Magicical DVC moments! Any takers?

[Dreamfinder2]

Just for fun - would any of y'all be interested in sharing any "magic moments" you and your family/friends have experienced through DVC? I'd like to keep this DVC specific, although anything you may have seen or done in the parks or anywhere else at Disney would be appropriate.

A caveat - yes, I know that Disney is a monolithic multinational corporation, bottom line driven, and absolute experts at lightening your wallet. Still ... they do that by providing outstanding guest experiences and a healthy dose of pixie dust. No one does it better.

Let's hear your stories! I've shared my most recent in another thread.

 

[nhmomx2]

Okay Dreamfinder, I guess I'll go first.

Two years ago we invited my DH's family down to WDW and offered up our points so each of them (23 of us in all) could have a room at the BWV's for 5 nights. This was my in-laws dream - all their kids and all their grandchildren together at WDW. Well, on one of our days there we spent a wonderful breakfast together - in our matching t-shirts) - at Chef Mickey's. Then on to the opening of the MK. Somehow, my DH had something to do with it , my inlaws were chosen to be the Grand Marshall's of the parade. They were so excited. When the time came to go to the meeting spot all 23 of us went in anticipation. Well, the other family that had been chosen as GM's didn't show up. We got to take their spots. One representative from each family got to join in the fun. My mother in laws words..."If I died today I would die a very happy woman!".

It is because of our DVC ownership this was all possible. We have a great scrapbook that my in-laws look at several times a week and memories that will last a lifetime. There were so many things that happened that week, but this one was magical!!

Maybe we'll do it again in a few years...we've added another grandchild to the gang so he has to go too

 

[bobbiwoz]

nhmomx2, I think that is just beautiful! Thank you for telling us about it. I am so heartened by the fact that it is your in-laws and you have done something so special for them.

Bobbi

 

[Patty3]

Last summer, we took my best friend and her family to DW. Her children were 8 and 10. They have been to DW before but, they have never stayed on property. We stayed at the BCV and as soon as we arrived Art, the greeter, made such a fuss over those two, trading pins with him made their morning and they still talk about him. We are taking them again next year and the kids can't wait. You can see Magic in just the little things if you keep your eyes wide open.

 

[Coach Rick]

This is kind of DVC related.

Our last trip was planned 2 weeks before we went. I never did that before. With me vacations are an event. We were supposed to go to Pa. for a few days, and that's what we had told our three children (DD 17, DS 12, and DD 8 - at that time), so we just kept letting them think that's where we were going. When we got to the airport and I checked in at the ticket window I let the attendent know that the kids didn't know we were going to Fl., she called back to the gate, and had them take the signs down saying where the flight's destination was, and had us board before anyone else so they wouldn't hear the announcement for Orlando. Even the crew played it cool. We had told the kids the name of the airport in Pittsburg was the A.P Orlando International, just in case they caught a glipse of any announcements. We got there, and my 17 DD YO figured it out, but didn't say a word to the other two. We got the rental car, and driving from the ariport to WDW my son observed all the Fl registrations, and I told him they must all be rental cars, because our rental had Fl plates too I had to constantly draw their attention away from the signs on the road, but I was successful at it...anyhow they bought it all, and when we finally told them after I parked at the Poly the faces were priceless, and on video tape. My 8 yo DD had never been, and my 12 yo DS was 4 when he was there last, so he really didn't remember much. They still talk about that experience today, and it makes me feel soooo good that I got them there like that. Now the DVC part...that's when we purchased so there would be many more magical moments starting in 46 days with 11 of us going.

 

[Paula H]

Coach Rick - I loved your story. We're going to attempt something similar in December. DD is 5 (and this will be her 3rd WDW strip and DS will be almost 3). We're going to load the kids in the car and not tell them where we're going!

We stayed at VWL last spring - DH, me, the kids, and my mother flew down for a few days. Mom wouldn't have been there if we didn't have DVC and enough room for her to come along.

One afternoon, we were walking through World Showcase and a crowd had gathered around one of those living statues - a woman dressed like a statue, all in white who would occasionally reach out a take a passerbys hat, etc. DD (at the time 4) was intrigued. The rest of my family was ahead of DD and I, and I couldn't get her away from the statue. Everytime she started to go up to touch it, someone else would beat her to it. After 4-5 attempts and some whining, the whole crowd was watching my DD and oohing and aaahing (she's a little red ahead and you couldn't miss her if you tried). Finally, the CM standing with the statue came over and told everyone to stand back so DD could see the statue. DD approached, the statue held out her hand, and then bent over and picked her up! DD gave the statue a hug and then neither of them moved for quite a while. The whole crowd started clapping. I walked over to the statue to retrieve DD, and the statue wouldn't let go and we did a little pretend tug of war. It's was adorable. And, again, the crowd was clapping and ooohing. (My family had doubled back to find us and caught the whole thing with the camera). After countless WDW trips, you'd thing you'd seen and done it all, but this was truly a magical moment for me and DD - the kind that only happens at WDW. Yup, I sound like a commercial, don't I?

 

[dvcfamily41801]

I guess we have had Magical DVC Moments each and everytime we have stayed as DVC Members.

Our frist DVC trip we stayed at BWV and just loved it. We had an awesome view of Luna Park Pool and cried each and everytime I walked in the lobby.

Next time was at OKW. We did an add on becuase we were loving it so much. The villa was just amazing. Again, I cried. We had ducks that visited us each day and my son loved seeing them. We had the perfect location, I believe building 14, across from the Hospitality House.

Next we went back to the Boardwalk and we got a Boardwalk view room and I literally had goosebumps, and yep you guessed it, cried when I was checking in and heard we got the view. It was incredible. We sat on the balcony every night and talked with people going to the DVC models as we were right above the offices.

May, 2003 we went to Hilton Head. When we first joined DVC the thought of us ever going to Hilton Head was the furthest thing from our minds. We knew we were only going to WDW. Well, I don't think we could have loved that resort anymore. We had a fantastic vacation with great friends, the Cast Members are outstanding, loved every minute of it. We had a great room in the Live Oak Lodge building and we can't wait to go back.

July, 2003 my DH and I were lucky enough to sneak away for a 4 day just the 2 of us long weekend and had a studio at OKW. We had such a great time, loved grabbing drinks at the pool bar and enjoying each other.

Last December, we tried the Wilderness Lodge Villas and it was just incredible. Again, perfect room, the decorations were just amazing, our picture in my signature was taken by a DVC Cast Member in the Iron Spike Room. I bought a WL fleecy blanket and curled up in front of the fireplace in the chairs and read magazines, something I never have done on vacation, even fell asleep in the lobby. I surprised my DH and DS with the sleigh ride and cried. The Christmas music playing in the lobby and outside, was just awesome. We flew out of Philadelphia just before a huge blizzard hit, and we even got out early the night before we were supposed to leave. We called Member Services and were lucky enough to get a studio at OKW for a Friday night stay. Could that be anymore perfect?? We had so much magic on this trip, we thought nothing could top it...until...

April 2004...back at OKW. We lucked out and were again, in the same building as we were before our frist time at OKW. We had a super super time. Loved the resort again, only wish I would have checked out the activites at Community Hall. Next time for sure. Again, the amount of magic that we encountered was unreal.

Heading back in October, this time we have a Boardwalk view reserved, and we can't wait.

Sorry this was so long.

 

[Beth]

Our very first DVC stay, ever...

It was for a weekend at Vero (May, 1997.) We didn't get off work until late, and it takes 2 hours to drive there.

We ended up pulling in around 11:30 - in retrospect, what a total waste of points - but I didn't care. I was literally shaking I was so excited - but I told my husband I was just chilled by the cold lobby. Anyway - we were totally starving - having missed dinner. We asked the CM at the front desk if there was anywhere that we could grab a late night snack, and he actually opened the gift shop - just for us! That was the best tasting Stouffer's frozen dinner I had ever had!

Then, like a total idiot, I proceeded to walk around the Inn and resort taking pictures - it had to have been 1:00 in the morning! Finally, I was up before sunrise to get more pictures from our balcony. (A big deal for this West Coast Floridian!)

I just knew we had bought into a "good thing!"

 

[lck33]

After buying BCV sight unseen, we planned our first trip with DH, myself, DD, DB, DSIL, and their three kids. We had been to Disney before but my DB and his family had never even been to Florida.

Wee from the moment we pulled up and was greeted with "Welcome Homes" to checking in at the front desk, our entire gang, including myself were in awe... But it gets better. When I reserved our 2 bedroom villa, it was my first time making a reservation and all I asked for was a non-smoking 2 bedroom villa.

Well, we went got to our villa, it was absolutely gorgeous!! Not only was it a two bedroom with 2 queen beds, but it also had the most fabulous view of Epcot that we could have ever wished for. The expression on my DB face and that of his family was priceless!! It was truly magical and will never be forgotten!! Everyone treated us like royalty. Housekeeping came every day, without even beeing asked!! My brother felt like royalty for a week and I got to share that with him!!! Truly magical!!!

 

[carone0318]

Last May 03 after we had just gotten off of the 3-night Wonder cruise, we drove to BWV for 5 nights. My dd had caught some kind of virus while on the cruise and was very sick while on the cruise and our drive over to "the World." When we pulled up to BWV, it was around 11am. We go to check in and I was wonder ing what we were going to do until we get into our room. I wasn't sure if dd was going to get sick again or what. When I went up to the desk, the CM says oh you have small children, I'll give you a room that is available now. I never mentioned that dd was sick or anything. It was definitely pixie dust that was sprinkled over that CM. We got into our room and were able to take care of dd. She ended up being sick for pracitically the whole 6 days. We learned where all of the first aid locations were in the parks. We still had a great time though. I will never forget what that CM did for us.

 

[goldilocks_63]

Not the typical answer here.... but when my father passed away from a horrible cancer, I just couldn't get over it....

Kept crying, couldn't sleep, and was just miserable.... After a week, I threw cloths in the suitcase, and just went to the airport.

We had enough FF miles, so asked where could we go... and Orlando was available, so went to WDW.

Arrived with no reservation, and was able to stay at OKW.

And magically, for the first time in months, I was able to relax and sleep (so didn't need those tranquilizers after all). It never would have been possible without DVC, because it would have been too expensive.

And I think my father would have been happy, to see us finally starting to have a tiny bit of happiness again.

You see, we got married at Y&BC, and my father went on all the rides with us (even Splash Mountain, with my brother on one side and hubby on the other, because Dad was paralized on one side after the stroke).

So Disney will always be Magical to me, and DVC has made it affordable for us to keep those memories alive.

Goldi

 

[KCBWV]

DH and I bought in 1998. Our first trip was just DH and me. Several trips with adult children and grandchildren followed. We kept asking my parents to join us but they always had a reason why they could not.

During a 2001 13 day stay at BWV, I got the call that all children dread, no matter their age. My father had had a stroke. Come home NOW.

After many weeks in the hospital, he fianally was discharged to an extended care facility for rehab. We told him and my mom that no matter what, they WERE going with us to WDW in December, no if, ands or buts about it!

Dad was able to come with us, and he and my Mom had a wonderful time. They absolutely loved it, and even though Dad was in a wheelchair they had the best time. They couldn't believe that they hadn't taken us up on the invitation to come with us in prior years. To see my parents sitting on the Boardwalk, enjoying each other and people watching gave me the most wonderful feeling.

My dad died suddenly three weeks after our return home, and two months after that my extremely healthy mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She left us two months after that.

I was so lucky to be able to look back on this last vacation with my parents and remember the wonderful time we all had; it would not have been possible without DVC.

 

[FranP]

Almost 7 years ago, our DD28 got married at the WP and had her reception at CG. The entire group of wedding party/guests stayed at OKW on our DVC points!!!!! The morning of the wedding, on a beautiful sun-filled October morning, the entire wedding party walked over to the Hospitality House to meet the limo and the Disney bus to the waves and greetings of other guests at OKW. My DD was truly a Cinderella bride, with a dress with the tulle bumps on the skirt like Cindy, and the clear shoes that looked like glass slippers. The best and I think very magical moment came at the Hospitality House when several little girls came up to her as if she WAS Cinderella and my DD lifted her skirt so they could see her glass slippers - the picture is truly priceless and is something we'll always remember.

 

[ebo]

Last year at the MNSSHP, I was taking my 18 month DS to
the restroom. To the left of the restroom was a CM entrance with a line of characters waiting to exit. All the characters waved
to the handsome frog prince (DD was princess). He was giggling
throughout his diaper change at the unexpected surprise.

Although I think mom was more surprised at the sight

 

[WDWLVR]

I've got 2 magical DVC experiences.

The first was on our very first trip home. We had asked for a preferred view at Boardwalk - our home. Imagine my delight when we got a Boardwalk view and found out that our balconys were decorated (this was early December 2000). It was so wonderful to wake up each morning and see Spaceship Earth with the giant 2000 over it and to watch the fireworks from Illuminations each evening (at least the ones where we were back in the room). It was such a magical trip and made me realize that buying DVC was a great choice for us.

The second was the DVC Member Cruise. What fun it was to walk onto the ship (we had sailed both the Magic and the Wonder before) and knew that we were sailing with all our DVC "neighbors". We met some wonderful DIS members on that cruise who we now called friends. DCL and DVC - a great combination for magic!

 

[MDonley]

If these experiences ever get published as "Chicken Soup for the DVC Member's Soul" and get sold at our resorts at WDW, I would definately be one to buy it.
None of my experiences have been that magical, but they have all been memorable. Thanks