DVC Archives - On the Go in MCO

First Look: The Villas at Disneyland Hotel

Disney Vacation Club has revealed never-before-seen renderings of the new guest rooms coming to The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, opening in September 2023.

The newest tower at the Disneyland Hotel will blend timeless Walt Disney Animation Studios classics with contemporary designs, delicately curating a celebration of Disney history and immersing guests in the creative storytelling process.

For Disneyland Resort Magic Key holders, early bookings will open on March 15, 2023, to Disney Vacation Club Members and on March 16, 2023. Reservations will open to the public on March 17, 2023.

Located just a quick stroll away from the entrance of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel will welcome guests to a variety of themed accommodations, such as duo studios, deluxe studios, one- and two-bedroom villas, and multi-level grand villas.

Each room includes just-like-home amenities with touches of magic sprinkled throughout, inspired by Disney Animation classics like “The Jungle Book,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Fantasia,” and more.  

The newly imagined duo studio will bring the story of “The Jungle Book” to life. Perfect for two guests, this cozy retreat features a split bathroom with themed tile accents, and a queen-size bed that conveniently tucks into the wall to reveal a sofa when not in use. The deluxe studios will celebrate the stories of “Sleeping Beauty” or “The Princess and the Frog.” Deluxe studios will include a kitchenette, split bathroom, and two queen-size beds to sleep up to four guests.

One- and two-bedroom villas offer roomier accommodations for larger families, sleeping up to five and nine guests, respectively. The villas include a full-size kitchen and living areas with comfortable sofa seating that can be easily pulled down to reveal a queen-size bed, complete with a story-themed mural above, inspired by “The Princess and the Frog” or “Fantasia.” The comfort continues into the main bedroom, which includes a spacious en-suite bathroom featuring double vanities, a soaking tub with a themed mosaic-style tile mural, and a spa-like shower.

The three-bedroom grand villas feature multi-level accommodations, sleeping up to 12 guests. Families can enjoy a full-size kitchen on the first floor, large dining area, and a double-sided fireplace connecting the living area to a private outdoor balcony. The first floor is also home to the primary suite, inspired by “Bambi.” Guests will discover more magic as they venture up a spiral staircase to discover a full-size washer, dryer, and two themed bedrooms. One bedroom is inspired by “Frozen” and one by “Moana,” each with two queen-size beds and en-suite bathrooms.

This will be the fourth tower at the Disneyland Hotel, adding 344 themed rooms to its existing 973 guest rooms. This AAA Four Diamond landmark hotel, exuding the nostalgia, charm, and magic of Disneyland Park, currently features specially-themed Disney suites and a courtyard plaza with two retro-themed pools and two water slides reminiscent of the Monorail Station’s early days. The hotel is part of the Disneyland Resort, steps from the Downtown Disney District and the gateway to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.

Rental reservations for The Villas at Disneyland Hotel can be made beginning on March 15 for Disney Vacation Club Members by contacting Member Services at (800) 800-9800 and on March 16 for Disneyland Resort Magic Key holders by contacting (714) 956-6425. On March 17, all guests can book online at Disneyland.com or by contacting (714) 956-6425. Villas are limited in availability, and restrictions apply.

Disney Vacation Club Merry Member Mixer

Merry Member Mixer

Come ring in the season with Disney Vacation Club! Mingle with fellow Members at the Merry Member Mixer as you enjoy festive entertainment and complimentary refreshments. Plus, you’ll be able to purchase a limited-edition Disney Vacation Club holiday trading pin (while supplies last).

Celebrate, share, and always discover vacations you never outgrow.

LOCATION
Epcot at the World Showplace Pavilion
Located between the Canada and United Kingdom Pavilions

CELEBRATE THE SEASON ON ONE OF THESE DATES
November 25
December 2
December 9
December 16

TIME
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

A Closer Look At The Villas At The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

The Disney Vacation Club will be opening their 12^th property, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa on October 23, 2013, so I thought we would take a closer look at the rooms they’ll be offering.

The Villas at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

Combining tons of Victorian elegance, fun Disney touches, and state of the art technology The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa are beautiful!

We had a chance to tour the model rooms at the Disney Vacation Club Walt Disney World Preview Center, and while some of the finishes may be different when the resort opens I know I can’t wait to see the finished product.

httpv://youtu.be/qg9IWD2UyuE

There are four room types at the Villas, and they all feature crown molding, granite countertops, and a mirror TV in each bathroom in addition to what guests have come to expect from staying in a Disney Vacation Club room.

Room Types Available At

The Villas at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:

Deluxe Studio

Sleeps up to 5
1 queen-size bed, 1 queen-size sleeper sofa, 1 pull-down bunk size bed
Kitchenette
Small refrigerator
Wet bar
Flat panel TV and Blu-ray™ player
Full bathroom with separate tub and shower
Private porch or balcony

One-Bedroom Villa

Sleeps up to 5
1 king-size bed, 1 queen-size sleeper sofa, 1 pull-down bunk-size bed
Fully equipped kitchen
Dishwasher
Refrigerator
Stove and oven
Washer and dryer
Flat panel TV and Blu-ray player
Freestanding tub with air jets
Walk-in shower
Private porch or balcony

The Villas at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will feature many of the amenities guests have come to love at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa…especially the larger selection of H2O products found in each bathroom.

Two-Bedroom Villa

Sleeps up to 9
1 king-size bed, 2 queen-size beds, 1 queen-size sleeper sofa, 1 pull-down bunk-size bed
Fully equipped kitchen
Dishwasher
Refrigerator
Stove and oven
Washer and dryer
Flat panel TV and Blu-ray player
Freestanding tub with air jets
Walk-in shower
Private porch or balcony

Three-Bedroom Grand Villa

Sleeps up to 12
1 king-size bed, 4 queen-size beds, 1 queen-size sleeper sofa
Fully equipped kitchen
Dishwasher
Refrigerator
Stove and oven
Laundry room with washer and dryer
4 bathrooms – 1 with whirlpool tub and shower, 1 with shower only, and 2 with combination tub/shower
Media room with home theater system including flat panel TV and Blu-ray player
Flat panel TV in living room and each bedroom, with Blu-ray player in living room
Dining room with dining table and chairs
Private porch or balcony

Cheryl shared some thoughts comparing The Villas at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa to Bay Lake Tower in this DVC post, and I can’t wait to hear what she thinks of the completed project!

I hope that you enjoyed this look around The Villas at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and don’t forget to join us on October 23^rd! Follow us for more updates:

Two Disney Vacation Club Announcements!

This week the Disney Vacation Club was busy, as they announced two very different but both very cool new things coming to DVC

Share Your Memories: Disney Vacation Club Member Challenge

Disney Vacation Club Members can participate in the Share Your Memories Pinterest challenges to win some pretty awesome prizes!

The first of three challenges is posted on the Share Your Memories Disney Vacation Club Members site, and if you are into Pinterest this challenge is super easy and looks like a lot of fun!

After members register on the Share Your Memories site, all they then have to then do is create a board on Pinterest with images showing all the ‘must-see’s’ and ‘must-do’s’ on the most magical Disney Vacation Club vacation you can imagine. The deadline to submit the URL to the dream pin boars is 11:59 AM ET on November 4, 2013.

The Pinterest Prize Package for this challenge includes 4 Walt Disney Worldor DisneylandResort Annual Passes, a Disney VIP Tour Service experience, autographed copies of “The Sherman Brothers Songbook” and “Dream it! Do It!” by Martin Sklar, plus a Disney Vacation Club Gift Bag!

Make sure you take a peek at the Official Contest Rules before you enter!

Disney Vacation Club at Disney’s Polynesian

Disney Vacation Club announced that its planned next location will be at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, located on Seven Seas Lagoon at Walt Disney World Resort. When this resort is completed, Disney Vacation Club will have destinations at all three resorts on the monorail system, allowing easy access to Magic Kingdom Park.

The planned development project at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, when completed, will join Disney Vacation Club’s 12 other properties, including The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, scheduled to open Oct. 23. Construction on the Polynesian project began this month, and completion is estimated to be in 2015. In addition to the Disney Vacation Club project, other guest areas within Disney’s Polynesian Resort will undergo refurbishment. More information and project details will be shared at a later date.

Disney Vacation Club debuted in October 1991 with a flexible, vacation point-based model rather than the traditional fixed-week timeshare model. Disney Vacation Club is approaching a total of 200,000 member families from all 50 states and approximately 100 countries who have discovered the joys of membership.

Disney Vacation Club members are able to choose from among a variety of vacation destinations, including a stay at any Disney Vacation Club Resort or at more than 500 other destinations around the world, and when they purchase directly from Disney, members also can take trips on one of the Disney Cruise Line ships or guided vacations with Adventures by Disney. Additionally, vacations at a Disney Vacation Club Resort can last from one night to several weeks.

For more information about Disney Vacation Club, visit www.disneyvacationclub.com.Follow us for more updates:

What Is That Disney Vacation Club Kiosk About?

Stopping at the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) kiosk, what happens next:

Most guests just walk by the kiosks, you’ve decided to stop and see so what is this all about. Disney’s Vacation Club program is a timeshare but not your typical timeshare.

The sales person at the kiosk will have photos of the current models.. They can answer some questions you may have. Next, you can decide to take a tour or walk away. If you decide to take a tour, the sales person will escort you to the front of the park and a van will be ready to take you to the preview center.

At the preview center, there will be snacks and drinks. There is also a kids club available so your kids don’t need to take the tour with you. You’ll be introduced to another sales person. You’ll get name tags and a tour of the models of the current hotels they are selling.

After your tour, you will get a sales talk.

This includes pricing, along with the features of buying directly from Disney. Yes, there are other ways of buying DVC called resales, we plan to discuss this in a future blog post.

What else can you get by taking a tour?
Offers vary, in the past they have offered gift cards, fast passes or limited pins.
There also will likely be a buying incentive offered.

What is the price of DVC?
As an example 160 Vacation Points Per Year Costs are based on a cash purchase of a real estate interest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas:
One-Time Purchase Price: $24,000
Closing Costs: Approximately $424.50 2013
Annual Dues: (Dues for future years will vary.) $907.20 or $75.60 per month
Transaction Fee: (For vacations to destinations other than our Disney Vacation Club Resorts) $95 per transaction
You receive 160 Vacation Points each year of Membership. Disney Vacation Points are very flexible, you decide when you want to go , how long you want to stay and what type of room you want. Your vacation points will end in 2042 or 2057 depending on what location you buy.

Here is an easier way of explaining this:
When you buy you will need a downpayment.
After your down payment you will have 2 future payments.
Your first payment is your loan payment which will typically last 10 years.
Your next payment is your dues payment, you can pay this annually or monthly.

Do you have to have a loan?
No, if you’ve got the money you can pay it all upfront.

Do you have to pay dues?
Yes, dues are needed for upkeep, transportation and other needs.

What does DVC get me?
Basically I think of DVC as a forced savings plan. It gets you enough points to stay at Disney on property once a year or once every other year. You stay on site and get amenities better than most hotel rooms. (unless you are in a studio)

Can I use DVC in other states where there is no Disney?
Yes Disney has a partnership with RCI Timeshare system. Do your math, since your 160 points are basically worth $12 per point.

Can I rent out my points?
Yes, we plan on discussing this in a future article.

What is a home resort and why is it important?
Your home resort (in My case Boardwalk villas) gets you 11 month access to book before other resorts (example Aulani)

Lets use my upcoming trip to California as an example: I wasn’t able to get in for some of the days I needed because I had to wait until 7 months before. I am offsite for some of my trip because the Grand Californian was unavailable.
In some cases this may cause you to transfer resorts or choose another resort.

Wait: You live 15 minutes from Disney and still own DVC. Why??
I bought DVC back when I lived in Massachusetts in 1999. My first loan for 170 points is paid off. I pay my dues monthly and I feel its affordable. I enjoy not having to save up. In my case I save up to visit family and friends.

How do you use your DVC?
My husband has the running bug so we use it for races:
I am using 124 points to stay from Sept 2 – 6 in a 1 bedroom at Disney’s Grand Californian.
I am using 22 points from Sept 6 -7 in a studio at Disney’s Grand Californian.

What if I don’t use my points or need more points?
You can bank and borrow points.

How does banking work?
You must banks your point by a certain time. If you miss your banking deadline. You must use them (yes this includes renting them) or lose them.

How does borrowing work?
If you are short points you can borrow from the next year.
Borrowing is a final transaction and borrowed points can’t be banked if you cancel.
If you cancel using borrowed points the points must be used or they get lost.

What if I cancel?
I don’t suggest canceling but If you cancel before 30 days your points go back to their current use year. Depending on your use year you can bank your points and/or book another vacation.

If you cancel between 30 -1 days your points go into holding. I don’t recommend this.
Holding points have very restrictive rules.
Get travel insurance. DVC offers this, as do other services.

Use year? What is a use year?
When you buy, you can be assigned a certain month or request a certain month.
Your points will be deposited into your account each year on that month.
My use year is March: On March 1st 2013 I got 170 points to use and I must use them by Feb 28 2014.

Does DVC ever make exceptions to the rules?
I have heard of where DVC has extended things in special cases, I do not recommend relying on these stories.

Make sure you have your plans set and get travel insurance if you want to totally be covered.

I have more questions, who do I contact?
You can ask me and I will try to answer the best I can.

You can get the DVC dvd from DVC or stop at a kiosk and ask.
DVC has a website at http://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com

What do you get if I buy?
Readers can use my name as a referral.
I will get a benefit from Disney if you buy.
You can also choose not to use me. The choice is there.

A Grand Announcement from Disney Vacation Club

Disney Vacation Club Members Can Now Own a Piece of Victorian Splendor Within View of Magic Kingdom Park

Sales Begin Thursday for The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

The grandeur of one of the premier properties at the Walt Disney World Resort will meet the family vacation style that only Disney Vacation Club can provide when The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa opens this fall.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4of69astMBI#!

Beginning Thursday, May 23, current Disney Vacation Club members will be able to purchase real estate interests at what will be Disney Vacation Club’s 12th resort. General sales will begin June 19.

“We are absolutely thrilled to add this casually elegant new resort to our Disney Vacation Club portfolio,” said Ken Potrock, senior vice president and general manager, Disney Vacation Club. “This resort will welcome families home with modern luxury and style, in a location that can only be described as spectacular. Within walking distance of a monorail ride to the Magic Kingdom, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will serve as an ideal setting for family vacations and create truly cherished memories for our members.”

Disney Vacation Club is building 106 two-bedroom equivalent villas on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon as part of a previously announced expansion of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa that will also include a lively children’s water-play area and other amenities.

Once opened, the new property will feature deluxe studios and one-bedroom villas that sleep five guests, as well as two-bedroom villas that sleep nine guests. Additionally, expansive grand villas will sleep 12 guests and will feature multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as a media room with a home theater system, all designed to bring families closer to create memories that last a lifetime. All of the deluxe studios and villas will feature décor reminiscent of the Victorian era, made playful and relaxed with classic Disney touches.

“When Disney Vacation Club members and guests stay at our newest resort, they will have access to all of the wonderful amenities available nearby at the jewel in the crown of Disney’s vacation kingdom – Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – including spectacular pools, award-winning dining, extensive recreation options, and transportation to all of the amazing theme parks at Walt Disney World,” Potrock said.

Scheduled to open in October 2013, this Disney Vacation Club property will be nestled on the picturesque shores of Seven Seas Lagoon between the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Polynesian Resort. Conveniently located nearby is Senses – A Disney Spa, as well as Disney’s Palm and Magnolia Golf Courses.

Disney Vacation Club revolutionized the timeshare industry when it debuted in October 1991 by offering a flexible, vacation point-based model versus the traditional fixed-week timeshare model. Today, more than 175,000 member families from all 50 states and approximately 100 countries have discovered the joys of membership with Disney Vacation Club.

Disney Vacation Club members are able to choose from among a variety of exciting vacation destinations, including a stay at any Disney Vacation Club resort or a jaunt to one of more than 500 other destinations around the world, and when they purchase directly from Disney, members also can take trips on one of the Disney Cruise Line ships or guided vacations with Adventures by Disney. Additionally, vacations at a Disney Vacation Club resort can last from one night to several weeks.

To learn more about Disney Vacation Club or The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, call 800-500-3990 or visit www.disneyvacationclub.com.

DVC Neighborhood News: Interested in sharing your Membership stories?

You’ve told us how much you love your DVC Membership — now’s your chance to tell the world!

We are looking for dynamic, enthusiastic Members who might be interested in sharing their favorite Disney Vacation Club DVC stories on camera for use in upcoming marketing tactics. If this sounds like fun and you’re planning to be at Walt Disney World® Resort in May, we’d love to hear from you! Just click here to provide us with your contact information, details on your travel party and a picture, and a Disney Cast Member will be in touch in the next few weeks.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Your Disney Vacation Club family

Claire Bilby Moves On To Disneyland Paris; Ken Potrock Takes Over Disney Vacation Club

Claire Bilby Message to Members

Dear Members,

I want to share an important Disney Vacation Club organizational announcement with you, our Member families.

As Disney continues to identify ways to deliver the best-possible vacation experiences, the company is providing new growth opportunities for members of the leadership team. In this case, Disney is giving me the opportunity to lead the Sales and Marketing organization at Disneyland Paris, leveraging my depth of international sales experience.

I am thrilled about this new opportunity, which begins February 1, and also deeply proud of the great work our team has done over the past couple of years at Disney Vacation Club. The team has accomplished so much and truly elevated the benefits, perks and experiences we provide to our Members.

You will be pleased to learn that longtime Disney leader Ken Potrock is succeeding me at Disney Vacation Club as Senior Vice President and General Manager. I can tell you that you’re in great hands with Ken. He is a wonderful leader, full of creativity and passion for the Disney brand, and extremely talented. Most recently, Ken has served as the Senior Vice President of Disney Sports Enterprises and Downtown Disney in Florida. I have known him for a long time and couldn’t be more delighted with his passion for the Disney brand, for innovation, and for always putting our Guests and Members first. In his new role, Ken will also have responsibility for Adventures by Disney, our family guided-tour business.

As I say “au revoir” for now, please know how much I have enjoyed my time with Disney Vacation Club and the privilege of getting to know so many of our Members. I look forward to Ken and the rest of the organization continuing to enhance the Member experience in creative and magical ways!

At Disney Vacation Club, it’s all about you – the Member – and that commitment will never change. Thank you for vacationing with Disney year in and year out. We look forward to delighting and surprising you each time we welcome you home.

Sincerely,

Claire BilbyFollow us for more updates:

DVC Merry Mixer

Each year the Disney Vacation Club celebrates the holidays with their DVC Merry Mixer.

This event takes place inside the World ShowPlace Pavilion which is located in Epcot between the United Kingdom and Canada Pavilions. The DVC Merry Mixer will be held for four times this year, two of which have already past, but there are still two more being held on December 11th and 18th from 3pm to 5pm.

At the event you can get cocoa and cookies or a rice krispy treat. There are also Arts & Crafts, Dancing, Simon Says competitions, and much more. You can also find some special Mixer only merchandise offerings, including a special Disney Vacation Club pin and each year a Tree Ornament that is a metallic replica of the same pin. This year there are even some New Fantasyland pins that were first released at this event and will be found elsewhere soon. You can also preview upcoming pins as well as buy DVC merchandise. (warning the lines for this can be long).

If you attend this event, don’t forget to enter the DVC Gift Basket raffle that is held.

And don’t forget to get in line to meet Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Goofy.

DVC Merry Mixer Pictures!

The Week in Review: August 19th – August 24, 2012: Halloween, Adventures, Movies, and More!

The Week in Review: August 19^th – August 24, 2012: Halloween, Adventures, Movies, and More!

This past week here at On the Go has been full of great stuff, and now it’s time to look back at our Week In Reviews so we can see all that happened August 19^th to August 24^th!!!

Let’s Go!

On Sunday, we brought you news about Cohen’s Deli Opening a Kosher Hotel Near Walt Disney World!

Kosher Hotel Walt Disney World — There is a Kosher Hotel coming to the Walt Disney World Area!

Monday brought us news about the 2012 Halloween Merchandise at Walt Disney World! Halloween is my favorite time of year, and this year the merchandise is well designed and even better than last year’s offerings.

Duffy costume — Duffy’s Halloween Costume

We are all really pumped for the Orlando Solar Bears to Come Out of Hibernation, and they have signed a new player!

Tuesday brought the first in our Girls Night Out in Orlando series, where a few of the gals had a fun night at Universal’s CityWalk!

Wordless Wednesday took us to Animal Kingdom at night for a look at the Tree of Life. Animal Kingdom is a beautiful park at night.

8 22 2012 — Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Tree of Life at Night

I also went shopping at DStreet, and found that the Mavericks of Mayhem line by Noah had arrived at Downtown Disney’s Westside!

Thursday started with another installment of Betsy’s California Adventure!

Then I reviewed Doc McStuffins: Friendship is the Best Medicine, available now on DVD.

Doc McStuffins DVD — Doc McStuffins: Friendship Is The Best Medicine Available August 21, 2012 on DVD

Nights of Joy are coming to Walt Disney World, and we look at the artists that will be performing this year!

We ended the week with Cheryl taking us along for her DVC stay at Bay Lake Tower for One More Disney Day.

Disney Vacation Club Bay Lake Towers Couch Area (courtesy of Betsy Bates)

We also gave away two tickets for the Big Time Summer Tour with Big Time Rush with Special Guest Cody Simpson, coming to the Amway Center on August 28, 2012.

Big Time Rush - Big Time Summer Tour — Catch Big Time Rush at the Amway Center with Special Guest Cody Simpson August 28th at 7pm!!!

And finally we took a look at two new logos that the Orlando Solar Bear will be using!

Thanks for joining us this week in review at On the Go, and we can’t wait to bring you even more posts next week!!!

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Disney Vacation Club: Staying At Bay Lake Tower For An Amazing One More Disney Day

It was Disney’s One More Day event on leap year, the park would be open 24 hours, so I decided I would like to get a room close by using my Disney Vacation Club, DVC, points. I originally booked a 1 bedroom at Bay Lake tower, but later changed it to a 2 bedroom not knowing who would want to come after and crash.

That morning we arrived early at Bay Lake Tower, the Disney Vacation Club Resort near the Contemporary, and let the guard house know that we would be having additional guests needing parking passes. They advised us that we should get parking passes since it was there was a special event that day and that parking enforcement could happen, and then we called our friends who were on the room to advise them that they should get parking passes as well.

Todd had done Disney Vacation Club Online Check-In the night before, so we didn’t stop at the front desk which turned out to be a bad idea this time. Around 1pm, I called to check on the room. The front desk said that I had to go to Bay Lake Tower and check in before they could give me my room info. I left the Magic Kingdom and headed out, at check in I was still confused why I had to be at the desk but I got our room keys.

The room was not ready so I went back to the park. The security lines were a little more crowded so I rented a locker. It was a few hours later, I finally got the notice that the room was ready. Thank goodness since by then I needed a nap. After my nap, I walked into the Contempo Cafe for dinner then I went back to the park. Around 1am, I was ready for bed; I walked back to my room. I woke up around 9am. Checkout was at 11am.

We left at 11am and headed back home. It was a quick stay, but having a room close by was really convenient and a great use of my Disney Vacation Club Points!

Note: These photographs are not those of our room.

Thank you to Betsy Bates for the use of her photographs!

Disney Vacation Club Bay Lake Towers Kitchenette (courtesy of Betsy Bates)

The Week in Review: August 6 – August 10, 2012: Movies, DVC, and Orlando Sports…Oh My!

The Week in Review: August 6 – August 10, 2012

It has been another amazing week here at On the Go, and now let’s take a look back at how the first full week of August went down!!!

Let’s do this thing!

On Monday, Todd Perlmutter, of Disney Film Project fame, takes a break from taking the blame about everything around here to take a spoiler free look at The Odd Life of Timothy Green.

Looking for an opportunity to volunteer in the UCF area? Or are you looking for a 5K to run? Are you a huge college sports fan? If you answered yes, you might want to check out the Inaugural Orlando Health Gridiron 5K Challenge, that our friends at the Central Florida Sports Commission have created!

2012 Gridiron 5K Challenge Banner — 2012 Gridiron 5K Challenge

Check out our review of the latest Disney Chanel Original Movie Let It Shine on DVD and enter for your chance to win a copy!

LetItShine DVD(small) — Let It Shine Comes to DVD August 7, 2012

This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us over to the Hollywood Drive-In Golf at Universal’s CityWalk!

8 8 2012 — Hollywood Drive-In Golf Golf at Universal Citywalk

Earlier this summer we told you about SeaWorld rescuing a pregnant manatee that gave birth to an adorable calf, and we updated you about their return to their home in Merritt Island, Florida.

20120802_Manatee Release_18 — SeaWorld Orlando’s Animal Rescue team prepares calf and mom for transport to Sykes Creek.

Thursday, we were really excited to let you know about Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month returning this year in September! This is definitely something you are going to want to check out!!!

We are all super excited about the Solar Bears returning to the ice in Orlando, and they will be returning under their 2001 Turner Cup Championship Banner!

And we wrapped up the week with Cheryl taking a look back at her DVC stay at the Beach Club Villas!

Beach Club Villas Studio Main Room (courtesy of Betsy Bates)

Then finally I took a look at the really cool tokidoki MARVEL merchandise that is available at DStreet!

Tokidoki MARVEL Men's T-Shirt — Tokidoki MARVEL Men’s T-Shirt

Thanks for joining us this week at On the Go, and we can’t wait to bring you even more posts next week!!!

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Disney Vacation Club: Kidani at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Marathons

In 2010, for Marathon cheering we stayed at Wilderness Lodge. I love the proximity to Magic Kingdom.

Once Todd registered for the Half Marathon, I waitlisted Bay Lake tower and we made a reservation at Kidani as well.

For Disney Vacation Club, members currently get to plan vacations at the 11 months ahead for their Home resort. My home resorts are Boardwalk Villas and Saratoga Springs. At 7 months ahead they can use their points at the other disney vacation club resorts.

Since Bay Lake Tower is close to Magic Kingdom, I waitlisted a studio there and also made a reservation at Kidani since Todd’s cousin Lindsay and her partner Jackie were staying there.

What is a waitlist? If all of the DVC inventory is taken, you can request to be on a list that if someone cancels, you woud get a chance to get a room. It was about 2 months before the event when I cancelled my request.

Kidani is the Larger of the DVC choices at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Todd called DVC to verify our request of a room near his cousin. We went to dinner the night before at Sanaa which is located in Kidani and stopped to verify that we would be near them. That morning when we checked in, our assigned room was no where near them! After a few tries with the front desk, we got our room.

For most Disney races you have to be up early, race buses stop at 5am promptly and traffic can occur trying to get there. Most of this is a blur. For an accurate account go to Todd’s blog at Touringplans.

Since we had a savannah view, which basically means you get to see the animals. It was great to be able to go back to the room and relax and open the curtains so we can see the animals. We got some great shots of the scenery and animals!

We did not get to use the pool during this visit, but we did visit Sanaa 2 nights in a row. Sanaa is excellent, it works well with my dietary needs. I agree with others in that this resort needs a counter service option for convenience!

We enjoyed our stay at Kidani, and look forward to staying there again!

Vacationing My Way with DVC

If you aren’t familiar with the Disney Vacation Club. Basically its a timeshare system by Disney, when you buy in you buy points. Originally my husband and I bought 170 points when we lived in Massachusetts and we were visiting about 2-3 times a year. When we moved to Orlando, we lived 40 minutes away, which while seems close is a long drive at Midnight after wishes. Now we live about 10 minutes away.

We have a total of 245 points, I banked in 4 points from last year. The following is my current and past vacations for this calendar year. In my next articles I will be discussing my stays and my reviews.

I will be talking about our upcoming stay at Disney’s Boardwalk Villas from September 28-30, 2012, where we will be staying in a Deluxe Studio with a Garden View using 32 Vacation points.

During One More Disney Day, we used 48 Vacation Points on a Ded. Two Bedroom Standard View room at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

On February 25 & 26, 2012 we stayed at Disney’s Beach Club Villas in a Deluxe Studio using 22 Vacation Points.

Earlier this year from January 6 to 9, 2012 we stayed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas- Kidani Village in a Deluxe Studio Savanna View using 46 Vacation Points.

Many thanks to Betsy Bates for the use of her pictures in this post!!!