D23 surprises

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

I know some of the Podcast teach <cough> Pete <cough> was not too thrilled with the idea of D23, I think mostly because they was hoping for something else.

But, I don't think anyone can deny that when D23 want's to, they can pull off some great surprises (Johnny Depp at the Expo for example).

This quarter's magazine has one of those little surprises.

Like clockwork each quarter, members receive a beautifully done magazine...and a little surpise. In the past we've received patches, calendars and mousepads...thinkgs that will ship flat with the magazine.

This time the box was a little larger. I opened it up and there was the usual magazine and a luggage tag with the D23 Expo logo. Very nice.

But wait...there's more...

Also inside was small silver box...inside was...a D23 wristwatch. That's right, I said WRISTWATCH!

Wonder how much I can get for it on eBay.

 

[slapwhitey]

Guess I should have renewed my membership...it was just too expensive with shipping out of country.

 

[pooh'smate]

I know some of the Podcast teach <cough> Pete <cough> was not too thrilled with the idea of D23, I think mostly because they was hoping for something else.

But, I don't think anyone can deny that when D23 want's to, they can pull off some great surprises (Johnny Depp at the Expo for example).

This quarter's magazine has one of those little surprises.

Like clockwork each quarter, members receive a beautifully done magazine...and a little surpise. In the past we've received patches, calendars and mousepads...thinkgs that will ship flat with the magazine.

This time the box was a little larger. I opened it up and there was the usual magazine and a luggage tag with the D23 Expo logo. Very nice.

But wait...there's more...

Also inside was small silver box...inside was...a D23 wristwatch. That's right, I said WRISTWATCH!

Wonder how much I can get for it on eBay.

That is if you get your magazine. I only ever got 1 of them and even when I called about it they said they would resend me one and I never got any of them. I called every time a new one came out too.

 

[sayhello]

Personally, while the magazine & "surprises" were nice, they were the only benefit I got out of D23. And it was just too expensive for a subscription to a quarterly magazine, no matter how nice. D23 really seems to be focused on Disney fans who live in Southern California, and as a Disney fan from Ohio, all I got was frustration.

Sayhello

 

[WaltD4Me]

I never thought D23 was a bad idea, I think they hyped it too much and I think Pete is right, there definitely should be a frequent guest program, but my big thing with D23 is it is just too expensive. Yes, the magazine is beautiful, but why not make it a little cheaper and more accesible to more people? I just can't justify the $75, even with the watch. And, to buy the magazine in bookstores it's $16.95! That's just, I don't know...ridiculous. I'd probably join for $50 a year and be happy with a less glossy magazine, heck I LOVED Disney Magazine and they shut that down and then put out D23 magazine. I like the concept of D23, but I just don't think it's worth the price.

I wonder how it's doing too, I noticed on Disney Store.com the other day that there were some D23 items that you can buy now that don't say you have to be a D23 member to buy them.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I was a D23 member for one year and still haven't looked at any of the magazines or was able to go to any of the event. This club, in my opinion, is good for those living in California or Florida where they can take full advantage of the events, but not for those living elsewhere.

 

[hotcarib]

I didn't read the magazines,buy the merchandise or renew my membership.
Maybe I expected too much, but for me D23 was a bust

 

[doconeill]

Hmm....we got the watch and the membership card - no magazine yet or luggage tag. I renewed a while ago, but they only "shipped" on the 20th.

 

[Justin Jett]

The wristwatch also comes with the Silver membership. I have joined D23 as a Silver member, just to see what the schavenger hunt is like. I do agree with Pete and Lisa though.

I did Silver, because $75 is too much to pay for the privilege to pay even more money for event tickets. Also, because of my visual impairment.....a $16 magazine is just not worth it.

Disney needs to bring back the Magic Kingdom Club Gold Card.

 

[mikelan6]

I too miss the Magic Kingdom Club.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I've realized that the discussion of D23 is like the discussion of which is the best smartphone.

It's not important what I think.

Spend your hard earned dollars on what's right for you.

 

[Justin Jett]

I've realized that the discussion of D23 is like the discussion of which is the best smartphone.

It's not important what I think.

Spend your hard earned dollars on what's right for you.

That is very true. I agree

I am the ONLY iPhone user in a family of Motorola Droid users.

D23 is a good fit for some people, and not for others

 

[challer]

I spent the $$$ on D23 when in December 2009 they had a "holiday sale" of $64.99. I got the magazines and enjoyed them. I only enjoyed the EPCOT patch, but I ended up buying them all on eBay anyway. The rest of the gifts they can have back. The Expo seems awesome, and if I could go I would - but you don't need to be a member to go.

They absolutely lost me when, for the BIG NYC D23 event - the D23 Times Square Store Celebration - it sold out in less than 20 seconds. And I was on the computer well before the opening time. If you are going to have one event in NYC and you are going to make it that exclusive even within the paying D23 community, I'll keep my cash.

I'll continue to proudly wear my Disney Parks watch - $19.99 from Disneystore.com. That's good enough for me.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

<begin shameless self promotion>
When I interviewed Steven Clark (the Head of D23) last year, he said that for 2011, the D23 team will be "laser focused" on making sure they have more events around the country.

Audio

Blog

<end shameless self promotion>

They do still have a lot of bugs to work out. They have a small team, so I think they end up delegating too many things to outside departments (disneystore.com for membership, someone else for ticketing), which makes it easy for things to slip through the cracks.

 

[sayhello]

Disney needs to bring back the Magic Kingdom Club Gold Card.

What was the Gold Card? I belonged to the Magic Kingdom Club for YEARS, but I don't remember a Gold Card...

I too miss the Magic Kingdom Club.

I miss the Magic Kingdom Club so, SO much! My *Dad* belonged when I was a kid (don't even *ask* how long ago that was!) and we got Magic Kingdom Key tickets that could be used as anything from an A to an E ticket (this was at Disneyland). I became a member when I got my first real job. And I had a Magic Kingdom Card in my wallet at all times. I was so sad when they did away with that!

Sayhelo

 

[Justin Jett]

What was the Gold Card? I belonged to the Magic Kingdom Club for YEARS, but I don't remember a Gold Card...

I miss the Magic Kingdom Club so, SO much! My *Dad* belonged when I was a kid (don't even *ask* how long ago that was!) and we got Magic Kingdom Key tickets that could be used as anything from an A to an E ticket (this was at Disneyland). I became a member when I got my first real job. And I had a Magic Kingdom Card in my wallet at all times. I was so sad when they did away with that!

Sayhelo

The Gold Card was a fee based membership for people who did not work for a company that was eligible for the regular Magic Kingdom Club membership.

Starting in 1984, my Grandparents bought me the Magic Kingdom Club Gold Card membership every year for Christmas. The cost was $25. I had found an ad for the Magic Kingdom Club Gold Card in the "Disney Channel Magazine"

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I had a Gold Card, too. The discounts on WDW hotels and the like were great, as well as the Disney Store discount of 10%. I knew when they changed it that last year of operations, it was a goner....

 

[disneym2m]

Oh thanks Tom and Skip for ruining the D23 surprise for those who haven't recieved their box yet.......

I guess I don't need to open the box when it arrives....

All is good, just giving you guys a hard time.

 

[doconeill]

Oh thanks Tom and Skip for ruining the D23 surprise for those who haven't recieved their box yet.......

I guess I don't need to open the box when it arrives....

All is good, just giving you guys a hard time.

I'm not aware of them being surprises anyways - in fact, I had to choose between the watch or the calendar, but it was the same calendar as last year.

 

[sayhello]

The Gold Card was a fee based membership for people who did not work for a company that was eligible for the regular Magic Kingdom Club membership.

Starting in 1984, my Grandparents bought me the Magic Kingdom Club Gold Card membership every year for Christmas. The cost was $25. I had found an ad for the Magic Kingdom Club Gold Card in the "Disney Channel Magazine"

Well that's interesting. I guess I never noticed that because I always worked for a company that had the regular Magic Kingdom Club memberships. That was one benefit I always took advantage of!

Sayhello