After a few weeks off, the mailbag returns this week with letters in response to two columns on Disney’s new fanclub offering, D23: “I am 23. Are you?” by contributing writer Chris Barry (March 20, 2009), and “D23: Now, later, or never?” by staff writer Steve Russo (March 27,2009). Chris is up first, with a letter from reader Greg O., who writes:
Your article about D23 was great and it’s nice to hear something positive about the club as a lot of articles have been pretty negative. I find it interesting how the main focus about D23 has been about the price to join. It’s almost as if a person is getting nothing for the initial $75.00 membership fee, when in reality, compared to a lot of things a person is getting quite a lot. I joined on day one and had no problem with the membership price as I keep things in perspective.
A lot of fans are complaining about the price, yet I would bet these same people have no problem going out and spending $20-30 for lunch or dinner. At least with D23 I know I’m getting four magazines, a certificate, and a mystery gift; all which I can keep for as long as I want. Lunch or dinner is very momentary. I hope in your next article about D23 that you delve further into the price in becoming a D23 member (let’s remember that anyone can visit the website for free) as quite honestly I think it’s quite a bargain.
I don’t like to approach everything negatively. I happen to feel that Disney usually delivers on things. I feel like I’m getting my moneys worth for a day in the parks. I’m a member of the Disney Movie Club and I get free offers for pins frequently. I got a really cool treasure map collectible when I signed up for Pirates Online. There are many more examples like this. Yes, I give this company a lot of my hard earned money, but nobody’s forcing me, and I feel like I get a lot for my buck.
Greg responds:
Thanks for the response. I think what really bothers me about all the negativity so far about D23 is that it’s only two weeks old! It kind of reminds me of all the negative talk going around when it was announced Bob Iger would take charge of the Walt Disney Company and that he was just a Eisner dupe. I think Mr. Iger has proved all those naysayers wrong and I’m sure D23 will do the same.
You know what Greg, I see this everywhere. I’ve been a big Deadhead for many, many years. The Grateful Dead internet communities seem to be a bunch of complainers as well. Even going back to when Jerry Garcia was alive and the Dead were touring consistently. Complain. Complain. Complain. I always chose to be thankful for the music that I loved and still love, and for the unique experience that being a Dead fan brought to my life.
Same with Disney. I could find fault, but I get so much happiness out of it, that I don’t see the need to complain. As Dead Heads, we lost Jerry Garcia, and our scene was forever changed. As “Disney Heads” we’re fortunate to have such amazing experiences always available to us. So I have no right to complain, really.
Next, Steve answers letters on his D23 article.
Annette J. writes:
I agree 100 percent with you. The price is way too high, and I don’t see any real benefits. Like you, I love Disney, and Disneyland/Walt Disney World are my favorite vacation places. Although I’ve only been to Disneyland twice, as I live in Pennsylvania, being there was special because it was “Uncle Walt’s” park. Their “Walk in Walt’s Footsteps” tour was fantastic, even though I already knew lots of the background, as I seem to absorb everything Disney. We even splurged and got up very early to be first in line (yes, we waited for the guard to unlock the gates!) to buy balcony seat tickets (at the former Disney Gallery, which was Walt’s apartment) to Fantasmic. What a special feeling to be able to walk around the apartment where the Disney family stayed.
Every time I walk into the Magic Kingdom (we get there once a year), I feel like I’m walking into “home.” I don’t need to pay almost $75.00 in these trying times to receive almost nothing other than a magazine four times a year.
The points you’ve expressed seem to be the common theme – judging from the feedback I’m receiving. Thanks for writing.
Richard K. writes:
Many people have already received the free gift, which is in fact a lithograph of an image shown in the first issue of the magazine: Mickey with a globe. It’s neither numbered nor signed, and it’s not even good art (though it’s certainly a step up from Print on Demand quality, and on good paper). This information was reported on various discussion boards a week ago. I think most people are disappointed.
As far as the magazine, it’s printed in an unusual size (square) on heavy paper. As a magazine publisher, I can tell you that it was very expensive to print and $16 is not an unreasonable price for it.
The problem for them is that there’s been so much published already in both printed form and on the internet, that it’s hard to find new material that can be covered in short stories. In order to get to the new information, you have to do long in-depth articles, which is not what they’re going to do since they assume all readers have a short attention span.
Yes, I got a look at the lithograph but, unfortunately, too late to include in the article. I appreciate your comments, as a publisher, on the magazine. All the reports have stressed its quality but, even though $16 is a reasonable price based upon its print quality, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s worth that to a consumer. As a comparison, a (insert luxury car name here) may be reasonably priced at $50,000, but that doesn’t mean it holds any value for me.
I think your last paragraph, regarding the magazine’s content, is right on the money. Thanks for writing.
Greg O. writes:
The surprise collectible is indeed the 20 by 30 inch lithograph of Mickey’s 80th birthday celebration entitled “Putting a Smile on the World” and it’s not signed or numbered; I received mine a few days ago. It’s nice, but certainly didn’t have the “WOW” factor I was expecting, and to boot it was all bent at one end. But to Disney’s credit, I emailed DisneyShopping the same day and received a response a few hours later saying that they would send me a replacement.
Thanks for the update. I actually got a look at the lithograph last week but, too late to include in the article. I agree with you about the “WOW” factor—I was expecting something a bit more unique.
Joshua W. writes:
Great article, sir! I understand it wasn’t exactly your choice to be the last one to the “writing articles about D23” party, but it was definitely worth waiting for. Your article was a wonderful analysis of what the program means to me. Additionally, you’ve made me feel much better about my decision to wait until later on D23 while still keeping me looking to the future of Disney for the great things which will inevitably come! (And they will… we are talking about Disney, after all!)
Thanks so much for the great read and all the heart and thought that went into it!
Kimberly writes:
Just finished reading your comments on the new D23 fan club. I actually did purchase the first issue of the magazine at my local book store and I have to say I was kind of underwhelmed. To be honest, I think we get more information out of the DisneyFiles magazine that comes with our Disney Vacation Club membership. For example, the first issue of D23 had an article on the Cinderella Suite at Walt Disney World and the suite at Disneyland. I want to say the article was 3 pages long and had only one or two pictures from each of the suites. We got way more information and pictures from the DisneyFiles magazine and the free fan sites
I just can’t justify spending $75 dollars for the “opportunity” to purchase more Disney collectibles, at least in this economy. I don’t think the magazine is worth the $16 cover price and to join for the magazines and the collectible gift, whatever it is. Perhaps if they ever offer a discounted membership price for Disney Vacation Club members, I might consider it, but I just don’t see the value in the current offerings.
Yes, it seems like the magazine is very high quality but its content is nothing the Disney fan doesn’t get from several other sources. I’ve been wondering if the membership price had come in around $30-40 if some of us “wait-and-see” folks would take the plunge.
Karen W. writes:
I am in agreement with what you’ve said about the new “club” and am waiting to see what happens as well, especially since we have until the end of the year to still join and be considered a “Charter Member” (whatever that may or may not mean).
I have my doubts too, especially because I’ve been a “victim” of the long-missed Magic Kingdom Club, I was a paid subscriber to the Disney News (each and every time they changed its name and publication) as well as receiving it as a “perk” of my annual passholder status until they shut that down and sent me “Family” magazine (which isn’t of interest or value, to those of us who don’t have kids!), as well as having signed up to get the Annual Disney Yearbook, that was to go on for several years, but only ended up with the one copy we received!
Thankfully, I can well afford the $75 membership fee, but I still want to know that I’m going to receive my money’s worth before I say good-bye to more money spent on Disney! Thanks for your article. It’s nice to know I’m not alone!
Your history with Disney clubs just about mirrors my own. I guess that’s what makes us a tad cynical about D23. Thanks for writing.
Jeff T. writes:
I just wanted to tell you that I agree with you 100 percent on D23. I feel that right now I can live without it. I am waiting just like you are to see if there is going to be more and what that is. Great column! I look forward to it every few weeks.
Thanks for those kind words… and for writing.
