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In
October 1991, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) revolutionized the
vacation-ownership concept, drawing on Disney's unrivaled brand of
imagination and innovation. Today, nearly 90,000 families from more
than 80 countries have learned "the best-kept Disney secret" and
secured decades of Disney-quality vacations at today's prices through
the magic of membership.
Inspired
by guests who return to Walt Disney World resorts and theme parks year
after year, DVC is one of the most successful and highly rated
vacation-ownership programs on the continent. The DVC ownership program
provides members a wide variety of quality vacation experiences in the
Disney tradition while offering the freedom to tailor vacations to each
guest's interests and personal needs.
"Guests
become members of the Disney Vacation Club because of the magical
memories and traditions that are so engrained in the Disney
experience," says Jim Lewis, senior vice president and general manager
for Disney Vacation Development, Inc. "Anyone can sell accommodations,
but only Disney can offer the experiential environment, the
entertainment and the imaginative programs that are part of our
tradition. We call it 'the best-kept Disney secret,' but the secret's
getting out."
Here's how DVC
works. With the purchase of a deeded real estate interest, guests
automatically become a member of the Disney Vacation Club. Membership
provides guests with the freedom to tailor vacations to their personal
needs as their family's vacation interests change over time. Disney
Vacation Club membership is based on a "vacation point" system. Each
year, members receive an annual allotment of vacation points that can
be used in a variety of ways for different types of accommodations at a
dazzling variety of resorts and for other vacation experiences, subject
to availability.
Members can
also elect to bank or borrow vacation points, use their vacation points
in combination with renting accommodations on a cash basis or can
purchase an additional real estate interest at any time. New members
can join the club with an initial purchase starting at $14,250. And,
unlike traditional timeshare programs, Disney Vacation Club members are
not locked into a single week or fixed time period at a single resort.
DVC
membership can be used to reserve accommodations at the member's "home
resort" or they can exchange reserved home resort accommodations to
stay at other Disney Vacation Club resorts -- Disney's BoardWalk
Villas, Disney's Old Key West Resort, The Villas at Disney's Wilderness
Lodge, Disney's Beach Club Villas and Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort
& Spa (all at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida), Disney's Vero
Beach Resort (Vero Beach, Fla.), or Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort
(Hilton Head Island,S.C.) -- at select Walt Disney World Resort
properties, the Disneyland Resort hotels in Anaheim, Calif. and
Disneyland Paris hotels in France.
Additionally,
through the Disney Vacation Club Member Getaways program, members have
access to more than 450 premium resorts worldwide through an agreement
with Interval International (II), one of the world's largest vacation
ownership exchange companies. Members can also select from an elite
collection of world-renowned hotels, sample an adventure travel
experience like an African safari or take a cruise, including a sailing
on one of the Disney Cruise Line ships.
The Secret's Getting Out
Word
of Disney's "best-kept secret" is spreading through members and
non-members alike, drawn by the program's flexibility, affordability
and unique ability to create unforgettable vacation experiences.
"One
thing we hear consistently from our members is 'I wish I'd bought into
the Club sooner,' " said Lisa Becket, director of marketing for Disney
Vacation Development, Inc. "And our members are not shy about sharing
their DVC experiences with friends and family. One of the biggest
drivers for new members is existing members' recommendations. Those
endorsements are the best kind of promotion and advertising for our
program."
Since vacation
ownership programs were introduced to the United States in the early
1960's, the industry has grown to a more than $9 billion business in
2003, with a compounded annual growth rate of 14 percent since 2000. A
study conducted by ARDA (American Resort Development Association), the
professional association of the recreational real estate, resort and
vacation ownership industry, attributes the growth to a variety of
factors, including higher standards of accommodation; quality and
service; flexibility, and the industry's improved overall image.
Although
Disney Vacation Club, like many vacation ownership programs, is
grounded in real estate, it has brought innovative new elements to its
vacation ownership product. "Disney Vacation Club is about quality,
guest service, attention to detail and a world of choices," Lewis said.
"Our members expect us to provide years of magical vacations and
treasured memories at an excellent value. But they also expect our
Disney quality and personal service in planning their vacations."
Additional
advantages to membership in the Disney Vacation Club include special
benefits such as discounts on Disney theme park admission, dining,
merchandise and recreation, as well as other unique offers and
exclusive member events. DVC also features a dedidated in-house Member
Services team of professional travel planners that are just a phone
call away. These Vacation Advisors help members plan their vacations
and answer questions about DVC membership. And members further become
part of the DVC "family" through its Vacation Magic member magazine
that offers helpful program information, member stories, DVC resort
travel tips, exclusive member merchandise and special previews of
upcoming Disney events.
The Secret Goes West
As
Disney destinations around the world take part in the "Happiest
Celebration on Earth," Disney Vacation Club is showcasing its
membership opportunities at the theme park that started it all.
Debuting with the launch of the celebration on May 5, 2005, Disneyland
Resort guests can learn about the "best-kept Disney secret" at new
Disney Vacation Club Information Centers throughout Disneyland Resort.
Interested guests can explore the opportunity further at the Anaheim
resort's new Disney Vacation Club Preview Center.
"Disneyland
Resort guests are among the most passionate Disney fans in the world,
and we're thrilled to let them in on the 'secret,' " Lewis said. "What
better way to celebrate the decades of magic guests have enjoyed at
Disneyland Park than to offer a flexible, affordable way to secure that
magic for themselves and their families for decades to come."
Disney Vacation Club is managed by Disney Vacation Development Inc., part of the magic of The Walt Disney Company.
Copyright the Walt Disney Company
To learn more about buying the Disney Vacation Club through resale, click HERE
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