Are You 23?

Yesterday, Disney announced what the hubbub was with the Are You 23? campaign...and, as I had suspected, it was exactly what I had heard it rumored it would be. D23 will be a special fan club for Disney fans with special offers and various other goodies with Disney claiming this is what Disney fans want. So what exactly is it they think that Disney fans want?

A special certificate with your name on it and membership card, an exclusive collectible gift, the opportunity to buy one of a kind merchandise, an expo that will be held in Anaheim, a special D23 website, and last, but not least, a magazine. All of this can be yours for the price of $75. For more specific info, check out the new website at http://d23.disney.go.com/

So, will I be buying my charter membership into D23?

No...I will not. For many reasons....1. I think that $75 is a lot of money to be spending on a fan club. 2. I can share my love of Disney in many other ways for free, as you can see what with this blog and the podcast and message forums 3. I feel as if this is just another way that Disney is trying to convince us fanatics to part with our money, even though, they of course, claim that this is simply not the case.

So, what makes me feel this way?

Well, the magazine is available for anyone to purchase...so no need to be a member for that. I believe you can even purchase it at your local bookstore for the time being.

I can see the website without purchase and there is nothing like discussion forums or other ways to get in contact with other Disney fans. It's just a website with information about the company...something else I can get elsewhere. So, that doesn't seem like a really good reason to join.

And I definitely don't (and shouldn't) buy merchandise that is extremely overpriced. I'd rather part with my money on other things Disney offers. (You know, like trips down to Florida. I like those much better than spending $849 on just a simple pen...an option for those in D23. I can almost pay for a trip down to Florida for my husband any myself for $849!)

Oh and there is that expo that they will be having. Only problem, it is in Anaheim, which is somewhere I don't see myself going this next year. And technically it sounds like the Disney version of what Mousefest was. (I'd rather go to Mousefest...but that's just me, again.) Plus, you don't get in the expo for free. You still have to pay for it.

So, for me, it isn't really a great option. However, I can see the appeal for some people. Especially those of you who want to purchase the magazine just by itself. This is a bit higher quality magazine...more of a coffee table book, it would seem. So, if you purchase the magazine, it's $16 per issue...and there will be 4 issues that come out a year...which would come up to be $64. So for just $10 more you can have a certificate and the opportunity to buy merchandise. :)

For me, I'm just not sure I want to purchase the magazine yet. I think there are other magazines out there that are much more reasonable that might be better worth the money.

The one thing I do like about this fan club, the name. It's named D23 after Disney (of course) and the 23 is for the year Walt opened his Hollywood Studio. It was definitely creative on their part. And is a nice tribute to the man who started it all.

So what do you think about this new fan club? Will you be joining?