Cinema VinesDisney fans gathered in Anaheim for D23, the official fan club’s biennial convention that attracts tens of thousands over three days and is billed as the “Ultimate Disney Fan Event.” The weekend offered a full‑scale escape from everyday life, with attendees lining up for gala dinners, buying exclusive merchandise, trading collectible pins, and posing with costumed characters from the park’s lineup.
Tickets for the event ranged from $50 to $2,500, a price many fans consider a small investment for a chance to step away from a chaotic world. “Our world is so chaotic and unstable, and it seems like the bad guys are always winning,” said 37‑year‑old Monica Romero, who told AFP that Disney’s escapist atmosphere reminds her that “good can always win.”
Another attendee, 38‑year‑old Skyla, said she visits Disneyland twice a week and looks forward to D23’s presentations on new rides and park experiences. “You go into the park, and the real world gets to disappear for a while, and you just get to enjoy that time and just have happiness,” she said, noting that she was dressed as Lady, the pampered cocker spaniel from “Lady and the Tramp.”
The convention also attracted celebrities, filmmakers and creative professionals who promoted upcoming projects, while commercial partners showcased Disney‑branded goods. Fans brought their own collectibles to trade, such as 19‑year‑old Chase Halon, a Disneyland employee who has amassed a large pin collection and continues to hunt for rarities. “It’s really fun and super‑addicting as well,” he said, noting that new items are hard to find and older ones even more so. His prized pin is a limited‑edition purple dinosaur, Figment, which he believes could be worth around $5,000.
Photographic opportunities were plentiful, ranging from classic princesses and witches to pop‑culture icons like Homer Simpson and characters from “Toy Story.” Fans recreated the meme of Homer quietly backing into bushes on the Simpsons set, posed for a mock “Runway” cover in the “Devil Wears Prada” area, and stepped into Andy’s toy‑filled room in the Pixar section, each experience offering a brief mental vacation from reality.
