First look inside D23 before Disney fan convention begins
Disney fans hoping to get a sneak peek at new rides, shows and lands coming to Disneyland, Disney World and other Disney theme parks around the world will descend on Anaheim this week for the D23 fan expo.
Disney hosted a media preview of the D23 convention floor on Thursday, Aug. 13 ahead of the three-day Disney fan event that kicks off on Friday, Aug. 14 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
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The D23 show floor will be dominated by pavilions dedicated to Walt Disney Imagineering, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and Avatar that promise to offer previews of Disney theme park projects in the works over the next five years.
Avengers Campus expansion model including Stark Flight Lab at the Imagineering: Horizons pavilion during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A model of a ride vehicle for Avatar Destination ride coming to California Adventure at the Imagineering: Horizons pavilion during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Monorail goes past a rock work model of Avatar Destination ride coming to California Adventure at the Imagineering: Horizons pavilion during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Rock work model of Avatar Destination ride coming to California Adventure at the Imagineering: Horizons pavilion during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Stef Quek and Jeslyn Chong cheer with the Lombardi trophy at the ESPN booth during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Stark Flight Lab vehicle maquette for the upcoming ride at Avengers Campus in California Aadventure during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse don their racing gear in the Mickey x F1 booth during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Avengers Campus expansion model including Stark Flight Lab at the Imagineering: Horizons pavilion during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Walt Disney Imagineering pavilion had scale models of the Avatar land and the Avengers Campus expansion coming to Disney California Adventure along with a miniature version of the Stark Flight Lab ride vehicle.
The D23 media preview included sneak peeks at the Disney+ Hulu Experience, the ESPN booth with the NFL Lombardi trophy, Disney and Pixar animation pavilions and the Walt Disney Imagineering: Horizons exhibit.
Jonathan Garson, general manager of Pixar, at the Pixar Animation Studios Pavilion during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Visitors watch a 4D video in the Disney+ Hulu Theater during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Paolo Pescatore gets excited in the Animayhem display at the Disney+ Hulu pavilion during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jared Bush, chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios at the Walt Disney Animation Studios pavilion during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Frozen III display at the Walt Disney Animation Studios Pavilion during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Carly Caramanna takes a picture in the Scrubs display at the Disney+ Hulu pavilion during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Asad Ayaz is the Chief Marketing and Brand Officer of The Walt Disney Company at the Disney+ Hulu pavilion during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Alice Johnson pretends to play guitar in the Camp Rock 3 display at the Disney+ Hulu pavilion during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jared Bush, chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios at the Walt Disney Animation Studios pavilion during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Stef Quek and Jeslyn Chong cheer with the Lombardi trophy at the ESPN booth during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jared Bush, chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios at the Walt Disney Animation Studios pavilion during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Jonathan Garson, general manager of Pixar, at the Pixar Animation Studios Pavilion during a media preview of the D23 Disney fan expo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Anaheim. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Walt Disney Imagineering will host the Horizons: A Carousel of Progress showcase on Saturday, Aug. 15 at the Honda Center that will answer many of the questions fans have about Disney attractions currently under construction while also revealing a few new surprises still in the early stages of blue sky development.
The Horizons: A Carousel of Progress showcase will be broadcast live on Saturday night at 7 p.m. Pacific Time on the Disney+ streaming service.
