D23: The Official Disney Fan Club (founded in 2009 by then-CEO Bob Iger) serves as the Walt Disney Company's official membership community, with its name referencing "Disney" and the year 1923 when the company was established. Members can join at free or gold levels, with gold perks historically including the quarterly magazine Disney twenty-three, exclusive merchandise, and early event access—though the magazine was discontinued in winter 2025. The club's flagship event is the biennial D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event (formerly the D23 Expo), first held in 2009 in Anaheim, which features the Disney Legends award ceremony, exclusive first looks at films and theme park attractions, and celebrity appearances. The event's cultural impact was noted by The New York Times in 2022 as "both awe-inspiring and terrifying" for showcasing Disney's deep integration into global culture. Beyond the main expo, D23 hosts smaller gatherings like Destination D23, member-only studio tours, and special screenings, while also expanding internationally with a D23 Expo Japan in 2013.