Disney fans find escapist bubble at D23 convention in Anaheim

Tens of thousands of Disney devotees gathered in Anaheim over the weekend for D23, the official fan club's biennial convention, which runs for three days. Passes range from $50 to $2,500, and fans say the cost is worth escaping the real world, Hindustan Times reports.

Monica Romero, 37, told AFP: "Our world is so chaotic and unstable… There's a reason why we like it," adding that the event reminds her "good can always win." Skyla, 38, who visits Disneyland twice a week, said: "You go into the park, and the real world gets to disappear for a while."

The convention includes galas, merchandise stalls, pin trading, and photo opportunities with characters from franchises including The Simpsons and Toy Story. Chase Halon, a 19-year-old Disneyland worker, said pin collecting is "super-addicting" and valued his prized Figment pin at about $5,000.