My DVC Points

Aaron DelPrince is not only a DVC Member but also the founder of Magical Wishes for Kids. The Indianapolis Disney meet is a fan gathering of theme park fans from across the midwest. MWFK.org does numerous fundraisers each year to raise money to support Give Kids the World in Kissimmee, Florida. When Make-A-Wish and over 150 other charities send a critically ill child to Disney, Give Kids the World Village hosts the families and coordinates the logistics of that event. Magical Wishes for Kids' largest event is the "Disney Indy Meet," and it's a meetup for Disney fans from all across the mid-west. Admission is free and includes food, entertainment and discussion break out rooms.

(The podcast player and YouTube video are embedded above.)

Today's Agenda:

Updates from the My DVC Points Live CastShannon – Mrs. America PageantAlicia – Golden Sands Bucket BarChad – Visiting Alicia, Weekly Podcast and Smartphone AppCurrent Topics in DVC This Week – DVCinfo.comDisney Parks Mom's Panel is RecruitingDVCinfo's SSR Before and After Photos – This is a game-changer for Saratoga Springs. SSR may not be ‘the resort of last resort' much longer!Football Games at Reunion Station for Blue Card MembersAaron DelPrince – Magical Wishes for KidsCommunity Member Question: When buying your family's DVC portfolio, what ratio of direct points to resale points do you suggest?It depends on what you want to do with direct points. If you're happy with staying in the classic 14 resorts, just buy the minimum. If you want to go on a member cruise or stay in a newer resort, you should consider buying 35-40% of the points required directly from DVC. This way you can bank and borrow to reach the direct goals.Community Member Question: Is the 75 Point Minimum may not be enough direct with new restrictions?

We're back to kick off the 2nd season of the My DVC Points Live! Show. We recap the summer events. Shannon won the Mrs. Florida America pageant in May and spent the summer preparing for the Mrs. America pageant in Los Vegas. She had a wonderful time, and we're very proud to announce that she placed in the top 6. Alicia spent the summer working in the family business at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes in Michigan. Her family runs a golf course and banquet facility. Given tourist season only last about six weeks in Michigan, she spent the summer working. Chad was busy this summer transitioning the podcast to a weekly show and building a new DVC smartphone app. We're also joined this week by Aaron DelPrince, the founder of Magical Wishes for Kids.

We're not going lie, we were rooting for her to win the pageant but are still overjoyed that she placed in the top 6 contestants. We're incredibly proud of her accomplishments.

Here is one of the cakes we made in Reunion Station and the cake my daughter made all on her own.

Updates from the My DVC Points Live Cast, Current Topics in DVC this Week, Aaron DelPrince from Magical Wishes for Kids and a Community Driven Question - What's the right ratio between Direct and Resale?

Hurricanes may not be the norm where you live; however, as DVC members, most of us own at least one timeshare in central Florida. Every time a hurricane warning comes into effect, DVC message boards light up with questions. In episode 034, we talk with DVC members about their hurricane experience. We are creating a reference page for helpful information that Disney Vacation Club Members need to know about hurricanes and Disney.

The cast for today's show is

Shannon Ford, native Floridian, DVC member since 2016 and the current Mrs. Florida 2019Chris Salata, host of the “Behind The Ears Podcast” and DVC Member since 2007Jeremy Murray, DVC member since 2018Chad Pennycuff, host of the My DVC Points podcast

If you had to pick a resort to ride out a hurricane in Walt Disney World, where would you pick and why?

Shannon – Foremost desire is to stay in a resort where the rooms connect to the main lobby with internal hallways. Animal Kingdom Jambo House would be her top pick due to the restaurant choices. Copper Creek over at Wilderness Lodge would be her second pick. BoardWalk Villas would be her third pick. When there is 80+ miles per hour wind, you cannot leave the resort building. If you're staying at Poly, the buildings are all separate, and you cannot get to the lobby. If you're stuck inside the building for 36 hours, you will appreciate walking the inner halls of the resort. Disney will be running events, have characters for the kids, etc.Chris chooses a three-bedroom Grand Villa at Animal Kingdom Jambo House because they have a pool table inside the villa for extra entertainment options. Chris also commented on the lobby and restaurant situation at Jambo.Chad – Animal Kingdom Kidani Village because of the covered parking, extra bathroom, connected lobby, community hall for additional indoor activities and Sanaa. Jeremy will seek shelter from the storms from the safety of Bay Lake Tower. He pointed out that the tower would be a great place to observe the wind.

Official DVC Policy on Hurricanes

Annually, from June 1 to November 30, in the event a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center of the Orlando area, Vero Beach area, Hilton Head Island, O'ahu or for the Member’s place of residence within 7 days before the scheduled arrival date, the Member may call Member Services at (800) 800-9800† or (407) 566-3800† prior to Check-in to cancel or reschedule, based upon availability, their Disney Vacation Club Resort reservation without any cancellation or modification penalty.Note: This policy pertains to hurricane warnings only. Other weather advisory levels are handled on a case by case basis and Members should contact Member Services.

As Shannon noted, DVC seems to be very fair and generous in the event of a hurricane, and they typically go above and beyond what's required by our contract. However, we cannot expect this to happen every time. Pro Tip: Kindness and respect go a long way when asking favors!

DVC Renters should know that most rental contracts offer zero flexibility for cancellations or changes without some type of extra insurance. If renting through a company, you need to inquire about hurricane policies and cancellation insurance. As a renter, the upside is that you typically save about 40% off the rack rate of the room. The downside is that most contracts prohibit cancellation for any reason. The rental contract does not obligate the member to pass along any points that DVC returns to their account. Most likely, the member has already spent or reallocated their rental income by the time the storm comes.

DVC Members: Travelex created a policy just for us! Please note. Travelex is not a sponsor, and our only relationship with them is as a policyholder. As fellow members and consumers, we honestly love the peace of mind that comes with their product. See the links on the DVC site above for more information about the policy.

Hurricanes may not be the norm where you live; however, as DVC members, most of us own at least one timeshare in central Florida. Every time a hurricane warning comes into effect, DVC message boards light up with questions. In episode 034, we talk with DVC members about their hurricane experience. We are creating a reference page for helpful information that Disney Vacation Club Members need to know about hurricanes and Disney.

While every other Disney podcast this week is talking about D23 and Star Wars Galaxy's Edge opening up at Hollywood Studios, I thought you may enjoy a break from the Disney news and get to know some industry insiders. Episode 033 was originally intended to be the History of DVC Resale Restrictions. I invited two former guides who were selling DVC during each of the restrictions to recap the history. However, the pre-show conversation was so interesting; I thought we should include the audience in the conversation and publish a more personal get to know Derek and Marissa's episode before tackling some of the deeper debates within the DVC community.

Derek and Marissa are currently working as guides with DVC Resale Market. Like all of the other guides at DVC Resale Market, they were once direct guides. Derek and Marissa recap their 10+ years of friendship on the show and provide a great insight into working for DVC, working on the cruise ships. A lot of members prefer buying DVC on the cruises. There's quite a bit of buzz in the DVC community that the cruise ships offer better discounts. In this episode, we take a quick trip backstage and talk with two former guides as they recap their history with DVC, Disney Cruise Line and their transition to DVC Resale Market.

Derek and Marissa are currently working as guides with DVC Resale Market. Like all of the other guides at DVC Resale Market, they were once direct guides. Derek and Marissa recap their 10+ years of friendship on the show and provide a great insight into working for DVC, working on the cruise ships. A lot of members prefer buying DVC on the cruises. There's quite a bit of buzz in the DVC community that the cruise ships offer better discounts. In this episode, we take a quick trip backstage and talk with two former guides as they recap their history with DVC, Disney Cruise Line and their transition to DVC Resale Market.

Meet Tim Krasniewski, owner of DVCNews.com. Home Resorts: Saratoga Springs and BoardWalk Villas. Tim shares his family's journey in DVC and the backstory behind DVCNews.com.

Tim has been a member of the Disney Vacation Club since 2003 when the family bought into Saratoga Springs Resort. He has turned his love of Disney and DVC into a business, as he owns and operates the DVCNews.com website.

Tim, who lives in the Midwest with his wife, a son, and a

daughter, first came to Walt Disney World during his honeymoon in 1997. Tim’s

wife likes to tell a story from when they stayed at Port Orleans French

Quarter: while on the bus to the resort, they passed the Disney Vacation Club

sign that is on Bonnet Creek Parkway near Old Key West. Tim’s wife said that

they should look into DVC, and Tim responded, “When we make our first million!”

He laughed and said they ended up purchasing despite not hitting that financial

milestone.

Tim says one of the most memorable parts of the honeymoon

trip was when he and his wife participated in the sea scene from the old

Backlot Tour at Hollywood Studios – Tim was the one who had gallons of water

dumped on him, for those who remember that attraction!

After the honeymoon trip, Tim and his family came to WDW in 2002, when his son was 18 months old, along with his parents. They rented points to get a two-bedroom villa at Old Key West. Five months later, they rented points again for a one-bedroom villa. After that, Tim and his wife went through the familiar process of making spreadsheets to determine whether it was worth buying into the Disney Vacation Club.

Tim and his wife decided to buy points at Saratoga Springs,

right when that resort became available. He was attracted to the resort by its

design and feel, along with its location in what is now the Disney Springs

area. He was thrilled to get his shares for $79 per point, locked in for 50

years. Most of the other resorts at the time had a contract length of only

around 40 years. Tim called the purchase a “no-brainer” due to the extra years

that he would have ownership. He remains happy with the decision, especially

with the expansion of the resort – including a stay at the exclusive Treehouse

Villas only a week after they opened.

Tim’s son was 2 years old and his daughter was 6 months old

when they joined DVC. The family later bought into the Boardwalk, as it’s a

resort that they all enjoy, and the standard rooms provide great value – just

be sure to book them 11 months out if you plan on visiting during a busy travel

period! Tim called the sitting area outside of the Ample Hills Creamery and

ESPN Zone his favorite place on property to unwind and enjoy a drink or dessert

after a busy day, and he says the Boardwalk is his favorite resort due to the

proximity of so many areas – Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and the Yacht &

Beach Club. It will be interesting to see if that intimacy remains once the

Skyliner gondolas begin operation this fall.

Away from Walt Disney World, Tim bought points at the Grand Californian at Disneyland right when they went on sale. His family went on to use them with friends to rent two-bedroom villas for several years before selling the points for a tidy profit. Tim said this is one of his favorite resorts, especially due to the proximity to the back entrance of the California Adventure park, which provides a level of convenience that can’t be matched at WDW, as you can go from your room to being on an attraction in just a few minutes.

Tim purchased his points at Grand Californian at the right time,

as sales were slow at the beginning due to people in southern California not

being exactly sure what DVC was. The sale also began in the rough economic

period of 2008, and it came around the same time as the opening of Bay Lake

Tower at the Contemporary, which was a hot property due to its being the first

DVC at a Magic Kingdom-area resort. It has since exploded in popularity.

Aulani and the re

Meet Tim Krasniewski, owner of DVCNews.com. Home Resorts: Saratoga Springs and BoardWalk Villas. Tim shares his family's journey in DVC and the backstory behind DVCNews.com.

We pick up the conversation from episode 030 where Chris, Jeremy, and Adam present their armchair Imagineering resorts.

Room Design and LayoutTransportation OptionsResort Activities

Note Jeremy mentioned a picture; however, I was not able to determine a creative commons licenses existed for the photo so I didn't embed the photo.

Resort Element #4 – Room Design, Layout

#4 Chris Salata – Skyline Resort and Spa

You have to think opulence and leading-edge technological advancements that are somewhat hidden. Retractable charging cords. Wireless charging pads by the nightstands. Chris will add 5.1 surround sound in each room. Fabulous mattresses and 1000 count linens. Heated towel bars, steamer in the showers, wood and tile floors, couches that fold out into a very comfortable bed. The murphy bed will be full length. By DVC standards, the rooms will be absolutely huge. Larger than Old Key West rooms!

#4 Jeremy Murray – The Villian's Getaway

Total rooms: 1800 rooms in 3 themesCastle Rooms:  700 rooms (studio, 1BR, 2BR=1BR+studio) 10 Grand Villa (1BR+Studio+1BR). Half of the castle rooms are Club Level. The rooms are smart rooms. You access the smart room option through an oval mirror that fogs up and has a face that you talk to. The rooms have settings that range in various levels of “spooky” that you can set after your room is assigned to you. ALSO, there 5 random “escape-room” protocols built into to your room. You can turn on an escape room protocol and get clues and puzzles to solve the escape room. Your door isn’t actually locked during this. There are lights and timers over the door that is red, but turns green after you advance through the puzzles and “escape.”

Pirate rooms:  550 rooms (Studio, 1BR, 2BR=1BR+studio) These rooms are roughly similar to the Beach Club Villas rooms with pirate and nautical flavor.

Canyon Rooms:  550 studios, 450 double beds, 100 single Kings. These rooms are very similar to the Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation, but with a savanna feel. This massive amount of studios will help alleviate the demand and shortage of DVC studios.  

#4 Adam Hitt – The Lillian – A Haunted Mansion Resort

One-Bedrooms: This will be the smallest resort at roughly 200 rooms. These are all one-bedroom accommodations sleeping up to six. Remember, you’re a guest in a 400-year-old mansion, so there won’t be separate kitchens. Room Themes: There will be 10-15 different unique room designs and all will be filled with antiques, paintings reminiscent of the stretching room, and artifacts that really give the impression that you’re in a one-of-a-kind room. The rooms themselves will feel incredibly baroque with intricately carved wood panels, canopy beds, Persian rugs,

Resort Element #5 – Transportation Options

#5 Chris Salata – Skyline Resort and Spa

The Skyline Resort will have monorail, gondola and busses to get people to the parts. Ideally, the resort will also have their own private entrance into EPCOT.

#5 Jeremy Murray – The Villian's Getaway

Pirate ship themed ferry boat to MK. Walking path to Monorail station at MK. Busses to all destinations.

#5 Adam Hitt – The Lillian – A Haunted Mansion Resort

Car and Bus: The theming starts before you enter the grounds of the resort. The first thing guests would see is a massive wrought Iron Gate flanked on either side by lichen-covered marble lions. Through the gates, is a long winding cobblestone road shaded with ancient trees. The thick forest abruptly ends to reveal acres of sprawling manicured grounds complete with formal gardens, hedge mazes, topiary, baroque fountains, secret gardens, and marble statuary, all appearing as though they’ve been there for several hundred years. Still, away in the distance sits the Lilian. The estate is completely surrounded by tall dense trees in the distance masking the view