Your favorite walk is down Main Street, U.S.A., and your heart skips a beat at the sight of the world's most beloved mouse. You know the lyrics to every Disney song, and one of your favorite pastimes is wishing upon a star. You're a fan of all things Disney, and up until now you've had no official community to share your passion for Disney, to celebrate timeless Disney stories and traditions with other fans. That all changed today at The Walt Disney Company's Annual Shareholder Meeting in Oakland, California, when Disney President and CEO Bob Iger officially launched D23, the first official community for Disney fans.Named in honor of the year 1923, when Walt left Kansas City, headed for Hollywood and founded what would become the Disney Studios, D23 gives Disney fans VIP access to all things Disney through a brand-new website; Disney twenty-three, the club's beautiful quarterly magazine; and, in perhaps the most exciting news of all, the D23 Expo, a Disney fan mega event to be held at the Anaheim Convention Center this fall!
Dave Pacheco Product Release & Signing Celebrating the Launch of D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans
Special Guest: Disney Master Artist, Dave Pacheco
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2009
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location: Disneyana Shop, Main Street, U.S.A.
Disney Master Artist Dave Pacheco will be on hand for a very special appearance and signing on Saturday, March 14, 2009. Dave will sign a selection of artwork, a t-shirt and a pin featuring some of Disney's most beloved characters, which he created for D23's stunning new advertising campaign. D23 - Disney's first official community for fans - celebrates the wonder and excitement that begin in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his studio in Hollywood.
The following items will be available as part of the product release & signing:
Deluxe Prints with D23 matte
Bandleader Mickey Deluxe Print - $40.00 (Dimensions: 14"x18")
Jiminy Cricket Deluxe Print - $40.00 (Dimensions: 14"x18")
Tinker Bell Deluxe Print - $40.00 (Dimensions: 14" x 18")
"Made For Me and You" T-shirt - $24.95
Pin
Bandleader Mickey Pin - $12.95 (Limit TWO (2) per Guest)
(Specially created to celebrate the launch of D23. See Wristband Guidelines Below. Available while supplies last.)
D23 Membership Exclusive Charter Member Certificate Custom Matte & Frame - $89.95 $89.95
See Cast Member for Details
D23 Disney Twenty Three Magazine Premiere Issue - $15.95
Special Preview
This weekend, guests will have the opportunity to preview a prototype of the Walt Disney Classics Collection sculpture of Walt Disney with Oswald the Lucky Rabbit ("True Originals").
Sculpted by renowned Disney artist Ruben Procopio, "True Originals" is plussed with pewter ears and presented on custom hardwood base with inlaid porcelain plaque commemorating "Walt Disney and Oswald'' in a vintage art font (the sculpture can be removed from base).
400 of the General Limited Edition will be produced with an exclusive Walt Disney Archives Collection/D23 backstamp.
Below is a video ad for Disney’s new Official Community for Fans D23 (courtesy of YouTube.com). If features clips from Disney movies plus Disney Cast Members and Guests talking about some of the greatest Disney moments in their lives.
Wristband guidelines are as follows:
Wristbands will be distributed entitling bearers to the opportunity to purchase the D23 pin released in association with the product release and signing. Wristbands for pin will be distributed near the West Esplanade Guest Information Kiosk one hour prior to park opening until one hour past the opening of Disneyland® park. Wristbands will then be available at the location until 12 Noon or while supplies last. In addition, holding a place in line for others in your party will not be allowed. Guests who wish to obtain a wristband to purchase a pin must be present when the line forms or they will be escorted to the back of the line. We ask that you do not queue up prior to 6 a.m. Wristbands will be valid for the purchase of the pin at the designated merchandise location until 1:00 P.M. on the day of distribution. Wristbands are limited. At 1:00 P.M. any remaining pins will be available for purchase at the designated merchandise location by persons who have not previously purchased the pin on the day of release. Theme park admission required. Lost, stolen or damaged wristbands will not be replaced. Wristbands have no cash value. Restrictions apply. Subject to change without notice.
Merchandise available while supplies last. A limited number of pieces will be available on the day of the event. We ask that only two (2) items be signed per Guest. We ask that you bring no personal items to be signed. Event merchandise must be purchased on the day of release at the event location. Valid Disneyland® Resort receipt may be required. Artist signing is subject to space and time availability and is not guaranteed. Artist will only sign their respective merchandise purchased on the day of the event only. Event information subject to change without notice. Separate admission is required to enter Disneyland® Resort theme parks.
7 comments:
Wow! So much excitement! And finally we get to hear about all this buzz on D23. I saw the links on Facebook, but haven't had a chance to read all about it.
Thanks for the info, Don!
Sounds great. Membership seems a little high, but probably worth it with the magazine selling at Borders for $15.95 each. That's $60 just for the magazine. Wonder what the exclusive free gift will be?
Here's hoping that D23 brings back the positive synergy Disney has been known for.
With the expo in September, it does harken back to the old Disneyana Convention days with the show and sale and the exclusive Hallway of exclusive D23 merch.
Not able to get out there but hopefully one day. Maybe they'll switch to WDW in 2010.
Now I have to come up with $300 to join and get Walt and Oswald. What a great companion piece to Walt and Mickey done for DL 50th.
Hey Jeff,
Read last night on other forums that they were saying the first 4 years of the expo will be in Anaheim and I think they said in the Sept time frame. So unless they do add a WDW D23 Expo in maybe the spring, think it will be awhile until the Expo hits the east coast. Just passing along what I read.
Well that settles that then.
If in September, I won't be able to go since Emily starts first grade next year and then Matty starts pre-school the following year. Yikes, both my kids will be in school.
Maybe Mommy would let Daddy go to the Expo. Hmmmm...
Over my dead body
When pigs fly
When we land on the sun
What part of no do you not understand, the n or the o
Shall I go on?
You need to find a business trip in Anaheim area to co-incide at the same time. Can't argue w/ a work trip!
Truly wish we could attend the kick off this weekend. Would love to see how it is received in person. And, would love to get the Jiminy Cricket deluxe print. The pictures of it looked great!
Hopefully this will be another great reason for all of us to get together to share our love of Disney, the Classics, and each other!.
This is a repost from what I posted on Duckberg Internet Cafe. Just condensed.
I received my D23 magazine and car window decal as well as my membership certificate last week. The certificate looks really nice and is of good size, a "this is kinda impressive size and look". I got membership card (cheesy) and also a tube in the mail yesterday. The tube contained my member gift for D23: a litho commemorating Mickey's 80th Birthday (little late, must not have sold well). It has a raised seal on it from the D23 Archives Collection.
First, I don't think this is a great bargain right now.
If you cannot make it to the Expo this fall, then what do you really get extra from the membership? A litho, membership card, membership Certificate, and four issues of a magazine. Oh yes, don't forget the free window decal.
I really don't want to hear any more that the magazine is $16 an issue and that equals $64 of the $80 membership dues. Bull. Oh, I also get a free website that is free to everyone.
I also got access to exclusive merchandise, but not so exclusive since I could purchase the WDCC Walt and Oswald in September from an authorized dealer.
Exclusive merchandise: Oh wait, I was able to get a D23 pin from Disney Movie Rewards without putting in a D23 membership number. Then what is so exclusive?
The Expo sounds promising, but a whole membership shouldn't be based on that one event alone, especially in this economy where people cannot make it to California for vacation with only six months notice.
Am I missing something about D23?
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