DVC Newscast

Peter and Sue discuss Walt Disney World's announcement of park-specific pricing for Genie+ and the impact on guests. Disney Vacation Club will offer extra festivities at Disney's Jollywood Nights and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on select days this holiday season. N116

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Walt Disney World announced plans to change Genie+ to park-specific pricing with a more expensive price to use the service in multiple parks. Disney shared in a statement:

“Beginning June 27, Guests at Walt Disney World will now purchase Disney Genie+ service based on how they want to visit. Guests will be able to select either a single-park option or a multiple-parks option, subject to availability. With this update, prices may now be lower at some Walt Disney World theme parks compared to others.”

The example given showed Animal Kingdom at $16, Epcot at $18, the studios at $24, and Magic Kingdom at $27. The multi-park option is also at $27. At this stage there is no indication whether these prices will be fixed or continue to vary based on date. It has been stated that if ONE park sells out, then the multi-park option will also be sold out.

Source: Spectrum News 13, WDWNT

Six Disney Vacation Club resorts have made it onto the top 15 list of US resorts for families, according to the Disney Parks Blog.  These include:

Source: Disney Parks Blog

According to DVC News, two Disney Vacation Club resorts away from Walt Disney World will be receiving refurbishments this year. 

Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort is scheduled to start a refurbishment in July 2023. This is a full hard goods refurbishment which will completely redo the resort interiors as well as other areas across the resort. 

Starting in October 2023, the rooms at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort are also scheduled for a soft goods update. While this isn’t as extensive as a hard goods refurbishment, it can mean new flooring and furnishings. The refurbishment is expected to last through January 2023. 

Source: DVCNews.com - HHI, DVCNews.com - Vero

For select nights of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and Disney Jollywood Nights, Disney Vacation Club announced some “extra festivities” will be available for eligible Members.  The dates listed for MVMCP are November 9, 16, 30 and December 7, 14 and 21, and December 6 and 20 for Jollywood Nights. At this time, the specifics of the events have not been provided. Expect something similar to the offerings at Gaston’s Tavern during MVMCP in 2022, with special treats and an extra photo op of some sorts. Jollywood Nights and MVMCP tickets go on sale on June 29th for guests with on-site reservations and July 6th for all other guests. 

Source: DVC Facebook - Jollywood Nights, DVC Facebook - MVMCP

It takes an incredible community of DVC members to produce our content. We're always recruiting people to help research, produce, edit, or join our shows to share their stories. Thus far, we've had over 400 DVC members on our shows.

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Facebook admins and moderators of the My DVC Points Community Group: Sandy Symianick, Gina Grotsky, Shannon Ford, Caleb Allison, and Mary Anne Tracy. "Take Flight" music by Martinrowberry1 on Pond5.

Shannon, Peter, and Sue discuss the holiday announcements at Walt Disney World, including Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and the new Disney Jollywood Nights. Disney Vacation Club direct sales are strong for May 2023, driven primarily by the debut of the Villas at Disneyland Hotel and continued popularity of the Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort. N115

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Walt Disney World announces a new hard ticket event for the 2023 holiday season called Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Among the attractions are a holiday special with Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy at the Theater of the Stars, a sing-along at Hyperion Theater, and the return of the Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam nighttime show. Multiple meet and greets will be offered, including Mickey and Minnie and friends, Phineas and Ferb, Max as Powerline, and Edna Mode and a Super friend. Most rides appear to be open during the event, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will offer a virtual queue. Guests can also enjoy two limited capacity entertainment experiences: a Jazz Lounge at the Brown Derby and an “other worldly soiree” at the Tower of Terror courtyard.

Tickets go on sale June 29th for on-site guests and July 6th for all guests. The ticket price range from $159 to $179 per person, and a DVC discount of $10 is offered. Dates are as follows:

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is returning to Magic Kingdom. Nothing new has been announced for the event and it appears the castle lights aren’t returning as there is a new Frozen-themed castle show that will be on both party and non-party nights which will light the castle “In a whole new way”. TRON Lightcycle / Run will use a virtual queue during the event

Tickets go on sale June 29th for on-site guests and July 6th for all guests. The ticket price range from $159 to $199 per person, and a DVC discount of $10 is offered. Dates are as follows:.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

DVC News is reporting strong opening sales for the Villas at Disneyland Hotel. Sales started on May 2nd for existing members, and between May 15th and May 31st, 1,151 deeds were registered with Orange County for a total of 147,288 points. Note that this is likely only part of the total sales for the month, and new member sales did not start until May 30th. Average deed size was 128 points and the median size was 150 points, which means more than half the deeds were 150 points or larger.

In addition another 135,000 points were sold at Walt Disney World resorts, with 40% of those sales coming from Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort. Grand Floridian is now 60% sold and expectations are that it will be sold out within the next 12-15 months. Meanwhile Riviera sold 41,500 points - below recent averages. After sales started in April 2019, Riviera is now 54 % sold after 4+ years, and is likely to take at least another 5 to 6 years to sell out. Even taking the COVID-19 pandemic into account, this cannot be seen as a success by DVC.  For instance Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas, which is 15% larger than Riviera, sold out in 7 years without the benefit of luxury rooms or direct resort access. It is likely that Riviera will still be selling long after Grand Floridian, Disneyland Hotel, and even the upcoming Polynesian Tower are sold out. 

Source: DVC News - VDH, DVC News - WDW DVC

The restaurant was originally scheduled to be closed for refurbishment June 11th through June 17th, but now Disney is reporting it will stay closed until sometime in late June. The restaurant will not be open for dinner, but will provide a limited breakfast menu. Guests with breakfast reservations will still be honored but will be directed to dine in the Flying Fish dining room next door.

The nearby Pizza Window will also be closed until late June.

Source: WDW Magic, Walt Disney World website

It takes an incredible community of DVC members to produce our content. We're always recruiting people to help research, produce, edit, or join our shows to share their stories. Thus far, we've had over 400 DVC members on our shows.

If our content has been a blessing to your family, please consider supporting our show through our VIP Producer's Club at Patreon.com and join us for the Patreon After-Party from our live shows.

Facebook admins and moderators of the My DVC Points Community Group: Sandy Symianick, Gina Grotsky, Shannon Ford, Caleb Allison, and Mary Anne Tracy. "Take Flight" music by Martinrowberry1 on Pond5.

Peter and Vicky discuss the return of Disney Dining Plans in 2024. Disney Vacation Club also revealed incentives for new and existing Members for the summer. They also discuss the initial declaration of Villas at Disneyland Hotel, the upcoming Copper Creek Refurbishment, and the soft opening of Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. N114

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Disney dining plans will be coming back as an option for those staying at Disney Resort hotels starting with stays beginning Jan. 9, 2024, which will also open for bookings on May 31. Guests will be able to choose from two popular options: the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining Plan. Quick service meals include an entree and a drink, and table service meals include an entree, drink, and dessert. Adults 21 and over may order an alcoholic beverage as their drink with their meal with both dining plans.

Source: Disney Parks Blog, Disney Food Blog

Commonly, when a new Disney Vacation Club resort opens, only a percentage of the rooms are “declared” as part of the DVC availability for sales and bookings, while the remaining rooms are held for cash rentals. Most resorts historically had an initial declaration around 25%, with Grand Floridian recently declaring roughly 50% of the resort right out the gate. 

We now know the details of the Villas at Disneyland Hotel's initial declaration. A total of 61 rooms or 575,000 points have been declared at the resort, amounting to just under 20% of the rooms. The specific rooms that have been declared are as follows:

This number isn’t broken down into total numbers in each category. The main reason we want to share this information is to show that some booking categories - especially 1 and 2-bedrooms - will have limited availability early on. As sales continue, more rooms of the various categories will be declared. 

Source: DVC News

On May 30th, Disney Vacation Club revealed the new member incentives and updated existing member incentives for the Villas at Disneyland Hotel. Incentives combine a flat developer incentive combined with a number of “Free Points”. For example at 150 points, new buyers get  $1000 discount and 5 “Free” points, a total value of $2150 or ~$14.33 per point. Existing members get an additional $150 over that number. As predicted, these prices are less generous than the original incentives that started on May 2nd and ended on May 29th. 

Similar incentives are being offered for Aulani, Riviera, and Grand Floridian. These offers are scheduled to last through September 11th.

Source: DVC News

As Copper Creek hits seven years of age, its first scheduled refresh has been scheduled. Usually considered a “soft goods” refresh, the refurbishment will begin in April 2024 and continue through August 2024. Rooms will be taken out of service in blocks during this time, so expect availability to be worse than normal during the refurbishment. 

Source: DVC News

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster started running soft opening over the weekend. While the ride is not yet officially on the Disney system nor on Genie+, it has been open every day since May 27th. Word from those that have ridden it say very little has changed, with bright and improved signage being the most significant difference. 

Source: Blog Mickey; Peter Schiedle

It takes an incredible community of DVC members to produce our content. We're always recruiting people to help research, produce, edit, or join our shows to share their stories. Thus far, we've had over 400 DVC members on our shows.

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Shannon and Peter react to the recent announcements about changes coming to the park reservations and Genie+ in 2024, as well as the return of the dining plan. Also they discuss Disneyland Hotel incentives, more Disneyland Forward outreach events, and a new sushi restaurant in EPCOT. N113

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New member incentives were posted for the first purchases by existing members. Initial incentives are often the best that occur for a while. Incentives start at 125 points with a $4 per point reduction. The price reduction jumps to $20 at 150 points and goes up slowly past that. (For example, $22 for 200 points, $24 for 300 points.)

Source: DVC News

In a marketing push for 2024 reservations, Disney announced several changes to vacations coming in 2024.

As of January 9, 2024, multi-day tickets bought to start on a certain date will no longer require park reservations. Single-day tickets, non-dated tickets, and annual passholders “may be required” to use the reservation system.

In 2024, Disney will offer Annual Passholders and cast members “Good-to-Go” days which DON’T require a reservation either. These may vary by the park—no idea what portion of days will fall under this category.

Dining Plans will return starting with a stay on January 9, 2024. Two options will be available initially - The Disney Quick Service Dining Plan and the Disney Dining Plan. Prices have yet to be available, but booking will start May 31st. Last time the dining plans were available, prices were $55 adults / $26 children 3-9 for QS dining plan and $78 adults/$30.50 children 3-9 for full dining plan.

Extended morning hours for resort guests and evening hours for deluxe guests will continue through 2024.

Changes to Genie+ are coming as well, with no details. Still, Disney shared, “We have heard from guests that they would like ways to plan with Disney Genie+ service and individual lightning lane selections before the day of their park visit, and we want you to know we are working on ways guests may do this for visits in 2024. Our goal is to give you the opportunity to spend less time planning in the park and more time enjoying your visit with friends and family.”

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Disney continues to push the “Disneyland Forward” concept with the people and city of Anaheim - a potential future expansion of the Disneyland Resort. The Orange County Register lists nine upcoming events where Disney contacts community members on this topic.

Why is this important to DVC members? The expansion plans would put the Disneyland Hotel and its DVC resort in the center of the possible planned expansion. If you want to take a closer look, go to www.Disneylandforward.com.

While this is more than a rumor, it should be pointed out that Disney has no concrete plans at this time and no guarantee as to when or even if this will happen.

Source: OC register

This table-service restaurant will offer a festive dining experience in a sharable Izakaya style for you to create memories and good times through flavors. In addition to a full menu filled with mouthwatering Japanese delights like sushi and teppan items, there will be an open sushi bar and grill. Located on the second floor of the Japan pavilion, Shiki-Sai offers stunning views of EPCOT, the World Showcase Lagoon, and, of course, fireworks!

Source: Disney Parks Blog

It takes an incredible community of DVC members to produce our content. We're always recruiting people to help research, produce, edit, or join our shows to share their stories. Thus far, we've had over 400 DVC members on our shows.

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Facebook admins and moderators of the My DVC Points Community Group: Sandy Symianick, Gina Grotsky, Shannon Ford, Caleb Allison, and Mary Anne Tracy. "Take Flight" music by Martinrowberry1 on Pond5.

Peter and Vicky discuss the surprising announcement of the new Disney Vacation Club resort at Fort Wilderness. DVC also revealed the booking dates for the Villas at the Disneyland Hotel. Vicky also shares her experience at the new DVC lounge at Disneyland, Star View Station! N112

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Members who purchase points at the new Villas at the Disneyland Hotel will be able to book their room reservations starting May 16th.  New VDH owners will have an exclusive window for booking from September 28, 2023 (opening date) through April 16th, 2024 and continuing in the 11-month window.

Eligible Members who own at other resorts will be allowed to book reservations at VDH starting July 27th, 2023. Eligibility will depend on what resale restrictions your points may fall under. Booking will be available through February 27th and continuing in the 7-month window. 

Source: DVC News

In a rather surprising announcement, on April 20th, Disney announced that the cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness would be torn down and replaced with new units that will become the 17th DVC timeshare. The official name is The Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort - a Disney Vacation Club Resort. There will be 350 units available, intended to sleep up to six adults.  The new design will include a private bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen with as well as a patio. According to Disney, “Some” of the units will be dog-friendly. Opening of the new cabins is said to be sometime in 2024.

Source: DVC News

Get ready dahling! The Edna Mode Experience returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 14 as part of a reimagined Pixar Place, where you’ll also encounter Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Frozone, and Sulley from “Monsters, Inc."

Source: Disney Facebook

It takes an incredible community of DVC members to produce our content. We're always recruiting people to help research, produce, edit, or join our shows to share their stories. Thus far, we've had over 400 DVC members on our shows.

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Facebook admins and moderators of the My DVC Points Community Group: Sandy Symianick, Gina Grotsky, Shannon Ford, Caleb Allison, and Mary Anne Tracy. "Take Flight" music by Martinrowberry1 on Pond5.

New sales information was released about the Disneyland Hotel Tower DVC build. The initial reaction from the Disneyland Hotel Tower prospective owners group was grim. Transient Taxes, High Point Charts, and no free parking.

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Story #1 - Sales details on Villas at Disneyland Hotel (VDH)

Points of Discussion

Source: DVC website

Story #2 -  Guardians of the Galaxy Screen and Scream 

Source: DVC Direct Email to Members

It takes an incredible community of DVC members to produce our content. We're always recruiting people to help research, produce, edit, or join our shows to share their stories. Thus far, we've had over 400 DVC members on our shows.

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Facebook admins and moderators of the My DVC Points Community Group: Sandy Symianick, Gina Grotsky, Shannon Ford, Caleb Allison, and Mary Anne Tracy. "Take Flight" music by Martinrowberry1 on Pond5.

This week, Shannon, Peter, and Vicky discuss the finer points of the DVC new member minimum, the return of Magic Keys and Annual Passes, the closure of Splash Mountain, and release dates for the 2024 member cruises.

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Source: DVC website

Disneyland annual passes, known as Magic Keys, have been on and off sale for the last year, and on April 10th, Disney resumed selling all four categories of Magic Keys. Was announced shortly after the announcement that all Walt Disney World Annual Passes would go back on sale.

Source: DVCNews

We finally have an announcement for Splash Mountain’s closure in Disneyland, and it’s a month and a half away on May 30th. So if you’re going to get one final plunge in, you better get your park passes in place. Expect a madhouse on that date. But on the good side, Rogers the Musical opens in DCA on June 30th.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

It takes an incredible community of DVC members to produce our content. We're always recruiting people to help research, produce, edit, or join our shows to share their stories. Thus far, we've had over 400 DVC members on our shows.

If our content has been a blessing to your family, please consider supporting our show through our VIP Producer's Club at Patreon.com and join us for the Patreon After-Party from our live shows.

Facebook admins and moderators of the My DVC Points Community Group: Sandy Symianick, Gina Grotsky, Shannon Ford, Caleb Allison, and Mary Anne Tracy. "Take Flight" music by Martinrowberry1 on Pond5.

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Annual passes are going back on sale at Walt Disney World. DVC Members can login on April 13th to purchase an annual pass online. Here's the official email from DVC.

It takes an incredible community of DVC members to produce our content. We're always recruiting people to help research, produce, edit, or join our shows to share their stories. Thus far, we've had over 400 DVC members on our shows.

If our content has been a blessing to your family, please consider supporting our show through our VIP Producer's Club at Patreon.com and join us for the Patreon After-Party from our live shows.

Facebook admins and moderators of the My DVC Points Community Group: Sandy Symianick, Gina Grotsky, Shannon Ford, Caleb Allison, and Mary Anne Tracy. "Take Flight" music by Martinrowberry1 on Pond5.

Peter and Vicky discuss the latest news about the new Disney Vacation Club lounge opening date in Disneyland, two newly announced DVC cruises for 2024, the newest Disney Cruise Line ship, and much more.

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Disney Vacation Club announced two DVC Member cruises. The first cruise is for 7 nights in the Mediterranean on May 18-25, 2024. The ship will depart from Barcelona to Naples, Civittavechia (Rome), Livorno and Villafranche. The second cruise is for 5 nights and will include two stops at Lighthouse Point and one at Castaway Cay. The cruise is scheduled for June 14-19, 2024.

Currently no booking date has been set for these cruises. Member cruises frequently sell out very quickly.

Source: DVC Website - Mediterranean Cruise, DVC Website - Lighthouse Point, WDWNT

On March 29th, Disney Cruise Line announced a new agreement to base the newly acquired ship (formerly known as the Global Dream) out of the Port of Singapore from 2025 to 2030. Disney has not yet given a name to the new ship. Disney currently has no ships that sail out of Asian ports.

Source: Disney Parks Blog

The first-ever member lounge at Disneyland Park in California has an official opening date. First revealed last year, an email was sent to members announcing DVC Star View Station opens on April 19th. The lounge is located on the second level of the old Carousel of Progress / Star Wars Launch Bay building. “This complimentary space will welcome eligible Members and their guests to refresh and recharge…Enjoy comfortable seating, complimentary soft drinks, a dedicated DVC Member services team, free Wi-Fi, and more!”

Source: Member E-mail, Disney Parks Blog

Reports indicate that Rock ‘N Roller Coaster will not see any significant changes when it reopens after the refurbishment. While retheming is frequently rumored, it won’t happen this year!

Source: WDWNT

The saga of the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has run up against a wall of Disney lawyers, who put in place agreements with the former Reedy Creek Improvement District.

The previous Disney-allied board signed a long-lasting development agreement that drastically limits control over the company and its district. As part of a 30-year development agreement, Disney no longer needs board approval to build high-density projects or buildings of any height and can sell or assign development rights. It also bans the board from using Disney’s name or any of its characters.

The agreement includes a “royal clause” that dates back to 1692 in Britain to determine the limitation of the term. This “Declaration shall continue in effect until 21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, King of England, living as of the date of this declaration.”

Source: MSNBC

It takes an incredible community of DVC members to produce our content. We're always recruiting people to help research, produce, edit, or join our shows to share their stories. Thus far, we've had over 400 DVC members on our shows.

If our content has been a blessing to your family, please consider supporting our show through our VIP Producer's Club at Patreon.com and join us for the Patreon After-Party from our live shows.

Facebook admins and moderators of the My DVC Points Community Group: Sandy Symianick, Gina Grotsky, Shannon Ford, Caleb Allison, and Mary Anne Tracy. "Take Flight" music by Martinrowberry1 on Pond5.

Cash prices for fall 2023 are shared for the Villas at the Disneyland Hotel. Three new meet and greets are announced for Walt Disney World. Happily Ever After fireworks dessert party dates and pricing announced. And Sue shares a bit of her experience riding the Galactic Starcruiser. Episode 107

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Thanks to Chad Pennycuff and other members of our MY DVC POINTS community, we have a good idea of cash pricing for the new VIllas at Disneyland resort.

Source: Various

Shared on the Disney Parks Instagram - these new meet and greets will be added later this year:

Source: Disney Instagram

Happily Ever After dessert party will be available to book starting March 23rd and will recommence with the opening on April 1st - HEA doesn’t start until April 3rd, so the first two nights will be the last chance to see the current show. Three options are available to book.

Source: WDWNT

It takes an incredible community of DVC members to produce our content. We're always recruiting people to help research, produce, edit, or join our shows to share their stories. Thus far, we've had over 400 DVC members on our shows.

If our content has been a blessing to your family, please consider supporting our show through our VIP Producer's Club at Patreon.com and join us for the Patreon After-Party from our live shows.

Facebook admins and moderators of the My DVC Points Community Group: Sandy Symianick, Gina Grotsky, Shannon Ford, Caleb Allison, and Mary Anne Tracy. "Take Flight" music by Martinrowberry1 on Pond5.