If there’s one thing D23 always delivers besides the news, it’s the show floor cosplay…
…and this year’s crowd brought their absolute A-game!
Friday kicked things off with a genuinely wide range of looks, from painstaking DIY builds to sentimental couple’s costumes.
One fan from Norwalk shared that her outfit started as a plan to dress as the EPCOT ball before a cardboard shape and a celebration button sent her in a whole new creative direction. Another guest paid tribute to Belle’s “Dream Up” parade costume, explaining it’s her favorite parade Disney’s ever put together, partly because of the Japanese dialogue worked into it. And in maybe the most delightfully random tribute of the day, one fan from Fremont turned himself into an actual Mickey pretzel, cheese and all, because of just how much he loves grabbing one every trip to the parks.
There were sentimental moments woven in too. A pair of friends went full Tangled, with one explaining that “I See the Light” has been their song together for four years. Another trio — visiting from Texas and Michigan — met while working at Walt Disney World Resort, and said Disney is what’s kept their friendship anchored ever since. And one guest’s glow-in-the-dark, hand-painted dress was designed specifically to highlight a beloved pair of Mickey ears, matching the glow effect down to the smallest detail.
Saturday brought the Disney Parks and Games cosplay meet-up, and the crowd leaned hard into attraction-inspired looks this time around — Disney Cruise Line references, cast member-inspired fashion with a historical twist, and even a pair of friends dressed as tribute to Mystic Manor, a ride they discovered together on their first trip to Hong Kong Disneyland and instantly named their favorite. Saturday morning also brought Mousequerade: The Ultimate Disney Costume Contest presented by AT&T, which turned out a stacked lineup of show-stopping, Disney Parks-inspired ensembles in its own right.
Between the DIY builds, the deeply personal references, and the sheer range of fandoms represented, this year’s D23 show floor cosplay scene proved once again that Disney fans don’t just love the parks — they love finding new, creative ways to wear that love out loud.
What’s the most creative D23 cosplay you’ve ever seen? Let me know your favorite look from this year!
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