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Hi, did you find the points you need yet? We have our 2014 points coming up in Aug. We have 132 that I am will to rent, but I want all to rent to same person. Our home resort is AKV. let me know one way or other.

http://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/destinations/resorts/animal-kingdom-villas/rooms/

This morning, I called dvc membership to bank my points. It was around at 10:30 a.m. I was totally disappointed upon the wait time for my phone call, to be answered by a cast member. The time I waited was 25 minutes. I'm very upset with the phone calls I've made in the past. The wait time is uncalled for. I feel like Disney Vacation club members are being ignored, unless you are a resident of Florida or a Foreigner from a different country. Being a member since 2001, there have been no advantages to being a member. No discounts on park tickets, no special things sent to your room accommodations, unless they are paid for, not one special service has been offered. Yet I've been paying the monthly dues that are due every month, and get nothing in return. Being a senior citizen now, no specials are offered to us seniors either. It has become a very disappointment to being a member now. I can honestly say, I will be selling my membership. As much as I love Disney and have been involved in Disney since 1955 always wanting to become an Musketeer, I'm now discouraged. I'm sure this is falling on deaf ears, as many times it has, since now I'm a senior citizen and no one seems to care. Hopefully your phone service becomes better. A discouraged dvc member, Rosalie A Barus

Thank you for your article. It’s refreshing to read of the positive directions that Disney is taking. Hopefully, there will be some resources available for cast members when “guests” do not comply. Unfortunately, we live in a self-entitled era of rude guests. Now would be a good time to shake things up and implement “there is no reason to be rude” geared towards guests. Thank you for offering this space for us to respond and offer suggestions to your article. Fondly, Jackie Friddell

..about the Group Read the rules and group information. Maybe reread it and read again. A place for Disney Vacation Club owners who like to discuss, debate, answer questions, help others & post pictures of Disney and the Resorts. We do allow people in that would like to learn more about owning DVC. A number of people cannot handle any criticism of DVC, The Walt Disney Company and their theme parks in general; if you are the type of person that feels like YOU are being personally attacked when you read critical comments, news stories, criticisms about your post and/or blogs about Walt Disney World that you may not agree with, I STRONGLY suggest you DO NOT join this group. We try to maintain a PG-13 rating at worst here. No F bombs or memes with F bombs. I thought this would be something people would just understand but since you are reading it you can be sure it happens. Please keep your word use to those that would be considered young child friendly. Please read the Rules under the Files. This is VERY important and will answer most of your questions. (repetitive but a must) We also have two sponsors in this group. One for DVC Resales, DVC Resale Market and another for DVC Rentals, DVC-Rental.com. You will see their company logo in the cover photo. They both are trusted names in the industry and have done business for many years with great reviews. You will also see them comment in their respective fields. Many in this group have used them. Please feel free to ask members about their experiences. We try to be drama free but at times it happens. People are people. We find that new groups are formed, trolls hide and people are attacked as well as members being PM'd or talked about in other groups. Basically join another group to do exactly what they claim we do. WE DO NOT ADVOCATE this at all. YOU WILL be purged from the group if found. This is FB after all. No need to take it serious. Just be courteous to others and all will be well. As always Mods & Admins can be found in the members tab. I understand you may disagree with a MOD or ADMIN. If you feel the need to block a MOD (this should really never happen) for whatever reason you must get ADMIN approval or you will be booted. You can never block an ADMIN. No roll calls, countdowns or posts of hidden Mickey’s that is not located on Disney property please. This is not something one will get removed for but with the number of members we have posts of those nature can take over the page so they are often deleted. It is nothing personal just housekeeping. There are plenty of other groups that love those posts so we let them have the market share of those while we stick to accurate news, information and question answering often with a little bit of snarkiness. Thanks for your support!

iNSIDE Disney Parks - Top Costumes at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party View the full article

I just received the info I needed in the mail. The courts notified them. You just have to wait until they get notified by the courts if foreclosure sale. Then Disney will contact you. Thanks, Ken

Are you ready for another trip around the World? We’ve got lots of new eats, treats, and Gaston-themed Feasts coming at you for this round of What’s New (along with a peek at a lot — and I mean A LOT — of stuff to come!). We’re kicking off our latest jaunt at the most Magical of All Kingdoms… Magic Kingdom A recent visit to the Magic Kingdom revealed changes and additions — both big and small — to Counter Service spots all over the park. Greetings from Magic Kingdom! But the one that might just take the cake (CUPcake, that is!) is the new Donald Duck Vanilla Cupcake at the Main Street Bakery! Donald Duck Cupcake Labeled simply as the “Specialty Cupcake” in Main Street Bakery’s case, it brings to mind the scene from the end (Bah DUM Pah!!) of the Mickey’s PhilharMagic attraction. Remember the Ham and Cheese-stuffed Pretzel that made its debut earlier this year? Ham and Cheese Stuffed Pretzel Well, look no more for it at its original location, The Lunching Pad. It now has two different homes: find it at Tomorrowland’s Cooling Station… Cooling Station …or take a trip to New Fantasyland and visit Gaston’s Tavern. Gaston’s Tavern Ham and Cheese-stuffed Pretzel at Gaston’s Tavern The Tavern Beef Stew, by the way, is nowhere to be found on the menu. It seems that Gaston’s Tavern is still searching for a signature snack to go with a cold glass of LeFou’s Brew. Gaston’s Tavern menu Speaking of Gaston (and shouldn’t we ALWAYS be speaking of Gaston… according to him, anyway?), you can now enjoy a feast in his honor for breakfast at Be Our Guest Restaurant. Be Our Guest Restaurant Feast A La Gaston features Scrambled Eggs, Herb-Roasted Potatoes, Apple Smoked Bacon, and Chicken Sausage served with fresh fruit (like the other pre-fixe meals for breakfast at Be Our Guest, it’s also served with a selection of pastries). The ever-changing menu at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe has had yet another update. Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe menu The Southwest Burger has returned, while the newer Taco Burger has kept its place on the menu. If you’re paying a visit to our good pal Sonny Eclipse at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, you’ll want to take note of a few changes to the menu. Sonny Eclipse entertains at Cosmic Ray’s A Barbecued Pork Cheeseburger and Bacon Cheddar Hot Dog have joined the Bays at Cosmic Rays, and the Greek Salad now comes with Chicken. Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe menu Caesar Salad with Shrimp is now an option at Pinocchio Village Haus. Pinocchio Village Haus Pinocchio Village Haus menu Change up your typical fountain beverage, tea or Frozen Slush at Columbia Harbour House by adding a flavor boost for 50 cents. Columbia Harbour House menu We enjoyed a Sprite with Watermelon, and a Lemonade Slush with Wildberry. Look for a review here soon! Sprite with Watermelon and Lemonade Slush with Wildberry Oh! You’ll also find a new Corn Cobbette side on the menu here, too… which you should totally order if for no other reason than it’s fun to say “Corn Cobbette.” Columbia Harbour House menu Better-for-You Fare spots such as Prince Eric’s Village Market and Liberty Square Market are the places you can now find Village Farms Snack Pack Tomatoes. Prince Eric’s Village Market menu Village Farm Snack Pack Tomatoes Keep an eye out for these in the other parks as well, in spots like Animal Kingdom’s Harambe Fruit Market and Anaheim Produce in Hollywood Studios. What’s that? Did somebody say… Hollywood Studios WHOOPEEEE!!!! Four new Whoopie Pies are now gracing the bakery case at Sweet Spells on Sunset Boulevard! Sweet Spells Maple Bacon Whoopie Pies Take your pick from Banana, Orange Cream, Cookies and Cream, and Maple Bacon (but not until you check out our full review here!). Whoopie Pies! Cookies & Cream Whoopie Pie Look for a S’mores Tart and the return of Raspberry Swirl Poundcake at in-park Starbucks locations such as The Trolley Car Cafe. Trolley Car Cafe entrance S’mores Tart Raspberry Swirl Poundcake And just a reminder that Advance Dining Reservations are available for Minnie’s Summertime Dine — the next Minnie’s Seasonal Dine — at Hollywood and Vine, which will run from June 6th through Sept 11th. Hollywood & Vine Minnie should be sporting new beach duds that will be a bit different from the garb she dons at Cape May Cafe, as pictured below. Minnie’s Beach Wear at Cape May Cafe Remember… this means that the highly anticipated Halloween Dine featuring the Fab Five wearing some new Halloween costumes will start on September 12th, and is scheduled to run through November 6th. Epcot Be sure to stop by L’Artisan des Glaces to check out their newest flavor of house-made ice cream… L’artisan des Glaces …Banana Lime! @L’Artisan des Glaces on Instagram Then continue your World Showcase stroll towards the American Adventure Pavilion. Liberty Inn New options at Liberty Inn include a Cup of Clam Chowder and the chance to bump up your Frozen Coke with a float of Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey. Additional Options at Liberty Inn Cup of Clam Chowder And fans of the latest Hard Soda rage will be glad to see the arrival of Henry’s Hard Orange Soda at Fife & Drum Tavern, along with the option to enjoy it in an Adults-Only Float. Fife And Drum Animal Kingdom You didn’t think we forgot about Animal Kingdom, did you? Goodness, no! But you’ll have to stay tuned, as the park makes its transition into an all-day park with nighttime activities beginning Memorial Day Weekend! Enjoy the Tree of Life… AT NIGHT very soon! These experiences will include TWO new street parties — the Discovery Island Carnivale and the Harambe Wildlife Parti. Also watch for the Tree of Life to Awaken each night, and the debut of evening journeys on Kilimanjaro Safaris. Of course, we here at the DFB are most excited about the openings of Tiffins, which will bring Signature Dining to Animal Kingdom, and the Nomad Lounge! The Discovery River will also play host to the “Jungle Book: Alive with Magic,” as we await the Rivers of Light evening spectacular debut. Check out the seating arrangements! Seating around Discovery River Seating around Discovery River Seating around Discovery River Resorts Beach Club There is even more of a reason to make a trip to Beaches & Cream (aside from the Kitchen Sink, of course ), with the arrival of the new Adults-Only drink menu featuring Hard Floats and a variety of Shakes made just for grown-ups! Adult Shakes and Floats at Beaches & Cream Tropical Sunrise Float in To-Go Cup Read all about ‘em here! Contempo Cafe The current seasonal cupcakes at Contempo Cafe include the Watermelon Cupcake and the Churro Cupcake (oh, my YUM!). Watermelon Cupcake Churro Cupcake Get ‘em while the gettin’s good, my friends… the Watermelon is only available through May 28th. Thankfully, you should be able to find the Churro Cupcake through July 2nd. We’ll have a review coming soon (get the CHURRO ONE!!). Boardwalk The construction walls have come down that were surrounding the soon-to-be-open Ample Hills Creamery on Disney’s BoardWalk! Ample Hills Creamery Ample Hills Queue Spaceship Earth in Ample Hills Mural Be sure to take a sneak peek here, before the spot’s rumored May 15th opening! More to Come… VERY Soon! Well, that seems like plenty, doesn’t it? But hold onto your hats, folks, because you ain’t seen nothin’ yet… there’s a LOT more new stuff on the way with the brand new Town Center opening in Disney Springs on May 15th! Disney Springs mural With Town Center’s opening will come the arrival of SEVEN new eateries on that very same day! Amorette’s Patisserie will feature classic and contemporary pastries in a Disney owned and operated location… ©Disney ©Disney …while D-Luxe Burger will feature gourmet burgers and artisanal gelato shakes! ©Disney Sprinkles will be serving up cupcakes… and some of them will come straight from their famous Cupcake ATM! Sprinkles Cupcakes will offer a Cupcake ATM Three new kiosks will also hit the scene on the 15th: The Daily Poutine, B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co., and YeSake. B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co. coming VERY soon! And don’t forget… AristoCrepes is also set to join the new Disney Springs party in May as well! Look for it to open on the 22nd. AristoCrepes opening May 22nd And, yep… we’ve still got ONE MORE for ya! Have you heard the news? Reservations are available NOW for STK Orlando, opening on May 25th! STK sign installed at location earlier this year Click here to find out how you can score your reservation before they open up via the Disney World Advance Dining Reservation system. So be SURE to tune in next week… it’s gonna be a BIG one here on the DFB! In the meantime, though, thanks for joining us! And until next time, Eat and Be Happy! Have you spotted anything new during a recent trip around the World? We’d love to hear about it in a comment! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: What’s New Around Walt Disney World: February 9, 2016 What’s New Around Walt Disney World: March 15, 2016 What’s New Around Walt Disney World — April 13, 2016 View the full article

New FastPass+ Enhancements at Walt Disney World Resort View the full article

No one is plummeting down the signature water slide at Walt Disney World's Blizzard Beach these days. Summit Plummet - and the nearby Slush Gusher - have been closed for weeks, and it's uncertain when they will reopen. Disney says a broken pipe at the water park is to blame. Some websites have... View the full article

With sweets almost too pretty to eat, Amorette’s Patisserie showcases the beautiful work of Walt Disney World Resort pastry chefs in a new shop at Disney Springs. Just like many of the new areas coming to Disney Springs, Amorette’s Patisserie also has a story to tell. Established as one of the first shops in Town Center (circa 1900s) and passed down through the generations, the patisserie is currently owned by artistic sisters Kara and Sara, where they pour great care into designing and creating the most unique and artistic pastries. In fact, “Amorette” means “little love” in French. Classic and contemporary cakes and pastries are the stars in this high-end pastry shop where guests can watch pastry chefs decorate signature cakes in the on-stage finishing kitchen. Even the beautiful boutique-style packaging, inspired by old-fashioned hatboxes, lends to the sophisticated feel of the location. Oh, those sweets! From a classic macaron or crisp, light pavlova to the ultimate chocolate-chocolate chunk cookie, Amorette’s is a dessert lover’s dream come true. There’s something for everyone: eclairs, New York-style cheesecake, opera cake and sacher torte. Special sweets have names like “Reflection in Memphis” (peanut blondie with bacon, banana and chocolate) and Strawberry Fields of OC (strawberry mousse with basil sugar and lemon curd). Amorette’s Signature Cake is beautifully decorated, with 10 layers of delectable flavors and textures. You’ll want to take a photo before you dig in; these are edibles that only a talented pastry artist could create. And, yes, there’s gluten friendly cakes on the menu. Amorette’s features a few delectable beverage options as well. Sip a Champagne or sparkling wine with your pastry, or go straight for the indulgent Amorette’s Hot Chocolate Ganache, a cupful of sippable chocolate with Chantilly and shaved dark chocolate on top. You also can opt for a glass of cold milk, coffee or tea. We say, eat dessert first! Amorette’s Patisserie will open on May 15 with the rest of Town Center, and beginning May 22, you can pre-order Amorette’s Patisserie cakes by calling 407-934-3500 with 72 business hours advance notice. View the full article

Disney Vacation Club 25 and Beyond Bash | Walt Disney World View the full article

Today it was announced on the official Disney Parks Blog that the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show will be closing on April 2, 2016, in order to make way for the construction of the future Toy Story and Star Wars Lands in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You may be wondering, “Ok… but what does that have to do with food, Disney FOOD Blog?” Well, lemme tell ya… the Lights, Motors, Action! attraction is situated in the Streets of America section of the park, which will be getting some major changes with the updates (hence the final display of The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights this past holiday season). And the Disney Parks Blog post also confirmed that there will be more closures of “nearby locations” in that area of the park. Streets of America First, please understand that NONE of the spots mentioned below have been confirmed by Disney as facing closure. However, we can only assume that one or more of the following locations in the direct area may be affected: Herbie’s Drive-In and the Pretzel Garden are the two nearest snack kiosks to the entrance to the attraction. Herbie’s Drive-In Pretzel Garden at Streets of America And while each of those snack spots could presumably move to other locations around the park, that’s not the case with the Counter Service restaurant, Studio Catering Co. (In fact, sources such as the Orlando Sentinel have stated that Studio Catering Co. is indeed closing; however, there isn’t a confirmation from Disney at this time). Studios Catering Co. And we would assume that High Octane Refreshments, which is connected to Studio Catering Co., would follow suit. High Octane Refreshments next to Studio Catering Co. And… our most beloved Writer’s Stop. Original home of the Carrot Cake Cookie and the Cheese Danish the Size of Your Head. Writer’s Stop Entrance So, if it turns out we’re correct on these, you may want to take some time on your upcoming Disney trip to grab some Chili-Cheese Nachos at Herbie’s or a Tropical Splash at High Octane Refreshments. And, of course, a Carrot Cake Cookie at The Writer’s Stop, Now, it’s true… you can also get the Carrot Cake Cookie at Sweet Spells (whew!), but how about making sure you grab it at the original location? You know, for old times sake. What do you think of the upcoming changes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Please let us know with a comment! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook Fan Related posts: News! Menu Refresh for Studio Catering Co. at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Photo Tour: Streets of America “Restaurants” in Disney’s Hollywood Studios #OnTheList: Carrot Cake Cookie in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! View the full article

If still available I would be happy to take all 132. Let me know. Tnks.

I have a friend who is at AK today and is seeing the Lion King right now!! Woo Hoo, I'm so happy it is open again!!!

Everything is the same. Same show, same backless bleachers

There is not allot of water view near the HH. Try 16, 62, 23 but some of those are considered "prrefrred" or what ever they call it so they may be taken. On the other side from HH 63 but you also are looking at the entry road. 14 and 13 are on water but the vegetation is pretty mature so you need to be on a higher floor and we found it to be a little "dark" because of the growth. My husband demands sun on vacation LOL. 45 & 46 are on the canal but they are about as far from HH as you can get but very quiet and has their own lovely pool. You can request as many bldg # as you want and remember the lower floors are really losing their view with the mature veg. Call MS to make request - I wouldn't trust online. Also when you get there if you are not happy and you give them a tussle they do try to move you. I also got burned on the lst trip when I asked for first floor. I arrived and we were on the second floor - their answer was I asked for "lower floor" which was a cop out. We had to change location to get first floor so keep your eye on them

Hope this helps. Talked to MS today. Banked points cannot be transfered,but you can make reservations for others. Stay away from "rent" word when doing this. Transfers can be done current year to current year. Each member can transfer and receive only 1 time a year. That said may be interested in Sept 2 nites total 20 pts. Your thoughts?

Eighty years ago today, Mickey Mouse's short-tempered, feathered friend Donald Duck made his Disney debut. View the full article

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/villas-at-wilderness-lodge/

I'm disappointed that it looks like they are using the same bleacher benches with no backs. We were hoping they'd have more comfortable seats. It is very hard on the back to sit that long without support.

You can also contact Scott at Dvc Rental. I know people have had good results with him. I am not sure what he pays out but you would not have to do anything.

My friend doesn't go to Disney often, but the pictures she took still look the same as the old show! I will let you know in 3 weeks when we go see it!!

Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is a timeshare program operated by Disney. The program currently operates twelve resorts: eight DVC resorts at Walt Disney World (with a 9th coming in 2015) and one DVC resort at Disneyland in California, as well as one resort each in Oahu, Hawaii, Vero Beach, Florida and Hilton Head, South Carolina. This page is primarily focused on evaluating the Disney Vacation Club for those who will buy and use points mainly in a DVC resort at Walt Disney World and/or Disneyland, but there is some information on DVC resorts in general. Introduction Deciding Whether or Not to Join Dues Increases vs. Resort Rate Increases DVC Cost vs. Paying Cash for Your Resort Stay Opportunity Cost Other Expenses and Benefits Long-Term Issues Best Candidates for DVC Membership Resale or Direct From Disney? Incentives Conclusion More Information Owner's Locker Renting Disney Vacation Club Points Disney Vacation Club Members With Extra Points Introduction There are nine DVC resorts at Walt Disney World: Animal Kingdom Villas, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Beach Club Villas, BoardWalk Villas, Villas at Grand Floridian, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, Villas at Wilderness Lodge and the Polynesian Villas and Bungalows. There is one DVC resort at Disneyland in California: Villas at Grand Californian. There are also DVC resorts in three beach locations: Oahu, Hawaii, Vero Beach, Florida and Hilton Head, South Carolina. DVC operates on a “points” system that allows members to use their points in a flexible fashion at any of the DVC resorts. Those who have purchased their DVC points directly from Disney (or purchased resale DVC points prior to 3/21/11) can also use those points at Disney resort hotels in California, Florida, France, Hong Kong, Japan, the Disney Cruise Line, and other (non-Disney) vacations. While Disney likes to emphasize the flexibility of the points system and your ability to use them outside of Disney, the reality is that the most cost-effective use of DVC points is at the DVC resorts. Using points for cruises or regular hotel rooms just doesn’t give you as much “bang for your buck.” For that reason, DVC membership generally is not worth considering unless you plan to stay at a DVC resort at least every other year. With the exception of Saratoga Springs and Old Key West, the DVC resorts at Walt Disney World and Disneyland are located right next to Disney’s resort hotels. The units are extremely nice — in many respects actually nicer than most of Disney’s hotel rooms. Studio units at the Walt Disney World Disney Vacation Club resorts are about the size of Disney’s Deluxe hotel rooms (355 to 412 square feet) and include a mini-fridge and microwave. Most studios sleep 4 (plus one baby under age 3 in a crib) in two Queen beds or a Queen bed and a full-size sofa bed. The studios at the Villas at the Grand Floridian, Villas at Wilderness Lodge and the Polynesian Villas & Bungalows can sleep 5; they have a pull-down bunk-size bed (slightly smaller than a twin) under the television, which is big enough for a child or small adult. The Studio units at the Polynesian Villas & Bungalows all have a connecting door to an adjoining Studio unit. You cannot book two guaranteed connecting rooms, but they have so many of them that requests for two connecting rooms will usually be honored. There are also 1- and 2-bedroom villas that include a full kitchen (with all the basic cooking utensils, pots, pans and dishes supplied) and living room in addition to the bedroom(s), plus a whirlpool tub in the master bedroom and a washer/dryer in a closet. · Most 1-bedroom villas sleep 4 (plus one baby under age 3 in a crib), with a King bed in the bedroom and a Full-size pullout sofa in the living room. At Animal Kingdom Kidani Villas, the 1-bedroom units sleep 5 (the ones at Animal Kingdom Jambo House sleep 4) and at Bay Lake Tower, Villas at Grand Floridian and Old Key West, all of the 1-bedroom units sleep 5. In the units with a higher capacity, there is an additional pullout Twin-size bed in the living room. Most 1-bedroom villas have one bathroom, but at Animal Kingdom Kidani Villas and Bay Lake Tower, they have two bathrooms. · Most 2-bedroom villas sleep up to 8 (plus one baby under age 3 in a crib), with a King bed in one bedroom and two Queens or a Queen and a Full-size pullout sofa in the other bedroom, plus a Full-size pullout sofa in the living room. At Animal Kingdom Villas, most of the 2-bedroom units sleep 9 and at Bay Lake Tower, Villas at Grand Floridian and Old Key West, all of the 2-bedroom units sleep 9. In the units with a higher capacity, there is an additional pullout single bed in the living room. Most of the 2-bedrooms have two bathrooms, but at Animal Kingdom Kidani Villas and Bay Lake Tower, they have three bathrooms. The Treehouses at Saratoga Springs Resort have 3 bedrooms and sleep 9 (plus one baby under age 3 in a crib). There is one Queen bed each of the first two bedrooms; bunk beds in the third bedroom; and a Full-size pullout sofa and a Twin-size pullout chair in the living room. The Bungalows at the Polynesian Villas & Bungalows have two bedrooms and sleep 8 (plus one baby under age 3 in a crib). There is one King bed in the master bedroom, one Queen bed and one pull-down bunk-size bed in the second bedroom, and one pull-out Queen sofa bed and one pull-down bunk-size bed in the living room. Animal Kingdom Villas, Bay Lake Tower, BoardWalk Villas, Villas at Grand Floridian, Old Key West and Saratoga Springs also have 3-bedroom Grand Villas, for the ultimate in luxury and space — these can sleep up to 12 (plus one baby under age 3 in a crib) and offer a full kitchen, laundry facilities and more. The exact configurations vary, but generally there is a King bed in one bedroom; two Queens or a Queen and a full-size pullout sofa in each of the other two bedrooms; and a full- or Queen-size pullout sofa in the living room. Most Grand Villas have 4 bathrooms – one for each of the bedrooms, plus an extra off the living room area. DVC members receive a few extra benefits, including discounts at certain Disney World and Disneyland restaurants and shops (these change frequently), free high-speed Internet at the DVC resorts at Walt Disney World, and discounts on Walt Disney World Annual Passes. Deciding Whether or Not to Join Before purchasing a DVC membership, we think it’s a good idea to consider all of the costs and benefits, pros and cons. It’s really a very complex decision if you want to make sure you’re doing the wisest thing financially. In the sections below, we offer some thoughts on these issues. That said, some people just want to lock in an annual vacation at Disney with family and friends, regardless of whether it’s a “good deal” or not. Ultimately many DVC members have joined because they found the membership emotionally satisfying — and that’s a hard thing to evaluate. The initial cost of joining DVC is significant and you will pay substantial annual dues/maintenance fees, which go up every year. It’s very important to realize that you while you are purchasing a deeded and transferable interest, it is not a real estate investment, but rather a prepaid vacation plan. Among other things, your points are not good forever: they expire on January 31st of 2042, 2054, 2057, 2060, 2064 or 2066 depending on which resort you buy into. When considering a DVC membership, it’s a good idea to run some calculations. We did this, and also looked at spreadsheets done by others. It’s incredibly complex, because there are a zillion variables. Among the factors to consider are your vacation habits, whether you can afford the initial buy-in cost and its associated opportunity and whether you can handle the annual dues (be sure to account for annual dues increases). This may not make us popular in this day and age of “instant gratification,” but realistically; it is hard to argue that DVC membership is a financially responsible decision if you don’t have the upfront cost in the bank. If we had to borrow the money, we definitely would not join. Naturally Disney will suggest otherwise, because it makes a lot of money on the financing. (Of course, we also think it’s unwise to finance a vacation on credit cards. Call us old-fashioned — but we bet most financial advisors will agree with us.) Dues Increases vs. Resort Rate Increases The effect of annual dues increases on the total cost of DVC membership must be considered. One issue to keep in mind is that Disney can increase dues significantly from year to year, subject to a limit of 15% each year and a requirement to charge only for the actual operating expenses (including management of the operation) and reasonably expected necessary reserves. A portion of your dues is allocated to a capital reserve fund for major refurbishments. Adjustments are always possible if the projected reserve needs vary from actual experience, although Disney has been in lodging business for many decades and has considerable experience in what long-term costs to expect. Special assessments are possible if something unforeseen occurs (i.e. hurricane damage). Here are some examples of historical increases: · Old Key West Resort, the oldest of the DVC resorts (thus having the longest track record) had dues of $2.51 in 1991 and in 2014 had dues of $5.54. That means it has averaged a 3.50% increase, compounded annually. · BoardWalk Villas went from $3.70 in 1996 to $6.07 in 2014, an average annual compounded increase of 2.79%. · Villas at Wilderness Lodge went from $3.62 in 2000 to $5.93 in 2014, an average annual compounded increase of 3.59%. In short, it’s hard to gauge exactly what the annual increases will be. As the buildings age, it’s likely the increases will escalate. The smaller resorts are likely to have bigger increases because there are fewer members sharing the costs. In the scenarios expressed on this page, we assumed a 3.2% dues increase, compounded annually. If you think it will be higher, you should adjust your calculations accordingly. To be fair, the cash cost of staying in one of Disney’s resort rooms has also gone up significantly over time, and the cash cost of a resort room starts out much higher than the dues for an equivalent stay. Like the DVC resort dues increases, the rate increases at the Disney resort hotels are not consistent. For example: · In 1992 a standard room at Caribbean Beach Resort in Regular Season cost $77, while in 2014 it was $211 (weeknights) — a 4.69% increase, compounded annually. · In 1997 a studio at Old Key West in regular season cost $229, while in 2014 it was $414 — a 3.54% increase, compounded annually. · In 1998 a standard room at Yacht Club in regular season cost $280, while in 2014 it was $465 — a 3.22% increase, compounded annually. By the way, “compounded annually” means that each year’s increase is added to the total cost the previous year, not the original rate you were paying at the beginning. So if your 2008 dues at Saratoga Springs Resort are $4.21 and go up 3.2%, your new dues in 2009 would be $4.34. If those new dues of $4.34 per point go up 3.2%, your new dues in 2010 would be $4.48, and so on. Thus, the total grows geometrically. Assuming 3.2% compounded annually, the 2014 $4.91 per point dues at Saratoga Springs resort would slowly rise to $16.77 per point by 2053. Of course, the value of your dollar will almost certainly be lower by then, due to inflation. If inflation stays at or above the rate of dues increases and resort rate increases, they are not really significant in terms of your spending power. Recent years have had extremely low inflation, but that’s not guaranteed to continue. We think it’s fair to guess that dues increases and resort rate increases may be roughly equivalent over time. We based our calculations below on that assumption. If you think resort rates will go up faster (and they might) than DVC dues increases that will tend to make DVC membership look more attractive. DVC Cost vs. Paying Cash for Your Resort Stay Let’s say you buy 160 points at Saratoga Springs Resort. For purposes of this example, 160 points would cover 11 nights of vacation in a Saratoga Springs Studio unit: a 6-night stay (including one weekend night) in Magic Season and a 5-night stay (including one weekend night) in Choice season. · Your dues for 160 Saratoga Springs Resort points are $786 in 2014. (This ignores the buy-in cost of $20,800 and the associated opportunity cost.) · If you rented points from an owner to stay in a Saratoga Springs studio for the same dates at $12 a point, it would cost you $1920. · Maybe you’d be just as happy staying in the least expensive Disney Deluxe hotel room, and you’re able to get a modest discount on the hotel room. If you stayed at Wilderness Lodge in Regular Season with a 25% discount, 11 nights would cost you $3724.31 with tax in 2014. · If you paid the full “rack rate” charged by Disney to stay in a Saratoga Springs studio for 11 nights in Regular season, it would cost you $5123.25 with tax in 2014. · Note that Disney Deluxe resort stays are currently subject to 12.5% tax. DVC dues aren’t subject to sales or resort taxes. Deep resort rate discounts (25% off or more), such as Annual Passholder rates and “code” rates, are sometimes available at Walt Disney World. However, the number of discounted rooms has gone down each year lately, and in 2015 Disney eliminated their AAA discount, which was the only discount that was available almost all of the year. If your dates are flexible and you can go in the off-season you can probably get some kind of discount, but if you need to go during school vacations room discounts are going to be harder to get. There are no similar “discounts” on the number of points required for a DVC stay. Opportunity Cost Another factor to consider before buying into DVC is the “opportunity cost” — what you are losing by tying up your money with Disney, instead of using it for another purpose. Let’s say you put the same amount you would have used to buy a DVC membership into investments paying 7% annual interest. Each year you add the same amount of money you would have paid in DVC fees. Then you pay cash for your vacation each year out of this investment account. When you compare such an investment against a DVC purchase, the results will depend on a number of factors, including your vacation habits (how much time will you be spending at Disney World, Disneyland and other DVC resorts in the next 35-50 years? what kind of lodgings do you prefer?), the initial buy-in cost, the annual dues(be sure to account for annual dues increases), and any interest you would be paying if you finance the purchase. Every family can generate a different scenario. We’ve done some calculations based on certain assumptions, and the results are listed below. The assumptions include NOT financing the purchase. We also assumed there would be equivalent annual increases in dues, resort rates and cost to rent points. Most importantly, we assumed you didn’t get any incentives at buy-in. If you were able to buy your points at a reduced “incentive” price, a DVC purchase would be even more attractive than described below. In the following scenarios, DVC purchase beats investing the money (buy-in amount plus annual fees) and paying cash for your annual vacations: · You vacation for 10 nights every year in a Deluxe resort or DVC Studio unit at full “rack rates.” In this scenario, you’ll start saving money after 8 years or less of DVC ownership. In fact, if this is your vacation style, DVC is still a good deal even if you would only stay 10 nights in a DVC Studio every other year and throw away 50% of your points (though it will take longer to break even — about 21 years). · You stay 10 nights at a Deluxe resort each year, with a 25% discount (approx. 13 years to break even). · You stay 7 nights at a Deluxe resort each year at full “rack rates” (approx. 13 years to break even). · You vacation for 10 nights each year at a Moderate resort, paying full “rack rates” (approx. 20 years to break even). · You rent 160 points from a DVC owner each year, starting at $11 a point, for at least the next 24 years. · You vacation for 10 nights each year at a Moderate resort, with a 20% discount (approx. 42 years to break even). DVC purchase is not cost-effective in the following scenarios: · You vacation 7 nights per year at a Moderate resort, paying full “rack rates.” · You rent 160 points every other year from a DVC owner, starting at $11 a point. The break-even amount in 2014 dollars seems to be around $1850. If you would normally average less than that per year for your accommodations, DVC is probably not going to save you money. If you spend more than that per year, on average, and you can afford to write a check for the buy-in amount, it’s worth considering a DVC purchase. Maybe you don’t vacation at Walt Disney World every year, but when you do go, you stay in luxurious accommodations (Deluxe resorts or DVC units). DVC may still be a decent bet. You can bank your annual points, allowing you to skip a year. In fact, by carefully banking and borrowing points, it’s even possible to skip two years and only use the points every third year. Or you can rent out excess points. If you want to see how the above scenarios were calculated, right-click on this link and download the Excel file. Note that calculations were based on 2008 numbers and assume 3.2% annual compounded increases in all figures used. One last note on this topic: the scenarios above do not take into account a major benefit to investing the money instead of spending it on a DVC membership: your money remains liquid and available in case of emergency or changes in your financial situation. If you invest the money and want to stop vacationing at Disney World, you can easily divert the money to other uses. Other Expenses and Benefits Remember that the cost of accommodations is actually a small fraction of the overall cost of a vacation. Walt Disney World annual passes for a family of four (2 adults, 2 kids ages 3-9), with the DVC discount, cost over $2000 in 2014. Meals for a 10-day vacation can easily run $1200 or more for a family. Then you have to account for airfare (or gas to drive there), souvenirs, bottled water, extra ticketed events such as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and so on. DVC members do qualify for some discounts that may help with these additional vacation expenses. They save a substantial amount on Annual Passes at Walt Disney World, a small amount on first-time Annual Passes at Disneyland, and get some restaurant and merchandise discounts (but this varies and is always subject to change). Also, the villas have full kitchens, which could help a bit with the costs, since some meals can be made in the unit. DVC members and their guests may choose to purchase a Dining Plan when staying on “points” at a Walt Disney World DVC resort. The Dining Plans are available to the general public only as part of a vacation package, so this is a nice benefit for those DVC members. Another DVC benefit: you don’t pay extra when more than 2 adults are staying in one DVC unit. This is true whether you use your own points, rent points or pay cash. By contrast, the Disney resort hotels charge extra if you have more than 2 adults (defined as 18 and older) in a room. Depending on the ages of the people in your group, this may save you a bit. DVC members who are staying on points at a Walt Disney World DVC resort get FREE self-service laundry: laundry rooms near Studio accommodations have the machines rigged so no coins are required; a washer/dryer and a starter packet of laundry soap are included in 1-Bedroom and larger units. You may be able to deduct the property tax portion of your annual dues on your federal and/or state tax return. For instance, in 2004 Old Key West owners paid $0.7959 per point in property taxes, out of their total $3.6766 per point annual dues. For an owner with 150 points, that translated into $119.39 in property taxes that might be deductible. Consult your tax advisor for details. Long-Term Issues DVC contracts last a long time. Will you still want to go to Disney World every year, 25 years from now? 35 years from now? If your lifestyle changes, you get tired of Disney vacations, or you suffer financial reverses, the dues can become a burden. Then you’re faced with selling your membership, or renting out your points to cover the dues. Realistically, there is a reason why there are always DVC resales available: people do get in over their heads or just change their minds. A DVC owner who became a member over 12 years ago mentioned to MouseSavers.com founder Mary Waring that she might not make the same decision today. One thing she didn’t consider, she now realizes, is that your lifestyle changes over time. When she became a member, she had small children and went to Disney World every year. Now her kids are in college, and she says when that tuition bill arrives, she sometimes regrets owing $2000 in annual DVC dues. The single biggest reason people sell timeshares is that they can no longer afford the membership fees, which inevitably go up and up. This is why you’ll find so many (non-DVC) timeshare memberships being given away (or nearly so) on eBay and elsewhere, with the stipulation that the new owner takes over the fees. However, we have never seen a DVC membership being given away, because there is an active DVC resale market. DVC has retained its value better than most timeshares, partly because Disney buys back some resales under its “right of first refusal” clause, which helps to keep the resale prices up. Currently resellers are getting about 50-70% of full retail price, once they pay the associated sales costs. Additionally, there is a healthy demand for DVC point rentals, so it’s often possible for owners to cover their dues by renting out their points. As DVC memberships get closer and closer to their expiration dates, it’s likely that resale prices will drop. If you are contemplating the purchase of a resale for one of the resorts that expires in 2042, it’s possible the resale value might drop significantly at some point, particularly since there are other DVC resorts that don’t expire until 2057 or beyond. Given the success of DVC, there is every reason to expect that additional resorts will be built, with later and later expiration dates. On the other hand, there is a major advantage in your DVC membership having an expiration date: eventually you can get out of it! Most other timeshares are sold in perpetuity, which is not, in our opinion, a benefit: it just means the membership fees will never, ever end, so you are stuck paying those fees forever unless you can sell the membership. Best Candidates for DVC Membership DVC membership might make sense if you meet most or all of these criteria: · You have the cash in hand to pay all of the upfront costs of membership without borrowing. · The cost of dues does not appear to present a financial hardship based on your current expectations. · You vacation at Walt Disney World, Disneyland and/or Disney’s beach resorts (Vero Beach, Hilton Head, Aulani) frequently: ideally at least once every two years. · You plan to continue staying at DVC resorts far enough into the future to make the membership at least break even. · You prefer to stay in Deluxe or DVC accommodations and/or you stay a long time (10 days or more per year). · You are able to plan your vacations well in advance — ideally 7 to 11 months out. Resale or Direct From Disney? Generally only the newest resorts are available for immediate purchase directly through Disney. You can ask Disney to put you on a waiting list to purchase the other resorts, though they are supposedly “sold out.” If Disney exercises its “right of first refusal” on a resale, or it gets back points through foreclosure, it will turn around and sell those points at current full market rates to the next person on the waiting list. You can also purchase any of the resorts from current owners who want to get rid of their memberships, through the resale market. If your offer is too low, Disney will exercise its “right of first refusal” and buy it out from under you — which is nice for the seller, but a waste of the buyer’s time. Be sure to research before making your offer, so that you have a reasonable expectation of actually getting the contract. According to our calculations, the long-term value of a DVC membership is somewhat similar whether you buy a resale of one of the older resorts that expires sooner, or the newest resort direct from Disney. This varies depending on exactly how much you pay for the resale. When comparing buying a brand-new resort direct vs. a very recent resort like Saratoga or Animal Kingdom via resale, resale is almost always a much better value, because the cost is much lower and the life spans of the resorts are very similar. When comparing a brand-new resort vs. an older resort like BoardWalk or Wilderness Lodge that expires in 2042, it’s not always straightforward to tell which the better deal is over the long term. For that reason we think the decision to go with a resale vs. buying from Disney should take into account which resort you want, how much you are willing to pay up front (which will usually be a lot less with a resale) and how long a contract you want (through 2042, 2054, etc.). If purchasing directly from Disney, normally you must buy at least 100 points. It is possible to purchase less than 100 points through resale, though small contracts have much higher demand and lower supply on the resale market, making them less attractively priced for buyers. For years the minimum purchase requirement was 150 points, so there are quite a few 150-point contracts that may come up for resale. Also, some owners have purchased “add-ons” of as few as 25 points, which they may choose to sell off at some point. As of March 21, 2011, newly purchased resale points do not have all the same privileges as points purchased directly from Disney. Resale points are valid for reservations at Disney Vacation Club resorts, RCI exchanges, Club Cordial and Club Intrawest. Resale points are not valid for making reservations within the Disney Collection (including all non-DVC Disney resorts at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disney resorts outside the US), the Concierge Collection (about a dozen high-end hotels and resorts that have a direct relationship with DVC) or the Adventurer Collection (Adventures by Disney). Bear in mind, however, that the redemption options that are no longer available to resale buyers are a very poor use of DVC points anyway, as they require a large number of points in relation to the value received – so low that if you bought DVC points direct and only used them for exchanges like cruises, you would never break even on the purchase. So roughly speaking when you use a year’s worth of DVC points for Disney Collection or Concierge Collection, you are getting no real benefit, because you’re pushing out your break-even date on the initial purchase by approximately one more year. In pretty much every case, you can rent out your points for cash, use the cash to buy the cruise or other exchange, and have money left over. The best “bang for your buck,” by far, is to use DVC points to stay at a DVC resort, and points purchased in the resale market will allow you to do that. But if the ability to use DVC points to go on a Disney cruise or stay in a non-DVC Disney resort is important to you, even though the value you’ll receive for your points is low — well, then you will have to buy your points from Disney directly. Resale buyers still have the same privileges at DVC resorts as those who buy from Disney: the same ability to book 11 months in advance at your home resort or 7 months in advance for other DVC resorts, the same Annual Pass and dining discounts, free Internet access during your point’s stays, etc. Banking, borrowing and transferring of points is the same whether you buy resale or direct from Disney. If you bought a resale on or before March 20, 2011, the points you bought on the resale market are “grandfathered in” and retain full privileges. You continue to receive the exact same benefits and discounts as someone who bought directly from Disney. If you give your ownership to a friend or relative, or leave it to them in your will, Disney will transfer the ownership with full exchange privileges intact. If you are interested in buying a resale, several Florida real estate companies specialize in DVC resales — try a Google search to find them. Incentives Disney offers special incentives for new buyers on the DVC resorts that are currently available for direct sale. These offers are subject to change at any time and may not be available when you make your purchase. A minimum purchase of 100 points is usually required for new buyers. A good source for finding the most recent incentives is DVCNews.com. Conclusion Buying a DVC membership is a rational, financially viable option for some people: namely people with the cost of the initial purchase already sitting in the bank, who plan to stay in the higher-end accommodations at Walt Disney World, Disneyland and/or Disney’s beach resorts on a regular basis. A DVC purchase is a way of committing to an annual Disney vacation with family and friends. For some people, that may outweigh any financial considerations. Only you can determine if DVC membership makes sense for your situation. Information provided by Mousesavers

George A. Kalogridis offered the below statement regarding the tragic accident that occurred yesterday at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: “There are no words to convey the profound sorrow we feel for the family and their unimaginable loss. We are devastated and heartbroken by this tragic accident and are doing what we can to help them during this difficult time. On behalf of everyone at Disney, we offer them our deepest sympathy.” George A. Kalogridis, President, Walt Disney World Resort View the full article