Introduced in 1993 during the second year of the collection, this unique membership society was designed especially for Disney collectors. Over 70 years of tradition form the foundation of the Walt Disney Classics Collection and helps make the Walt Disney Collectors Society magical. Designed to give collectors a more personal connection to the Walt Disney Company, WDCS is the first “collectors” membership organization sponsored directly by Disney. Members who joined in 1993 received “charter membership” status. Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio’s overworked conscience from Pinocchio (1940) is the symbol of the WDCS, and was also the 1993 charter membership sculpture. The Walt Disney Collectors Society was honored with the National Association of Limited Edition Dealers (NALED) award for Collectors Club of the Year in 1994.

There are several benefits to becoming a member of the WDCS, including a free membership figurine, the opportunity to purchase additional Members-Only sculptures, and a subscription to Sketches magazine and the Newsflash newsletter.
 

Membership Card

Members will receive a personalized membership card, which is the passport to all the exclusive Society privileges and events. It bears the name, membership number, membership start year and expiration date. It must be presented to redeem Members-Only sculptures and when renewing a membership.

Walt Disney Classics Collection Catalog

The annual full-color catalog featuring all the sculptures from the Walt Disney Classics Collection comes with the membership kit or is mailed separately to new members.
 

Special Members-Only sculptures

Each member receives redemption certificates entitling them to redeem special sculptures created by the Walt Disney Classics Collection exclusively for active Society Members. These offerings change each year. There are also sculptures to be bought along with the new membership (so called Instant-redemption figurines).
To redeem a Members-Only sculpture, members must take their redemption certificate, along with the membership card, to the dealer. The dealer will place the order and contact the member when the sculpture has arrived. It is also possible, that the dealer has already some stock of the figurine, so it can be obtained instantly.

Sketches Magazine

Each WDCS member will receive four full-color issues of Sketches, the Society’s official magazine. Published quarterly, Sketches is the key to the magic of Disney, with behind-the-scenes information about the society and the Walt Disney Classics Collection and feature articles on the world of Disney.
 

Newsflash Newsletter

As the official Society newsletter, Newsflash guarantees that members are completely up-to-date and informed about all the latest news from the Walt Disney Classics Collection and special Society announcements. Newsflash is mailed to arrive between issues of Sketches.

Membership Renewal

Prior to the end of a membership, members will be sent a renewal notice allowing a member to enjoy continuous, uninterrupted membership in the Society and timely delivery of Sketches. It is also possible to renew through a local dealer by purchasing an Instant Member Kit (usually for members outside the United States) or filling out a Membership application.
 

Source: Product Education Program