3/17: D-Day

[Al Lutz]

Disney's New D23 Fan Club: A club for you and me? Discuss it here...

DIRECT ARTICLE LINK: MiceAge.com - A different look at Disney...

[Steve DeGaetano]

That was a great article Al!

Does anyone know if the magazine will be available through book store outlets such as Borders?

[daliseurat]

Al and Werner have got it 100% right. Great idea, poor execution and timing. But a wait and see attitude is needed, because it could BECOME something worthwhile. Right now, the only thing I want is the magazine. And even purchasing it retail without joining, is pricey. And if I were to join after purchasing the first issue, I don't want the same magazine I already bought. So some stuff's going to have to be worked out. I won't be burned again.

[patch]

A bitter Lutz is just miffed he didn't know about the program before it was launched.

[Dr. G]

Interesting to hear some of the backstory on D23. Of course the slant here is negative, but that's to be expected. I'd be curious to know how many people have signed up so far and how that compares to Disney's expectations. I've signed up but haven't seen anything yet, so I'm very curious to see if my money ends up being worth it. The first test will be when the magazine arrives. The second big test is to see what the free gift is. The third test, that I may not even be able to attend due to distance, is what is done with the Expo, and especially the benefits for those who joined D23--are the extras not available to the general public at the Expo worth the extra money paid to be in D23? I do agree that there is still a lot to see and figure out with this thing. I do hope it succeeds. I agree with the assessment in the article that Disney will have a difficult time being all things to all fans. I'm one of those who is not interested in some fancy-pants picture of the latest HSM stars--the girl is someone I would use as an example of what NOT to do for my daughters. My interest is the Parks, the quality Animated features (not the crappy quality on the Disney Channel), music and the historical Walt-influenced era of quality and creativity. My guess is the $75 price point will keep out the Disney Channel target market, so I hope D23 doesn't focus so much on the tweens. Anyway, that's my 2 cents. I look forward to seeing some of the benefits of D23 and to reading others' reactions.

[Mr Wiggins]

The buzz at the Studio when Eisner & Co. arrived was that the first thing they planned to do was sell the Morgue. The studio's heritage of animation art. All of it.

Mind you, this was before original animation art could fetch 5 figure prices.

They were convinced by a group of insiders to hold off -- that the artwork would appreciate enormously in years to come.

I wouldn't bet a wad of chewed gum from Pressler's brick that this isn't what D23 is about: mining the archives for money.

[Big G]

I agree with you 100%. I did check the web site last week. I also determined that it is simply a very expensive magazine. I have never been impressed with the magazines that Disney has put out in the past so why would I want to spend $75 for this one?

[Disneyaholik]

Ok, So I know I'm a nobody as I don't chat as much as everyone else but I do have to give my cents about this specific topic as I am one of the few who probably bought into this. I have not personally felt a recession, I work in a sales environment and I am up from last year so things are good in the midwest.
But in regards to D23, I am 24 and bought my membership last week. I think that is covers the cost of the magazine which will retail at about 16.00 per issue which would put the four magazines at a total of 64$ the remaining 16$ will cover your membership card, the certificate and your free gift. I do not work for Disney, so I'm not promoting this but I don't think it's that bad of deal.
I am a theme park enthusiast and try to embrace all aspects of Disney, even the stuff I don't LOVE. But I am more than happy to find an article with some "teen stuff" because I assure you that in the following pages there will be something for me. No magazine is 100% specific to every reader. Just keep in mind, "you can't please everyone everytime."
I am just saying I am more than happy paying to be a member and keeping alive a business that I love.

[Capt. tomorrow]

A negative take by Al, what a surprise! I like how D23 is only a WEEK old and already most of the "fan" sites have ripped it apart. Maybe you people would like to reserve judgement until AFTER the first year? Of course not since you all you want to do is bitch now because everyone knows how the company SHOULD be operated. There also seems to be an air of entitlement from most parts as if The Walt Disney Company owes everyone everything for free. The last time I looked it costs money to make or do ANYTHING. The most ironic thing about Al's article (as with all of them) is that he begs for money at the end. Imagine that, it takes money to run Mice Age.

[Dustysage]

Originally Posted by Mr Wiggins

mining the archives for money.

I honestly don't think that is what this is all about. The D23 folks saw that Disney was missing out on reaching out to the fans. That sites like MiceAge and groups like the NFFC were controlling the thoughts of their fans and they wanted to take a stab at providing a Disney message. It is much more about using the information in the archives (and Imagineering) to lure in the fans. They are doing some reproductions of items in the archives for sale, but those items are so overpriced that no one can afford them.

The fact that the D23 program is more or less run by the Archives is instructive. The Archives folks really don't have an agenda and they don't work in a department which makes money. They run an information collection and retrieval service of sorts - which makes them the right team to lead the D23 effort. Get the gems out to the fans, things they may never have seen before. And that would be something that most people on MiceChat (or any other fan board) would be interested in.

The problem is that they have priced themselves out of the market. $75 is a LOT of money these days. Sure, there will be fans who can afford it. But this is a fan club . . . shouldn't it be priced in a range that nearly anyone fan can afford?

-Dusty

[Mr Wiggins]

Originally Posted by Dustysage

The D23 folks saw that Disney was missing out on reaching out to the fans.

Disney doesn't "reach out" to anybody unless it's to make a buck of profit on pennies of investment. This is just another method of mining their heritage -- this time marketing it to well targeted (and well heeled) customers, while getting free advertising from fan-run web sites.

I gotta keep my breakfast from rising when I see Sklar et al talk the talk of fandom. Anyone who thinks their hearts are in it -- that this has any aspect of personal reaching out in the Walt-era sense -- hasn't been inside since '85. (No, I don't include Tony or John in that -- but they're not running this show.)

[Dustysage]

Originally Posted by Mr Wiggins

Disney doesn't "reach out" unless it's to make a buck of profit on pennies of investment.

That's certainly true. But I do get a sense that as a general point of Marketing, they knew that they needed to get into this space and start growing their own community and information online. And that's true. But specifically because of the reason you mentioned (money) they are pushing away some fans.

Most folks don't realize that the web site is free. The press release made it sound like you had to pay $75 for a membership to get the mag and the fan site. There is still a lot of confusion about D23. It is just trying to be too many things all at once. They need a simpler message (at least at first).

[Disneyaholik]

Now that's not fair to say. People clearly don't have a problem with them making money or they wouldn't have the parks and movies that they do.... I have no problem paying to get into the park or to see a movie or to read a book. After all it took money and time to make those things... It's only fair.

[Mr Wiggins]

Originally Posted by Disneyaholik

After all it took money and time to make those things... It's only fair.

I'm sure the artists who poured their souls into creating those $850 pens were well compensated.

You're right, it's about fairness -- about value received for dollars spent.

The mistake is in thinking that sort of arrangement with the customer is any part of Disney's business philosophy in the last 24 years, much less in the last 5.

Originally Posted by Dustysage

But specifically because of the reason you mentioned (money) they are pushing away some fans.

I think they're going for precisely the upscale market segment that they've targeted for the style of product they plan to offer. From the pricing to the typefonts, it's muy obvioso -- these guys are mining the golden goose, and they want the customers who can afford it. Sure, as time goes on they'll tier, but it will skew up, not down.

[Disneyaholik]

I guess I don't see the issue with the price of the pen? You're not going to buy it so what's the deal? I mean if they want to charge a million dollars who's to say it's not worth it? I mean worth is COMPLETELY dependent on the person that purchases it. I gauntee that my partner will not think a trip to Disney is worth it every year but I always beg to differ LOL So I say it's in the eye of the purchaser. I don't want the pen but if the market is there... I say make the pen.