*NikkiBell*
Livin’ that DVC & AP life!
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2005
I couldn't agree more with the team's commentary on D23 during this week's email show. I feel that I am your average, or slightly above average, Disney fan. I am a DVC member, annual passholder, pin and Vinylmation trader, etc. I visit WDW and DL a 2-3 times a year. I'm going on an ABD trip in a month and a Disney cruise next summer. I help my family and friends plan trips and frequent an online Disney community everyday.
I joined D23 during its first year and did not renew. All I got out of it was a magazine I never read (and can buy in Barnes & Noble if I wanted to), a certificate, and a free cardboard trinket. The events were never held during a time I was in Disney (mainly peak season, but also early December). Similarly, most of the events are in DL, not WDW, which is farther away.
I can understand that D23 might be a great thing for people who live in California. However, for your average Disney fan, it's still not worth it in my opinion. What about the people who live in the middle of the country? What about those in another country? How is this reaching them? I recognize that D23 is trying to broaden where and when it holds its events, but they still are not accessible for most. Here and there D23 has a movie screening before its released. Whenever I have heard of this happening, they've been in NYC which I'm not going to travel to just to see a movie a few days before it is in my local AMC. Again, this is not reaching the broad Disney fan community.
I am sure the D23 Expo and private parties are nice, but again these activities are not accessible to the main Disney fan base. They are inconvenient in terms of location and cost. If I am going to spend $75 on a membership, I shouldn't have to shell out another large amount of money for something that is mediocre at best and held at strange times of the year. I also agree with Pete's comment about private parties. If D23 is the ultimate Disney fan group, it should throw parties that are far beyond what someone not officially affiliated with Disney can throw. The DIS-sponsored TSM party thrown during the first DAP was incredible. I rather spend my time and energy attending these top of the line events as opposed to something D23 puts together and then have to struggle to get a ticket. So until Disney "reimagines" D23, I'll stick with being an official DIS Disney Fan member. If it is something that works for you, I'm glad to hear it. Unfortunately, I just don't feel it appeals to or is accessible to the majority even despite the improvements they've made since it first began.
I joined D23 during its first year and did not renew. All I got out of it was a magazine I never read (and can buy in Barnes & Noble if I wanted to), a certificate, and a free cardboard trinket. The events were never held during a time I was in Disney (mainly peak season, but also early December). Similarly, most of the events are in DL, not WDW, which is farther away.
I can understand that D23 might be a great thing for people who live in California. However, for your average Disney fan, it's still not worth it in my opinion. What about the people who live in the middle of the country? What about those in another country? How is this reaching them? I recognize that D23 is trying to broaden where and when it holds its events, but they still are not accessible for most. Here and there D23 has a movie screening before its released. Whenever I have heard of this happening, they've been in NYC which I'm not going to travel to just to see a movie a few days before it is in my local AMC. Again, this is not reaching the broad Disney fan community.
I am sure the D23 Expo and private parties are nice, but again these activities are not accessible to the main Disney fan base. They are inconvenient in terms of location and cost. If I am going to spend $75 on a membership, I shouldn't have to shell out another large amount of money for something that is mediocre at best and held at strange times of the year. I also agree with Pete's comment about private parties. If D23 is the ultimate Disney fan group, it should throw parties that are far beyond what someone not officially affiliated with Disney can throw. The DIS-sponsored TSM party thrown during the first DAP was incredible. I rather spend my time and energy attending these top of the line events as opposed to something D23 puts together and then have to struggle to get a ticket. So until Disney "reimagines" D23, I'll stick with being an official DIS Disney Fan member. If it is something that works for you, I'm glad to hear it. Unfortunately, I just don't feel it appeals to or is accessible to the majority even despite the improvements they've made since it first began.