Top 5 (or more) things you've noticed or tried since joining DVC?

[rutgers1]

I am sure that this board is a mix of new members (myself included) and veterans. For those who have been members for a while, I am sure that you have had more time to "look around" and "relax" on Disney property than most people. So, with that in mind, take a stroll back along Memory Lane and list the top 5 things you either experienced or noticed about Disney since joining the DVC.

 

[backyardponder]

1) Renting a car on our first DVC visit and checking out all the DVC resorts. We went to the desk and were given a map of the resort, then we wandered around. We really enjoyed walking to Ft. Wilderness from the Wilderness Lodge and taking the boat back.

2) Adventurer's Club

3) Jellyrolls, a piano bar at BWV.

4) The Birnbaum Guide "Walt Disney World Without Kids"

5) DIS Boards

 

[ACDSNY]

Let see...

1. More trips to WDW & DL
2. Vero Beach
3. An II Exchange to Kauai
4. Segway Tours
5. Toured the Dream Suite in DL

 

[oakmanner]

We:

1) Purchased Annual Passes for the first time
2) Visited a Theme Park rode two attractions then left
3) Resorted hopped for the entire day
4) Purchased DVC specific merchandise
5) Attended MNNSHP using DVC discount

Thanks,
Dennis-

 

[Simba's Mom]

Let's see-
1.We'd never stayed at OKW pre-DVC.
2. We'd never stayed at HHI pre-DVC.
3. Beaches and Cream
4. DH has gotten to golf lots more at WDW,without me complaining!
5. Spent many hours just sitting in the beach chairs at BC/YC watching the boats

 

[bwvBound]

Some of our favorite things since "slowing down" with DVC:

• We are more likely to stop for an interview by Disney CMs greeting folks at random at the front gates. While often a simple survey of "where's home?" -- we lucked out one year receiving a full day playing with modified Nintendo (?) navigators at the Magic Kingdom. Very fun and something we would have breezed right by had we been on a mission to "do the park!!!!"
• Enjoying the Rose Garden at Epcot. Extend this to more time spent looking at the landscaping in general.
• Watching the local birds and kids chasing the birds.
• Sitting down for meals ... and really enjoying them. (Prior mode was "Grab'n'Go!" to maximize ride-time.)
• Resort hopping ... and leisurely walks through each property soaking in the details.
• Riding the waterbikes at OKW.
• Segway Tours using DVC discount.
• The Wanyama Safari Tour at AKL (the evening dinner tour). W/out DVC we wouldn't have booked the Concierge level ... and would never have known about or had opportunity to take this tour. It was $$$ but soooooo worth it!
• So much more time spent on FOOD. LOL! Exploring different restaurants was never a priority before DVC.
• Trying to catch each Christmas story around the Epcot countries. (Not much patience for this pre-DVC ... who could afford to stand around waiting for the story teller??)

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our very first DVC stay was at VWL, December '03, and we enjoyed our first "Sharing of the DVC magic" by having one of the Christmas trees. It's been our tradition for every holiday stay since then. This year our extended family was with us in BCV in November and we had wdwstar's beautiful BCV tree, and soon we'll be having our own BWV tree over NYE!

Bobbi

 

[dd08]

3. Beaches and Cream

Fantastic Sundaes.

 

[starbox]

1. Signature Dining

2. We have done more tours - behind the stream trains, the segeway tour, and ::sigh:: the VMK tour. We've really enjoyed them.

3. We've tried to take advantage of things we had not seen before. We did Princess and Pirate last year to see the fireworks/parade. We just got back from 2 days spent watching shows and parades (almost no rides), but it was stuff we had not seen and that we knew was only there at Chrsitmas.

4. Mini-golf!! We love the mini-golf.

5. Recreation offerings at the resorts.

And - I've travelled alone with the kids to Disney since owning DVC.

 

[WDWLVR]

1) Being able to relax and really enjoy ourselves. Before DVC we never would have taken an afternoon to just chill at the resort and people watch from our balcony.

2) Tours. We've done both Segway tours and really enjoyed them.

3) DVC Member Cruises. Through these we've gotten to see Disney legends like Roy Disney, Art Linkletter, Richard Sherman, Jody Benson and so many many more.

4) Vero Beach and Hilton Head. I don't think we ever would have tried either location without DVC and we really enjoyed both of them.

5) Hawaii - thanks to DVC we were able to get a trade out at Ko Olina Beach Club on Oahu and had a wonderful week there.

 

[rutgers1]

I had no clue what you were talking about when you mentioned the Segway tour, so I just googled it. I can't believe how many cool tours are out there:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tours.htm

 

[Pakey]

1. Battling crippling disease of addonitis (have added on twice).
2. Not crying when we leave because I know I'll be back in a few months.
3. Purchasing annual passes.
4. Segway (and other tours) for us too.
5. Days not spent in parks.

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

For me it would be...

1. Having an annual pass for the parks and the flexability to come and go for 1 or 2 rides, a few riedes, staying all day, not going on rides at all, etc

2. The first Welcome Home on 1st trip, home... And all that have followed.

3. Tours/Excursions/Resort Ameneties - Both segway's, kttmk, fishing, parasailing, all the different pools and slides, beaches and cream (kitchen sink) at bcw, jellyrolls at bw, wispering canyone at wlv (Who's got the ketchup?), serenity of OKW, etc...

4. Going to a park for dinner or a show (without going or even wanting to go on any rides). We use to plan our meals by which park where planning on being at on a certain day. Now we plan which park and rides (if any) to go to by which restaurant we are going to...

5. Knowing we will be back again soon when the trips is coming to an end (usually have 1 or 2 trips in planning process at all times) and not rushing to squeeze in another park, activity or event.

 

[edk35]

For us.....

1. Bought our first ever PAP's (never had a regular AP) and then proceeded to use them 4 times within that year.

2. Slowed down and enjoyed our DVC resorts. Before..we headed out early, stayed all day/night at parks and then only showered and slept at other Disney resorts. Rarely did we ever return for time off during the day.

3. Went to Pirate and Princess Party and MVMCP using DVC member discount.

4. Used DVC discount to add discounted cash nights to our summer trip this past summer and stayed for our first ever 2 week vacation all at WDW.

5. After only being members for 19 months WE ADDED ON.

DVC IS AN ADDICTION.

 

[twotoohappy]

Great idea for a thread

1) Annual Passes and finally a Premium Annual Pass
2) Went to the Studios rode Star Tours and left (and didn't feel guilty)
3) Gone on vacation and only went to Jellyrolls and no parks
4) Didn't feel like we "had to" go to the parks when it was raining
5) Relaxed, slowed down and just floated around Storm-along Bay

 

[np4gp]

Even though I am a fairly new owner - we are making full use of our membership. We were AP holders before, and only live about 30 min. away, but now...
1) Taking what feels like an almost free vacation...other than food and a
knick-knack here and there, we need very little money.
2) The exclusive trading pins for DVC and AP
3) Checking out all of the resorts in lieu of a day in the parks
4) Really feeling like we have a 2nd home - even if it is nearly in our backyard...still feels like a real getaway each time.
5) Booking a 1 night stay, just 3 days in advance, so we wouldn't have to drive home after MNSSHP with DS2

 

[Jillpie]

Some of our favorite things since "slowing down" with DVC:

• We are more likely to stop for an interview by Disney CMs greeting folks at random at the front gates. While often a simple survey of "where's home?" -- we lucked out one year receiving a full day playing with modified Nintendo (?) navigators at the Magic Kingdom. Very fun and something we would have breezed right by had we been on a mission to "do the park!!!!"
• Enjoying the Rose Garden at Epcot. Extend this to more time spent looking at the landscaping in general.
• Watching the local birds and kids chasing the birds.
• Sitting down for meals ... and really enjoying them. (Prior mode was "Grab'n'Go!" to maximize ride-time.)
• Resort hopping ... and leisurely walks through each property soaking in the details.
• Riding the waterbikes at OKW.
• Segway Tours using DVC discount.
• The Wanyama Safari Tour at AKL (the evening dinner tour). W/out DVC we wouldn't have booked the Concierge level ... and would never have known about or had opportunity to take this tour. It was $$$ but soooooo worth it!
• So much more time spent on FOOD. LOL! Exploring different restaurants was never a priority before DVC.
• Trying to catch each Christmas story around the Epcot countries. (Not much patience for this pre-DVC ... who could afford to stand around waiting for the story teller??)