D23... what's the big deal? About This Page:

[jimmymac]

I'm as big a fan of Disney as there is, but to me D23 is paying a decent amount for a printed Disney infomercial. I also think it was seriously over-hyped. If others want to get it, that's up to them and fine with me

[mousestruck]

Agreed! My budget is a bit tight right now, so I'm passing on the membership for the time-being. But I certainly don't blame anyone for joining. If my freelance business picks up, I'll be right there with you. As far as I'm concerend, everything Disney is overpriced -- and usually worth every penny. If it makes me and my family smile, what better way to spend our hard-earned money, whether it's on a melting Mickey Bar or a glossy magazine. For all you Club 23 members... ENJOY!!!

[bradk]

just an fyi, the free mystery item is *not* a pin. it's a real collectible from the Walt Disney Archives Collection.

anyway, the bottom line is the only rush to join would have been to buy the 1st day tshirt. other than that, the only other time restriction is to join by the end of the year to get the charter year stuff. otherwise, you either join (or don't) whenever you're comfortable.

[Julian]

Originally Posted by amandal

I was thinking the same thing. I was leaning towards "no" at first because right now $75 seems alot for ME (and I can only speak for me, obviously ). Then I read more about it and exactly how Sarah put it - who am I kidding - I'll probably end up paying more than that buying the mags seperately anyways . . . .

Shipping to the UK costs about $60!!!!!!!

[CRCrazy]

I bought in on the first day - didn't buy the first day shirt though (wasn't crazy about it - although some of the other ones are nice.)

I bought it - because I liked the idea of the magazines, I miss the old Disney Club, and it's a way to feed my Disney addiction, since I don't have the time to visit the parks as often as I'd like.

I am hopeful that as time progresses, they will release the same type of discounts, etc, as the Disney Club used to have - but if not - I still feel it's worth it - can't wait to see what the gift is.

[Goofy'sGal]

I agree with most everyone here - it's a personal decision, of course, whether or not you join. And I'm on the fence b/c I know I'm going to buy the magazines, so why not purchase the membership and get the added benefits. But that's paying $75 now as opposed to paying $16 every few months LOL

I do admit to being disappointed, though. First, I am still waiting for the email that was supposed to come "to be one of the first to know" (good thing I checked here - thanks Brad! - and at AllEars).

But I am also disappointed b/c this is an exclusive type of club offering very high priced items. Yes, it is "available" to everyone but not everyone can afford to take advantage of it, especially with today's economy. And when I think of Walt Disney, I think of family fun and entertainment available for everyone. Yes, everything associated with Disney costs money (Don't I know it! LOL And I still joined the DVC! ). But I thought they were trying to make Disney, well, WDW in particular, more affordable for everyone - with the MYW tix, packages, dining plans, different levels of resorts available - you pick and choose depending upon your budget and your needs.

As I write this, I'm playing devil's advocate to my own thoughts thinking, "isn't the DVC an "exclusive" membership that many people cannot afford?" Well, yes, I guess it is. How about choosing to stay on-property vs off-property - again, those who can and choose to afford to stay on-property may be viewed as "privileged" - a privilege we pay for. So how is that any different from Disney23? LOL

I guess it comes down to my expectations of what I thought Disney23 might mean for all of us. If it had been announced without the whole countdown and secrecy, I would have thought, "Hmmm...probably not for me but ok." But I expected the announcement to apply to all of us: a new movie, a new book, attraction, etc. If the announcement had been the introduction of the Disney23 magazine (a new official Disney magazine!) that would have been great. But creating an exclusive club (or an affinity club, isn't that what Bob Iger said?) means that not everyone can be included.

Regardless of whether I join or not, I hope everyone who decides to join enjoys it and tells us all about it, too!

[MAKHayes-DisneyDiva]

I'm also on the fence. I'm happy for people who can easily shell out the $, but I've never seen the product (I know, it's new) so I can't quite justify the investment. I'm not sure I've ever subscribed to a magazine that I'd never purchased an individual copy of, at least once. Plus I'm wondering if it will make me sad to receive issues after my June trip, since we won't be back at WDW for a few years.

[5SOXFNZ]

Originally Posted by Samalama

My beef with d23 is that maybe the price (which is considered by some as high) is high in order to pay for the major advertising campaign that it provoked?

But that was the beauty of the marketing campaign, it wasn't some high cost flashy campaign...it started with one poster in Burbank...one website link (which basically costs them nothing in the grand scheme of things when you think about the bandwidth Disney already occupies) Disney isn't trying to recoup the markting costs because, they barely put anything into it (In Disney Marketing terms, I'm sure this didn't even make a blip on the balance sheet!)

Also, all the secrecy was a great element but not iron clad...if you look back in the original "Are you 23?" post right here on the Passporter boards you'll see that after just a little research in the first days it was brought up, I found out this was an exclusive fan-club with a paid membership and annual conventions. Yes, I didn't have the details that Brad was able to leak and the pictures of the mag, but I found out what it was way before March 10th. Just a little bit of "google skills" and determination was all it took.

I think I may join...all depends on the budget at the end of the month...I think anything Dave Smith has a hand in is worth it! The man is the Disney genius!! Been a fan for years!! As for the cost, Hey, I just paid $40 for a year for my son's Lego membership...and the magazine is not nearly as nice!! LOL!! It's much less then I anticipated it being, I thought it would be in the $100's.

[wvugrrrl]

I know for my husband and myself, it's not so much the idea of buying into a "club" that has our knickers in a bind (obviously - we already bought into 2 DVC resorts, and if I have my way, there'll be more in the future ). And I did buy the magazine at B&N - it's beautiful, and well worth the $16. My problem isn't so much with the program/price itself, because as others have pointed out, if you buy all 4 mags, the extra $10 for a "free" doodad from the Disney Archives isn't a stretch. Rather, I take issue with D23 calling itself the first "Official Disney Online Community for Fans." I frequent a lot of other Disney-related message boards, and it kind of gets my goad that D23 is many years LATE on jumping onto the Disney online fan clubs. Also, out of all the threads I've read since Tuesday's announcement, I find it really interesting that only on the Passporter are people NOT in an uproar! I've never seen so many angry Disneyphiles in my life!
Furthermore, Disney has been less than gracious to the online Fan Community (refusing to recognize Mousefest would be just one small example of this), so it irks me that they're realizing the folly of their ways and jumping on the bandwagon.

Actually, I take that back - I'm not even as aggravated at the fact that Disney wants to create an online community for the fans. That's perfectly ok with me. But to charge people for the so-called "privilege" of buying extremely overpriced merchandise? We're not just talking about $6 hotdogs in the parks here, folks. I know that myself, of all people, is extremely guilty of buying into Disney's overpriced "junk" - as evidenced by an out-of-control Pin obsession, and a quickly-becoming-a-money-pit collection of Vinylmation, with no end in sight. But most of the "exclusive" items D23 is selling (and I'm not talking about the shirts here) are extremely overpriced - furthermore, it was a very clever way to link to their Signature collection - which, by the way, you don't have to be a member to buy - for all of you people out there wanting an $850 pen.

So anyway, that's just my opinion. I just think D23 was/is being way overhyped into being something it's not. I'm not going to lie - of course the viral marketing campaign got people excited; and perhaps expectations were unreasonable. However, the current marketing for it is completely nonsensical - it's exclusive, yet it's not. If you're going to make it an exclusive online club, then do just that - make it exclusive. Don't make the magazines available in booksellers. Don't let the website have free content available to everyone. Don't offer 15 "member's only" merchandise items to purchase, but yet link it to items that are available to everyone. Or, if you ARE going to make it available to everyone, then do just that! Don't attach strings to it. And finally, give the fans some real incentive - not just, "Well, I would've paid that much for the magazine, anyway." Like I said, just my opinion, and I certainly can see the benefit in joining if you're going to be buying the magazine. But, like a poster said on a different board, "I'm just not drinking the Disney Kool-Aid on this one."

[njsmama]

I have such mixed feelings over D23. I feel a little let down that nothing more spectacular was announced, and that you have to pay $75.00 to join. I do however like the idea of the magazine and some of the merchandise. I would like to join, but, still feel a bit put off by the price tag.

[MattUGA]

I am totally with you WVUgirl. This is my favorite site by far of the Disney sites but it seems that if you think something Disney does is negative, people get all defensive. This site is the only that is even close to thinking this club was executed well. Even "The Motley Fools" gave Disney a tongue lashing over the underwhelming stature of this "club"

The money isnt the issue to me. I waste 75 by sneezing when I walk into a WDW park. lol My issue is that Disney has cut lots of things this year and combined it with raising prices on everything. Okay, bad economy, I get it. However, my first degree is Economics and I have to say that WDW should be doing more to keep the repeat customers coming back. You cannot just focus on cuts and price increases to make up for lost income. All this club had to do was have a points system which allowed people to earn discounts or something that shows them that they appreciate your business. Right now, people are getting an expensive magazine subscription, the right to buy more stuff, and the promise of more which no matter what anybody here tells you, is not guaranteed to be anything major. (It could very well be but nobody knows for sure).

Subway offers a better loyalty program with their cards. I am not saying WDW should give out free tickets or even free nights at resorts. But what would be terrible about after say, five value resort visits, you get a moderate for the value price. Or five moderates, you get a deluxe upgrade. Now that is probably to generous. Maybe 10 visits. But it keeps people wanting to make extra trips.

I use to take 20 trips or so counting weekend trips. However once WDW cut out the weekend discounts, it is not worth it to me. So now, I am down to about 2 long trips a year, and two weekend trips. That's still a lot of visiting but my money is now going elsewhere too.

When I lose time in the parks, Fantasmic, The Adventurer's Club, FRENCH TOAST LOAF, and much more while having prices rise, you better do something to tickle my fancy.

[emtpej]

I know that people will say I'm crazy, but I think it is another part of Disney's strategey to eliminate 3rd-party information systems like Passporter.

[JoanneS]

I think the decision to join is personal and no one has the right to criticize someone for either joining or deciding not to join. I have friends spending $200 on concert tickets, so I say, " to each his own."

[Minnie Lor]

I'm not sure that anyone here is criticizing anyone for joining. I think people here are making valid points for the pro's and con's of joining and that reasons behind Disney starting this.

I won't be purchasing because I already get a well made Disney magazine. If I don't want that one, I can get another well made Disney magazine. (Orlando Attractions or Celebrations) I don't need an online forum. I have been apart of this one since 2001 and the DIS for the past 2 yrs. There's no appeal to me to join d23 and I can spend $75 on some nice souvies chosen by me or a backstage tour.

[korki-rad]

Originally Posted by emtpej

I know that people will say I'm crazy, but I think it is another part of Disney's strategey to eliminate 3rd-party information systems like Passporter.