Celebrity DVCers?

[rbuzzotta]

I would have been proud to call him "neighbor" until he left us for the Colts!

I am still proud to call Adam a 'neighbor'!! Classy guy..........even if he did go to the Colts!!!!

 

[crisi]

Yup--I live in Kennebunkport, Maine (summer home of Bush # 41) and he has SS detail full time...and not just b/c his son is the current President. I am friends with several of the SS wives and all former Presidents have full time SS detail. And from these friends I know that yes, they do book whole floors of hotels, etc. Although, as the former President gets farther away from the time he was actually in office, things do get more relaxed. They may no longer take entire floors of hotels, for example, but just take rooms on either side, etc. If Carter owns DVC, the SS would pay for the adjecent villas (well, U.S. taxpayers would...) or however many they deemed necessary for safety purposes.

Even if the Carter's aren't DVC members, OKW may been seen as easier to secure than some other Disney properties (its that retirement home feeling - a little less crowded and busy). It is my understanding that they are Disney fans, there have been several reports of them on the cruise line and at DisneyWorld over the years.

 

[Nicsmom]

We've actually met/seen/taken pics with Steven Tyler at the Boardwalk so maybe he does own there. It makes sense to me anyway.

 

[colleen costello]

I clearly recall posts on these Boards a few years back... Jimmy Carter and co. were definitely at Old Key West, around Christmastime. You don't have to be a member to stay there, of course... People reported they had kind of taken over a whole building.

My friend Amy was on the Land/Sea Disney cruise for Xmas - New Year's week, right after 9/11 happened. She was kind of nervous with all the security stuff, wondering if the boat was safe... To her surprise, who was on board but the whole Carter clan and all their security detail... She said she never felt so safe in her life

The Carters clearly have their priorities straight -- helping those less fortunate and spending Xmas holidays with MICKEY!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Even if celebrities stayed in GV's...I think they would just book through CRO, not actually buy a DVC membership.

 

[DonnaL]

Why not buy a DVC membership??.......After all, a good number of celebrities are just regular people like the rest of us......just so happens their chosen profession/job gives them such high visibility to the public as to give them celebrity status. Celebrities have kids who like to go to WDW just as much as any other kid and depending on the ages of their kids sometimes I'm sure it's far easier to have the DVC kitchen facilities available to their family rather than using room service for everything.

 

[Mike]

Why not buy a DVC membership??.......After all, a good number of celebrities are just regular people like the rest of us......just so happens their chosen profession/job gives them such high visibility to the public as to give them celebrity status. Celebrities have kids who like to go to WDW just as much as any other kid and depending on the ages of their kids sometimes I'm sure it's far easier to have the DVC kitchen facilities available to their family rather than using room service for everything.

I don't think anybody is saying that celebrities would not use the DVC accomodations. I think that celebrities would more than likely have a "money is no object" attitude and would book the DVC accomodations thru CRO as needed rather than dealing with the membership and the management of points required. I just can't see that most would find the cost savings associated with pre-buying future vacations appealing - they are too rich to care Of course there will be exceptions as you do occassionally hear about celebrities that are known to be frugal or even cheap. But I think they would be the minority. JMHO

 

[salmoneous]

I think you have to divide the celebrity world into two groups. The first group might include some guy who played for the Red Sox for a few years back in the 80's, somebody who has a supporting role on a TV show, or maybe the gal who came in third on American Idol one year. These folks are famous and are recognized, but probably aren't filthy rich. I can see that sort of celebrity buying into DVC.

But I don't see the other type of celebrity - the Steven Tyler's of the world - owning DVC. If you think over the pros and cons of DVC, it's not so appealing to them:

The big cons I see of DVC are the limited swankiness and lack of privacy. There are many places nearby that are much swankier, where a celebrity can have much more privacy they would get at DVC.

Then you look at the pros for DVC and see they aren't all that necessary for the true celeb:

Location: Important to us, sure. But if you have a private limo at your beck and call 24-hours a day, and you probably get special VIP backstage entry for you and that limo into the park, location just isn't that important.

Service and Disney Magic: When you have full time staff dedicated to meeting your every whim, Disney CM's and their pixie dust just aren't as valuable.

Deluxe Vacations at non-Deluxe prices: Not that important to true Celebs.

 

[thelobstershanty]

We have seen quite a few of the ABC soap opera stars during Super Soap Weekend and they all stay at the Epcot resorts, not the DVC resorts but YC/BC/BI. We have also seen the Back Street Boys (when they were popular) at YC, which is where they were staying and have also seen John Travolta and family at WL.
We have a close family friend that works Conceirge at WDW. When there are celebrities at WDW they do not stay in regular rooms they stay in the suites and usually take up quite a few other rooms on the same floor, for those traveling with them. They (celebrities) have a great deal of their trip comped by Disney. The suites they stay in are absolutely gorgeous complete with kitchens, multiple bedrooms,dining rooms etc. They do not need DVC accomondations, believe me. We have been lucky enough to be in a couple of these suites, thanks to our friend, and they do make a DVC GV look a little less "grand". One suite at BWI even has a fireplace! Don't know why you would need one in FL, but it is there.
We LOVE our DVC, don't get me wrong, and we feel like millionaires when we stay in a DVC villa. But a DVC villa compared to the tippy top WDW resort suites, is middle class.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I think you've got your cables crossed; Disney doesn't own Fox. Or am I missing a joke?

Maybe Mich Mouse thinks he's a Fox, who happens to be and ABC/Disney employee

 

[oldkeywestfan]

When we bought our first contract our closing guy (not our guide, but the guy who does all the financial paperwork) told us that several PGA golfers are members and stay during the Funai Classic. He also told us that Paul Schaffer (the music guy on Letterman) was a member. It seems I also remember seeing or hearing that several of the Atlanta Braves are members as well since they have their spring training there

 

[BlakeNJ]

When we bought our first contract our closing guy (not our guide, but the guy who does all the financial paperwork) told us that several PGA golfers are members and stay during the Funai Classic. He also told us that Paul Schaffer (the music guy on Letterman) was a member. It seems I also remember seeing or hearing that several of the Atlanta Braves are members as well since they have their spring training there

Wow, and aren't the Braves in town for almost two months?? Wouldn't that be NICE! But that would be A LOT of points.

 

[rinkwide]

Last time we stayed at the Boardwalk I overheard the room service staff mentioning a "very special" request for a fried peanut butter & banana sandwich. On a hunch I decided to follow the CM who delivered this particular order. The rather shy "member" (in an undisclosed grand villa) tipped well but wasn't happy when I indiscreetly snapped this pic of him with my cell phone.

 

[jimmytammy]

I remember seeing posts a couple years back on this subject. One fellow who comes to mind is Gopher from The Love Boat. His first name is Fred but cant remember his last name.

 

[salmoneous]

I remember seeing posts a couple years back on this subject. One fellow who comes to mind is Gopher from The Love Boat. His first name is Fred but cant remember his last name.

I love the fact that Fred Grandy is better know for playing Gopher on the Love Boat than for being a 4-term congressman from Iowa.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Last time we stayed at the Boardwalk I overheard the room service staff mentioning a "very special" request for a fried peanut butter & banana sandwich. On a hunch I decided to follow the CM who delivered this particular order. The rather shy "member" (in an undisclosed grand villa) tipped well but wasn't happy when I indiscreetly snapped this pic of him with my cell phone.

Alright Rinky...I'm calling you out on this one!!! I think you are full of P.B. & Bananas because I know for a fact that the King stays at OKW while in residence at the World due to the super-sized G.V.s and the close proximity of the Cadillac parking.

 

[TroyandDabs]

Sam Adams (football player not beer maker) is a member.
Yes, Gopher, is a member as well.

 

[Niagara2]

We were at OKW a few years back. One day we noticed dogs with security men going around one of the buildings. We also noticed low flying helicopters over the area for a few days. Then, the next afternoon, I had the pleasant expereince of speaking with and shaking hands with former President Carter. We were at the pool at the same time. He was very gracious. I was taken aback on how he had aged. He was with his family and told me he really enjoys Disney. Besides my family memories it is one of my fondest memories of staying at OKW. We noticed that the building with the dogs only had two cars in its lot, thus, I feel they gave his family a building for security reasons. I never asked if he was a member. I know that someone else had posted on a visit by Carter during a different time period. He was there more than once. When we asked CMs about his visits they refused to answer.

 

[mikayla73]

I read somewhere that somebody had seen John Stamos a few times at Cape May. How's that for a rumor? LOL. That doesn't mean that he's a member of course, but given his total obsession with Disney (he bought the old Disneyland sign) it wouldn't surprise me at all if he wanted to "own a piece of the magic"

Now the question to ask is: do you think celebrity DVCers get their requests honored?

DH and I saw John S in DL a couple years ago. We headed down Main Street, and saw a big crowd gathered around and there he was in the middle. We stopped for a min, snapped a pic, and kept walking down Main Street ... with all the people standing around him we figured there would be less wait in lines besides, I am sure he would like to enjoy the magic as much as we do!

 

[jimmytammy]

I love the fact that Fred Grandy is better know for playing Gopher on the Love Boat than for being a 4-term congressman from Iowa.

Thats my fault! Watching too much TV Land and not enough news.