Eureka Fitness Center at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa has reopened in a brand new, larger location next door, where Pinocchio’s Playhouse Children Activity Center was previously located. The former location remains closed now that the new location is open. It is unclear what it will be used for.
DVCinfo has confirmed with Disney sources that Children’s Activity Centers located at Walt Disney World DVC resorts will be closing for good effective July 31, 2018:
Children’s Activity Centers provide secure, supervised childcare for children ages 3 to 12. Children can enjoy arts, crafts, movies, toys, video games, and board games. Dinner, snacks, and themed activities are also provided.
According to Disney, the service is not being utilized enough to maintain it , and they are “seeking other ways to offer other services to children under 12.” In-room Childcare Services is still available, provided by Kid’s Night Out. DVC Community Halls will still be available at DVC resorts as well.
Have you ever used this service? Will you miss the availability of this offering?
DVC has announced a new vacation option, Guaranteed Event Weeks for those participating in runDisney events. Purchasers of a Guaranteed Event Week will receive automatically booked accommodations at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins for the week of the runDisney event weekend of their choice:
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend
Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend
Star Wars™—The Dark Side Half Marathon Weekend
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
In addition, purchasers of a Guaranteed Event Week will also have the opportunity to purchase up to 5 race registrations for use by themselves, their family members, and guests during their stay.
This website is an unofficial news and information publication regarding the Disney Vacation Club and is not affiliated in any way with Walt Disney World, The Walt Disney Company, the Disney Vacation Club, Disney Vacation Development, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries, and does not receive any compensation from Disney.
Starting today at Bay Lake Tower, Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian, Disney’s Grand Californian and Aulani rooms Disney Vacation Club will begin removing trash from rooms on a daily basis in addition to regular housekeeping visits.
The service will be extended to all other Disney Vacation Club resorts on January 7, 2018.
It has been speculated that required daily visits to every hotel room is part of an industry wide response to the mass shooting in Las Vegas last year.
Interestingly, all have same day availability as of being added, despite Advance Dining Reservations being booked 6 months in advance through DisneyWorld.com, indicating Disney is either holding back tables for Open Table reservations, or they have been unable to fill all the reservations themselves.
Disney Vacation Club has announced price increases for direct DVC purchases effective January 17, 2018. The base price before incentives for new resorts Copper Creek Cabins and Villas and Aulani Disney Vacation Club Villas will increase 3% – by $6 – to $182.
The price for almost sold out Polynesian Villas and Bungalows will increase a drastic 25% – by $44/point – to $220/point. While DVC is no longer actively marketing sales incentives for Polynesian, direct sales incentives are still available through January 30, bringing the current price to $164/point for a 200 point purchase or $56/point lower than after the price increases and incentives expire.
The Villas at Grand Floridian will also be increasing 19% – by $35/point – to $220/point (same as Polynesian). The largest increase will be at The Villas at Grand Californian, which will be increasing 27% – by $50/point to $235/point.
Annual Dues are due January 15, 2018, and can be paid online or by phone via credit card, Disney Gift Card, or Disney Visa Rewards Redemption Card. To make a payment sign into http://dvcmember.com and navigate to My DVC Membership > Annual Dues.
Auto-Pay Option
Another option is to make 12 interest-free monthly payments via Auto-Pay from your checking or savings account. To sign up for Auto-Pay, sign into http://dvcmember.com and navigate to My DVC Membership > Manage Auto-Pay.
Are you ready for some exciting announcements at today’s annual DVC Member Meeting? DVCinfo has you covered!
Starting at 2PM ET we’ll be live blogging the entire meeting with photos and commentary of the presentation! Just keep this page open, and it will automatically refresh.
2:07 PM Ken Potrock, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures By Disney, and Golden Oak takes the stage to welcome everybody to the condominium association meeting for all DVC resorts.
2:08 PM Playing promo video of CCVC:
2:10 PM In early 2018, Reunion Station will open, which is an exclusive space for DVC Members, offering opportunity to book concierge services, unique activities like wine tasting and classes, and provide a place to relax.
2:11 PM Disney’s Riviera Resort is expected to open near Epcot in fall of 2019, connected by a new skyway system to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney’s Riviera Resort will feature a rooftop restaurant with a nighttime view of nighttime spectaculars at Epcot and Hollywood studio.
2:12 PM Ken is talking about a new marketing campaign that will be launched soon called Stay Magical, that highlights access to new attractions, exclusive events, and exclusive discounts.
2:14 PM Ken is talking DVC providing a front row seat to new experiences like Toy Story Land this summer, Star Wars Land at DHS and DL, a Tron attraction at MK, Pixar Pier at DCA, including recent experiences like Guardians of the Galaxy at DCA, Pandora. Other new additions include the NBA Experience, the Edison, Jaleo, and more.
2:16 Will talk about the latest membership advantages later in the program. Will now start official board meeting.
2:43 PM Talking about Hurricane Irma impact on HHI. Extended loan made last year to cover costs not covered by insurance, which has $1M deductible across all DVC resorts per named storm.
2:44 PM Budgets for resorts presented
2:48 PM Opening for questions. First question is how you square the housekeeping cost decreases with the previously announced improvements. Answer was some of the increased cost of these programs was included in 2017 budgets, but not used, and there are improved estimates.
2:50 PM Second question was regarding accessibility for microwave and plates above the microwave. Answer was they would definitely look at it and to let guest services know when you are arriving of your needs.
2:55 PM Third question is concern about handicapped units having the roll in shower move all over the place. As a workaround, they have to use towels on the floor, which they have to wash and dry themselves. Can they provide the necessary towels. The answer is they will take her information and better understand her concern
2:56 PM Question about why no units available for rent at Grand Californian. The answer is they chose not to given there are only 50 units at Grand Californian.
2:58 PM Follow up question about whether you can revert points used to book a backup reservation at Disneyland hotels back to DVC points if a waitlist comes through at VGC.
2:59 Budgets approved by designated representatives
3:05 Talking about Moonlight Magic Events and increased member services hours. New functionality on the website to modify existing reservations later this year.
3:08 PM Talking about member events at TOTWL and the new Reunion Station.
3:10 PM Shannon Sakaske, Vice President Member Experiences and Club Management for DVC, stated “I can’t forget about the ticket savings we are able to offer members at Walt Disney World, available for purchase through December 3, 2018. Save over 25% on…yeah, go ahead and clap, we love it. Save over 25% on a Disney Platinum Plus Annual Pass, or get 7 days of Disney Theme Parks for just the price of 5. These are 2 really exciting offers, and a continuation of the discounts and special offers we make available to the membership…”
Registration for the Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic events on January 11, January 28, and February 6 at the Magic Kingdom is now available online:
Note: the registration page reloads automatically, so keep it open to keep your place in “line”.
DVC Members are limited to attending one date per park.
About Moonlight Magic
Moonlight Magic events are complimentary after hour events at Disney Parks, where eligible DVC Members will have the park to themselves, along with complementary beverages and snacks.
