D23: Is it worth it?

[ABigBrassBand]

So I'm trying to purchase things I might need before I start saving money for my next WDW trip, and I was wondering if the D23 gold membership was worth it? I mean, it's only 4 magazines a year, and you basically buy a membership to buy more things, or am I simply touching the surface? How long are the magazines? Is it frequent content? Anyone have any reviews of the service or anything? Or would I just be better off using my money on WDW souvenirs/food/other luxuries when I'm down there?

 

[Monty]

If you try the magazine [you can get it at B&N] and enjoy it, the membership is worth it. If you have the membership and happen to be planning a trip when they schedule a D23 event, that's a bonus, but I wouldn't buy it for the events unless I lived nearby. I did fly down for the 1st Anniversary party last March, it was fun, but an expensive whim.

I have a gold membership for the magazine alone and I think it's worth it. Others might not.

 

[ABigBrassBand]

Where are the events, usually?

 

[Monty]

Where are the events, usually?

Most seem to be at Disney Studios/Disneyland in California, but a few have been at WDW. I think they've had a few elsewhere, like the D23 preview of the Times Square store in NYC.

The current list of events: http://d23.disney.go.com/expo.html

 

[sueuk]

I joined at the beginning and I love the magazine, but I don't think I'll rejoin this next time - mostly because they don't cater for international members. Unless an event happened to be on when we are over there, we won't get to one - fair enough, this is to be expected - but as I've said before, the postage costs to the UK for merchandise is prohibitively high. It wouldn't be as bad if we could buy merch at One Mans Dream (with proof of membership) - it's a shame really.
Rant over!

 

[ABigBrassBand]

Those events all look interesting, but there's no way I'm making it to most of the events (although the advanced screenings are doable).

Thanks anyways, looks like I'm not going to get it, but I will check the magazines out at B&N!

 

[RonAnnArbor]

I was a member for one year and dropped it.

The magazines come out 4 times per year. It is far far less expensive to buy the individual issues than to join D23.

I think it is more worthwhile if you live in Orlando, or especially if you live in LA, since almost all the events take place at Disneyland, with one or two small gatherings or special events at WDW.

Basically, you are paying double what the magazine for one year costs for the privilege of getting the magazine mailed to you rather than buying it at Barnes&Noble and the ability to buy D23 merchandise (caps, sweatshirts etc.).

I found it absolutely not worth it.

 

[ABigBrassBand]

I was a member for one year and dropped it.

The magazines come out 4 times per year. It is far far less expensive to buy the individual issues than to join D23.

I think it is more worthwhile if you live in Orlando, or especially if you live in LA, since almost all the events take place at Disneyland, with one or two small gatherings or special events at WDW.

Basically, you are paying double what the magazine for one year costs for the privilege of getting the magazine mailed to you rather than buying it at Barnes&Noble and the ability to buy D23 merchandise (caps, sweatshirts etc.).

I found it absolutely not worth it.

Yea, the amount of negative responses highly outweighs the positive ones, so it's a definite "no" at the moment.

 

[Magenta Panther]

Here's what I think Disney should do for members of D23 who don't live near Orlando or Anaheim: when the new Disney stores open, have special events at them just for D23 members. Give them special discounts on new items, stuff like that. If that happened, and if a Disney store opened near me, I'd consider joining. Otherwise, it just doesn't seem worth it.

 

[sueuk]

Just another little sickener for International members - the Limited Ed Christmas ornament in the D23 newsletter is yet another item that 'can not be shipped outside the USA' ....... WHY NOT? I keep trying to spend money - last time it was a Ltd Ed watch for Russ. They either won't ship to UK or charge a fortune when they do. They took our joining fees for full membership, but we don't actually get membership 'rights' - sorry everyone, another rant over.

 

[ABigBrassBand]

Just another little sickener for International members - the Limited Ed Christmas ornament in the D23 newsletter is yet another item that 'can not be shipped outside the USA' ....... WHY NOT? I keep trying to spend money - last time it was a Ltd Ed watch for Russ. They either won't ship to UK or charge a fortune when they do. They took our joining fees for full membership, but we don't actually get membership 'rights' - sorry everyone, another rant over.

Have you tried contacting them about this glaring flaw?

 

[ABigBrassBand]

I'm reconsidering my purchase, because frankly the feedback for it has been good, but I don't live near the events. I do live extremely close to NY, but are there really any events taking place near there?

Also, would there be special treats or discounts or just anything D23 exclusive in the parks, or are those all just events?

 

[RonAnnArbor]

There is nothing merchandise wise IN the parks as far as D23 goes -- there is a link on their website to D23 merchandise (caps, sweatshirts etc) which you can only purchase if you have a D23 membership number.

 

[ABigBrassBand]

So there's no discounts at the World of Disney store or anything? I would purchase it if there were some bonus things you could get/access in the parks...isn't that what the D23 card is for?

 

[RonAnnArbor]

No, there is no discount at the Disney store or anywhere else. The D23 card is for D23 events, and it provides you with a membership number you can use on D23's website for it's own branded D23 overpriced merchandise.

It does not apply to the parks as a whole.

I cancelled my membership after one year.

 

[Monty]

No, there is no discount at the Disney store or anywhere else. The D23 card is for D23 events, and it provides you with a membership number you can use on D23's website for it's own branded D23 overpriced merchandise.

It does not apply to the parks as a whole.

I cancelled my membership after one year.

Well, that's simply not true.

See: http://d23.disney.go.com/pages/D23Discounts.html

There was also a special early-opening of the World of Disney store at DL that featured certain items at 50-75% off that was exclusive to D23 members.

EDIT: Found it: http://d23.disney.go.com/articles/110210_NF_BN_WorldofDisneyDiscount.html

 

[RonAnnArbor]

There is a world of difference between a discount in a DISNEY PROPERTY store (i.e. DTD) and a general Disney Store in any mall across america.

Again -- if you live IN L.A. or IN Orlando, all the power to you. FOr the rest of the country, there are really no benefits other than a magazine which is cheaper to buy at B&N

 

[Monty]

There is a world of difference between a discount in a DISNEY PROPERTY store (i.e. DTD) and a general Disney Store in any mall across america.

Again -- if you live IN L.A. or IN Orlando, all the power to you. FOr the rest of the country, there are really no benefits other than a magazine which is cheaper to buy at B&N

There are spas that accept the discount elsewhere than L.A. or Orlando - "Beginning May 1, 2010, the luxurious Mandara Spa will offer D23 Members a special discount at all of its locations across North America, Mexico, the Bahamas and the Caribbean", the ABC on-line store is available to anyone and the other discounts offered that are on-line... I didn't highlight to "Disney Store" in my quote of your post, I highlighted "or anywhere else" and then pointed out that that was simply not true. So there are benefits elsewhere in the country and then there are those of us who don't have B&N to buy the magazine from. :shrug:

BTW... there's a whole WORLD out here that isn't the U.S. of A....

 

[ABigBrassBand]

Nah, I'm not going to do it. I can spend the same amount of money on Disney merchandise and get the same amount of enjoyment out of it.

 

[sueuk]

Have you tried contacting them about this glaring flaw?

Several times! usually I get a standard 'thankyou for letting us know how you feel, however ......' and it's generally got a price list attached for shipping - as if I didn't know :brick: