While a record-breaking heat wave cooked most of Southern California this weekend, it didn’t stop thousands of Disney fanatics to dress up as their favorite princes, princesses and Jedis for another bi-annual celebration of all things Disney during the D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center. 

Since 2009, D23 has been highlight of the year for Disney fans looking for big announcements, star-struck panels, and the best collection of Disney merchandise under one roof. This year’s convention did not disappoint: big names from Johnny Depp to Harrison Ford entertained enthusiastic crowds; Disney announced future theme park plans, including Star Wars-themed lands (yes, a Stars Wars cantina is finally becoming reality), and fans went absolutely nuts buying Disney-themed art and souvenirs to satisfy their collections.

Of course, the biggest highlight of the weekend was seeing thousands of cosplayers show off their amazing hand-stitched and homemade costumes. Here are some of the best costume-wearing Disney fans we met while exploring D23 Expo:

Valentina, 28

Occupation: Restaurant Worker
What are you dressed as: Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
How long did it take to prepare your costume? It took five months to find the right fabrics and hand embroider it together.
Other best costume you saw today: I saw a really legit Mulan.
Favorite Disney movie or show: Tangled
Favorite part of the convention: Dressing up

Matthew, 26 Ashlynnedae, 24

Occupation: Cast Member at Disneyland; Nurse Assistant
What are you dressed as: Prince Eric and Ariel
How long did it take to prepare your costume? His took a week, mine took a week and a half, mostly to make the wig.
Other best costume you saw today: A really great Shang and Mulan
Favorite Disney movie or show: Matthew: Mulan; Ashlynnedae: Tangled
Favorite part of the convention: The costume contest

John, 27  Mei, 27

Occupation: Lab Technicians
What are you dressed as: Prince Ali & Jasmine
How long did it take to prepare your costumes? A month to make them ourselves
Other best costume you saw today: Haunted Mansion lady with the umbrella and the alligator. There’s also a great Ariel on a rock walking around.
Favorite Disney movie or show: John: Tarzan; Mei: Tomorrowland
Favorite part of the convention: All the Disney merchandise

Samantha, 18

Occupation: I work for a Princess Entertainment Company, but today isn’t a work day.
What are you dressed as: Belle
How long did it take to prepare your costume? A week tops
Other best costume you saw today: A really great Snow White, and Beast and Belle as Star Wars Jedis
Favorite Disney movie or show: Peter Pan
Favorite part of the convention: This is my first convention. Everyone is so welcoming!

Lisa, 31

Occupation: Costume Designer
What are you dressed as: The Queen of Hearts
How long did it take to prepare your costume? A couple days
Other best costume you saw today: A beautiful Belle and Mulan
Favorite Disney movie or show: I can’t deny it…Frozen. I even have a Frozen tattoo.
Favorite part of the convention: The cosplay

Michael, 19 Jake, 19

Occupation: Film students
What are you dressed as: The Jungle “Convention” Cruise
How long did it take to prepare your costume? About 10 hours. We literally threw this 2 days before the convention.
Other best costume you saw today: Captain America Jedi and the Haunted Mansion Painting
Favorite Disney movie or show: Michael: Up; Jake: Inside Out
Favorite part of the convention: Literally all we've done is roll around, but the Disneyland Shanghai exhibit was pretty cool.

Sylar, 22

Occupation: Actor
What are you dressed as: Malificient
How long did it take to prepare your costume? I made it last night.
Other best costume you saw today: A really good group of Disney princesses, and an art- nouveau Aladdin
Favorite Disney movie or show: Aladdin
Favorite part of the convention: I like how it’s interactive. A lot of conventions don't let you get so close to Disney actors.

Kelly, 29

Occupation: Entertainment and Costuming
What are you dressed as: Belle
How long did it take to prepare your costume? About 3 days, but the wig took a week and a half.
Other best costume you saw today: The entire Incredibles family
Favorite Disney movie or show: Peter Pan
Favorite part of the convention: You get to see all the new stuff and hear the special announcements  

Brooke, 19

Occupation: Costume Designer
What are you dressed as: Disney’s Robin Hood
How long did it take to prepare your costume? 5 months
Other best costume you saw today: I saw a great Hercules
Favorite Disney movie or show: Alice in Wonderland
Favorite part of the convention: Everything. It’s Disney everywhere you go. Disney is life.

Cheyanne, 24

Occupation: Graduate Assistant for Marriage and Family Therapy
What are you dressed as: Cinderella
How long did it take to prepare your costume? It took 6 months to get the right fabric
Other best costume you saw today: A beautiful Belle
Favorite Disney movie or show: Hercules
Favorite part of the convention: The cosplayers and seeing how everyone embodies their characters.

Jeff, 30

Occupation: Social worker
What are you dressed as: Russell from Up
How long did it take to prepare your costume: Oh god, maybe a week?
Other best costume you saw today: Jesse and Buzz
Favorite Disney movie or show: Up
Favorite part of the convention: The free stuff, and the interactive booths

Allan, 25

Occupation: Hair dresser
What are you dressed as: Sadness
How long did it take to prepare your costume: 3 weeks
Other best costume you saw today: A beautiful Esmerelda 
Favorite Disney movie or show: Inside Out
Favorite part of the convention: The interactive quality, like the video game setups

Amelia, 21

Occupation: Post graduate student. I’m intentionally unemployed.
What are you dressed as: Alice in Wonderland
How long did it take to prepare your costume: The costume took about a week.
Other best costume you saw today: An absolutely perfect Cinderella. Also the Convention Cruise was great.
Favorite Disney movie or show: Pirates of the Caribbean
Favorite part of the convention: I loved getting to see another side of conventions because I only go to UK conventions. It’s nice to see how the Americans do it.

Ciara, 23

Occupation: Nanny
What are you dressed as: Ursula
How long did it take to prepare your costume: I made the dress over 3 to 4 days.
Other best costume you saw today: I saw a great Elsa and Hans from Frozen
Favorite Disney movie or show: Alice in Wonderland
Favorite part of the convention: I love seeing all the Disney specific cosplays

Jennifer, 28

Occupation: Children’s Party Performer
What are you dressed as: Belle
How long did it take to prepare your costume: A couple of weeks
Other best costume you saw today: A lot of princesses. I saw a great Anna from Frozen.
Favorite Disney movie or show: Tangled
Favorite part of the convention: Just meeting other Disney fans with the same passion is a lot of fun.