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 In This Newsletter
From the Authors: DVC, DVC, and a Little DCL
Travel Feature: Disney Vacation Club's Hilton Head Island Resort
Disney Feature: Disney Vacation Club
Updates: What's New and Changed
Tips: Love That Loose Change, Safari Club Strategy, Map Magic
Captain's Corner: Disney a la Hawaii
Q&A: What is the best way to get from Port Canaveral to MCO?
Our Sponsors: We Recommend...
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Updates:
What's New and Changed
Here are a few items of relevant news: A New Disney Resort in Hawaii has been announced by Disney Parks and Resorts. To be located at the Ko Olina Resort and Marina
west of Honolulu on the island of Oahu. The new, 21-acre facility will
offer a total of 800 hotel rooms and Disney Vacation Club villas,
and is set to open in 2011. Ko Olina is a beachfront resort development
currently offering vacation homes, hotel acommodations, golf, and other
recreation. Marriott operates a conventional hotel and a timeshare
resort on the property.
Interested in Hawaii? Read our feature article on Hawaii!
This fall, Disney Cruise Line will be introducing a new convenience for cruisers - Onboard Airline Check-In.
Guests taking a domestic flight on participating airlines post-cruise
will be able to complete a pre-registration form when they check in for
their cruise at Port Canaveral. Then the day before disembarkation,
their boarding passes will be delivered to their stateroom. Once back
at Port Canaveral, guests proceed directly to Customs, skipping the
baggage claim area as their bags will be delivered directly to their
outgoing flight. Once at the airport, guests go through airport
security and on to the assigned gate. The participating airlines are:
AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental
Airlines, Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines and United
Airlines/Ted.
Disney Cruise Line passengers can now pre-pay gratuities
for their stateroom host/hostess and dining room staff up to three days
prior to sailing. Cruisers are still free to charge gratuities on
board or pay cash. The option gives cruisers a chance to
skip the long lines at Guest Services at the end of the cruise.
The "Year of a Million Dreams" has been extended into 2008 and new Disney Dreams prizes have been announced. The new prizes include:
- A chance for guests to spend the night inside Disneyland in Walt's Dream Suite.
Using architectural renderings that Walt Disney himself commissioned for an
in-park, family retreat that was never completed, Disneyland Resort is creating
a lavish new guest suite in the park’s New Orleans Square. Beginning Jan. 31,
2008 -- and continuing most nights throughout the year - a different winner will
be chosen through a random process to bring up to five guests to live Walt's
dream and spend that night in the Disneyland Dream Suite inside Disneyland
Park.
- A private day at Disney's tropical island paradise, Castaway
Cay.
- A New Year's Eve night stay inside Cinderella Castle Suite at
Walt Disney World Resort.
- A trip to the "High School Musical 3" film
premiere for two winners and up to three guests each. One prize includes a VIP
vacation to Disneyland Resort in California and the other features a VIP
vacation to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida where the music and excitement
of "High School Musical" comes to life in high-energy shows.
- Become Disney's
Grand Marshal Around the Globe. One winner and up to three guests will be sent
on a 15-day whirlwind tour of four Disney destinations -- Disneyland Resort,
Walt Disney World Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Resort Paris. At
each stop on the magical journey, the winner will serve as Honorary Grand
Marshal of Disney's daily parade.
The 2008 Disney Dreams Catalog is online with photos and descriptions of all the prizes can be viewed online.
Port Orleans Riverside will be offering the seasonal program, Campfire on de' Bayou, on Sunday and Thursday nights, October 2007 - February 2008 from 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm (weather permitting).
Join Cast Members at the campfire behind the Fishin' Hole at Ol' Man
Island for stories and songs from the bayou. S'mores kits are available
for $5.25 each. No reservations necessary.
Our thanks to AllEars.net and MousePlanet.com from which we get some of our news leads.
>Things To Do: Hear some news?Send it to us at
news@passporter.com
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Disney Tips:
From Fellow Readers
Our readers deliver a wealth of information! Here are the winners in this month's tip contest:
LOVE THAT LOOSE CHANGE
"Your change can add up to special memories! We have a 'Disney' bank
that we put all of our loose change in -- it can really add up.
This year I split the money between my three kids and allowed them to
pick some special things to do with it. My daughters (6-year-old twins)
went to the Wonderland Tea Party and picked a pearl at the Japan
Pavilion in Epcot. My 13-year-old son splurged on the Sea Raycers and
some special pins for his collection. All three also got the 'Build a
Cup' frozen coke at Club Station Cool. It was a great way to use that
'found' money."
-- contributed by Pam E.
SAFARI CLUB STRATEGY
"If you do not want to wait very long to eat at the Rainforest Cafe (at
any location, including Downtown Disney or Animal Kingdom), sign up for
the Safari Club. It will usually get you a table within 20 minutes of
your check in. Also, you can get a discount or a free appetizer with
your dinner. It's a great thing to have especially during busy hours."
-- contributed by Chloe C.
MAP MAGIC
"You may have noticed that the Disney park maps are sometimes more art
than map. Well, if you search for 'Lake Buena Vista, FL' or 'Walt Disney World' on sites like
Google Maps, you can see a clear satellite image of the Disney
Property. This can be a fun way to acquaint yourself the layout of the
parks and resorts, as well as an interesting, behind the scenes view of
the "non-guest" areas. The resolution is clear enough to pick out
individual cars in the parking lots."
-- contributed by Brian B.
Notes: Send us your tips ! You may see them in this newsletter and win a copy of PassPorter!
Want
more Disney tips? For Walt Disney World fans, we've collected 500 of
the best tips submitted by readers over the past six years. All have
been edited for accuracy and categorized. For details, visit the PassPorter Disney 500 info page or the PassPorter store. For Disney Cruise Line fans, we have an e-book with 250 cruiser tips, as well as a special cruise line comparison section and seven customized packing lists. For information, visit the Disney Cruise Clues info page.
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Captain's Corner:
Treasure Hunting Game
Play our fun and quirky treasure hunting game, hosted by Captain Jack Skatt from our book, "PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World."
The Captain makes a study of the delightful details -- sometimes
hidden, sometimes in plain sight but often overlooked -- at Walt Disney
World and aboard the Disney Cruise Line. Using notes from his journals,
he will lead you to this "treasure" at Disney with clues, questions,
photos, or riddles. Your challenge is to discover the answer by
searching your memory, visiting Disney, or even just looking really
hard on the Internet. If you think you've found the answer, e-mail it
to jackskatt@passporter.com
-- the first person to correctly submit the FULL answer will receive a
free PassPorter enamel pin or PassPorter name badge pin.
Here is this week's journal entry:
"After reading about the new Disney Vacation Club resort to be built in Hawaii, I took a jaunt over to Disney's own 'Hawaii.' White sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, relaxing hammocks, tiki torches, and glorious sunsets on a blue lagoon ... it's like heaven on earth. I photographed 'Hawaii' at sunset as a reminder of its beauty. I even love the name of it's lagoon ... the (rest of text obscured by water spray)"
Hawaii a la Disney
Exactly where was this photo taken AND what is the name of the lagoon? (For bonus points, post a comment with the same photo in the Photo Archive)
Send your full answer to jackskatt@passporter.com -- the winner will be notified by e-mail and announced in the next newsletter, along with the correct answer!
Congratulations to Holli Goetz who was the
winner
of last week's trivia contest! Holli was the first person to
identify the location of the photo as the pathway into Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom. To view
the original clue, see last week's newsletter.
If you
enjoy treasure hunts, we've got an entire book with over 100 distinct
treasure hunts and over 1500 questions, complete with clues and
contributions from Captain Jack Skatt. Get more details on
"PassPorter's Treasure Hunts at Walt Disney World" book at http://www.passporterstore.com.
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Q & A:
With Jennifer and Dave
twhitemk asks: "What is the best way to get from Port Canaveral to the Orlando International Airport? We would prefer not to use the buses."
Dave and Jennifer answer: "There are three 'best' ways, and one of them is the bus. Different folks have
different preferences. There are what I'd term emotional reasons to prefer/avoid
some of the options, but I won't include them in the analysis.
Bus is
very convenient, and inexpensive for parties for one or two. You don't even have
to get your luggage at the baggage carousel. Seating is reasonably comfortable.
Point-to-point transportation, no extra stops. This is the no-shopping decision.
Downside? The cost for a group of three or more approaches or exceeds the cost
of other alternatives.
Towncar service. Convenient, cheaper than the bus
for parties of four or more, but more expensive for fewer than three people. A
variety of companies offer service to/from the airport. The driver will meet you
at luggage claim (but you'll be responsible for getting your luggage from
baggage claim on level 2 down to to the car on level 1, since the driver has to
go retrieve his/her vehicle from a parking lot). Comfort? Exceptional for
parties of two, not quite as luxurious for parties of three or four. Downside?
Cost for smaller parties, more luggage handling than you'd have to deal with on
the bus, time/trouble to shop for the towncar service.
Car rental. Thanks
to the heavy competition for car rentals in the Orlando area, this is generally
the most economical for parties of two or more. You have the traditional
American freedom to be in control of your own vehicle, and family car comfort.
Downside? Time/trouble to comparison shop for a rental, pickup and drop off your
vehicle, handle all your luggage at all times, stop for gas (or pay the agency
for a full tank after you've only used about two-three gallons), adequate
luggage capacity for larger parties probably requires a higher-priced minivan
rental.
Three 'best' choices."
Have a question? Post questions at http://www.passporterboards.com -- and if you're lucky, you may find that folks have already asked and answered the same question that's on your mind!
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Future Newsletters:
Want To See Your Name in Print?
PassPorter
News is published weekly, and this means we're always in need of
articles! We're on the lookout for guest columnists who want to
contribute articles to this newsletter. No professional writing
experience is necessary, just a desire to share your experience with
others! Not only is this a great way to give something back to the
PassPorter community, but you get to see your name in "print" and
receive a $25 gift certificate for use at www.passporter.com.
For details and our article submission guidelines, please e-mail news@passporter.com. Articles about Disney and general travel are welcomed!
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Our Sponsors:
We Recommend...
PassPorter
only accepts advertising from services of the highest quality -- we
recommend these companies because we use them ourselves. Please support
our sponsors and, in turn, support this newsletter! This week's
sponsors are (in order of appearance):
MouseEarVacations.com -- Disney Cruise Line Special Offers
Mouse Fan Travel -- Book by 10/31/07 and we'll make a donation to Deb Wills fund for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
ALL STAR Vacation Homes -- Choose from more than 150 homes within 4 miles of Disney World
Thank you, sponsors!
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From the Authors: DVC, DVC, and a Little DCL
Hi, {{user("firstname")}}!
The
process of planning the articles that will appear in this newsletter
takes many weeks, so we're beginning to suspect that newsletter Editor
Sara Varney has psychic talents (at least, when it comes to the Disney
Vacation Club). Two weeks ago
this newsletter included an article on Disneyland's Grand Californian
Hotel, and just before that newsletter went out Disney announced an
expansion of that hotel that will include the addition of Disney
Vacation Club villas. Now this week, Sara pulled off the same trick.
Sara arranged for two articles about Disney Vacation Club, and
Disney announced its new DVC resort in Hawaii the day before we
went to press! How does she do it? Is she channeling Madame Leota?
We
enjoy looking for the trends behind Disney's press releases, and it
doesn't take a psychic to see a particularly interesting trend. Just
how much of a coincidence is it that within a few months Disney
announces new cruise ships and new resort developments in the Pacific
region? Everyone who follows the Disney Cruise Line expects that, after
its new ships enter service in 2011 and 2012, one ship (whether one of
the two new ships, or the existing Magic or Wonder) will be permanently
assigned to Los Angeles. Naturally, the nearby presence of Disneyland
Resort supports the cruise line's classic Land/Sea vacation packages.
Now, with the addition of Hawaii to the Disney vacation portfolio (in
time for the first new ship's arrival), Hawaiian Land/Sea vacations are
also in the cards (seven-night one-way cruises plus two-three days in
either Honolulu or Disneyland), and even Land/Sea/Land vacations
that would include stays at Disneyland and
in Hawaii. (While we expect that most West Coast itineraries will visit
Mexico, special seasonal itineraries to Hawaii and/or Alaska are
certainly in the cards.) Toss in an Adventures by Disney escorted tour,
another hop or two across the Pacific to Tokyo Disneyland and/or Hong
Kong Disneyland (Asia-based Disney fans may appreciate a cruise that
departs Honolulu for Disneyland) ... What's next? In keeping with this
Pacific Rim strategy, perhaps a Disney resort in Alaska to support
cruise line visits there (following the example of other cruise
lines)! For those of us who cover the Disney "beat," life never gets
boring.
Tips and Reminders
1. Monday is Columbus Day -- both our office and the post office will be closed.
2. Last week we introduced a great, new feature at the PassPorter web site -- the PassPorter Photo Archive! We've added hundreds of photos since then -- check it out!
3. We still have a couple dozen $1 older edition PassPorter books available. Order at http://www.passporterstore.com/store/one-buck-passporter.aspx
4. We're continuing to collect responses in our Adventures by Disney survey -- thank you to all who've already completed it.
MouseFest News: Registration is open for MouseFest!
We've got an all-new registration program this year that offers a host
of new benefits and gives folks a chance to support this great event. So far, over 400 people have registered! Read all about it! Special MouseFest room rates available!
MouseFest has arranged for a special discounted rate at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort for MouseFest!
Stay near the heart of MouseFest action within walking distance of Epcot(r), Disney-MGM Studios, Disney's BoardWalk
entertainment district, Disney's Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf courses, and Saturday's MouseFest's Mega Mouse Meet
at the Walt Disney World Dolphin. To learn more, visit http://www.mousefest.org.
And check out the MouseFest event schedule , also at the MouseFest.org web site.
New meets are being added to the schedule on a regular basis, and the
list of people attending just keeps growing! At least ten of our
PassPorter Guides (moderators) are attending,
as are more than 135 PassPorter community members and readers! Stay tuned for more
MouseFest announcements in the weeks and months to
come.
In this "all DVC" issue, PassPorter community member Jill Koenig describes the pleasures of Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort,
and guest columnist and PassPorter message board Guide Sue Kulick describes the properties and ins and outs of the Disney Vacation Club. Finally, Jack Skatt is back with a brand-new Walt Disney World Treasure Hunt. Enjoy!
Jennifer and Dave
PassPorter Publishers and Authors
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Did You Know?
Great Walt Disney World Rates are available at MouseEarVacations.com!
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Travel Feature:
Disney Vacation Club's Hilton Head Island Resort
by Jill Koenig, PassPorter Guest Columnist
How could a Disney vacation possibly be any fun without characters or rides? Come to Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort in the Low Country of South Carolina and you will soon discover how.
Instead of searching out the Yeti on Expedition Everest, you will most likely spend your days gazing over the gorgeous marsh from your balcony or meandering down the oak-lined paths that run throughout the resort. The peace, tranquility and simple beauty of this resort will capture your heart and spirit from the moment that you check in. Some of our fondest memories of our trip involved just exploring the resort. Whether it was playing horse shoes with our older daughter on a spot overlooking the marsh or pointing out the birds to our younger daughter while walking down the pier, we found delight in the simplest pleasures.
Don't assume that the only thing to do at the resort is to be awed by nature. When you check in, you are given a Recreation Activities Calendar that is packed full of activities and tours for all ages. There are also two pools at the resort: one at the resort itself and one at the Beach House which is located on the other side of Route 278 (otherwise known as the William Hilton Parkway, the Island's main drag), to which you can either take a resort shuttle or drive your car.
Each day, we alternated where we spent our pool time. At the Beach House, we actually enjoyed the other amenities as much as we enjoyed their large pool. When my husband took our younger daughter back to our villa for a nap, my older daughter and I played a fierce game of ping pong and then retreated inside to the cool and comfortable Surfman's Station for board games. The Big Buoy Arcade is also located at the Beach House, but outdoor activities kept us too busy. We also spent time on the beach where a fellow vacationer taught us how to rescue starfish from the pools that formed on the beach after high tide and return them to their rightful place in the ocean. My daughter is still talking about saving those starfish.
The resort pool, The Big Dipper, is located next to The Pool House which is home to the Broad Creek Mercantile, Tide Me Over snack bar, the Community Hall, Bend & Stretch Exercise Room, and the Recreation Activity Sign-Up Window. In addition to a large pool, there is also a winding water slide for the more adventurous and a baby pool, The Little Dipper, for the tikes in your party. A shuffleboard court and ping pong tables are also located nearby for when you are ready for a break from the pool. Within steps of the pool, a 300-foot pier stretches out over the marsh where you can fish or just take in the beauty of day.
The fun doesn't stop at this resort when the sun goes down. Our older daughter looks forward to the nighttime activities the entire day. She and her dad participated in the Campfire two nights enjoying songs and s'mores. They are still singing the songs that they learned those nights!
Her favorite activities starred Disney's biggest commodity in Hilton Head: B'Lou Crabbe. You will not find Mickey or Minnie at this resort, but B'Lou Crabbe is Hilton Head's answer to these Disney counterparts. He is not a character in the Disney sense of the word; instead, he is a gentleman of character who is a jack-of-all-trades and a lover of magic, music and folklore.
One night he entertained my older daughter and me with a magic show and then, two hours later, he thrilled my husband and daughter with ghost stories. Hearing my six-year-old daughter dramatically recount a ghost story of local legend from my own childhood was pure magic for me.
One of the biggest highlights of our trip came about from my daughter's obsession with a certain dog named Shadow. Shadow is to B'Lou Crabbe what Pluto is to Mickey. She is the mascot of the resort and has quite a following. As the legend goes, she belonged to the owner of the land on which the resort was built and she had free reign over that piece of property. When Disney purchased the land, Shadow did not want to leave her home and kept popping up during construction. Shadow's owner finally gave her to Disney since she seemed to belong to the land more than any one person. You can even see "paw prints" in the foyer of the villas -- an homage to the mischievous Shadow.
Shadow is a beautiful golden retriever who is getting a little older, but is still the sweetest dog you will ever meet. She endures hours of b
eing petted and pulled on by children without a whimper and greets everyone with a wag of her tail.
Shadow usually makes daily appearances around the resort, so we were excited to hear one morning that Shadow would be at her dog house, which is located on the porch of the Live Oak Lodge where you check in. Our villa happened to be only steps away, so at the appointed time, my older daughter and I stepped out of our villa and immediately set sight on B'Lou Crabbe and Shadow. For the next two hours, we sat at B'Lou's feet while he played his fiddle and a mandolin, sang and told us stories. Of course, there was much petting of Shadow too! It was an incredible two hours of Low Country magic and it rivaled any show that you will ever see at Disney World.
Also located in the Live Oak Lodge is Big Murggie's Den where you can relax in a comfortable leather chair or play a game of pool. My older daughter beat her dad in checkers one night in that cozy room.
There are countless other activities to interest people of all ages: kayaking, crafts, nature walks, and dolphin cruises just to name a few. Do not worry about being bored if you're the type of person who does not enjoy sitting on the beach with a book. You can make your vacation as relaxing or jam packed as you wish.
One of my favorite activities, eating, is not forgotten on Hilton Head Island. Some of the best restaurants on the island can be found a short walk from the resort at Shelter Cove Harbour. During the day, we enjoyed delicious sandwiches from Tide Me Over at the resort pool and Signals snack bar at the Beach House. Surfman's Sand Bar at the Beach House serves refreshing tropical drinks and smoothies for the smaller set. My daughter highly recommends the Cookie Monster smoothie.
Vacationing at Disney's Hilton Head Resort has become an annual tradition for our family. It's just not summer if we don't spend at least a long weekend at our favorite Low Country retreat. Just like Disney World, it has something for everyone in our family.
I spent every evening of our trip sipping a glass of wine on our balcony while watching the sun set over the marsh. As day drifted into night, I marveled as the sky turned from orange to red to purple. Disney's Hilton Head Resort had cast its spell on me once again.
About the Author: Jill is a proud member of the PassPorter Message Board where she loves writing trip reports about her latest Walt Disney World vacation and exchanging advice with fellow Passporters. In her real life, she works in the Information Technology department of an insurance company and enjoys reading and cooking. She loves nothing more than being in her happy place with her husband, Thom, and their two daughters, Mary Devall and Maddie.
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Did you enjoy this article? Have questions? E-mail us at news@passporter.com or visit http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss your travel plans. Also check out our Article Collection for more great information!
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Did You Know?
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we’ll make a donation to Deb Wills
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Visit us at: www.MouseFanTravel.com
*Per person/dbl occupancy, subject to availability - CST207807440
Click for full details. - As to Disney artwork: ©Disney
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Disney Feature:
Disney Vacation Club: Disney Raises the Timeshare Bar
by Sue Kulick, PassPorter Message Board Guide and Guest Contributor
Think you know timeshares? Think you've heard it all? Think again!
Florida and timeshares go together like salt and pepper, like hearts and flowers, like, well ... Mickey and Minnie! As Florida became a popular resort destination, more and more timeshare companies offered their wares in the land of sun and fun. Traditional timeshares let you pay for a week or two at a beautiful resort property, usually complete with kitchen, several bedrooms and all the comforts of home. You are somewhat limited in your choice of week, and many of the contracts are for a certain time period, i.e., a week.
In 1991, Walt Disney World turned the timeshare business in the Orlando area on its ear, introducing a revolutionary concept in timeshares known as "Resort Ownership". The Disney Vacation Club (DVC) was born!
The first DVC resort property was known simply as "The Disney Vacation Club". Today, it is known as Old Key West, and has an old-time, laid back, Florida theme. It is done in beautiful pastel and seaside colors, and set around the Lake Buena Vista Golf Courses. The rooms are also among the largest in the DVC family.
In 1995, DVC added Vero Beach, and in March 1996, the Hilton Head Island resort was added. These resorts are not on Walt Disney World property, but an ownership there gave owners the opportunity to stay at DVC properties at Walt Disney World! And in summer 1996, DVC opened their second Walt Disney World resort, Boardwalk Villas. This resort brought back memories of turn of the century Atlantic City. The family was growing!
In 2000, the Villas at Wilderness Lodge were opened, themed after the old lodges in the National Park Service in the 1900s. In 2002, Beach Club Villas was added with its laid back beach theme. In 2003, DVC started to sell Saratoga Springs, which invoked the richness and fun of the famous New York State race, and the first buildings opened in 2004. And this year, the Animal Kingdom Villas, with all their mystery and excitement, opened for occupancy!
So what is it about DVC that makes it so unique? Well, first of all, DVC uses a point system to secure reservations. Each room is assigned a point value, and those values are based on the size of your accommodation, the resort, the day of the week (weekend values are higher) and the time of year (or "season" as DVC refers to them) in which you are traveling. The seasons change slightly from year to year, but you will always receive a book that will let you know the seasons.
A DVC resort differs from a regular resort room in that it has different amenities. A studio has a small kitchenette area, and access to laundry facilities. A one-bedroom has a full kitchen, a separate master bedroom that sleeps two, and split bathroom complete with Jacuzzi tub. It also contains an apartment-size washer and dryer. A two-bedroom contains what a one-bedroom does, plus a second bedroom that can sleep up to four. In a "lock-off" 2-bedroom, which is a studio connected to a one-bedroom, you will have a second bathroom and an additional kitchenette. And for true luxury, there are Grand Villas, which sleep 12, and are truly an experience!
If you like daily "Mousekeeping" (housekeeping service), DVC may not be your cup of tea. You will get "trash and towel" service (change the towels, empty the trash) on day four of your stay, and a full cleaning on day eight. But other than that, you are on your own.
And of course, there is the magic of staying on Disney property. Most other timeshares in the area make you a "day guest," where you arrive at Walt Disney World by car in the morning and leave by car each night. But the DVC resorts are on property, and accessible by boat, bus and all the other forms of Disney transportation. You can use the resort amenities, including the pool, hot tub, and workout room. At Old Key West and Saratoga Springs you can park your vehicle outside your villa, and at Animal Kingdom Villas, Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Boardwalk Villas and Beach Club Villas, you can take advantage of free valet parking, a perk available to DVC guests staying at a DVC resort on points.
You can also use your points to stay at any moderate or deluxe resort on Disney property, at Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney or Hong Kong Disney. And you can use you points to take a Disney cruise!
And if you get tired of Disney, DVC has an exchange program. You can stay at some of the top hotels in the world (Concierge Collection and World Passport Collection), take a safari or an Alaska cruise (Adventurer collection), or spend a week at over 450 destinations through an agreement with Interval International (Member Getaways).
DVC properties are an ownership, complete with a deed. They are also a contract, with an expiration date. Currently, contracts for Old Key West, Beach Club Villas, Boardwalk Villas, Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Vero Beach, and Hilton Head expire in 2042. (Although Old Key West members are currently receiving lease extension packets that offers them the option to extend their membership to January 2057.) Saratoga Springs contracts expire in 2054, and Animal Kingdom Villas contracts expire in 2057.
Disney Vacation Club owners have grown to almost 90,000 families since their simple beginnings in 1991. If you'd like to learn more about what is being called "Disney's Best Kept Secret", stop by one of the DVC kiosks the next time you are at Walt Disney World. Or visit our active DVC Forum on the PassPorter message boards any time. We'd love to chat with you and answer any questions you may have!
[Editor's Note: Disney recently announced plans to open DVC resorts at Disneyland Resort's Grand Californian Hotel in 2009, and in Hawaii in 2011 (see What's New and Changed).]
About the Author: Sue Kulick is a resident of the Pocono Mountains and an avid Disney fan. She and her husband, Steve, live in a log home with their Golden Retrievers, Cody and Belle and their cat Tigger.
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Did you enjoy this article? Have questions? E-mail us at news@passporter.com or visit http://www.passporterboards.com to discuss your Disney vacation plans. Also check out our Article Collection for more great information!
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Special
for PassPorter News readers:
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