Impact of D23 on DVC?

[bwvBound]

Personally, my use of DVC is changing in response to D23 Events. While I had hit burn out on "things Disney" -- the parade of D23 events is certainly stimulating my desire to return. We are close enough to DLR to attend the occasional West Coast event with little planning ... but I am wishing I could more easily "pick up and go" for WDW events such as "Flowers and Fireworks" mid-May.

So DVCers ... is D23 making a similar impact in your lives? Any changes to your short-term travel plans squeezing in another trip centered on a D23 event? Are you reworking methods for stretching the DVC points? (I'm trying to do "all the above"!)

 

[Chuck S]

From posts I've read, many people are not renewing their D23 membership. If that is true, and D23 membership is in fact slowly dwindling, I doubt we'll see any impact on DVC usage. Also consider, there are different types of group meetings all the time at both WDW and DL, and many DVCers may be using points for stays during any number of events, like Night of Joy, Gay Days, Pop Warner, etc., so the actual impact from any one of those groups is probably negligiable, unless it is a huge, well publicized event, like Food & Wine.

 

[skylynx]

My DH gave me a charter membership to D23 for Christmas. While I love the magazine, what irks me about the membership thus far is the ridiculously short lead time they give you to plan to attend some of the smaller events (such as the one during F&G at Epcot in May, not the big events like the Expo in Anaheim). From Chicagoland, you can't get decent air fares with only one or two months notice. We're trying to decide whether to go to the event at Disneyland this September. It will be pretty expensive for us, and although for this one we've got ample lead time to make travel plans, there's not an awful lot of information yet about what the activities will be so we can decide if all that expense is worth it. I mean, if I knew Johnny Depp was going to show up again in full Jack Sparrow regalia, we'd be going no matter what. But I think those kind of celebrity appearances are very intentionally kept "surprises" in case they don't work out at the last minute...that way no one is disappointed.

I agree that D23 probably isn't going to have a noticeable impact on DVC'ers, except maybe just a larger percentage of D23/DVC members' take-home pay going Disney's way! Sometimes I think I should just direct deposit x number of dollars out of each check to Disney and be done with it! That said, the payment we made to purchase our DVC was the second happiest huge chunk of money we ever spent at once...the first was our land in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado! No regrets for either one!

 

[pycees312]

add me to the " did not renew pile" The only thing really of interest to me was the tour of the studios. But getting the tickets were a pain... and so far every event has been a paid event and some of those are expensive. What really got me was the 1st year celebration... no discount for those who had annual passes etc. I did like the magazine though but it's something I can do without for now. Now I just think it's a way to bleed those who cherish Disney the most. Whereas before.. I bought into it thinking as a fan we'd get some really nice perks and that was my fault for that assumption.

 

[franandaj]

D23 is having a definite impact on my points. Granted I live close enough to Disneyland that we drove home every night from the D23 Expo last year, but it made for pretty tiring days. I've already reserved three nights in September for Destination-D at the VGC and plan to stay at the Hilton next summer for the Expo (though that doesn't eat up any points, at least DVC, just Hilton points).

The only room they had available in Sept. was a 1br and I had to waitlist for one of the nights, it came through so DP and I are staying Thursday, Fri & Sat nights. That's using up about 1/3 of my annual points! We weren't planning a WDW trip in the 2010 UY so that's OK, but I'm not sure what we'll do in 2011. I bought the points keeping in mind F&W, Gay Days and our annual Community Concert Band performance at the park, so when these things pop up and I want to have the luxury of not going home at night it definitely cuts into my points!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

The only impact so far is that in trying to decide between early April and mid-May next year for WDW, mid-May was given some bonus points because it might be when next year's Flowers & Fireworks event will take place. We were already scheduled for WDW this Fall when they announced the dates for the Sip & Stroll, so we may try to sign up for that.

We have been to the Studio tour and to the D23 Expo. If we go to Destination D, we will probably stay offsite unless there is a good AP rate at PPH or DLH. We plan to go to the D23 Expo next year but will also stay offsite (and use SPG points). -- Suzanne

 

[calypso726]

Yes. Definitely making an impact on points for us. We added on after deciding to go to the Anniversary Party in WDW. We will be going to the Expo next year and still trying to figure out how to squeeze in Sip & Stroll this year along with Magic & Merriment assuming they do it again. I do hate the fact that the lead time is not much. If I didn't live in Florida there's no way I'd be able to plan with sufficient time.

 

[nunzia]

My DH gave me a charter membership to D23 for Christmas. While I love the magazine, what irks me about the membership thus far is the ridiculously short lead time they give you to plan to attend some of the smaller events (such as the one during F&G at Epcot in May, not the big events like the Expo in Anaheim). From Chicagoland, you can't get decent air fares with only one or two months notice. We're trying to decide whether to go to the event at Disneyland this September. It will be pretty expensive for us, and although for this one we've got ample lead time to make travel plans, there's not an awful lot of information yet about what the activities will be so we can decide if all that expense is worth it. I mean, if I knew Johnny Depp was going to show up again in full Jack Sparrow regalia, we'd be going no matter what. But I think those kind of celebrity appearances are very intentionally kept "surprises" in case they don't work out at the last minute...that way no one is disappointed.

I agree that D23 probably isn't going to have a noticeable impact on DVC'ers, except maybe just a larger percentage of D23/DVC members' take-home pay going Disney's way! Sometimes I think I should just direct deposit x number of dollars out of each check to Disney and be done with it! That said, the payment we made to purchase our DVC was the second happiest huge chunk of money we ever spent at once...the first was our land in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado! No regrets for either one!

I renewed and am happy with the membership. The impact for DVCers is, to me, frustration! I plan on going to the Sept event and would love to stay at the VGC, but since the tickets are very limited I don't want to reserve and then mess up my points if I can't get a ticket. Tickets don't go on sale until summer and for Sept. I should have already booked LONG ago...That's my biggest peeve. I will definately be going to the next Expo, (the first one was so amazing) but won't stay in the parks for that one as hotels by the Convention Center work much better for that event.

 

[Dizny Dad]

DW and I discussed this just last evening. I voted to discontinue the membership in D23. We do not attend any of the events, due to short timing or just plain the expense! (Like the Flowers & fireworks - just too much to lay out per person) The magazine is impressively produced, but I find the articles to be a "yawn".

Remember, I usually only get 49% of the vote.

 

[edk35]

What exactly is D23?? What do you get for being a member?

 

[nunzia]

What exactly is D23?? What do you get for being a member?

It is basically a Disney run fan club. You can check out d23.com for info. They put out a beautiful quarterly magazine..more like a book..you get little surprises and occasional discounts. They put on events which mainly benefit So Ca folk and did an Expo last year. I don't think it's expensive at all..the magazine costs 16.00 each in a store and the membership was like 70 and included 4 issues of the magazine, so very nominal. This year they have a silver membership, which is much cheaper, that doesn't include the magazine.

 

[Chuck S]

Membership is $75 per year, it includes a quarterly publication, opportunities to purchase collectible items. It is a "club" for Disneyphiles and collectors. Here is a link to the "official" info: D23 Info

I've not joined, and it seems that many of those who did are not renewing. But others enjoy it.

 

[Anal Annie]

It is basically a Disney run fan club.

And here I thought that was what the DISBoards were!! DOH!!


(We did not join to start with - I felt like the whole idea was just another way for Disney to make money off of me.)