Reflecting on a Year of Growth and Gratitude: A Journey with DVC Fan

I’ve never been one to dwell on the past. The past is unmoving, unchanging, and no matter how hard we try, we can’t alter where we’ve come from or the battle scars we’ve earned along the way. Instead, I’m driven by the future—the potential for change, the opportunity to create, and the relentless pursuit of becoming the best version of oneself. But as I sit here, reflecting on the past year with DVC Fan, I find myself filled with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for everything this community has brought into my life.

For those who may not know me well, my journey to this point has been anything but linear. I used to own a CrossFit gym, where a banner hung on the wall, inspired by a man named Pat Sherwood. It read, “Better Than Yesterday.” This simple yet profound message was meant to inspire those in the gym, but it also became a guiding principle in my life. Life, as we know, has a funny way of throwing curveballs, often when we least expect them. For me, these curveballs seem to come when I’m in the middle of nowhere or sometimes 30,000 feet in the sky. I’ll never forget the moment a little over a year ago, when I stepped off an airplane with Amy, having just visited family in West Virginia, to find hundreds of texts and emails awaiting me. It was in that moment I knew it was time to get to work.

DVC Fan began as an act of love over six years ago. At that time, I had just sold the CrossFit gym and found myself restless, searching for a new purpose, a new passion. That’s when I found you—the Disney Vacation Club community. A community of people who had invested in a brand, a park, a world that they loved so much that they decided to call it “home.” And in you, I found my home, too.

For those who know me best, it’s no secret that I’m an extreme introvert. In the early days, I was content to chat in the Facebook Group, helping behind the scenes with articles, website pages, and more. But something shifted within me—a profound sense of responsibility to not just inform but to educate, to be a voice in this community. Gradually, you saw more of me. Gradually, my amazing wife, Amy, became involved, and together we embarked on this journey with you.

I think I speak for both of us when I say that what differentiates us from others in this space is that, on the surface, we’re not here for fame or notoriety. We’re here because we care. We’re here because we want to share our joy and love for Disney and Disney Vacation Club with you. We’re here to answer your questions, to be part of this community, and to share in the magic that DVC brings to our lives.

And speaking of Amy, I would be remiss if I didn’t express just how profoundly grateful I am to have such a loving and supportive spouse by my side. She is the Eve to my Wall-E, the partner who makes everything in this incredible journey so much richer and more meaningful. I am humbled and deeply grateful that I get to share this life with her, and I know that none of this would be possible without her unwavering support and love.

It is this community—this incredible, supportive, and passionate community—that has carried us forward to where we are today. DVC Fan has grown and evolved, and we are beyond grateful to be along for the ride. So I want to take a moment to thank you—profoundly—for trusting us, for letting us be members of this DVC Fan Community, for sharing in our happiness, our hardships, and most of all, our love for Disney Vacation Club.

There are so many people to thank. Our contributors, our DVC Show Team, and the World of DVC, who believed in us and saw a future in us that not many did. Your belief in us has fueled our passion and driven us to push forward, always striving to be better than we were yesterday.

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Walt Disney once said, “I can never stand still. I must explore and experiment. I am never satisfied with my work. I resent the limitations of my own imagination… To the youngsters of today, I say believe in the future, the world is getting better; there still is plenty of opportunity.” These words resonate deeply with me, especially as I reflect on this past year. I am incredibly grateful that you found me. I am incredibly grateful to be part of this community. And I am incredibly grateful that we are better today than we were a year ago.

As we move forward, I personally promise you that we will continue to push forward, to strive for more, and to be better than yesterday.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Paul Krieger