**NEW PERR FOR D23 Members**

[firemanx]

http://clubd23.com/index.php

Just found this, and seems like an awsome addition.

[miss missy]

Sounds cool!

[wendyinoc]

What? I just paid to be a D23 member and now have to pay another fee to be in club d23?? Another countdown?? :rotfl: Really?

[BriarRosie]

It's also in 3 days, so if we didn't join right away, we probably can't try for this, am I correct?

I'd like to place my bet now that the server will crash immediately after the countdown timer reaches zero. :laughing:

[aspen37]

I wonder if you are a member of club D23 with your membership D23 or if you have to pay thousands to be member? :confused: I guess will find out in 3 days.:confused3 Here we go again.

[aspen37]

It's also in 3 days, so if we didn't join right away, we probably can't try for this, am I correct?

I'd like to place my bet now that the server will crash immediately after the countdown timer reaches zero. :laughing:

Disney said we have till the end of the year to be inaugural members. I was waiting to see what else D23 had to offer. But until I see if Club D23 costs more I don't want to spend the money.

[*NikkiBell*]

Oh wow. I am leaving for WDW on Monday. How the heck am I going to hear what is up with this???! When will this restaurant open? Where will it be? Aggghhh!

[jpeka65844]

I wondered when they'd do something like this. This is what I thought D23 would be in the first place.

Isn't membership to Club 33 in DL something like $20K?

[The Grumpus]

Oh wow. I am leaving for WDW on Monday. How the heck am I going to hear what is up with this???!

Just listen closely and you will be able to hear Pete scream from his house in Orlando when it goes live.

-TGr :mad:

[firemanx]

I've been on the fence about my D23 membership, but if this is a free addition it was well worth it. If I need to pay more for this I will not be a happy camper!

[Matt@WDWR]

This link is not on a Disney website. the other site had an address like www.disney.com/23 or something like that.


And being that in 3 days it will be April 1st, I think you get the idea now. haha

[cchev]

This link is not on a Disney website. the other site had an address like www.disney.com/23 or something like that.


And being that in 3 days it will be April 1st, I think you get the idea now. haha

aww you ruined the joke...

[dkostel]

Matt's correct, clubd23.com was registered to Dan Hess from Cincy OH on 3/27. Unless Disney is outsourcing it's tech (and I'm sure some think it should) this is an April Fool's prank. Very clever though, props to you Dan Hess :thumbsup2.

[WaltD4Me]

Matt's correct, clubd23.com was registered to Dan Hess from Cincy OH on 3/27. Unless Disney is outsourcing it's tech (and I'm sure some think it should) this is an April Fool's prank. Very clever though, props to you Dan Hess :thumbsup2.

I Googled Sidd Finch, who is quoted in the press release article and it says he is notorious FICTIONAL Cincinatti baseball player. Associated with an April Fools' Day hoax.

Wow.....VERY clever Mr. Hess!!!!!!!!!!!

The press release article is well written and believable. I think some people are going to get really excited, because the club does sound pretty cool.

[NWOhioAngela]

So how long until Disney shuts this down? Any guesses?

[k5jmh]

Not a Disney owned site. Unless Disney registers domains to apartments.


Registrant:
Daniel Hess
11787 Rose Ln. Apt F
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
United States

Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: CLUBD23.COM
Created on: 27-Mar-09
Expires on: 27-Mar-10
Last Updated on: 27-Mar-09

Administrative Contact:
Hess, Daniel tilde@team959.com
11787 Rose Ln. Apt F
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
United States
(513) 674-7510

Technical Contact:
Hess, Daniel tilde@team959.com
11787 Rose Ln. Apt F
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
United States
(513) 674-7510

[challer]

Great. This sounds like it could be cool, but for someone like me on a kosher diet, an exclusive dining experience still wouldn't make D23 worth it for me.

[DisneyDeeva]

Me thinks Mr. Hess is gonna be in some righteous, big trouble! I'm doubtful that the folks at The House of Mouse will find this joke funny.

[WaltD4Me]

Me thinks Mr. Hess is gonna be in some righteous, big trouble! I'm doubtful that the folks at The House of Mouse will find this joke funny.

Disney might not find it funny, but I think it's hilarious!

What kind of big trouble? What is Disney going to do? Most I see is them making him take the site down, I hope he can keep it up until April 1st though.

[Matt@WDWR]

If Disney gets mad at jokes, then might I direct them to this website: http://www.disney.com/D23 .

[WaltD4Me]

If Disney gets mad at jokes, then might I direct them to this website: http://www.disney.com/D23 .

You are baaaaaaaad! :laughing:

I can't wait for Pete and the guys to see this...I hope they don't read the thread first....I think I might be able to hear Pete's scream here in Ohio! :rotfl:

[dmwang9]

I Googled Sidd Finch, who is quoted in the press release article and it says he is notorious FICTIONAL Cincinatti baseball player. Associated with an April Fools' Day hoax.

The moment I saw the name Sidd Finch, I knew Club D23 was a hoax. Sidd Finch was the subject of an April Fool's article a few years ago in Sports Illustrated.

[*NikkiBell*]

So, I checked the addy myself last night, but was too tired and excited about leaving for WDW tomorrow and STILL believed it! I am SO ticked about this! I plan on emailing this jerk myself.

[tickledtink33]

This link is not on a Disney website. the other site had an address like www.disney.com/23 or something like that.


And being that in 3 days it will be April 1st, I think you get the idea now. haha

I was just thinking the same thing Matt. As soon as I opened that link, the first thing I thought was this is not a Disney website.

[ADP]

This stinks! I saw this thread and press release and it almost made me go out and join D23. As Pete and the crew mentioned the last few weeks D23 is more about the history of Disney and lacks theme park perks and content. This press release speaks directly to a theme park perk.

I'm more of fan of Disney's theme parks. This press release could drive a lot of us Disney theme park fans to join. If it turns out ot be a hoax not only will Disney be upset, but many Disney theme park fans could be upset as well.

[aspen37]

I wondered when they'd do something like this. This is what I thought D23 would be in the first place.

Isn't membership to Club 33 in DL something like $20K?

Just listen closely and you will be able to hear Pete scream from his house in Orlando when it goes live.

-TGr :mad:

I've been on the fence about my D23 membership, but if this is a free addition it was well worth it. If I need to pay more for this I will not be a happy camper!

This link is not on a Disney website. the other site had an address like www.disney.com/23 or something like that.


And being that in 3 days it will be April 1st, I think you get the idea now. haha

aww you ruined the joke...

Matt's correct, clubd23.com was registered to Dan Hess from Cincy OH on 3/27. Unless Disney is outsourcing it's tech (and I'm sure some think it should) this is an April Fool's prank. Very clever though, props to you Dan Hess :thumbsup2.

I Googled Sidd Finch, who is quoted in the press release article and it says he is notorious FICTIONAL Cincinatti baseball player. Associated with an April Fools' Day hoax.

Wow.....VERY clever Mr. Hess!!!!!!!!!!!

The press release article is well written and believable. I think some people are going to get really excited, because the club does sound pretty cool.

So how long until Disney shuts this down? Any guesses?

Oh well!

[aspen37]

This stinks! I saw this thread and press release and it almost made me go out and join D23. As Pete and the crew mentioned the last few weeks D23 is more about the history of Disney and lacks theme park perks and content. This press release speaks directly to a theme park perk.

I'm more of fan of Disney's theme parks. This press release could drive a lot of us Disney theme park fans to join. If it turns out ot be a hoax not only will Disney be upset, but many Disney theme park fans could be upset as well.

I would have signed up if this was true too.

[wishspirit]

If Disney gets mad at jokes, then might I direct them to this website: http://www.disney.com/D23 .

:lmao:

I guessed it was a hoax by the fact that it wasn't a Disney.com website.

Still haven't got my email by the way! What is this D23?? :rotfl:

[WaltD4Me]

This stinks! I saw this thread and press release and it almost made me go out and join D23. As Pete and the crew mentioned the last few weeks D23 is more about the history of Disney and lacks theme park perks and content. This press release speaks directly to a theme park perk.

I'm more of fan of Disney's theme parks. This press release could drive a lot of us Disney theme park fans to join. If it turns out ot be a hoax not only will Disney be upset, but many Disney theme park fans could be upset as well.

I didn't really think about people joining up because of the press release. That would stink if you saw that and joined because of it. I thought the club sounded very cool, but couldn't imagine where they would put it at MGM and then I thought it would be very expensive and not something I could afford to buy a membership for.

[Cyrano]

If Disney gets mad at jokes, then might I direct them to this website: http://www.disney.com/D23 .

:lmao::lmao:

[WebmasterPete]

There is no way they're going to announce that there's an additional fee to join this. If there is, I'm pretty sure the people responsible for this program will have to change their names and enter the witness protection program.

If membership to this is included with the $75 fee people have paid, then it's a major addition and a big step towards making this program at least somewhat meaningful. If they're going to charge you $75 for the privilege of spending $20,000 (like Club33 in DL), then it's over, in my opinion.

Pete

[MAKHayes-DisneyDiva]

Too funny! I love a good hoax, as long as no one gets hurt. :rotfl2:

[MenashaCorp]

If Disney gets mad at jokes, then might I direct them to this website: http://www.disney.com/D23 .


:lmao::rotfl::rotfl2:

[WebmasterPete]

Just read the entire thread - this guy deserves a round of applause.

Pete

[MM32830]

Well, you could still sign up for Club 33 at Disneyland. The current wait time to become a member is 14 years. No joke. Really! Take a look at:

http://www.disneylandclub33.com/How-Do_I-Join.htm

(if you really want to believe....)



_________________
Armand

[WaltD4Me]

Just read the entire thread - this guy deserves a round of applause.

Pete

I just read on another Disney board that someone suspects someone from the Podcast team of creating this prank.

Did you read at the very bottom of the press release...the prize information?
It has all the normal stuff, then it also says you will have an exclusive meet and greet with Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Big Foot! :rotfl:

And under that part, at the VERY bottom left corner, there is a link in yellow that says "click for more information" that for some reason, takes you to another Disney discussion board. (where someone mentions suspecting the podcast team of the prank)

[WaltD4Me]

Further sleuthing has revealed that Dan Hess runs the Disney fan site Mouse Guest. Which also does a podcast. I listened to it last week when they had on Dave Smith and the other people running D23.

So when they mentioned our Podcast team, I thought they meant for creating the prank, but apparently they meant for outing the joke because someone posted Dan Hess's name as the site owner for ClubD23.com

I'm kinda surprised...in listening to their podcast show about D23, they all love D23, so I don't think this is at all intended as a dis of D23.

[Luv2Camp]

This is the part that gave it away for me:

"an exclusive meet-and-greet with Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Bigfoot and the Tooth Fairy."

[NWOhioAngela]

Just read the entire thread - this guy deserves a round of applause.

Pete

I think so too. If Disney is smart, which they aren't on this, they will PAY ATTENTION! Look how many of us got excited about something for park fans.

[dmwang9]

I just read on another Disney board that someone suspects someone from the Podcast team of creating this prank.

Did you read at the very bottom of the press release...the prize information?
It has all the normal stuff, then it also says you will have an exclusive meet and greet with Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Big Foot! :rotfl:

And under that part, at the VERY bottom left corner, there is a link in yellow that says "click for more information" that for some reason, takes you to another Disney discussion board. (where someone mentions suspecting the podcast team of the prank)

I'm the poster on the other board that the above quote mentions. Just want to clarify -- the podcast team that I'm glancing at is the Mouseguest podcast team, not the Dis Podcast team. As a PP on this thread says, the owner of the Club D23 site is one of the Mouseguest podcasters.

[757hokie]

I think so too. If Disney is smart, which they aren't on this, they will PAY ATTENTION! Look how many of us got excited about something for park fans.

My thoughts exactly. This prank (and a great one it is) has generated the kind of buzz that D23 COULD HAVE produced if it had some real park-related perks. I was one of many who thought while reading the press release "maybe there is a reason to join after all."

I'd still like that meet-and-greet with Santa, the Easter Bunny, Bigfoot, and the Tooth Fairy though...

[GabbyMom]

The poster clarified his post to reflect who he was looking at

Copied from the other board
************************************************** *********************************************
dmwang9
Junior Mouseketeer


I just did a quick Google search, and someone on the DisBoards has uncovered the name of the website owner.

*clears throat and looks meaningfully at the Mouseguest Podcast team*

[edited to clarify which podcast team I'm looking at]

************************************************** ***********************************************

[UrsulasShadow]

It's actually kind of funny.

[BriarRosie]

This is the part that gave it away for me:

"an exclusive meet-and-greet with Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Bigfoot and the Tooth Fairy."

LOL! I know, I did take a second look and saw the "fine print" and had a laugh. I listen to their podcast, too. They were one of three podcast couples I knew of that had become first time parents within a month of each other. I called it the podcast baby boom. :laughing: (All three couples had boys.)

[challer]

Ooooooh, I get it....

[wendyinoc]

Well, you could still sign up for Club 33 at Disneyland. The current wait time to become a member is 14 years. No joke. Really! Take a look at:

http://www.disneylandclub33.com/How-Do_I-Join.htm

(if you really want to believe....)



_________________
Armand

I think I will sign up now just in case I want to join. What is the cost to join 33?? Clearly, I have plenty of time to save up. :rotfl:

[CinderellasSister]

I'm the poster on the other board that the above quote mentions. Just want to clarify -- the podcast team that I'm glancing at is the Mouseguest podcast team, not the Dis Podcast team. As a PP on this thread says, the owner of the Club D23 site is one of the Mouseguest podcasters.

And that's why I only listen to the DIS podcasts. I know I can trust the info I receive. It's a great April Fools joke, but if it caused people to spend money they might not have had or really spent on D23 anyway, then it's really not that funny.

[fakereadhed]

That's the best April Fool's prank ever!!!! Hilarious.

The test of a good prank is when people get a little upset about it because that means they were really buying it. :thumbsup2

[mikelan6]

I also heard that Thursdays at Club D23 will be GLBT night. Oh yeah ... it's not April 1st yet.

[Commando2319]

Yippie!!! Another Countdown. I can't wait to see the negative time again!

[BeamsofLight]

Pretty amusing hoax, though if I were the person responsible I'd be concerned about the 'friendly' people at Disney legal. Will be interesting to see what, if anything, happens to him.

[NWOhioAngela]

Pretty amusing hoax, though if I were the person responsible I'd be concerned about the 'friendly' people at Disney legal. Will be interesting to see what, if anything, happens to him.

Anything is possible, but they will probably just send them a C & D, the jokester will take the site down, and it will all be over.

[wdwowner]

Not a Disney owned site. Unless Disney registers domains to apartments.


Registrant:
Daniel Hess
United States

Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: CLUBD23.COM
Created on: 27-Mar-09
Expires on: 27-Mar-10
Last Updated on: 27-Mar-09

Administrative Contact:
Hess, Daniel
United States


Technical Contact:
Hess, Daniel [
United States


I understand posting the name of the person, but I do not think it is right to post their address and phone number. I'm sure you would not like yours posted on these boards. Please modify post to remove address and phone number.

[agnes!]

Not a Disney owned site. Unless Disney registers domains to apartments.


Registrant:
Daniel Hess
11787 Rose Ln. Apt F
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
United States

Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: CLUBD23.COM
Created on: 27-Mar-09
Expires on: 27-Mar-10
Last Updated on: 27-Mar-09

Administrative Contact:
Hess, Daniel tilde@team959.com
11787 Rose Ln. Apt F
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
United States
(513) 674-7510

Technical Contact:
Hess, Daniel tilde@team959.com
11787 Rose Ln. Apt F
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
United States
(513) 674-7510

I understand posting the name of the person, but I do not think it is right to post their address and phone number. I'm sure you would not like yours posted on these boards. Please modify post to remove address and phone number.


I somewhat understand your concern but isn't all the information in k5jmh's post publicly available to anyone who does a domain-name search or some Internet digging?

agnes!

[BeamsofLight]

Anything is possible, but they will probably just send them a C & D, the jokester will take the site down, and it will all be over.

Quite likely, yes. If it was me, though, especially understanding the internet reception for D23 has been lukewarm at best, I'd be concerned about offering myself up as a target for annoyed Disney execs, that's all. I assume they'll want it to be removed and be quiet about it, but then again they sue daycares so... :scared:

[FireDancer]

I understand posting the name of the person, but I do not think it is right to post their address and phone number. I'm sure you would not like yours posted on these boards. Please modify post to remove address and phone number.

If the registrant didn't want his information public he would not have used it in a pubic directory.

[WaltD4Me]

I'm a little confused about this now. I thought it was funny at first, but today on the new podcast that Dan Hess is on they read the press release, except for the part at the bottom about Santa Claus and the Easter bunny and talk about how great the club will be and how you have to be a D23 member to sign up for the new club, ect...to me, there is no way that you could tell it's all a joke just by listening to that podcast and I really can see people who just listen, joining D23 just for the club sign up. If I did that I would be really mad to find out it's an April Fool's joke. It seems kinda mean now IMHO.

[FireDancer]

joining D23 just for the club sign up. If I did that I would be really mad to find out it's an April Fool's joke. It seems kinda mean now IMHO.

And this is where he may end up in legal trouble. I wonder if a lawyer was consulted before they tried this. :rolleyes1

[wdwowner]

Wow, people need to lighten up a little bit.

It is an April Fools joke, MGW has been doing one each year since they started. If you listened to them you would know that.

Open up your world, listen to other podcasts. You would be amazed at what other points of view there are out in the 'Big Blue World!'

BTW, the earth is not flat.

[Disneybridein2k3]

Open up your world, listen to other podcasts. You would be amazed at what other points of view there are out in the 'Big Blue World!'

That is the greatest thing about freedom of choice. I choose not to listen to the same thing as you. I'm tickled you are happy with your choices but that doesn't mean I have to listen to them to. It's time to let it go Rich. This is a peaceful board, don't muck up the waters.

[WaltD4Me]

Wow, people need to lighten up a little bit.

It is an April Fools joke, MGW has been doing one each year since they started. If you listened to them you would know that.

Open up your world, listen to other podcasts. You would be amazed at what other points of view there are out in the 'Big Blue World!'

BTW, the earth is not flat.

I understand it's an April Fools joke and you can figure that out from the webpage, but there's no way you'd know from the podcast show. And how would newer listeners know they do a joke every year? I only heard of that podcast a few months ago. :confused3

[BriarRosie]

I'm a little behind on my listening, but I'm going to check it out and see what all the fuss is about.

I'm not a lawyer, and I hope a lawyer can chime in here, but I would wonder if this falls under the use of parody under the Fair Use Act. I Googled the use of parody, and it seems that Eric, Cathy and Dan would not get into trouble over this April Fool's Joke.

[dkostel]

Although I cannot find it on their website, I'm pretty sure that Eric is a lawyer.

[WaltD4Me]

I'm a little behind on my listening, but I'm going to check it out and see what all the fuss is about.

I'm not a lawyer, and I hope a lawyer can chime in here, but I would wonder if this falls under the use of parody under the Fair Use Act. I Googled the use of parody, and it seems that Eric, Cathy and Dan would not get into trouble over this April Fool's Joke.

I don't really think there is anything illegal about the whole thing, I'm just saying I'd be upset if I signed up for D23 based on the joke. Say you know about D23, but were on the fence about joining, waiting to see what else they might announce or what else Disney adds to it and then you hear about Club D23 and you think, now THAT is cool and you go sign up. I just don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that a few people might just do that and not find the joke all that funny.

[LudwigVB]

popcorn::

[FireDancer]

I'm not a lawyer, and I hope a lawyer can chime in here, but I would wonder if this falls under the use of parody under the Fair Use Act. I Googled the use of parody, and it seems that Eric, Cathy and Dan would not get into trouble over this April Fool's Joke.

I thought the same thing. I don't want them sued and think it is quite funny. My concern is with the roob out there that can't figure out the joke and joins D23 because of the club. If they want a refund because there is no Club 23 there might be legal recourse.

Remember, there are still people out there sending money to Nigeria and forwarding emails because Bill Gates will give them a million dollars.

[k5jmh]

I understand posting the name of the person, but I do not think it is right to post their address and phone number. I'm sure you would not like yours posted on these boards. Please modify post to remove address and phone number.
All publicly available information. I think it is a great joke, but do not want someone paying for services that do not really exist.

[Iggipolka]

Quite the clever April Fool's joke. It certainly got me!

Like a few other people have posted, I do hope that Disney reads this, because I was all ready to sign up for D23 after reading the hoax. To me, having a D23 club in the parks, in a huge step in the right direction for Disney Fans. I'm not interested in being a D23 member currently, the so-called "perks" aren't worth it. However, with the addition of a park centered perk...ya..I'd sign up.

[DaParkers]

I somewhat understand your concern but isn't all the information in k5jmh's post publicly available to anyone who does a domain-name search or some Internet digging?

agnes!

That information is available for those who SEARCH for it. Most people on here did NOT search for it. Most people on here have their phone numbers listed in their city or towns white pages, but a level of privacy is still expected.

[Blue Skies]

Wow, people need to lighten up a little bit.

It is an April Fools joke, MGW has been doing one each year since they started. If you listened to them you would know that.

Open up your world, listen to other podcasts. You would be amazed at what other points of view there are out in the 'Big Blue World!'

BTW, the earth is not flat.

ITA!

Many Disney podcasters have great April fools jokes. :laughing:

I have been fooled before. :blush: Now though, I look forward to them each year! :upsidedow

[LilGMom]

Maybe I'm in the minority but I think that if someone runs out and joins D23 because of that Club D23 site and then gets mad after finding out it is a joke than too bad. Kinda like I have little to no tolerance for people B&Ming about not being able to afford their houses if they bought outside of their realistic means because they were blindly lead that way by a mortgage broker. If you make $50k a year you probably should be thinking about buying a $300k house. If you are going to miss that $75 than you shouldn't be joining D23 blindly without knowing what you are getting. It is the consumer's responsibility to educate themselves about what they are getting whenever they purchase something, whether that be a Disney Club, DVC, or a house.

I'll admit that when I first saw the Club D23 site I thought "Yeah Baby!!!" and immediately emailed my DH a link before I had read the entire thing. A few minutes later I sent him another email telling him "Nevermind, lol".

[MM32830]

Maybe I'm in the minority but I think that if someone runs out and joins D23 because of that Club D23 site and then gets mad after finding out it is a joke than too bad. Kinda like I have little to no tolerance for people B&Ming about not being able to afford their houses if they bought outside of their realistic means because they were blindly lead that way by a mortgage broker. If you make $50k a year you probably should be thinking about buying a $300k house. If you are going to miss that $75 than you shouldn't be joining D23 blindly without knowing what you are getting. It is the consumer's responsibility to educate themselves about what they are getting whenever they purchase something, whether that be a Disney Club, DVC, or a house.

I'll admit that when I first saw the Club D23 site I thought "Yeah Baby!!!" and immediately emailed my DH a link before I had read the entire thing. A few minutes later I sent him another email telling him "Nevermind, lol".

I agree with you on most points except think about the individual who thinks that the benefits of joining D23 is marginal and maybe not worth $74.99. Now, add in Club D23 (which, when compared to Club 33 in Disneyland that costs WAY MORE than $74.99 and takes several years to get in), you now have justified the cost of joining D23.

The prank, while brilliant, creates confusion for the Disney brand and confusion is what many lawyers look for when they bring forth trademark infringement lawsuits.


______________________
Armand

[BriarRosie]

I don't really think there is anything illegal about the whole thing, I'm just saying I'd be upset if I signed up for D23 based on the joke. Say you know about D23, but were on the fence about joining, waiting to see what else they might announce or what else Disney adds to it and then you hear about Club D23 and you think, now THAT is cool and you go sign up. I just don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that a few people might just do that and not find the joke all that funny.

Well, I listened to the show, and I agree that they sounded quite convincing that they were presenting real news. So I can understand why someone who felt "tricked" into joining because of this will feel resentment. I'm hoping most people found out in time that it was an April Fool's prank before making a commitment to joining.

Who knows? The joke might be on all of us if Disney rolls something out that will appeal to the theme park fans as much as this joke did.