New D23 Member Levels

[mikelan6]

Here it is folks ...

D23 has just announced that they have made a new, less expensive membership level. For $35.00, you can become a member, get a certificate, the newsletter and a few other things. No D23 Magazine subscription.

Gold membership level including D23 Magazine is still $75.00

http://www.disneystore.com/buy-a-d23-membership/c/66520/

I think it's still a ripoff. What do you think?

 

[auroralark]

Yeah, I'm still not interested.

 

[lugnut33]

I'll stick with Celebrations magazine.

 

[OKW Lover]

Interesting Mike. I actually just signed up for D23 a couple of days ago. Disney has offering a $10 discount on membership so I finally bit the bullet and signed up. I'm really just after the magazine (yeah, expensive subscription) so the discount made it almost worth it.

I'm not at all sure that joining was right for me, but I figured I'd give it a year and see what happened.

 

[simonkodousek]

I'll stick with the DIS, thank you very much!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Eh. I wouldn't sign up and not get the magazine. I've looked through it a few times at Barnes and Noble and actually really liked it, but I'm not willing to pay $75 a year. Also not willing to pay $35 a year and not get the magazine. Wish they would just lower the membership to $50 a year.

 

[LilGMom]

It would be nice to see them offer some sort of discount to people that want to renew their membership. I'm on the fence about renewing mine. I really enjoyed the table books (hard to call them just a magazine) and the little goodies in the magazine. I'm not sure that my Barnes & Nobles even carries the D23 magazine so it might be hard for me to get the table books any other way.

 

[SFBayDon]

For me (living in CA) D23 is one of the best investments I have made. In 2009 I was able to attend the Walt Disney Family Museum in SF for free, the Disney Studios & Archive for free, and also the D23 Expo and D23 Magic & Merriment for the cost of the events.

The Magic & Merriment alone delivered two or three times the price of the event in goods in services. Between park admissions, MVMCP admission, meals, and guest speakers it was well worth the price for the event.

Living in CA I have been able to take advantage of some of the special events and for this reason I will be renewing agin next year. I can also see that from some that are not able to attend the events and "extras" this might not be a good value.

As with all topics like this there are always multiple perspectives on the value of the product.

Don

 

[WDWtraveler27]

D23 member chimming in.

when and how do we register for next year?

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

My only worry is that now it's gonna be harder to get in to some of the events (unless Gold Members have priority).

 

[Miss SD]

I agree. I joined halfheartedly, I admit, but soon grew to appreciate my membership. (Loved the expo, Disney Family Museum event and Princess and the Frog screening.)
I know it's been tough enough to get tickets for some events as it is. With a cheaper membership tier, it will only get worse.

 

[Cyrano]

Until they sort out the ridiculious international postage my money will be staying firming in my wallet

 

[rotlex]

What do I think? I still think it is the most overpriced magazine subscription there is. I'm a Disney fanatic, and they can get my money out of me very, very easily, and this holds zero value to me. At $35, I might consider the new plan, IF it were to include the magazine. IMO, for $35, you should be getting at least that. For $75, well, they really need to include something more.

 

[LilGMom]

For me (living in CA) D23 is one of the best investments I have made. In 2009 I was able to attend the Walt Disney Family Museum in SF for free, the Disney Studios & Archive for free, and also the D23 Expo and D23 Magic & Merriment for the cost of the events.

The Magic & Merriment alone delivered two or three times the price of the event in goods in services. Between park admissions, MVMCP admission, meals, and guest speakers it was well worth the price for the event.

Living in CA I have been able to take advantage of some of the special events and for this reason I will be renewing agin next year. I can also see that from some that are not able to attend the events and "extras" this might not be a good value.

As with all topics like this there are always multiple perspectives on the value of the product.

Don

Not being able to go to any of the events or enjoy any of the perks, other than the magazine, is why I'm on the fence about renewing or not. I'm leaning towards not renewing and just taking my chances with the bookstore. If they start having more perks/events for East Coast members than I might reconsider.

 

[WaltD4Me]

For me (living in CA) D23 is one of the best investments I have made. In 2009 I was able to attend the Walt Disney Family Museum in SF for free, the Disney Studios & Archive for free, and also the D23 Expo and D23 Magic & Merriment for the cost of the events.

The Magic & Merriment alone delivered two or three times the price of the event in goods in services. Between park admissions, MVMCP admission, meals, and guest speakers it was well worth the price for the event.

Living in CA I have been able to take advantage of some of the special events and for this reason I will be renewing agin next year. I can also see that from some that are not able to attend the events and "extras" this might not be a good value.

As with all topics like this there are always multiple perspectives on the value of the product.

Don

I can totally see how the membership is worth it for you and others in California. If I lived west coast I would definitely join too. Even with some of the events at WDW, if I were closer to Orlando I would probably join, but being in Ohio and not being able to plan trips around D23 events it just isn't worth it. I think they should incorporate more things for folks that don't live near any of the parks. Not sure what exactly. Movie discounts? Disney Store events/discounts? IDK, something so you don't feel "left out" of the benefits.

 

[Matt@WDWR]

Here's my primary problem with D23. The 2nd issue never arrived so I had to call and then a month after I called, I finally got the Donald Duck issue. Then I never received the Princess and the Frog issue. So I email on December 14th and still haven't receive the issue. So a 4 issue magazine never showed up TWICE. I have never had this happen with any of the 4 magazines I subscribe to and I get Entertainment Weekly which, duh, comes out weekly.

 

[SFBayDon]

I agree. I joined halfheartedly, I admit, but soon grew to appreciate my membership. (Loved the expo, Disney Family Museum event and Princess and the Frog screening.)
I know it's been tough enough to get tickets for some events as it is. With a cheaper membership tier, it will only get worse.

More support for the advantage of certain geographical regions.

Until they sort out the ridiculious international postage my money will be staying firming in my wallet

How much more is it for mailing to outside the USA?

Not being able to go to any of the events or enjoy any of the perks, other than the magazine, is why I'm on the fence about renewing or not. I'm leaning towards not renewing and just taking my chances with the bookstore. If they start having more perks/events for East Coast members than I might reconsider.

Another option would be to buy the magazine from the Disney Store online, it is my understanding you do not have to be a D23 to purchase the magazine.

I can totally see how the membership is worth it for you and others in California. If I lived west coast I would definitely join too. Even with some of the events at WDW, if I were closer to Orlando I would probably join, but being in Ohio and not being able to plan trips around D23 events it just isn't worth it. I think they should incorporate more things for folks that don't live near any of the parks. Not sure what exactly. Movie discounts? Disney Store events/discounts? IDK, something so you don't feel "left out" of the benefits.

Discounts at the Disney store, merchandise discounts sound like a good idea for those not near one of the parks. When attending the D23 Expo they improved the operations day to day, and it is my hope that the same will happen to the memberships year to year to show improvement.

Funny note, the original poster of this thread has called attention to the D23 membership levels before the D23 web site has even announced these offerings. Just another reason why I love both D23 and the DIS boards.

 

[Commando2319]

Here it is folks ...

D23 has just announced that they have made a new, less expensive membership level. For $35.00, you can become a member, get a certificate, the newsletter and a few other things. No D23 Magazine subscription.

Gold membership level including D23 Magazine is still $75.00

http://www.disneystore.com/buy-a-d23-membership/c/66520/

I think it's still a ripoff. What do you think?

Interesting. Is the newsletter paper or email?

I wonder why they don't have a FREE version that just makes you a member. So to make it easier for everyone to join and give them more people to send more marketing materials to.

A certificate and a newsletter, doesn't seem worth 35 bucks to me. Especially given the state of the economy and hard times for so many people.

 

[Becx N Gav]

How much more is it for mailing to outside the USA?

$54.95 to the UK compared to free within the US

I'm truely disguted that they are charging the almost the same ($57.95) international shipping/handling as the full membership (I can just about understand the high cost for shipping the magazines 4 times a year).
I wrote them a message so hopefully they will change it or realise it is a mistake to charge so much.
I was excited to hear they were doing it cheaper but I can order a box full of merchandise from the website and pay $39.99 shipping (and I have done) so I don't see why a membership card and certificate would cost more than that. They don't even offer a cheap surface mail option.

 

[LeahZ]

Interesting. Is the newsletter paper or email?

It says e-newsletter. That's a lot to pay for the certificate. You really need to be able to go to the events to make this worthwhile.