What Is D23? Everything You Need To Know About D23, The Official Disney Fan Club

in Disney, Events

D23 expo & D23 The Official Disney Fan Club

D23 is a buzzword in the Disney community, and with the 2019 D23 Expo coming up (and all the D23 events happening during the holiday season), members and non-members alike are talking about what’s new in the world of D23.

But what is D23? And why are D23 events often so exclusive? Everything you need to know about D23, the official Disney fan club.

What is D23?

Founded in 2009 as the first official Disney fan club of its kind, D23 celebrates The Walt Disney Company to “bring fans closer to the magic.” D23 offers members unique merchandise, exclusive events and experiences, online content and publications, and an inside look at Disney-related anything and everything.

D23 is open to any and all Disney fans, and you can be any age to join.

Per the official website:

D23 was established to bring Disney fans closer to the “magic” through one-of-a-kind experiences, special events, unique merchandise offerings, quarterly publications, exclusive online content, and opportunities to meet others who share the same affection for Disney. D23 offers fans an insider look at every corner of Disney, from the parks, animation, television and film to the treasures of the legendary Walt Disney Archives.

What does D23 stand for?
The “D” stands for Disney, and “23” represents 1923, the year that Walt Disney arrived in California and founded what was to ultimately become The Walt Disney Company.

Levels of Membership

As you may know, there are many levels of D23 Membership, and you don’t have to break the bank to become a D23 Member. You can still reap many of the D23 benefits without paying the cost of a Gold-level membership. Here are the levels and prices of D23 Membership:

General: Complimentary

Anyone can sign up for a General D23 Membership and still have access to sign up for General D23 events, such as D23 Expo. A general D23 Member receives a subscription to the D23 “Fanfare” e-newsletter, access exclusive news and stories on the D23 website, and purchase tickets to the D23 Expo. The complimentary General Membership is an excellent option for individuals who love Disney but aren’t sure if a D23 Membership is right for them.

Gold: $99.99/year

Gold Membership is the next tier up, and the price difference is quite a significant jump. But this mid-tier D23 Membership will grant you access to special events, such as exclusive film screenings like “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” and holiday parties at Walt Disney Studios.

According to the D23 website, all of the following (and even more) is included when you become a Gold Member:

  • “Disney twenty-three” Quarterly Publication: A one-year subscription (four issues) exclusively for D23 Gold Members to D23’s exquisite collectible magazine, filled with stunning photography, dazzling illustrations, and the ultimate Disney insider perspective. It’s your all-access pass to discovering the magic of Disney’s past, present, and future!
  • Membership Card and Certificate: Your membership card and personalized, suitable-for-framing member certificate feature Mickey Mouse.
  • Our 2019 Gold Member Gift is the 10th anniversary with a pin set commemorating Disney milestones. From “The Skeleton Dance” to “Up,” each staple in the collection marks 10 Disney anniversaries in 2019.
  • Special promotional offers and discounts throughout the year: members can save hundreds of dollars on shopping, entertainment, and their next Disney adventure.  
  • Special Member Events: The opportunity to attend numerous D23 Member events throughout the year.    
  • Exclusive Merchandise: D23 offers its members access to exclusive merchandise and collectibles.    
  • Subscription to weekly D23 “FanFare” e-newsletter with breaking news, exclusive features, and special offers. (You may opt-out of receiving “FanFare” after your first e-newsletter arrives.)
  • Plus, stay connected to D23 every day at D23.com, featuring breaking Disney news, exclusive feature stories, event info, merchandise, and more.
D23 Pin Set
Credit: D23

Gold Family: $129.99/year

This is the highest level of D23 Membership, though the price difference between Gold and Gold Family is much less drastic than that of Gold and General. Perhaps the most bang for your buck that you will get from a Gold Family membership is the ability to bring up to three Guests to special events, whereas Gold members only get one Guest. Given that, if you are a family of four, only one member of your family may want to splurge on the highest-tier Membership and then bring the other three members to events.

The D23 website lists all of the following as included when you become a Gold Family Member:

  • “Disney twenty-three” Quarterly Publication: A one-year subscription (four issues) exclusively for D23 Gold Family Members to D23’s exquisite collectible magazine, filled with stunning photography, dazzling illustrations, and the ultimate Disney insider perspective. It’s your all-access pass to discovering the magic of Disney’s past, present, and future!
  • Membership Card and Certificate: Your membership card and personalized, suitable-for-framing member certificate feature Mickey Mouse.
  • Our 2019 Gold Member Gift is the 10th anniversary with a pin set commemorating Disney milestones. From “The Skeleton Dance” to “Up,” each staple in the collection marks 10 Disney anniversaries in 2019.
  • Special promotional offers and discounts throughout the year: members can save hundreds of dollars on shopping, entertainment, and their next Disney adventure.  
  • Special Member Events: D23 Gold Family Members can bring up to three Guests to select D23 Member events.  
  • Exclusive Merchandise: D23 offers its members access to exclusive merchandise and collectibles.    
  • Subscription to weekly D23 FanFare e-newsletter with breaking news, exclusive features, and special offers. (You may opt-out of receiving FanFare after your first e-newsletter arrives.)
  • Plus, stay connected to D23 every day at D23.com, featuring breaking Disney news, exclusive feature stories, event info, merchandise, and more.

D23 Expo

Every two years, D23 hosts the D23 Expo, celebrating everything Disney held at the Anaheim Convention Center. The Expo is three days of discussions, presentations, merchandise, previews, and more that take fans behind the scenes and inside the magic (much like our website suggests, might we add) of all things that encompass the Walt Disney Company.

D23 Expo is where Disney announces theme parks and upcoming films plans. Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, and Pixar Pier were showcased, fan-favorite films like Moana were announced, and Disney Legends were inducted. D23 is, quite possibly, the ultimate experience for any Disney fan, and to have the chance to attend the bi-annual event is at the top of many fans’ bucket lists.

Mickey Mouse
Credit: D23

Related :Select D23 Expo Tickets Sell Out Within MINUTES

Upcoming D23 Event Sells Out In MINUTES

Any D23 Member and even non-members can purchase tickets to D23 Expo, though prices vary depending on Membership as there are significant discounts available for D23 Gold and Gold Family Members.

Whether your membership level or ticket costs, each person who purchases a D23 Expo ticket will receive discounts on hotel stays and Disneyland Resort Park tickets. According to D23, D23 Gold and Gold Family Members will also be entitled to unique benefits throughout the expo weekend, including exclusive discounts and offers at select Disney retail and partner locations, a commemorative gift, and limited priority queueing for Hall D23 and the Expo Arena. For the ultimate Disney fan who has not yet become a D23 Member, it may be a good idea to purchase Gold and Gold Family Membership before buying tickets to receive these benefits during the expo weekend and then cancel the high-tier Membership after the Expo.

Should I join D23, the Official Disney Fan Club?

Because the lowest-tier D23 Membership is free of charge, a General D23 Membership is quite possibly a no-brainer for any Disney fan. If you know that attending the D23 Expo with all the benefits of being a Gold or Gold Family member would be a dream come true, consider upgrading to the mid- or top-tier Membership.

Whether you’ve always been a Disney fan or your love for the company is just beginning, we hope you’ve benefited from this look into the official Disney fan club. Are you a member yet?

D23 Expo
Credit: D23

Related : D23 increases fee for Gold, Gold Family Memberships as fan club celebrates 10th anniversary

What’s Inside the 2020 D23 Member Gift?

Do you love Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and more? Want the inside scoop on what’s happening at the Walt Disney Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, and Lucasfilm? Would you love to know all about each Disney Legend inducted into Disney’s version of the Hall of Fame? And would attend D23 Expo in Anaheim be your perfect Disney vacation? There are so many benefits to a D23 Membership — click here to learn more! 

in Disney, Events

View Comments (2)