Most Magical DVC Moments

[new_yawka]

I so enjoy the smiles that come to my face as I read each person's trip reports and magical vacations. I figured I'd start this thread to give everyone a chance to share some of their warmest, fuzziest, magical DVC moments. Preferrably, I am curious to see magical moments from the DVC resorts themselves (because no doubt we all have others from the parks, WDW restaurants, cruise line, etc.)

As for one of mine -

Our first trip home two years ago was to HHI. We enjoyed the trip tremendously....however, one event stood out as being a special "just for us" magical Disney moment.

B'Lou Crab, one of the CMs (often seen with Shadow, the Dog) did - and may still do - a magic show for the kids.

Although the resort was filled at the time, when it came time for his show, we were the only family to show up (me, DW, and 2 DSs - 3 1/2 and 6 months, at the time). My 3 1/2 year old was in heaven. He thought that B'Lou and Shadow (Shadow has a celebrity, as far as he was concerned) were there only for him. B'Lou went on with the show and we had a simply wonderful time.

We really fell in love with HHI and will likely go back again in the next few years. It was the truly individual attention we got and the "unlimited" Shadow petting that really put a smile on our face...

OK, now your turn.... Make me smile

 

[Regina]

Oh wow, there have been so many trips that it's hard to pick one moment.

I guess it was when the kids realized that the two bedroom units at OKW were our "home." Having spent most vacations with 5 of us in one room, they were amazed. "Is this my bed? I don't have to sleep with my sister?" DS was so happy to have the pullout sofa, and his very own TV.

Then there are the simple pleasures, like having a pizza delivered and sitting around the TV enjoying a very relaxing meal.

The kids loved the Unbirthday parties at OKW, and we've had a lot of fun at Goofy Bingo.

And we'll never forget stepping out on our balcony and watching Payne Stewart play golf.

It truly becomes a second home.

 

[DebbieB]

When I bought DVC, my mom thought I was nuts. I took her to OKW the following year and we stayed in a 1 bedroom. She walked around the villa in total awe! See her looking at everything made it all worth it. She never said I was nuts again! When we got back she bragged to everyone about our "apartment".

We're talking about throwing in an extra trip in October, we will either stay in a boardwalk studio or a boardwalk inn regular room (waiting for those AP rates!). She said "you mean there's no walk-in shower? no living room?". I spoiled her!

 

[CK1]

Our special moments:

#1 My mom's face with all 18 of us together for xmas at OKW.
(Mom, 4 kids & their 4 spouses, and 9 gks...) It was her dream come true!

#2 The faces on our two boys at ages 4 and 3 when we told them it was wayyyyy too cold to swim, and then their faces AFTER the savvy OKW clerk overheard their "Awwwwws" of disappointment and with a knowing wink she reminded us about that great specially heated "pool" that would be in our room. We have wonderful pictures of our 2 smilin' boys bobbing around like cozy corks in the tub of our villa with their pool toys, just like the clerk said -- their own personal swimming pool -- while outside Florida froze! If we had told them it was a bathtub, what fun would that have been? But a personal POOL, made just for them? Too awesome!!

#3 Making spaghetti and relaxing with a glass of wine in our 2 br pool view at VWL, while being able to watch my kids, dh, bil, sil, and nephew enjoy fun in the pool below, with a great view of the bay. After that trip, my sil went home and said she had an awesome time, but she didn't think I had enjoyed much of a vacation b/c I was constantly cooking or arranging or planning... As my dh can tell you -- that IS my VACATION! I really do love it! (as evidenced by the fact I have our plans set through 2008 already...) And getting to share it -- oh man, isn't it just a kind of vain, heady rush when you get to bring along family or guests and say, "Yes, this is all ours, and voila, we share it now with you!! ENJOY!" Simply the best.

Cindy

 

[dvcfamily41801]

New_Yawka...I am totally with you on yours!! We had our first HH experience last month and we totally loved it and it was all because of B'Lou Crabbe. He is just so awesome and we loved seeing Shadow as well.

Our magical DVC moment was our trip last October when I checked in at BWV and our room was not ready, but they told me what room it would be....and I asked if it was a Boardwalk view...and Ryan told me it was, I started to cry right there at the desk. The magic totally began when we did get to our room and it was the most perfect Boardwalk view I could ever have dreamed!

 

[findingnemofan]

We just took our first trip"home" to BCV---and a magical moment for me was going onto our 4th floor balcony--and watching Illuminations--and being able to hear the music!! Our boys loved it too---and that was their bedtime signal---after the fireworks--it was bedtime---they didn't complain one bit!!!

Also--watching our two sons---5 and 7--duck their heads underwater for the first time---in SAB---thrilling!!!!!


it was also magical talking to other DVCers around thewhirlpool at midnight--while our kids swam and played together!! Such camraderie!!!!

I LoVE DISNEY!!!!!

 

[WDWLVR]

Two special moments for me. The first one was on our very first visit home to Boardwalk in December of 2000. We got a one bedroom with a boardwalk view. Our first night there I was on one balcony (wearing shorts) looking out over the boardwalk and Epcot as DH was on the other balcony on the phone with his parents talking about a snowstorm back home. What a magical trip and I loved waking up every morning to see Spaceship Earth with the 2000 over it.

The second magical moment had to be the DVC member cruise. It was a blast to see the entire ship filled with DVC members (and so many great DIS'ers as well). We had a ball all 4 days, but the highlight was when they hoisted the DVC flag on the ship!

 

[timC]

On our last trip to VWL I discover a spectacular new attraction, only offered to VWL guest...

Very early one morning (everyone still sleeping) I went down to Roring Forks for a coffee, then went for a walk to the end of the nearby dock. From there I witnessed a manificent sunrise over Bay lake. Blazing red/orange sky, reflected across the lake, with the tree'd islands on the horizon, and a flock of birds enjoying the cool morning ... Amazing view.

 

[new_yawka]

There is nothing quite like the inner smile I get from relinving a DVC memory....each of the one's shared so far have brought a smile to my face.

Cindy....I agree completely that sharing DVC with family and friends makes the experience that much more magical!

 

[Basser]

I would have to say our first DVC stay at OKW and hearing our first "Welcome Home" as we stepped out of the Town Car. It was also our 25th Aniversery and when entered our room we found an autographed picture from Belle and the Beast and balloons.
My DW still talks about the wonderful surprise.

 

[floridafam]

Most Magical DVC Moment.....

Seeing the space shuttle launch from VB.

We walked down to the lobby and all of the CM's said "quick, go outside" and we watched it take off at night. It was unbelievable!! Everyone was completely silent and in awe. It broke through the clouds and part of the sky looked like daylight even though it was late evening.

I just can't explain in words what it was like to see it that close.

 

[Simba's Mom]

The most magical moment for me came at the end of our first DVC stay, and like a lot of folks here, at OKW. We had bought DVC after I took a solo trip, took the tour, then came home and talked DH into buying. VWL was what was available and that's what we bought. Unfortunately, our first stay there wasn't great and by the next to last day, I was in tears (Did I steer DH wrong?). But the last night we'd booked OKW, just to try out different DVC resorts, but I wasn't expecting it to be better. After our one night there, we toured a 2 BR, because we had a big family trip planned the following year. Well, I can still remember the huge smile on my usually quiet DH as we came out of the 2 BR and he said "THIS is where we're staying!" For me that was the most magical moment as I finally realized I'd done right. And he's constantly amazed me and reinforced my decision as, instead of being Disney-tolerant as he used to be, he now actually looks forward to our vacations, both at OKW and also HHI.

 

[Terry S]

There are 2 things that come to mind. The first was after walking into our room, going to the balcony and pulling the drapes back and seeing Spaceship Earth lit up larger than life right in front of me. It felt as if I could almost reach out and grab it.

The 2nd thing was later that evening sitting with my 5 and 6 year old on the balcony watching Illuminations.

 

[Marisa'sMom]

Wow! I get a lump in my throat reading all these posts. The most magical experience I can think of is our trip home last week. We walked into our 1 bdrm at WLV and it was beautiful! It had an awesome view of the quiet pool, bay lake and the woods. It was bigger than most because it was on the corner. We had dinner at Calif. Grill and the hostess, Katie, was awesome. We had to wait a little longer than normal for a table since we had showed up for dinner on the wrong night. My DH and DD got a tour of the kitchen, they comped our drinks in the bar, (because we waited so long) and then they asked my 9 yr. old DD to help start the MK fireworks. She got to go behind the hostess stand and press some buttons to make the music start and "start the fireworks" as Katie told her. It was great!

 

[NancyDVC]

Oh my I have so many DVC memories. That first trip 10 years ago when we had saved our points from the first year to take my entire family (my parents, sister, her 3 kids my best friend and I). My mother's expression when she walked into our 2 BR at OKW (then just plain old DVC). She managed to carry pictures of the unit around for the longest time to brag about what her daughter owned.
The first night coming back from dinner to a Mickey birthday cake that we had ordered for my niece with party hats, plates, balloons and a card 'signed' by Mickey and Minnie!
Sitting on our balcony eating breakfast while watching the LPGA players play through in front of us.
Being at VB for the 'hard opening' and watching all the festivities from a poolside seat. (After watching the rehearsal the day before.)
Conch chowder and brownie sundaes at Olivia's. Campfires at VB and HHI.
Being able to come back over and over again which I know I couldn't afford any other way.
That secret smile that says I found a way to belong to the magic!

"Welcome Home" to greet me during my stay!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

All of the responses are great!
For me, there are also many. One is just walking into the lodge, looking around, and thinking WOW!... I am part of this!

To be honest, some of the most magical things are the little things. For example, the fact that the confirmation is multi-colored, and done with quality. Many hotels are a cheap piece of newsprint with those stupid holes on the side. This of course, is after you fold and rip off the three sides, then pull (of course, I always manage to rip the document to shreds).

 

[BCVOwner2002]

Great stories!

This year was our first trip home to BCV. I have a desktop photo of the Dune's Cove side of BCV. Prior to arriving I kept telling DH the exact room that we were going to have. He kept saying how do you know that since rooms aren't guaranteed and I told him I just knew it. Boy was he surprised when we checked into our room and he looked out the window and he realized where we were. I was so excited with my first magical moment!!

DH had always dreamed of going fishing at WDW and catching a big bass. Well, I arranged a fishing excursion for him, DS and a friend of DS. I was waiting for them when their trip was over. DH had a grin from ear-to-ear! DS explained that Dad caught a big fish and I smiled. DS said, "No! He really did catch a big bass and we took a picture of it!" DH couldn't wait to get that roll of film developed. This was his magical moment - catching a big bass at WDW!!!

Annmarie

 

[ncligs]

My favorite magical DVC moment happens on every trip to a DVC resort..........."no bill" at checkout time.

 

[anniet]

Probably walking into the room at the VWL on our first and so far only trip home.

BCVOwner2002 can tell you how excited I was, because I immediately called her on my cell phone and sang into her voicemail "I'm at the Wilderness Lo-odge" while jumping up and down as high as I could!

 

[JVL1018]

My 3 yr old daughter, who is normally pretty shy, shooed me out of both the Unbirthday Party and the "Beautiful Butterflies" program at HH.
While she was doing the Butterfly program, we were sitting at the tables outside Tide Me Over waiting to take the Behind the Ears tour. The doors to Community Hall opened and out trooped all the little butterfly kids, and my little girl with her rainbow wings and head antennaes bopping around as she went down the stairs. :*) She was so darn cute I can hardly stand it, and I was so happy that she was being so independant, I can picture her giving me a dirty look when I interrupted to take a pic. LOL
She talks about the CM Sonya all the time still, she asked me today if we could go visit her. I wish!