This article came out on the Disney Insider with information on D23 and what it is. It%26#39;s more than a magazine - in fact, the magazine is merely the quarterly publication for the Disney organization of the same name. And since it is Disney, it%26#39;s also an opportunity for you to spend a LOT more money!
';D23 鈥?Unveiled at Last
The rumors have been flying 鈥?just what do those three intriguing characters, D 2 3, stand for? And what is brewing at Disney? Ever since those mysterious ';Are you 23?'; posters, buttons and ads began popping up and tantalizing us in the most unexpected places, there have been whispers and debates among fans as anticipation went sky-high.
Well, the wait is finally over. D23 is here 鈥?and it is revealed as the ultimate organization for Disney fans, offering a glorious behind-the-scenes publication, special collectibles, an annual exposition, an all-new Web site, and much more. Many savvy fans guessed correctly what the name stands for -- D for Disney, and 23 because the Company was founded in 1923.
The Insider is thrilled to bring you all the details on this Disney fan dream-come-true, straight from Steven Clark, Head of D23.
';It all started a couple years ago in a warehouse in Glendale, if you can believe that! I was with the Disney Archives team, exploring their collection and what seemed like acres of boxes. Shelf after shelf overflowing with the crown jewels of Disney history 鈥?treasures rarely or never before seen and too numerous to describe here,'; says Steven. ';My eyes and jaw hurt from being so wide open for so long, so we took a break, and there was a collective moment where we all sort of said, %26#39;We%26#39;ve gotta share this stuff with people!%26#39; And that got us talking about what would eventually become D23.';
Steven is quick to point out that D23 is both about celebrating Disney%26#39;s storied history and the Company%26#39;s future. He reveals: ';I think the centerpiece of a D23 Membership is our new quarterly publication, %26#39;Disney twenty-three.%26#39; It%26#39;s an exquisite collectible in its own right, and each story plunges you into a new ocean of nostalgia from Walt Disney%26#39;s early years in animation. But there%26#39;s also a look forward -- from a rare tour of Pixar Studios to an exclusive first look at Tim Burton%26#39;s new live-action %26#39;Alice in Wonderland.%26#39;';
';We know Disney fans are interested in more than buying a ticket to the latest Disney film or even being at the opening day of a new Park attraction 鈥?they want to know what makes the place tick! We know this because we have the same passion and curiosity, and I think they%26#39;re going to be very pleasantly surprised.';
D23 will also have a huge presence online at Disney.com/D23, ensuring fans get the up-to-the-minute scoop from all around Disney, in-depth feature articles on an endless array of Disney topics, and quite a few fun diversions along the way. ';We wouldn%26#39;t dream of stopping at the quarterly publication. Our fans want more and we know it, so we%26#39;re giving them a daily dose of Disney as well. Umm ... alliteration not intended,'; Steven laughs. ';We%26#39;re committed to making sure that our fans know that they can come to Disney.com/D23 for their Disney news, whether it%26#39;s the day%26#39;s big announcements, photos from last night%26#39;s premiere bash, or the fun, late-breaking tidbits from all over Disney that will appear in the site%26#39;s %26#39;Twilight Bark.%26#39;'; Brownie points for anyone who knows ';Twilight Bark'; is from ';101 Dalmatians';!
The online features don%26#39;t end there. For example, under the ';Walt Disney Archives'; section, fans can get their daily Disney history lesson with ';This Day in Disney,'; discover the humor of vintage Disney daily comic strips on ';The Funny Page,'; and, of course, ';Ask Dave,'; your chance to have Chief Archivist Dave Smith answer those burning questions about Disney minutia. The site also features online content from ';Disney twenty-three,'; as well as Boutique 23, which boasts an assortment of Member-exclusive D23 merchandise and collectibles from the newly created Walt Disney Archives Collection.
';We were looking for other ways to share Disney%26#39;s rich history with our Members, so we also came up with the Walt Disney Archives Collection to develop reproductions or pieces inspired by the treasures of the Archives,'; said Steven. ';Each piece is authenticated and approved by the Archives staff, and we hope that through the years D23 Members will truly cherish the pieces that best capture what it is they love about Disney.';
And Steven has saved possibly the most exciting piece of information for the last.
';The biggest thing we%26#39;re doing is probably the D23 Expo, which we%26#39;re billing as %26#39;The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience%26#39;! It%26#39;s taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center this September 10 through 13, and I think it%26#39;s safe to say this is a %26#39;must-see%26#39; for any Disney fan. In fact, it was just too big to fit on Park property, so we had to go across the street! This really is the biggest and most impressive gathering of all things Disney ever. Guests will get a look at what%26#39;s coming over the next few years at Disney%26#39;s California Adventure, get a glimpse at upcoming Disney blockbusters like %26#39;Prince of Persia,%26#39; %26#39;A Christmas Carol,%26#39; and %26#39;The Princess and the Frog,%26#39; and maybe meet the stars of their favorite Disney Channel and ABC shows and Disney films! There will be a lot of incredible screenings, author and artist signings, gallery events, fashion shows, and we even think there might be a wedding. My only regret is that I%26#39;ll be helping run the thing, so I might miss a bunch of stuff!';
Anyone is welcome at the Expo, but D23 Members get a discount on tickets, as well as early entry to the show floor every day, so they can get a jumpstart on all the fun. Be sure to check at Disney.com/D23 or D23Expo.com to find out more about the schedule, when tickets will be available and other Expo info.
Steven concludes: ';Everyone on the D23 team is really thrilled to be bringing our fans all these great new experiences, but we%26#39;re just as excited about being Members ourselves! I think there%26#39;s a lot of fun ahead and like the %26#39;Mickey Mouse March%26#39; lyrics say: It%26#39;s %26#39;Made for You and Me.%26#39;';
Now Disney fans truly can be part of the magic in a way that has never been possible before 鈥?just come along and join the club, and see what D23 has in store!
To join D23, visit Disney.com/D23. A D23 Charter Year Membership includes a one-year subscription to ';Disney twenty-three,'; a surprise gift from the Walt Disney Archives Collection, a personalized Membership certificate and card, access to exclusive D23 merchandise and special-event opportunities, and a discount and early admission to the D23 Expo. A one-year Membership is $74.99. Gift Memberships and international Memberships are available.';
D23... Much More than a Magazine
Very good report Neerdowell! When I received the ';Are you 23?'; flyer in my shareholder materials, I initially thought that it was genius marketing to try to keep shareholders consumed with hype instead of the real issues. When I accessed the website yesterday, I didn%26#39;t go through the entire site because I figured early on that Disney was just trying to steer the Disney lovers on TA away from TA and onto their own site. Afterall, what better place is there for Disney info??
What a fool I was to not see that Disney is just trying to pump more money into their coffers!
I think I%26#39;ll stick to the info relayed (for free!) on TA....at least until they drop the price of their one-year membership.
D23... Much More than a Magazine
Yeah, that $74.99 is pretty steep. I%26#39;m sure that it%26#39;s the Disney Boutique that they%26#39;re most excited about... the chance to sell more stuff! Most likely branded with the D23 logo.
And since this is a tough time for EVERYONE, I would have preferred to be able to buy a ticket to access the Boutique rather than pay for a one-year membership to receive some of the same information that I already receive without any cost associated with it. Personally, a special ';roll-out'; of ';D23'; would have meant more to me if the theme park tickets were ';rolled-back'; to 2003 or 1993 or 1983 prices! :-)
O cynical me!I have been in business long enough to spot the marketing genius at work to bring yet more money into the coffers. %26#39;I saw all this treasure and thought we have to share it%26#39;. Does anyone believe a business man would think that? They probably thought.. what a way to make money!Jason
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