Top 3 DVC Memories......Go!

[rutgers1]

3. I would have to include chillin' by the pool at BWV one day when we seemed to be there for every activity and competition. My kids were at that age when they were finally able to leave our side, swim all around, and participate in all of the planned activities without input/help from us. I just kicked back and soaked it all in. The weather was awesome, and I remember thinking, "I never would have done this had I not been part of DVC." A couple of the songs played by the pool that day are still bouncin' around my head.

2. Next up is the Disney Half Marathon this past November. It was a great race, and it never would have happened if I didn't have extra points to put toward my second trip of the calendar year. We got super cheap plane tickets, annual passes with the new discount, and the room seemed like it was "free" since we had extra points. When I wandered around Epcot after the race (midnight), I felt like a million bucks.

1. Nothing will beat our first trip. I don't really understand how, but we ended up with double our points when we bought, we we went on the ultimate 2-week trip. The trip was spread across two Disney resorts, and it was one of those trips that you never wanted to end. We truly felt like we owned the place.

 

[Sur]

those are some great memories

 

[Hollymom1229]

3. In 2005, DH and I had just bought our first contract the year before and we knew he wouldn't be able to go down with me that year. So my sister and I hatched a plan to take my mom to WDW for her 60th birthday. She had always wanted to stay at the Grand Floridian. While I knew it wasn't the best use of my points ever, I put all that years allotment into 4 nights at the Grand, and my sister paid for the other 3 nights. The look on my mom's face when she pulled up to GF in a limo made the points splurge totally worth it.

2. In 2008, we were able to put forward all the points for my MIL, mom, dad, sister, BIL, and niece to stay with DH and I in a 2 bedroom and a studio at SSR for a week. It was a great family vacation and we made so many memories. And our DVC ownership made the trip affordable for the whole family.

1. In 2012, stayed at AKV for the first two night of our trip before moving over to BCV. When I went out on the balcony with our friend who was travelling with us and she saw the zebra, she actually shreiked and screamed "Oh my god, it's a zebra."

Yeah, the ability to share it with friends and family who are amazed are always the best memories.

 

[bwvBound]

Cool topic! ... but as I think about this, my most vivid memories are tied to sad events.

3. January 2011 at BWV, 1BR located on the corner of the garden facing the Swan. I remember burying my face in pillows sobbing for the loss of my young (15 yo) parrot. I learned of his death when I phoned the animal hospital for an update just before boarding the airplane. During our BWV stay, I had a unique encounter with a song bird that followed me along a row of bushes calling to me. He made a pattern of noises that very much reminded me of my dear Eli (trills in 4-beat pattern; Eli often repeated things in 4s). After a long conversation between myself and this wild bird, he flew off. Much later, I felt it was Eli's spirit bidding me fare-well. I had an entire week in a 'safe place' to grieve.

2. Sept 2011 at Aulani, 1BR unit with a huge balcony and lovely view of pool complex and ocean beyond. My dad, while fighting lung cancer, had been given an encouraging update, "stable and improving" just days before our travel dates. I had permission from all family to go on the trip, which had been booked long before any health troubles surfaced in our family. The news of his passing came on my 2nd morning at the resort. We remained, at the bidding of family, through our planned dates. Again, I had a "safe place" to hide and grieve.

1. Spring 2012 at Grand Cal, 1BR unit. The trip was planned with hopes to bring my Mother who had received a promise from my father at the beginning of her fight with cancer that he would bring her here. Sadly, he passed three months after that promise and she passed just weeks before our booked travel dates. We went anyway ... and felt absolutely blessed by their presence. Our room had a perfect view of WOC both from the living room (where we pictured Mom sitting toasty in the deep chair) and from the balcony. We were surprised to share the WOC experience with both friends (invited) and family (who happened to run into us at breakfast earlier in the day). It was a deeply emotional stay.

 

[lilpooh108]

1. My parents taking their dream vacation w/DVC Points --Cruise to Alaska on DCL that we wouldn't have been able to afford. It was so great to hear about their experiences, excursions, and of course landing on a glacier.

2. We're doing a family reunion this year in the Med--one cabin is paid for on points and some of our expenses are being covered this year by renting out our DVC instead of taking a DVC vacation. This trip would not have been possible (or conceivable in its planning stages) without DVC.

3. My 3YO asking me, "Momma, where are the animals and the kitchen?" When I booked us in a standard view Jambo house studio (pool view). Poor thing is so used to DVC. I told my husband, "You realize that she'll never be able to go to college now and live in a dorm since she thinks every room should have balconies, kitchens, and giraffes outside the windows?"

 

[lilpooh108]

Cool topic! ... but as I think about this, my most vivid memories are tied to sad events.

3. January 2011 at BWV, 1BR located on the corner of the garden facing the Swan. I remember burying my face in pillows sobbing for the loss of my young (15 yo) parrot. I learned of his death when I phoned the animal hospital for an update just before boarding the airplane. During our BWV stay, I had a unique encounter with a song bird that followed me along a row of bushes calling to me. He made a pattern of noises that very much reminded me of my dear Eli (trills in 4-beat pattern; Eli often repeated things in 4s). After a long conversation between myself and this wild bird, he flew off. Much later, I felt it was Eli's spirit bidding me fare-well. I had an entire week in a 'safe place' to grieve.

2. Sept 2011 at Aulani, 1BR unit with a huge balcony and lovely view of pool complex and ocean beyond. My dad, while fighting lung cancer, had been given an encouraging update, "stable and improving" just days before our travel dates. I had permission from all family to go on the trip, which had been booked long before any health troubles surfaced in our family. The news of his passing came on my 2nd morning at the resort. We remained, at the bidding of family, through our planned dates. Again, I had a "safe place" to hide and grieve.

1. Spring 2012 at Grand Cal, 1BR unit. The trip was planned with hopes to bring my Mother who had received a promise from my father at the beginning of her fight with cancer that he would bring her here. Sadly, he passed three months after that promise and she passed just weeks before our booked travel dates. We went anyway ... and felt absolutely blessed by their presence. Our room had a perfect view of WOC both from the living room (where we pictured Mom sitting toasty in the deep chair) and from the balcony. We were surprised to share the WOC experience with both friends (invited) and family (who happened to run into us at breakfast earlier in the day). It was a deeply emotional stay.

 

[mamaprincess]

Surprising my mom with a stay @ AKV Jambo 1st Disney trip. She was near 80. She called my sister from the balcony and said "I can see Zebras, Giraffes and Fireworks.". I don't know what Fireworks they were but you could see them from her 1 br.

Using points to take her on a surprise cruise on the Dream for her 80th bday.

Youngest daughter's surprise birthday trip with just us two. Split stay between BLT and BWV. Perfect weather, perfect trip.

 

[sleepydog25]

#3 - The very first time I ever stayed at a DVC resort (VWL). Had spent three days in a rundown Holiday Inn on the beach at Melbourne, FL, and when we walked into the Lodge. . .
O. . .M. . .G. It was literally awesome.

#2 - Passing ROFR for our contract at VWL.

#1 - Staying at VWL on our new contract during part of the Christmas holidays. It was the first time we used our points (somehow managed to snag a 1BR less than four months out), and it was the first time I'd ever been to Disney at Christmas.

 

[bwvBound]

#2 - Passing ROFR for our contract at VWL.

Oh, YES! What a THRILL!

 

[keishashadow]

1) Having SAB almost entirely to ourselves one morning.

2) Real Estate, real estate = some killer balcony views! Toss up between watching the MK fireworks from BLT balcony and getting up close and personal with a giraffe @ AKV

3) 'upcoming' taking 1st grandchild on DCL cruise combined with a few nights at mickey's house

 

[mdsd8700]

We have only been members for about 3 years but so far I would say

1) Surprising our kids with membership. They didn't know we joined and on a trip to DLR at the VGC we told them we became members. It was priceless.

2) Thanksgiving trip with family and friends. Never would have been possible without DVC

3) First F&W Fest. DH and I took our very first Disney trip without kids. It was a great time!

Looking forward to many more

 

[DizDaD7]

With only 1 DVC trip under our belt...This should seem rather easy..LoL

3) Definitely Signing on and getting our Member #. Along w/ finally booking at BWV at 7 months out.

2)This may seem a lil weird but Walking w/ our friends & family to both Epcot & HS .
*We were at BWV.

1)Community Hall with the kids & the afternoon activities with them...

 

[luckyman_apd]

1. Our first experience with DVC. We rented points from someone my brother knew. Never even heard of DVC before that. We rented at BLT, and were on the top floor almost next to the TOWL. Upon opening the door it was like "wow......this is luxury!" (We only ever stayed on property at Coronado springs before that) Didn't get in the room and settled until almost midnight, and was up at 5:30 am before everyone else to see the sunrise glow off spaceship earth from the window. I felt like a kid being there for the first time again.

2. 4 months after the trip mentioned above our friends (who were DVC owners and we never knew it) offered to host us during their trip. They cancelled rooms they had to switch to a 2 br at SSR to fit all of us. We stayed for 7 days with them.....their treat. We bought all the groceries for the room.

3. Spending a month or more reading and researching all about "this DVC thing" on the disboards to finally decide to buy into the club.


I wouldn't put closing down as that was filled with worry, anticipation, and impatience
Honestly can never forget that first experience at BLT. We said to ourselves, are we ever going to be able to stay in "normal" accommodations again? Turns out.......NO!

 

[bmalonef45]

Great Topic!

Narrowing to 3 will be hard so I'll try to go with the first three that came to me.

3. The trip DW and I took alone to go research and purchase our points. We stayed off site, there was a hurricane on its way and we toured every resort on property after our official tour and even drove to Vero Beach. We never went to a park because we had left the kids at home and DTD became our home base for the trip. I still love the margarita bar at the marketplace based on that trip alone.

2. Our Aulani trip. Specifically the first morning after our arrival. DD and I were up super early due to the time difference so we went for a walk to the convenience store across the street and then we wondered around the resort. We'd never been to Hawaii before and everything was just amazing. We can't wait to go back!

1. Our first trip as members. It was our kids' first trip to WDW and they were young but we had told them a lot about our new "club" we joined and they were in love with the thought of actually being special at WDW. We stayed at OKW in a 1 bdrm. We were only there for 6 days but that was the start of many trips and many special family memories and I'll always remember it.

There are so many others, from the tears when we leave to the goose bumps during the fireworks on our last night at MK. Riding the Monorail with DS at close to midnight just because we liked riding the monorail. I've never looked back and regretted the decision to join DVC and I doubt I ever will.

Thanks for the post and the opportunity for me to walk down memory lane.

 

[rmcildw2m]

I would say the first trill would be buying into DVC . Second would be your first stay at a dvc resort , and third would be getting a upgrade in room booked to sv at akl .

 

[com_op_2000]

All of mine occurred on DCLs that we were only able to take cause of being DVC members.
These are my three most memorable moments:

Went on the Magic the very first year of service back in '98. Everyone was checking in but no one was getting in-line, this was back before the boarding numbers. I told DW that at a certain time if no one was going to start the line I would. At that time I went to the head of the line, DW had the video running, and you should see the line form, people running from all over the terminal to get in-line. DW and I were the first people introed on that cruise.
Anytime we want a good laugh, we bring up that video.


At CC-SB, DW is on a raft about 20 yards out, I take the camera and start walking out to take her picture. I see all the little fishes scatter, look around and see a 2-3 foot Black Tip Shark swimming around. DW is using her hands to move the raft creating small splashes. The shark turns toward her, I tell DW to stop cause I see a shark. What does DW do? She jumps off the raft causing a bigger splash! I have to run to get between her and the shark.


Our last cruise, was for our 25th anniversary. Someone put up decorations on our door announcing our celebration to everyone else onboard. We do not have any idea who did this. We came back from breakfast the second day of a seven day cruise and there they were. What a surprise and a welcome moment.

 

[LSchrow]

Cool topic! ... but as I think about this, my most vivid memories are tied to sad events..

i've sooo many special memories (the ones that i think/dream about often), but like bwvbound, a very special one was bittersweet:
my mom (we're a very close family) wasn't feeling well the night before we left for the BWVs (may 2011). it wasn't until midvacation that i was able to get the story: mom had been rushed to the hospital that night before we left, and was in a coma. they didn't expect her to come out of it, but expected her to be on life support for a while (the doctors had told my family not to tell me, as there was nothing i could do). of course, i got multiple daily updates.
so every morning, i would go down the BWV stairwell (right by x029/x031 - the rooms we always get), and sit in the quiet alcove. there was an active birdnest under one canopy, and i would watch while the mombird would fly away and back to feed her babies, their little heads popping up, beaks opening and closing, just waiting for her return.
often, i was joined by another guest, "barbara" - we chatted frequently. my face must've shown my pain, and i shared about my mom. every day, she asked about her, and said she was praying for mom.
when i got home, i went to the hospital. held mom's hand, stroked her cheek, kissed her eyes, and whispered "i love you, mom" in her ear.....within moments, mom's eyes fluttered open, and she asked where she was.
the mombird and her babies, and the incredible kindness of a total stranger are wonderful, bittersweet memories i will carry with me forever.
mom recovered quickly afterwards, and was healthy and happy until she passed unexpectedly this past august (while brother & family were at, you guessed it...BWVs. i only hope they encountered birds and caring strangers before they rushed home).

of course, i tease my brothers that mom loved me best, and waited for my return to come out the coma (isn't that what siblings are for?).

 

[Ln42]

1. The first time we drove up as owners and they said 'Welcome Home!'

2. Being invited to a small graduation ceremony of one of our favorite CMs that we chatted with during the week. Felt like proud parent stand ins for an hour.

3. Endless moments sitting on our balcony in the morning, talking and watching the animals.

 

[bwvBound]

LSchrow - Hugs to you and your family on your recent loss.

lilpooh108 - Thank you for your hugs earlier in the thread.

While my key DVC memories are tied to sad events, I'm thrilled for the storehouse of great travel memories built with my folks and family. Even as adults, we kids considered our parents our favorite travel partners. We have lots of happy memories, too!

 

[jpeka65844]

1. Our first DVC stay. March of 2007, 9 nights in a studio at VWL; our longest trip yet! We bought at VWL sight unseen (unless you count internet pics and Youtube videos) and that feeling when walking into the lobby...... Before arriving, we had been debating a second trip in December of 2007 and DH immediately said when we walked in "Oh yeah, we're coming back in December!"

2. Our first DVC stay with extended fam. We travel well with the fam and we treated 12 members in June of 2008. Watching them explore their 2 BDRM's at VWL and saying "WOW! This is the way to do it!" was a thrill.

3. Any time we realize we have enough points to take a trip. We've got 2014 all planned with pre/post cruise stays at AKV and a F&W trip. We then realized we have enough for a summer trip to Aulani (pending availibility). We invited friends to join us and they replied "You said the magic words: FREE ROOM!"