The theming of the resort is similar to the progression of the making of an animated film. In the lobby you are first presented with the Ink and Paint Shop, a merchandise store, and the character sketch wall which has renderings of some of your favorite pals from the resort’s featured movies. Then as you continue out to the pool area and guest room buildings you are rewarded with fabulous landscapes and backgrounds. Here in this video you’ll have a tour of the resort with interviews and commentary from Disney Imagineers like Gary Hoffman, who was the Senior Project Manager over design and architecture for the resort and offers a personal greeting for Zannaland readers below!

I can not get over the wondrous colors displayed here. It was a whole lot of fun to photograph, especially the pool area which was rich in tropical and undersea inspired hues. Check out this gallery and tell us what you think of the design!

We took so many photos we had to add them to flickr so you could see them all! Check out our flickr Art of Animation photo set to see even more images.

I think this will quickly be the most popular value resort upon opening. Would you like to stay here with your family? Which themed section are you most drawn to?

Sandcastle Club at Disney's Beach Club Resort

I have always walked by the Sandcastle Club in Disney’s Beach Club (wanting to hang out there myself!), but had never used them for our two older kids. When we started bringing our youngest to the parks and hanging out with friends locally, we wished he had reached the magical 3 year-old age to partake in the kids clubs. He’s been 3 (and potty-trained, the other criteria) for a while, but it just hit me that we can now try out these “magical babysitters” of sorts. With the upcoming Disney blogging conference “Disney’s Social Media Moms Celebration” about to kick off its third year,  I thought I’d go over a run-down of what the Activity Centers offer and how to go about booking one for your little one.

Here’s the official info from DisneyWorld.com:

Located throughout Walt Disney World Resort, Children’s Activity Centers are delightful playspaces where children ages 3 to 12 are invited to enjoy video games, have dinner and snacks, watch Disney movies and interact with other kids their age—usually while parents are off experiencing more grownup fare.

There are 6 Children’s Activity Centers at Walt Disney World Resort hotels:

• Simbas Cubhouse at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Open daily from 4:30 p.m. to midnight, Simba’s Cubhouse is based on Disney’s The Lion King and is located on the first floor near the Uzima pool deck area.
• Never Land Club at Disney’s Polynesian Resort: Located near the Snack Isle and the bus stop across from the Great Ceremonial House, the Never Land Club is open daily from 4:00 p.m. to midnight.
• Cub’s Den at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge: Open daily from 4:30 p.m. to midnight, Cub’s Den is a wilderness-themed activity center located outside the main lobby near Wilderness Lodge Mercantile.
• Sandcastle Club at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort and The Villas at Disney’s Beach Club Resort: Located near Atlantic Wear just off the main lobby of Disney Beach Club Resort, Sandcastle Club is a nautical-themed activity center open daily from 4:30 p.m. to midnight.
• Mouseketeer Club at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: Open daily from 4:30 p.m. to midnight, Mouseketeer Club is located near Gasparilla Grill & Games.
• Camp Dolphin at Walt Disney World Dolphin and Walt Disney World Swan Resort: Camp Dolphin is located near the health club in Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort and is open daily from 5:30 p.m. to midnight. (Age 4-12 here)

The cost per child is $11.50 per hour, with a 2-hour minimum charge. Reservations are recommended for all locations, except Camp Dolphin, where reservations are required and additional costs may apply. For advanced reservations, please call (407) WDW-DINE. Same day walk-ins are also welcome based on availability.

…

The Never Land Club at Disney's Polynesian Resort

You do not have to be a WDW Resort guest to book your child in an activity center, you still pay the same $11.50/hour either way. Cancellations must be made 24 hours in advance, otherwise a $20 fee per child is charged. Reservations are held for 30 minutes before being released to other guests, in case you are running late. Parents are provided pagers for communication with the caregivers and may of course call in to check on their children at any time.

The clubs all provide dinner; including some variation of Chicken Tenders, Hot Dogs, Macaroni and Cheese, Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, French Fries, and Fruit. The Never Land Club offers a buffet, while other clubs allow the kids to “order” their dinner, letting them feel very grown-up. These meals do vary by location so ask at time of reservation or let them know if you have special dining needs.

As far as which clubs are the best, from what I’ve heard, the Never Land Club is the king of activity centers, with it’s magical entrance “through the nursery window” and Never Land themed decor. The other centers are themed to their resort but offer a more generic room with craft and gaming areas vs. the ultra-themed Never Land Club. I have heard that the Grand Floridian’s Mousketeer Club actually offers the smallest and least decorated theme, so that’s something to keep in mind.

Never Land Club Wendy's window entrance

I can’t wait to let my little guy test this out and report back with a full review!

If your child is not yet 3, or you’d rather have some one-on-one care in your resort room, Disney recommends Kids Nite Out, and in-room babysitting service. Their rates are as follows:

In-Room Childcare Rates

• 1 child$16.00 per hour
• 2 children$18.50 per hour
• 3 children$21.00 per hour
• 4 children$23.50 per hour

I hope this helps with your vacation planning and childcare needs while at the World. If you’ve experienced any of these services first-hand, share in the comments below!

Simba's Clubhouse at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

 

• 3 separate sleeping areas, including a master bedroom with queen-size bed
• A full-size sleeper sofa
• A convertible table bed—a dining or work table that transforms into a comfortable bed
• 2 separate bathrooms
• A kitchenette that includes a compact refrigerator, microwave and coffeemaker
• A table and chairs
• 2 flat panel TVs

So that alone makes it a great choice for our family, and I’m sure many others as well. I’ll be getting a chance to preview these suites and the resort later this month, and will provide a complete report at that time. Until then, here are some of the official releases on the Art of Animation resort to tide you over:

Opening in phases, each of the four wings celebrates rich storytelling, spirited characters and playfulness with colorful icons and whimsical theming inspired by each beloved film depicted. 

The wings dedicated to the popular films featured at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will now be opening than sooner than expected after the resort hotel’s grand opening May 31.

“We are excited that the Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid wings at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will all open earlier than we originally planned, bringing more permanent resort jobs to Central Florida sooner,” said Kevin Myers, vice president of resort operations for Walt Disney World Resort. “Demand for family suites exists in the marketplace today and the new opening dates reflect how optimistic we are about tourism in Central Florida.”

Art of Animation Resort's Finding Nemo Family Suites will be opening first, May 31, 2012

Finding Nemo Family Suite living area

The Finding Nemo wings of the resort will open May 31; Cars will now open June 18 instead of July 31; The Lion King will open August 10 instead of September 30. The value rooms at The Little Mermaid wings on September 15 instead of at the end of this year.

Art of Animation Resort's Cars Family Suites will be the next to open up, June 18, 2012. This table shows where the convertible bed will be.

The three-story resort will immediately put guests into the worlds of favorite Disney characters and animated films beginning at check-in as pixilated patterns and wavy ribbons of color decorate the resort’s exterior. Pencil drawings of Ariel, Lightning McQueen, Nemo and Simba adorn the entryway, and a cleverly created chandelier composed of animation storyboards enhance the lively and modern lobby.

Art of Animation Resort sketches in the lobby

“Our goal is to make guests feel like they have been immersed in the artistry and enchantment of Walt Disney and Disney•Pixar animated classics,” said Walt Disney Imagineer Frank Paris.

Giant sketchbooks filled with favorite characters seem to come to life as they pave the way to each storyline revealed. Scenic settings, icons—including a brightly-colored coral landscape, a 35-foot-tall model of King Triton, a towering Mufasa and more—immerse guests into the playful world of animation. At the Cars wing, a freshly paved road leads to the Cozy Cone Motel complete with a Cozy Cone pool and cone-shaped cabanas. It’s a journey through an African landscape in The Lion King complete with an elephant graveyard play area that invites youngsters to seek hakuna matata time. Treasures from the human world fill Ariel’s grotto in an under the sea kingdom in Little Mermaid courtyard.

Art of Animation Resort's Little Mermaid Value rooms

From linens and carpeting to fixtures and furniture, all details of the guestroom tie to the storyline. In Finding Nemo, there’s coral-shaped chairs and bubble ceiling lights; Zazu takes center stage on the headboards in The Lion King, while Pumbaa and Timon decorate the shower curtain.

Art of Animation Resort's Lion King Family Suites

Kids of all ages can make a splash at the “Big Blue” pool, the largest resort swimming pool at Walt Disney World Resort measuring 11,859 square feet. Guests enter scenes from the animated world and can explore the colorful reef with a giant-sized Mr. Ray whose wings span 27 feet, pose for a picture with Crush or frolic with Squirt in the Righteous Reef, a children’s play area. An arcade and two additional pools round out the fun.

Art of Animation Resort's "Big Blue" pool area

In size and scope the construction of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is a major project at Walt Disney World Resort. The project has created 800 construction jobs and once open later this year, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will create 750 permanent resort hotel jobs.

The Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo buildings will be entirely family suites, with 1,120 suites between them. The Little Mermaid buildings will feature 864 rooms in the “value” room category.

Art of Animation Resort's Cars Family Suite living area

The construction of family suites at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is an innovative approach to a changing marketplace.  Today more and more multi-generational families are traveling together for various celebrations, including family reunions. These families not only want to play together, they want to stay together, which has created tremendous demand for family suites.

• Disney also unveiled the look of new Cast Member costumes at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.
• Each front desk Cast Member will wear a unique splattered-ink vest representing an animator’s unique creative process as part of their costume.

Also, as Guests move from the check-in area to Merchandise and Food & Beverage locations, Cast Members in those locations will be wearing colorful costumes that represent the color being added to animation.

Dining options were revealed earlier this year from Disney food writer Pam Brandon:

“Better-for-you” options at five mini shops serving breakfast, lunch and dinner is the overarching theme of the new Landscape of Flavors food court still being tweaked for Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, opening in May. The new restaurant will be adjacent to the lobby.

“The idea is that you customize your choice,” says Chef Ed Wronski, Director, Food & Beverage Concept Development, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “From burgers to pasta, salads, ethnic flavors, omelets, even parfaits and gelatos, everything is made fresh as you order.”

There’s a big focus on beverages, too. Fresh fruit smoothies are made to order, ditto for lemonade and pomegranate limeade. They’re stocking organic teas, beer (including gluten free), wine, coffee and juices. You can get a plain cup of coffee or a French vanilla or mocha iced. And half bottles of wine are paired with cuisine from the food shops.

We got a sneak peek at the menu, and here are some of the highlights:

• The Soup-Salad-Sandwich Shop lets you create your own salad (with beef or chicken) and offers a caprese sandwich with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes on focaccia, or a Buffalo-style turkey sandwich with arugula and a blue cheese-Buffalo sauce-mayo spread. Both are served with delish house-made potato chips.
• The World Flavors Shop adds Indian-African flair to breakfast, too, with scrambled eggs, tandoor potatoes, Portuguese sausage, slab bacon and a mini-naan; or a veggie flatbread sandwich on naan with cauliflower, spinach and paneer. Lunch and dinner is a choice of tandoori chicken or shrimp, Mongolian beef with vegetables, mahi mahi, Portuguese sausage or roasted acorn squash served with sides and naan bread.
• The Pizza Shop features make-your-own pasta, cheese and pepperoni pizzas and meatballs on ciabatta bread. Room delivery is an option, too.
• The Burger Shop includes a breakfast burger with chicken breakfast sausage, cheese and scrambled eggs on a multi-grain bun, and a steak-and-eggs breakfast burger with a burger topped with fried eggs, cheese and bacon. Besides the traditional burgers, lunch and dinner includes a surf and turf burger with crab cake and fried popcorn shrimp, and a pastrami cheeseburger topped with pepper jack cheese and a slice of fried green tomato.
• The “grab ‘n go” Market Shop offers drinks, yogurt, bagels, pastries, gourmet cupcakes, cookies and gelato.

The food court will be part of the Disney Dining Plan, details to follow.

I can’t wait to see the finished Art of Animation Resort and share photos with you here.

First, let’s go over the back story of the room designs. Princess Tiana, hailing from New Orleans, has invited her royal friends to visit her home. As royalty often do, Tiana’s guests have left behind gifts for her over the years, which she has incorporated into these guest rooms. I’ve captured these gifts and nods to other royal guests in the video. Let’s see if you can find them all!

In addition, things like the wallpaper border in the main room and bathroom area pay homage to the little animal helpers featured in each Princess’s story, the bedspread features their crowns, and of course, some hidden Mickeys can be found here and there. My favorite part by far, is the dazzling fiber-optic effects on each headboard. I am not joking when I say I pressed the button to make it light up all night. I have a soft spot for fiber-optics, going back to the sparkling tiles over at Epcot, so this fun surprise made me insanely happy. I captured the effect on video too, so let’s watch!

Special thanks to the folks at Disney Destinations and Laura Spencer for this opportunity. My family and I were truly grateful! Review of our dinner at Boatwright’s Dining Hall coming soon!

*If you’d like the run-down of the gifts from other princesses, here you go: Wooden carved frame from Snow White, Magic Carpet from Jasmine, Pumpkin Coach coat rack from Cinderella, Pooch foot rest/ottoman from Belle, Genie’s Magic Lamp is the faucet, look for the dinglehopper and snarfblatt from Ariel on the shower curtain…those are the ones I found anyway!

Magical Fiber-optics in Royal Guest Room

Enjoy the tour and big thanks again to Kay for sharing her suite with us!

Many people have asked for the music used in the video above, it’s from Poppin’ Guitars: A Tuneful of Sherman, which is a great CD! Check it out below:

Contemporary Mary Blair gingerbread tree - my favorite display!

Yesterday we took a quick photo tour of Walt Disney World’s monorail resorts and their holiday decor. Today we’ll focus on what Disney’s Contemporary Resort is cooking up for guests who visit the Mary Blair-themed gingerbread tree in the Grand Canyon Concourse.

As you know, Mary Blair is the gifted artist responsible for so much within early Disney history, including the awe-inspiring murals on the fourth floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Perhaps her most famous contribution is whimsical design of the “it’s a small world” attraction. As a tribute to Mary’s art, Disney has created a gingerbread tree in her style for the past 3 years. This display instantly became my favorite of the Disney resorts, surpassing even the giant gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian, simply because of the simplicity and tribute to Mary Blair.

The gingerbread tree has changed a bit since its first year, when it was just a plain tree with some frosting ‘snow’. Last year candy canes and ornaments were added with space for photo ops.  This year the tree has brighter ornaments, a hidden Mickey or two, and the “it’s a small world” background is now edged in lights, has a black backdrop, and Mr. Sun’s face moves as it does in the attraction. When the tree first appeared, all that was sold at the counter were gingerbread cookies in the shape and style of “it’s a small world” characters and a few other treats. Now there are quite the array of elegantly decorated and beautiful cookies and treats, in addition to a Contemporary Resort-shaped A-frame gingerbread house with white chocolate monorail inside! Let’s take a closer look:

Stay tuned for more posts on the individual resort goodies, starting with the delicious treats offered at the Contemporary Resort. We’ll also visit the Grand Floridian gingerbread house up close, see what the Beach and Yacht Clubs have to share and come back to the Polynesian when their little gingerbread houses are out!

Aulani Disney Dooney & Bourke - Medium tote $220. Photo courtesy: Jeff Oh - DVC member since 2007

Aulani Disney Dooney & Bourke - Letter Carrier $170. Photo courtesy: Jeff Oh - DVC member since 2007

Aulani Disney Dooney & Bourke - Wristlet $50. Photo courtesy: Jeff Oh - DVC member since 2007

Aulani print in dark brown leather - the design is embossed right onto the bag - $330

inside the dark brown Aulani print

Thoughts? I love the color print and the muted colors in it. Actually, I would love to see one for the deluxe resorts at Walt Disney World, but I know that’s probably an extreme long-shot! In the meantime, I’ll be saving pennies to get to Aulani. Mahalo!

Don’t forget to check DisneyStore.com for sales of select current released Disney Dooney & Bourke purses and Zannaland’s Disney Dooney & Bourke page with ALL handbag photos and info.

*DisneyStore.com links are affiliate links, which means it costs you nothing extra to click or buy, but if you do, I get a small commission. Thanks for reading!

Some changes have taken place over the years; adding the “French Quarter” when its sister resort, the former Dixie Landings also received a name change to become Port Orleans Riverside. In addition, the table service restaurant, Bonfamillies, named of course for the Aristocats’ owner in the animated film of the same name, closed in 2000. Bonfamillies was a favorite of mine and husband’s for our anniversary dinners and we still miss it to this day.

Despite these changes, the resort is still one of the best themed, with the most beautiful grounds to walk through and relax in. It is the one place in the Walt Disney World Resort where you can get delicious, freshly made beignets, a wonderful treat any time of day inside the Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory, the resort’s food court. You can also enjoy a scenic ride down the Sassagoula River by boat, which stops at Riverside and Downtown Disney as well. To top it off, there is a pool with a giant sea serpent ridden by King Neptune, which doubles as a water slide.

As if that weren’t enough reason to stay at this delightful moderate resort, the French Quarter is now refurbishing and renovating all of their hotel rooms to make guests stays  even more enjoyable. Let’s check out some photos of the new rooms: (click to enlarge)

Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter Refurbished Room

Flat-screen tv

Handicapped-accessible bathroom, sink area

Handicapped accessible shower

New air-conditioner covers, for putting suitcases or other items on safely. I thought this was a great idea!

Regular (non-handicapped accessible) room

Bathroom/tub area

Flat-screen and dresser area

I am excited to stay in one of these new rooms at some point in the future. I think it’s a beautiful renovation and will go well with the new Royal Guest Rooms over at Port Orleans Riverside (which we’ll see more about tomorrow!). What do you think?

As a little preface, I think we all agreed that the Turf Club is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the Parks. We had a lovely table outside on the covered veranda area, overlooking the Sassagoula River. In addition, because it is out of the way – a little hard to get to if you aren’t a Saratoga Springs guest (but not impossible) – and it isn’t shall we say known for its fare, the seclusion is paired with absence of crowds. The result is a quiet, serene, relaxing meal, which is hard to accomplish in most resort dining locations. So for this reason alone, I would definitely head back with my husband to enjoy a quiet meal if we were unable to secure a reservation at a favorite spot.

View from our Turf Club table

Now on to the entrees!

If you’d like to check out the Turf Club Bar and Grill menus you can see what we had to choose from. I had a tough time deciding between the Reuben, the Prime Rib Sandwich and the Angus Burger. With the Reuben, I would’ve ordered it with no sauerkraut or Russian dressing, so I didn’t think that’d be a very worthwhile review for everyone. I was also worried that I wouldn’t care for the Prime Rib sandwich because steak sandwiches can be to cumbersome to eat, so in the end I went with the burger. I think I made a wise choice.

Turf Club Bar & Grill Angus Chuck Burger

Angus Chuck Cheeseburger topped with Cheddar and Applewood Smoked Bacon served with Vegetable Slaw or French Fries for $11.99. The burger was well-seasoned, perfectly cooked and to me, one of the best burgers I’ve had on property – and at $11.99 it’s not far off from the prices for burgers inside the parks. The fries were an excellent companion; a crispy combination of regular and sweet potatoes, seasoned and topped with shredded Parmesan. I might try one of the sandwiches if I were to return, but I definitely recommend the burger and the fries to anyone trying out the Turf Club for lunch.

Amanda chose the Seared Yellowfin Tuna with Cucumber Salad, Avocado, and Wasabi Cream Cheese served with Sesame Bagel Chips for $18.99. I’m glad she did because I don’t eat that kind of seafood, so I wouldn’t have ordered it, but it was beautiful to look at! Sadly, Amanda thought the tuna was lacking in flavor or seasoning of any kind so she probably wouldn’t order it again, but she did enjoy the wasabi cream cheese and bagel chips with it. It is pretty though, isn’t it?

Turf Club Seared Yellowfin Tuna

Our faithful foodie leader had heard great reports about the New York Strip Steak from the Turf Club, but was disappointed to find it not on the lunch menu. Our wonderful server let us know that it was available to order from the dinner menu, so AJ did just that. However disappointment returned in the form of a bland, flavorless steak. In other words, nothing to write home about. Sad!

Turf Club New York Strip Steak from the dinner menu, served as a lunch option

Now the Grilled New York Strip Steak is usually served from the dinner menu as follows: Grilled New York Strip topped with Blue Cheese, Portobello Mushrooms, and Balsamic-Port Glaze served with Yukon Gold Mashed  Potatoes for $27.99. So I’m not sure if perhaps the absence of those accompaniments explained the lack of flavor in her steak above. Still, a good steak should stand on its own, toppings or not and this one definitely did not.

But let’s not leave on a down note – there are still appetizers to describe and desserts to indulge in! Simply click the pictures below to be taken to my companions reviews of our first and last courses. My bottom line recommendation is: The Turf Club is a wonderful place to relax and rejuvenate after a hectic day of park-going. Of course you want to enjoy the meal you’re paying good money for, so I’d feel safe recommending the Angus Chuck Burger, or even just splitting a selection of appetizers and imbibing in some fun drinks on the patio. If you have an extra day or cannot find reservations elsewhere, this is a great go-to spot for a unique resort dining experience. The service and atmosphere were both wonderful and worth the visit.

Click to head to the Disney Food Blog and the Appetizers Review!

Click to head to Disney Every Day and the Desserts review!

Did you like this 3-part review? Let us know in the comments and maybe we’ll bring you more group reviews in the future! Thanks for reading and Happy Thanksgiving to all celebrating tomorrow!

My family are not Disney Vacation Club members, but with my husband and I, an 11 and 10 year-old, a 2 year-old and occasionally my mom, we like staying in DVC properties because of the extra space. We rarely use the kitchen facilities other than the refrigerator but we definitely use every other inch of space and amenity these wonderful resorts offer.

Old Key West in general is one of our favorites because of the beautiful lush, secluded atmosphere the resort possesses. I’ve said this many times, but I could really spend a month at Disney just chilling out at the resorts they are so relaxing and Old Key West is no exception. We’ve always loved Olivia’s restaurant and the pool area too. The only issue we ever had with Old Key West was that it was starting to show its age. In fact, the last time we stayed there around my birthday last year, we actually complained to management about some things, just because I wanted them to be aware of what we’d experienced. So when we were told at that time that the resort was scheduled for refurbishment in the coming year, we were relieved and excited.

Our most recent stay was completely problem-free and we had a wonderful time. Old Key West continues to be on our ‘favorites’ list (which actually has a lot of resorts on it because it’s so hard to choose just one!). The renovated rooms, which will be completed resort-wide by March 2011, now all have the same mattresses and shower heads used in the other Deluxe resorts, which are heavenly. There are other little decorative touches here and there, but the most prominent changes are shown below –

New laminate wood floors everywhere but the bathrooms, where the original tile remains, granite counter tops and Roman blinds on the French doors.

View of the dry bar area with granite counters

All televisons have been replaced with flat panel models. Stacey never looked so good.

View from our room - building 35

Fun dolphin fountain area by the pool, so many cool little bridges and nooks to explore here.

One of my daughter's favorite water slides - see the hidden Mickey? (People on the side were playing bingo for prizes)

The only negative I have to say about our stay is that it was TOO SHORT! I hope you enjoyed the quick new-room tour!

I know my family and I have wanted to become Disney Vacation Club members since its inception, way back when Old Key West was simply called Disney’s Vacation Club Resort and was the only option to buy into. It’s just not been in the cards for us to purchase, although we almost took the plunge a few years back when we did the tour and presentation when Kidani Village was being built. We still hope to be members some day soon, especially with our family of five (six when my mom comes with us) it would make perfect sense. But – is it really right for us? Is it right for you? What exactly do all the points and home resorts and…well, I should really just let Katie tell you. Please give her a warm welcome and just maybe she’ll come back and tell us other fun stuff about Disney!!

DVC 101: The Ins, Outs, Ups and Downs of Discovering Disney’s Best Kept Secret

New to Disney's Vacation Club? Click here to view the official info dvd direct from Disney!

Owning the Disney Vacation Club may be a dream of many Disney fans.  It’s like owning Mickey Mouse, right? Well the truth is, the Disney Vacation Club, albeit magical, is a long term commitment and takes plenty of research. And right here, right now, I want to help you with that. Yes you. Should you buy into DVC? And should you buy resale or through Disney? And how many points? And what should your home resort be? And what is the square root of pi?  We are going to figure this out for you today.

Should I Buy?

First things first: you need to ask yourself a couple of questions. Will you be traveling to Disney at least once every other year? Can you plan trips in advance? Are you okay with giving up bargain hunting for the sake of timeshare ownership? Are you financially able? Answer these honestly and from the heart. And pending you answered “yes”, it is time to figure out just how to buy into the Club.

Resale vs. Disney

So you have decided to buy and now it is time to discover the best price. The first thing you’ll want to consider is if you want to buy via a resale outlet or through Disney. Resale outlets are brokerage firms selling contracts for DVC members who do not want them any longer. In essence, you bid on a contract and then it is submitted to Disney for review. If the bid is too low, Disney will buy the contract themselves and you are back to square one. This is called right of first refusal. Fear not, your real estate agent will coach you through the process. So why purchase resale?  There are a multitude of reasons. First and foremost, Disney is currently only selling and promoting certain resorts. And second of all, you can get a good deal from those sellers who really need to get rid of their contract. Now that you know there are two avenues to purchase DVC let’s take a gander at some of the factors you will consider that will steer you into the direction of where and who you want to purchase from.

Home Resort, Booking Windows, Contract Life and Dues

A DVC member buys into a home resort. They can have multiple home resorts as well. What is a home resort? Well it simply means the resort you have a booking advantage at. A member can book at their home resort 11 months in advance and at 7 months a member can book at any DVC resort with ease. Let’s quickly name the DVC resorts you can own at.

On Walt Disney World Property:

Bay Lake Tower

Animal Kingdom Villas

Beach Club Villas

Boardwalk Villas

Old Key West

Saratoga Springs Resort

Villas at Wilderness Lodge

On Disneyland Property:

Grand Californian Villas

Off Disney Property:

Hilton Head Island Resort

Vero Beach Resort

Aulani Resort and Spa in Hawaii

So do you care about your home resort? You may. For busy times and popular times with DVC members (early December and October), home resort may be pertinent. For example, I recently could not get into Beach Club or Boardwalk Villas at 7 months for October because of the popularity of staying there due to Food and Wine. If Beach Club was a home resort of mine I could have booked it at 11 months. On the other hand, you may not care where you stay or you may tend to always book vacations not that far in advance. You will most likely be placed in a larger resort (Saratoga Springs or Old Key West) and have to waitlist for a room at another resort. If this does not matter to you buying resale may be the way to go as you can get fantastic deals on resorts like Saratoga.

Another thing to consider is the lifetime of contracts of each resort and the dues per point of each resort. They differ and you should inquire about them through Disney. Some home resort contracts end in 2042 while some end in 2057. It may matter to you how long your purchase will be in effect. One thing I want to state: many will tell you to buy a cheap resale at Vero Beach or Hilton Head and book a WDW resort at 7 months. This may work, however, I am a DVC blogger who will tell you I would not recommend this.  And again, if you always go to WDW don’t buy Grand Californian Villas. If you always go to WDW at least own a home resort there, regardless of what it is, just in case. Also consider dues. Hilton Head and Vero may both have a cheap contract price but the dues are considerably more than other resorts. And remember for the life of the contract you pay dues per point every single year. This is an important factor.

Currently Disney is selling Bay Lake Tower, Animal Kingdom Villas, Grand Californian Villas and Saratoga Springs Resort. If you are purchasing Bay Lake, Animal Kingdom or Grand Californian it may be best to purchase through Disney. If you are purchasing Saratoga or want another home resort, resale may be your best bet. Also consider that Disney does wonderful and easy financing and with resale it is much harder to finance.

How Many Points? Use Year, Banking & Borrowing

So by now you may have decided if home resort matters to you, what home resort you would like, and if you want to buy through Disney or a resale outlet. We have come pretty far. But now I want to touch base on possibly the most important “point”! How many points do you need? DVC is not a regular timeshare in that you do not buy a week a year, in a certain resort, in a certain room type. You buy an allotment of points and you can use those points at any resort, in any room type, in any way you wish.  So if you know your family goes every year in August and would like to stay in a one bedroom, purchase that amount of points plus a few extra in case of point chart reallocation. If you go at various times, in various room sizes, and at various resorts, you may just want to buy an allotment of points (the minimum is 160 through Disney), and see how you can use them. Every year you will get your allotment of points put into your account on your Use Year date and you can use them the way you would like. Your Use Year is simply your DVC anniversary and it can be any month of the year. For example, every December I get my allotment of 220 points deposited into my account for use.

But what if you go every other year? Or what if one year you want to have a large grand gathering? And goodness, what if one year you can’t go? Don’t fret. Because Disney allows you to bank points you don’t use into the next use year or borrow points from the next year into the current one.  If you go every other year what you would want to do is purchase ½ the points you need for your stay and then bank and borrow your way into your every other year amount you need!

What You Didn’t Want To See: Cost

So what will this cost you? That’s easy, your home and first born. Of course I’m kidding! But I will not sit here and tell you DVC is cheaper than the value menu at McDonald’s. It certainly isn’t and even after your initial purchase you pay dues every year that annually increase about 2-5%.  Your cost will vary on the amount of points you buy and what resort you buy at. It will vary if you buy through Disney or resale. But here is a quick example so you can get a general idea.

160 points at Animal Kingdom Villas through Disney will currently cost you:

160 points X the base price per point of $112 = $17,920. Subtract an incentive discount of $12 per point that is 160 X $12 = $1,920.  $17,920 – $1,920 is  $16,000. If financing, 10% is due. Consider Animal Kingdom Villas has a due of $4.9496 per point. So your annual dues this year will be $791.94, which you can also pay per month.

So there you have it, readers. So much information that you currently need a coffee and a Tylenol. We’ve discussed the general DVC information and believe it or not there is still so much to talk about! Did you know you can book other resorts, places, and even cruises with DVC points? And did you know you could rent your points out for money? But let’s save that for next time.  Oh, I forgot one thing. The square root of pi is 1.77245.

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Katie Siloac is a devoted blogger, Disney lover and tech fanatic. After enjoying fan websites and Disney podcasts for years, joining the Disney Vacation Club pushed her into her passion of blogging about anything and everything Disney and DVC. You can find her on http://thedvclife.com, her photo blog http://disneyinmylife.com and on her podcast Betamouse where she joins her other co-hosts in talking about Disney and technology at http://betamouse.net.

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Of course, the first thing to remember is that you will not melt. Unless there are some hurricane-force winds going on or crazy lightning, Disney will remain open for your use. Certain rides with all or portions of the ride outside may temporarily shut down (especially if lightning is present) but the rest of the World will be there for those daring enough to get soaked and keep on walking.

Pre-yellow Disney ponchos? June 1983

In 2003, Disney made the switch to clear ponchos, so you weren’t *quite* as funny-looking (and you could spot your family members easier!). I have noticed that the most recent ponchos we purchased [it is the law that if you buy ponchos, you must forget them on every subsequent visit so you need to buy more when it rains again] are much thinner than they used to be, and the hood is sort of useless in keeping the rain off your face. If you have a baseball cap, wear that under the hood. You can also of course buy other ponchos at discount stores ahead of time but again, the key is remembering to carry them with you.

If, however, you arrive to the Walt Disney World Resort and see on the local weather that there is a 99% chance of rain all day every day of your visit, there are some activities to make you forget all about the rain rain rain coming down down down. Here are my top 3:

3. Innoventions This area of Epcot’s Future World is chock-full of activities to keep the whole family entertained. These buildings are located to the east and west of Future World, as you walk in the main entrance beyond Spaceship Earth. They have undergone many facelifts since their Communicore days with SMRT-1 (a robot that answered your questions with the latest in 1980s voice recognition technology) and the EPCOT Poll (a census-like poll where guests answered questions and learned group results at the end).

Club Cool by Coca-Cola's beverage choices

2. Resort Hopping on the Monorail This is a favorite activity of our family any time, but it’s especially convenient during a storm, because you never have to get wet once you hop on the Resort Monorail from the Magic Kingdom or the Transportation and Ticket Center. There are some truly unique shops and restaurants you can explore and enjoy whether you’re a hotel guest or not. In addition to being a fun rainy day activity, our family makes sure to tour the resorts each holiday season. I will discuss more on that in upcoming entries, but it is truly a magical experience the way Disney decorates for the holidays.

• The loop from Magic Kingdom takes you first to the Contemporary Resort which always has some fun shopping to experience as well as the popular must-reserve dining spot Chef Mickeys, as well as the delightful culinary addition of The Wave on the first floor. Another treat on the ground floor (no pun intended) is the coffee and espresso bar Contemporary Grounds, which serves delicious lattes. Our family also loves the arcade at the Contemporary and has spent many hours there accumulating tickets to turn in for prizes.
• Next stop on the monorail is the Polynesian Resort. The decor alone is reason enough to spend some time here – the lush gardens and waterfalls will relax even the most frazzled park visitor. Here you’ll find shopping with a tropical flair and items not found in other locations. Delicious meals, desserts and coffee await at the Kona Cafe (one of my favorite restaurants on property). Here’s a secret – you can also get Dole Whip at Captain Cook’s Snack Co. inside the Polynesian! You don’t even have to be inside Magic Kingdom to enjoy this popular treat. Breakfast lunch and dinner are also served at Captain Cook’s, if you’d like more than dessert.
• The final stop on the monorail resort loop is the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney’s flagship resort. While here you can enjoy the elegant atmosphere, shops and restaurants, listen to music or just explore the lobby. There is a Basin White location within the Grand Floridian which offers unique items not found in the Downtown Disney location, so it’s worth a visit if you love their soaps and bath bombs as much as I do.

T-Rex Cafe dining experience is unforgettable

However you choose to spend your rainy day at Disney, remember Mickey can’t control the weather (as much as I’ve been wishing for a clear dome with air conditioning placed over Disney World on the hottest of summer days there!). As frustrating as it might be to have your vacation interrupted by ride-stopping, shoe-soaking rain…you are still in the Happiest Place on Earth and it’s truly how you react and make the most of all Disney has to offer that sets the tone for the success or failure of your trip. Some of my happiest memories are of wearing cloth napkins on my soaking shoulders inside Germany’s Biergarten, laughing at how we’d just run through the rain and puddles to get there. A change of plans doesn’t have to mean a short-change in the memories.

Antelope, Giraffes and Zebra, that’s who! And that is just a few of the many animals you can see right from the windows of Sanaa (pronounced Sah-NAH) the newest restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Sanaa is located in the Kidani Village section of Animal Kingdom Lodge, a new area built for Disney’s Vacation Club members. Kidani Village contains studio, 1 or 2 bedroom villa suites. This area has its own lobby and check-in area, its own pool and recreation area and its own savanna, viewable from many of the villas as well as Sanaa itself.

While the lobby area is not as breathtaking as Jambo House (the original Animal Kingdom Lodge section) it is still quite beautiful. It is more cozy. However, you will still be in awe as you walk down the spiral staircase to Sanaa and get your first glimpse of the savanna. The staircase itself is beautiful, and the thatched roof above this area is amazing. After you check in for your reservations at Sanaa, feel free to explore the hallway directly behind you. It is beautiful on its own and you can see the animals from all the windows. There is a viewing area outside, where you can walk out and see the animals closer without glass to get in the way. There are cast members out there to ask questions and a firepit for late night story-telling.

As we were brought to our table, we were told that Sanaa was meant to represent a marketplace – the decor is to look like the trees of a village and a colorful marketplace within it. We were lucky enough to be seated right at a window. Our server welcomed us and carefully explained how the menu at Sanaa worked, with its special entrees and drinks. We instantly felt special and taken care of with the patience and attention we received. I would add that this was because we were celebrating a birthday there, but I was actually quick to notice that all the tables around us, with the same and different servers, received this same incredible

Decor in Sanaa - Can you find the Hidden Mickey?

We ordered the Indian Bread Sampler, where you pick 3 types of breads and 3 accompaniments. The bread choices are Naan, Roti, Paratha, Paneer Paratha. We chose all but the Roti. The accompaniments to choose from are: Mint and Onion Raita, Cucumber Raita, Coriander Chutney, Mango Chutney, Garlic-Ginger Pickle, Mango-Lime Pickle, Roasted Red Bell Pepper Hummus, Tamarind Chutney. Your server can explain better than I the differences between all of these choices, but we went with the Cucumber Raita, Hummus, and Garlic-Ginger Pickle. We loved them all. I highly recommend this sampler, because there will be something for everyone and at the very least, you can share plain naan with your picky eaters.

We also ordered the Mustard Seed Crusted Scallops with a coconut cream sauce. I am a sucker for all things coconut, but even if you are not a fan, it’s not an overpowering coconut flavor. These scallops were perhaps the best I’ve ever eaten. They were perfection on a plate. I would go back and order 2 orders for an entree, they were that good! I definitely want to try the Samosas next time though, because I’m sure they are delicious too.

For an entree, I ordered the Tandoori Chicken. I have had Tandoor chicken many times before, so I knew I couldn’t go wrong with it. To my surprise, it came already off the bone and in fork-sized pieces. Perfect! It came with your choice of Basmati rice or 5-grain Pilaf. “From the Tandoor Ovens” also has a shrimp or lamb chop option rather than the chicken.

Other menu options include slow-cooked meats, or a vegetarian option as well, including chicken or shrimp curry, paneer cheese and spinach, or beef short ribs. Also available are African Cooking with Indian Flavors, which feature Cornish Game Hen, Strip Steak, Dum Biryani and a Sustainable Fish, which changes nightly.

Our meals were just fantastic, and though were worried about my picky 10 year-old, as you read, he loved his naan pizza. My daughter enjoyed her Meaty Macaroni made with ground turkey as well. The problem with dinner was that we were so full from the delicious appetizers and entrees that we had no room for dessert, which, if you know me and my family at all, is shocking.

As we dined, various animals strolled past, stopping to eat some strategically placed hay, or hanging out by the trees further back. We loved watching the Antelope *right* outside our window. Soon many friends joined and later the far-off Giraffes came by to say hello. In the distance we could see Wildebeests, Zebras, and the long-horned Ankole Cattle. We saw Ostriches off to the side and Red Crown Cranes came up closer than any other creature, since they could fly around the little unobtrusive barriers set up so you don’t end up having Wildebeest for dessert. Even the server remarked that there was an unusually large turn-out of animals that night.

While we were enjoying the view, we started to hear drums from the front of the restaurant. I thought they must just do a musical presentation, but as we continued to watch, the drummers paraded through the restaurant and over to a table where they sang a Sanaa version of Happy Birthday. I thought that was really impressive, but then they came over to our table for my mom’s birthday. They sang the song again and it was SO moving! Way different than a plain ol’ Happy Birthday by weary servers that you usually see in restaurants. Everyone was clapping along to the beat and looked genuinely excited for your celebration. After the song, a hostess handed my mom the Disney birthday card that you usually get, signed by various characters. However – this card was signed by every member of the front of the house staff, with wishes in their native language. I just thought that was the coolest thing ever. As a result, I *highly* recommend Sanaa for a birthday celebration. I know that’s where I’m headed for MY birthday this year.

All in all, our experience with Sanna was a marvelous one. I have been singing its praises ever since to anyone that’ll stand still. I loved it there, and so did the whole family. It is not just a place to eat…it is an experience – one which you’ll likely treasure for years to come. If you are planning a trip to Disney World, include Sanaa in those plans. If you do, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Oh! I almost forgot – on our way out we stopped at the restroom. I’m not sure I’ve ever said this about a restroom or not, but it was GORGEOUS. Beautiful dark wood and stone…just beautiful. Make sure you make a stop there before you go!

All photos are ©Zanna DiMarzio under Creative Commons license – more photos available at Flickr.