D23 Returns to Walt's Hometown: Bill Farmer to Host "Marceline Magic" This September

By entgrove · June 23, 2026

D23 is heading back to Marceline, Missouri — Walt Disney's boyhood home — for a two-day "Marceline Magic" event on September 18–19, 2026, hosted by Disney Legend Bill Farmer. The trip features 25 Walt-connected stops, a fireworks finale at the Disney Family Farm, and a one-of-a-kind commemorative gift, with Gold Member tickets going on sale June 24.

Disney's official fan club is heading back to the heartland for one of its most heartfelt events of the year. D23 has unveiled “D23 Marceline Magic,” a two-day journey to Marceline, Missouri — the boyhood hometown of Walt Disney — taking place September 18–19, 2026. Leading the celebration as special event host is Disney Legend Bill Farmer, the man who has voiced Goofy and Pluto for nearly four decades.

A Return to Where the Magic Began

The event continues D23's year-long “Walt Disney: 125 Years of Inspiration” celebration, which honors the 125th birthday of Walt Disney and the legacy he built. There may be no more fitting destination for that tribute than Marceline, the small north-central Missouri town where Walt spent the formative years of his childhood, from 1906 to 1911. It was here, on the family farm, that Walt first fell in love with drawing, nature, and storytelling — and the experience left such a mark that he carried it directly into the parks themselves.

Every Disney fan who has ever strolled down Main Street, U.S.A. at the front of a Disney park has, in a sense, walked through Marceline. Downtown Marceline's turn-of-the-century main drag was the inspiration for that iconic entrance corridor, right down to its warm, small-town Americana charm. This event invites guests to experience the real thing — the original Main Street that started it all.

Two Days, 25 Stops, and a “Kiss Goodnight” Finale

The celebration kicks off Friday, September 18, in Marceline's sister city of Chillicothe, MO — fittingly, the self-proclaimed “home of sliced bread.” Guests check in there and gather for a hosted Sweets & Sips evening welcome reception at the Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau. The day also includes complimentary welcome bags with a dining guide and coupons, plus optional Chillicothe Trolley Tours running all afternoon from the Fairfield Inn & Suites.

The heart of the experience comes Saturday, September 19, when guests ride together to Marceline for a full day of exploration and storytelling. This year's itinerary is the most expansive yet, featuring 25 stops across the city — each one tied to Walt, whether as a source of inspiration for his creative work or a place celebrating his enduring legacy. Highlights include:

• The Walt Disney Hometown Museum, housed in Marceline's historic Santa Fe depot and celebrating its own 25th anniversary
• Marceline's original Main Street — the inspiration for Disneyland Park's Main Street, U.S.A.
• Walt Disney Elementary School
• The Walt Disney Post Office, offering a specially designated USPS postal cancellation available only on September 19
• The Museum Santa Fe Engine, downtown Marceline, and many more

At each stop, guests collect a single piece of a souvenir gift; once all 25 pieces are gathered, they combine into a uniquely Marceline commemorative keepsake representing the town and Walt's boyhood there. The day also includes a lunch voucher for a downtown restaurant serving a Disney-themed special, and the chance to take part in a Pan Cake Race down Main Street — a playful nod to a beloved Marceline tradition.

The grand finale unfolds at the Walt Disney Family Farm, the very land where Walt grew up. There, guests will enjoy a conversation with Bill Farmer, live entertainment, food and drink, photo ops, and a “kiss goodnight” fireworks show to close out the evening — the same loving send-off Disney parks give their guests every night.

Who Is Bill Farmer? A Legend Behind the Magic

For Disney fans, having Bill Farmer as host is a treat in itself. Farmer has been the official voice of Goofy since 1987 — one of the longest tenures of any Disney character voice actor — and also voices Pluto, Horace Horsecollar, and others. His warmth, humor, and deep connection to Disney heritage make him an ideal companion for a journey through the places that shaped Walt. Farmer's contributions earned him induction as a Disney Legend, an honor reserved for those who have made an extraordinary impact on The Walt Disney Company.

About Marceline and the Disney Family Farm

Located in north-central Missouri — three miles south of US-36 and roughly halfway between St. Joseph and Hannibal — Marceline remains a small, friendly town that has fiercely protected its Disney heritage. The Disney family moved to their Marceline farm in 1906, and it was on that land that a young Walt held his first live show, developed his lifelong love of nature, and found a quiet refuge beneath what he called his Dreaming Tree. For Walt, it was the place where, as he later put it, he found the magic of his life — making it sacred ground for fans who want to understand where the dream truly started. Today, Marceline's Santa Fe depot houses the Walt Disney Hometown Museum, keeping that history alive for new generations.

Tickets, Logistics, and What to Know Before You Buy

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET, and they are exclusive to D23 Gold Members. Each Gold Member may reserve a ticket for themselves and up to one guest, with every attendee — member and guest alike — required to hold a valid, individual ticket. Quantities are limited and sold first-come, first-served, so fans hoping to attend will want to be ready the moment the window opens.

What This Means for Disney Fans

For die-hard Disney historians and casual fans alike, D23 Marceline Magic is a rare chance to step directly into Walt Disney's origin story — to walk the Main Street that inspired the parks, stand on the farm where the dream first took root, and cap it all off with a fireworks “kiss goodnight” just as Walt's parks do every evening. Paired with a Disney Legend as your guide and a one-of-a-kind 25-piece commemorative keepsake, it's exactly the kind of intimate, heritage-rich experience D23 does best. With limited tickets and Gold Member exclusivity, interested fans should circle June 24 on their calendars and be logged in early — because in Walt's hometown, this magic is strictly first-come, first-served.