D23 Membership

[kstorms27]

Im curious if anyone has joined the D23 club and what your opinions are of it. Is it worth it or not?

 

[Rob S.]

I joined at the basic level just to have access to the events. Last year I attended Destination D at WDW (the 40th anniv. celebration in May) and Magic & Merriment (which included a tour of the Castle Suite). This year I am attending the Walt Disney Studios and archives tour in Burbank, CA. I did not think that the magazine subscription was worth the extra $$ to upgrade my membership. I already subscribe to Celebrations magazine which is an outstanding value at a lower price.

 

[franandaj]

We've been members since almost the beginning, not Charter members but within the first few months. We have been to both Expos and Destination D events and have found it to be a tremendous value. We each have a membership one of the full (with magazine) and one of the basic. We found it necessary for the last Expo since the Premium ticket packages were for members only.

Granted we live in So Cal where most of the events take place, but this year they are holding events in many major cities around the country. I would only become a member if you wanted to take advantage of the larger events that happen mostly at WDW, the Studios, other parts of So Cal, and now the regional events. The Expo is an AMAZING experience. I have TR links in my signature for the two events I went to last year.

The presentations and information you receive at these events are unparalleled. now my non Disney friends think I'm nuts, but if you are a Disney fanatic you won't be disappointed, that is unless you can't attend them. We have really enjoyed our membership and plan on attending the Destination D this summer and the Expo next summer.

 

[ImDMous]

I'm a charter member and I renew every year. I'm also in SoCal so there are a lot of things offered here that are not available elsewhere, that helps make it worth it. We've been to the Hollywood premieres of Up and John Carter, Expo, Archives tour, screenings of Princess and the Frog, Beauty and the Beast 3-d, etc with characters and star appearances. If you're not that close to here, I'm not sure it would be as worth it to me. Turns into just an opportunity to spend more money to buy more 'exclusive' stuff.

I love it, but it's easy for use to drive up to LA on a weeks notice to take advantage.

 

[dclfun]

I'm a charter member living in Orlando. This year I chose only the basic membership as I don't need/want the magazines. The only event I've been able to attend was Destination D at the Contemporary last year. It was worth every penny and I wish they'd have another one. I'm going to the Fanniversary event here in Orlando this summer. That said, I see the value in the membership being MUCH greater if you live in SoCal. They have most of the events there...on one coast. I feel for members in other locations who have to travel or forgo any participation in any event. I think this is the biggest drawback and I'll bet if members were polled, there would first of all be many more in SoCal than anywhere else with 2nd runner up being Orlando. If I didn't live here, I'd not be a member at all and even I resent the lack of events in this area where there is WDW as a draw.

 

[nunzia]

I'm a Charter first day member and I don't live in So Cal. I'd love to be able to do more events, but I've been able to do the 2 Expos and a Destination D and will do Destination D this summer also if the info E V E R comes out. I love the club and see them really trying to mix it up. The magazine is lovely and really enjoy the little gift also. I'll be a member as long as there is a D23.

 

[bwvBound]

Following a trend above ... SoCal; joined early (1st year); attend many Anaheim and LA events and enjoy the magazine. Looking forward to attending our first D23 event in Orlando this coming June (Fanniverasry)!

 

[kstorms27]

So if I understand this all, the membership is more the ppl that want to do events and not so much about being in a "Disney fan club"?

 

[JavArmy]

So if I understand this all, the membership is more the ppl that want to do events and not so much about being in a "Disney fan club"?

I got the membership for a birthday present, mostly because i was more looking for a "disney fan club". While the opportunites sound pretty cool, we live no where near CA or FL, so I haven't been able to attend anything. I do get the magizines and you get access to some extra merchandise and such, but I will not be renewing my membership. Maybe when the kids are out of the house and I can travel a bit more, but for now, it just wasn't worth it.

Hope that helps!

 

[Brian Noble]

I've been a member (really a "subscriber") since the first year. I've never attended a single event. What I am really paying for is the magazine at newsstand price, plus an extra $10-$15 or so for home delivery plus little "gifts" with each magazine.

I think of it as a nice splurge, and not something that is subject to a "worth it" calculation. The magazine is very well done, and covers all aspects of the company. Some of the articles are really quite interesting, especially some of the historical retrospectives. Most of the time, the "gifts" are things that bring a smile to my face for a day, and are thrown away shortly thereafter. But, they don't add that much to the cost, so I figure that's fine.

 

[nunzia]

I've been a member (really a "subscriber") since the first year. I've never attended a single event. What I am really paying for is the magazine at newsstand price, plus an extra $10-$15 or so for home delivery plus little "gifts" with each magazine.

I think of it as a nice splurge, and not something that is subject to a "worth it" calculation. The magazine is very well done, and covers all aspects of the company. Some of the articles are really quite interesting, especially some of the historical retrospectives. Most of the time, the "gifts" are things that bring a smile to my face for a day, and are thrown away shortly thereafter. But, they don't add that much to the cost, so I figure that's fine.

Thrown Away??!!! You could throw them my way....I keep them all

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I'm a Charter first day member and I don't live in So Cal. I'd love to be able to do more events, but I've been able to do the 2 Expos and a Destination D and will do Destination D this summer also if the info E V E R comes out. I love the club and see them really trying to mix it up. The magazine is lovely and really enjoy the little gift also. I'll be a member as long as there is a D23.

Ask and ye shall receive. Info on Destination D for this August was just posted:
http://d23.disney.go.com/events/2012/04/05/d23s-destination-d-75-years-of-disney-animated-features/

Dick Van Dyke and Vantastix on Saturday night and Alan Menken on Sunday night would be enough for me! We are already booked at the GCV (including our WLed night). I can't wait!

We enjoyed both the previous Detination D events, as well as both Expos. We also enjoyed the Studio tour and the Magic & Merriment (although we thought this was the weakest of the events we have attended). -- Suzanne

 

[franandaj]

I've been a member (really a "subscriber") since the first year. I've never attended a single event. What I am really paying for is the magazine at newsstand price, plus an extra $10-$15 or so for home delivery plus little "gifts" with each magazine.

I think of it as a nice splurge, and not something that is subject to a "worth it" calculation. The magazine is very well done, and covers all aspects of the company. Some of the articles are really quite interesting, especially some of the historical retrospectives. Most of the time, the "gifts" are things that bring a smile to my face for a day, and are thrown away shortly thereafter. But, they don't add that much to the cost, so I figure that's fine.

Thrown Away??!!! You could throw them my way....I keep them all

I know!!!!! We keep everything, I stopped numbering the boxes of Disney memorabilia, but I know we were over 50 when I lost track. That was about 10 years ago. Perhaps that's why we have six garages and three storage lockers full of stuff!

 

[nunzia]

Ask and ye shall receive. Info on Destination D for this August was just posted:
http://d23.disney.go.com/events/2012/04/05/d23s-destination-d-75-years-of-disney-animated-features/

Dick Van Dyke and Vantastix on Saturday night and Alan Menken on Sunday night would be enough for me! We are already booked at the GCV (including our WLed night). I can't wait!

We enjoyed both the previous Detination D events, as well as both Expos. We also enjoyed the Studio tour and the Magic & Merriment (although we thought this was the weakest of the events we have attended). -- Suzanne

I saw this Alan Menken concert wowwow can't wait. I'm booked at DLH (out of points!) and am debating on trying for the Diamond ticket but then have to miss another day of work and shell out more $$$ for DLH

 

[franandaj]

Ask and ye shall receive. Info on Destination D for this August was just posted:
http://d23.disney.go.com/events/2012/04/05/d23s-destination-d-75-years-of-disney-animated-features/

Dick Van Dyke and Vantastix on Saturday night and Alan Menken on Sunday night would be enough for me! We are already booked at the GCV (including our WLed night). I can't wait!

We enjoyed both the previous Detination D events, as well as both Expos. We also enjoyed the Studio tour and the Magic & Merriment (although we thought this was the weakest of the events we have attended). -- Suzanne

Wow! I was posting silliness while you were posting important information! We missed out on the Sorcerer level passes for the Expo, I don't want to miss the Diamond level passes for this event. I could only book Friday and Saturday at the VCG and had to borrow from 2011 to do that! Of course we live closer to the Studios than Disneyland is, so I guess going home Sunday would be a good idea.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Wow! I was posting silliness while you were posting important information! We missed out on the Sorcerer level passes for the Expo, I don't want to miss the Diamond level passes for this event. I could only book Friday and Saturday at the VCG and had to borrow from 2011 to do that! Of course we live closer to the Studios than Disneyland is, so I guess going home Sunday would be a good idea.

I booked GCV at the 7 month window and the only night I had to WL was Friday. Out WL just came through earlier this week, so we will not be homeless than night.

We will not be competing with you to buy the Diamond level passes as we plan to spend Monday with tens of thousands of our closest friends seeing Carsland and then, on Tuesday, we head home.

Of course, even the basic ticket is pretty pricey at $225 each. In 2010, it was $125 and in 2011, it was $175. But, between staying at GCV on points and using Amtrak Rewards for our train fare, it won't be too expensive a weekend for us. -- Suzanne

 

[Missyrose]

Keith, my birthday is in a few weeks so I just bought myself a D23 membership for my first year of DVC ownership. I'm not sure how many events I'll be able to get to since I live nowhere near SoCal or Orlando, but we'll see. I just thought of it as another way to immerse myself in Disney a little bit more.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I haven't been able to use any discounts or attend any events, but we really do enjoy the magazines. They've become our coffee table books.

 

[franandaj]

I booked GCV at the 7 month window and the only night I had to WL was Friday. Out WL just came through earlier this week, so we will not be homeless than night.

We will not be competing with you to buy the Diamond level passes as we plan to spend Monday with tens of thousands of our closest friends seeing Carsland and then, on Tuesday, we head home.

Of course, even the basic ticket is pretty pricey at $225 each. In 2010, it was $125 and in 2011, it was $175. But, between staying at GCV on points and using Amtrak Rewards for our train fare, it won't be too expensive a weekend for us. -- Suzanne

I just tried again to book Sunday night and got nothing, I will have to keep trying, especially around the 18th of July. Oh, I wish that I could waitlist it, but no, my waitlists are tied up in a Studio and a 1 br for June 14-16. And if we don't get the WL, we are waking up at 3-4AM on the 15th to come get in line to be there opening day of Carsland! We were willing to pay up to $6-8000 for the Carsland package at the Expo, but when it went up to $10,000 we were definitely out, and I couldn't believe it sold for $14,000!

Hopefully in August Carsland will have calmed down a little bit. I'm looking forward to really seeing it in September when all the kids go back to school.

I would love to have the VIP reserved seating and not have to spend the breaks camped out in line and make a mad dash for the seating. The WDW Dest.D was nice because the crazy Californians who are willing to line up for hours weren't there. At the 1st event people were arriving at 5AM, for the WDW one, we got down to the hall at 7:15 and were about 20th in line. We were about 500th in line at that time in CA!

I'd like to spend the breaks relaxing and eating, not running back to my Villa to make meals and rushing back to eat them in line while my partner holds our place!

 

[arthur06]

I just tried again to book Sunday night and got nothing, I will have to keep trying, especially around the 18th of July. Oh, I wish that I could waitlist it, but no, my waitlists are tied up in a Studio and a 1 br for June 14-16. And if we don't get the WL, we are waking up at 3-4AM on the 15th to come get in line to be there opening day of Carsland! We were willing to pay up to $6-8000 for the Carsland package at the Expo, but when it went up to $10,000 we were definitely out, and I couldn't believe it sold for $14,000!

Hopefully in August Carsland will have calmed down a little bit. I'm looking forward to really seeing it in September when all the kids go back to school.

I would love to have the VIP reserved seating and not have to spend the breaks camped out in line and make a mad dash for the seating. The WDW Dest.D was nice because the crazy Californians who are willing to line up for hours weren't there. At the 1st event people were arriving at 5AM, for the WDW one, we got down to the hall at 7:15 and were about 20th in line. We were about 500th in line at that time in CA!

I'd like to spend the breaks relaxing and eating, not running back to my Villa to make meals and rushing back to eat them in line while my partner holds our place!

we just booked VGC for November, so hopefully the crowds will be really down by then.

We are not D23 members, but I have looked into it several times, and one of these days I will pull the trigger and do it.