My DVC Points

Chad, Jeff and Laura share their experiences about the DVC Membership Extra's in Disneyland. DVC Fitness in the Park, Neighborhood Power Walk, and Member Tour: Soarin' Around the World.

Episode 025 is a mini-member interview with a unique backstory.  Just before Laura and I sat down to record a Membership Extra’s review episode, she mentioned that I usually do a full interview with a member before having them join a review show.  So we decided to start off the review episode with a mini-interview. What came out of that interview was a moment of pure Disney magic. This short conversation nails the purpose of my podcast so definitively, that I wanted to expand on the concept in the post-show commentary.

Jeff and I met when we were both staying at the Grand Californian in April of 2019.  We had both signed up for the three DVC membership extra events. Jeff saw the My DVC Points T-Shirt and come to find out he’s an avid podcast listener.

Jeff and his wife bought into Disney Vacation Club about a year ago.  Their home resort is Aulani and they have stayed at Bay Lake Tower, Animal Kingdom Villas and Grand Californian.  They started discussing buying into DVC almost 10 years ago when they were dating. Disney’s always been an important part of their lives.  It took about 10 years for the Jorgensen’s to get things settled with buying a home and starting a family.

Jeff recalls his first trip to Walt Disney World as DVC members where they stayed at Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House. His wife instantly fell in love with the savannah view rooms. He explains that the family never orders room service; however, they ordered room service for breakfast because they didn't want to leave the villa and the savannah view.

Stacie enjoying breakfast and the savannah.

Looking back, Jeff now realizes that the vacations were not just fun times at Disneyland. He now realizes just how much it costs to bring 32 people on a Disney trip. He realizes that his grandparents were investing in their family by building bonds, relationships and creating traditions.

Come to find out, Jeff has been coming to Disney every year since he was a child.  His grandparents believed in quality time together as a family. They believed in creating a legacy of a lifetime of family memories.  Jeff discusses annual trips to Disneyland where his grandparents paid for their entire extended family to come to Disney. As an adult, he looks back with a sense of amazement that his grandmother planned out and paid for Disney trips for 32 people.

The feature art for this episode has some special meanings. Jeff indicated his two favorite pictures of Disneyland were in Frontierland just outside Rancho del Zocalo with both his grandparents. The second photo is ride photo from Radiator Springs Racers where his 80-plus-year-old grandmother ended up setting the record straight that she wasn't too old to enjoy the ride. As Jeff mentioned in the episode, Irene passed a few months after that photo was taken.

Post Show Updates and Comments:

Prior to spending most of my free time creating Disney Vacation Club content, I spent a lot of time studying Christian Ethics and Personal Finance. I spent a decade helping people manage their personal finances. Because of this, I've developed analytical skills on both a qualitative and quantitative fashion. I notice things that a lot of people typically don't notice.

We recorded this episode in Late April of 2019. The title of this episode foreshadows the post-show comments. Before we could gather the photos and get the show edited. Dick Jorgensen passed. Regretfully, we weren't able to share this episode with him. That being said, I would like to pay honor and tribute to Dick and Irene Jorgensen. I never had the chance to meet them. However, I did have the pleasure of getting to know their grandson and spending a few mornings with him at Disneyland plus hours setting up the interview, exchanging instant messages, photos and stories plus another couple hours recording. Jeff has become one of many high-quality

Mini-interview with Jeff Jorgensen about his family's Disney experience. The conversation continues in Episode 026. Jeff described a legacy his grandparents set in motion by taking their entire family to Disneyland every year. The conversation nails the purpose of our podcast to the point where I had to break the interview into two episodes so that I could insert post-show comments.

In episode 024 of the My DVC Point's podcast, we're getting to know Melissa Mullett of David's Vacation Club Rental. Melissa calls (BRV) Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge home. We discuss the birth of the point rental industry and circumstances that arise that prevent members from using their points. We discuss how DVC is in a unique position in the timeshare industry in the fact that they're the #1 vacation destination in the world, they own pop culture, they own magic, and DVC members can benefit from this draw through rental and resale. We discuss member education on banking and borrowing as it related to Use Year and banking and borrowing and Disney Cruise Swaps.

Disclaimer: At the time of recording and publication, My DVC POints does not have a financial relationship with a point rental or resale company. This episode is not sponsored content. However, due to the use or lose nature of DVC points, My DVC Points does highly recommend that every member develop relationships with a reputable point rental company and a resale company. Alternatively, members can explore the risks and rewards of making private arrangements to ensure their precious DVC points never go to waste. We reached out to David's Vacation Club Rental because David was the first entrepreneur to start a DVC point rental business.

This episode was recorded in early winter of 2019 after listeners requested to know more about renting out their points.

Melissa tells the story of her parents, Cathy and David, buying into DVC. It wasn't long after they bought in that David realized points are on a use or lose basis. What happens to your membership when you cannot use your points? You cannot bank a point more than once. He realized that he couldn't be the only person to have this problem. He saw this gap in the DVC program and thought, what if other people would be interested in renting the points to stay at a DVC resort? They started advertising on MouseOwners.com and started getting about one rental a month. Within four years, the business picked up, and Melissa left her corporate job in banking and joined her father in business full time.

Melissa with her parents Cathy and David

Melissa and I are in complete agreement. The best use of my DVC points is to book a vacation for my family at a DVC resort. However, we discuss frequent life events that happen, which prevent members from utilizing their membership. People change employers, and the new employer doesn't offer as much time off as their previous one, or the member may be between jobs and a Disney vacation does not make sense for the family's finances. In that scenario, rental income from DVC points makes perfect sense. Members report that as their kids' age, they may need to use their vacation time to attend travel sporting events of their children lose interest in going back to Disney every single year.

As a DVC member, you can bank on this fact: Disney owns pop culture. Month after month, Disney studios is always releasing a box office hit. Significant intellectual properties drive people to the parks such as Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and now the Fox movie proper. They are always opening up new lands, new experiences, and building strong consumer demand for their products and services. Disney is excellent at creating consumer demand for its parks and resorts. As a DVC owner, this benefits us as owners. People want to use our points when we cannot and own our membership when we no longer wish to be owners.

If Tinkerbell were to give Melissa 2,000 magical DVC points to be booked anywhere in the DVC system, she would choose to stay in the Polynesian Bungalows for a week and then move over to Beach Club for a second week. She likes to visit Walt Disney World with family, including her husband, their child, her parents, and her brother and sister-in-law. While they have all stayed in a grand villa, the family prefers a two-bedroom plus a stud

In episode 024 of the My DVC Point's podcast, we're getting to know Melissa Mullett of David's Vacation Club Rental. Melissa calls (BRV) Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge home. We discuss the birth of the point rental industry and circumstances that arise that prevent members from using their points. We discuss how DVC is in a unique position in the timeshare industry in the fact that they're the #1 vacation destination in the world, they own pop culture, they own magic, and DVC members can benefit from this draw through rental and resale. We discuss member education on banking and borrowing as it related to Use Year and Disney Cruise Swaps.

An Imagineering Blessing from Walt!

McNair's father was an officer in the Navy Reserves and stationed at a converted elementary school. The school/base happened to be at the end of the parade route of the Tournament of Roses Parade where all the parade officials gathered. The guests included the Parade's Grand Marshal, the Mayer of Pasadena, and the Rose Queen and Her Court. In 1966, Walt Disney served as the Grand Marshal of the rose parade. McNair's father arranged for the children of the officers on the base to meet Walt Disney. Walt went into the reception hall to meet and greet the kids. Walt asked for a chair, and McNair hurriedly went to get one for him. McNair's shoe got caught on the linoleum flooring and created an awkward teenage moment. The chair slipped from his hands and slid into Walt Disney's shin. Later he found himself sitting alone with Walt Disney showing him his own sketchbook. Walt Disney was impressed and asked McNair “You want to be an Imagineer?” Walt Disney poked him on the shoulder and said, “and so you shall be.”

Walt's Autograph?

After that encounter with Walt Disney McNair realized he didn't think to ask for Walt Disney's autograph. McNair told his father, and he said, “we'll get it.” It wasn't until 2009 when McNair was cleaning out some old boxes that he came across some old boxes full of keepsakes. On one of the envelops he found was written the words, “Craig's Rose Parade.” As McNair's first name is Craig, he thought it strange and opened the envelope and found the program from the 1966 Rose Parade. In the program was a photo of Walt Disney and his bio as the Grand Marshal. Also, on the page in the program was Walt Disney's autograph that his father had gotten for him all those years before.

McNair also discovered many other items from his Imagineering days. One, in particular, is an original map of Disneyland with lots of the Imagineer's autographs on them.

The Priceless Map

McNair explains that he bought a Disneyland map as a child in 1958. When he worked at Walt Disney Imagineering, he had about 20 of the original Imagineers from Disneyland sign the souvenir drawing such as Sam McKin, Harper Goff, Marty Skylar, and Xavier' X' Atencio. We briefly discussed the value of this autographed map. Disney collectors concluded, the only way to determine the value of this autographed map is the place it on an auction and see what it brings.

Harper Goff signing McNair's map with Harper's Wife

McNair explains the legendary “Dinosaurs Club” lunch gathering of Disney animators & Imagineers. Disney insiders knew about this gang, even where they met; however, you could not go unless a member invited you. The first time I went, I was invited as a guest of Claude Coats (Disney Legend and one of my mentors.” In this photo, L to R, Collin Campbell, Bill Martin, Clem Hall, Wren Wicks, myself (Craig McNair Wilson), and Ken Anderson. Every week was a casually rotating stream of amazing folks—as few as four to well over forty when Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnson released a new book. I continued to attend even after leaving Imagineering and continuing to work as a consultant through Michael Eisner's office to facilitate brainstorming to all 23 divisions of the Disney corporation.

The Dinosaur's Club

Imagineering Pleasure Island & Naming Downtown Disney

The backlot project was being proposed for a one square mile plot of land in downtown Burbank, California. This project was the forerunner to Pleasure Island, Downtown Disney and Disney Springs. These three gentlemen plus architect Chris Carradine became the core “concept & design” team on Pleasure Island. The “Disney Backlot” proposal as mixed-use entertainment, mini-theme park, luxury hotel, a retail center, a movie backlot attraction, ABC network studio, and Disney Animation headquarters.

Manager Rick Rothschild (left) with Joe Rohde (center) and McNair Wilson presenting the

In episode 023 we resume the interview with Craig McNair Wilson, former Disney imagineer and recap some of the key stories of his Disney life. From meeting Walt, Claude Coats, X, Harper Goff and working with Joe Rohde on Adventure's Club and Animal Kingdom.

Imagineers often work behind the scenes. Very few of them make the center stage spotlight at Walt Disney Imagineering. However; each of them leaves their fingerprints on the guest experience at Disney. In today's episode, we meet Craig McNair Wilson a former Disney Imagineer and have him share some of his memorable moments while working at Disney. Imagineers know him as Craig, since leaving WDI most people use his middle name.

McNair started working for Disney about the time EPCOT opened in the early 1980s. He was working in a street theatre company called Sak Theatre that performed at Renaissance Festivals. Entertainment management ran across Sak Theatre at a festival near St. Petersburg, Florida in 1982. One thing led to another and they started performing in 1982 at the Italy and United Kingdom pavilions. Within a very short period of time, they started performing 45 shows at Disney. McNair explains the concept and how he created and coined the term “Streetmosphere” in theme park entertainment. The Sak Theatre is still around today as the Sak Comedy Lab in downtown Orlando.

McNair with his boss and Disney Legend Marty Skylar

McNair also contributed significantly to the creation of what is now known as Disney Hollywood Studios. He explains how he presented three ideas for the stunt show in the studios and how Indiana Jones theme was selected because the stunts were the most conducive to theme park entertainment.

Join us in part two of this interview to hear the story of McNair meeting Walt Disney as a child and Walt somewhat forecasting his future.

2017 VIP Attendees at The Thing Rode Tower Of Terror with McNair's Signature Attraction

McNair is a keynote speaker at a conference in Orlando for creatives and entrepreneurs called “The Thing.” You can meet Terry Weaver from Episode 003, Episode 006 and Episode 007 along with Rob A. Lott from Episode 013 at this year's conference which runs May 15th through the 19th. If you're interested in going, feel free to use use the discount code “MyDVCPoints.”

McNair performing his Key Note Speech at The Thing Conference in 2018

Rare interview with C. McNair Wilson, former Disney Imagineer and creator or Streetmosphere, Hollywood Hotel Tower of Terror and the person who created the name Downtown Disney. McNair shares some of his favorite stories as an imagineer and takes us behind the scenes of some of the most loved attractions at Disney.

In episode 021 we meet our neighbor Annelise. She has been an owner at Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows since 2016. She bought into DVC after her third visit to Disney. She explains that raising a family and going to Disney took a lot of planning and saving and other life events came up. They wanted to go more, but the trip was always delayed or postponed. DVC membership allows them the flexibility to visit a couple of times a year for shorter trips or allows them one big trip. With DVC, the only additional costs to cover each trip are airfare and park tickets. (We discuss in the podcast, that you always have food expenses). Annelise used Dizzy Dolphin, a grocery delivery service, to make food more affordable by having breakfast in the room each morning.

Anneliese has made two trips thus far on DVC points. She's stayed at the Animal Kingdom at Kidani village, Boardwalk and Saratoga Springs. Anneliese At this time she's a fan of split-stays. She enjoys different resorts and different stays at Disney. Saratoga Springs has been her favorite resort thus far. (Chad makes the point it could be a one bedroom bias, as this is the only one bedroom villa she has visited).

After they learned about DVC, it took their family 6-7 months to make the purchasing decision. Most of that time was figuring out the financial aspects of ownership and fitting DVC into the family budget. They ended up deciding to buy their membership from Disney as opposed to resale because they wanted the flexibility of using their points on hotels, cruises, and Adventures by Disney. A couple of factors lead to their decision. One of their children is a Disney fan, and they knew he would use the membership for years to come. A second factor was the excellent service they received at Disney. Another factor came from feeling like they are part of a family.

When they bought, Poly and Aulani were the two actively sold properties. They choose Poly as their home resort just because it's easier to get to Orlando than Hawaii. Addonitis struck the family rather quickly. They purchased their second contract two months after joining DVC.

Anneliese is looking forward to attending the Soarin' tour and attending more moonlight magic events. She was pleasantly surprised to get tickets to the first Moonlight Magic event they sought. Anneliese made her husband stand in line for over 25 minutes to capture this picture with the Stitch in an Elvis costume. Another highlight of the trip was meeting Bee Thaxton from Buy and Sell DVC at the moonlight magic event. (Bee is not a sponsor of the show; however, she was instrumental in arranging this interview. Ironically, I've met Bee twice as well; both times were at Moonlight Magic events – once in Disney's Animal Kingdom and another time in Disney's California Adventure).

Anneliese and her husband buy annual passes to Walt Disney World as they usually make multiple trips a year or at least one 10-day trip. The blue-card membership extra perk of discounted annual passes make buying the AP a no-brainer.

Anneliese has a simple touring plan. She starts fast passes from 10 to 11 am as close together as possible. The passes are laid out in a logical touring plan without running across the park. Her party typically finishes up the three Fastpass+ by 1 pm and from there on everybody is free to do what they want. In her opinion, this offers everybody in the traveling party a chance to do something together but also provides a lot of freedom.

One of Annelise's favorite Disney memories was from going with mom as a child. They rode the teacups with their mom on one condition, that the kids didn't spin the teacups. Well, the siblings ended up turning the cups. Their punishment was their mom made them sit for 90 minutes while they had a silhouette portrait made on Main Street.

In terms of advice to other new members, keep an open mind and try new things. DVC