D23 Day brought eight Disney Legends down Main Street in a Cavalcade
Thursday’s one-day event at Disneyland Resort included a cavalcade with 23 characters, free ear hats, and free PhotoPass downloads. One Legend signed a doll made in her likeness.
Martha Blanding signed a doll of herself Thursday morning.
The Disney Legend and longtime Disneyland cast member held a signing for a new doll based on her and her book, hours before riding in the Disney Legends Cavalcade down Main Street, U.S.A.
D23 Day at Disneyland Resort ran Thursday, August 13, the day before D23 opened in Anaheim.
Who was in the Disney Legends Cavalcade
Eight Legends, per WDW News Today.
Blanding, along with Ming-Na Wen, Linda Larkin, Jodi Benson, Joe Rohde, Tony Baxter, Wing T. Chao, and Floyd Norman.
That’s a mix people don’t usually see in one place. Larkin and Benson voiced Jasmine and Ariel. Rohde and Baxter built Animal Kingdom and Big Thunder Mountain. Chao designed hotels. Norman animated for Walt.
The cavalcade rolled at 1:30 p.m. with the Disneyland Band and 23 Disney characters. Daps Magic reported fans had been holding spots along the route for hours.
What else D23 Day included
A fair amount, and most of it was free.
Guests entering either park at opening received a Mickey ear hat with the D23 Day logo and a commemorative guide, while supplies lasted. Everyone with valid admission that day got unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital downloads.
Photo ops were set up at Town Square in Disneyland, Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure, and in Downtown Disney. Photo booths in the Hollywood Backlot and the Fantasyland Theater offered D23 Day photo strips for an extra fee.
Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration was recorded at California Adventure, with entry by virtual queue and wristband.
The food and merchandise from D23 Day
A new Hatbox Ghost popcorn bucket launched, along with a Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey cake pop and a set of four D23 commemorative medallions.
Downtown Disney locations have been running special menu items since August 1, through August 16, with discounts for anyone showing a D23 event badge or Gold Membership card.
The 2026 Disney Legends get inducted Sunday
None of Thursday’s cavalcade Legends are in this year’s class.
The 2026 Disney Legends ceremony runs Sunday, August 16 at the Honda Center, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, streaming on Disney+ at 6 p.m. Pacific. Eleven honorees, including Bob Iger, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the Jonas Brothers.
Thursday was the version with the people who built the place. Sunday is the version with the people who star in it, and both are Disney Legends by the same definition.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
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Hat Tips:
WDW News Today (August 13, 2026), the cavalcade coverage naming all eight Disney Legends and the Martha Blanding doll signing
Daps Magic (August 13, 2026), the crowd coverage along the parade route
Laughing Place (August 13, 2026), additional cavalcade photography and coverage
Disney Parks Blog and D23 (July 2026), the official D23 Day lineup including the ear hats, PhotoPass offer, photo op locations, and Downtown Disney menu dates
Theme Park IQ (August 2026), the 2026 Disney Legends class and the ceremony stream time