If 2022 was the year of returning to normalcy for DVC, 2023 was the year of some big headlines! Here is a look back at some of the biggest announcements and changes from the past year:
Decrease in the Direct Minimum Buy-In for Points
In an unusual move, DVC lowered the minimum number of direct points that new members are required to purchase. Instead of requiring 150 points, DVC now only requires a purchase of 100 points. To put this in perspective, this is the first time that the minimum has decreased since a minimum buy-in was established in 2018. This move lowers the barrier to entry, making it easier for people to become DVC members.
Return of Annual Passes
After a long pause in the sale of annual passes, Disney finally resumed sales in early April. More significantly, eligible DVC members were given early access to purchase Sorcerer passes. Although annual passes are still subject to availability, an email from Bill Diercksen noted that “the DVC Disney Sorcerer Pass is expected to be on sale more often throughout the year, even when the pass is not broadly available for sale to Florida Residents.” This statement and early access demonstrate that DVC is trying to make changes based on member feedback.
Opening of the Disney Vacation Club Star View Station – A Member Lounge
DVC owners on the west coast can finally enjoy a lounge in Disneyland! The newest lounge for eligible DVC members opened in April on the second floor of the Star Wars Launch Bay building. The lounge features seating areas, charging stations, and complimentary soft drinks and snacks. Members will also be happy to note that unlike the Epcot lounge, this lounge has a restroom. While the decor fits in with Tomorrowland, it also pays homage to Walt Disney’s vision for the future.
Announcement of the Cabins at Fort Wilderness
April was a big month for DVC. In yet another announcement that month, DVC surprised everyone by announcing that the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort would become the 17th DVC property. The 409 existing cabins would be replaced by 350 new cabins that sleep up to 6 adults and are designed to be energy-efficient. The cabins will also be the first DVC property to have a select number of dog-friendly accommodations. At the 2023 DVC Condo Association Meeting, we also got a glimpse of more concept art. More to come on this!
Awakening of the ROFR Monster
After a quiet start to 2023 with hardly any DVC contracts being bought back through right of first refusal (ROFR), the ROFR monster started to gobble up contracts again in August. ROFR has remained relatively quiet with the exception of a few Grand Floridian contracts as the resort reached “sold out” status again for direct sales through Disney. It will be interesting to see the ROFR trends in early 2024 now that the Grand Floridian is sold out, and the new Polynesian tower and Fort Wilderness cabins are not yet for sale.
The Grand Opening of the Villas at Disneyland Hotel
On September 28, the newest DVC resort, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, began to welcome guests. The Villas at Disneyland Hotel are the long-awaited second DVC resort at Disneyland. The vibrantly hued resort celebrates Disney storytelling and animation. It adds 344 villas to DVC with accommodations ranging from Duo Studios to Three Bedroom Grand Villas. Relive all the fanfare and excitement with Paul and Amy’s opening day vlog!
More Membership Extras for the Holiday Parties
As with 2022, DVC continued to introduce other opportunities for Membership Extras besides Moonlight Magic events. The Guardians of the Galaxy Scream Event, Membership Magic events at the holiday parties, Halloween events at the BoardWalk and the Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and Disney Vacation Club Hoop Dee Holidays offered more opportunities for members to enjoy perks throughout the year.
Lots of Refurbishments
In 2023, Hilton Head and the BoardWalk started full refurbishments, and the Beach Club and Vero Beach began soft goods refurbishments. With each of these renovations, we see the continued trend of Murphy beds, soft color palettes, and artwork featuring Disney characters.
Big News for the Polynesian
I’ll close out this year in review with the big news that many of us were waiting for: the Polynesian tower will be part of the existing Polynesian DVC condo association! This means that owners at the Polynesian can use their 11-month home resort advantage at the existing studios and bungalows or the new tower, and there will not be resale restrictions. For a more detailed explanation of what this all means, check out this post on the implications of the condo association.
2023 has been a big year for DVC news, and there’s so much to look forward to in 2024. (Polynesian tower and Fort Wilderness cabins, I’m looking at you). Have a happy New Year, DVC Fans!
