My take on the whole "D23" program

[UrsulasShadow]

I am a fan. I am not a collector. I am not a Disney historian. Specifically, I am a Parks fan, soon to be a Cruise fan.

Alas, I am a poor fan. This "program" does not benefit me at all. IF and WHEN it does, I'll join. Until then, I'll get my fixes here.

 

[redrosesix]

I got the information from DIS. I even got information about it from my DDs Disney Movie Club. But they never sent me an email even though I signed up for it a long, long time ago.

If they can't even get that part right... Well...

I can see why you would join, Pete, since I'm sure you also feel a duty to check these things out for us. BTW, I agree with pretty much everything you posted. I am also truly disappointed. I didn't expect much, but I truly had hoped that with the big fanfare marketing campaign they would have put a little more thought into it. What I got from the whole D23 thing is that they don't want families to join (their only event this year is in September!) -- just more evidence that they are really only concerned with the high paying guests, not people who have other priorities ie children.

The timing was just so wrong -- between the economic meltdown and the 2 wars that the US is involved in. Why would they introduce a new club aimed solely at giving its members the privilege of buying expensive merchandise.

And, as a Canadian, I am not about to spend $140 to join -- seems that they have forgotten they might need some international tourists in the next few years.

I can't help but think that on Tuesday, somebody over at US said "Ok, Disney screwed up. How can we do it better?"

 

[alebisi]

Another kick in the teeth for international Disney fans!
We don't get pin codes, we don't get good online shopping in fact the whole Disney Online UK is hard to use and devoted mainly to films and Disney Channel! We have Disney Stores that have almost no adult stuff at all, our movies come out a good 3 or 4 months after yours, it took 4 months for me to get a Disney promotional DVD after requesting one! We get no recognition as Disney fans (except maybe trying to be pushed to go to DLRP, don't get me wrong, its 2 nice parks, but it's not Disneyworld!)

It already costs us a lot to get to Disneyworld, this is $75 (plus outrageous fees to do so) I am NOT willing to spend.

Our family are DVC members, my mom is an AP holder yet still international fans are not considered worth making the effort for!

Plus looking at the Motley Fool page, I could go to Six Flags for a year with that money! (I know Disney isn't six flags, but wow!)

I agree... here in Italy it's worst than UK we have less information of Disneyland Paris and almost NONE of WDW I really miss disney and would love to go there more or be part of a club ....but this is just insane! I'm so disappointed... I can't even apply to Disney Movie Club

 

[lugnut33]

I am not joining. I don't see the point in having to spend money to be allowed to spend money. Plus, I got burned with the Universal collectors club (paid $55 for a lifetime membership that was gone in a little over a year) and I see this ultimately going the same way. I mean $75 for a year is pretty steep for not really getting anything in return. Hey, I balked a bit paying $30 for Celebrations magazine, but I know that is worth it now and I'll get two more issues per year.

Let me tell you what D23 (don't like the name, just like I don't like how Gatorade has become G) should have included:

Guest Loyalty Program: For each nights stay at a Disney hotel (or any cruise), and each day you spend at a park, you'll get a certain amount of points. Stay at the Grand Floridian and you'll receive more points than at Pop Century. Collected points can be used to buy exclusive D23 poducts. (come on, how much can it really cost to produce a tee-shirt?)

Exclusive Member Areas: Take one of those unused hospitality areas inside Epcot and turn it into a D23 hospitality area. Design the interior to reflect Walts time and put memorabilia in there. Make it a show area as well as a rest area from the elements. Have a stand setup to sell exclusive D23 merchandise to help pay for the hospitality area. I'm sure there is an area at California Adventure that could be used in the same way.

With those two ideas above, I would have definitely joined. I really don't think that membership should provide you with extra discounts to anything.

For those of you who are locals, in order to pump up the points, you would need to visit the parks... a lot (which is fine because if you come I know you're going to buy something).

 

[WDWTigger72]

This was a very well thought out post regarding D23 community and its current shortfalls. I say currently because it seems more and more companies roll out products before they are truly ready to go "Live", and nobody really knows what this D23 community may develop into similar to your Disney Cruise Line example. The rollout shortfalls:

(1) A web page containing only negative numbers after its rollout, instead of having a transition page for the D23 community which came online later (This may have been inline with their conference call or analyst call and done purposely, but it doesn't show well to a potential subscriber)

(2) No emails where ever sent out to be "The first to know" about this new D23 community. The emails where received much later from Disney Movie Rewards instead.

(3) Disney Shopping had the D23 membership available for purchase before its actual release time.

If a brand new company nobody heard about was rolling out this great product many potential customers may have been lost already because of the mishaps. Similar, I did join this D23 community because I clearly remember "The Magic Kingdom" club and enjoyed everything it provided to its loyal customers. I completely agree that there needs to be some incorporation of a "LOYALTY" program for many of Disney's fan base.

Personally, I find the $75+tax worthwhile just for the quarterly magazine since its a hard cover/high quality magazine. Sports Illustrated comes out with their yearly Superbowl Commemorative, World Series Commemorative, etc which is of similar material/quality and runs about $20 for one hard cover magazine. Being a mediocre disney fan I am looking forward to learning and reading more about the many different aspects and businesses of the Disney corporation. Could I have researched some of the information on the internet? Yes, I probably could have but would rather have my own little library.

Instead, they chose to focus on merchandise (and I'm sorry, but the $850 pen on the home page was just a really really bad decision - the pen is probably lovely, and worth $850 - but it just sends the wrong message and far too often, perception becomes reality).

This has been something I have seen over and over and over again regarding the price of the $850 pen, and to a certain extent drives me crazy. Ok, Well it doesn't really drive me crazy its just the fact that people keep pointing to this. The "Walt Disney Signature" collection is NOT a D23 exclusive or membership required item. Anybody could actually purchase these items without a D23 membership. These items where already on the Disney Shopping website before D23 ever rolled out. Personally, I think these should all be part of an executive collection and completely removed from the D23 shopping website. The following under the "Walt Disney Signature" collection can be purchased by anybody:

Walt Disney Signature
(1) Walt Executive Stationery
(2) Fantasia Stationery
(3) Sleeping Beauty Stationery
(4) Fresco Tabletop
(5) Kingswell Tabletop
(6) Art