As we ring in 2015, let's take a look back at the Disney Vacation Club news that made headlines during the previous calendar year.
Over 330 posts...52 weeks of "debate" questions....12 monthly sales updates...$15 cumulative price increase for the Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort...and a lot of Polynesian news. That was the 2014 year for DVCNews.com.
January started off with a bang as a series of plans for the shelved DVC resort at Disney's Ft. Wilderness Resort were anonymously posted to the Internet. Later in the month DVC brought back 2012's deeply-discounted Premium Annual Pass offer and launched its Membership Magic program. DVC also announced that Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas had officially "sold out."
In February, the Disney Vacation Club Marketplace launched at DisneyStore.com, finally allowing members to purchase a limited selection of DVC logo merchandise from home. Work began on the extensive in-room refurbishment at the Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, and prices increased on most Disney theme park tickets and annual passes.
March brought a new member survey from DVC and news that the BoardWalk's Kouzzina by Cat Cora would close later in the year.
April proved to be a quiet month as members began receiving custom DVC sliders for their MagicBands and incentives for an add-on purchase at Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas improved in the weeks leading up to the next price increase.
In May we learned about the retro name change for what is now Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. With the refurbishment complete, Wilderness Lodge Deluxe Studio villas began accommodating up to 5 guests and DVC revealed plans to host two exclusive Member Cruises in 2015 including a sailing to Alaska.
One Florida governmental body issued a sales permit for Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows last June (although seven months later, those sales have yet to begin), and we learned that the Wilderness Lodge pool would close for an extensive refurbishment in the fall. Also the Resort Availability Tool debuted at DVCMember.com.
In July we leared the first details about Trattoria al Forno, the restaurant which would replace Kouzzina and we got our first look at the plunge pools being installed in each Polynesian bungalow. DisneyStore.com quickly sold out of its member-exclusive Alex & Ani bracelets.
DVC surprised members in August with the early release of dates for the 2014 Member Merry Mixers at Epcot. The new walkway between Downtown Disney and Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spaopened for guest use. And DVCNews.com published an extensive look at future Disney Vacation Club resort projects currently in planning stages.
Another DVC-exclusive ticket offer surfaced in September--this time for Magic Your Way passes and DVC announced a first-of-its-kind Thanksgiving meal offer for members.
With Kouzzina by Cat Cora closed, Flying Fishtemporarily offered breakfast service in October. Disney revealed the first menu details for Trattoria al Forno and Disney's Grand Californian Hotelopened a new fitness center. The month ended with news that DVC had declared 100% of the Grand Floridian villas into the timeshare program.
Resort Annual Dues for the 2015 calendar year were revealed in November. DVC informed members that less than 20% of the points at the Grand Floridian remained before it would be "sold out" and they launched the "Introduce-A-Friend" program. We showcased some of the DVC smartphone cases available at Downtown Disney'sD-Tech shop and revealed dates for the 2015 Stormalong Bay pool refurbishment.
Finally we started a busy December with a look at the year's Member Merry Mixer. The Polynesian and Grand Floridian resorts were assigned separate General Managers. Many new details were revealed on the Polynesian bungalows and the resort lobby reopened following its extensive refurbishment. The Wilderness Lodge pool also returned to use after its own refurb. And DVCNews brought owners live coverage of the 2014 Condo Association Meeting in Florida.
2015 looks to be an equally newsworth year in the Disney Vacation Club world. DVC will soon begin selling points for Polynesian Villas & Bungalows and the resort's grand opening is slated for spring of this year. Rooms at Disney's Beach Club Villas and Disney's BoardWalk Villas will both undergo renovations. Work continues as Florida's Downtown Disney slowly morphs into its Disney Springs identity. And 2015 also provides a build-up to the 25th anniversary celebration of Disney Vacation Club in 2016.
Our mission at DVCNews.com remains the same: to provide owners--and prospective owners--with accurate news and information regarding the Disney Vacation Club program.
We thank all of our readers for their continued support and wish everyone a safe and prosperous New Year!
