Am I the only one beginning to re-think D23?

[Demosthenes]

It seems to me that at the launch to D23, they might have missed the mark; well, I at least didn't think they announced enough in the beginning (they kept saying more was coming). Well, with opening up the exclusive tours of the Disney Archives to D23 members, the movie premiers and previews, and the D23 Expo (which has shocked me with how much appears to have been done for this show), this thing is turning out to be pretty cool. It is not a rewards program, but they never said it was. It is a fan club that does't appear to be trying to replace any of the other online communities, but merely to be supplementing it.

Has anyone else started to reevaluate D23, and found it to be better than you thought at first blush?

 

[757hokie]

Has anyone else started to reevaluate D23, and found it to be better than you thought at first blush?

Short answer: Yes!

But I'm still not sure I can stomach spending the 75 bucks to join! Maybe I'll drop a few subtle hints in my wife's direction that a D23 membership would make a fine birthday gift.

 

[challer]

I'm not rethinking it yet for a number of reasons:

• D23 Expo is still open to everyone
• D23 events are only in certain regions of country, and the good ones have sold out frequently
• still don't think the magazine is that great, and you can read it online
• many serious Disney fans still have lives to lead, and can't just pick up and go across the country to see the Archives for a day

While the benefits of having D23 around may be more evident (an Expo, events, website), the need to actually join isn't necessarily there.

I'm a New Yorker. The D23 event that was here was a Mary Poppins on Broadway event where one can go backstage and get a DVD. But you still had to pay full price for orchestra tickets. I'd rather use a code and pay 2/3 price for orchestra seats, keep the $75 D23 fee, and buy my own DVD if I'd like.

And now I bought tickets to the Princess & The Frog event in NYC with an exhibit from the Disney Archives - and it's NOT a D23 event.

So, I like some of the things coming out from D23 (especially the Expo - I'd like to go at some point in the future), but I still don't see the point of joining.

 

[msteddom]

I have been very happy with my D23 membership. I live in Los Angeles and I have been able to take part in two of the complimentary events, the Burbank studio tour, and the Disneyland People and Places screening. I enjoyed both of them immensely. In fact if you look on pg. 54 of the current magazine you will see me in the archives tour photo. That's me in the pink t-shirt!

I also attended Saturday of the 23 Expo. It was a lot of fun, and well worth the price of admission.

Having said that, I do think the criticisms of D23 are valid. A $75 annual membership fee is steep, especially when most of the country cannot access the D23 events, or the Expo. I also understand the frustration of people who could not get tickets to an event they really wanted to go to because they sold out within minutes. I do think that D23 is trying to address these criticisms, but they do have some things to work on.

So, D23 has been a lot of fun for me, and I can't wait to see what they come up with next!

Melissa

 

[darrengs]

If you live on the west coast it may be worthwhile, but being here on the east coast I still don't think it is worth it.

 

[GAN]

I too am on the East Coast and for the money right now, it certainly doesn't pay for itself. I was initially against joining, but was given membership as a gift -which really surprised me. While I can't take advantage of most of the benefits, I can't say enough about the quality of the magazine -it is a great read and well put together(of course, it can be bought for $15 I believe -- $60/yr). No regrets right now, just hope to see some activities closer to home or at least some benefits when visiting the parks to go along with the membership.

 

[Demosthenes]

I too am on the East Coast and for the money right now, it certainly doesn't pay for itself. I was initially against joining, but was given membership as a gift -which really surprised me. While I can't take advantage of most of the benefits, I can't say enough about the quality of the magazine -it is a great read and well put together(of course, it can be bought for $15 I believe -- $60/yr). No regrets right now, just hope to see some activities closer to home or at least some benefits when visiting the parks to go along with the membership.

I'd agree that if more activities were planned at the east coast parks, I would think it is a easy "yes" for me; but considering the price of the magazine is $60/year, and the membership is $75, it wouldn't take more than 1 event on the east coast to convince me.

 

[aspen37]

If D23 Expo comes back next year then I will join.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I'm not rethinking it yet for a number of reasons:

• D23 Expo is still open to everyone
• D23 events are only in certain regions of country, and the good ones have sold out frequently
• still don't think the magazine is that great, and you can read it online
• many serious Disney fans still have lives to lead, and can't just pick up and go across the country to see the Archives for a day

While the benefits of having D23 around may be more evident (an Expo, events, website), the need to actually join isn't necessarily there.

I'm a New Yorker. The D23 event that was here was a Mary Poppins on Broadway event where one can go backstage and get a DVD. But you still had to pay full price for orchestra tickets. I'd rather use a code and pay 2/3 price for orchestra seats, keep the $75 D23 fee, and buy my own DVD if I'd like.

And now I bought tickets to the Princess & The Frog event in NYC with an exhibit from the Disney Archives - and it's NOT a D23 event.

So, I like some of the things coming out from D23 (especially the Expo - I'd like to go at some point in the future), but I still don't see the point of joining.

I agree.

I think the Expo looked great and I'm really thinking of planning to go to it next year (if there is another one) but I don't need to join to do that. I don't even remember hearing about any "Members Only" events at the Expo. Anyone know if there were any?

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I already have a bunch of disney addict monikers like DVC, AP, Dvisa, 49 road trips, but I just am not feeling D23 yet.

I need a little more exclusivity to ante myself up to yet another disney bar

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

I agree.

I think the Expo looked great and I'm really thinking of planning to go to it next year (if there is another one) but I don't need to join to do that. I don't even remember hearing about any "Members Only" events at the Expo. Anyone know if there were any?

Nope. No members only events. Just member only merchandise, the discount on the tickets and entry into the Expo an hour early.

Like I said there were no members only events, however, there were some presentations, that started at 9am. There is no way a non-D23 guest could have made those particular presentions.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Nope. No members only events. Just member only merchandise, the discount on the tickets and entry into the Expo an hour early.

Like I said there were no members only events, however, there were some presentations, that started at 9am. There is no way a non-D23 guest could have made those particular presentions.

Interesting. Seems like it would have been good marketing for D23 to offer some things just for members. A meet and greet with Marty Sklar or a members only area of archive stuff or something. Do you think alot of people that went were members? If not, stuff like that maybe would have got them to join for next year.

 

[challer]

If D23 Expo comes back next year then I will join.

Why? You don't have to join to go to the Expo.

 

[Demosthenes]

Why? You don't have to join to go to the Expo.

There is a discount on Expo admission. If you are going to buy the magazines and go to the Expo, you come out ahead.