WDW Daily News

The Disney Vacation Club accommodations previously known as The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge now have a new name – Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. This new name more accurately reflects the railroad theming of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and complements the storyline of the resort.

And more changes are ahead at this Walt Disney World® Resort hotel, including a re-imagination of the former Hidden Springs Pool area that will help tell the backstory of Boulder Ridge. Scheduled to open in summer 2017, Boulder Ridge Cove will feature an expanded sun deck and zero-depth-entry pool in what appears to have been an abandoned rock quarry.

Beyond the new pool space, scheduled enhancements to the resort include a brand-new bar & grill, in addition to a quick-service restaurant. Geyser Point Bar & Grill will be located in the heart of the feature pool area of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, where guests can grab a bite to eat as they lounge by the resort’s main pool.

From Disney Vacation Club:

As we near the “home” stretch of our Disney Vacation Club® community’s magical celebration of 25 years and beyond, a great big beautiful “beyond” awaits in 2017 with more fun coming to the neighborhood.

We are excited to announce that kicking off 2017 is a complimentary, after-hours party* at Magic  Kingdom Park for Members and their guests on February 24, 2017 and March 4, 2017.

Experience some of your favorite attractions with shorter-than-usual wait times, let the DJ music move you, meet a colorful cast of familiar (and off-the-beaten-path) characters, enjoy complimentary light refreshments and more!

Mark your calendars now to be part of the fun, and look for booking details online at disneyvacationclub.com in January.

All of us at Disney Vacation Club hope this 25th anniversary year has added a memorable chapter to your family’s ever-evolving story, and we look forward to making more memories with you in the New Year and beyond!

Mickey and Minnie celebrate 25 years of Disney Vacation Club benefits with this casual all-cotton tee featuring our anniversary logo and art on both sides. Available for a limited time only!

Limited availability from Monday October 31, 2016 to Sunday November 6, 2016

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This Thanksgiving and Christmas, you can indulge in a traditional holiday feast in paradise, complete with island flair and a dash of Disney magic. Featuring live local entertainment and visits from Disney Characters, who’ll drop by for photo opportunities, the Aulani Thanksgiving Feast and Christmas Day Dinner offer you food, fun and family memories to cherish forever.

Served in the Kaiona Ballroom, the first seating is from 4-6 p.m. and the second seating is from 6:30-8:30 p.m.  The cost is $89.50 for Guests ages 10 and up; $43.75 for children ages 3-9 (tax and gratuity included).

Reservations for the Aulani Thanksgiving Feast are now open for Resort Guests, and will open to non-resort Guests (subject to availability) on Nov. 15, 2016, based on availability. Reservations for the Aulani Christmas Day Dinner will open on Nov. 21, 2016 for Resort Guests and Dec. 15, 2016 for non-Resort Guests, based on availability.

Beginning November 2016, you can enjoy an exhilarating and enchanting cultural journey celebrating the legends, people and natural wonders of Hawai’i during KA WA’A – A Lū’au at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. It’s an unforgettable evening of family entertainment as only Disney can offer.

The festivities begin on Hālāwai Lawn with pre-show activities. Then, you can get ready for a full evening of song, dance and storytelling as they enjoy a lavish Hawaiian feast. The buffet dinner includes a carving station with suckling pig and prime rib, fresh local seafood, authentic island fare and enticing Asian specialties, plus family-friendly offerings, kids’ selections and a decadent dessert bar.

KA WA’A Lū’au is currently available only to Guests of Aulani. Performances are held on select nights, weather permitting. Seating will be assigned upon arrival. The experience lasts approximately 3 hours.

The price for general seating is $119 for adults and $79 for children (ages 3-9). The price for VIP seating is $159 for adults and $109 for children (ages 3-9). VIP seating includes early seating at 5 p.m. General seating begins at 5:15 p.m. The prices include gratuity. Cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance. Reservations can be made by calling 808-674-6850 from 12 pm.-8 p.m HST daily.

As Hawaii’s top family beach resort celebrates its 5th anniversary, we’re excited to announce new Guest experiences that will debut later this year at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa!

Starting in November, KA WA‘A, a luau at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa will bring epicurean dining and imaginative entertainment to guests. Luau Guests can feast on a sumptuous, local island buffet, and enjoy lively music and traditional Hawaiian dance, including hula kahiko and modern hula ‘auana. Before the luau, you will have the opportunity to enjoy special pre-show entertainment, family activities, traditional crafts and more.

Also in November, Moana, from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ film “Moana,” will arrive at Aulani to meet with Guests and recount tales of adventure. The animated feature film is about an adventurous teenager who, with help from demigod Maui, sails out on a canoe for a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and save her people.

Both new experiences are inspired by Hawaii’s deep cultural roots in canoe exploration—a voyage which brought Hawaiian ancestors to the beautiful ‘Ewa Loa plains surrounding Aulani.

Take a look at photos of the DVC Member Lounge at Epcot.  If you are a DVC member head to the Exit/Gift Shop of Journey to Imagination and walk right up to the desk and show the cast member at the check in desk your card.  From there you will be able to walk up the stairs to the DVC Member Lounge to enjoy a relaxing spot. Charge your phone, have some complimentary soda and coffee, play video games, or just chill.

Embark on a culinary adventure celebrating over 20 years of culture and cuisine with the finest wine and beverage offerings at the 2016 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, presented by CHASE®, taking place September 14, 2016 to November 14, 2016. Beginning Tuesday, July 19, 2016, Members can take advantage of special offers and early registration for culinary demonstrations and beverage seminars!*

Enhance your festival experience by learning from world-renowned chefs, master sommeliers and esteemed cocktail creators from across the country during one of the available culinary demonstrations and beverage seminars. Each session, lasting 45-minutes, lets you pick up a few expert tips and, best of all, taste the demonstrated dishes and sample the selected beverages! Disney Vacation Club Members and their Guests can take advantage of a $2 discount as well as advanced registration for these sessions beginning next Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at 9 am ET. Sessions are offered daily, at multiple times throughout the day and take place at the Festival Center. For details on available culinary demonstrations and beverage seminars, including dates, please visit here.

Give your senses an all-new outlook with the sights, sounds, scents and tastes showcased at Party for the Senses, a specialty culinary event at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Members and their Guests are invited to take part in extra-special event nights, available on October 8, 2016 and October 28, 2016, both with early entry and reserved seating available only to them and their Guests. Join Disney Chefs in a flavorful celebration where you will be guided through tasting stations to sample featured cuisine. This year, each event night will showcase a different culinary theme:

•    October 8, 2016: Enjoy a taste of Disney Springs with delicious signature creations from their new restaurants and bars. Dine while also enjoying various entertainment acts that are offered daily at this new location.
•    October 28, 2016: Celebrate Halloween in elegant style during a festive masquerade setting. Explore the culinary stations featuring delectable menu items paired with champagne, wine, craft beers and specialty cocktails. Invoke all of your senses as you dine while enjoying alluring music with magnificent visuals.

New this year to the festival is Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It, a master mixology, cake decorating and culinary technique event. Members can also enjoy advanced reservations for this all-new event.

To make reservations for any of the above events, please contact Member Services at (800) 800-9800 beginning Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at 9am ET. All other reservations for events at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will be available beginning July 21, 2016.

*Theme Park Admission is required and not included.

When Disney Vacation Club began celebrating 25 years and beyond earlier this year, the announcement of an unprecedented array of new Member offerings* included promise of a special event for Members and their Guests at Disneyland Resort in California. That promise becomes reality this fall, as the smash-hit Disney Vacation Club 25 and Beyond Bash that engaged thousands of Member families this spring at Magic Kingdom Park in Florida is heading west, taking over Disney California Adventure Park on Nov. 2, 2016 from 8:30 -11:30 p.m PT.

Members* and their Guests will turn Disney California Adventure Park into their own personal playground during this complimentary event, enjoying popular attractions, special Disney character meet-and-greets, complimentary refreshments, a DJ dance party and so much more.

Reservations for the Disney Vacation Club 25 and Beyond Bash at Disney California Adventure Park will begin on August 3, 2016 at 8 a.m. PT. by registering online. Click here for additional event details.

This unprecedented Disneyland Resort event continues a wave of new signature celebrations around the Disney Vacation Club neighborhood, each inspired by Member feedback and designed to engage more of our magical community than ever with the experiences Members love most. Note that, as part of this transition to signature Member events, the final Royal Member Gathering event at Disneyland Resort will take place on Aug. 8, 2016.

All of us at Disney Vacation Club look forward to celebrating this milestone year with you during a Disneyland Resort event unlike any in our community’s history!

* You should not purchase or add on real estate interest in a Disney Vacation Club Resort in reliance upon the continued availability or renewal or extension of these offers. These offers may only be available to Members at various times and may or may not be renewed or extended. Membership Extras, such as vacation options in the Disney and Concierge Collections, certain discounts, offers, and special events are incidental benefits. These incidental benefits are subject to change or termination without notice, may require the payment of a fee and cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Membership Extras are also subject to availability and block–out dates may apply, including high periods of demand such as Christmas and New Year’s Day. To receive any Membership Extras, purchasers must present a valid Disney Vacation Club Membership Card along with a corresponding valid photo ID. Disney and Concierge Collections options are not available for ownership interests not purchased directly from Disney Vacation Development, Inc. after March 21, 2011, and, effective April 4, 2016, Members who do not purchase an ownership interest directly from Disney Vacation Development Inc. will not have access to Membership Extras.

Take a look at Sea Turtle Nests on the Beach at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort.