THURSDAY THEME PARK: Thoughts on D23 Summer Events
When D23, the official fan club/community for Disney fans, launched in March, I wasn’t terribly excited about what was being offered. Joining D23 seemed to only offer members a membership card, certificate, subscription to Disney Twenty-Three magazine, limited exclusive merchandise availability, and a promise of future surprises. Now, Disney has announced a few of those surprises and I’m here to give some…
Thoughts on D23 Summer Events
The idea of having exclusive events for D23 members only appeals to me. I haven’t joined the club as I haven’t yet found enough value in the $75 membership cost. Unfortuantely, as exciting as some of the newly-announced events are, none of them are taking place anywhere near my home in Orlando and thus even if I were a member of D23, I couldn’t participate in them.
Make sure you read about the announced events before reading my thoughts about each below.
- May 28 D23 “Up All Night” at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre (FREE)
I think it’s a great idea to have an advance screening of the latest Disney movie, especially when it’s the latest Pixar film. However, I’d be a whole lot more tempted to join D23 if every member got a free pass good for an advance screening at a local theater of their choice rather than limiting it only to the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles. The El Capitan event sounds like a lot of fun, and I’m sure some great Disney adn Pixar guests will be there to talk about the film, but I’d imagine that most D23 members won’t be able to attend it. Perhaps those who can’t make it to LA should at least be able to get a free ticket to a regular showing of the film.
- May 31 D23’s Flowers & Fireworks Celebration at Epcot (FREE with park admission)
I’m not terribly excited about the ideas of having reserved seating for seeing Tony Orlando perform at Epcot or a special section for watching the park’s nighttime fireworks show, Illuminations. I’m not a fan of Tony Orlando and there are so many great spots from which to see Illuminations, a special viewing area really isn’t needed. However, getting a free Epcot dessert party is a wonderful treat and if I were a D23 member, I’d definitely attend. I bet this gathering will be packed.
- June 24 D23’s Supercalifragilistic Night on Broadway
- June 24 D23 and Poppins Breeze into The Windy City
- June 27 D23 and The Lion King Roar in Vegas
I’m lumping these three events together as they’re all very similar, taking places in New York, Chicago, and Las Vegas. They all involve seeing a Disney stage show and going “behind-the-scenes” for each. Since I live nowhere near any of these cities, they simply wouldn’t work for me. Plus, these events are not free, so even if I did live in one of these cities, I wouldn’t attend. I’m just not much of a stage show fan. For those who happen to live in/near New York, Chicago, or Las Vegas and love theater, I suppose this is a great perk. But I wonder what percentage of D23 members this will apply to.
- June 27 & Aug. 15 D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives (FREE)
This is my favorite of the announced D23 events and I would join D23 in a second just for this event – if I lived in California. Since space is limited, I suspect that this will fill up within minutes of it becoming available. I have visited the Walt Disney Studios before, but never the Archives. It’s definitely on my Disney to-do list.
- July 17 D23 presents Disneyland, U.S.A. (FREE)
Again, if I lived in California, I’d be tempted to join D23 to attend this screening/panel discussion. I’m a sucker for panel discussions, especially when amazing people like Imagineer Tony Baxter and Archivist Dave Smith are brought in to speak. I’ve attended one of Dave Smith’s talks in the past and he certainly has plenty of great stories to tell. Another plus for D23.
- Sept TBD The Walt Disney Family Museum Preview (FREE)
Yet another must-do for D23 members who live in California. I’m really excited about the opening of the Walt Disney Family Museum and would definitely jump at a chance to attend a sneak preview of it. Unfortunately, again, I don’t live in California. Though, if they happen to schedule this event anywhere near the D23 Expo (Sept 10-13), I might have to make a special trip from Anaheim to San Francisco to make it.
D23 Scoreboard
Out of 8 announced events, my personal tally is 4 hits, 3 misses, and 1 toss-up. The 4 hits are all in California, so if I lived there, I’d be joining D23 right now, waiting for a chance to sign up for those events. The 3 misses are all theater stage show-based and regardless of the city, I wouldn’t attend. The 1 toss-up is the only event that’s here in Orlando, at Epcot, but isn’t enough of an event to get me to join. An Epcot dessert party isn’t worth $75 to me.
But D23 is looking more appealing by the month. I’m enjoying their surprisingly-regularly updated web site (which you don’t have to be a member to read) and if more Orlando-based events are announced, I may end up joining D23 by the end of the year.
Now if only they’d announce the schedule for the D23 Expo in September so I can book my plane tickets already…
What do you think of the announced D23 events? Comment!
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I feel the same way about D23 I would like to see more things like free fast pass for anything in the park are after hours tours. Special dining deals something to make D23 worth $75 bucks.
I agree with you on all your comments.I think Disney is not doing enough for the fans outside the US.I bought the membership,one TShirt and a pin,together the price was $119,89 on to of this came postage and packing for $64,95 what a shock when my package arrived and I had to pay $33,24 income tax and another $10 for UPS (id thought Id already paid for the postage!!)Together thats $98,19 which is more or less 100% more than the articals I bought.To top it all I still have not recieved the first issue although the second has already been released.GREAT SERVICE.
yeah…I’ feel pretty much the same! I’m frustrated that there isn’t more to do in orlando. The epcot dessert party sounds cool, but i’d have to buy a 75 dollar ticket to epcot to attend it…i already paid for my d23 membership. The broadway shows appeal to me, but they’re way too expensive and far. I hope that they keep the archive and studios tours as annual d23 events, because then I could schedule a vacation around them some day. I can’t just pick up and fly to California on a whim.
The UP premiere sounds fantastic, but it’s open to the public as well, so for your membership you just get the chance to buy pins and a free popcorn and coke. I just don’t understand why they aren’t having an exclusive up premiere at Downtown Disney…It would cost them virtually nothing to show it the night before, and the would make money on concessions.
I’m a d23 member and purchased my membership almost 2 weeks ago and still haven’t received my membership stuff. I ordered the polo [that doesn't look like the website] and it arrived within a couple days, but on the po it says my membership kit is on backorder! HOW CAN THIS BE? it’s a card and a certificate and a magazine.
I’m really hoping that when they make the fall schedule available i’ll be able to go to something in orlando… i didn’t expect them to have an event in tampa, but is it too much to ask for something exclusive at the biggest disney resort in the world.
On a side note, I’m confused why none of the D23 website has an RSS feed. That makes it both difficult and time consuming to find the new articles and info that I haven’t yet read.
That’s a boo to the website imagineers.
Well put, Ricky. I agree with you 100% although I’m not planning to attned the expo in Anaheim. I’ve seen the first two magazines – and they’re nice – but not worth $16 each (to me). D23 is CA heavy and until they roll out some wow factor events, discounts, etc at WDW I don’t see the value of joining – yet.
I (like Robert) wishe there was more for peolple outside the US. I am a member (I got my first issue a few weeks ago, so I would chase that Robert) and would absolutely LOVE to do the Archives tour, but sadly can’t get to California at the drop of a hat.
I would love some stuff similar to the Annual Pass, where you can get deals/discounts/exclusive merch at WDW all year round. Just something where you feel you’re getting benefits and not missing out ’cause you don’t live in a certain State/Country.
Love the mag though, so am still glad I joined!