This year’s Disney Vacation Club Condo Association Meeting took place today, December 7th, at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Special thanks to our good friend and contributor Jeff Haslam, who attended this year’s meeting, took notes and photos for us, and enjoyed the free cookies and always riveting question-and-answer portion of the meeting!
Let’s dive into the biggest takeaways of the news and information we learned from this year’s 2023 DVC Condo Association Meeting!
Celebrating Disney Animation with “Once Upon a Studio”
This year’s meeting commenced with a special treat for all attendees – a showing of the Disney Animated Short, “Once Upon a Studio”. This captivating short film celebrates the remarkable milestone of 100 years of Disney Animation. It pays homage to the countless artists and creators who have contributed to Disney’s rich animation legacy over the past century.
The screening of “Once Upon a Studio” at the DVC Condo Association Meeting highlights the wonderful collaboration this year between DVC and Disney Animation. This partnership traces back to the DVC Member Cruise, where guests aboard the sailing were some of the first to witness this enchanting short as well as see some of the first footage from the new Disney Animation film “WISH”.
Recapping Disney Vacation Club in 2023
2023 has been a year full of exciting developments and milestones for the Disney Vacation Club (DVC), and the annual DVC Condo Association Meeting served as an ideal platform to recap and celebrate these achievements.
One of the key highlights of this year was the opening of the brand-new Star View Station Member Lounge at Disneyland. This exclusive space provides DVC members with a luxurious haven to relax and unwind while enjoying some of the best views of Disneyland.
Another significant event in 2023 was the grand opening of The Villas at Disneyland Hotel in late-September. This highly anticipated addition to the DVC portfolio offers members an enchanting new accommodation option, blending the magic of Disney with the comforts of home. A video was shared highlighting the new villas and member feedback received since the grand opening.
New Artist Renderings for The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
New artist renderings were shared for The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. These designs offered a glimpse into the future of the this new DVC resort, promising exciting changes while preserving beloved elements of the existing cabins.
Fans of the current Fort Wilderness Cabins will be delighted to know that the bunk beds, a cherished feature of these accommodations, will continue to be a part of the new DVC cabins. This nod to the past ensures that familiar comforts will be retained even as the cabins undergo a transformation.
The design concept for these new accommodations offers a fresh take on the current cabin experience. These reimagined cabins, inspired by the unique charm and rustic beauty of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, are set to become a refreshing addition to the DVC resort portfolio.
The plan includes more than 350 new standalone cabins to replace the existing cabins at the resort. Concept art revealed that The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are anticipated to open in Summer 2024!
Looking Towards 2024: DVC Moonlight Magic, 2024 Member Cruise, and “First Wave” Sailings
The 2023 DVC Condo Association Meeting also provided a glimpse of what DVC members can look forward to in 2024 and beyond.
As we learned last month, the members’ favorite event, Moonlight Magic, will return for eight more nights in 2024. This exclusive after-hours party at various Disney parks is a highlight of the DVC calendar, filled with character encounters, access to select attractions, and unique entertainment.
Although it’s already sold out, those lucky enough to snag a spot are looking forward to the 2024 DVC Member Cruise on the Disney Dream. This year’s sailing is a 7-Night Mediterranean cruise out of Barcelona.
DVC is also offering two “First Wave” charter cruises exclusive for DVC Members. One will be on the Disney Magic, taking members to the new Lighthouse Point private island destination. The other will be on the brand-new Disney Treasure in early 2025. These exclusive sailing experiences offer members the opportunity to be some of the first to explore new destinations and ships with Disney Cruise Line.
2024 and 2025 DVC Resort Refurbishment Schedule
Refurbishments play a crucial role in maintaining the magical experience offered by Disney Vacation Club resorts. Following the completion of renovations at Boulder Ridge and Beach Club Villas, DVC is now shifting focus to upcoming projects scheduled for 2024 and 2025.
2024 Refurbishments
In 2024, DVC members can look forward to refurbished accommodations at Vero Beach, Hilton Head, and BoardWalk. These refurbishments are expected to enhance the comfort and style of these beloved resorts, with all works anticipated to be completed by mid-2024. Hilton Heads refurbishment also includes adding an elevator to one of the buildings to make the resort more accessible.
2025 Refurbishments
Looking further ahead, 2025 is set to be a busy year for both hard goods and soft goods refurbishments across several DVC resorts. Bay Lake Tower, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas (Kidani and Jambo), Copper Creek, Saratoga Springs Treehouses, and Grand Californian are all slated for some type of refurbishment.
For those wondering about Bay Lake Tower, it was mentioned as 2024 during the meeting discussion but listed as 2025. We’re hoping this means the refurbishment will still start next year and be completed by early to mid-2025. This would align with the fact that all resorts listed in 2024 have already started their refurbishments this year.
The planned upgrades will ensure that these resorts continue to offer the high standard of accommodations that DVC members have come to expect. From fresh furnishings to updated amenities, these refurbishments are designed to enhance the overall member experience.
Wi-Fi Enhancements Coming to All DVC Resorts
In addition to the scheduled physical refurbishments, Disney Vacation Club is also working on enhancing the digital experience for members. An ongoing project across all DVC properties is the increase of Wi-Fi connectivity. This effort aims to ensure that members have reliable and strong internet access during their stay.
2024 Condo Association Budgets for Disney Vacation Club Properties
The 2024 Condo Association budgets, also known as Annual Dues, for all Disney Vacation Club (DVC) properties were approved with little fanfare, as is typically the case. These budgets are crucial as they determine the annual dues for each DVC Resort.
A significant portion of the dues increase seen across all properties this year was attributed to wage increases. This is reflective of the ongoing commitment to maintaining a high standard of service at all DVC resorts.
Each resort’s projected budget was discussed and approved during the annual meeting. For those interested in the specifics of these budgets, you can check out each resort’s approved projected budget on our website.
Question and Answer Highlights from the Meeting
The Condo Association meeting also included a lively question and answer session, as always, where members raised concerns and received more actual answers than we are used to seeing from these events.
Park Reservations
One of the most commonly raised topics was park reservations. Members this year have voiced a variety of concerns about the current system’s effectiveness and availability. In response, DVC addressed this question prior to the beginning of the Q&A and reiterated the upcoming changes designed to improve the reservation experience. These include the introduction of all-day park-hopping and “good to go days” — special days where Annual Passholders will not be required to make park reservations.
Short-Term Availability and Room Releases
Another issue discussed was the short-term availability of rooms and how and when cash rooms are released. A member shared an experience where no availability was shown online, but when he inquired at the resort lobby, they were able to find him a room. This raised questions about the transparency and efficiency of the online booking system.
DVC acknowledged these concerns and reaffirmed its commitment to improving the reservation process. They also better outlined how reservations and availability are handled in terms of DVC’s cash inventory and last-minute inventory.
A DVC Property in Virginia? Protections from the Governor?
The question and answer session at the meeting always includes a few entertaining moments.
One of the more amusing questions raised was whether there will ever be a Disney Vacation Club property in Virginia. While it may seem like an offbeat question, it reflects the enthusiasm and interest of members in seeing DVC expand its reach to other states and locations (something we’re guessing won’t happen anytime soon – especially in Virginia).
Another fun question asked was if DVC was protected from the governor. And you can quickly assume that they didn’t touch that question and quickly moved on to the next.
The question and answer session provided a valuable opportunity for members to engage directly with DVC leadership and express their concerns. The insights gained from these discussions will help shape future improvements to the DVC experience.
Like previous years, Disney Vacation Club highlighted the Member Feedback Tool and encouraged members to continue to use it to share their thoughts throughout the year.
New Polynesian Tower to Join Existing Condo Association Meeting
The last news from this year’s Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Condo Association meeting is the one we’ve been waiting months for. The new tower coming to Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows will be part of the resort’s existing condo association! It’s also so important and impactful that we stopped writing this recap and wrote an entire separate blog to cover the news!
A Grand Finale: “Where We Belong” Performance
This year’s Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Condo Association meeting was concluded with a spectacular finish that left attendees in awe. Kissy Simmons, renowned for her role as Nala in The Lion King on Broadway, delivered a live performance of the DVC anthem, “Where We Belong.” This heartwarming song, beloved by DVC members, encapsulates the sense of community, belonging, and magic that is at the heart of the DVC experience.
The 2023 Disney Vacation Club Condo Association Meeting will be on December 12th, 2024.
Stay tuned to DVC Fan and our DVC Fan Facebook Group for more Disney Vacation Club news, reviews, and more!
Regarding refurbs – I suspect that the slide was a poorly designed one. Ok maybe I’m just hoping it was as a BLT owner…My 2 cents – Rather than 2024 and 2025 being represented by the highlighted rectangles on the slides that the years are better represented by dots on the left (meaning BLT, AKV – Kidani, and CCV will hopefully be slated to finish by end of 2024 with SSR Treehouses to start near the beginning of 2025???) …fingers crossed! At least we got the Poly news (currently pending ROFR on a resale contract!)
Someone did not present this 2024 DVC annual meeting to all the members very well. The ASL sign language person could only be observed by bout 30% of the audience – ASL should have been presented to us on one of the many screens for all to see. Many of the DCV members left the meeting early, as well as we did, because of the difficulty in hearing all the words clearly, even though we hear person to person very well – electronics can cause difficultly in hearing certain words for seniors and there were many in attendance. The presenters should have used the many screens for closed caption, why didn’t they? Someone was not paying attention to detail – not what I would expect from Disney! Thanks for listening.