini Poster Fan Pack giveaways.
  • Topps — Making its D23 debut with an interactive Topps Chrome Disney experience and exclusive trading cards.
  • Wizards of the Coast — Debut booth themed to Magic: The Gathering | MARVEL Super Heroes.
  • Ravensburger — Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game interactive booth with exclusive product offerings.

Additional activations from Loungefly, Just Play, Little Words Project, Atari, Citizen, Crocs, and Pandora are also confirmed, with exclusive D23 merchandise, giveaways, and interactive experiences at each.

Talent Central

Talent Central presented by M&M'S opens each day on the show floor. Confirmed signers include incoming Disney Legend Eric Goldberg and Disney Legend Mark Henn, Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter, current and former Imagineers, and stars from Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Camp Rock 3, Bob's Burgers, The Proud Family, The Simpsons, Phineas & Ferb, and Dancing with the Stars.

Authors including former Walt Disney Imagineering president Bob Weis and Disney Legend Joe Rohde will sign books. The official voices of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, Bret Iwan and Kaitlyn Robrock, will also be available to meet fans.

Spotlight Stage presented by Fandango

Fandango is the presenting sponsor of the Spotlight Stage this year, the first time the company has held that role. Programming includes Fandango Front Row conversations with Disney filmmakers and talent, plus demonstrations and lessons in voice acting, sketching, dancing, and more throughout each day.

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event runs August 14–16 at the Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center in Anaheim. Afternoon Only Fan Passes start at $49. Full-day Sunday Fan Passes are still available.

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TrainsOfDisney10 minutes ago

Correct. One of the reasons I like staying by Disney springs is easy access to restaurants I actually like.

TrainsOfDisney40 minutes ago

Happy D23 day at Disneyland! I’ve got my mouse ears and map! Haha. The lines for the photo ops and cupcakes are crazy haha

lentesta43 minutes ago

Not my story to tell 😂.

Stupido1 hour ago

According to Disney Store the D23 "essentials" will drop on August 17th

BrianLo1 hour ago

I’d like that to stay a secret for Saturday.

flynnibus1 hour ago

Any word yet if more of the new D23 merch will be available online?

flynnibus1 hour ago

I think they could do great if they built a TS that was an experience in its own right.. like Be Our Guest was before they screwed it up. I get the shifts in customers.. but I can't escape that people don't want to pay crazy prices for mediocre meals. Royal Table - forced prices due to characters. It's $50 PER KID for a meal BoG - $43 per kid.. and forced menus Crystal Palace - forced prices due to characters.. again $43 per kid Canteen - ala carte menu with atmosphere - but a bit edgy menu Liberty Tree - again with the forced menus - but more affordable Plaza - ala carte, but over priced cafeteria venue Tonys - ala carte, but over priced with horrible reputation Maybe people don't like spending $40 a head to watch their kid not eat and complain... or don't like having a family dinner bill of $200+ for a meal they didn't even like. I think Disney has way more of a product issue than 'customer shifts'

DisneyHead1231 hour ago

🤔 Scale of 1-10, how good is this as a starting guess?

Coaster Lover1 hour ago

I'd welcome the Universal Orlando approach where, despite being more or less all Quick Serve restaurants (without a dedicated wait staff), they still offer well themed (indoor/climate controlled) dining areas where (in some cases), the food is brought to your table directly. I certainly wouldn't complain about a Three Broomsticks/Leaky Cauldron/Das Stakehaus style quick serve in Villains.

flyerjab1 hour ago

I’ve always felt that would be a great way to bring him back. He would fit right in with that eclectic bunch of SEA members.

lentesta1 hour ago

Totally agree. Part of the issue might be that both TS meals and Lightning Lane sales come from the same, finite, semi-discretionary "bucket of money" that guests have. So if they improved the TS experience it might result in less spending on LL sales. LL sales are digital goods with profit margins of like 95%. I think TS profit margins might top out at 50%. So they'd have to work at least twice as hard to improve the TS experience as they would LL in order to makew the same net revenue. And that assumes the GLP-1 trend doesn't increase, etc.

FigmentFan821 hour ago

I live the idea of SEA and welcome more inclusion throughout the parks. I also like the idea of retconning Dreamfinder to be a SEA member.

lentesta1 hour ago

Setting aside the "what's in this cabinet that looks like Dreamfinder" thing going around social media, there's one big domestic parks announcement that has not been sussed out yet. It's not my story to tell though - someone else here put the pieces together and all I did was ask the right person if it's true.

James Alucobond1 hour ago

Indeed. If Cosmic Ray’s, Village Haus, and Pecos Bill were anything approaching decent, I might be more inclined to eat in the park. I feel it remains somewhat infrastructurally stunted as TS-only because of how the hybrid model used to work. The salon and hall of armor are now wasted space, and the dining room furnishing doesn’t feel permanent because it was meant to be moved around.

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