D23 Loosing Its Luster?

[Chuck Oberleitner]

Is the Bloom Off the D23 Rose?

By C. W. Oberleitner
October 20, 2009

Recently, D23, the official community for Disney fans, announced its schedule of 2009 Holiday Member Events. You wouldn’t think something like getting a bunch of diehard Disney fans together to sing Christmas Carols would be controversial, now would you? Well, guess again.

Read the full story here >>

[Dustysage]

Chuck, there was one big thing you failed to mention - and that is the filter through which you write this story. You are in charge of publicity for NFFC, which you perceive as being under attack by D23 and their Expo. So, I can understand your fear and anger. But very little of the Expo feedback that we saw on MiceChat reflects much concern. Additionally, the D23 events have and continue to sell well. If there is a problem, it is that D23 is perhaps a bit too successful for its own good. If people can't get into events, they may be less likely to renew.

I was personally VERY happy with the 3 Christmas events and have signed up for the Magic and Merriment event at WDW - which sold out almost immediately.

I hope that D23 continues to offer these unique events and serves up a mix of free, inexpensive, and premium events in the future.

I really don't sympathize with the tone of your article. Sure, there are issues with D23, but they are filling a much needed niche that Disney has failed to address for a very long time - their fans!

[Chuck Oberleitner]

Dusty,

I'm sorry to have to disagree with you. I've never hidden or disguised the fact that I'm a member of the NFFC board of directors and that my job title is Vice President Media Relations and Communications. In fact it's even footnoted in my September 15 article, D23: The Post-Expo Wrap-Up, linked at the beginning of this week's column.

As no one from NFFC was quoted in today’s column, as was the case in the September 15 piece, I didn’t feel it was necessary to re-disclose my relationship.

While it is true that as VP Media Relations and Communications for NFFC I often find our relationship with the Disney Company frustrating I wouldn’t go so far as to characterize it as being angry. Many of the same folks who run D23 are the same people assigned by the company to work with NFFC. As you might imagine, during this first year of D23 operations they’ve been busier than ever.

Even though, this year, it was somewhat more difficult to reach our contacts within Disney they still managed to help make our annual convention a success. Dave Smith and Rebecca Cline, of the Walt Disney Archives, both gave presentations that were extremely well received by our convention attendees.

Feedback about the D23 Expo, or more precisely my September 15 report, is the reason for this week’s column.

Just as you found today’s column questionable, a great many people found my previous D23 report equally objectionable.

I know it’s an old cliché but since I’ve been criticized for both being to easy and to harsh on D23 I must be doing something right.

I spoke with several of our colleagues during the D23 Expo. They all new virtually everything I reported in this piece. I asked why none of them had reported any of this information and got several interesting responses.

The essence of their thinking was that people don’t want to hear about anything that may not be right with Disney. In this economy Disney fans have enough problems of their own. Disney is their escape from the harsh realities of the day and if some things fall short of expectations (Murphy the Dragon), well “at least they’re (Disney) trying."

That’s a fair argument and when you consider that most of the unofficial Disney fan sites were created to share the wonder and joy of people’s Disney experiences it makes perfect sense from an editorial point of view.

But o-meon is different. Even before I set up this site my writing about the Walt Disney Company always looked at the company from a pragmatic, business oriented, prospective.

When I started there were tons of people writing about the magic and a few, like Wade Sampson and Jim Hill, filling in the back-story. There wasn’t anyone, in the fan community, writing about the fiduciary responsibilities of Disney executives or explaining bond issues required to fund new theme parks to “grownup” Disney fans.

So, if the emperor is walking down the street clad only in his boxer-briefs, regardless of how little attention the citizenry may be paying to him, I think its worth reporting.

You may find this hard to believe but I too hope D23 continues to offer its exciting mixture of events.

However, just as I feel that it is a violation of loyalty and trust to hide restaurant menu prices from theme park guests until the last possible moment, as has been the practice lately at Disneyland, I feel it is equally objectionable for any company to offer great entertainment packages to its paying customers knowing full well that when the announced registration period opens the events will already be nearly or completely sold out in advance to friends of the company.

D23 is an excellent idea and as you said its, “filling a much needed niche that Disney has failed to address for a very long time - their fans!”

So why not let the fans have a fair shot at signing up for events intended for them in the first place?

[sediment]

There is/was luster?
That would be news.

[SnorkletsMom]

I started out excited about D23. I bought my membership on the first day and my husband bought his a few weeks later. We attended the UP! all night event and had a great time. Then things started to go downhill and greed and poor planning took over. There was the debacle that ensued with the online ticket distribution system for the Disney Studios tour, subsequently repeated for the next tour. There was a "D23 expo" where D23 members got a teeeny discount, tickets went unsold and then heavily discounted tickets were offered to Disney employees. Why weren't those tickets offered to those of us who paid to belong to this club? Then the Princess and the Frog showings, which turned out to be regular things available to the public, some at a cheaper price. Then...the 'holiday events'. Maybe they are events. They are certainly priced as if they are something really fantastic. But they aren't. They are repackaged yearly events as in the candlelight processional, (park admission included, but you know most of the attendees are APs)or they are an overpriced dinner and a movie, as in the A Christmas Carol thing. Sure the events sold out quickly. There are plenty of people who can afford them, and that's ok, but how about an event or two for the people who thought membership was more than an opportunity to spend more and more m oney on less and less.

Even the magazine has disappointed. The last issue featured several pages of an 'article' that was just a travel brochure for Disney Vacations.

So for me, yes, there is NO luster left. This isn't a club for real Disney fans, it's another way to suck money out of the pockets of Disney fans. We'll both be letting our memberships lapse in the spring and have no intention of renewing.

[Joshnyah]

I am optimistic I believe that more events are going to surface and things are going to start happening, I say wait until its time to renew your D23 Membership and then cast your judgement. Heres to the future.

[Imag1neer]

Originally Posted by Dustysage

Chuck, there was one big thing you failed to mention - and that is the filter through which you write this story. You are in charge of publicity for NFFC, which you perceive as being under attack by D23 and their Expo. So, I can understand your fear and anger. But very little of the Expo feedback that we saw on MiceChat reflects much concern. Additionally, the D23 events have and continue to sell well. If there is a problem, it is that D23 is perhaps a bit too successful for its own good. If people can't get into events, they may be less likely to renew.

I was personally VERY happy with the 3 Christmas events and have signed up for the Magic and Merriment event at WDW - which sold out almost immediately.

I hope that D23 continues to offer these unique events and serves up a mix of free, inexpensive, and premium events in the future.

I really don't sympathize with the tone of your article. Sure, there are issues with D23, but they are filling a much needed niche that Disney has failed to address for a very long time - their fans!

D23 isnt going anywhere, I think the D23 Expos will be the nail in NFFCs coffin soon (less than 5 years max). I honestly just cant see how NFFC can compete against it.

[SCUBAbe]

D23 had luster?

[bfdf55]

Originally Posted by Imag1neer

D23 isnt going anywhere, I think the D23 Expos will be the nail in NFFCs coffin soon (less than 5 years max). I honestly just cant see how NFFC can compete against it.

Very simple. NFFC is BY and FOR Disney fans. D23 is BY and FOR Disney. While those fans who join D23 will undoubtedly benefit to some point, the whole concept was created to try and pull the fans under their control. Do you think that all Disney fans would be willing to become Disney pawns? NFFC is more than just being fed Disney's pre-packaged Disneyana.

Your position seems a bit hostile towards NFFC. I believe that Disney has no agenda of trying to eliminate NFFC. They need avery fan and organization. If it appears that Disney is trying to control every aspect of fandom, it will turn fans off.

[BlueSkyDriveBy]

I am quite interested in this section from Chuck's article:

“To create the impression of scarcity,” said a source close to D23 operations speaking on condition of anonymity, “they call up webmasters and media people in advance of the events and tell them to call Disney Shopping ten to fifteen minutes prior to the posted registration times.”
Additionally, there are no restrictions placed on the Disney-friendly media being given advanced registration information. They are free to share the early registration information with as many fellow D23 members as they choose.

Full disclosure: I’ve received two similar calls from a friend of mine at Disney prior to two LA area D23 events.


I wish I knew which sites in particular (including this one) have been taking advantage of the early registration. This would clearly explain why so many D23 members have continually claimed that every single event sells out in only a minute or two, not to mention the eyewitness accounts of "Disney fan personalities" from various sites and blogs attending all of these events, usually with camera and notepad in hand.

Is this actually a matter of D23 directors wanting to create the impression of "scarcity"? Or is it more likely done to guarantee free media coverage of said events on the various fan sites and blogs? I'm thinking it's more the latter than the former.

D23 still smacks of Disney fan control to me. I haven't joined, nor do I intend to in the future. I'd rather be a member of the "by fans for fans" clubs like Carolwood Pacific, or the non-TWDC Walt-centric organizations like the Walt Disney Family Museum. D23 is way too corporatist for my tastes.

[WDW1974]

The goal of Disney and D23 is to co-opt and steal as many fans as possible away from sites that have anything negative/realistic to say about the company.

That's much easier when you have bored lonely philandering housewives, soccer moms, geeks living in the folks' basement or the New Hampshire wilderness blogging about how magical your products are.

So, you bet your sweet arses that Disney is stacking the deck and making sure that any and every webmaster it can get will be at these events ... I would guess Chuck is a special case since Disney would love to see the NFFC fade away into insignificance.

But when folks it treated like pariahs a few years ago are now being welcomed with open arms and treated like media, it's obvious what's going down. When I see folks that Burbank was watching and waiting to pounce on, suddenly chowing down on cupcakes at media events across the country, it's very obvious the strategy has changed. Now ...

I've watched as the same Internet 'faces' just happen to luck out and wind up with tix to every one of the events. And ... if they don't, maybe they'll whine enough that Disney will suddenly open a block of extras ... or they'll luck out and a friend will take them. It hasn't failed yet.

I have to hand it to Disney and D23 ... what other company could get people to pay $75 for a fan club and then $130 to attend what amounted to a four-day commercial for the company? ONLY DISNEY.

They have finally figured out how to deal with 'THOSE people from the fan sites' (direct quote from a Disney high-ranking exec, with proper sarcasm included, at a media event in FLA in 2003) ... treat them like they're special. These are people who would drool over asking Tony Baxter a question or sitting in teh audience as Steve Davison acts out pyro (I want what that dude is taking!) That's what they're doing ... and it's obviously working like a charm.

If I were a D23 member and couldn't get tix for an event, but saw folks from Miceage, Mouseplanet, Mousesteps, LaughingPlace, Jim Hill Media at these events, I'd be pitching a --it fit and making sure REAL MEDIA heard about it.

That said, I'm sure I'm way off and it's just a lucky coincidence and Chuck must be full of sour grapes since he hasn't been blessed with pixie dust like almost every other webmaster, blogger or construction site photographer.

I mean, even Al Lutz is giddy as a school girl over a DLR Prez who actively solicted opinions on how to 'neutralize' him back in his first go around in Anaheim. (Note to AL: maybe you shouldn't ignore email).

Pixie dust is powerful.

I guess I'm just upset that I can't go to the amazing holiday bash for the online webmas.... I mean fans. ... Unless anyone wants to give a ticket to a very entertaining Spirit! I can put ya in the holiday spirit with all sorts of Tales about what is really going on at Disney and why if the current trend of whoring to every nut that has a fan site continues, you'll read far less of it online.

[Chuck Oberleitner]

WDW 1974

In the words of Alice Longworth Roosevelt, come and sit by me.

chuck

[BlueSkyDriveBy]

Originally Posted by WDW1974

If I were a D23 member and couldn't get tix for an event, but saw folks from Miceage, Mouseplanet, Mousesteps, LaughingPlace, Jim Hill Media at these events, I'd be pitching a --it fit and making sure REAL MEDIA heard about it.

That said, I'm sure I'm way off and it's just a lucky coincidence and Chuck must be full of sour grapes since he hasn't been blessed with pixie dust like almost every other webmaster, blogger or construction site photographer.

I highly doubt you're wrong. The silence in this thread is deafening.

How much longer before the regular visitors of these fan sites and blogs realize that they're being duped? Would their attitude about their favorite Disney webmasters change if it was common knowledge that they had early access to these special events ticket sales before their readers?

How ironic that the D23 fans flock to the discussion boards to rightfully complain about being squeezed out of event tickets that were in painfully short supply before being released, all thanks to the very people who run the sites they're complaining on.


Pixie dust is indeed very powerful. The Pentagon will probably launch a study on how to weaponize the stuff.

[sediment]

I hope the webmasters of all the sites come to realize how they're being played as well, if what WDW writes is true.

[Dustysage]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyDriveBy

How much longer before the regular visitors of these fan sites and blogs realize that they're being duped? Would their attitude about their favorite Disney webmasters change if it was common knowledge that they had early access to these special events ticket sales before their readers?

Well, I can't speak for other web sites, but we get NOTHING from Disney. It is like pulling teeth for us to try to be included in press events and we are still almost always ignored. I'm sure on purpose. The one exception has been D23 - but that is only because they are working with all of the web sites equally to try and launch their product.

I signed up as a D23 member and know that many of the events will sell out quicly. So I start clicking "refresh" like everyone else and pray that I'll get tickets. I STILL haven't been able to get tickets to any of the Studio tours which have been offered (which I'd LOVE to attend).

There was only one of the events where tickets sold out quickly that I was able to get tickets and even then only because 4 of us were all online clicking refresh at the same time and one of us got through. Same exact way that we try to get tickets for the Disneyland merchandise events.

So, aside from your wild assumptions about us, WE simply don't have any special access. Though I can't explain how friendlier sites to Disney ALWAYS seem to be front row center at nearly every Disney event. Still, it doesn't seem to impact our ability to cover everything that happens in the parks. What we lack in press access, we make up for in insider info and great members!

-Dusty