D23 - Who's joined, who wants to join, and what do you think of it?

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Fri, 05/15/2009 - 13:31

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D23 - Who's joined, who wants to join, and what do you think of it?

So it's been just over two months since D23 opened officially. Have you joined? Are you still pondering it? What do you think about it?

I finally broke down and joined (I wanted to get in as a 'Charter Member' for what that's worth).

I'm still not sure if it'll turn out to be $75 well spent, but I felt like as a true Disney Freak I needed to join. I'm sure they are banking on that mentality to really increase their membership.

What do you think?

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Fri, 05/15/2009 - 14:31

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I've been reluctant even though I feel it's likely I'll regret it. Disney usually does a good job of coming up with "status" benefits and I feel like the charter member thing may be something I'm envious of later on. That said, it takes a lot for me to go through the trouble of registering for something, particularly when it costs $75. Also a lot of times the benefits they come up with are the same ones I'm getting elsewhere. Thus for now I'm resisting although I could change my mind at any time.

Fri, 05/15/2009 - 15:10

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I won't be able to take advantage of any of these, but here is a new list of events for D23 members. (Thanks to Allearsnet.com for the link).

http://land.allears.net/blogs/dnews/2009/05/disneys_d23_fan_community_anno.html

Some of those REALLY interest me, but don't coincide with any travel plans I have this year.

You know what finally sold me on the D23 membership of all things? The membership card and certificate looked really cool.

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Fri, 05/15/2009 - 19:51

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Imagineer wrote:

You know what finally sold me on the D23 membership of all things? The membership card and certificate looked really cool.

Clearly Disney knows what's important!

The Family Museum thing looks very cool.

I haven't joined yet, but I wonder as well what the charter members will eventually get.

What do "first investors" get if they're the first buyers of a DVC property?

Fri, 05/15/2009 - 21:07

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Imagineer wrote:

So it's been just over two months since D23 opened officially. Have you joined? Are you still pondering it? What do you think about it?

I finally broke down and joined (I wanted to get in as a 'Charter Member' for what that's worth).

I'm still not sure if it'll turn out to be $75 well spent, but I felt like as a true Disney Freak I needed to join. I'm sure they are banking on that mentality to really increase their membership.

What do you think?

When did you join? I've been debating as well.

Fri, 05/15/2009 - 23:10

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Hi, All! We have not joined YET but still considering. I know I am a big believer in "retail therapy" & all......I am tempted because there are things that only members can buy!!!!! I saw a really cute Dopey T-shirt.......But that would be one expensive $100 T-shirt (75 for membership and 20-some for the shirt!!!!)

Why is it that if they tell me I can't buy something, I want to buy it more??????

Fri, 05/15/2009 - 23:52

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dopeynme wrote:

Hi, All! We have not joined YET but still considering. I know I am a big believer in "retail therapy" & all......I am tempted because there are things that only members can buy!!!!! I saw a really cute Dopey T-shirt.......But that would be one expensive $100 T-shirt (75 for membership and 20-some for the shirt!!!!)

Why is it that if they tell me I can't buy something, I want to buy it more??????

Yeah...my dole whip is pretty expensive, too ($300 plane ticket, $130 hotel, $70 park ticket, and $4 dole whip!)

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Sat, 05/16/2009 - 19:48

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I'm sort of planning on it, how long do I have before I can't be a charter member?

Sun, 05/17/2009 - 01:15

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dsoup wrote:

I'm sort of planning on it, how long do I have before I can't be a charter member?

I think you have to sign up before December 31, 2009

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Sun, 05/17/2009 - 01:16

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Imagineer wrote:

You know what finally sold me on the D23 membership of all things? The membership card and certificate looked really cool.

Post a pic!

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Sun, 05/17/2009 - 10:53

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When I joined it a month after it was announced, I was hoping that as a member, there will be perks that are exclusive to members, AND, not require that we buy anything. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for buying exclusive merchandise and stuff. But I also want something they will GIVE to members, or have events that are exlusive to member that they won't charge an arm and a leg.

I think my question has been answered with the recent announcement of the summer events for members. They certainly has lined up many FREE events for members (unfortunately, the timing is all wrong and I can't take advantage on any of them). But if this is the beginning of what they will continue to do, then I'd say the membership will be worth it in the long run. They are certainly going in the right direction with it by offering quite a number of events that die-hard Disney fans would want to do and see.

I hope they continue to offer more, especially around the Holidays, since I will be at WDW at that time!

Zz.

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Sun, 05/17/2009 - 12:34

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Yes, I was happy to see those events for D23 members, and coincidentally, I saw the list the day after I joined last week. As I posted earlier in this thread, none of them coincide with my travel plans this year either, but I hope that eventually I'll be able to take advantage of them.

Bali, I haven't gotten my stuff yet, but I'll post pics when I do!

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Sun, 05/17/2009 - 16:01

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ZapperZ wrote:

I hope they continue to offer more, especially around the Holidays, since I will be at WDW at that time!

Zz.

I can't see why they wouldn't. While they're probably trying to get people to book trips they wouldn't normally take, they also have to understand that a lot of their members will visit during the busiest times.

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Mon, 05/18/2009 - 23:39

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Hmmmm, the membership could be a good Christmas gift for DH.....and then I get to enjoy it too! Does anyone remember on the Flintstones, when Fred bought Wilma a men's bowling ball for their anniversary???? But in my case, DH would enjoy the membership. I guess I'd better tell him in case he thinks abut getting it for me....

Tue, 05/19/2009 - 01:34

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dopeynme wrote:

Hmmmm, the membership could be a good Christmas gift for DH.....and then I get to enjoy it too! Does anyone remember on the Flintstones, when Fred bought Wilma a men's bowling ball for their anniversary???? But in my case, DH would enjoy the membership. I guess I'd better tell him in case he thinks abut getting it for me....

That's a great idea!

Tue, 05/19/2009 - 04:05

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dopeynme wrote:

Hmmmm, the membership could be a good Christmas gift for DH.....and then I get to enjoy it too! Does anyone remember on the Flintstones, when Fred bought Wilma a men's bowling ball for their anniversary???? But in my case, DH would enjoy the membership. I guess I'd better tell him in case he thinks abut getting it for me....

It's funny, as soon as you mentioned that I immediately thought of that Flintstones episode.

Tue, 05/19/2009 - 15:14

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dopeynme wrote:

Hmmmm, the membership could be a good Christmas gift for DH.....and then I get to enjoy it too! Does anyone remember on the Flintstones, when Fred bought Wilma a men's bowling ball for their anniversary???? But in my case, DH would enjoy the membership. I guess I'd better tell him in case he thinks abut getting it for me....

Yeah that's like when I give DW a trip to Disney World as a gift. It just so happens I have to go along... (She wouldn't have as much fun without me)

Sat, 06/20/2009 - 19:52

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So I've been seeing around that the charter members are getting pins and certificates as gifts. Is there a general thought that that's not the last gift they'll be getting?

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Tue, 06/23/2009 - 17:08

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bali wrote:

So I've been seeing around that the charter members are getting pins and certificates as gifts. Is there a general thought that that's not the last gift they'll be getting?

I think Disney will make it worth the while of members. They realize that their die-hard fans are their best advertising, right?

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Tue, 06/23/2009 - 18:28

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SpaceAce wrote:

bali wrote:
So I've been seeing around that the charter members are getting pins and certificates as gifts. Is there a general thought that that's not the last gift they'll be getting?

I think Disney will make it worth the while of members. They realize that their die-hard fans are their best advertising, right?

There was quite a lot of discontent over how few of those behind the scenes tours they gave out. Although I think that was a catch-22. They could have either not offered it or offered it with "too few" (by member standards anyway) seats.

Thu, 07/02/2009 - 14:28

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reviews are pretty mixed at the moment. it seems like the people who are getting into the events think it's great and the ones who aren't think it's lame.

Fri, 07/03/2009 - 11:08

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greebil wrote:

reviews are pretty mixed at the moment. it seems like the people who are getting into the events think it's great and the ones who aren't think it's lame.

I've been interested by the people who are getting so frustrated by not getting into the Studio tour. It seems almost like they'd rather them not have the event than have an event with limited seating.

Mon, 07/06/2009 - 01:23

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I joined day one and made reservations for D23 expo a few days later. I purchased my Expo tickets the day they went on sale. So far I have been a little underwhelmed by the merchandise selection online. I bought 2 t shirts day one but other than that haven't seen anything else I have to have.

None of the special tours/events so far have been an option for me so it was neither here nor there on the number offered.

I am looking forward to the expo. I know that anyone can attend but I am really looking forward to the seminars, key note speakers, etc. Plus this will be my 2nd trip ever to DL which I am very excited about.

I did receive a day one pin in the mail the other day. The "gift" they give you for your membership is an ok print. The magazine is very well done and I can see where it would be something I would buy on my own if I didn't receive it with my membership

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Mon, 07/06/2009 - 03:44

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Heya Shelley!

Did you happen to try to get in to the Studio tour? I think most of the people who are frustrated right now attribute it to trying to get into that and not having a chance. It is interesting to wonder if you just bought a copy of the magazine for a year if it would come close to equaling the membership fee. I spend a fortune on the Economist every year.

Sun, 07/12/2009 - 23:11

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I think the newsstand price of the magazine is close to what the cost is for a years membership. I believe its $16 or so.

No I didn't try to get into the Studios tour, but I think that is where a lot of the frustration comes from.

We'll see if I'm still as pleased with D23 after the expo as I am now.

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Sun, 07/12/2009 - 23:44

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shelleyg74 wrote:

I joined day one and made reservations for D23 expo a few days later. I purchased my Expo tickets the day they went on sale. So far I have been a little underwhelmed by the merchandise selection online. I bought 2 t shirts day one but other than that haven't seen anything else I have to have.

None of the special tours/events so far have been an option for me so it was neither here nor there on the number offered.

I am looking forward to the expo. I know that anyone can attend but I am really looking forward to the seminars, key note speakers, etc. Plus this will be my 2nd trip ever to DL which I am very excited about.

I did receive a day one pin in the mail the other day. The "gift" they give you for your membership is an ok print. The magazine is very well done and I can see where it would be something I would buy on my own if I didn't receive it with my membership

A "day one" pin? Is this different from the pin I've been seeing other folks talk about? Sounds cool!

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Mon, 07/13/2009 - 14:52

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I think sometimes the D23 people's expectations get a bit high. It's almost like they'd rather have them not do the Studios tour than have a limited number of people be able to go. If they can only take X number of people then that's all they can take.

Thu, 07/16/2009 - 02:22

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The day one pin was something I didn't expect, just came in the mail one day. I'm not really a pin person so it's basically gone into the Disney room still in the package just put away.

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Thu, 07/16/2009 - 03:36

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shelleyg74 wrote:

The day one pin was something I didn't expect, just came in the mail one day. I'm not really a pin person so it's basically gone into the Disney room still in the package just put away.

I want a "disney room."

Thu, 07/16/2009 - 03:39

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Yes, yes! We'd like to hear more about the Disney Room! How does it compare with the other member's Disney Rooms?

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 01:19

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dsoup wrote:

Yes, yes! We'd like to hear more about the Disney Room! How does it compare with the other member's Disney Rooms?

It really doesn't compare at all. I have seen some pretty amazing Disney Rooms at NFFC meetings. I lost most of my stuff in Katrina so having to start over. I do have 2- Avanzino Shadowboxes (Magic Kingdom and D-MGM Studios) but that's about it. I do have some pretty cool Christmas stuff which was in the attic and we were able to save. I'll have to post some pictures sometime of my trees.

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