Disney President and CEO Bob Iger Announces the Launch of D23!

[caryrae]

Can't wait to hear what the "Suprise Collectible Gift" you get for joining is, maybe it will be something good and worth the membership.

[big blue and hairy]

like most things disney has done for the past 50 years.....

for 75 bucks you get the privilege of "feeling like you are a member of the club"

Think about it....it started with Mickey Mouse Club......then progressed through the parks....they were the first to have annual passes.....one of the first to have all inclusive gate charges.....and have done hundreds of different "clubs, memberships, passholders, gold keys...etc etc etc".....then they rolled on through the "Vacation Club"....for when little purchases no longer cut it.

Disney has played the exclusive card for 50+ years....everything designed to make you a member or not.....on the inside or out....a have or a have not....

It's an effective strategy....and it has served them well.

I understand the exclusive bit. I am an annual passholder, and I'm a Tables in Wonderland member. The difference is, those two things actually make my WDW experience less expensive.

I think your analogy is a little off, usually these things give repeat customers a discount, as long as they keep being repeat customers, like me. D23 memberships gives me the opportunity to buy ridiculously priced collectibles buy paying a $75 entrance fee. It doesn't give me a discount, except for the expo, which is once a year in California. I am interested to see what kind of discount you get.

It seems like a bad idea. The membership, I mean, the website's not bad.

[Ian]

But the truth is, if it works for them and makes them cash, no one should really fault them for doing it.

I mean that is what they're in business for.

If anyone is at fault, it's us ... the consumers ... we keep lining up to get fleeced.

And I include myself in that.

[lockedoutlogic]

I understand the exclusive bit. I am an annual passholder, and I'm a Tables in Wonderland member. The difference is, those two things actually make my WDW experience less expensive.

I think your analogy is a little off, usually these things give repeat customers a discount, as long as they keep being repeat customers, like me. D23 memberships gives me the opportunity to buy ridiculously priced collectibles buy paying a $75 entrance fee. It doesn't give me a discount, except for the expo, which is once a year in California. I am interested to see what kind of discount you get.

It seems like a bad idea. The membership, I mean, the website's not bad.

whether or not people use these memberships to their advantage and receive a discount in the end is irrelevant.....

The sale of things like annual passes and tables in wonderland (which i buy as well) is a guaranteed fee up front. which is what disney is going for. Whether or not you purchase $425 dollars worth of food or drinks to get your 85 dollar fee for TIW back is kinda irrelevant...because in the end, they still have your $425 dollars. Just like a $100 discount off a 450 DVC annual pass still means they have 350 dollars of your money....whether you go once or 50 times.

Now in the end....you can certainly maximize the benefits and get a good return on your upfront costs....or DDE is due to expire on April 30th and we will have been there 4 trips and probably racked up 1500-2000 in charges when it's all said and done.....just like our annuals are used enough to make the per day costs comparitively small as compared to gate.....

But i'm an extreme case abuser.....far more people get far less return off these things.....

And knowing that, the upfront fees and renewals are enough to generate large sums of cash for the Walt Disney Company....

Just like DVC.....sure you will get longterm value....but the upfront, maintenance deferrals, and secondary revenue generated from each 'membership' far outweighs what they'll "lose" on giving you a 14 point a night studio in 20 years.....

[GrumpyFan]

If anyone is at fault, it's us ... the consumers ... we keep lining up to get fleeced.

And I include myself in that.

Touche' I include myself as well. Only, I'm not buying this... at least not yet. I don't see any tremendous value in it to make it worth the cost.

[caryrae]

I think it would be smarter of them to market it as a monthly fee, which would work out to $6.25 a month, give or take a fraction of a penny.

Hey, for $6.25 a month, I might try it.

Maybe I will.....

I broke down and decided to sign up. I figured I probably waste more a month then the $6.25 per month it works out to be. All I had to do was lower my Nexflix level from $16.99 to $8.99.

[GBBT]

I looked at the mag this morning at B&N's and it reminds me of the annual report booklet Shareholders get in the mail(what's happening in the parks,celebrity photos of Disney characters,new Pixar movie(s) etc.)I can opt back into posatal mailings of the annual reports(that's FREE)and not have to pay the $15.95 or club membership fee.

[CaptSmee]

I was curious after seeing Iger on The View this morning talking about 23 so I went to my local B&N and picked up the "magazine". I was so impressed with it that I'm going to join. To me, this looks like it was not created for the Disney "fan", but for the Disney "enthusiast". Someone that doesn't mind paying premium prices to get quality product. This thing is no magazine, it's like a quarterly book with an embossed cover and beautiful pictures and very lengthy articles. I thought it was great and am curious to see what the "gift" is for joining. I also like the exclusive pin that I saw as well and want to get it!

[Daisy'sMom]

We did the Disney Club years ago, they got rid of it. We had subscriptions to the magazine, they got rid of it. We are annual passholders and wanted to join the tables in wonderland but with the economy the way it is and DH being laid off in April, we have to be happy with passes and leave it at that. For the people that joining D23, enjoy. I hope it is everything you are hoping it will be.

[caryrae]

I was thinking shouldn't the magazine be for members only or is Disney letting anyone get it to try to stir up interest? Will they keep offering non members the magazine?

[CaptSmee]

I was thinking shouldn't the magazine be for members only or is Disney letting anyone get it to try to stir up interest? Will they keep offering non members the magazine?

It's only available as a charter member, through Disneyonline or Barnes & Nobles. So anyone can get it, but it's not mass media.

[Lacy]

While I agree with most of what is being said. I guess I am a sucker for the Disney brand and I'm going to become a member. I've decided to use my Disney Visa Rewards dollars on this since I don't have a trip planned to use them on this year. The magazine does really look like a nice publication and I will be excited to add them to my Disney library. The only down side is that I have to wait 2-3 weeks for my reward card to arrive.

[badkitty]

I am still undecided at the moment. I was disappointed by reading who they picked for "star" interviews for the first issue. Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens? Really? That was the best they could come up with? Maybe if I was sixteen (which was a long time ago - although Zac does remind me of my high school boyfriend, sigh...) Tim Burton would be an interesting read.

I think I will take a look at the magazine in the bookstore before deciding.

Everyone's opinions are interesting to read.

[big blue and hairy]

whether or not people use these memberships to their advantage and receive a discount in the end is irrelevant.....

Not true, at least not in all cases. If D23 had a better price point and gave me a reason to buy it that would get me something at a deal, I would stongly consider it. It doesn't, so I won't, so it is relevant.

The sale of things like annual passes and tables in wonderland (which i buy as well) is a guaranteed fee up front. which is what disney is going for. Whether or not you purchase $425 dollars worth of food or drinks to get your 85 dollar fee for TIW back is kinda irrelevant...because in the end, they still have your $425 dollars. Just like a $100 discount off a 450 DVC annual pass still means they have 350 dollars of your money....whether you go once or 50 times.

No, you're missing the point. These things are attractive to consumers because they save you money. It is true that I go to WDW more often because I have an annual pass. It is also true that I spend more money in the parks because I'm there more. What is the chance that if I refuse to pay the $75 that I'll buy something off the D23 site? Zero, I don't have access.

The upfront fees and renewals are enough to generate large sums of cash for the Walt Disney Company....

True, but if it's not seen as a good deal, you probably won't buy it, unless you're Ian (kidding )

[Ian]

True, but if it's not seen as a good deal, you probably won't buy it, unless you're Ian (kidding )

Hey now ....

I didn't say it wasn't a good deal. I said I was unsure about the value proposition that it offered, but obviously I came to the conclusion that there was upside to buying in.

The bigger question is whether or not this will just be a one-year wonder for me.

[JPL]

Add me to the 23 suckers

[dudeman1975]

Disney just posted new information on the D23 website, about an exclusive screening of UP from Pixar for D23 members, and also meet the artist to be held on Main Street in Disneyland.

The only thing is that if all events take place in California it would be difficult to visit them from the East Coast. They should have events take place in the major cities on the east coast as well.

[big blue and hairy]

Hey now ....

I didn't say it wasn't a good deal. I said I was unsure about the value proposition that it offered, but obviously I came to the conclusion that there was upside to buying in.

The bigger question is whether or not this will just be a one-year wonder for me.

I know, but when the opportunity is presented to give you a hard time...welll........

[Patricia]

Bah! Disney needs to cater better to Canada, (we spend a lot of money on them and we actually still have money to spend) they used to years ago, we had our very own Disney catalog.. but after years of shopping through them, it was removed.

We don't have a Barnes & Noble in the City where I live and I don't see the magazine on their site, but I'm guessing it will be roughly $25.00 a copy here.. the closest B&N is Vancouver, a five hour drive. So, I thought I'd join the Club for the year and see what the hub bub is all about. Not that I will ever shop for the merchandise because it looks over priced and the shipping is very, very high to Canada.

So, I start filling in the order. Then.. I see the total payment due!

My shipping costs for this magazine would be 49.95. That makes my total 124.94 US.. bringing it to 164.62 Canadian. Sheesh. That's about 64.62 more than it would cost me if I bought it at B&N. I'm just not that curious, at least the Insider was available to me at a local bookstore, allowing me to avoid the shipping costs.

So, let me know what y'all think when you get your "Free" gift.

[BamaJenn]

Disney just posted new information on the D23 website, about an exclusive screening of UP from Pixar for D23 members, and also meet the artist to be held on Main Street in Disneyland.

This was actually up on Day 1.