Why I'm a member of Disney's official fan club (and how you can join for free)

Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me? We all know the response to that oft-repeated refrain is "Mickey Mouse," but "The Mickey Mouse Club" isn't the only fan club Mickey heads up.Disney's most devoted fans belong to D23, the official Disney fan club. The "D" should be self-explanatory, and the "23" represents 1923, the year The Walt Disney Company was founded.D23 serves many purposes, but one of the most important is keeping fans connected to what they love most about Disney — even from afar. Whether you visit Disney theme parks every week or only once a year, a D23 membership is your key to Disney's magical kingdom.What is D23?Launched in 2009 under former Disney president and CEO Bob Iger, D23 celebrates Disney's beloved characters, stories and experiences while also providing a new way for fans to connect over their shared love of Disney parks, movies, TV shows, characters, style, books, music, history or all of the above.D23: The Ultimate Fan Event. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUYToday, D23 has more than 1.8 million members worldwide who receive perks like access to studio tours, movie screenings and other events, dining, merchandise and theme park discounts, ex...