Possible Disney "Yearbook" to replace the Disney Magazine?

[MissM]

I got an email today from Disney and it was about a potential Disney Yearbook release and interest in said product. I wonder if it's supposed to be an annual replacement for the now defunct Disney Magazine?

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Disney is considering a new product idea and would like to know what you think about it.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Disney’s new product idea:[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A new annual publication boasting almost 200 pages of behind-the-scenes Disney scoop from the past year, created by the source of all the magic itself - Disney! From Walt Disney Picture's first fully computer-animated feature, "Chicken Little," to the worldwide celebration of Disneyland's Golden 50th Anniversary, "The Chronicles of Narnia" to the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland, the premiere edition of the book will cover all the excitement of 2005. You will also get a fond look back to the past with exclusive legacy stories and a sneak peak into Disney's future including "Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest" and the "Tarzan" stage musical. As an added bonus, the 2005 premiere edition will feature a review of this seminal year with the CEO succession of Bob Iger as well as a forward by outgoing CEO Michael Eisner. This publication will be available in both soft cover and collectible limited edition hard cover formats both featuring rich full-color photography throughout. The limited edition hard cover may also include a lithograph or illustrated certificate and special DVD featuring behind-the-scenes stories and interviews from the past year. A must for the Disney enthusiast.
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[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I have to wonder if they think this might be a bit more profitable then the monthly magainze? Though how much would it run if it includes a dvd and such? It's kind of a neat idea and yet...I don't know. How expensive it is and how much actually neat stuff it contains I guess would really determine its usefulness.
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[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Anyone else hear about this or have any other details?
-m
[/font]

 

[agdbeanie]

I haven't heard about that. It sounds cool though. I'd probably buy it. Did that e-mail come directly from Disney? I usually get their e-mail update things, but for some reason I didn't get this one.

 

[SirNim]

I thought that's called the "Annual Report"... lol

I wouldn't doubt that Disney is considering this as a higher-priced alternative to the Disney Magazine.

 

[MissM]

They offered several name possibilities which included things like "DisneyEAR book 2005" and "Disney Year in Review 2005" or "Disney Insider Year Book" etc.

It came from the Disney opinion email address. They wanted feedback on the idea. Just struck me as funny that they'd be thinking about doing something like an annual book when they cancelled their magazine. Makes sense though I suppose.
-m

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I got the same thing. I actually think it could be an interesting thing if it becomes more than just a magazine. I think a hybrid yearly report-information magazing-showcase (i.e. big spread on the big things for the year) could be a neat concept.

 

[SewIn2Disney]

I was talking to a CM in my local Disney store the other day and we were lamenting over the end of the DM, and she started to say "well, they will be replacing it with....." and then she trailed off. And never completed the conversation. Now I know CM's are notorous for these things, but it peaked my interest. I wonder if this is what she was talking about.

 

[wannabeBelle]

I got the same type of thing there Miss M, but I dont think this is the same type of thing at all. This is kind of like a yearbook, year in retrospect kind of thing whereas, the Magazine was supposed to be what is up and coming, new and happening. I am not too terribly interested in this product though. Belle

 

[TinkerBell9988]

I got the same type of thing there Miss M, but I dont think this is the same type of thing at all. This is kind of like a yearbook, year in retrospect kind of thing whereas, the Magazine was supposed to be what is up and coming, new and happening. I am not too terribly interested in this product though. Belle

I agree with you. I am not interested in this at all.

Bring back my Disney Magazine

 

[MissM]

I got the same type of thing there Miss M, but I dont think this is the same type of thing at all. This is kind of like a yearbook, year in retrospect kind of thing whereas, the Magazine was supposed to be what is up and coming, new and happening. I am not too terribly interested in this product though. Belle

Yeah but my thought was that perhaps they realized it was almost impossible to keep "exciting and new" information in the magazine with the popularity of websites devoted to nothing but news and updates at Disney. Whereas, they could easily turn their attention to a recap type of publication which could highlight the things throughout the past year. This way, they're not fighting with other news sources. You know what I mean? I don't mean it's going to exactly replace the Disney Magazine but I can see where they might think this was a better way to use that division.

It also gives the added benefit of hindsight. So they don't rave about something which flops. *laughs* I'm not sure if I'd be interested in it or not to be honest (I guess I'd really have to see it and what it really contained and in what format) but I can certainly see where they came up with the idea.
-m

 

[disneyteacher42]

I got that email as well and I agree with wannabebelle. I think this is a poor substitute for Disney Magazine. I don't want to look back on things that have already happened. One of the reasons I joined this message board is I like looking forward to things that are coming up. I wouldv'e been willing to pay a higher subscription fee to the magazine so they could make it monthly and be more current instead of paying 30 bucks for a yearbook.

 

[Captain Hank]

I was talking to a CM in my local Disney store the other day and we were lamenting over the end of the DM, and she started to say "well, they will be replacing it with....." and then she trailed off. And never completed the conversation. Now I know CM's are notorous for these things, but it peaked my interest. I wonder if this is what she was talking about.

Hmmm, as far as I know, we haven't received any official info about anything like this at TDS. Whatever she was talking about, she found through another source.

I also got the opinion poll e-mail. I personally don't find this that great of an idea, especially for the suggested prices ($39.99 for the "collectable" hardcover, and $19.99 for the softcover). Unless there is a bunch of exclusive info in there, I can find the same things in it for far less. I also can't think of a market for it beyond the most hard-core Disney freaks (and I'm one of those, and I'm not interested).

 

[Jekyll Baker]

I just filled out the same survey. At the time, I didn't even think about it being a replacement for DM - I guess it could be. I thought it would be a pretty good idea.

Someone earlier made the comment about not wanting to look back, but want to see what's coming up. But how many people actually look at their back issues of Disney Magazine to reminisce, or do they let them collect dust? And these forums and countless other websites keep up up to date as to what's going on now and coming up. So this annual could fill a niche.

Also, I don't remember anything in the survey or elsewhere mentioning a suggested price - the survey only said something like "a reasonable price".

 

[netenyahoo]

I don't think I would buy this. The only thing appealing is the potential to get collectable art, but it probably won't be that great of quality and won't be very limited. Many websites have great pictorials about events at the parks, so I do not see how this will fill any niche.

 

[MissM]

Also, I don't remember anything in the survey or elsewhere mentioning a suggested price - the survey only said something like "a reasonable price".

Me neither. Which is why I said in my first post I guess it would matter how much it was and what it looked like. I had "reasonable price" too.
-m

ps: What makes me think it might be kinda cool isn't for keeping right now, but for years down the road. I know I'd love to have an old Epcot book with detailed info and photos of Imagination or Horizons. And I'm sure many AE lovers would have liked to have something with a nice, glossy spread on that. It's not as bad of an idea as a lot of people seem to make it out to be. At least in my opinion.

 

[AEfx]

I also got the opinion poll e-mail. I personally don't find this that great of an idea, especially for the suggested prices ($39.99 for the "collectable" hardcover, and $19.99 for the softcover).

Very interesting.

I too recieved the survey, BUT no where were the prices included. They asked me a ton of questions ABOUT pricing (i.e. how much a factor it would be in my decision) but I paid specific attention to suggested prices and none were ever given.

It seems as if there were several "versions" of this survey. Very crafty of them!

AEfx

 

[celticdog]

I got the same type of thing there Miss M, but I dont think this is the same type of thing at all. This is kind of like a yearbook, year in retrospect kind of thing whereas, the Magazine was supposed to be what is up and coming, new and happening. I am not too terribly interested in this product though. Belle

There's always the possibilty of Disney placing a section at the end that would profile and summarize up and coming events for the next year. It may not be a large section but it could be similar to what Nascar has done with some of their yearbooks/ year in review publications. Just a chapter about new ideas, movies, rides, etc.