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EDITOR’S NOTE: Multimedia journalist Logan Hall spoke to “Star Wars” super fans who traveled from Canada to attended the D23 Expo in Anaheim. Click the arrow above to watch the video.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — As Yoshi Shirasaka walks across the Anaheim Convention Center, it's common for people to stop the 30-year-old Japanese woman.

Dressed in cosplay as Judy Hopps, the police officer rabbit from "Zootopia," Shirasaka happily obliges the photo opportunity.

"This is my favorite movie," said Shirasaka, who flew in from Tokyo earlier this week for the D23 Expo, Disney's fan convention. "I love it when people come up to me."

Shirasaka isn’t the only one not dressed up. She is among tens of thousands of visitors – many dressed as their favorite Disney character – who have flocked to the Anaheim Convention Center for the Walt Disney Co.’s biennial fan convention.

The D23 Expo is when executives from Disney's massive entertainment and theme park portfolio come together and announce upcoming movies, films, theme park attractions and more. Stars from various Disney television, movie and streaming shows come out to meet and greet fans. 

Disney CEO Bob Chapek kicked off the event Friday with the Disney Legends Ceremony, the first major presentation in a weekend filled with them. The award is the highest given to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the legacy of The Walt Disney Co.

"This is going to be our biggest, most over the top D23 Expo ever," said Chapek.

Chadwick Boseman, who died in August 2020 from colon cancer, was posthumously awarded.

Boseman's brother, Derrick, accepted the award on his behalf.

"As I think about my brother and this honor that's being bestowed upon him, first of all, I wish he was here to receive it," Derrick Boseman said. "Him not being here has been a point of immense pain for my whole family."

"Chad was an amazing person, and him being honored today is no surprise to me because he spent his life, from childhood to today, always being recognized and receiving honors," he added.

Boseman starred as the character of Disney Marvel's "Black Panther," "Captain America: Civil War" and "Avengers: Infinity War."

Boseman was honored Friday along with 13 others, including "Frozen" stars Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad. "Grey's Anatomy" stars Ellen Pompeo and Patrick Dempsey, and "Black-ish" stars Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross also received awards.

Additionally, former Disney Imagineers Rob't Carlton, who helped design Radiator Springs Racers and Mystic Manor, and Doris Hardoon, who helped design EPCOT, were honored, too.

"I grew up in Compton, California, and Disney was always the backdrop," said Anderson in a red carpet interview with Spectrum News. "Disney has always been part of my life with film and television, and they've helped mold me as a young actor. To be a member of the Disney family and see it come full circle has been a blessing."

One of the award's significant perks is free visits to Disneyland and Walt Disney World, which Anderson said he plans to capitalize on with his family.

"I'm going to see what this Disney Legend status get us, not just me, but us," he said, referring to his family visiting Disneyland immediately after the ceremony.

Anderson's co-star Ellis Ross still couldn't believe she was among those chosen for the award.

"It hasn't hit me, and I don't know what to do with it," said Ellis Ross. "But it feels like such an honor."

Chapek didn't stop there. The news kept coming.

Chapek announced that a third attraction would be coming to Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim.

He said the new attraction would be an immersive experience that brings guests into battle alongside their favorite superheroes.

The Avengers Campus is a four-acre themed land at the heart of Disney California Adventure. The Marvel-themed land currently has two attractions, The Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout and Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure.

Chapek said more details and information would come during Sunday's Disney Parks panel.

At the first studio showcase, Disney officials announced a slate of new live-action, Pixar and original movies coming to theaters or Disney+.

Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy reprise their roles as villainous witches in "Hocus Pocus 2," slated to come out Sept. 30 on Disney+.

Amy Adams, Dempsey, Menzel and James Marsden will return for a sequel to the popular "Enchanted" movie, "Disenchanted." Maya Rudolph will join the cast as one of the villains.

On the animated side, Pixar has a series of movies – "Elemental" is coming to theaters in the summer of 2023 and a sequel to "Inside Out," "Inside Out 2," which will star Amy Poehler and introduce new emotions inside teenage character Riley's head. 

For the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney Studios, the company will release "Wish," starring Ariana DeBose, and tell a story about the origin of wishing.

While many people are there for the breaking news and announcements, the D23 Expo is about the fans. Many of the fans arrived as early as 4:30 a.m. and dressed in Disney cosplay. 

After the coronavirus pandemic postponed last year's event to this year, many Disney fans were anxious to gather and celebrate their love of Disney.

Mother and daughter duo Tracy Anderson, 50, and Ma-Kayla Hunter, both from Ukiah, came dressed as the "Inside Out" emotion characters Sadness and Disgust.

"We grew up loving Disney movies," said Anderson, who often took her daughter Ma-Kayla to Disneyland as a child.

"I always found positivity and inspiration in the Disney movie characters and princesses," said Hunter. "I related with them."

Garance Gaube, 28, arrived from Paris, France, last week. Dressed as Anastasia in a yellow and white dress, Gaube is an annual passholder at Disneyland Paris and didn't want to miss a chance to return to Anaheim for the ultimate Disney fan convention. 

Gaube said she plans to attend several panels and meet other cosplayers. On Saturday, she's dressing up as Sally from "Nightmare Before Christmas," and on Sunday, as Ariel from "The Little Mermaid."

"Disney has been a big part of my childhood, my whole life," said Gaube. "I needed to be here."