D23 Magic & Merriment Sold Out?

[whodini]

I've been sitting in front of my PC for the last 20 minutes waiting for the Magic & Merriment tickets to go on sale. I use a program called Checdk4Change in firefox that refreshes the page every 15 secs looking for a page's content to change. It helps a lot for concert tickets and whatnot. As soon as the link appeared i clicked on, logged in with my D23 info, and BAM - Sold Out!

This is my first experience trying to get a D23 event ticket. It was $235 for a weekend's worth of stuff. Could it have seriously sold out in less than a minute? Less than 30 seconds even? Is this usual for their events with a ticket price that high?

It was totally serendipitous that I'll be down at WDW the same weekend, but not I feel pretty bummed that we won't be able to attend. I never thought getting tickets would be a problem.

 

[DrZoidberg]

I hit refresh at exactly 1:00 and was lucky enough to get a ticket. It will be a great way to end my trip.

 

[WDWFigment]

I hit refresh at exactly 1:00 and was lucky enough to get a ticket. It will be a great way to end my trip.

Ditto that. We "had" to extend our trip by a day, but it should be well worth it!

 

[Cheloconnell]

I had 2 computers running and my husband had 1 running. Out of the 3 computers I only got through on one and was able to purchase 2 tickets. I feel very lucky. This is exactly what happened last year - sold out immediately. I am sorry you were not able to get in

 

[DrZoidberg]

I am very excited. I am going solo so if anyone wants to meet up let me know.

 

[cloudnut220]

My husband and I were both on our computers refreshing constantly and as soon as my link showed up (first) I clicked and the event was sold out. I'm so upset. This was going to be our Christmas gift. I joined D23 for this event, and to not even have an opportunity to buy tickets is extremely dissapointing.

 

[whodini]

My husband and I were both on our computers refreshing constantly and as soon as my link showed up (first) I clicked and the event was sold out. I'm so upset. This was going to be our Christmas gift. I joined D23 for this event, and to not even have an opportunity to buy tickets is extremely dissapointing.

I'm in the same boat. I just wasn't expecting it or else I wouldn't have gotten so amped about the event before I got tickets.

 

[EricMat]

Exactly the same thing happened to me last year. The tickets sold out in less than 10 seconds.

Even the hottest concerts don't sell as fast. Thats why I cancelled my D23 membership.

 

[SiAmCrAzY]

My husband and I were both on our computers refreshing constantly and as soon as my link showed up (first) I clicked and the event was sold out. I'm so upset. This was going to be our Christmas gift. I joined D23 for this event, and to not even have an opportunity to buy tickets is extremely dissapointing.

I agree... I am crushed right now. I took a day off- and spent 30 min prior waiting and the link NEVER came up. Sadly I had booked this trip just for this event. Now I have air and hotel paid for and no event ticket. I feel silly being so upset about not even getting the opportunity to buy a ticket. No way am I renewing my D23 membership- if all of the events sell out so fast why bother.

 

[cloudnut220]

the thing that makes me angrier is that I emailed D23 and this is the response I got back:

Dear D23 Member,

We thank you for your interest in the D23 Member exclusive events. We have verified that the link was posted promptly at 10am PST. We cannot in any way verify what a time a personal computer shows. The event is sold out. Only 200 tickets were available for this event. While we would have loved to expand capacity, certain venues (Cinderella Castle Suite Tours, the Odyssey Center and Top of the World Lounge, specifically) have space limitations. And while we would love to offer the event multiple times throughout the month of December, that is not possible. (We are offering larger capacity events with “Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th Anniversary Celebration” and “D23’s Great Disney Scavenger Hunt at Walt Disney World” next May.)

Sincerely,

Experient's D23 Event Team
T. Hebb

Like it's my computer's fault that I didn't get through...

 

[whodini]

Even the hottest concerts don't sell as fast. Thats why I cancelled my D23 membership.

Agreed. I just got my membership last month and am still looking forward to Destination D and the scavenger hunt this spring. Time well tell if I renew next year.

I heard from D23 customer service that only 200 tickets were made available for the event because "certain venues (Cinderella Castle Suite Tours, the Odyssey Center and Top of the World Lounge, specifically) have space limitations".

 

[WDWFigment]

Like it's my computer's fault that I didn't get through...

It might very well be; that, or your internet connection. The link showed up right at 1 p.m. for me, and yet didn't appear for others until 1:02. I doubt that's an 'error' on Disney's end.

 

[cloudnut220]

It might very well be; that, or your internet connection. The link showed up right at 1 p.m. for me, and yet didn't appear for others until 1:02. I doubt that's an 'error' on Disney's end.

I realize it could be my computer, I just didn't expect the D23 people to be so blunt about it. I'm sorry. I'm upset. This was my first experience with D23 with an event I was really excited about.

 

[disneym2m]

I would be bummed as well. I looked into this event and thought that it would be so cool to attend, but darn PCC 2.0 got in the way. I was trying to figure out how I could get the cruise ship to wait for me until all the Sunday D23 events were completed. I am sure the ship would have waited.........

Anyway......

Instead of being upset that I can't attend this event, I have decided to basically create my own Christmas Disney adventure. I know I won't get to see some of the cool behind the scenes things, like the Cinderella Suite, but I have tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and Candlelight Processional. I will be going to the resorts to see the decor and just trying to enjoy myself during the holiday time.

Now.... how do I create a pin to signify my own Christmas Disney adventure?....

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I was in within ten seconds of the link opening and was unable to get tickets. I sent a polite nastygram to them; here is what I sent and their respone:

From: Disney's D23 Member Events <D23MEMBEREVENTS@experient-inc.com>
To: 'Mike (last name and e-mail address suppressed)
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:38:38 -0400
Subject: RE: Magic and Merriment

Dear D23 Member,

We thank you for your interest in the D23 Member exclusive events. We have verified that the link was posted promptly at 10am PST. We cannot in any way verify what a time a personal computer shows. The event is sold out. Only 200 tickets were available for this event. While we would have loved to expand capacity, certain venues (Cinderella Castle Suite Tours, the Odyssey Center and Top of the World Lounge, specifically) have space limitations. And while we would love to offer the event multiple times throughout the month of December, that is not possible. (We are offering larger capacity events with "Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th Anniversary Celebration" and "D23's Great Disney Scavenger Hunt at Walt Disney World" next May.)

Sincerely,

Experient's D23 Event Team
T. Hebb
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike (last name and e-mail address suppressed)
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2010 1:14 PM
To: Disney's D23 Member Events
Subject: Magic and Merriment

Could somebody please explain how the event can be sold out within one minute of the time it opened up???

I was on the site at the Magic and Merriment page and was refreshing the page about every ten seconds starting just before 1:00. When I saw it change to "Click here for tickets" I immediately clicked there. I had my membership card in front of me and entered my member number and my last name and indicated two people and it said that it was already sold out.

This was less than one minute from the time the access was available.

Supposedly D23 is for the serious Disney fans. Maybe since there were only 200 tickets available they should have limited this to the Member and not more than one Guest instead of the Member plus three Guests. This would have allowed at least 100 members.

 

[jjb52]

I agree with 2 tickets per member and not 4. Or maybe open it up the first few minutes to Day 1 charter members-I might have a chance then.

 

[50sgirl12]

I agree, let the charter members get even a few minutes advantage. My link didn't show up untill 2 minutes after. And it was not my computer time because I was refreshing every 10 seconds for around 5 minutes just to prevent having the wrong time. I was so excited about this. I wrote to them to but have yet to get a response. So now we're going on the Backstage Magic tour on the 15th. I guess they got my money either way, but I doubt I'll be renewing my D23 now. Why have it for 4 magazines and dissapointment when I can't get into the events.

 

[jjb52]

I sent an email about my disappointment and suggested selling 2 tickets per member instead of 4. I also suggested an event open to charter members first-even if they just give a few minutes of early registration for a couple events a year. Oh well-maybe next year. I would also like at least a two month planning window-three would be better since I have to travel a long distance to these events and have to arrange airfare and hotels. It just seems like these small, intimate events are really for those that live close to the Magic.

 

[connie1042]

I was at the world last week and had decided not to attend this years D23. I thought maybe next year I will go on my own. I think the tickets should be in some type f lottery system. Charter members first.some people can not be at the computer at the right time.I knew I would not be able to. I am sorta sad, and I am not sure I will renew again. If I do it will be for only one more year, just in case I change my mind next year, and they have a fair way of doing it.

 

[figgy999]

I get everyone being disappointed. The event sounds fantastic and I understand getting about it. I have had the experience of not getting in to a D23 event I wanted to, but I also have been able to attend many. Many of the D23 events sell out fast and many do not. I had no problem getting in to the Sip & Stroll event which was a fun time, despite the fact that I don't drink "on property".

This event obviously had a low capacity. Even at Sip and Stroll the buzz was that Magic and Merriment was going to be tough to get in to. But the capacity of the venues are such that increasing the capacity of this event would cause many of the experiences that define the event to be cut out. I'd hate for no one to be able to visit the Castle Suite due to the fact that many are disappointed they couldn't get in. With the Christmas Parade taping the week before and the crowds arriving after, even holding the event for multiple weekends would not be able to be supported by the Park Events team that work for WDW.

The D23 team knows that many of their events are hard to get in to. Thats why they are doing many larger events such as the scavenger hunt and Destination D (not to mention the Expo). There are D23 events you can get in to without having to be at the computer at the right second, and there are some that will continue to be a challenge to get in to. But if the options are to have Magic and Merriment for a lucky 200 and having it for no one, I think D23 has made the right choice even if some folks are disappointed.

Also, I could never tell anyone how to spend their money. If you bought your membership just to get in to Magic and Merriment, I can understand not renewing. However, don't forget that as a member you also get the magazine, member gift, special goodies, and the ability to attend other special events that have a higher capacity.