5 Years of (D)23.

“There’s a whole bunch of unofficial Disney fan clubs…why don’t we have an official one?”

That was the thought swirling through Disney CEO Bob Iger’s head over half a decade ago and half a decade later, that “Official Disney Fan Club” has thousands of people in it with one thing in common – a love for Disney. The reason behind the club’s success has everything to do with how they operate. With unrestricted access and exclusive privileges that D23 has (since Disney operates its own fan club), those who proudly call themselves a member of D23 can speak to the unparalleled events and benefits that Disney has given them since its official launch in March of 2009.

From gathering Disney Legends for an exclusive meet-and-greet to their rare looks into The Walt Disney Archives posted online, D23 serves the purpose of serving its fans. Whether it be through those intimate events and stories or big events like the awesome D23 Expos, the club is doing what any club should do and they’ve done it well as seen in their anniversary video above.

And they’ll continue to do it well into the future. Just as much as the history of The Walt Disney Company is vast, there lies a vast amount of things that D23 has yet to reveal to the world of Disney fans. “The excitement that keeps us going year after year, generation after generation comes from all of you, our fans,” Iger commented at the inaugural D23 Expo. “It’s your passion for Disney that keeps the magic alive.” It’s alive alright – alive and well for the next 5 years and beyond!

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Our best wishes to our friends at D23 for being an extension of the Disney magic that we’ve come to know and love! Are you a member of D23? What have been your favorite moments from their 5-year run? What are you looking forward to this year? Comment and send your well-wishes to D23 below!