Disney Magazine ceases publication???

[senecabeach]

Anyone else out there dissappointed, unhappy and maybe mad..about this "Wonderful" magazine being ....... cancelled???

Family Fun?, Disney Adventures?, I don't want those!!

Well...I called the 800 # and am getting a refund and think if more people DO that..maybe they will think twice!

The DM has been a cornerstone of "All Things Happening @ Disney" for years and years and years and years and years and years!!!!
My subscription is from its "inception"!!

Ah...cutbacks! 1,000 Disney IT people, consieriege services trimed. Yes...I'm venting!! Trim here and open another theme park..really makes me wonder who is running the show?? Ah..Roy..where are you?? Let em' just sell Paris D...its a pink elephant anyway?

Sorry...I'm just really cranked !!

 

[athenna]

I plan on cancelling also. I loved the Disney Magazine. I don't have kids, so I don't think I'd enjoy the other 2 magazine their offering instead.
If they needed to cut some money somewhere, I'm sure they could've come up with something else.

 

[tjkraz]

If more of your fellow Disney friends felt the same way it would be a non-issue. Readership was reportedly at 500,000 and in steady decline. Even for Disney, you don't keep pouring money into something that loses money to satisfy the rabid fans.

I'll miss it too, but I fear the Internet (sites just like this one) collectively dealt a death-blow that that particular publication.

 

[lodgelady]

senecabeach-
There was lots of unhappiness on several of the DIS boards when the news about the Disney Magazine demise first came out. It was supposedly an unpopular decision even within Disney Corp as various divisions used the mag to reach the loyal fan base that we all are. I say that it is a sorry shame to lose another Disney tradition.
As far as the electronic age spiel: if that was the only reason they could have cut costs by offering a Disney Magazine online edition instead. The reality is that today's Disney managers are only interested in maintaining direct profit centers. Disney Mag was not a money loser, it was just not a big enough profit maker.

 

[donald...really]

I received my last Disney Magazine today and called for a refund. I was surprised how sad I was, I almost choked up. I have been getting Disney News/Magazine since the 80's.

I think shutting down Disney Magazine was very short sighted on Disney's part (what else is new these days). I don't think you can tell how much money Disney Magazine generates for Disney based on the readership. Disney Magazine is one big Disney advertisement that people actually paid for and looked forward to getting. I know the articles on Disneyland Paris, The Disney Cruise, and even Vero Beach played a part in my interest and eventual vacations to those different places (and we even purchased DVC while at Vero Beach). Would we have gone anyway without reading about it in Disney Magazine? Maybe, but reading about it first certainly opened my eyes. And even in this last issue I saw a book advertised that I know I can't live without. They just got another $9.95 of my money thanks to Disney Magazine.

I will miss the magazine.

 

[WolfpackFan]

I find this decision very sad also. Our last issue came in the mail yesterday and I hate to think no more will be coming. In light of all the other special interest magazines out there, I can't beleive there will be none for Disney fans.

 

[senecabeach]

Good Morning...

Im a bit calmer now. It was just devastating news yesterday. Especially since it was noted as a "collectors edition" with the cover being the "50th Happiest Celebration".

I still remember my dissappointment when my "Magic Kingdom Club" card was also....thrown by the wayside and terminated...and that I had since '71!!

Donald..really,
I agree and yes it was advertisements that I didn't mind reading. It so kept me abreast of "All Things Disney".

BTW...when I called to get my refund, I was asked if I wanted notification IF a "new" magazine was to come out. Anyone else hear that?

Ya know...I'm chuckling because... I suddenly feel like my mom when, as a child, she used to tell me about the "Good Old Days" and I didn't have a clue what she was talking about and rolled my eyes and said to myself...here we go again!!

AH progress......

 

[tjkraz]

As far as the electronic age spiel: if that was the only reason they could have cut costs by offering a Disney Magazine online edition instead.

They already have a free electronic newsletter called the Disney Insider. 13 weekly issues of the Insider probably have as much content as one quarterly issue of Disney Magazine.

Nevertheless, with tens of millions of guests walking through the turnstiles of Disney theme parks annually, DM had a paid subscriber base of 500,000 and falling. And most of those were likely bargain basement subscriptions (raise your hand if you paid more than $9.95 for a year's subscription. Anyone?)

By comparison, allearsnet.com gets more than 500,000 unique visitors in a month's time.

The reality is that if more people were interested in the Disney Magazine, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

 

[senecabeach]

I think the "reality" is the DM wasn't promoted and marketed as it should have been. Its cost was insignificant and Im sure we would be happy to pay any additional fees to have it delivered to our homes.

Sitting down with the family in the living room or around the dinner table, passing and sharing this magazine can't compare to "Huddling around a pc" trying to get a view of the screen!!

I get the DI...and IMHO..it stinks..and how do you "ask Dave a question"??
It in no way compares to giving info like the DM did.

 

[tjkraz]

I think the "reality" is the DM wasn't promoted and marketed as it should have been.

Really?

We had a copy in our room every time we checked-into a Disney resort. (I can't think of ANY marketing better than that since it puts a free copy in the hands of the precise target market.)

As DVC members and AP holders we were offered deeply-discounted subscriptions.

As former members of the Disney Club (who previously received free subscriptions) we were offered deeply-discounted subscriptions.

They had offers on the web...ads in other publications...

What more could they have done?

Its cost was insignificant and Im sure we would be happy to pay any additional fees to have it delivered to our homes.

Sitting down with the family in the living room or around the dinner table, passing and sharing this magazine can't compare to "Huddling around a pc" trying to get a view of the screen!!

I agree with both points. As stated, I was a loyal subscriber and will miss it myself. It just gets old seeing every decision that people don't agree with passed-off as non-sensical and short-sighted. It's like seeing your favorite television program cancelled--doesn't matter how great it was or how much you or I might enjoy it if not enough other folks share that sentiment.

 

[laceemouse]

I too am disappointed. Glad to know that I can call for a refund as we ALREADY get the other 2 magazines. Talk about a fan! It was actually in Family Fun magazine that I learned about the DIS.....

 

[DVCconvert]

What more could they have done?

Offered each publication at $5 each, and a "25%" discount to AP/DVC owners for the 4th quarter publication "free" each year. There was never any need to give it away at $10 or less!

IMHO this is a HUGE mistake. It is often impossible to determine the associated sales of a general promotional device the DM has been. How can management assess the number of WDCC (etc) items sold as a result of a guest seeing such things in the magazine in a hotel room for example? How can management assess the re-enforcement of brand loyality from people reading articales from Dave Smith?

These concerns and many others were manifested by the shock and surprise voiced by many major corporate divisions when the news came out. The target market will be lost (as FF and DA do NOT service that market) unless there is a replacement very, very, soon....and if it had been done it typical "Disney" fashion - the replacement media would have been offered at the same time as the demise of DM!

 

[athenna]

Just got my last issue, too. Haven't even opened it yet, I'm too bummed.

 

[lenshanem]

Another bummed one. The Disney Insider doesn't even compare! What was the refund? I guess I'll get the kid mag for my 7 year old...

 

[littlestar]

The only magazine I ever got free when I checked into a Disney resort was that Family Fun magazine.

It figures they're are getting rid of the best one. I don't care for Disney Adventures either. I heard they didn't renew the contract of the living statues in Epcot either. They must be on a bean counting mission here lately. It figures (my luck) that they are getting rid of my favorites. Wah, wah

 

[debbiedoo]

I am still waiting on my last issue. . . .I guess I will be going with Disney Adventures for my 6 year old. . .

 

[disnutt]

Because of DM I learned about DVC (which we bought) and have been motivated to visit WDW and DL more times than I can count. It influenced my travels and purchases in numerous ways.

I read the Insider but that is just for quick updates. I also tend to ignore internet advertising because I find it annoying. I can take DM with me in the car, on planes, to bed to read and dream about all things Disney. The Insider doesn't inspire that kind of fantasy indulgence.

I haven't told my husband because he will be happy they aren't publishing DM any longer. I've got every copy I ever received stored on a couple rows of book shelves in nice Disney-themed holders. He'll be glad we don't need to buy more magazine holders.

We already receive the other 2 publications. Those are for our kids. I'm going to ask for the refund to let them know that I'm not satisfied with their offereings. I feel like I've lost a great adult Disney friend.

 

[profdsny]

Glad to see this post. I'm most unhappy with their discussion. I plan to call Monday and get a refund, and give them back my 2cents. Shame on them. I don't know what Disney Insider is, but I'm going to google soon as I finish this.

 

[senecabeach]

profdsny....

heres the web site for the Disney Insider;
http://disney.go.com/inside/issues/today/index.html

Dont get too excited its no biggie!! Still cant figure out how to "ask Dave" a question.

 

[MinnieGi]

My whole family is also disappointed at this news. My 4yo calls the DM "hers" when it comes in the mail and we all enjoy reading it. I was absolutely stunned when I saw the front cover explaining its cancellation. I haven't been on the DIS boards in months so I didn't have any advance warning! Guess I better check in more often! And even though as DVC'ers we get the Vacation Magic and I also read the Disney Insider we still really enjoyed the DM magazine. I already get Family Fun so I may call for a refund. Thanks for posting that they are giving them out.