The D23 Discussion on the Email Show

[*NikkiBell*]

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.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

FYI in regards to the Christmas event at WDW selling out so quickly.

D23 announced yesterday that they are doing back-to-back "Magic and Merriment" events at WDW this year: December 9-10 and December 11-12.

That should make tickets slightly easier to get.

 

[DisneyKevin]

FYI in regards to the Christmas event at WDW selling out so quickly.

D23 announced yesterday that they are doing back-to-back "Magic and Merriment" events at WDW this year: December 9-10 and December 11-12.

That should make tickets slightly easier to get.

Wasnt last year's event limited to 225 or 250?

We're still only talking about 450 - 500 people.

And the tickets sold out in 15 seconds or some like that....so this year, they might last a minute.

That's still not a big number considering Disney's highest affinity fan base.

We'll see.

 

[Aburns8]

They are trying to get better with events all over the country. Tomorrow they are playing Cars 2 in San Francisco, Chicago and Washington DC. I live about 3 hours away from DC and we decided to go up to DC for the day to see the movie. It was pretty cheap, $10 for 2 people. I know it sounds weird to drive up there for a movie, but I have met some really nice people at D23 events.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Tomorrow they are playing Cars 2 in San Francisco, Chicago and Washington DC.

I'll be at the SF screening. I'm hoping for a few surprises since we'll be in PIXAR-country.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Isn't Cars 2 out nationwide as of today? I just got home from AMC Dine-In and it was playing.

 

[Aburns8]

I'll be at the SF screening. I'm hoping for a few surprises since we'll be in PIXAR-country.

Tom let me know how it is. Hey, we never formally met at Destination D! Remember I was supposed to creat a meet

 

[Aburns8]

Isn't Cars 2 out nationwide as of today? I just got home from AMC Dine-In and it was playing.

It is. But D23 is doing something for their members.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

It is. But D23 is doing something for their members.

Yep. Usually free swag and special guests at screenings like this. Plus it's only $5 a person for a 3D movie (I you don't count the gas to get there).

 

[Aburns8]

Yep. Usually free swag and special guests at screenings like this. Plus it's only $5 a person for a 3D movie (I you don't count the gas to get there).

I had to get a hotel to go to mine. But my DH looks as it as a little road trip.

 

[Disney Enabler]

I'll be at the SF screening. I'm hoping for a few surprises since we'll be in PIXAR-country.

Michael, Merry Mousketeer, will be attending the SF screening also followed by an event at the Disney Family Museum! Hope you both have a great time.

Carol
It's a great day to be alive!!!

 

[AllyGirl_79]

I'm taking my nephew (age 5 ... age 6 next week) to see it tomorrow at the Chicago screening. Kinda figured the same thing -- it's inexpensive, the location is only a 20 minute drive for me, and I'm curious to see what all is included in an event like this.

 

[PryncessChrysty]

Tom let me know how it is. Hey, we never formally met at Destination D! Remember I was supposed to creat a meet

Sorry to jump off topic for a sec, but this cracks me up! When you & I bumped into each other for the umpteenth time leaving Epcot, over by the Int'l Gateway, Tom was with us - we had just had dinner together at Via Napoli. Had I known, I could've introduced the two of you! In fact, we were all on the monorail together when you & I first started chatting. IASW afterall!! lol



Back to the topic at hand. I can understand how if you're not local to CA, D23 can be a bit lackluster. I am fortunate to be a local, but still I hemmed & hawed before I finally joined right before the cut off for Charter Members. While it has cost money for the membership and events, I have found that my love for Disney has only grown because of all of these experiences we've had through D23. Things like getting to experience the Archives and being hosted by Dave Smith (after his retirement), visiting the location where they filmed the original Mickey Mouse Club and most of Mary Poppins, visiting the Legends plaza, meeting Imagineers that I never even knew who they were before D23 and have come to find a deep appreciation for them and all they've contributd to the company. Seeing behind the scenes photos of construction and concept art. Hearing stories from people that worked and walked with Walt, and from those that are keeping his legacy alive today. There is also a great sense of community, similar to the DIS. I've made friends through the DIS, and most of those friendships have been enhanced by the experiences we've had through D23. I understand that this topic isn't necessarily about the DIS and what they can bring to their community, but the crew does a great job at creating experiences for their guests/customers. Unfortunately for me, I can't make it to WDW as often as many others, so it works for me that D23 does so much in CA.

While the club is far from perfect, and I do have a few gripes of my own, it seems to me that they understand there is a lot of room for improvement and are trying to correct past mistakes as they continue on. They are eager for feedback and are trying to expand their reach.

 

[Aburns8]

Sorry to jump off topic for a sec, but this cracks me up! When you & I bumped into each other for the umpteenth time leaving Epcot, over by the Int'l Gateway, Tom was with us - we had just had dinner together at Via Napoli. Had I known, I could've introduced the two of you! In fact, we were all on the monorail together when you & I first started chatting. IASW afterall!! lol



Back to the topic at hand. I can understand how if you're not local to CA, D23 can be a bit lackluster. I am fortunate to be a local, but still I hemmed & hawed before I finally joined right before the cut off for Charter Members. While it has cost money for the membership and events, I have found that my love for Disney has only grown because of all of these experiences we've had through D23. Things like getting to experience the Archives and being hosted by Dave Smith (after his retirement), visiting the location where they filmed the original Mickey Mouse Club and most of Mary Poppins, visiting the Legends plaza, meeting Imagineers that I never even knew who they were before D23 and have come to find a deep appreciation for them and all they've contributd to the company. Seeing behind the scenes photos of construction and concept art. Hearing stories from people that worked and walked with Walt, and from those that are keeping his legacy alive today. There is also a great sense of community, similar to the DIS. I've made friends through the DIS, and most of those friendships have been enhanced by the experiences we've had through D23. I understand that this topic isn't necessarily about the DIS and what they can bring to their community, but the crew does a great job at creating experiences for their guests/customers. Unfortunately for me, I can't make it to WDW as often as many others, so it works for me that D23 does so much in CA.

While the club is far from perfect, and I do have a few gripes of my own, it seems to me that they understand there is a lot of room for improvement and are trying to correct past mistakes as they continue on. They are eager for feedback and are trying to expand their reach.

I didn't realize that was him until we got home!

I do agree with you that my love of Disney has grown as well through my experiences with D23. In fact I think my DH likes these events because Thursday I asked him if he wanted to go to a D23 event in DC on Saturday (3 hours away from home and we have to leave shortly after the movie to get back home) and he was excited about it. I am hoping to get into Magic & Merriment this year. Wasn't planning on going, but I think we can make a short trip out of it.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I am happy to hear that D23's membership is worth it for all of you being that you live in California or near DC and can easily attend the events. I am sure the experiences have been great. Visiting the archives, seeing Dave Smith, meeting Imagineers, etc. are all things local to California residents so I guess my point still holds true: if you live in CA, it's worth it. I just wish it was more beneficial for those Disney fans who don't live near one of these locations. We can still live vicariously through you though.

 

[SaraMc]

I totallyagree with you Nikki, the D23 is just not worth it. For me, I had to get international shipping even though I can drive 30 minutes and Im at Barnes and Noble and I can just get it there. The events were never close or outside of the park areas. I did get a hoodie as a gift with it, from DH as part of my christmas present when the whole thing ame out. I did not renew. I wll not renew. I truly feel that they really don't think that their fan base isn't anywhere but at DL and WDw.. I just go and get the new magazines at Barnes and Noble when they come out.. I actually preferred the old Disney Magazine that was done by the same people as family fun.

 

[AllyGirl_79]

A little update - the Chicago screening was cute. Becky Cline, the director of the Disney Archives, was our "host" and she did a little trivia contest in the theater before the movie. My nephew answered a kids' trivia question correctly and won a small, Finn McMissile model car. You'd think it was made of gold - he was so excited. We also received full size Cars 2 movie posters on our way out (and a rather uninteresting D23 pin). He held the poster the whole way home, falling asleep wrapped around it. If I hadn't been driving, it would have been a cute photo...

Movie was cute. I didn't care for the first one, but I thought this one was interesting and funny. Also led to my nephew asking some questions about other countries and languages, which I thought was very cool. Would have taken him to the movie anyway, but this was kinda fun.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

First of all, D-23 is not a Fan Club. It is a profit center for The Walt Disney Company.

If you want to see a true fan club, try the Disneyana Fan Club (formerly The National Fantasy Fan Club) which has been in existence for about 28 years and is completely run by volunteers with no paid staff.

I did join D23 and have mixed emotions about it.

I attend the DFC Annual Convention during alternate years (going to another organizations annual convention in the other years). This is held over a five or six day period which always includes July 17 at the Crowne Plaza in Garden Grove, right outside of Anaheim off Harbor Boulevard. DFC has 26 Chapters, which hold regular meetings, across the US and in three other countries.

I went to the D23 Expo in 2009. I was seriously underwhelmed. Maybe it was because I had gone to all ten of the old Disneyana Conventions and I knew what Disney could do. Maybe also it was because Disney kept saying that it was going to showcase all facets of the company. I did notice the absence of a small group called ESPN, which, last time I looked, was a major part of Disney. And from what I have seen for this year they will also miss a small group called ABC.

Since I don’t live in California, there is not really a lot of stuff that I can go to. With the exception of the Flowers and Fireworks event last May at WDW, and the Destination D events at Disneyland last September and the Contemporary Resort last month I have not been able to attend anything. And I have tried for several other East Coast events and also some West Coast if I knew I was going to be out there at the time.

The three events I was able to attend were, I felt, worth the money based on my interest in Disney history. But I would much rather put my support with the Disneyana Fan Club. It is a non-profit organization. Annual family dues are $29 and most chapters also charge dues.

DFC supports two major charities. On the West Coast money goes to the Ryman Arts Foundation. On the East Coast, I know that last year we donated over $8,000 to GKTW.

One other thing which really disappoints me about D-23. It is the only portion of The Walt Disney Company that gives no discounts to Cast Members for anything, including merchandise.

Anyway, it will probably not be around much longer; most people I know give it less than five years from when it started until it is shut down.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

This pic is from today's SF even and was posted on D23's Facebook page...can you find me???

 

[PryncessChrysty]

This pic is from today's SF even and was posted on D23's Facebook page...can you find me???

I spy Don, so I'm guessing you're the bit of forehead right next to him.