D23 is the official Disney Fan Membership that provides paid Gold and free memberships. Perks embrace reductions at Walt Disney World & Disneyland, entry to particular occasions together with D23 Expo tickets, an annual present, and extra. (Up to date February 16, 2024.)
Earlier than getting began, we needed to spotlight the D23 Gold Member present for 2024. Celebrating the tales that foster traditional Disney magic and paying tribute to magician kits of yesteryear, the D23 Magic & Thriller Field Collector Set features a Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey Mouse collectible figurine, a thriller companion collectible figurine, a deck of enjoying playing cards, and a thriller pair of pins, in addition to a Membership Card and Certificates. The 2024 Gold Member Collector Set will start delivery in Spring 2024.
That’s not all D23 membership affords in 2024. For one factor, that is the fifteenth Anniversary of the official Disney Fan Membership, so there will probably be celebratory occasions all year long. The larger factor, although, is the 2024 D23 Expo in Anaheim, California. This occurs each different yr, however is a bit completely different this time round. See our Final Information to the 2024 D23 Expo for every thing it’s essential know! Past that, right here’s what you possibly can look ahead to as a member of the D23 Fan Membership this yr…
D23 fifteenth ANNIVERSARY EVENT: On March 10, 2024, D23 is commemorating 15 years of fandom, enjoyable, and favourite reminiscences with a particular Gold Member-exclusive occasion at The Most Magical Place on Earth: Walt Disney World Resort! The occasion will embrace unique entry to Splitsville Luxurious Lanes, the place friends can get pleasure from leisure and video games, festive meals, photograph spots, and specialty merchandise.
D23 DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS: To have fun the fifteenth anniversary of the beloved Walt Disney Animation Studios movie The Princess and the Frog (2009), D23 is inviting members to re-experience the story with a Huge Straightforward theatrical screening of the beloved movie and a D23 “Goals Do Come True” Grand Finale occasion at The New Orleans Jazz Museum that includes an unique reception, themed photograph alternatives, dwell jazz performances, and a commemorative present.
THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS OFFICIAL TOUR – PRESENTED BY D23: D23 welcomes friends to The Walt Disney Studios Lot, giving members the chance to go to the world-famous studio in Burbank, California. These excursions provide followers a singular perspective on historic moments from Disney movies, tv collection, and theme parks—together with the prospect to look contained in the Walt Disney Archives and draw inspiration from Walt Disney’s workplace suite.
2024 D23 EXPO: Be part of D23 and the whole Disney household in Anaheim, California, for a one-of-a-kind fan expertise that can deliver collectively the perfect of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and extra! Tickets for the occasion will go on sale starting March 26, 2024. Highlights of the occasion embrace:
- August 4, 2024: D23 Day at Angel Stadium
- August 8, 2024: D23 kickoff celebration at Disneyland Resort
- August 9 to August 11, 2024: Get pleasure from unique purchasing, displays, panels, and displays on the Anaheim Conference Middle, together with marquee exhibits each night on the Honda Middle
SIGNATURE EVENTS: All year long, D23 Members can look ahead to unique occasions comparable to previews of upcoming touring exhibitions around the globe from the Walt Disney Archives. Members will get the chance to get pleasure from advance and opening evening screenings of the newest Disney motion pictures at places throughout the nation.
Worker-exclusive merchandise shops, together with The Walt Disney Firm Retailer and Walt Disney Imagineering’s Mickey’s of Glendale, will open their doorways to members for each on-line and in-person alternatives. Additionally, look out for the return of vacation magic at The Walt Disney Studios Lot. In November, followers will get the chance to get pleasure from a D23 expertise like no different with a multi-day occasion coming to São Paulo, Brazil.
D23 MEMBER APPRECIATION MONTH: All through March 2024, D23: The Official Disney Fan Membership will probably be celebrating its fifteenth anniversary as a part of Member Appreciation Month. D23 will share unique affords, enjoyable downloads to showcase the beloved fandoms of The Walt Disney Firm, and a really magical sweepstakes. D23 Gold Members will have the ability to flaunt their fandom with brand-new unique merchandise that options some fan-favorite characters.
Lastly, the traditional advantages of D23 membership that aren’t distinctive to 2024 and the fifteenth Anniversary celebration…
Disney “Twenty-Three” Quarterly Publication: Gold Membership features a one-year subscription (4 points) to D23’s collectible journal. Once I say collectible, I actually imply it. Twenty-Three is printed on good and thick paper, and has a fantastic shiny look. Barely outsized, it’s the good “Espresso Desk” journal.
If you happen to’re a fan of all issues Disney, and never simply the theme parks, this can be a fairly compelling justification to get the Gold Membership. Along with the standard of the journal itself, the D23 magazines regularly embrace little presents with every difficulty which can be additionally fairly good (though means too many are patches).
Membership Card and Certificates: Your membership card, which you will have for occasions, and a certificates that would solely enchantment to youngsters. Disney describes it as “suitable-for-framing.” I can’t think about anybody on earth really framing this factor.
Shock Collectible Reward: That is one thing completely different yearly. As soon as, it was a member watch. One other yr there was a calendar. This yr, it was a collectible pin set. That is one thing completely different yearly, and it’s normally a considerate and attention-grabbing alternative. Whether or not it’s one thing you’ll really need is one other story solely, however the level is that Disney does put some effort into the Gold Member present.
Unique Particular Occasions and Merchandise: If you happen to dwell in California or Florida, or make common journeys to both coast, this can be a large draw. When D23 first debuted, many Walt Disney World regulars complain that “the entire occasions are in California.” That’s not the case.
Whereas many occasions are in California (together with the D23 Expo), that is honest provided that Disney’s company headquarters are in California, as are most divisions of Disney and Disneyland. Furthermore, celebrities that attend these occasions are primarily situated in Los Angeles, and convincing them to do a convention in Florida would most likely be a troublesome promote.
In any case, D23 has responded to those complaints with numerous ‘on the highway’ choices situated in main cities all through the US. Along with that, there at the moment are a handful of main occasions that happen in Florida at Walt Disney World, together with the favored Vacation spot D23 occasion. We’ve executed this many instances, and completely adore it.
There is no such thing as a strategy to buy tickets to most occasions with out being a paid member (most occasions promote out earlier than being accessible for the Free Members), so if you wish to attend any of them, you’re principally compelled into shopping for the Gold Membership. Moreover, in years when the D23 Expo is held, members obtain a reduction to the Expo.
The best of those perks, for many, is the Twenty-Three journal. Some argue that the entire data accessible from D23 is obtainable without spending a dime, on-line. That is undoubtedly true, however for me, “data” isn’t the one purpose to purchase one thing. There’s something to be mentioned for the tangible really feel of {a magazine}. Sitting open air with a chilly beer on a summer time day, I don’t wish to be squinting as I attempt to view the poorly illuminated textual content on an iPad or comparable machine. However that’s simply me. I’m a fan of printed publications. Your mileage could differ on that one.
The second perk, and in case you can avail your self of this one it’s possible the best, is the chance to buy admission to the occasions. Whereas I used to be not overly impressed with the primary Magic & Merriment we attended, we had an absolute blast on the second Magic & Merriment, and much more enjoyable on the D23 EPCOT Middle thirtieth Anniversary occasions!
We are also enormous followers of the D23 Expo, and have attended most of those. This occasion isn’t for everybody (traces will be lengthy and it’s at all times a bit chaotic the primary morning), however as enormous Disney historical past geeks, we love the panels–particularly those on the Walt Disney Archives stage, which are typically much less fashionable.
If you happen to’re unable to plan your journeys round these occasions or take weekend jaunts once they’re provided, you may be disillusioned with the occasion schedule. Nonetheless, in case you can attend even an occasion or two per yr, Membership rapidly turns into definitely worth the whereas for you. If you happen to can’t or won’t attend any occasions, I don’t see lots of intrinsic worth within the membership, and I wouldn’t suggest changing into a member, except you’re within the journal.
With that mentioned, the query is whether or not the journal is price your cash. Like I acknowledged above, in case you’re a fan of the entire firm, most certainly sure. If you happen to’re a fan of simply the theme parks, it’s questionable. When offered with the query of whether or not I ought to develop into a Free or Gold Member, I opted for Gold after trying on the costs of used magazines on eBay. Most have been promoting within the $10 vary, which means the magazines roughly paid for themselves.
Most magazines additionally embrace a collectible present of some type that even have some worth. So so long as you don’t thoughts coping with eBay, the subscription might be price it as an improve from the free membership to Gold. From a pure worth perspective, I’d have a tough time justifying the price of the subscription if I solely needed the journal, however I’m primarily a fan of the theme parks.
In the end, D23 membership advantages differ extensively: a SoCal native AP holder might be able to attend 10 D23 occasions in a single yr and have membership be effectively definitely worth the value whereas somebody in Topeka, Kansas could by no means have the ability to attend an occasion, and should not care in regards to the watch or journal.
That being mentioned, whereas it’s actually a private resolution, it’s neither a “horrible” or “nice” membership. Proper now it’s simply type of mediocre. What Disney does with it within the subsequent few years will decide its final destiny. On the plus facet, D23 is definitely run by passionate Disney followers (we’ve met them at just a few D23 occasions, they usually actually appear to care about Disney and the Membership), however it doesn’t look like they’re those making the excessive stage choices regarding the route of the membership.
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Your Ideas
What do you consider D23? Is it definitely worth the cash, or have you ever let your subscription lapse? Have you ever attended any D23 occasions? Will you be signing as much as benefit from the Disney+ low cost? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share some other ideas or questions you could have within the feedback under!
