These photos taken in early February show how the construction of the new DVC at the Wilderness Lodge is now well-underway.
See the complete timeline of the Wilderness Lodge DVC construction here.
Aerial images © 2016 Nearmap. All Rights Reserved.
On February 16, 2016, Nick Cotton of DVC Resale Market published a blog post that Disney was raising prices on most of its DVC resorts, with the increases expected February 19.
The price increases are summarized below.
| Resort | Old Price | New Price | Increase |
| Animal Kingdom Villas | $155 | $160 | $5 |
| Aulani | $168 | $168 | No change |
| Bay Lake Tower | $170 | $180 | $10 |
| Beach Club Villas | $155 | $160 | $5 |
| Boardwalk Villas | $155 | $160 | $5 |
| Old Key West | $135 | $140 | $5 |
| Polynesian | $168 | $168 | No change |
| Saratoga Springs | $135 | $140 | $5 |
| Villas at the Grand Californian | $170 | $180 | $10 |
| Villas at the Grand Floridian | $170 | $180 | $10 |
| Villas at the Wilderness Lodge | $155 | $160 | $5 |
| Vero Beach | $110 | $110 | No Change |
| Hilton Head Island | $110 | $110 | No Change |
Just one short month ago, we launched our DVC Discussion Forum, and we hit 500 members today!
Our new forum is an online community where you can join other Disney Vacation Club members (and potential members) from around the world discussing all things related to Disney and DVC.
We pride ourselves on being a pleasant community built around people posting news and information, getting and giving help and guidance, and just having fun and conversing with other people who share our interest in DVC and Disney.
Come join the fun! We’d be delighted if you’d join us.
The Spring 2016 edition of Disney Files Magazine celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Disney Vacation Club. Yes, later this year, DVC turns 25.
However, perhaps intentionally, there is no look back at the history of DVC. There is no recap of the memorable events of the past 25 years.
Instead, Ken Potrock focuses on two words on the 25th anniversary logo… “And beyond”. Ken says this is because of the forward-looking focus of DVC, it’s mission of creating more Member value each year by raising the bar.
The issue highlights the new member events and other offerings and enhancements that are part of the 25th anniversary celebration.
However, I still think a few pages looking back at the last 25 unforgettable years of DVC history would have been enjoyable. My hope is that one of the following 2016 editions of Disney Files Magazinewill do just that.
Ryan March and Ken Potrock, are you listening?
Do you think DVC is behind the technology curve?
In recent years, Disney has introduced new technology into their parks. Disney spent over $1 Billion on Magic Bands, FastPass+ and My Disney Experience. Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) has developed its own VR technology to help build everything from new theme park attractions to new hotel suites.
Yet DVC is not viewed by many members as being a technology innovator. It wasn’t until 2012 that DVC introduced the ability to book a reservation online. And you still have to call member services to change a reservation.
The DVC member web site has experienced problems and outages.
And there were issues with the roll out of My Disney Experience. Members of discussion forums seem to regularly express their frustration with Disney technology.
What is your opinion? Do you consider DVC to be high-tech? Has your experience with Disney technology largely been successful?
Here is a photo of Member Services at the DVC headquarters in Celebration, Florida. As you can see, DVC only uses the latest technology to serve it’s members.
Post your comment below or in our DVC discussion forum.
I wrote a brief post as a guest blogger for David’s Vacation Club Rentals. It’s about slowing down when you’re on vacation at Walt Disney World and enjoying the beauty of the resorts.
You can read it here: A Gorgeous Sunrise Tour of Disney Vacation Club Resorts
The March 2016 edition of Consumer Reports magazine has an article called “Is a TimeShare Vacation a Good Value?”
The article uses a Disney Vacation Club purchase as the example. Their example compares just staying as a hotel guest versus buying DVC direct from Disney base price (no incentives). The example also assumes the buyer finances the DVC purchase using a 7-year loan at 8% interest. Some information is missing, such as the assumptions around the room rate and such.
In this example, staying as a hotel guest would be less expensive the first 7 years. In year 8, the site urns in favor of DVC, but its not until year 13 that you break even and start saving money.
The article also covers buying resale (but ails to show the same financial comparison as buying retail). It also mentions renting from an owner.
This is part of their The Timeshare Comes of Age article.
What do you think of the article? Either add a comment here on the blog or join the discussion in our DVC discussion form.
Thanks to DVC Paul for the heads up!
ThemeParkTourist.com has published an article that discusses the beginnings of the Disney Vacation Club.
This, of course, caught my interest, since I have spent some time of my own investigating this subject matter, as evidenced by my own history of the Disney Vacation Club article here on DVCInfo.com
Generally, the ThemeParkTourist piece is a very good article and deserves a read if, like me, you find the topic interesting.
The only issue I had (which is very minor) is that the article seems to imply that it was Disney who invented the points-based system.
This is not strictly true.
The points-based timeshare system Disney used was not invented by them, but actually dates back to “the Father of Timeshare”, Dr. Guido Renggli. In 1963, Dr. Renggli and German developer Alexander Nette co-founded Hapimag, which started selling timeshares in Europe. Hapimag was the first timeshare operator in the world and is by far the largest in Europe. It was Dr. Renggli who first pioneered the points system.
Vacation Internationale introduced the points system in the US in the mid-1970’s, beginning in Hawaii. Trendiest Resorts, based in the state of Washington, was the first timeshare company to only sell a points-based timeshare.
Disney patterned its system on these models. So, Disney’s version was more of an evolution of an existing model than a revolutionary new model.
Thanks to DVCInfo discussion forum member Spavins for pointing out the article in our forums.
According to Pacific Business News:
Atlantis Resorts, a global luxury resort brand that specializes in “entertainment destination resorts,” is likely finalizing a deal to open its first resort in the United States in Hawaii at the Ko Olina Resort in West Oahu, multiple sources confirmed to Pacific Business News.
Sources close to the situation tell PBN that Atlantis Resorts, a subsidiary of Kerzner International Resorts, is working out the details for a contract that involves a vacant parcel next to Disney’s Aulani Resort, half of which is owned by Shirokiya owner Takeshi Sekiguchi, one of the original developers of Ko Olina Resort.
I’m very glad I’m a member of the Disney Vacation Club, and I’m generally a happy member satisfied with the program. I’ve enjoyed many wonderful vacations. However, I’ve had a few negative experiences that prompted me to reach out to DVC.
From my experience, I’ve always been thanked for providing my feedback and told that the issue or suggestion would be looked into (you know, the standard response any customer service group starts with), but then… nothing. It leaves me wondering if my issue or suggestion ever goes anywhere and whether it receives any serious consideration.
Yet, on the other hand, when DVC makes an announcement of a change, it invariably prefaces it by saying the change is “in response to member feedback”, and sometimes I’m scratching my head thinking, huh? Did members really ask for this?
I’m not talking about a problem during a stay such as a dirty room or what not, as Disney usually responds well to those types of issues if you bring them to their attention during your stay. I’m talking about issues or suggestions that can’t be handled by a line manager, but someone higher up the food chain. I never hear back from anyone, outside of a standard form letter thanking me for contacting them.
The same thing seems to occur at the annual DVC member meeting. A member brings up an issue or suggestion, and the majority of them seem to get a “thank you” response, but little action. I know, as I’ve been to every annual meeting from 2007 onward.
I just experienced this at last month’s annual DVC member meeting. Some of you may know that I was doing some research into the history of the Disney Vacation Club. At the annual meeting, I had the opportunity to speak with Ken Potrock, Senior Vice President and General Manager of DVC, about this. I asked Ken about obtaining some photographs from the early days of DVC, and he agreed to do so, saying he’d put me in touch with a particular individual.
Well, that individual never contacted me, nor did Ken.
All I got was this email from DVC:
“Thank you for your interest in DISNEY VACATION CLUB history. The WALT DISNEY COMPANY® unfortunately isn’t able to share photo assets or individually support the large number of research requests it receives. We thank you again for your interest in DISNEY VACATION CLUB history, and we look forward to welcoming you home again soon.”
So disappointing. It’s just like all the other email responses I get.
If you’ve contacted DVC, either over the phone or using [email protected] or [email protected], do you feel your issue or suggestion was actually listened to?
Do you think DVC listens to its members?
Join the discussion in our DVC Discussion Forum or leave a reply here on this blog post.
