History of DVC

[hulagirl]

Hi all,
My husband and I were talking last night and he asked me if I knew the history of DVC. We were really wishing we had known someone who loved Disney as much as we do now when we got married (Someone who might have told us to go to WDW for our honeymoon! ) Then, we got to thinking...Those who are purchasing SSR right now have to have a certain "vision" for the future and how much more those who originally bought into OKW would have to have had. (I think had I known about DVC at that time in my life I would have had the "vision" by the way ) Anyway, I would love to wow him tonight with all my knowledge of DVC history. Can you guys tell me how it all began, what Disney was like then, what year it was and how much points cost way back in the beginning? I would love to know when each new property opened up and if anyone has accompanying pictures like Doc has going for SSR I'd love to see those too. Come on Old Timers! Tell us the DVC story! Please?

 

[InstImpres]

Here's a time line I copied a while ago. I apologize to whoever originally made it as I don't have that noted.

Pre-Construction - $48(? pt. minimum)
Oct. 7, 1991 - OKW Opens $51
Dec. '91 - $51
Jan. '92 -$51 (230 pt. minimum)
Feb. '92 - $51
July-Aug. '92 - $54.50
11/1/92 - Official date raised to $56
May '93 - $56 (190 pt. minimum)
July '93 - $57.50
Jan. '94 - $57.50 (190 pt. minimum)
March '94 - Announce Newport, CA plans
April '94 - $59 Increase in June announced
6/15/94 - Official date raised to $60.50
Nov. '94 -Approx. date raised to $61.50
7/1/95 - Official date raised to $62.75 October '95 - Vero Opens
March '96 - HHI Opens
May '96 - $62.75
July '96 - BWV Opens
May '97 - $62.75 (150 pt. minimum)
May '98 - $62.75
1998 - OKW Sells-out
1998 - Announce WLV
Jan. '99 - $65
Oct. '99 - $65 (notice of OKW selling out)
Mid-May 2000 - Official date to $67
June 2000 - $67
Nov. 2000 - WLV Opens (sales start Dec.)
Mid-Jan. 2001 - Official date raised to $72
March 2001 an increase to $75 announced for June
March? 2002 – Begin sales of BCV
June 2002 -- $80 per point
Dec 1, 2002 -- $84 per point (announced early Oct.)

The other real kicker is in the beginning, you got free park passes to go along with each stay!

Hope this helps
Sandy

 

[RobDoc]

I'm sure others can add to these comments, but here is a start.

DVC started on October 1, 1991 as "The Disney Vacation Club Resort". Early sales began at $51 per point with a 230 point minimum.

The name was changed to Old Key West in 1995, shortly before Vero Beach opened. Hilton Head opened in June, 1996 followed by BWV in July, 1996.

VWL was next, opening in November, 2000. BCV opened on July 1, 2002 and SSR will open on May 17, 2004.

Here are some <a href="http://disneydoc.homestead.com/vwl.html">preopening photos of VWL</a> ( and some <a href="http://disneydoc.homestead.com/vwl2.html">more preopening photos of VWL.</a>)

Here are some <a href="http://disneydoc.homestead.com/bcv.html">preopening photos of BCV</a> and <a href="http://disneydoc.homestead.com/bcv2.html">more preopening photos of VWL</a> ... and <a href="http://disneydoc.homestead.com/bcv3.html">even more preopening photos of BCV</a>

Here are some current <a href="http://disneydoc.homestead.com/ssrjan04.html">SSR photos.</a>

Enjoy!

 

[colleen costello]

My family went at Christmastime one year, trying to recall exactly when. It was somewhere between 1991 and 1994. We stayed at Riverside (Dixie Landings then!) and the day we checked in was miserable, cold outside and pouring. Somehow we decided to do the "Vacation Club" tour, since OKW (then the Vacation Club) was just down the road. I clearly recall that you entered the property differently -- near the lighthouse -- and came in near Hospitality House/Olivia's. We did the tour, saw a video, then got a complimentary family photo. They superimposed your family picture into a hot air balloon with Mickey and friends, very cute. Then they fed us ice cream. The waiting area was set up like an ice cream parlor, real cute.

Husband and I were getting ready to try to start a family, and my parents were getting ready to add-on to their home or buy a new one. So at the time, DVC wasn't right for us. I think the minimum purchase was still 150 points and that added up to a lot of money. But I can remember the tour. They took us through a grand villa. I can remember going upstairs and checking out the bedroom and thinking "Wow... someday!"

DVC has come a long way since then!

 

[Chuck S]

Actually, the entrance has always been the same place at OKW. What changed, and made it look so different, is that Miller's Road was re-routed when Bldgs 62 to 64 were built. Miller's Rd used to join Peninsular Rd. nearer to the guard shack. The current Miller's Road corner was basically just a driveway for the Commodore House sales center, into a a large parking area with a Mickey topiary.

 

[DisneyMim]

Well, I don't know about being called an "old timer" , but here's my 2 cents. We first heard about Disney Vacation Club in Feb 1991 from another Disney fan friend of ours. We called and tried to get some info, but they couldn't tell us anything. The CM was amazed that we knew anything about it because they had not announced it yet. They couldn't send us anything, but they took our name and address and said they would mail us something as soon as they were licensed in our state. We never even gave it a second thought, amazing as that sounds. I had been waiting for something like this forever, ever since I was a kid and told my Mom that someday I would live in Disney. Well, circumstances prevented us from visiting WDW that year, but as soon as those papers came in the mail in October 1991 we started the ball rolling. We were told we were one of the first 10 people to buy through the mail. Never saw it, never had too. We knew it was just what we wanted. You had to buy a minimun of 230 points in those early days, and it was $51 a point when we finally were able to sign on the dotted line. We didn't even know about the free passes until later, it wouldn't have figured into our decision, but I realize that it did for many people. It was a very nice perk!! We were not able to visit until August 1992 and we were just blown away. I remember just standing in the middle of our 2 bedroom villa crying. Not all of the resort was opened yet. On that first trip we finally meet our member guide, Bob Minnigan. We had spoken to him on the phone many times but had yet to meet him in person. We all had a Mickey Bar ice cream and looked around the commodore house. Also back in the early days they gave members little presents during their visits. I remember getting a photo album, a DVC coin, etc. As more and more members joined and the minimium points dropped to 150, so more people could join, all this stopped. They just could not do this kind of stuff anymore, too many members! We have never regretted our decision to buy. Sometimes in life you just have to go with your heart. I'm so glad we did!

 

[colleen costello]

What is the "Commodore House" today? Is it check-in or Olivia's? I know it's in that area...

 

[RobDoc]

Originally posted by colleen costello
What is the "Commodore House" today? Is it check-in or Olivia's? I know it's in that area...

The Commodore House was the original sales center for DVC. It moved to BW in 1996. Commodore House was then torn down and building 62 now sits on that site.

Miller Road originally passed thru what is now building 63 and 64. When 62-64 were added, the road was reconfigured to pass thru what was the parking area for the sales center (as Chuck S already mentioned).

Buildings 62-64 opened in 1997 and sales ended for those units in fall, 1999.

One thing I miss about Commodore House was the wooded walkway on the back side next to the golf pond. We used to use that when we stayed in buildings 16, 17 and 18 to walk to the HH area. It was nicely landscaped and had a great view across the pond.

 

[hulagirl]

Thank you all - we are enjoying this thread so much....How I wish we could turn back time and get in on those early days. I love the stories and how everyone talks of OKW with such fondness and with hearts full of memories. I have never been happier with a purchase in my life and it feels like almost everyone else feels the same way.
Doc - I am so glad you take pictures and share them with us all. They tell a story - a story I am very interested in. Keep the stories coming guys. I love hearing about your experiences!

 

[Chuck S]

We really miss the wooden walkway, too. In fact, if at all possible, we try not to stay in the Miller's Rd. area anymore, just because of that. In reality, I know it probably only added about 20 feet to the walk, but it just seems so ordinary now...the wooden walkway was somehow "Special".

Anyone remember when we'd occasionally get little "Welcome Home" gift from the sales division? We received a nice DVC photo album during one of our visits.

Oh, and talk about another memory..remember the head bellman who retired about a year or so after the resort opened...I think his name was "Bill"? He must have remembered every member from trip to trip...always a "nice to see you all again, Welcome Home!" Of course, so much of the staff is what makes OKW special. Wanda at Olivia's (Remember Miss Vicky and the Captain?) Oh, and I don't know if he is still there, but there was a boatman named "Rufus" that always "Honked his Conch" when arriving at the OKW dock.

 

[RobDoc]

We got the DVC photo album on our first trip to OKW in 1993. It was sitting on the "key shelf" in the foyer when we walked into the villa.

Rufus is still part of the recreation staff- he no longer "honks his conch", but it's fun to reminisce with him about those days.

I agree that the OKW staff certainly adds to the "magic" of the resort- there are still several of the opening day CM's at the resort.

At one time I had paced off the distance (maybe Caskbill has those measurements using the GPS?) along the walkway and later compared that with the sidewalk distance after the loss of Commodore House. I didn't save the comparison, but it's definitely further now ( I think it's less than 50 feet though).

 

[hulagirl]

Stumbled onto an old thread of mine from 16 years ago tonight.. Thought I’d comment to pull it back to the top. I’m amazed to see some of you who are still posting here regularly.

It just made me smile. Maybe it will do the same for some of you. A new generation is coming up behind us with a whole different set of circumstances, but will make their own memories, just as we did.

It’s the circle of life... and it moves us all.

 

[colleen costello]

HOW COOL! We are all aging like fine wines Glad we got our points for $75! Seems like a fire sale now!

 

[Disneykate605]

I enjoyed this thread! Too bad we didn't join until 2015...we did not pay anywhere near $51!

 

[MICKIMINI]

YES, Bob was our guide too and we bought on the spot from him in 1996...he was amazing! I still have the original DVC binder and use my tote bag every day...priceless memories!

 

[mort1331]

For those who know, I have always wondered. OKW was 50yrs, but the rest of the 42' club were later and not 50yrs. How and why was that?

 

[rg35]

Oh, and talk about another memory..remember the head bellman who retired about a year or so after the resort opened...I think his name was "Bill"? He must have remembered every member from trip to trip...always a "nice to see you all again, Welcome Home!" Of course, so much of the staff is what makes OKW special. Wanda at Olivia's (Remember Miss Vicky and the Captain?) Oh, and I don't know if he is still there, but there was a boatman named "Rufus" that always "Honked his Conch" when arriving at the OKW dock.

My grandparents bought OKW in 1993 and we took a couple of big family trips in 1995 and 1997. The only early cast member that I remember is the lady who ran the activities at the pool. She was from NY and had a very pronounced NY accent. I can't remember her name. I have video of my grandparents participating in a version of "The Newlywed Game" at the pool (which they won, beating all the younger couples lol) - pretty funny to compare that to now where all the pool activities are really for the kids. Now I own at AKV but we really like to stay at OKW because I have such great memories there of our big family trips.

 

[RobDoc]

For those who know, I have always wondered. OKW was 50yrs, but the rest of the 42' club were later and not 50yrs. How and why was that?

The 50 year end date was based on a land-lease between DVD and WDW for the ground on which the DVC Resorts sit. In September, 2007 DVD announced an extension to the OKW lease for an additional 15 years. They proposed that current owners could purchase the extension for $25 per point (which they discounted to $15 per point until the end of February, 2008). Records of the number of extensions actually purchased have not been released, but indications are that it was poorly received. Members were threatened with a lien on their Membership if they failed to agree to a Quit Claim Deed to sign their extension over to DVD. While most Members did either return the Quit Claim or purchase the extension, I believe there are some who are simply waiting to see what their options will be after January 31, 2042 when their (now extended) deed is still active for an additional 15 years.

With each additional DVC Resort added up until SSR, the land lease end date remained the same (01/31/42). DVD has, to date, opted not to extend the lease beyond 1/31/42 for any other resorts. With the addition of SSR, all new DVC Resorts have had an end-date about 50 years later (SSR opened in May, 2004 and ends on January 31, 2054).
As far as I know there had never been an explanation why VB through BCV all have the same end-date as the original date for OKW. All direct purchasers of OKW do now receive the 01/31/57 extended end date.

Stay tuned!

 

[mort1331]

Thanks Doc. I have always wondered why some buying the later 42 resorts accepted the non 50 years. I don't know how they marketed them, but could not have been 50 yrs of Magic.

 

[CarolynFH]

Thanks Doc. I have always wondered why some buying the later 42 resorts accepted the non 50 years. I don't know how they marketed them, but could not have been 50 yrs of Magic.

When we first looked at DVC in 1994 and bought in 1997, I think it was marketed more as “a home away from home” and a full vacation destination where you could spend time with family and friends, having fun that didn’t necessarily involve the parks all day every day. VB and HHI both opened before BWV did, which again added to the idea that DVC was focused on vacationing, not on WDW park going.

I won’t be surprised if someone comes up with examples of marketing materials from way back then.