Your most unexpected DVC moment

[Regina]

I remember stepping out on my balcony at OKW and watching a golfer who was wearing knickers and a hat. It was Payne Stewart. I'll never forget that moment, particularly since his career ended in such a tragedy.:(

How about you? Anything that stands out that you'd like to share?

[wdwsos]

Walking into the OKW Grand Villa for the very first time with my seven year old goddaughter. She sat on the ottoman, looked all around, and said, "Aunty Dotti...where are the servants?" She truly thought she was in a castle. :)

[Peterd]

Within a week, Muhammad Ali checking into the BW, the soap stars, (talked to one Adam/stuart chandler) in the elevator, I think his name is canary, not sure. The kids meeting christine aguilera, busy week. Kids meeting Terrel Davis at the ESPN club.

"Aunty Dotti...where are the servants?" She truly thought she was in a castle. "

Precious. That beats everything! That's what it's really about , the kids. Where they're happy, is where we're happy. Every time we go, it's just listening to the kids go wow..I still go wow, just not as loud.

[Merilyn]

Mine is booking a GV at OKW. They overbooked it and we got to go to BWV to a GV. The extra points were waived and they gave us park passes for all of us for the entire stay instead of the 6x5 that we were suppose to get. What a great stay. Right on the Boardwalk with a great view.

[Beth]

Our very first DVC stay - Memorial Weekend, 1997 - Vero - Ocean View Inn Room - 3 nights.

How foolish we were, in retrospect.. We didn't get to leave until around 9:30 Friday night - got to the resort around 11:30 that night - what a waste of points! :)

Anyway - circumstances were such that we missed dinner that night and, by the time we reached the resort - we were starving! I remember - I was literally <i>trembling!</i> I'm not sure if it was the chilly air in the lobby, the hunger, or my sheer excitement of "checking in" for the first time as members! My husband thought I had truly lost it!

Anyway - we mentioned to the sole CM at the desk that we were really hungry, and if there was anything we could get to eat around the resort... (at 11:30?!?) Anyway - he said, "Sure." and opened up the gift shop, and let us "peruse the frozen section." It was best meatloaf I had ever tasted!!!

I still have the pictures I took of the room, the deserted lobby, the hallways - taken at 1:00 AM that morning (even the inside of the shiny brass elevator!) - then of the sunrise I took from our balcony - just a few short hours later!

My DVC excitement still hasn't faded - no matter WHICH resort I stay at!!!!

[Hilary]

Your most unexpected DVC moment?
I guess that would have to be the moment DH agreed to joining! ;)

[dianeschlicht]

I have to agree with walking into the GV the first time we rented one was a great moment!! Our 9 guests were flabbergasted!!!
We also got an unexpected "Disney moment" on our second DVC trip. DS and I had gone to play mini golf at Fantasia Gardens while DH stayed back at the villa and did some computer work for his job. When it came time to return to OKW, DS and I just barely caught the bus from the Dophin to DTD by running and having the bus driver stop for us after he had already pulled away. The bus was crowded, we were hungry, and as the bus neared OKW, I commented to DS that I wished we could just get out and walk from there instead of having to go all the way to DTD and then back to OKW. The bus driver overheard me and asked where I wanted to walk to. When I said OKW, he said he thought he could give us a Disney Day and switched his sign to "special" while pulling into OKW and dropping just the two fo us off at Hospitality House!! Made our day!!

[DebbieB]

When I bought DVC in 1999, my Mom thought I was crazy. So when I took her for the first time in May 2000, we stayed in an OKW 1 bedroom. The look in her face as she looked around the unit was priceless! She was going through all the cabinets and drawers. When we came back to the room after getting groceries, she started carrying them down the hall to the bedroom. She turned around and said - I'm lost! She didn't say I was crazy anymore, when she got home she told everyone about the "apartment" we stayed in.

[nhmomx2]

Our family trip (all 24 of us) without any fights! Oh, wait, that hasn't happened yet...check back in August - lol!

[TnRobin]

I think my favorite moment is like most everyone else. The first trip. After 2 years of pleading and begging, DH finally said that we could use the extra money from my promotion to buy DVC. Our first trip was planned for the next March. Well November turned into a very hectic month for us - MIL had a heart attack and my Dad had a stroke all within a week. After everyone was deemed okay, I called DVC on a Monday and asked if anything was available that weekend - Veterans Day. Lo and behold a studio at OKW was available.

We arrived on Thursday morning to find our studio was ready. As soon as we turned the key and entered, my "Doubting Thomas" of a hubby said "You did good." He was overcome by how nice our room was and how large the bathroom was. That afternoon we watched bunnies hop past our porch. We enjoyed watching boats cruise up and down the river to DTD. By the end of the day, he had said those fateful words - "Why didn't we do this sooner." By Sat evening - DVC had become the "best thing we have done (next to DS)"

[yesdisneyfool]

For us it was the 1b at OKW. WOW, we have all of this - can't wait to try the GV's. DW called her Mom and I overhear her say "He did good". One of our best trips ever - but with DVC, they just keep getting better & better.

[perdidobay]

Hearing my DH, whom I had talked into buying DVC, say it was a great thing WE did when he saw the 1 bedroom VWL unit we stayed at in January. We had bought sight unseen the previous May.

[Eck45]

My wife & I were on our honeymoon staying at Coronado Springs. We went to the boardwalk to eat lunch (ESPN, I talked her into it). First we decided to check out the boardwalk. We saw the sales area and were looking in that big book they have out front. So a guide comes out and we are talking and it turns out he is from MN and so are we, etc, etc. So he says, "atleast come in and take a look." Needless to say we were stunned. Then he told us the cost and we were mesmerized.

So we decided to use some of the cash we received from our wedding as the down payment, and here we are.

This is the best impulsive buyer item we have ever bought.

2nd -

That would be my sister shedding a tear when she saw Mickey walk down from the Castle and hug my niece. She never thought she would go to WDW because they couldn't afford it, but now she will be making her second trip in May 2003 along with first trips by my Mom, and older sister and kids.

I can't wait....

[trishy]

My dh had taken my dd5 to the BWV gift shop to do some b'day shopping for *me* (what a surprise - I thought they were at the pool while I did laundry). When they got back upstairs she showed me a cute pin of Cleo (the fish from Pinnochio) she had gotten from the "Fish Lady". My dh claimed ignorance. After my b'day he told me they had been in the shop for about 1 1/2 hours with shopping, wrapping, talking and the saleslady was so impressed with my dd's patience, she let her pick a pin from the rack. My dd stood there not quite sure of what the trick was and the lady picked out Cleo because "she's cute, just like you". From then on, that was the "Fish Lady" at BWV.

Can't wait to have one of those GV moments you all are talking about, though. ;)

[Regina]

I love that comment about the servants.:D :D

These are all great stories. I hope that more of you share that "special moment" with the rest of us.

[thepoohbear]

I think our BEST moment was when we brought our mom and MIL. We were checking in at BWV and they were out on that balcony off the lobby overlooking the boardwalk. I went out to get them and my MIL said, "So, where are we staying?" I said, "Here." She said, "I know that. I want to know where our hotel is." I said, "This IS our hotel." She quietly said, "Oh," and then louder, "OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!" She had thought we were in a park!


But my most unexpected moment was when I was taking a picture of of my family on the patio of our GV from the golf course at OKW and the sprinklers all turned on! :)

[adamak]

Eck45,
Me too. DVC is the best impulsive buy we ever did. And we did it on our honeymoon too, when we're broke. We had the same story, went to BW for lunch, walked by, I heard about DVC, but never researched that. Walked in, and end up using my credit card for down payment. We paid that off with our wedding money too. (Wait, same storyline here...you sure you're not my DH??) :)

Now we have that paid off, and we've been asking friends and families there. That really was the best reason for owning DVC.

The best unexpected moment was us taking DH's family & teenage niece and nephews there. 2 hours at the park and they turned around and told everyone, it's the best vacation ever in their lives, even if it ended right there. It's very sweet.

[Ashley'sDad]

I do not have a DVC memory yet. But one of the happiest moments of my life was when my daughter first saw tigger in person. My wife hade recently passed away, and my daughter was not handling it very well. She just shut down. She hardly said a word, and never smiled or laughed. I did not smile a lot myself, but tried my best to make her feel better.

I decided to take us to WDW for a vacation because my wife always loved it there. We went to character breakfast where Pooh and Tigger would be. My daughter was just staring down at her plate, and looking like she just wanted to go home. I saw Tigger coming towards our table, and told her to look up. When she saw Tigger, her eyes lit up, and I got to see her pretty smile again. She started crying and ran to hug Tigger. She pretty much cut in line of the people at the table before us, but they were very nice about it. I wish I had a picture, but I was crying too hard to take one.

That's when I decided that WDW would always be a part of our lives. When I learned about the DVC, I just knew it was for us!

[Jeanne]

Before we became members, my Brownie troop of 12 3rd grade girls decided to sell enough cookies to go to Disney World for 3 days. My cousin rented the troop enough points to stay at OKW in 2 - 2bdr units. Watching those girls, in their uniforms attracting the Disney Magic was priceless. What a fabulous cousin I have to rent those points to the girls at $3 a point!

[adamak]

Ashley'sDad,
Blessed you. DVC is happy to have you and your daughter home. :)

[mic_KY_mouses]

I logged onto the survey website and composed this after getting a postcard in the mail today requesting info about our stay at Vero. It was our very first DVC trip after joining last Novemver. Now that I see this thread it makes me happy I did a copy and paste of it so I can use it here. This is our "wow" moment. You don't get experiences like this at just any old resort.


While dining at the Sunday Brunch at Sonya's our 5 year old son began experimenting with the tiny white-chocolate cups that were filled with strawberry cream and topped with whipped cream. He was pretty much playing around with them and after licking out the inside he was filling them with maple syrup and eating them. I was a little embarrased because it is a really nice brunch and I was afraid he wasn't acting "grown up" enough. Kathy B (I don't have her last name) was our server. She came over to the table and asked him how his masterpiece tasted. She seemed truly interested and spoke to him a few minutes to have him tell her "exactly" how he did it and where did he get the idea, etc.... She took extra time to show the other servers his "creation". By being so kind she put me at ease as well. She was very, very kind.

Later that evening as we were returning to our room we were surprised to find a small box and a note from Kathy on our counter in our room. She had included 5 or 6 of the small cups, a small bottle of maple syrup, and a note. The note said "To My little friend: You were right, we tried your creation and they were delicious! Here are a few more for you to enjoy before bed tonight, Kathy B." It pleased us as parents as much as it pleased him to be made to feel so special. It was the highlight of our trip.

Oh, and Ashleysdad......thanks for making me smile!!!

[CaptainMidnight]

What a wonderful thread. Thank you for sharing these touching stories.

[WDWLVR]

Like many others I think our most special moment was the first time at "home". We bought in January of 2000 and then booked a 1 bedroom at our Boardwalk home for December. It was the first time we had seen the holiday decorations at Disney. We had asked for and received a Boardwalk view. To make it even more special our two balconies were decorated with christmas garland and lights. It was a wonderful trip.

Second best moment was when we sent my in-laws for 5 nights to Vero Beach. The excitement in their voice telling us how much fun they were having made it special for us.

[dvcdudes]

My best memory was our second trip as DVC members but our first trip to our home resort BWV. The entire experience from pulling up to the circle in front, getting a "Welcome Home", checking in and getting a second "Welcome Home", and the kids saying "We're actually staying here?".... and when I responded we'll be coming back here all the time. We bought a piece of this place. Their response was "YES!!!"
My most unexpected DVC moment was when we went to the prsentation. We only went because my son got sick and was feeling a little better this day but not good enough to go into the parks. We were walking around the lobby of ASMu that morning and saw the DVC stand. My DW said thats the thing on the TV where you pre pay for vacations (she saw this from being cooped up in the room with my DS for two days) (I was very disinterested). The CM tried to get us to go for the presentation but I said maybe some other time. Later when we got back to the room there was a message. They were offering us a free lunch to see the presentation. They sent a van and on the way over I told my wife "Don't get your hopes up. This thing costs a lot of money. We're just going for the free lunch". After seeing the presentation, I thought that sounds really nice but I wanted to know the bottom line. Whats the cost? When she told me, I was plesently surprised that we could join for around $9000. The second surprise was when we were given a voucher for any of the BW restaurants for lunch (I was expecting finger sandwiches) and were told to talk it over over lunch. I hope to see you back... WOW no preasure. At the Big River Brew House, I turned over one of the kids placemats and started doing some calculations in red crayon. My third surprise was how soon it would pay for itself. We were disappointed with ASMu and wanted to stay in the upper scale hotels from now on anyway. We decided to sign up right then. My kids were just happy to get back into the play room they have for them.
Sorry it's so long but it was nice for me to relive this experience again and remember how we became members.

[hoosiergirl]

Our BEST DVC memory was our 2nd trip to OKW but 1st as DVC members. It was early Dec. 1993 so the free passes were in effect. We got a 2br so that we'd get 4 passes but didn't need all that space so we invited my brother, his wife, DD & DS. They had never been on a family vacation before because my dear brother (DB) was starting his own business. They also had planned on going to WDW "some day"--but in 1988 their 6yo middle child died suddenly of a brain aneurysm. I wanted so badly for them to experience the magic of WDW and the beautiful Christmas decorations and was so happy when they accepted our invitation. DB is usually serious or in a business mode, so imagine our surprise when we heard that the first ride they went on was Peter Pan's Flight. When he got off, he was so thrilled and was saying, "I can fly!" :) My sister-in-law thanked us over and over again (always with tears in her eyes) for this trip and the opportunity for my brother to be a kid again. For a few short days, the weight of the world was lifted for him and I saw a spark in DB that I hadn't seen since before my nephew died. (I like to think that that trip helped to put the spark back in their lives.)

That trip made the whole DVC purchase worth it!!!

[joepoe]

...was on our first trip to BWV in Feb 99 as members. When we pulled our van to the gate, the guard asked if we were visiting or staying at the resort. I replied, "We're members." He said "Oh, then Welcome Home!" It was unexpected and pretty cool. We still talk about it sometimes.

[jmminarik]

Well, we expect to have alot more, but:

1) Sending our best friends to a 1BR BWV for their honeymoon.

2) Having miles of beach to ourselves at dawn on Christmas Day in VB.

3) While walking along the boards away from Epcot towards the "Swan" and Dolphin at night, we overheard a young kid proclaiming excitedly 'Look mom, Jar-Jar Binks, Jar-Jar, Look Mom!'.

Slightly perplexed, we looked toward where he was looking...at night, looking head on at the swan atop the Swan, with the lights and the shadows, danged if it didn't look like Jar-Jar Binks. So for us, it will always be the Jar-Jar Binks and the Dolphin.

-Joe

[GraceDVC]

On our first trip to OKW in the Summer of 1995, we were delighted by the warmth of all the cast members and also of the other guests who would wave and say Good Morning, Good Evening, etc. as we passed them walking over the bridge from Bldg. 23 to the Hospitality House. But the greatest moment was getting a lift from one of the housekeepers on her cart; she said, Hop on; it's too hot today to walk!!! What a great second home.

[wdwsos]

Originally posted by GraceDVC
But the greatest moment was getting a lift from one of the housekeepers on her cart; she said, Hop on; it's too hot today to walk!!! What a great second home.

That happened to us on July 4th of last year. It's like one big family there.

This past week, on our last day, my son and I were walking down Peninsular Road towards Olivia's for breakfast when the "cleaning caravan" came riding through...cart after cart after cart filled with housekeeping staff. In each and every cart, there were at least 4 or 5 who waved hello to us.

It may not sound like much, but it sure made us smile. (It also got a, "Waaahhhh...I don't want to go home!" out of me.) :D

[nezy]

WOW-GREAT THREAD! Thanks Ashley's Dad for making me cry. I'm sorry for your loss. God Bless You both.

Every time we go there is another great memory. Here are just a few:
1. Seeing dolphins from the beach& and on the boat close enough to touch in HH.

2. Campfires at HH.

3. My DS saying, after he swam for the first time unassisted at OKW,"There really is Magic here!"

4. Re-heating turkey dinner in the fireplace at The Sagamore on Thanksgiving.

5. My DH saying, "You did buy more points, didn't you?"

6. EVERY TIME I SEE THE SMILE ON THE FACES OF MY 3 KIDS WHENEVER WE GO HOME, WHICH EVER HOME IT MAY BE.

[twinglefam]

I'm going to go with the first thing that came to my mind, even though it sounds silly. It was!

We had spoken to our guide a million times over the year that it took us to head down to Fl. and join (we made that yucky mistake of taking a trip down without joining first...duh) but had never met him. Well, you know how you mentally draw a picture of what someone will look like just by the sound of their voice?? Without going into detail, our funniest DVC moment was that moment when our guide laid eyes on us, and we laid eyes on him....and all three of us broke out in laughter!