WDW Daily News

Check out the photo of the week by Stacy Degaro featuring Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom.

In my last article I told provided an overview of the Disney Vacation Club, a commercial if you will. But just how does this program work? What are some of the ins and outs? I thought it might be good if I expanded on a few topics. First of all remember that this is like a real estate interest/transaction. You own a piece of the Magic so to say! But while you are buying a deeded and transferable interest, it is not a real estate investment, but a prepaid vacation plan with points that are not good forever. There are legal concerns to consider. For example you can deduct the real estate taxes that are included in the annual dues each year, and I recently found out that there is a fee to re title to add or remove names to the deed.

DVC is a timeshare. Timeshares come in many varieties, from fixed week ownership, floating week ownership, flex week ownership to point based systems. The basic difference revolves around when an owner may plan or take a vacation. With week based systems, an owner has a defined timeframe for their vacation each year. Vacation times may rotate or be flexible but there defined times a owner can vacation. With point based systems, like DVC, an owner can use the points as they want based on the amount required per night and availability. I mange my vacation point allotment like I do my checking account!

DVC is also affiliated with RCI, a major timeshare exchange company, via their Worldwide Collection offering DVC Members the option to trade vacation weeks with an RCI owner opening up even more vacation opportunities. There is also the option to use the points at other Disney Resorts with the Disney Collection and with the Concierge Collection members can choose from a plethora of vacation opportunities like sea side escapes or ski adventures. It seems the experiences are endless.

One of the biggest questions asked over and over is “is the membership worth it’. There is as much written saying it is as there is saying it is a risk. I believe the math calculation is a little hard to do, figuring in everything to correctly come up with an answer. I did find the following which I found insightful and could agree with. Based on a calculation referenced on DVCNews.com, if 160 vacation points were bought in 2011, it would take 8 years to break even; at 11 years you would be saving money. The calculation was based on a purchase of 160 points and 9 vacation nights each year in a deluxe studio room. Purchase prices and dues were also included. The cash room rate used included a discount as well. Of course there are other things to consider which are different for each Guest. But based on this calculation, it appears that a DVC interest can save money. There are many variables and personal factors to consider. Mousesavers.com gives another breakdown and scenario to study. Be sure to check all the facts and information before you decide to purchase.

Next time I will tell you about some of the terms used when owning a DVC membership. Until then keep sharing the magic!!!

This week, I am taking a field trip to Tom Sawyer’s Island at the Magic Kingdom. It has been quite a while since I ventured over to this attraction, so I figure it’s time for a visit. Tom Sawyer’s Island is an anomaly among Disney attractions because it is so secluded. You can’t even visit the island without a raft ride across the Rivers of America. This is unusual because there are not really any other rides or shows that require this type of journey at WDW. This journey itself is part of the fun; how often do you get to throw away all of your cares and hop on a raft?

After the short trip, there is quite a lot to do on Tom’s island. You can explore caves, look for treasure, run across barrel bridges. You can even visit the fort and scout out oncoming danger. If you are looking for a relaxing spot, there are lots of rocking chairs available for just sitting and taking in the sights. I love this part of Frontierland because it feels like original Disney World to me. You can easily forget where you are and escape from reality for a little while!

Even though the island is a classic, it has seen lots of changes over the years. For example, the burning settler’s cabin doesn’t burn anymore. Also, the paint brushes that used to be hidden on the island are a thing of the past. Every morning the cast used to hide some of Tom’s paintbrushes on the island so that they could be found by guests and turned in for fast passes or some sort of reward. We came very close to finding one of the brushes, but someone else beat us to it. The hunt for the brush was still fun! In addition, Aunt Polly’s used to be open on the island as a quick lunch service, but alas, it has been many years since Aunt Polly has served any lunch. Amazingly, not too much else has actually changed, so it is pretty fantastic to see a WDW attraction that still brings in a crowd without relying on technology or some sort of gadget.

Another draw for Tom Sawyer’s Island is the educational value that can be found there. You can learn about how a mill works as well as Tom and Huck’s story as it was told by the great American author, Mark Twain. This story is also a part of the Liberty Belle’s journey around the Rivers of America. Overall, I love spending time on the island, and you should definitely try to take your family for a visit the next time you are exploring the World! Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!