Tens of thousands descend for the D23 conference โ will familiar faces and bigger parks maintain their loyalty? I t was Friday night, and the southern California stadium was packed with cheering fans. They wore light-up bracelets and homemade costumes, and screamed every time a new A-list celebrity made a surprise appearance. It was a marketing event for Walt Disney, a company with a legion of fans so devoted that about 15, were willing to buy a ticket and come to Anaheim, California, to see its newest film and TV advertisements first.
Disney shot off flames, filled the stadium with fake snow, and provided a medley of Broadway performances. Jude Law showed the first clip of himself starring as a jedi in Skeleton Crew, a new Star Wars series. Being a Disney superfan is not cheap. For the superfans in Anaheim, the cost is still worth it. In previous years, they have watched videos of the D23 conference announcements from home, but this year, they wanted to attend in person. The couple had woken up at 6.
Further back Shannon Richey, 51, and her mother, Peggy Martin, 72, who had flown in from Houston, Texas, were also visiting D23 for the first time. After two Disney cruises, they had tried another cruise, and found the experience unsatisfying. And, of course, a dizzying array of mouse ears. Rachel Meyers, a stylist from Los Angeles who works in the film industry, was dressed as Tinker Bell, with full glittering wings. It was her second trip to D23, and she was there with a group of more than 10 friends, all of whom had planned different costumes for each day of the convention.
While Disney does not confirm attendance numbers, US media outlets have estimated the conference attracts well over , people. Disney came into its biennial fan weekend with a mix of good and bad news on its corporate front. This spring, the company settled a legal dispute stemming from that political battle.
But amid all the festivities, one thing Disney executives did not want to address was the effect of rising theme park prices on the very superfans D23 is supposed to celebrate. The price rises appear to be affecting park attendance. Disney blamed the drop on inflation-related cost increases and technology spending. The executives did not discuss the debate over pricing, and did not take take questions in real time: journalists had only been allowed to submit questions for Disney to review in advance.
