Disney Cruise Line DVC freebies--pics added 8/19

[Geomom]

We're just back from the 8/8 Alaskan Disney Wonder Cruise! (Paid cash as we think points are a terrible value--it would have cost our family of 4 over 1000 pts for a $6300 room--ocean view, deck 2--and in February we spent 373 pts for a 2 bedroom at BLT for 8 people with a rack rate of over $11,000.)

I thought I'd share the free stuff we got from DVC. We got a call a couple weeks in advance from the DVC staff on the Wonder to let us know that the Member celebration would be on day 2 at 9AM in Studio Sea.

Day 1: Sometime after we boarded, we stopped by the DVC desk and got red 'DVC Member' lanyards for the 4 of us--which was great as first time cruisers to get free lanyards to hold our key cards! A DVC member magnet turned up on our door by the end of the day.

Day 2: We went to the Member Celebration from 9-10AM. Free champagne, Mimosas, Sparkling Cider with a cherry, free Evian water bottles--ended up taking 1 each to use for our excursions later in the week. The first 1/2 hour or so were games run by Jamesy (DCL entertainment staff) and 2 other people were running the whole event (one of whom is the voice of the Monorail!) There were giveaways during the games, we won a 1 gig DVC themed flash drive. The last 1/2 hour was advertisements for DVC, trying to get you to buy more points, etc--soft sell. From a drawing, I won a 60th anniversary Disneyland pen (too bad it wasn't the $200 onboard credit, lol). At the end of the event, everyone got the DVC 25th anniversary buttons.

Day 3: In our room, we got a nice card with a token to redeem before the end of the cruise--days later when we redeemed it, we got 4 new DVC Member hats--black with a newer design than our last Welcome Home Wednesday ones.

Day 4: In honor of Frozen deck party night, if you stopped by the DVC desk today, you got one of those rubbery bracelets, with a switch that makes the DVC logo area glow with different colors.

Day 6: Had a message on our machine to stop by the DVC desk as a thank you to members for telling people on the cruise about DVC. It was a copy of the print of Walt and Lillian that is hanging in all the staterooms. It's the only picture they have of Walt on a cruise ship.

We also used the DVC discount that started in May--10% off any purchase over $50 in the merchandise shops on board! You need to show your DVC member card for that.

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks for the post, nice to know that DVD marketing is still catering to existing DVC owners.

Bill

 

[bobbiwoz]

Did you enjoy the cruise?

 

[Geomom]

Did you enjoy the cruise?

We had a great time! The weather was typical Alaska--foggy, light rain, but still beautiful. The only sun was in Canada--Yukon, last day at sea in British Columbia, and Vancouver. We loved the dinners in the main dining room, loved the shows. I feel like we need another week to actually do more activities on the ship. The week went by so quickly, I don't know how anyone does the 3-4 night cruises. We loved seeing characters out and about all the time--bumping into them on deck, etc. Hook was hilarious, we saw him being escorted back to a cast member area and he stopped in Vista Gallery, all upset at a painting of Peter Pan.

 

[Geomom]

Here are pics of all the free stuff!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Thanks for the post. I hope you enjoyed your cruise. I did not know there was a discount onboard now so Inam glad I read this!

 

[Geomom]

Thanks for the post. I hope you enjoyed your cruise. I did not know there was a discount onboard now so Inam glad I read this!

Thanks! We had a great time on our first cruise! Loved the 10% discount!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Thanks! We had a great time on our first cruise! Loved the 10% discount!

So pleased! It is not hard for me to spend $50 in the store..

 

[MouseOfCards]

Thanks for sharing. Was this a special DVC event? Or is this happening on all Disney cruises?

 

[Geomom]

Thanks for sharing. Was this a special DVC event? Or is this happening on all Disney cruises?

The DVC freebies are on all Disney cruises. Some of the freebies might be different depending on which ship you're on/which itinerary, and what their current giveaways are. I think the DVC member celebration is usually on departure day, before the muster drill, but for Alaska it's on the first full day (day at sea). The 10% discount of $50 merchandise started in May, not sure how long it will go, other than until the end of this year.

 

[Geomom]

So pleased! It is not hard for me to spend $50 in the store..

There are other DVC cruise discounts too, off some spa treatments on certain days, and off a non-discounted photo package--if you're interested in those, check the DVC member website. I wasn't going to use either of them, so I don't remember the terms/discounts for them.

 

[MouseOfCards]

The DVC freebies are on all Disney cruises. Some of the freebies might be different depending on which ship you're on/which itinerary, and what their current giveaways are. I think the DVC member celebration is usually on departure day, before the muster drill, but for Alaska it's on the first full day (day at sea). The 10% discount of $50 merchandise started in May, not sure how long it will go, other than until the end of this year.

Thanks. Do you know if they do this on three day and five-day cruises as well? And how many members were there at the DVC celebration?

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

There are other DVC cruise discounts too, off some spa treatments on certain days, and off a non-discounted photo package--if you're interested in those, check the DVC member website. I wasn't going to use either of them, so I don't remember the terms/discounts for them.

Oh thank you very much! I will have a little ( lethal ) look. You are too kind.

 

[Geomom]

Thanks. Do you know if they do this on three day and five-day cruises as well? And how many members were there at the DVC celebration?

I have no idea, this was our first cruise, but I just looked at a site that has the Personal Navigators posted and there is one listed for one of the Dream 3 nt cruises, so it's probably on all cruises. Maybe 100-150 people at the celebration? Ours was held in Studio Sea from 9-10AM. They had Belle (in her blue village dress) there for the kids to meet before it started--but there were very few kids at our celebration.

 

[Axelskater]

I would love to see the Walt on a ship print a little closer ...I'm wondering if it's the same one hanging on the Queen Mary 2. Walt and his family sailed Cunard, so there is a pic with his family in the historical area of the ship with all the other stars, royalty, etc who have sailed on their ships. I later read these experiences on Cunard ships inspired the classic lines & look (Art Deco, Art Nouveau) of the current Disney ships. That look is one reason after 12 Cunard voyages I decided to try Disney and their ships are just gorgeous. The design elements - I could just walk around soaking them up all day! I'm going back on 2 DCL voyages and now I have split loyalties!

 

[Robin"D"]

View attachment 188565 View attachment 188566 Here are pics of all the free stuff!

Great Looking Hats.....
are they adjustable?
when did you get these...
we got the "Light Blue" on the Magic in May, not a good color
Wanta switch???/ no really....
send me a PM if you would like to

Let me know

Robin & Angel "D"

 

[Geomom]

Great Looking Hats.....
are they adjustable?
when did you get these...
we got the "Light Blue" on the Magic in May, not a good color
Wanta switch???/ no really....
send me a PM if you would like to

Let me know

Robin & Angel "D"

Yes they are adjustable, by the little metal tab in the back. We got them on the Wonder this August--love them!

 

[bumbershoot]

The dvc thing is held on all sailings as far as I know. I've been to four and they have never had a character present. They are generally sales presentations. If someone in your family is weak, don't let them go unless you really want to add on direct.

 

[WeLoveStitch42]

Love the new hats! Much better than the light blue ones.

 

[Axelskater]

I was interested that the print was labeled as the only one they have of Walt on a cruise ship - or maybe that is the only one they have hanging on a Disney ship? I had seen a picture of Walt & his family hanging in a gallery on the Queen Mary 2, and I finally found it one of my books - here is Walt and his family on the original Queen Elizabeth (long since gone), in the ballroom. It had been used as a troop ship during WWII, and also as a TA liner. Walt & his family even had their own reserved table on board. Walt & his family were avid Cunarders, often sailing the original QE; I love that the Disney ships followed the tradition and have a nice "classic liner" appearance, inside and out.