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D23 unveils its Summer 2009 Special Events calendar, with Disney-related fun being offered all around the country in the coming months

“I pay 75 bucks and all I get is four magazines, a litho and
a membership card? It’s just not worth it.”

Ever since D23 was officially unveiled back in March, there
have been those who have continually carped about this new Walt Disney Company initiative.
Insisting that – given what it cost to become a Charter Member and what you got
in return – joining “The Official Community for Disney Fans” just didn’t seem worth
the expense.

Photo courtesy of Denise Preskitt

Well, those attitudes may be changing as of today. Coming on
the heels of D23 arranging for discounted admission & reserved seating at
the Newport Beach Film Festival (where Charter Members enjoyed special screenings
of “The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story” and “An Evening of Disney Animation
Rarities”) as well as becoming the defacto sponsor of Disney’s Hollywood
Studios
’ “One Man’s Dream” exhibit last month, “The Official Community for
Disney Fans” has just unveiled its Special Events calendar for the Summer of
2009. And when you look over this list of events – which feature once-in-a-lifetime
type access to all sorts of Disney-related venues – suddenly $75 doesn’t seem
like such a high price to pay anymore.

“What sort of access are we talking about here?,” you ask.
Well, how about the chance to tour the actual Disney lot in Burbank,
California? Where this two hour-long experience would include a visit to the
famed Disney Archives?

Copyright Walt Disney Family Museum. All Rights Reserved

Or – better yet – what if you could be one of the very first
folks to visit
The Walt Disney Family Museum? With the Museum’s Executive
Director – Richard Benefield – personally hosting this special preview of this
impressive new addition to the Presidio?

Have you ever dreamed of going backstage at a Broadway
musical? Well, D23 can make that dream come true at one of three separate
events this summer. In both New York & Chicago, Charter Members will be
able to attend a Supercalifragilisticexpliadocious performances of “Mary
Poppins
.” Which will feature premium seats, merchandise discounts as well as
the opportunity to stay on after the curtain has closed and then get a special
“behind-the-scenes” experience at both of these theaters. And D23 members who
live around Las Vegas will have the chance to have a similar experience at that
just-opened production of “The Lion King” at the Mandalay Bay Resort.

Copyright Disney. All Rights Reserved

There’ll be exclusive screenings of brand-new releases (like
that free showing of “Up” which will be held at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre on May 28th)
as well as rarely seen Disney treasures (like “Disneyland U.S.A.,” that 1956
featurette which will be screened at the Team Disney Anaheim Building on July
17th in honor of Disneyland’s 54th birthday). Not to
mention other fun events at the Parks like a D23-exclusive Flowers &
Fireworks Celebration
at Epcot on May 31st. Which starts off with
reserved seating to that night’s Flower Power Concert (which features a
performance by Tony Orlando) and then concludes with coffee and dessert while
watching “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth” from a private viewing area.

And did I neglect to mention the Charter Members-Only
contest, which will send one lucky D23 member and a friend to Las Vegas? So
that they can then enjoy an incredible 2-night getaway in Las Vegas and catch a
performance of “The Lion King” at the Mandalay Bay Resort?

Photo by Joan Marcus. Copyright Disney. All Rights Reserved

You have to admit that this is a pretty impressive array of
events. Which “The Official Community for Disney Fans” went out of its way to
create because … Well, I’ll let Steven Clark, Head of D23, explain:

“D23 Members are Disney’s biggest fans, and they’re always
looking for distinctive, memorable ways to celebrate the things they love most
about Disney. For (this) inaugural season of events and contests, we’ve created
an experientially and geographically diverse calendar that we know our Members
will enjoy and remember fondly for years.”

Photo by Denise Preskitt

Now please keep in mind that these D23-exclusive experiences
are subject to change without notice. More to the point, that they may have
varying admission costs & registration processes. And that – due to space
limitations – these “Official Community for Disney Fans” events will most
likely require advance reservations.

But as you look over this list (And please keep in mind that
this is just D23’s Summer 2009 Special Events calendar that we’re talking about
here. And that there is lots more stuff in the works for Fall & Winter
months), you honestly have to ask yourself: Does $75 still seem like too high
price to pay for this sort of premium access?

Photo by Denise Preskitt

For further information on the “Official Community for
Disney Fans” Summer 2009 Special Events Calendar, including admission prices
and how to register for these events, please visit www.disney.com/D23 and click
on the “Expo & Events” tab. 

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