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I’m Finally Going to D23: My Ultimate Disney Fan Event Journey Begins

For years, I’ve watched from afar.

Every other year when D23 Expo (now officially called the Ultimate Disney Fan Event) rolled into Anaheim, my social feeds would fill with Disney magic. Exclusive merchandise. Incredible panels. Major announcements. Celebrity sightings. Fans in amazing outfits. A level of Disney excitement that honestly looked like my version of heaven.

And every single time, I thought:

Someday.

Well... someday is officially here.

I’m going to D23 this year.



And I still can’t quite believe I’m typing those words.

The funny thing is, this wasn’t some carefully crafted master plan. I knew D23 ticket sales were coming. One of our Adventures by Disney / Disney Cruise Line cruise friends asked our WhatsApp group who was going, and my answer was simple:

"Maybe someday."

Then ticket week arrived... and something shifted.

I started thinking:

What if?

Not someday.
What if now?

So naturally, I went from casually considering it to going completely all in.

I briefly looked at ticket packages and immediately decided if I was doing this, I wanted the Ultimate Preferred Fan Pass experience. No halfway. No regrets. Full Disney fan mode activated.

When my purchase window opened, I hopped into the virtual queue, feeling oddly prepared thanks to years of runDisney registration battles and my failed attempts to score Destination D23 tickets last year (we managed a shopping pass... which still felt like a win).

About 30 minutes into the queue, bestie called me at work and asked what I was doing.

When I told her I was trying to buy D23 tickets, she gave me a look and said:

"Why didn’t you ask me?"

I explained that these weren’t exactly cheap tickets, and between our two Disney concierge cruises already on the books this year, I didn’t want to be the one encouraging another expensive Disney adventure.

Then I told her the price.

She didn’t flinch.

She simply said:

"I’m in."

That’s friendship.

The waiting continued. I jumped into a meeting, warned my work bestie that I was still stuck in queue limbo, and about 75 minutes after the queue opened, I finally made it in...

...only to discover my original ticket tier was gone.

Turns out I missed one very important detail:

The listed price was starting at $1,299.

Keyword: starting.

Oops.

A quick text to bestie:

"Still in?"

Her answer:

"If you're in, I’m in."

And just like that, our D23 pilgrimage officially began.

By the end of that same day, we had:

  • D23 tickets secured
  • Flights booked
  • A 5-night stay at Hilton Anaheim locked in
  • Our Disney excitement level somewhere near unhinged

And can I just pause to appreciate one shocking development?

Bestie, who is famously not a planner and usually books travel at the absolute last possible minute, was suddenly researching hotels and flights like a seasoned travel agent.

By 4 PM, our entire trip was booked.

Honestly iconic behavior.

Now comes the fun part:

Figuring out exactly what I signed us up for.

Badge transfers? Done.

D23 emails? Finally flowing.

Next big milestone? Pin selections this month.

Then we wait for July, when panel announcements drop and the real strategic planning begins.

And if there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s this:

I love Disney planning almost as much as Disney itself.

So yes, you can absolutely expect me to bring you along for the ride.

The planning.
The merch.
The strategy.
The countdown.
And eventually... the magic.

If you’ve been to D23 before, I need your best tips.
What’s worth prioritizing? What surprised you? What would you do differently?

Tell me everything.

This Disney fan is officially going to Anaheim.

And I have a feeling this is going to be unforgettable.

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Location: Arlington, TX, USA

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