This summer, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) has offered a new way to learn about their offerings. And the approach might be a better way to learn about DVC.
Roadside sign near Epcot's backstage entrance promotes Disney Vacation Club. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
By way of disclosure, I don't have any ownership or investment in DVC. I suppose that if I lived outside of Orlando, I would be their perfect candidate. But I live 15 minutes away from the Walt Disney World Resort, so the emphasis of their offerings really do not appeal to me.
That's not to say that I wouldn't mind spending time at Disney's Vero Beach Resort, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, or Disney's new Aulani resort opening in August. And while I've stayed at two out of three of those resorts, I wouldn't mind having ownership. But frankly, vacation typically means visiting family who live far away from a DVC experience.
Still, I'm fascinated by the process and may just surprise my wife someday with points. So when I received an invitation to “Vacation with Character” by means of a visit to a DVC presentation, I thought it would be fun.
I also thought it would be interesting since my old stomping ground was Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort , when it was first known as The Disney Institute. So from the moment I drove on property, a lot of memories came to mind. Yes, the residences are thankfully new. But the core resort buildings are a step back in time.
The spirit of Saratoga, New York, is represented in this statue near the entrance of the Performance Hall. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
I also thought it might be good for a lot of people who have been wondering what goes on at Disney to get a taste of what lies ahead for them if they attend.
Typically, a guest visiting one of the many kiosks in the parks and resorts are whisked away to Saratoga Springs where they largely walk through the main building (and what was once known as the gym at the Disney Institute). There are different reasons one might leave the park and be whisked from backstage to spend a few hours at a DVC presentation at Saratoga Springs. I know that a primary reason is that a set of FastPasses are offered to the family in exchange for taking the time. That seems fair enough.
Most of those who sign up for a DVC tour will visit the old gym of the Disney Institute. Be assured that the very expensive basketball floors are no more. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Once they are there, children are separated to a play area, and adults are brought into a lovely lounge full of refreshments.
A beautiful lounge invites guests to grab a bite to eat and imagine the possibilities in vacationing through Disney. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
After the presentation and one-on-one time with a sales representative, they are reunited with the children where they are brought to an ice cream parlor for free ice cream.
Even if you don't purchase vacation points, Disney wants you to end your time with them on a happy note via this ice cream parlor, which features a train running between it and the children's play area. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
That's what most people experience. But DVC has created a new experience called “Vacation with Character.” To participate in that program, you need to register at this site. Note that there are times for you to sign up for. Choose the time that works best for you while you are or if you already live in the Orlando area.
On the day of the event, you will be escorted over, if you are staying at a Disney hotel. If you are living in the area, and/or, staying off property, you are invited to drive over to Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort, park, and head to the Performance Hall, adjacent to the lobby, where you check in. (The Performance Hall is still practically the same as when I was there. That facility was designed with ideal acoustics, which would permit formal concerts and symphonies to be performed. Those days are gone, as there is a piano player tapping away at Disney tunes. The stage has a big colorful screen and the box seats are filled not with higher paying guests, but families with small children coloring away on provided tables).
The Performance Hall at Saratoga Springs no longer hosts the Disney Institute logo as it originally had. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
After stepping into the hall, you sign in and are given a bag with a notebook and lots of brochures. Bottled water is on hand if you'd like, along with the crayons and coloring books for the kids. Fill out a form and you're entered into a drawing. The drawing that day was for a $50 Disney gift card.
You are welcomed by two cast members you wish were your neighbors, and who provide a 45-minute presentation. That presentation, full of video and illustrations, showcases why people join DVC, the various locations, and how the point system works. Pay attention to what's being shared, because at certain times they pose some trivia questions for prizes.
Vacation with Character features the new DVC logo. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
At the end of the presentation, they do the drawing and you are given a set of options. One is to remain for a few minutes to have an exclusive meet-and-greet with Mickey and Goofy. If you're looking to have a photo op, this is your best moment in the trip. When we were there, there were very few families, and the wait was practically nothing. Plus you had a more relaxed setting to shoot a great photo.
A meet and greet opportunity with Mickey and Goofy awaits all at the end of the presentation. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
The other option is to visit the schoolhouse and models, and/or talk to a sales representative one-on-one. I chose the latter, which allowed me to not have to wait around for that experience. My visit was with Sheri, who was very casual, and who was an actual member of the DVC before she moved to Orlando and became a Disney cast member. There was no pressure at all during the experience, and she answered all of my questions, of which I had several. Make no mistake, they want to influence the right fit guests into buying membership into the DVC.
After I was finished I visited what I refer to as the Red School House. This may be confusing to you, as the color is now yellow, not red. But for many years, this was the classroom where I taught Disney Institute Programs. I remember that when we first occupied the room, we had to have clearance from Wing Chao in Burbank for any modifications made to putting a couple of television monitors on the wall. So I was blown away how the space had been entirely cut up and reutilized.
I actually have a painting of this schoolhouse (in red) in my home. I found an original painting on sale after the Institute closed shop here. Photo by J. Jeff Kober
Here you will walk in on some high-tech video displays showcasing DVC and the Wonderful World of Disney. Electronic maps showcase different locations for visiting. Surrounding all of this and vying for your attention is a wonderful spread of salads, drinks and desserts. Individual dining areas spread out from there, so that a family can munch away while being attended to by a Disney Vacation Club host or hostess who will answer your membership questions.
The schoolhouse now caters food, beverage, and a multi-media presentation of DVC offerings. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Equally interesting is what was once the former adjacent cinema. This location has been completely retooled into a model center. When you walk in you see models of the new Aulani Resort, as well as a layout of the rooms at Disney's Treehouse Villas.
Emphasis is currently placed on Disney's new Aulani resort. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Step one way to see an entire mockup for Aulani.
Model room for Disney's new Aulani resort. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
Step another way to see an entire mockup for the villas at Disney's Animal Kingdom Resort. Everything was impressive.
The Disney Animal Kingdom Villas model is as rich in detail as any Disney accommodation. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
When I got ready to leave I was presented a $40 AMC Gift Card. Nice touch. Beats FastPasses and ice cream.
So there you have it. It's fairly pain free to experience “Vacation with Character.” I'll probably buy into DVC someday. Again, I'd be their perfect customer if I didn't live in Orlando. Still, I may have need of points in the future. If you're looking to buy, you should know the following: There are four main costs involved in purchasing and using a DVC membership. They include:
- Purchase of the Points. The greater the total number of points you buy, the greater flexibility in the number of nights, size of accommodation, and location.
- Closing Costs. They talk about this one-time fee being usually $200-$600 depending on the number of points purchased.
- Annual Dues. These fees come annually as part of the cost of maintaining the facilities you use.
- Transaction Fee. If you choose to stay on another property other than Disney Vacation Club, you pay a transaction cost of $95.
And here are some of the questions you should consider asking as you go through any DVC presentation:
- What are the minimum number of points I have to buy?
- Why would I want to buy into a resort that costs more points than another resort?
- What is the ceiling for increases on annual dues?
- What incentives do I get for buying at certain point levels?
- What incentives are there for purchasing my membership today?
- What incentives and discounts are there after the purchase?
- How long are these prices good for?
- When are payments due?
- Can certain payments be paid on a monthly basis?
- What is the interest rate for taking a loan through Disney?
- How many days/weeks do I have to roll a loan over from Disney to another bank?
- How does my credit rating influence the interest rate?
- What tax deductions may I qualify for?
- What are the closing costs?
- What are my options for closing?
- What advantages/disadvantages exist in purchasing points directly from a seller, rather than Disney?
- What advantages are there for using my Disney Visa Card for payment?
- How long is actual membership in the Disney Vacation Club good for?
- What happens if I become behind on payments?
- If I don't use my points each year, what happens?
- What is the process for selling my points?
If you choose to visit the “Vacation with Character” experience, enjoy it. It can be fun. Don't pressure yourself into buying, if you're not ready. If you are, enjoy the experience of making what will probably be your biggest Disney purchase ever. If you're not, dream about the possibilities and work toward it. Disney has designed the experience to make it enjoyable, whether or not you make a purchase. So enjoy!
