D23--Not so great for International Fans!

Disney finally launched D23 today.

If you aren't an avid Disney fan and a reader of the many Disney blogs out there, D23 was publicized on the web for about 2 months, with a simple website asking, "Are you 23?" Many rumours surrounded the website and what D23 was, from a big release of Disney DVD's to an exclusive club. Well, the latter was true. D23 is the ultimate Disney Fan Club, run by Disney.

This really isn't the first fan club that Disney has run. There was once the Magic Kingdom Club, which provided discounts on merchandise and other things. There is the Walt Disney Collector's Society (the official club of the Walt Disney Classics Collection), but it is no longer run by Disney, but rather by Enesco.

I won't get into the details of D23, but all I will say it is a Disney Fan's dream come true..... Except for this Disney fan!!!

To join, you purchase your membership from Disney Shopping. So, I had my credit card out, ready to purchase and made it all the way to the payment screen, to see a shipping fee of $50. $50 shipping for a $75 purchase?!?!? And US residents get free shipping??? Someone want to tell me how that is fair? I can understand that shipping outside the US is a little more expensive, but I live in Canada not eastern Europe or Australia. It is free to ship to Niagara Fall, New York, but costs $50 to get it over the border. In addition, with the currency exchange, my total cost would have come to about $160 Canadian, more than double the US cost.

Needless to say, until Disney does something about the shipping costs, I will not be a member of D23.

Things I can't wait to buy in Disney World: Part 3

Since I have already mentioned the Walt Disney Classics Collection (WDCC to those in the know) before, it was inevitable that there would be another piece or 2 that I would want to pick up in the parks. And here now is the 2nd:

This is the 4th Figment piece that Walt Disney World has released. The first one (which I don't have and still looking for) was a simple Figment piece. The 2nd one featured the Dreamfinder and the 3rd was Figment with a tube of rainbow paint. The 2nd one I was able to purchase at Disney World in 2006, as there were many made and left over. The 3rd piece was released in 2008 and a little more limited (750 pieces). I had to mail order this one, and thankfully I did, as it sold out on the release weekend.

So, with the 4th one, I ran into a bit of a situation. The piece comes out on April 25th, a week and a half before I arrive. After a few phone calls, I was told that I could not have the piece put aside for me until I arrive and I could not have it "shipped" to the resort. Which means, I have to pay the $100 to ship it to Canada.... Almost doubling the purchase price of this piece!!!! I have always complained about the shipping fees to Canada as they are quite expensive. I realize that it is expensive to ship overseas, but Canada is not overseas!

Needless to say, I have ordered one for me and I'm going to try and make a few more phone calls to see if they can make an exception. Wish me luck!